The Grand Duelist

Chapter 103: Segway[3]

Standing on a cliff overlooking a valley...

A wry smile escaped Joseph's lips when he saw the number of monsters lurking on the valley.

The so-called Mutated Beasts were surrounded by the thick energy of darkness.

Julie who was a member of the noble and arrogant Vampire Race described these beasts as monsters.

In other words, they must not be trifled with...

Even Alice's complexion turned somewhat grim when she swept her gaze on the valley.

Joseph's eyes locked on a single beast and he whispered these words into the air.

"Character Scrutinize!"

Ding!

[The Target is not a living organism.]

[Character Scrutinize has failed.]

These beasts are not considered as living organisms? What is going on? Are they undead? Just what is even the criteria so that something can be called "living"?

Joseph shook his head and erased these thoughts, there were far more pressing matters to consider than how the skill, Character Scrutinize worked. But since his plan didn't work, Joseph turned to look at Alice and asked.

"What do you think? Can we defeat them?"

Alice sized Joseph up and said, "We? You're going to work with me against these beasts?"

Joseph lifted an eyebrow and said, "Of course! Are you underestimating me again? Let me tell you this, even though I am weak right now, I am still capable of doing things that you do not expect! Can you consider someone that can rescue you from the hands of the Kingdom as weak?"

Alice shook her head and chuckled, "All right, all right. I understand. Can you not use that saving me from the kingdom card again? It is getting pretty annoying. It just makes you sound like you are desperately trying to prove yourself to me..." 

Alice coldly continued, "Those who are truly strong make their actions speak for them instead of their mouths!"

Joseph was irritated.

But before he could even voice out his complaints...

Hulie's worried voice rang from behind Alice.

"Ate... Kuya... Are you fighting?"

Joseph was taken aback by Hulie's words and a bitter smile emerged on his lips. Meanwhile, Alice couldn't even maintain her cold facade anymore as she said, "Of course not, Hulie... Me and Big Brother Joseph are not fighting. We are just teasing each other." She stared meaningfully at Joseph.

Joseph's lips repeatedly twitched but he could do nothing other than agree, "Yes, that is the truth, Hulie." He then sweetly smiled towards the young lass. But on the inside, he was completely bitter as he thought.

Just what is this difference in treatment? After all of these are over and done, I think I'm going to cut ties with this girl if she keeps this condescending attitude to me.

Like what did I even did? Is it because I saw her naked? But if she's mad at me because of that then I can say that she's quite narrow-minded!!!

He inwardly grumbled before turning to look at Alice and asking, "You still haven't answered my question."

His tone became significantly cold and distant.

Alice's eyes narrowed when she heard his cold voice. But she still answered, "I can handle them, but not too many at a time. At most, I can handle three of them at once." She then turned her head away from Joseph's gaze and stared at the distance.

It was unknown what she was thinking.

Joseph didn't notice Alice's strange mannerisms. For him, what he cared for the most right now was how he could swiftly and efficiently level up by using Alice's taxi service without triggering the restrictions placed by the Principle or the so-called Laws of Causality.

For starters, I need to lure the monsters away save for two or three of them.

Joseph's gaze landed on a piece of elevated land directly under the cliff that they were standing on.

But when realized that he was standing too close to the edge of the cliff, he felt a shiver down his spine as he casually stepped backward and revealed a smile to Alice.

"What's wrong?" Alice asked, she was now completely back to normal and was obviously wearing her cold facade.

"N-Nothing..." Joseph answered.

Suppressing the fear and anxiety within his heart, he then continued, "From what I can see down below, there are at least several dozens of Mutated Beasts right below us..."

"Since you can only handle three of them at most, we need to find a way so that we could lure the other monsters away from the area, then lure two or three of them back near this cliff."

Alice nodded her head in agreement.

"I don't think that you'll be able to help me that much on fighting these beasts. How about I just give you the job of luring them away from the cliff? In that way, you can at least help me." Alice proposed an idea. 

Joseph nodded his head before she turned to look at the sleepy Julie. 

"Julie, do you have any idea on how big brother here can lure these monsters away?"

Julie's eyes brightened as if she was awakened from a deep reverie, "Ah! Yes, Kuya! I know how to lure them away!"

"Hahaha," Joseph chuckled, "Are you okay? You didn't have to shout. I'm so close to you, you know? With your voice, I think I can even hear you for miles away."

Julie blushed in embarrassment and she pounded on Joseph's back as the latter teasingly chuckled.

Afterwards, under his urging.

Julie finally revealed the answer that could help them in their conundrum.

"Kuya, these monsters are attracted to light. In this place that's perpetually hidden from the sun, they can see the light of a candle from miles away..."

"Of course, that is if the topography is completely flat. If there were obstacles then it wouldn't make sense for them to see it, right? But this ability of them is also the reason why we seldom use lights even in the City."

Joseph sweetly smiled in understanding.

Afterwards, he ruffled Julie's hair before saying, "I will go down there and fight these monsters along with your big sis Alice. Can you take care of your sister in the meantime? We will not go far away, we'll just going to exterminate these monsters so we can dig a place for us to stay."

"Don't worry, Kuya Joseph..."

"Even if I look somewhat weak right now, I am also strong, you know! I can easily protect Hulie from these monsters."

"Oh? You're strong?" Joseph raised an eyebrow and stared at Julie, "Really?"

Julie puffed her chest out and said, "But of course!" 

"Really? Surely, you jest." Joseph teased.

"Hmmph!" This time, Julie puffed her cheeks and complained, "If not for this curse then I could've easily made another underground cave for us to stay. But if Kuya Joseph really wants to see how strong I am, then I can show you!" 

"Hahaha..." Joseph chuckled, he stretched his hand out and ruffled her hair as he replied, "I am convinced, you're really a strong girl... How could a weak girl endure something such as The Curse of the Condemned? I'm not doubting you, In fact. I haven't doubted you from the start..."

Julie's expression turned prideful as she said, "It's good as long as you know, Kuya!"

Joseph repeatedly nodded his head like chicken pecking rice before he placed Julie on the ground.

"Julie, Hulie. I'll go now, all right? Hulie, you stay with your sis. Be obedient..."

"Mhmm!" Hulie beamed with a smile and waved goodbye. She didn't complain nor cry, for while Joseph was in the middle of coaxing Julie. Alice explained to her what they were about to do. She knew what was about to happen, so she didn't have any reason to cry.

Joseph stood at the edge of the cliff. He made a sidelong glance at Alice, and after seeing her somewhat complacent and arrogant face. He felt annoyed. Although he easily suppressed her irritation as he steeled his nerves and looked down below.

Now, how am I suppose to generate a light that will attract these monsters below the valley without attracting other monsters that are far-away from this place? Julie said that these guys can see the light coming from a candle even if they were several miles away from that candle... But she also said that their vision can't go through obstacles...

Joseph swept his gaze across the valley.

The terrain looks really similar to the Forbidden Region. The rocks are sharp and protruding, although they are thin and don't provide that much cover. I think that I can still use them...

As for the monsters about this elevated platform directly below the valley. It's pretty easy for me to lure them away, but I am more concerned about the monsters outside that I may lure in here.

Joseph made a small map inside his head based on what he could see in his vision. As for what he couldn't see, he could do nothing other than speculate and make other contingency plans based on them.

But then suddenly, his eyes widened in shock when he realized one simple detail that he had ignored ever since he came here to this place...

These monsters and light are like sodium and water. Wherever one goes, the other goes.

The plan right now is for me to come down and run around in circles while holding a source of light in my hands. But who said that I need to do that?! No one said that it is a must for me to descend down there and lure them by myself!

I could just create a source of light then throw that light away to the location where I want these monsters to appear!

How did I miss such a small detail? All the planning that I made are now useless before this fact! 

Joseph facepalmed.

Alice frowned when she saw him somewhat hesitating.

"Are you not going to jump? We don't have any time to waste. We need to take shelter as fast as possible. The environment here is cruel and who knows if we don't die from the cold."

The environment inside this place perpetually hidden from the sun was indeed ruthless to those who were weak.

If not for Alice's trained body, she would've already died from hypothermia.

"You don't have to worry, I'm just thinking about something..." Joseph revealed a mysterious smile.

He took out his Rapier of Grandeur and Beauty and slowly took a stance.

Alice saw his stance and said, "You're trying to use Point? But what for? The starting point of Point does ignite a brilliant light that could attract these monsters, but since you are still here. What you are doing is useless!" 

Joseph's smile deepened, "What I am doing is useless?" 

Dazzling light gathered at the tip of the Rapier of Grandeur and Beauty. The light didn't bring with it many changes to the temperature of the area. Instead, staring at it felt like staring at the sun itself...

Even Julie and Hulie winced in pain when the brilliant light appeared.

"Since you are saying that what I am doing is useless..." Joseph slowly raised his Rapier into the air.

"Then, open your eyes..." He held the Rapier in his hands like he was holding a harpoon.

"You... What are you doing?" Alice's eyes widened in shock.

She had a bad premonition of what was about to happen.

"Look clearly... I will show you how to lure these bastards away!" Joseph screamed.

The Rapier that he held tightly in his hands flew like an arrow towards the horizon.

The monsters beneath them noticed the light and they quickly followed suit like bounty hunters pursuing their rewards.

Bang!

A loud explosion occurred at the distance.

The Rapier of Grandeur and Beauty stabbed itself onto the ground and stood taut like a flagpole. It agitated and attracted the Mutated Beasts favored by the dark.

1. Means, Big sister