Biyo began walking slowly towards Sato, with a wide grin on his face and a lackadaisical air around him as if he wasn't worried about his opponent.
With each step he took, Sato seemed to recall the scenes of that year.
*Stomp*
_________
"Katsumi. Why did you do this?" Teenage Sato asked the youth in front of him.
"Katsumi is dead. I'm Biyo, Biyo of hell." The youth grinned fiendishly.
_________
*Stomp*
_________
"Making a guild filled with classmates and thinking you could go far. That was your mistake."
"Katsumi, no, Biyo. Die!"
_________
*Stomp*
"Biyo..." Sato said as he stared at the young man in front.
Biyo was just 10 metres away but for an assassin of his skills, 10 metres was nothing much.
"Do you know me?" Biyo halted his footsteps as he stared at Sato with a curious expression.
"Who doesn't. You're a commander of Hell Raiders, Biyo of Hell." Sato replied perfunctory.
"Ah. Looks like I'm already famous." Biyo replied with a smug.
Sato didn't tell you that he had known him closely before neither did he say that they had actually fought each other before too. This was because Sato wanted to keep his identity a secret lest he attracts unnecessary trouble from Biyo's side. Mentioning Biyo as a commander of Hell Raiders wouldn't attract any suspicion from him after all, the Hell Raiders were a dark guild that already had some fame especially after their escapades in Conquest.
"No matter. Knowing me doesn't mean I will let go. At the best, I would only send you off quicker, that way it wouldn't hurt." Biyo smiled.
"Really? You're an assassin. Your type is suited for indirect and sneak attacks. Why did you walk towards me like that in the open?" Sato asked him.
"Because I don't need to use such silly tricks for a weakling as yourself. You're finished already." Biyo smirked.
'Still the same Biyo. Underestimating those around you.' Sato shook his head.
"Well then. Shall we begin?" Biyo twirled his dagger as he stared at Sato right in the eye.
Before Sato could respond, Biyo dashed towards him and easily covered the 10 metres gap as fast as a cheetah, and slashing his dagger at Sato.
'Same as always, Biyo. Attacking when one least expects it.'
A silver glint flashed as Sato swung his sword to block the attack.
*Clang*
A reverberating sound broke out as the two weapons collided.
"Impressive. You were able to keep up with me." Biyo said with his eyebrows raised.
As an assassin, Biyo boasted of the highest [Agility] effects and best physique suited for it. He thought that Sato would at most be a level 7 and even at that, his [Agility] shouldn't be higher than his. So Biyo was quite surprised that Sato could react to his strike. Unknown to him though, Sato was level 8 and even if he used a custom attribute distribution method, he still focused a bit on his [Agility] such that with two levels ahead of Biyo, he could slightly surpass his [Agility].
"That's cause you were too slow." Sato smirked. He then applied more force on his sword and shoved Biyo away.
Using the force behind the sword, Biyo twirled round once and slashed at Sato again, but this time, he slashed out multiple times.
Sato, in return, also brandished his sword multiple times with each slash blocking Biyo's attack. Biyo thrust his dagger,Sato would block with the side of his blade and then counter attack forcing Biyo back. But before he could strike while the iron is hot, Biyo would capitalize on his superior [Agility] and [Dexterity] to retreat and attack immediately.
"It seems like it would end in a tie." Crimson Scar said with hesitation and astonishment. He couldn't believe that Sato could hold out against Biyo. That was something unbelievable as he knew whom Biyo was. This was a guy that had participated in the destruction of a guild back in Conquest! And not just nominal participation but he had defeated the guild leader of that guild.
"..." Blood Sword on the other hand was silent. His silence was due to the fact that Sato could currently tie with Biyo and also his frustration that Biyo couldn't finish Sato quickly. He didn't have a doubt that Biyo would win but he believed that it would take some time and time wasn't what he could afford despite having set up a barrier.
"Get ready. We will join in."
Sparks flew off as the two continued in their tango. Sato couldn't land a hit on Biyo and Biyo couldn't land a hit on Sato. However, due to the fact that Sato's [Strength] was higher, Biyo was continuously forced back with each collision while receiving minimal reduction to his HP after two or three strikes.
'What's wrong? How's this happening?!' Biyo thought as he fought with Sato. 'How?! How am I losing?!'
Even though the battle may seemed tied in the eyes of onlookers, Biyo himself knew that his opponent was stronger. Not just stronger, he was looking down on him and holding back. Biyo noticed that sometimes when he was forced back, Sato would suddenly lunge closer and look like he would strike at him but the speed of his sword would slow down at such an absurd manner that it wouldn't be easily noticed by others. But for an expert such as Biyo, he could easily noticed this act. It was because of this slowly down that Biyo would be able to block the attack and continue resisting.
'This isn't a battle. He is using me to play!' Biyo grit his teeth in anger. But despite all his complaints, he couldn't do anything about it. He had already been fighting at his best but he still couldn't beat Sato.
.
"Arghhhhh, bastard!!" Biyo suddenly yelled in annoyance before lunging himself at Sato with his dagger aimed at him. He was going in for a hit-for-hit.
"You've finally lost it huh?" Sato smiled.
"[Horizontal Slash]"
Sato slashed outwards his target however, wasn't just Biyo but also his dagger. He planned to block both the attack and hurt Biyo with just one strike! And he could achieve this, why? Because his [Strength] was higher.
"Now die."
Sato's sword deflected Biyo's dagger in one hit and it still went on to strike Biyo on the chest.
70 (60/130 Biyo's HP)
"Nani?!" Biyo was shocked to see the damage he had just received. This was even after a part of the force of the attack was neutralized by the collision of his dagger on the sword.
Sato didn't give him any more chances as he swung his sword once more at the open Biyo.
Seeing Sato's approaching sword, Biyo, who was stunned after the attack, couldn't resist and was forced to watch Sato's blade.
'Is this the end?' Biyo thought in despair. At the last moment, he seemed to have gone back to the past. Back to that day he had pursued the last of Blue Diamond's guild and met him. 'It isn't even the same person and I am still going to die. Am I that weak?'
Sato was devoid of emotions as he brought his sword closer to Biyo. With Sato's absurd attack power, this strike would be just enough to end Biyo.
*Clang*
Suddenly, Sato's sword collided with a dagger that appeared out of nowhere.
"Don't tell me you forgot about us already?" A playful voice sounded.
Sato turned to look at the wielder of the dagger and also the speaker. It turned out to be Crimson Scar, the assassin he had killed back then and also his first PK target in Infinite Realm.
The assassin class had a very special skill that was similar to short distance teleportation. It was called [[Silent Steps]]. It was this very skill that Biyo had used back then to suddenly sneak up on Sato and harm him. Crimson Scar had used this to make it in time to block Sato's strike.
While Sato was focused on Crimson Scar, Blood Sword appeared behind him and swung his great-sword down at him.
*Boom*
Rocks flew out as Blood Sword missed his target and struck the ground.
Sato stood back a few steps away from the trio and stared at the duo.
"So, you want to interfere in this fight?"
"He's right. You can't interfere." Biyo snapped out if his daze and replied.
"Interfere? This fight was set-up by me so I don't see any interference here." Blood Sword grinned. Though he was smiling at Sato's words, deep down he was a bit scared of Sato.
'This guy had managed to force Biyo back and almost killed. Heck, Biyo was already dead if Crimson didn't make it in time.'
As for Biyo, Blood Sword didn't bother about him again since he couldn't face Sato alone.
"Oh? Then it looks like it's my mistake. No worries though, you two were still going to die so dying early doesn't make any difference." Sato replied.
"Haha. Cocky as always, you b**tard. Wait till we tear you up then we will see whether you can keep up that attitude." Crimson Scar laughed.
"Sorry but I can't. It's not that I'm too impatient for waiting but you guys just can't do so." Sato shrugged.
"You guys go back. I will handle this." Biyo stood up and tightened his grasp on his dagger.
Blood Sword looked at him as if he was looking at a deluded person.
"Sir, you just can't. Not only is your HO pretty much down by half or more, but you have seen his strength yourself. Rather than forcing yourself to handle him alone, let's work together. When we're done, you can torture this b**stard as much as you want." Crimson Scar said.
"Who said I'm not a match for him?! I'm Biyo of Hell! A nobody can't be stronger than me!" Biyo yelled.
"Yes, sir." Crimson Scar humbly replied but deep down he was annoyed and disgusted at Biyo's madness.
"As for you, nobody, you will surely die today." Biyo pointed his dagger at Sato.
"Yeah yeah. Just make sure to come at me all at once. That will make things faster since I'm kinda tight on time." Sato replied.
"...hahahaha" Crimson Scar stared at him with incredulity before breaking out in a fit.
Blood Sword frowned and said "As you can see Lord Biyo, he just looked down on me and I can't let him go scot-free. It's either we team up together and fight him or we fight him on our own. Either way, I'm not letting him off for you."
"You...fine. Let's do it then." Biyo said after seeing the look on Blood Sword's face. Even if he was his direct superior, he knew Blood Sword's attitude and was pretty much sure that he wouldn't give up after his honour had been played with like this.
"You better prepare yourself, cause you're gonna die." Biyo said.
Sato replied,
"I was always prepared.. Just not to die, but to kill you."