Jace stood his ground, shifting his boots on the grass as his eyes darted between the stares of the three Climbers.
The one with jet-black hair had slid down, slinging his bow around his back and said with some exasperation:
"Three minutes, man, you took us on a roll for three minutes. Do you realize how long we were chasing you?"
Jace pointed his adamantium sword at the conniving boy, deeming his voice was far from civilized.
"I don't want to fight, and neither do I have anything to give you."
But the conniving boy said back, with a crooked smile forming on his lips.
"Then why were you running?"
Now that the boy was much closer, his face was a real heartthrob, a total duality to his cunning manner. His eyes were stormy-blue, with obviously clear porcelain skin, and features that would have substituted a real model of attractiveness. It was a mystery why the boy had chosen the profession as a Climber.
Jace scoffed, trying not to break his composure from the conniving boy's gaze.
"You shot an arrow at my head. Is that how you normally start conversations on this Floor?"
The one with tied dark-blonde hair slid down, flipping two of his uneven swords like he was ready to engage.
"So, how are we going to do this? Do we take him back or deal with him here?"
Jace absolutely hated the confidence he carried with that indirect threat. The dark-blonde boy wasn't as nearly blessed in appearance as the conniving boy but anyone with the Soul was bound to be handsome. With a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, they were all healthy in terms of attraction.
The other Climber stepped forward, turning his eyes through the curtain of curly gray hair. He looked to be the oldest among their squad, with a desensitized face and flat, shrewd eyes. There were enough clues to assume he was the leader of the bunch.
Jace subtly stepped back, feeling a presence of danger when they began to surround him. But the conniving boy gestured for him to stop, clicking his tongue repeatedly, and said:
"Don't make us chase you again, really, that was a real hassle."
Jace kept his sword ready, keeping his voice calm and reasonable to the three Climbers.
"I mean no harm to any of you. I just need a Port Crystal back to a Safeworld."
The conniving boy blinked and raised his eyes.
"Oh, you're stranded! Is that why you were spying on us? Your plan was to rob us of our materials?"
Jace somehow suppressed his seething anger against the sarcasm.
"That sounds awfully familiar to what's happening right now. Actually, I think I feel like we could use some more exercise—"
But the dark-blonde boy lunged forward, thrusting his right sword through their conversation.
Jace deflected his attack and drew his adamantium sword back in a seamless motion.
[Skill Activate: Strike]
Their steel blades clashed, and then another, until the duel's pace transitioned into a terrifying competition of speed. There was no doubt that these Climbers were the same range of Levels as him, if not greater. But they had forgotten to account Jace was no ordinary fighter. His sense of swordsmanship was anything like any of them had ever seen.
The auburn boy fought with a purely unhinged style, with abrupt outburst of slashes and thrusts. His movements were minimal, intended to kill the enemy as fast as possible. Humans or monsters shared the same treatment. If they had posed a threat to him, then his brain would hardwire to think death was the necessary option.
It wasn't about a contest to see which Climber was the fastest in reaction or strongest in arms. Their duels mainly leaned upon who was the most unpredictable.
As their swords rang in quick rounds of clangor, Jace gritted his teeth. He admitted the duel had felt uncomfortable as his recent life-or-death situations had only involved fighting tall monsters. He had grown so accustomed to handling unnatural beings that facing a regular Climber was foreign. Though he was still determined to claw his way out alive, even if the odds weren't in his favor.
The dark-blonde boy folded both of his arms and lashed outwards in a devastating blow.
Jace staggered back, feeling his guard had broken the moment their swords collided.
His attacker raised one of his swords and jumped forward, aiming to gash a deep wound down the auburn boy's chest. But his sword was misdirected by the adamantium blade.
Jace coiled his right arm and inched closer. It wasn't going to kill, neither would it feel any pleasant.
[Skill Activate: Wide Slash]
The pommel of the adamantium sword slammed across the dark-blonde boy's face, though as his face was struck across, the blade had caught his ear and severed it completely.
The dark-blonde boy quickly spun around, expecting another attack to follow through his daze but it never came. He felt around the right side of his face, figuring out a certain body part was missing along with a stream of blood.
Jace snapped his eyes, following the senses of (Instinct), and pointed his adamantium sword at the hunter before he could let the arrow fly loose.
The conniving boy lifted his brow, suspecting the lone Climber might have had some eyes in the back of his head. He lowered his bow in the command of the other Climber with curly gray hair.
Their leader stepped between the waiting chaos, raising his palm in a gesture to stop their duel.
"That's enough."
Jace still gripped his sword with unwavering stubbornness, not believing any words that came out the mouth of these people. If another minute, or even half the time of that duel continued, he would have definitely lost. Dual swords were definitely an exotic style of swordplay but it was the ferocious tempo of attacks that began to deteriorate his defense.
The dark-blonde boy's speed strangely increased every time their swords had crossed. For even a parry, deflection, or a block, once their swords connected, he would immediately replicate another attack similar to the last.
(Instinct) had only helped his awareness with unseen attacks, not with first-hand danger perceived in front of him, so the Skill was outright useless in a duel if Jace's eyes were on his opponent.
Of course, if his back would be turned then the Skill would prove itself effective. Though, turning his back in the middle of a fight sounded ridiculous enough.
The dark-blonde boy shouted, trying to push past his leader as he flailed his swords around in anger.
"That son of a—did you even see what he's done to me?! He cut my damn ear off! Kill him! Do it!"
The squad's leader glanced at the Jace for a few seconds, somehow restraining his threatening member in the process, and said back in conclusion:
"We might have gotten the wrong impression. You have to excuse their behavior, as I imagine the act of stalking isn't very courteous in these worlds."
Jace held his guard, keeping their figures in his vision.
"Is that it?"
The squad leader managed to keep the dark-blonde boy under control, ordering him to compress the missing ear flowing with blood. He turned around and said:
"I'm afraid not, because after what you've done, we cannot allow you to leave."
Jace tried to step back, mentally preparing himself to run at full speed and ushering these Climbers into another tiring chase.
But the conniving boy clicked his teeth again, waving his finger.
"Again, really? Are you begging for a slow death?"
Jace silently grimaced, considering all the other options he had. Though, there was just one that he should have absolutely refused. If that were to happen, he needed to deal with everything within one minute.
Then their squad leader spoke, his voice overshadowing his contemplating thoughts.
"We could start again in introductions. Would that make you feel more at ease? I also hope not to chase after you again."
Jace nodded, unsure what type of direction their plan was taking. It was three Climbers against one, if they truly wanted to kill him for some sick pleasure, he should have already been dead. Keeping him alive and getting to know him didn't fit in the criteria of a deranged Climber.
Or, actually, it did.
The conniving boy was named Felix, fixing his tousled jet-black hair as he was introduced. He was the reason why Jace's trail was easily found during his attempt to escape. There was some sort of Skill that allowed him to trace a target's steps, along with enhanced awareness like (Instinct) which provoked this entire situation.
The dark-blonde boy was named Leo, a dual-wielding swordsman that just recently had his ear cut off. He didn't seem to be in a mood to converse any alternatives and would much rather kill the auburn boy in front of them.
And lastly, their squad leader was named Silas. The gray, curly haired boy held a stoic tone as he introduced his members. It was a possibility that the color of his hair might have derived from the stress of controlling his squad.
Silas continued, gesturing his hand in a calm manner to approach Jace.
"Would you care for a proposition? Instead of a trade of blood, we could use your tenacity for some other work?"
Jace looked around for a bit, then raised his adamantium sword again.
"And help you fulfill your sick pleasures of killing other Climbers?"
Silas shook his head.
"You must still be under the presumption that we are your enemy. We wouldn't have been having a conversation if you were already dead. Your best, and only choice is to cooperate."
Felix threateningly added in an encouraging tone:
"Go ahead, run, and see where that'll take you."
Silence surrounded the Climbers in the pine forest's clearing, awaiting the climatic answer of the auburn boy. Between a dragged death or to comply against his aggressors, each fate sounded more terrible than the last.
Jace sighed, cursing under his breath and lowered the adamantium sword.
"What am I getting from this?"
Silas exchanged looks with his squad members before answering:
"You will have your own share of compensation, if that is what you are asking."
Jace was still unsure what the three Climbers intended to do with him. It was already tough to judge from Silas's plain tone but, somehow, his words didn't seem to carry any malice. He was actually asking Jace to join his squad.
Without much of a decision, the auburn boy stood straight, holding his adamantium sword tight in case of any sudden tricks, and said:
"As long as I get my Port Crystal."