Chapter 34: Victory!
Chapter 34: Victory!
"Using those stone monsters for defense, and that crab to chase me? Give it a shot if you think you can!"
Jett didn't pay much attention to the details; he remained confident. "If you can do it, try it!"
"It's not that simple," Rod patted the massive Stone Beetle's leg. "Ancient Stone Beetle, Split!"
Crack! At Rod's command, the Ancient Stone Beetle's back glowed with a blue light, and it split into two halves, landing and transforming into two Stone Beetles.
This was different from the game; the Stone Beetles could split on command.
Three nearly identical Stone Beetles lined up in front of Rod, with the River Crab in front, eyeing Jett menacingly.
"Split? Five against one...?" Jett was taken aback. From his angle, he could only see Rod's head.
"No matter how many there are, their speed won't change. I won't lose on speed!"
"Don't worry, I can't maintain this state for long," Rod jumped onto the back of one Stone Beetle, feeling the rate of his magic consumption.
"If I can't catch you in five minutes, I'll admit defeat," Rod pointed forward. "River Crab, Charge!"
The River Crab lunged forward, leaving a trail of afterimages.
Then, Rod took a deep breath. "Stone Beetles, Dig!"
The three Stone Beetles lifted their front legs, bowed their heads, and their massive mandibles opened and closed as they simultaneously burrowed into the ground.
Taking Rod with them!
"Don't think you can catch me!" Jett dodged the River Crab's charge and turned around, only to find Rod had vanished.
At that moment, the ground began to tremble, and the soft earth was pushed aside from below. Jett leaped out of instinct.
A Stone Beetle burst from the ground, missing its target.
But a second Stone Beetle emerged beneath Jett in mid-air.
Jett twisted his body, flipping and kicking. "Eagle Dive... oh no!"
Jett's face changed when the third Stone Beetle, carrying Rod, emerged and clamped its mandibles around Jett's waist and one arm.
Rod swung his fist, stopping just short of Jett's nose, and then laughed. "How's that?"
Jett struggled but found it difficult to break free. He admitted, somewhat frustrated, "You win."
The Stone Beetles released Jett, and their forms, along with the River Crab, became ethereal and disappeared.
Rod jumped down, feeling extremely elated, but to spare Jett's feelings, he controlled his expression and only showed a normal smile.
"Thanks for practicing with me."
Rod extended his hand.
"Comrades should always help each other."
Jett extended his hand but didn't shake it. Instead, he slapped Rod's palm and made a fist, presenting the back of his hand to Rod. "Handshakes are too formal; I don't like them."
Rod mimicked Jett's gesture, bumping fists with him, and they both laughed.
He was starting to like this guild more and more.
"Ooooh!!!" Marcus burst out of the dust, microphone in hand, shouting excitedly,
"The winner is—Rod! After a string of losses, Rod has won his first victory since joining the guild!
Let's congratulate Rod! Using summoning magic to call forth powerful monsters... Ro-de!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, many of whom had watched Rod's battles since his match with Erza.
Rod's perseverance and determination had won their admiration, but they had all hoped he would finally win.
Despite the short span of time—less than half a month—it felt as if they were witnessing the success of a child they had watched grow up.
Mira joined in the cheering, but after raising her fist and shouting, she stood there quietly, smiling. Her red dress stood out in the crowd.
"Great job, Rod!" Cana's voice boomed as she raised a bottle of alcohol in one hand and waved a stack of cash with the other, shouting at Rod, "I'll buy you a drink later! And you don't need to find anyone to practice with tomorrow; I'll be your partner!"
Today, besides Mira, who had placed a bet on Rod, everyone else had bet on Jett. As a result, Cana had made a fortune and wouldn't have to worry about her drink money for a while.
However, Rod felt a bit awkward. While he knew she meant practicing battle, Cana's outfit, her tipsy face, and the cash in her hand made her words easy to misinterpret.
The celebration quickly turned into a commotion as a group of people who had lost their bets, including the older members Macao and Wakaba, began to grumble that Jett must have let Rod win on purpose.
Jett argued back, and before long, the argument escalated into a full-blown brawl.
Rod dodged a shoe that flew past his head, caught an innocent Poro that had been thrown as a weapon, and quickly moved away from the chaos.
"Low on magic, fighting would be a disadvantage. Let's get out of here!"
"Wah..." Worm's eyes spiraled like mosquito coils as he responded dizzily.
The Master watched the fight with a smile, pleased by Rod's progress and the camaraderie among the guild members. It was a rare occasion for them to fight outside in the yard rather than inside, where they might damage the building...
Bang!
Macao crashed through a window, flying into the guild hall.
The Master's smile remained, but a vein bulged on his forehead.
"You damn Wakaba!" Macao, engulfed in purple flames, crashed back through the window.
Rod was confused about why Macao and Wakaba were fighting, as they had been on the same side just moments ago. He held Worm tighter and moved even further away, considering summoning a Stone Golem to shield them.
The fight was escalating: Wakaba spewed smoke fists, Cana pulled out a few cards, and Elfman's arms transformed into beastly claws...
"Macao, don't you dare run!" Several figures charged out of the hall, enlarging the hole in the window—they had been knocked over by Macao's overturned table.
The Master's smile faded, and the veins on his forehead formed a grid.
"I smell a fight!" Natsu, fresh from a mission and without even putting down his luggage, rushed to the backyard.
Thanks to him, the unfortunate window had merged with the one beside it.
"I'm joining in! Fire Dragon—"
The Master finally lost his patience. His body rapidly expanded, casting a massive shadow over the battlefield. "Use the door! No destroying the guild!"
Natsu's "Iron Fist" was cut short as the Master stomped him into the ground. The Master then slapped the others fighting into the ground with two more swats.
"Ah, ah... It's like this again." Mira chuckled softly behind the Master, as if her younger brother being slammed into the ground was no big deal.
Rod trembled as he held Worm, recalling the time he had summoned a Crab and demolished the wall. "Thanks, Master, for not using the Palm of the Buddha on me. I'm so grateful."
(End of Chapter)
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