Lord of the Mysteries: The Omnipresent Force

Elliot stepped out of his room, feeling the weight of the destroyed table on his conscience. The innkeeper, a rough woman with a no-nonsense attitude, would likely be furious. He had, after all, broken the table in a fit of uncontrolled power. He needed to settle this.

"I'm really sorry about the table in my room. I accidentally broke it.," he said, stepping up to the innkeeper who was cleaning a mug behind the counter.

The innkeeper barely glanced up from her task. "Not the first time someone's busted up a table, and I doubt it'll be the last," she grumbled. "Just pay up and move along. No room for mess around here."

Elliot pulled out a few coins and handed them over without hesitation. "Consider it paid for. Thanks for your understanding," he added before quickly heading out, eager to get to the next step in his mission.

He had a plan. Remembering that there were bounty hunters who operated in Backlund, he guessed that there should be taverns or bars in Backlund where mercenaries and adventurers often posted their job requests.

If I can find a place like that, I might be able to commission someone to spar with me. That's exactly what I need.

Elliot had asked a local for directions and, after a few grumbled instructions, he finally found his way to a tavern called The Huntsman's Rest. Its wooden sign swayed in the breeze, depicting a silhouette of a hunter with a bow, an arrow nocked and ready

As soon as he walked into the tavern, the scent of alcohol and damp wood hit him, mixed with the sounds of quiet conversations. There was a low murmur of activity, and a few hardened faces glanced up at him, sizing him up.

A lot of eyes on me. Don't get distracted.

He made his way to the counter, where a large bartender was wiping down glasses.

"I'm looking for a sparring partner," Elliot said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Someone with mystical abilities."

The bartender raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any questions. "Post a request if you want someone serious. You won't find any friendly offers unless you put something on the board." He gestured toward a weathered bulletin board in the back corner.

Sounds reasonable enough, Elliot thought, following the bartender's indication and approaching the board filled with bounty notices. The typical requests caught his eye—hunting targets, finding objects, and the occasional murder-for-hire job. I'll just post something simple and hope for the best.

He filled out a job notice and pinned it on the board, hoping to find someone willing to engage in a challenge.

"Looking for a sparring partner with mystical abilities. 20 pounds. Serious inquiries only."

Elliot smiled, satisfied with his choice of words. He knew this would attract someone with enough skill to match him. He quickly attached the note to the board before stepping back to wait.

Time passed slowly as he leaned against the bar, watching the room around him.

How long will it take for someone to respond?

He had no idea how long it would take for someone to respond to his request, but as the minutes stretched on, his mind thought of various strategies he could use in his fight. That's when a small figure entered the tavern, and Elliot couldn't help but take notice.

She was short, with messy, shoulder-length blond hair. Her youthful features might have made her appear innocent or naïve, but there was something else—an unshakable dignity that radiated from her. Despite her size, people instinctively gave her space. Her sun-kissed skin, the mark of someone who had spent countless hours outdoors, only added to her aura of confidence.

She headed straight for the counter. As Elliot watched, he instantly recognized her—Xio Derecha, a future member of the Tarot Club, also known as Judgement. He had read about her in passing, but this was the first time he had seen her in person.

For now, though, he had more pressing matters. After watching her ask about some bounties, she exited the tavern, leaving Elliot with the thought that he might meet her again someday.

We'll see if our paths cross again...

After some more time passed, a large and burly man, approached the board, his gaze lingering on the job notice Elliot had posted. He was a mountain of muscle with a deep voice that rumbled like a growl. There was a rawness to him, a ferocity that made the others in the room give him a wide berth. Accepting the job request, the bartender guided him toward Elliot's seat.

"Name's Gorrik," the man grunted, extending a hand. His voice was rough, like gravel scraping against stone. "You the one looking for a spar?"

"That's right," Elliot replied, sizing him up. "You interested?"

Gorrik gave a slight nod. "20 pounds for a fight, eh? Fine with me. Let's head outside." His voice was deep, and there was no mistaking the strength in his words.

The alley behind the tavern was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the tension of an impending fight. Gorrik stood tall, his imposing physique almost blocking out the light as he prepared himself.

Alright, Elliot. Focus. Don't underestimate him.

Elliot tried to match his calmness, despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, especially considering the man's size and strength.

As they faced off, Elliot quickly assessed the situation.

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[Arcane Sight Activated]

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Elliot's focus sharpened, and the world around him shifted. Gorrik's body appeared faintly surrounded by a shimmering, iridescent glow with a red tint, the aura of his supernatural strength. But it wasn't just Gorrik's body that Elliot saw. The environment around them seemed to pulse with hidden energy.

What's that?

Elliot's gaze flicked to the ground beneath Gorrik's feet, where subtle shifts in the energy disturbed the air—something was wrong there.

"Ready to see how much you can handle?" Gorrik growled, stepping forward with a lightning-fast punch.

Elliot narrowly dodged, his [Arcane Sight] guiding him as he predicted the trajectory of the blow by the energy fluctuation he could see in the air. The punch missed by a hair, and the force of Gorrik's strike sent a shockwave through the air. Elliot's heart pounded in his chest, but he knew he couldn't afford to rely solely on his vision. He had to keep his wits about him.

As Gorrik pressed the attack, Elliot quickly realized something else—his opponent was setting traps. Gorrik moved with precision, throwing a handful of sand into the air, momentarily blinding Elliot. In that brief moment of distraction, Elliot realized that Gorrik had maneuvered him into the place he was standing at the beginning of the fight, the place where he saw something wrong with the ground.

Elliot's senses flared as the trap came into view—an snare hidden beneath the dirt, just waiting to entangle his legs. He sidestepped at the last second, feeling the trap snap into place behind him. His breath came in quick gasps as he realized just how dangerous Gorrik was. From his fighting style and abilities Elliot determined that he wasn't just a fighter—he was a Hunter from the Red Priest Pathway, capable of setting traps, using explosives, and navigating any terrain with deadly precision.

"I see you've noticed," Gorrik said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "A Hunter knows how to turn the environment into a weapon."

Elliot's pulse raced as he squared off again. He couldn't afford to make a mistake. Not against someone this skilled.

Gorrik grinned, stepping forward with brutal force. His punches were like boulders, each one aimed to crush.

The next blow came at him faster than before, and Elliot had no choice but to dodge. But this time, it wasn't just his quick reflexes that saved him. The trap Gorrik had set near his feet, combined with the sheer speed of Gorrik's fist, was almost too much to handle. The hit grazed Elliot's side, sending a shock of pain through his body.

Low on energy from constantly using [Arcane Sight], he decided to switch tactics.

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[Arcane Resonance Activated]

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Elliot focused, using [Arcane Resonance] to draw in energy, pushing through the pain. His body surged with power, though he could feel the cost—a drain on his stamina. The energy replenished his [Arcane Sight], but each surge of power came at a price.

"You'll need more than tricks to win this," Gorrik warned, his voice growing more intense.

Elliot, reeling from the hit, realized the fight was only going to get tougher. He couldn't keep relying on his [Arcane Sight] for long. His energy was running low, and Gorrik's raw strength and traps were only getting deadlier.

Damn, I'm running out of options.

But before he could act, Gorrik's fist was already descending—stronger and faster than anything he had seen before.