Chapter 105: First Contact

Claude obviously wasn’t the happiest about handling first contact this way — leaving Ash to face them alone — but he nodded and scampered off to the side, making sure to stay hidden from view.

As for why Ash wanted to keep them from knowing Claude was there…

It wasn’t so Claude could circle around and attack and claim their Totem. No, Ash wanted him hidden for something much simpler.

To send a message.

One that was best sent by him alone.

One of the Harpies called out to Ash as he neared the edge.

“H-hello? A-are you a player?”

He didn’t say anything back.

The five immediately tensed.

Even at a glance, Ash’s gear was clearly several levels beyond theirs.

The one named Fae stepped forward and locked eyes with him.

“We don’t wish to fight… but the fact remains you’re encroaching on our land. Tell us, why are you here?”

A light smile spread across Ash’s face. He flipped the bow around in one hand, then casually tossed it over the ledge. Before it could disappear beneath the cliff, he dismissed it.

[You have unequipped…]

Then Ash stepped off after it.

He crossed his arms as he fell, never taking his eyes off the horrified cohort waiting below. A moment later, his boots met the forest floor without so much as crunching a twig.

He straightened and walked toward them. Calmly, he said:

“I don’t wish to fight either.”

Four of the five staggered back. Only Fae didn’t.

Even as Ash closed the distance until only ten paces separated them, she held her ground.

Glaring at him, she said:

“If that’s so, then stay where you are. I don’t know how long you’ve been spying on us, but it should be clear what that thing behind us is… For obvious reasons, we will not allow you a single unimpeded step further.”

‘How incompetent…’

She had just admitted they hadn’t noticed him until now. Even if that was obvious, there was no reason to confirm it.

‘Truly inept and untempered.’

Not a leader he’d ever follow, nor one he’d willingly stand beside.

Ash answered her warning with a smile.

Then deliberately took one step forward.

The Harpies’ faces behind Fae twisted in consternation and anger as weapons materialized into their hands.

Ash let his crossed arms fall slightly, but otherwise made no move.

He simply watched them.

Glancing back at her Vassals, Fae clicked her tongue.

“Stand down…”

After a quiet sigh, she stepped toward Ash instead. The expression on her face hardened — the complete opposite of the joy she’d worn while flying only moments ago.

Fae continued:

“This world hasn’t been the kindest to us. We didn’t foolishly expect the others summoned to be kind to us either…”

She paused, studying him, then advanced another step on her taloned feet.

“It’s clear you’re stronger than us. It’s also clear you seem quite confident in your strength. You could probably beat us all on your own. Even then, I doubt you came here alone.”

Ash scoffed, then took a step toward Fae.

“Is that something you should admit so carelessly?”

Rather than retreat, Fae matched him with another step. Only a small gap remained between them now; close enough that either could reach the other with little effort.

Fae took in a deep breath, then said:

“I’m a realist when it comes to these sorts of things… I call it how I see it. But I also see something else… Someone as confident in his strength as you wouldn’t need to put on a performance unless that performance served a purpose. So I see two possibilities. Either your strength is a ruse to begin with, meant to frighten us into submission… or you truly are as strong as you appear, and you revealed yourself because you never intended to attack us in the first place, only intimidate us for leverage. In which case…”

Fae closed the last bit of distance and extended her hand.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Fae Thorne, the Harpy Champion.”

Ash’s gaze fell back to where he landed. There wasn’t so much as a scuff to prove he’d touched down there.

“Testing if I’m an illusion?”

“Something like that… The things that can happen here surprise me by the day.”

His armor could withstand whatever she might try, and with his reflexes to be sharpened by his skill, Ash saw little reason to refuse. He stepped into reach, towering over her.

‘[Focus]’

Ash took her hand.

“Call me Ash. Ash Grave, Dragonkin Champion.”

Shaking her hand somewhat undermined the air of untouchable superiority he’d been trying to establish, as it suggested equal ground, but there was a reason for it. He wanted there to be no convenient explanations afterward. No claims that what they’d witnessed had been some trick, illusion, or misunderstanding.

He wanted them to know exactly who — and what — had stood before them. A player, like them. Just one that was many times stronger despite being given nearly the same circumstances.

Under her breath, Fae muttered, “Champion, huh… I see.”

Taking a half-step back, Fae gave him a half-smile, then said:

“Well, you seem quite real.”

Suddenly, one of the two male Harpies shouted:

“Ash… Ash, huh? Ash Grave… Wait… Ash Grave?! Epitome?”

With a look of pure disgust, Fae glanced back at the man who’d spoken entirely out of turn.

“Jack…?”

“Ah, it’s j-just… He’s the GOAT of MD! How could I not be excited!”

Ash clicked his tongue and looked past Fae toward Jack, a Harpy with bright purple hair who had just completely ruined the atmosphere Ash had spent the last several minutes constructing.

“Why do you think I’m him?”

“Because you just are! Either that or you’re one hell of an impersonator! You have his entire vibe down to a tee!”

Ash sighed, shook his head, then adopted a cold look.

“Kid. Do you not know the situation you’re in? We’re not on Earth. We’re not friends. We’re in a world where we’ve been set up to fight tooth and nail to kill one another. And we’ve been placed on opposite sides of that coin. Keep that enthusiasm in check before you get a reality check.”

“Yes, Epitome!”

Sparkles practically filled Jack’s eyes as he nodded vigorously, then hopped backward and spun in circles with a deeply satisfied grin.

‘Great… another freak like Éloi.’

‘Though it doesn’t seem like the others recognize me. And apparently he hasn’t heard about the allegations.’

Or he didn’t care.

Fae quickly moved sideways, placing herself back in Ash’s line of sight and partially blocking Jack from his view.

Adopting an expression that could only be read as ‘Fuck me! Fuck you! Fuck everything!’ Fae calmly said:

“Please forgive him. He may not look it, but he’s only fourteen.”

Ash nodded stiffly.

“Hmph.”