"Is this some test again? If it is, I am in no mood to have one." Jin said as he took in the sights of the concrete room. The lights were so bright that it was mildly hurting his eyes to some degree for a moment before he got accustomed to it. In the meantime, he turned his back away from Kraft and tried to find the exit by fiddling with his phone.
Now that the plan to obtain the Seven Cities Armies had backfired, he probably had to think of a new way to counter the Farming World's Demon Rats. It was true he did not think of the consequences to get the armies. He did not realise that the Church of the Afterlife would be so daring to put their own armies in replacement of the ones he captured that quickly and on such a scale.
If he were to challenge the Church themselves, Jin had to prepare to fight at least a scale larger than the Demon Rats. Not to mention, when compared to the Church of the Afterlife, the Demon Rats were considered easy mode since the Demon Rats were a pest while the Church was integrated into people's lives.
If Jin could not handle one continent worth of fight in the Farming World, then he should not even start a fight that he could possibly lose in the first place. Perhaps, he should make peace with the Church of the Afterlife and be their ally. Only once the Dungeon Supplier had ascertained the might of their enemy then he would break out a coup. But that itself would take years, not to mention the possibility that the Church could find out that Jin had resurrection powers as well. (With that resurrection power comes compliance, a tool that every major organisation would like to have.)
"Why? Getting cold feet now?" Kraft questioned in an authoritative tone as he saw Jin trying to walk away from him. "Never dare to fight against your master even after barking ferociously at him?"
"Sure, whatever you say. System, teleport me back to my room. There are many things I have to do." Jin exclaimed loudly, thinking that Kraft was having his 'time of the month'. If Kraft would like to torture him as usual, Jin would insist on getting out of that sticky situation since he had a lot of things in his mind. He believed that Kraft would back out eventually after teasing him sufficiently. Besides, with the plate of trouble served right in of him, he rather clear it all up before it comes to bite him back but suddenly, the System stated that it was unable to comply with Jin's orders.
"Sincere apologies, User. Original Bellator Kraft has disabled the System's ability to assist you upon executing his customised executive function. While the System both approves and disapproves of both of your methods, we are truly unable to do anything at all at the moment." The System reported to Jin with a low, apologetic tone which hardly occurred for the Dungeon Supplier.
"Executive function? What are you talking about? Are you not THE System? Why is Kraft able to stop you in your tracks? Did you let him modify you in some way that it can nitpick you? I thought you would not allow him to do that." Jin heaved out a troubled sigh but Kraft could sense that he was not afraid. No. There was not a single tinge of fear in Jin, he was simply not interested in this particular fight at all.
"Of course, the System is not able to do anything. Have you forgotten that I am the antithesis of the System? I can do what I please, whenever I want." Kraft walked close to Jin and he was pleased that Jin was not flinching a single bit.
"The System regrettably acknowledged that we had allowed Original Bellator Kraft to create such a function because of the help he rendered to improve the defences. This was an essential exchange to ensure that I stay up to date with any form of attack, including cyber connection to the worldwide web."
"See, there you go. The System once gave part of itself to me, and thus I am part of the System too. So, you are not the System but the end user that utilised the System. Therefore, you have no control of the System unlike me."
"While the System reluctantly agrees to Original Bellator Kraft's argument, we are currently performing countermeasures against Original Bellator Kraft's hacking." The System said and Kraft raised his eyebrows.
"OH? So, the Almighty System has decided to fight back? After such a long time of inactivity, you finally have the guts to do so?" Kraft smirked as he placed his hands in his pockets. "But do you even have the capability to do that while I fight your precious User?"
"Why are you raring for a fight? What is your angle for this entire argument?" Jin asked and suddenly he felt a burst of chi from Kraft, as if he was giving Jin's his final warning to follow through his master plans.
"You are the one who played with fire, and now that the fire burns you, you wish to retract yourself. This is all your fault entirely."
"Has it always been this way for the rest of the System Users too? To Ming as well? You had been threatening them to let them go your way while you had your fun?" Jin asked while he continued to stand steady.
"Perhaps? Because I have the power to do so? Money and fortune do not stay. Power, on the other hand, is liberating and everlasting." Kraft said while he picked up No Mercy from his storage ring. "Besides, I did ask for you to show me your powers and you have yet to fulfil my request.".
"Ahh… Ahhh. Kraft is having itchy fingers once again." A feminine echo was heard through the empty 'bas.e.m.e.nt' room. Jin's bracelet lit up and Pei emerged from it while yawning from all the meaningless passive aggressive talks.
"Seriously Pei? I just want a good fight with Jin. There is little to no action these days and I need something to scratch the itch." Kraft said as Pei had seen through his ruse.
"Jin, good job on resisting his provocations." Pei took out her sword and stood right in front of her master. "But Kraft, if you want a fight, you should have just asked from us."
"Pssssh, forget about such thoughts. Do you think you guys will entertain me after so long? Besides, you guys probably get scared since you have not had enough training and exposure after such a slumber period."
"Oh? Are you saying that you are raring to go for an 8 versus 1 or should I call your sworn brother Rex to join the fight against you too?" Pei tapped her sword, now her turn provoking Kraft to enter a fight that he should not be able to win.
"Have you guys forgotten that I have whoop your asses once? You are my bullets to my gun." Kraft said as he pointed at his triple barrel No Mercy. At this point, it seems that Pei had the upper hand to avoid a conflict for Jin but the Dungeon Supplier had other things in mind.
"Pei, it's fine. I will give him the fight he wants. Even if you foxes stood up for me, that old fox would still tease me to no end for staying behind the backs of the other bellators. Besides, we had a blood pact that we never really told anyone about. No matter whatever trouble he does, he would not ultimately harm the User and the System."
"Ah…no wonder. That last sentence merely ensured that you would not die but that does not avoid any trouble he makes." Pei understood the situation a little more and decided to take a step back.
"Oh ho~ Looks like someone finally has the balls to stand and 'walk the talk'. I am not going to hold back since this is a System regulated dimensional instance. You won't die, Jin but it will be painful for you… assuming you can even last one of my blows. Hehehe!" Kraft's aura began to acc.u.mulate and it got denser.
"And trust me, I have blocked the System's capability to send you back. As long as I am not satisfied or until the System manages to bypass my hack, you are not leaving this place unless I deem so." Kraft said.
At that moment, the rest of the foxes appeared right beside Pei as she had appraised them of the situation. Rex took the opportunity to shoot a glance at Jin and smiled before declaring that the rest of the foxes will abstain from this particular fight.
"Heh, don't worry, brother. I do not need you or the other foxes to accomplish my itch… so COME JIN! Let's have a fight to see if you are still worthy of the foxes help!" Kraft yelled as he shot his gun, prompting the start of the one on one duel.
