Peniel joined him again when Jack returned to where everyone was still enjoying the feast, he saw Domon was still with the dwarf. When he got near, Jack realized he know the dwarf.
“Uncle Jet?” Jack asked. Although the person before him had a body extremely different from how Jack used to see him, the bearded face was still the same.
“Jack boy! It’s good to see you!” The dwarf replied. He was Jet Hung, a level 46 Beastmaster.
Jet gave Jack a hug.
“This feels weird,” Jack said. “I can lift you up easy, just like how you used to do to me.”
“Tell me about it! My excellent body is reduced to this short one. Grrhh… Domon told me about the person responsible. When I get my hands on him, I’m going to wring him dry.”
“You will have to get into the queue, my short uncle.”
“Trying to be funny now? I can still kick your ass, you know?”
“In our past world, yes. Here? I doubt that,” Jack said with a grin.
“Hoho! A challenge? We will see then. I heard from Domon that you will be fighting in the team match?” Jet asked.
“I am,” Jack answered.
“Then we will see each other in the team match. I’m looking forward to kicking your ass as I used to do.”
“I’m looking forward to you trying to do that with those short hands and legs.”
“Smartass! A true martial artist knows how to adjust. Don’t you look down on this short body, I might have lost my reach, but my smaller body also meant that it is more difficult for you to hit me! Also, I have developed a new move that adapts to this body.”
“Oh? I am looking forward to seeing it,” Domon remarked.
“So am I. So, are you doing good in Palgrost?” Jack asked.
“Yeah, very confused at first when the world turned. Learned all this game stuff on the fly, made lots of new young friends who taught me. I taught them martial arts in return.”
“Those the people in your team?”
“Yeah, we are tight.”
“All nine dwarf players are your friends?”
“Nah. Only the ones in the team match. I’m not familiar with those fighting in the individual matches.”
“You are not in a guild?”
“Those young people explained to me about guilds. But after hearing it, I’m not. The guilds are similar to our real-world governments and gangsters, right? All about territory and power play. Not interested. I just want to enjoy my old age.”
Jack laughed. “Yeah, that’s the uncle Jet I remembered. Anyway, if you need anything, you are always welcome to our guild.”
“Domon told me about it. You are one of the big shots in the guild I heard. Such a surprise. A brat like you, I will never imagine.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to kicking your butt too.”
The three chatted for a while. Jack asked Jet to add him to his Friend list, which he did. Jeanny and Giant Steve joined in not long after. Jack told them about the three World Maker players who joined the tournament.
Jack warned Domon about Spring Crown who was in the same section as him, that the person was a very famous gamer and a decent martial artist. Jack explained Spring Crown’s fighting style is similar to Jack’s in which he combined martial arts and game skills, and that the guy was very expert in using any class, skill, and weapon in past games. He was very good at studying his opponent’s move and devising a counter-strategy. All in all, Jack told his grandfather to be careful and not to underestimate his opponent.
Domon simply nodded an acknowledgment.
*
The feast went on till very late but some people left beforehand to rest early. Jack and his grandfather left together. When on his way, he saw a lone light green dot on his radar not far away, meaning a friend or guild member. He went over with Domon trailing. He could guess who this dot was.
When Jack came near, he saw Leavemealone was doing martial art training. He was practicing by kicking and punching a large tree.
“The council’s people here might consider you showing dishonor if they catch you assaulting their tree like that,” Jack said to him.
“Mind your own business,” Leavemealone said without looking, he continued punching and kicking the tree.
“You saw Wong, didn’t you? That’s why you are restless? You don’t have the confidence to beat him yet?” Jack asked.
“Mind your own business!” Leavemealone said again with a stronger tone.
Domon spoke up at this time, “You have a nice form, but it’s too monotone. Your punches and kicks showed your convoluted mind. An expert opponent can easily coax you into making a mistake. You have to conquer your mind before you can conquer your opponent.”
“Why don’t you mind your own…,” Leavemealone finally turned around upon Domon’s words. He was still saying his words heatedly when he abruptly stopped. He stared at Domon intensely before uttering, “You are… You are master Domon?!”
“Oh? You know me?” Domon asked.
“I watched a lot of your videos! You are my role model!” Leavemealone said.
“I am? I am surprised I have a fan amongst the younger generation.”
“My dad lose to you in the world championship, but he didn’t feel bitter. He also idolized you and called you the best martial artist he had known. We always watched the recordings of your fights and my dad trained me in hope that someday I might be qualified enough to challenge you.”
“Wow… You suddenly turn into a chatterbox in front of my gramps,” Jack said.
Leavemealone turned to Jack with astonishment. “Master Domon is your grandfather?” He asked.
“He is,” Jack answered.
“Who is your dad, son?” Domon asked.
“His name is Jared Shaw. You probably don’t remember him,” Leavemealone replied.
“I’m sorry to say I don’t. Where is he now?”
“He had passed away a long time ago,” Leavemealone said with sadness.
“I’m sorry to hear that. What’s your name?”
“My name is Haon Shaw.”
Domon nodded, “Haon, do you wish to learn my martial arts?”
Jack turned to Domon with a surprise. “You are reluctant to teach martial arts when I first asked you to. Now you offer it yourselves?” Jack asked.
“I wasn’t interested because the ones you asked me to teach are all second-rates. Well, besides Jeanny, she is not bad. While for him, I know a talent when I see one. And aren’t you saying we need to prevent those World Maker’s people from becoming winners, right? This guy is in the same section as Wong, isn’t he? Then it will serve our purpose if he becomes stronger.”
“Well, it’s not that I object. I just find it surprising, that’s all,” Jack said.
“So, what say you?” Domon asked Leavemealone again.
Leavemealone knelt and said, “Haon greets master.”
“You two are so old-fashioned,” Jack commented.
“Good, now rise. Because of the time constraint, there won’t be much I can do to help you in this tournament. We can only hope you don’t meet Wong in your first match. That guy is a genuine grandmaster, I admit your chance is slim. But it’s a good thing you are not a beginner as well. I can give you pointers to help you refine your moves and teach you one punching technique. Everything else will be up to you.”
Domon started giving Leavemealone instructions on the spot. The two became very absorbed in it. Jack was glad to see his grandfather’s teaching passion flared up again for teaching someone aside from him. Seeing the two’s passionate spirits, he felt motivated. He moved some distances away and practiced his own Formless Flowing Sword Style.
After an hour of practice, he saw Domon and Leavemealone was still at it. Jack planned to leave first, but before leaving, Jack came to Leavemealone and told him to not use his divine fire skill if possible, for reasons that Peniel had told Jack before.
However, after mentioning the divine skill, he became curious. He asked Leavemealone, “I believe you used that fire god barrage when Wong captured you, didn’t you? How did he survive your divine skill?”
“He used the same protective bubble his boss used,” Leavemealone answered.
“Damn! How many of those defensive tools do they have?” Jack uttered. “But his tournament didn’t allow tool, so he can’t use the same trick. But it’s still better if you don’t use that divine skill in front of these religious natives.”
“Doesn’t plan to,” Leavemealone said.
But Jack suddenly thought of something. “On another thought, scratch that! Use the bloody thing. The natives might bear some grudge against you, but it’s better than letting World Maker grab the thing they want.”
Leavemealone didn’t reply.
“Hey! Did you hear me?” Jack called.
“I won’t use that skill,” Leavemealone said.
“What? Why?”
“Cause that will mean I accept the fact that I can’t win against him with my martial arts.”
“What the… There are bigger issues at stake here,” Jack uttered.
“Fei, leave the man. If he doesn’t want to, then let him be. There’s nothing more important than a warrior’s pride,” Domon interjected.
“Uh… I think the fate of the world can be considered as more important than a bloody warrior’s pride, don’t you think?”
Now both Leavemealone and Domon ignored Jack.
‘F*ck!’ Jack cursed within. It’s pointless to reason with these two martial arts maniacs.
Since he couldn’t think of a way to persuade them, he just warned the two before leaving to not stay up too late as tomorrow will be the first match, to which he was sure the two would choose to deliberately ignore as well.
*
The next morning, everyone gathered in the Roman Theater behind the Temple of Courage. The royalties were already there and were again being asked to sit on the simple stone steps. There were also many other natives who Jack assumed were members of the Council of Virtus.
Divine Priest Callan and Divine Champion Pallas were there in the arena below. All the players were again lined up on the huge arena before the two.
Once all the players were present, Callan thanked everybody and said, “Let us start with a prayer.”
Everyone slumped.
The prayer this time lasted even longer than yesterday. After a long and excruciating one and a half hours, the prayer finally ended.
“Everyone, I hope you enjoy this tournament.. Now, let this world tournament begins!” Callan declared.
