"Wh-what is this?" Jack wondered, dumbfounded, as the fight between Kojo and the mutated Silver Lynx shook the area.
"It's not possible. The Silver Lynx is classified as a grade 5 beast out of a scale of seven. Its unique trait is that it's so fast it defies the natural laws. There was even a story of how a sound magic user was ripped apart before he could react, and yet..." He gritted his teeth. "This boy is matching it blow for blow. Just who is he? No, what is he?"
The ground near them exploded. Kojo got up from the crater and lunged at the Lynx. He was using Hound, causing him to grow claws and fangs. But this time, he grew ears on top of his head and a silky tail.
(And why, if I may ask?)
"Come on, I look cool," Kojo said as he dodged a swing from the Lynx, then jumped back, squatting in front of it.
(You look like a dog.)
"That's kinda the point. Don't you see the symbolism?"
Sysia sighed. (It's rather ironic.)
"What are you trying to say?"
(Animal in human form.)
"Hey, that is not cool," Kojo said, folding his arms. He instinctively bent backward to dodge another attack.
"What's up with this kid?" Jack wondered again. "He's up against the fastest beast there is, and he's—" Jack came to a realization. "He's not taking this seriously," he said, watching as Kojo stood at one point, dodging as the Lynx used its speed to attack him from all directions.
"How is he doing that?" Lin asked.
"Yeah, and I never knew he was a demihuman. How did he manage to hide it?" Koniko added.
"He's not a demihuman, just human. Although this ability comes as a surprise to me too," Sharone said, observing the fight.
The Lynx's tail changed into the stinger of a scorpion, and it attacked Kojo with it from behind. He ducked to avoid it, then continued to avoid a barrage of high-speed attacks.
(Get serious already. You're wasting time.)
"Yeah, but I need to test out the effectiveness of my Impulse."
(You're just doing this to look cool in front of the ladies.)
Kojo giggled. "You know me too well. Just what I'd expect from man's most advanced A.I."
Sysia sighed. (Idiot. But shouldn't you be more cautious about displaying too much power?)
"Oh hell no. That's like the biggest cliché in the anime industry." The Lynx hit him into the ground, sending dust into the air.
"Kojo!" Sharone yelled in concern. The dust cleared, revealing only the broken pavement under the beast's paw. They were all surprised to see Kojo cross-legged on the Lynx's back, resting his chin in his palm.
"Think about it. In almost all anime, the M.C. hides his powers for reasons ranging from not wanting to draw attention to protecting his loved ones. Yeah, they have their reasons, but that's just pure B.S. I mean, come on, man, you wouldn't have to protect anyone if the bad guys knew it was in their own interest not to fuck with you or your friends or whatever."
"What's he talking about?" Lin wondered out loud.
Sharone looked away. "Come on, don't tell me you haven't sensed the boss observing from the rooftop?"
(Well, I have.)
"See. This is just me making a statement. Aside from showing off to the ladies, that is."
(You're hopeless.)
The beast tried to stab him with its stinger from behind. He caught it without looking and threw it over his head.
"Now let's test out that new skill."
QUICKSILVER.
Lightning crackled around his body, and he moved so fast time appeared slow. He pulled out his sword and slashed at it before it could hit the ground.
"No way. Did he just?" Jack wondered.
"He's just as fast as the Lynx. It's like he's adapted to its speed," Sharone said.
"No. He didn't adapt. He's copied the Lynx's natural ability to move fast. He must have copied the claws from a beast too. I wonder if he can copy magic as well. I need to gather more information about this boy," Jack thought.
Kojo used his claws and his sword to move around the Lynx, slashing and cutting it.
POISON KING.
He secreted poison onto his claws. That, coupled with his sword's bleed effect. The Lynx, sensing its end, tried to make a run for it.
Red chains and vines shot upward and bound the beast, while a gust of wind brought it flying back toward Kojo.
"Thanks, guys," he thought.
The ground directly under him protruded suddenly, sending him into the air. He shot some webs at the Lynx and pulled it up with him, throwing it above him. He then propelled himself over it using fire. He crossed his arms, extending claws from both fingertips. His speed increased, and in the blink of an eye, he was squatting on the ground, arms spread out. He straightened, blood and small chunks of flesh fell around him.
"I guess that's it," he said, moving toward the others.
(What was with that stupid pose?)
"What? That made me look cool."
(What are you going to do about our one-man audience? Shouldn't we go and question him?)
Kojo looked at the rooftop where the hooded figure was. The cloaked man turned and walked away.
"Nah. I think he got the message."
"Hey Kojo," Sharone came up to him. "What was that just now?"
"Yes, I would like to know too," Koniko said, leaning on Lin for support.
"Oh, it's just one of my abilities," he replied, retracting his claws but maintaining the ears.
(You look stupid. Take them off.)
"Aww. You're such a killjoy," Kojo whined, but the ears vanished.
"Well, I'm off to bed," Kojo said, then turned.
"You can't go to bed like that. You'll stain the bed sheet with blood," Sharone said.
"Fine, I'll take a bath. Hey, what happened to your clothes?"
"Huh?" Sharone said, looking down at the rips, her face turning red at the amount of flesh they exposed.
Kojo's mouth watered as he eyed her partially exposed breasts. Sharone covered them with her arms.
"Don't look at me like that," she yelled at him.
"Sorry," he said, quickly looking away.
Lin and Koniko watched them go, surprised that they were acting as if nothing had happened.
When they entered their room, Kojo took a bath and lay on the bed. Sharone cleaned up and was about to join him when they heard a knock on the door.
"Oh, it's you guys," he said to Koniko and Lin. "Sup?"
"Well, about what happened..." Koniko began.
"There's no need to explain. I know you guys needed money, that's why you did what you did."
"How did you know?" Lin asked.
"I have a great sense of hearing," he said, getting his wolf ears on top of his head and making a cute face.
(Still looks lame.)
Kojo pouted. "It's okay, we don't mind," Sharone said.
"Yeah. I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes," Sharone elbowed him, and he dropped to the ground.
(Idiot.)
"I hope we can forget all of this and move forward as friends," she said with a smile.
"Friends," Koniko repeated. They smiled faintly. "We'd like that."
"Good."
"Um," Lin said nervously.
Sharone and Kojo looked questioningly.
"Well, the thing is, our inn got destroyed in the fight, so we came to see if maybe we could stay with you guys for a while?"
"Uuuuuh...." was all Kojo could say, unsure of how to respond.
"Sure, why not," Sharone said. "You can stay as long as you want. It's even good that party members are close to each other." She stretched out her hands. "Come in."
Koniko and Lin looked at each other before smiling and taking her hand.
"Hey Kojo, could you help them with their luggage?"
He was about to protest, but she glared at him, and he fell silent. He brought their stuff inside and closed the door.
"Well, this isn't so bad," he thought, putting their things down. "This is perfect. I get to sleep next to three beautiful and busty young women. This is fate," he said, giggling as he imagined them all asleep in transparent nightgowns.
"You all must be tired, why don't you come rest?" Sharone said, sitting on the bed.
Koniko noticed the weird yet delighted expression on Kojo's face.
"He's not going to be in the same bed with us, is he?" she asked.
"Well, the bed is big enough for three, but I don't think there'll be space for a fourth," Sharone said.
Kojo's mouth fell open.
(The taste of disappointment.)
Kojo shook his head. "Then where will I sleep?" he asked.
"You'll figure something out," she said as Koniko, Lin, and Sharone settled into the bed.
"Good night," Sharone said.
"Good night, Kojo," Lin said.
"Don't try anything funny, or else," Koniko said.
"Now what?" Kojo thought.
(Don't ask me. I can't help you here.)
"If I tried to make a move, the three of them would pounce on me, and my chances of surviving the encounter don't look too good. The bed can only take three people, so it'd be bad of me to cause them any discomfort," he said thoughtfully. Then he smiled and turned back.
"Cloud."
A cloud appeared. Kojo then wrapped his silken threads around it, turning it into a king-sized bed-shaped cushion. He then made a pillow and a blanket, then fell onto it.
He stretched, yawning in satisfaction. "Always wondered how it would be like." He remembered the cloaked man on the roof. "I'll look into that later. Right now, I think I'll get the rest I deserve."
He blew out the lights in the room using wind.
"Good night, Sysia."
(Good night, Kojo.)