The Grand Duelist

Within the depths of the City perpetually hidden from the dark.

The First Elder, Second Elder, and the City Chief could be seen sitting on the three corners of a dilapidated room. The First Elder sat cross-legged at the eastern corner, the Second Elder at the western corner, and the City Chief sat at the southern corner.

On the northern corner sat an altar made out of twelve stones stacked upon each other. The stones looked nothing out of the ordinary, but what was terrifying was the fact that there was fresh blood dripped on top of the stones as if it was dessert topped by syrup.

The crimson blood mysteriously shone in a dazzling golden light which faintly illuminated the room, making it somewhat clear that there were indescribable runes carved on the floor of the room.

With the altar situated at the northern side which was within the center of those runes, the elders were at the edges and with this...

Everything was complete.

It was time...

"We..."

The elders uttered at the same time.

"Summon in our name..."

"The Demon of Deceit and Temptation."

"The Great one who resides on a castle of bones."

"The Lesser Devil named Gelial."

"We summon thee!"

The elders pointed at the altar with their thumb and middle finger held together. At that moment, indescribable power descended upon them. The ordinary stones stacked on top of each other turned grey and lifeless. They crumbled into ashes, like bones withered by the passage of time.

The overwhelming power pressured each elder present. None of them even dared to breathe too loud, afraid that they may acquire the ire of the devil that they were summoning.

They only stared at the floor near the altar for they were concerned that if they stared right at the altar.

Their eyesight may be stolen from them as punishment for staring right at the image of a Demon.

"Why have you summoned me?"

A voice that sounded like a mixture of male and female, but with a sore throat rang out within the room. 

Sweat dripped down the faces of the elders as the City Chief mustered what was left of his courage as he opened his mouth and barely squeezed these words out, "We are here to report... honorable one."

"Oh? Y'all here to report? Y'all should've told me earlier~ Y'all know that you can modify the contents of the summoning ritual, you know? Just add what you want to say at the end~"

The illusory voice turned into the voice of a seductress, it was incredibly mellow and the body temperature of the elders rose when they heard the voice.

The City Chief gulped a mouthful of saliva and suppressed the emotions rising up in his body, "Yes, honorable one. You did tell us about such a method."

"Then why did you not use it?!" The voice roared and transformed into a male voice that sounded more like the static coming out of a television. It was jarring to hear and when it came out, the elders simultaneously coughed a mouthful of blood. 

They were injured...

The First Elder, the Second Elder, and the City Chief revealed rueful looks on their faces. They looked like they wanted to explain but they were afraid to do so.

In the end, it was the City Chief who stepped up and said. 

"Our reports this time include information that we deemed necessary for your summon, honorable one." He respectfully said with his head lowered. He didn't dare to even raise his head when he spoke, afraid that he may further exacerbate the anger within Gelial.

"Oh? Interesting~ What kind of report do you have that it requires my appearance?" The voice became like a seductress once again, sending the elders' minds into turmoil.

"We were in the middle of hot pursuit against two residents afflicted with the Curse of the Condemned. But then we found an outsider that claimed that he was the God of Fighting..." The City Chief went straight to the point.

"He claimed that he's the God of Fighting? And you believed him?" The illusory voice sounded somewhat dissatisfied.

"Yes, honorable one. He used the distinguished name of the God of Fighting." The City Chief swallowed his fear as he explained.

"Oh? The distinguished name of that old geezer? I see, but you do know that anyone can know the distinguished name of that strangely popular geezer if they just read some history books, right?" A hint of danger could now be felt from the voice.

"He..." The City Chief paused for a moment as he forcefully swallowed a mouthful of saliva before continuing, "He also summoned an avatar that contained the Divinity of a deity."

When he finished this sentence, everything turned silent. The elders glanced at each other but they didn't dare to raise their heads and take a glimpse of what was happening on the altar. Thankfully, after a few moments of silence, the voice replied once again.

"Interesting... Since that is the case, I am sure that the geezer said that he wanted to experiment on those residents, right? That bastard is eccentric like that so it should be the case." The illusory voice said in matter-of-factly voice that didn't allow any objections.

"Yes... But, honorable one. What shall we do? If we do not capture those sisters then we will lose precious offerings for you, and..." The City Chief looked like he was hesitant to continue, afraid that he may provoke the ire of the honorable one.

"Oh, you do not have to worry about that. Just don't do anything towards them for now. Let that old geezer do whatever he wants to do..."

"But after a few weeks, if those residents are still alive. Try and capture them again. From my understanding of that old geezer, he's easily distracted and by that time, he should've lost interest with those curse-laden residents."

The City Chief nodded his head in understanding, "By your will, honorable one."

He bowed his head and kept his silence, but he looked like he wanted to say something else...

He just didn't have the guts to do it.

"Y'all do not have to hide your desires, you know? It's useless to hide those deep-seated desires in front of me. You can just indulge in those desires... Yes, indulge yourself... Tell me what you want, tell me your desires and I shall grant them."

"But in exchange..." 

"Offer yourself to depravity." The illusory voice chuckled at the end of its sentence before a dull explosion occurred.

The Elders raised their heads and they found that the stones stacked upon each other had turned into ashes. Within those ashes were three droplets of spherical blood that didn't diffuse into the ashes nor shatter. It was sitting right there on top of the ashes, ready to be gathered and consumed.

The Elders licked their lips...

They didn't suppress their desire for blood anymore as they lunged towards the droplets of blood left by Gelial and equally shared it to themselves.

...

Joseph prepared a sumptuous meal. Since this place didn't have the concept of day and night and instead, the residents slept whenever they felt sleepy. Joseph disregarded the fact that it may be in the middle of the night right now as he bought several items from the Cash Shop.

He handed over a dress for both Julie and Hulie...

Since both sisters were members of the Vampire Race, he speculated that they prepared darker colors so Joseph gave Julie a pitch-black dress, while he gave Hulie a crimson-red dress. The two were delighted by the gifts that they received and they instantly became far energetic than before.

The small sealed room that was quite cramped due to the presence of four people instantly became lively. Joseph felt like he wasn't even in the game anymore. He felt like he was with his so-called friends back then, talking with them, teasing each other and then laughing at some lame jokes.

The joyful situation lasted for quite a while. It only ended when the two sisters found themselves exhausted.

"Kuya, Ate... I'm sleepy..." Hulie voiced out her complaint.

"Hahaha..." Joseph chuckled, he ruffled the young lass's hair as he said, "You were too excited earlier, Hulie. But I didn't really expect that you know so much about medicinal herbs. You'll really be a good doctor once we're out here!" 

"Really?" Hulie was delighted with the praise that she received as she sweetly smiled. But she still glanced at Alice as if she was waiting for her confirmation.

"Hahaha..." Alice covered her mouth with one hand and chuckled, "He's not lying to you, Hulie. Your knowledge about medicinal herbs even surpasses me to the point that it's really astounding to think that you're so young! By the way, how old are you, Hulie?"

Joseph's interest was piqued. He also wanted to hear the answer to this question.

Hulie pondered for a moment before she replied with a smile, "I'm already eighteen this year, ate Alice!"

Alice froze when she heard the answer. Did she hear it wrongly? A look of confusion appeared on her face as she glanced at Joseph and found that he also had the same look of astonishment on his face.

"What? You're eighteen? We're of the same age then!" Alice exclaimed in shock.

"What? You're also eighteen? Then we're of the same age too!" Joseph exclaimed at the side.

Alice snapped her gaze towards Joseph's direction. Her lips twitching and she didn't know whether she should laugh or to cry.

They treated the twin sisters like children but in the end, it turned out that they were of the same age!

This was really an amusing situation...

Even Joseph forgot to close his mouth that went agape.

"Wait, are you really eighteen?" Joseph turned to ask Julie. Since Hulie was somewhat childish, it was better to ask Julie who was far sensible than her.

Julie innocently nodded her head, "Yes, that's right, Kuya. I am eighteen this year, and so is Hulie..."

Then, you shouldn't call me Kuya... Joseph inwardly sighed. But he didn't tell her this, after all since she was already used to calling him Kuya. Why not just let the misunderstanding continue? It's not even that disruptive anyways. Joseph concluded.

He glanced at Alice and the two of them nodded in tacit understanding.

I really appreciate Alice... The fact that she can read along the lines makes some situations convenient. Senior Krid, you brought her up real good. Joseph lifted a smile and praised Krid in his heart. Even though that old man looked like he wasn't really that suitable for the job of raising a child. I have to admit that he's quite capable in this industry!

The two secretly decided that they would not change their treatment towards the twin sisters even though they were of the same age. 

"Uh... Julie, Hulie... Are both of you really sure that you are now cured of the Curse of the Condemned? If you are not that sure yet then, you can keep on consuming my blood. I don't really mind." Joseph asked.

Julie and Hulie turned their gaze at Joseph and the latter found that the gazes of the twin sisters became filled with desire. A hint of fear crept up in his heart for he felt like he was being stared by monsters.

[Your dignity can never be lower than those who dare stand against you.]

A system notification appeared in front of Joseph and it miraculously swept his worries away.

He now didn't fear the hungry gazes of the twin sisters.

"What about it?" Joseph asked.

"Ah!"0

Julie awakened from her trance and she wiped the droll that decorated her lips as she embarrassingly replied, "I'm sorry, Kuya... But your blood... really was too tasty... I'm afraid that if I kept on drinking your blood, then I may become addicted!"

A blush spread on her cheeks when she reached the end of her sentence.

Hulie wore the same expression as her sister. The only difference was that instead of using her hands to hide her face, she hid behind Julie and only stuck her crimson eyes out to stare at Joseph.

"Hahaha... It's fine, it's fine... As long as the two of you can recover." Joseph expressed.

"No... It's fine, really... Kuya Joseph. We're okay now, the curse is no longer a problem for us, so it's okay..." Julie defiantly replied.

Seeing that she's refusing to this extent. Joseph could only let a dry laugh before saying: "Okay then if you insist. We're going to stop the small party now. It looks like Hulie's about to pass out right there. She became really talkative, you know?"

"Now, she's suffering the consequences of her actions earlier."

Julie glanced at Hulie and chuckled, "Hahaha, you're right about that, Kuya. We just recovered, yet Hulie didn't manage to suppress her excitement..."

"But don't blame her about it, Kuya. I'm also excited too! I mean, I can finally complete the novel that I am making!" Her eyes flashed with a dazzling light.

Alice's interest was piqued.

Since she and her grandfather often traveled the land like vagabonds. Books and dolls were often Alice's friends. She collected and read books to satisfy her curiosity about the world, while she bought a lot of dolls so she could talk to them and tell them her problems.

When she heard Julie saying that she can finally continue her book and write it until the end.

Her interest was piqued and she couldn't help but ask, "You're writing a book, Julie? Can you let me see? I like to read books, and I read a lot of them back on the outside world, maybe I can give you some advice, plot-wise." She gave a kind smile.

But her enthusiasm caused Julie's embarrassment to flare up as the crimson blush on her cheeks intensified until it reached her neck...

Joseph who observed everything on the side had to interrupt them as he said, "Calm down Julie. Just let the young lass decide if she wants to give you her book. You can't force things, let nature take its course."

Alice glared at Joseph, "Just let the young lass decide? It seems like your face really is the thickest part of your body. To think that you'd still act like someone older than them after hearing that they are of the same age as yours!"

Joseph almost choked on the juice that he was drinking and he glared angrily at Alice, "What are you talking about? I'm just saying that she should decide on what she wants to do. That is why you should not coerce her into doing something that she doesn't want to do!"

"I am coercing her now?" Alice bit back.

"Yes!" Joseph almost immediately replied.

"Oh? You wanna take this outside?" Alice stood up like a hooligan and even took a random tree branch on the ground.

"You took the words out of my mouth!" Joseph didn't falter and he also stood up.

"Kuya, Ate! Don't fight!" Hulie screamed out loud and interrupted the argument.

Alice and Joseph awakened from their reverie as they simultaneously looked at each other before turning their eyes to Hulie who looked like she was about to cry. It seemed like this young lass hated it when her Kuya and Ate fought against each other.

Joseph turned to look at Hulie and looked like he wanted to explain, but Julie beat her on his own game.

"Uh... Hulie, Ate and Kuya are not fighting."

"Huh? They are not fighting? But why are they raising their voice?" Hulie innocently asked.

Julie glanced at Joseph and Alice before she replied in a matter-of-factly voice: "Do you remember how Papa and Mama fought? They seem to look like they are fighting, but that is actually their way of expressing their love for each other!"

"The more you hate, the more you love, so in other words. They are only loving each other! No fighting, all right?"

Joseph and Alice almost coughed a mouthful of blood when they heard what Julie said.

Joseph approached them and wanted to explain, but Hulie spoke up first and said, "Really? They are not fighting? Yay! Hehehe, I don't really like it when Ate and Kuya fight. I want everyone to be happy! Yes, happy! Being happy is good than being sad!"

She revealed a sweet smile that became like a harpoon that pierced through Alice and Joseph's heart.

"Uh..."

"But..." 

Alice and Joseph opened their mouths to intervene, but when their eyes drifted onto one another.

They soon nodded in tacit understanding and decided.

Let's just let this misunderstanding continue...