CHAPTER 43: GREY THROWING HANDS

Zane walked away, his actions pissed off the group. The leader gritted his teeth. "Don’t walk away from me," he spoke in anger.

"Huh? Are you still talking to me?" Zane asked, pointing to himself.

"Of course I’m talking to you, who else would I be talking to?" the man said.

"Why the hell are you asking me? You are the one doing the talking," Zane said. The look on his face showed genuine confusion.

But the man knew Zane was mocking him, an NPC was mocking him. He clenched his fists tight. "Stop being a smart ass! You are NOTHING BUT A STUPID NPC!" the man roared and pulled his sword, pointing it at Zane.

Grey frowned when he saw the blade pointed at his master. The man saw the frown on Grey’s face and spoke, "You better keep your comrade in check. I don’t know how he managed to take down those goblins, but he won’t stand a chance against someone like me," the man said.

"Huh? Grey, would you lose to this idiot?" Zane asked Grey.

"I deserve to hand over my head, Master, if I lose to such a person," Grey said. His words pricked the ears of the man. He gripped his sword tighter and clenched his jaws.

"Alright then, Grey, have your way with him," Zane said.

"Fuck you! I’ll cut the both of you down. NPCs should have no right to talk to players like us!" the man said and charged in, coming for Grey.

Grey stood there weaponless, his fists raised and ready to go.

"Hey Grey, have this," Zane spoke, tossing his Drain Claw. Grey looked at it, caught it, and put it on immediately before the man could reach him.

"You think a gauntlet can save you?" the man roared and slashed. Grey lunged forward, the arm with the gauntlet stretched forward. He parried the sword and, without holding back, sent a powerful punch into the chest of the man, throwing him a few steps back.

’Master gave me his own personal weapon. I can’t lose now. I have to defeat this man no matter what. I can tell that he is skilled and strong,’ Grey thought. He looked at his fist—it was slightly bruised but was already healing. His armor didn’t even dent. That material was definitely special.

Zane looked at the level above the head of the man, and he saw level eight.

’A level eight? It seems Blood Iron City has more resources than I thought. Well, having a whole dungeon is a very good thing,’ Zane thought.

The man stared at Grey. Grey was only a level two, yet somehow he managed to block his attack and land one. He felt disrespected, and by an NPC at that.

"Arghhhh!" The man lunged forward again. He slashed downward at full force. Grey sidestepped and dodged the attack, wanting to counter, but the man dodged the attack mid-air and slashed sideways.

Grey was taken unaware, but he managed to block the attack. Sparks flew, and he was pushed a few steps back. Yet it didn’t stop him. He planted his feet into the ground and flipped over the sword, right in between the man and his sword, kneeing the man right in the face, breaking his nose and spilling blood.

The man fell back, struggling to keep himself from hitting the ground.

He got on his feet, using his free hand to clean the blood. His eyes had turned blood red; veins bulged from his head.

"I’ll heal you," the lady in priest-like clothes spoke, raising her hands to heal the leader.

"Now let’s not do that. You wanted to fight. If you help your leader, I’ll be forced to join this fight and I can promise that you don’t want that," Zane spoke, his eyes glowing slightly.

"Don’t heal me, Anna. I’d be nothing but a loser if I have to heal from a low level NPC. I’ll win this with my own sword," the leader said. He gripped his sword even tighter. Flames suddenly erupted around the sword, burning bright.

He lunged forward, slashing upward. Grey dodged the sword. He felt the burning heat from the blade, and he didn’t like it at all, but he managed to evade it entirely.

He moved for a counter, trying to land a punch at his side, but the leader reacted fast. He turned his sword, pointing in that direction, and blasted the flames out like jet propulsion. Grey pulled back his arm immediately, going back into his fighting stance.

The leader immediately started moving faster, thrusting and slashing, combo after combo. Grey was forced back. He held his head behind his arms as he dodged.

A smile formed on the leader’s face because he felt he was finally dominating Grey. But behind those raised fists was Grey, watching.

As a vampire, he could sense every movement, see every movement. He was waiting, waiting for the right moment. And finally, that moment showed itself. There was a small gap in the combo that the leader was landing.

And in that moment, Grey took advantage of the gap and lunged forward, stepping in and throwing a punch. The fist slammed right into the head of the leader, pushing him a few steps back. Grey made sure that the strength he put into his punch wasn’t enough to send the man flying, only to knock him back.

He needed the man to stay close and take the full thing. With the leader knocked back, he stepped in closer and sent another punch. He landed punch after punch.

The leader tried to gather himself, but Grey suddenly clapped his ears, discombobulating him. The leader stepped back, dizzy and confused. His eyes managed to focus on Grey, he saw the gauntlet coming toward his head.

The fist slammed into his head and sent him flying. He slammed into the ground and rolled for a few seconds, his face covered with blood.

Grey stood there looking, his blood still boiling for more.