Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Through the tunnels of the sewer, back onto the surface of the floating island, they ventured down the ethereal steps that led back down to the ground. There were hardly any words said on the walk back, crossing through the ashen fields and back into the woods.

As nightfall came, the once golden leaves turned to their somber blue. Luckily, he was able to retrace his steps back to the trail, only having to avoid the attention of forest beasts before finding the massive tree mansion again.

"We're here," Finn quietly said, looking up at the abode.

"Woah, this place is crazy big," Nova remarked.

"Don't know how you missed it before," Jasper said.

Finn glanced back while approaching the front, finding that Charlotte was still quiet, though he didn't say anything. Of course, time was needed to process what happened and grieve. As he reached the entrance to the treehouse, he found there was no handle that needed to be turned–the door was already open.

He looked over at Jasper, who gave him a look as well with a shrug as they both wordlessly agreed it was off. One of the only rules he could recall when staying at the woodsy hospice was to keep the door shut at nightfall.

Finn kept his dagger ready, with Jasper right behind him with a sword and shield at the ready as the abode was quietly entered. There were candles still lit, providing light to the area of fine collectibles, though it still felt weird.

"Old man?" Finn called out.

He began to ascend the spiraling steps, finding a noise meeting his ears with a few steps taken. It was a distinct sound; lips smacking and swallowing as if a meal was being ravenously consumed. From the noise, he presumed a beast made its way in, dining on the food left out by the old elf, or the elderly one himself.

He quickly moved up the last few steps, practically lunging into the second floor as he raised his dagger, though stopped just short of attacking what was chowing down.

"Ah–? Hold on–you?" Finn let out in utter confusion.

What he found at the table was not a beast, though perhaps somebody with the manners of one; a golden-haired man shoveled pie into his face without any grace, only looking up after being addressed.

["Sleuth Status"]

[Name: Seung]

[Age: 22]

[Designated Class: Crusher]

[Level: 44]

The hot-headed man hit his own chest to help himself swallow before wiping his mouth messily, "Whaddya want?--Oh, it's you. The assassin guy."

"Finn," he corrected the crusher. "When did you get here?"

The others had come up the stairs as well, finding the presence of the unexpected guest at the wood-anchored manor.

Seung leaned back in the chair, kicking his feet up onto the table without any semblance of manners, leaving his coat open as well with his bare abs on display, "Look at those faces. You've all been through the ringer recently, huh? Well, figures when the weak push themselves."

"What's your problem, mate?" Jasper stepped forward with an aggressive tone.

Finn held his arm up to stop his friend, knowing just how abrasive the crusher's words tended to be. In the few times he had the displeasure of meeting Seung, he found he knew him well enough, at least to know that the man was as far from "nice" as could be.

"Get mad all you want. It doesn't change the fact you all got a dose of reality, yeah? Just look at your faces–you came crawling back here, didn't you? Just a guess," Seung presumed while picking his teeth.

"Do you have a problem–" Jasper spoke up.

Before the knight could step forward, Finn did it for him, finding himself unable to keep listening to the arrogant remarks of the man who was nowhere to be found when it mattered most.

"You can keep running your mouth if you want, or we can step outside," Finn challenged.

It was almost as though the golden-haired man's eyes lit up at the offer, bringing himself to his feet with a single motion, "Those are fighting words. I don't think you want that, man." Seung warned him.

"Finn, don't–" Charlotte asked, placing a hand on his arm.

"Yeah, this isn't the time for this kinda stuff–" Nova added in.

The advisory words were brushed aside as Finn moved himself away, taking a step closer to the crusher as he didn't shy away from his gaze.

"Are you scared of getting your ass kicked?" Finn asked.

"Alright, don't say I didn't warn you when you're seeing stars in a minute," Seung said, pushing past him with his shoulder, heading down the steps.

As the challenge spurred by pride and swelling emotions was accepted, Finn stood there for a moment, staring off as his blood boiled. With the all-too-fresh loss, bitter feelings swirled in his heart; he needed to get it off, one way or another.

"Finn, don't go out there," Charlotte asked him.

"Sorry, it won't take long. Just get some rest, alright?" Finn said with a small smile before heading down the stairs.

"Wait–" Charlotte called out.

Jasper spoke in support of him, "It's alright. They're not going to kill each other."

"What? How can you say that?" Charlotte looked at the knight in disbelief.

"It's just how guys are, y'know? Sometimes we gotta vent with our fists," Jasper explained. "Just let him do his thing. It'll be fine."

Nova let out a sigh, sitting herself at the pie-bearing table, "Boys sure are weird."

"I can't blame 'em. I don't feel like being hit in the face with steel right now, so I'll live vicariously through my mate," Jasper said, seating himself as he watched through the window.

Down the steps, Finn slid his coat off, leaving it on the rack before stepping out the door and onto the grass. The brisk air of the nightfallen woods met his skin nicely, feeling a certain freedom.

Standing a dozen feet away, Seung was stretching, rolling his shoulders as he lifted his hands, which were surprisingly absent from the gilded gauntlets.

"Don't worry. If I wore them, you'd be smelling colors after one hit to the chin," Seung remarked.

"You wouldn't hit me anyway," Finn said while rubbing his wrists.

"Is that so?--" Seung asked with a smirk.

The words of provocation were met promptly as Finn found himself immediately face-to-face with the hot-headed fighter. It caught him off-guard for only a split-second, unadjusted to the agility possessed by the [Crusher].

He moved his head to the right as the wild haymaker passed right by, not having much time to react before flipping back as a follow-up strike came. Even without being hit, the air following each movement pressed against his skin.

"Don't just run after running your mouth!" Seung challenged.

The Crusher pushed the pressure again, running right at him before sending his fist sailing for his nose. Finn watched the knuckles close in before ducking to the side while throwing a kick up, falling onto his own hands as he let his shin smack right against the mouth of his rival.

It was the first time pulling off such a move, finding his natural movements heightened by his [Capoeira] skill, though even as he felt the dropkick connect directly, Seung remained unmoving on his feet.

'Seriously? Is this guy a brick wall?' Finn thought before using his hands to push off the ground, jumping to his feet as he moved back.

There was a smile imprinted on Seung's lips, spitting out a loogie of blood, though there wasn't even any sign of bleeding as though his skin was made of steel. In fact, the assassin felt his shin throbbing, questioning if he hurt himself more than the crusher.

Finn kept his distance for the moment as he watched the fierce man, thinking for a moment as he took in everything from that initial exchange.

'As I thought, this guy doesn't fight with any kind of technique or style. He's pretty much just throwing his fists around, but even still…Damn, his speed and power are incredible. Even without using skills or his gauntlets, he has this much strength?' Finn thought.

He couldn't help but over analyze the person before him, finding it more akin to observing a monster than a human. As the man rushed him down against with his fist cocked back, the reflex to dodge was more ingrained in the assassin's body, knowing the strength being those knuckles.

"C'mon! Don't talk then tuck your tail between your legs!" Seung provoked while throwing wild haymakers.

Finn was kept on the backfoot, not moving his gaze from following each fist thrown by Seung. As he weaved through the strikes, pressed to only dodged, he instead pushed forward.

He cut beneath a straight aimed for his nose before swinging his hips into a kick that sailed for the crusher's head.

"Oh?—" Seung reacted.

Finn felt his shin stopped just before connecting, finding it blocked by the man's forearm. Before he could pull back, a vice grip took hold of his ankle.

With a single tug, his entire balance was pulled out from beneath him, bringing him to land on his hands.

"Do better than that, or I'll kill you!—" Seung enthusiastically threatened.

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