From Player To Npc

Among the people who recognized Ameanum was Cheap Devil too. That fact surprised Shingi as they had never spoken or worked together in the past, even if both of them were important figures in this world.

"He currently can do nothing. As some of you know, he hadn't made an appearance for the past ten years. As you probably have guessed, his disappearance is a result of the Dark Guild's plans or the ones they really work for. I have met one of the people responsible for his disappearance, and they were actually one of the people guarding the entrance of the Tower." [Shingi]

He didn't plan on going into many details as he didn't know how they would react in knowing what really happened and that he is Ameanum but in another body.

"Why should we believe you? How do we know that you really know him and you just don't use him? If he is really behind it, he better shows his face, or all this is a waste of my time." [Shiny Knight]

Shingi was aware that this could happen, but he had prepared a plan.

"Mister Quick Thunder, do you mind having a spar with me?" [Shingi]

Confusion filled the room at the unexpected response.

"We don't have time for you to…" [Shiny Knight]

"Let them fight." [Cheap Devil]

Everybody turned towards Cheap Devil, as this was the second time they heard him speak through the entire time he was here. He didn't shout, but everyone heard him like he was next to them.

Shingi knew that he didn't use a spell and didn't know of any skill to do something like that, but it could be a special ability of his or his class. Of course, nobody knew what Cheap Devil's class really was, other than being Warrior Based.

Quick Thunder stood up and followed Shingi, who led him just in one of the large rooms connected to the hall they were having the meeting.

Shingi then summoned his sword, but not Sinhunter but his normal one.

"You certain you want to do it indoors? I will not go easy on you or going to pay for any damages." [Quick Thunder]

"I wouldn't expect you to do any of those things. But it shouldn't last long. Want to have the first move?" [Shingi]

Shingi went into a defensive stance as he waited for Quick Thunder to make his move.

A few of the other people of the Guilds came to watch, but most people who seemed to be new to the game and hadn't reached the cap. The rest had seen Quick Thunder's way of fighting over the years many times, and even if that person seemed to use Golems, other than that, he didn't kindle their interest.

Quick Thunder was confused because Shingi decided to use a sword, as he was certain that he was a Mage after the way he dealt with those spies. But he thought little of it as he charged at Shingi.

As his name suggested, he was pretty fast, and he even left behind sparks of lightning. This was an illusion created by his equipment that he had specially ordered to add to his style.

Shingi had fought and had seen Quick Thunder fights many times in the past, so he knew when he was serious, and this wasn't one of those times. He was going fast, but he wasn't even using half his speed. But even that was barely something he could handle with his current detection skills, but he didn't count on skills this time.

Quick Thunder disappeared, leaving behind sparks of lightning, and then appeared behind Shingi, ready to cut his head.

But Shingi had already put his sword in the way and deflected this attack.

This action impressed Quick Thunder as it took him no time to do so, which meant that either Shingi's reaction time was monstrous or he expected this attack.

And in reality, the latter was the option. Quick Thunder's style was hard to read, but Shingi had seen it so many times that he knew the signs. Fortunately, those signs weren't something he needed his eyes for, as with his MANA SENSE and detecting his aura, and it was the same as watching his body.

He had enabled his Blessing's effect to boost his INT just before the fight, or otherwise, he wouldn't be able to detect what he wanted in time.

Quick Thunder took a few steps back while he started reading the posture of his opponent.

"I guess it is my time." [Shingi]

Shingi charged towards him, but it was like he was going in slow motion compared to Quick Thunder's speed.

Still, Quick Thunder's face seemed focused and went into a defensive stance.

Shingi didn't use HASTE yet, since his speed wouldn't get to a level to surpass his opponents even with that. He went for a front attack and made a vertical swing that seemed simple enough.

As expected, Quick Thunder easily deflected it, but then he felt immense pain that made him fall to the ground.

Shingi had kicked his male parts.

No matter how strong one was, this was a vital area. Quick Thunder had focused too much on the sword and mouth of the opponent in case he cast any Spells, so he ignored the legs of his opponent. He paid the price for this rookie mistake.

Shingi had used some light mana in his kick that had entered Quick Thunder's body and tried to stun him as he had done in the past. But this time, the target was too powerful to affect that work on him, as even if he was in pain, he still could fight. Instead, it mostly seemed to anger him.

Shingi knew Quick Thunder wasn't lowering the pain reception of the game too much, as this feeling was important in fights. But both of them had fought many times so they could handle pain.

Quick Thunder started making his attacks, and after a while, he seemed not to follow any style and just swinging his sword.

Shingi avoided or deflected all of these attacks, as even now, he was within his predictable range.

Two minutes had passed since the fight had begun, and almost everyone in the meeting had stood up and went to check the fight. They had to check why it took that long, as Quick Thunder should have won within seconds, but they were impressed when they saw Shingi handling the attacks.

At that point, Shingi took a few steps back, making some distance from Quick Thunder and going into a defensive stance, but it was different from the one he used till now.

Some of the people gasped, and among them was also Quick Thunder.

A smile appeared on Quick Thunder's name, as he seemed to have calmed down a bit, and signs of excitement appeared on his face.

Shingi had double-cast HASTE silently using a Mana Fruit and a Mana Seed of his, as he knew what was coming. Quick Thunder was getting serious.

Once more, Quick Thunder charged towards Shingi, this time not just leaving sparks behind but also mirror images of himself. He started making a circle surrounding Shingi with his mirror images so that Shingi didn't know where he would attack.

But Quick Thunder couldn't know that this was useless against Shingi. This trick worked on tricking the sight of someone, which Shingi didn't have. With his detection Skills, and especially his MANA SENSE, Shingi knew where Quick Thunder was. Fortunately, Quick Thunder didn't use his full speed, but close to seventy percent of it was still above one could normally handle.

Shingi, with his boost from his double HASTE and his boosted INT, barely kept up and made no move but just waited.

The circle was getting smaller, and soon four of the mirror images made an attack, one from each direction. But, of course, only one of them was the true Quick Thunder, as the others were part of a Special Combat Skill he had made with the help of his class.

Most times, people just tried to raise the skills that came with class normally, but most people at Quick Thunder's level had tried to make their own. So he called this skill Mirror Circle of Death, which was a name he had regretted soon after he gave it but couldn't change it. Once a skill was named, the name would always stay like that unless it got evolved.

Shingi made his move as he made an attack at the one on his left, but his sword passed through him with no resistance. This meant it was one of the fake ones.

But the others had brought their sword forward like they deflected something and made a few steps back. Soon all the mirror images disappeared, and only the real Quick Thunder was left. He seemed to be the one in the opposite direction than the one Shingi attacked.

Or at least the one that others had seen Shingi attacking.

This was a technique that Shingi had worked on these past days, that it was something he had learned and perfected in the past. It was actually an illusion technique similar to the one he had used in the past against Cerberus.

He had found an opportunity to cast INVISIBILITY and MAJOR ILLUSION during the battle, but he had to use two more of his Mana Fruits, living with him with none. However, he still had some Mana Seeds that could turn into a Mana Fruit with the right boost.

He had his MAJOR ILLUSION acted like himself, and since it wasn't solid, his invisible self was following its movements when needed. Then, when Quick Thunder used his Special Skill, his real self attacked the real Quick Thunder while his Illusion attacked the opposite of him.

This was something that Shingi had used as Ameanum, but since he wasn't a mage, he had to use an Artifact that allowed him to use similar effects.

The defensive stance he took was the one he used back then when using that technique, but not just anyone knew about it. But the people here were people who had researched over everyone who was important and their techniques, so it made sense that they recognized it.

Quick Thunder put his sword back to his scabbard and then put the open right-hand palm of his over his left closed fist and gave a little bow at Shingi. There was no way that someone else that Ameanum could use this attack unless Ameanum had taught them.

Shingi put his sword back to the ring as the sparring had ended. Although now many people would consider this a sparring, and it was a miracle that the damages weren't heavy. Some furnitures got destroyed, and there were some holes in the walls, but nothing unfixable or they couldn't afford.

So everyone returned to the meeting room, and Shingi took a seat as he needed to do so as he had to let the side effects of ending the double cast HASTE pass.

At least now he seemed to have their attention.