Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 250 Challenged

"A… tank?"

Rhys did not hesitate to lean his head out of the truck as he heard that, and true enough, there was a large tank right in front of their convoy.

A tank, right in the middle of the empty road. Rhys had already encountered so many random things, but this was probably the most random one so far.

"You guys stay here."

"Wait, bro. Do you think it's safe!?"

"No, that is why you should stay here for now,"

Dominique and the others could really only try to stop Rhys as he went out of the truck; Rhys, however, just raised his hand and ordered every one of them to stay put,

"If the situation goes bad, abandon the cenleons and just get out."

"What…?" Dominique could not help but just look at the cenleons. They did all of this just to get them here, but Rhys was willing to just leave them? Of course, Dominique could not really get an answer from Rhys as he just left them. Dominique looked at Maria, but she just quickly disappeared back into the shadows, leaving everyone confused.

Rhys walked across the convoy, signaling to the others to also just stay put as he passed by them.

"I told you to stay in the truck," Rhys then let out a small sigh as he noticed Maria emerging from the shadows and following him from behind.

"That is not going to happen, Rhys Wilder," Maria shook her head as she walked beside Rhys, "Perhaps this is the best time to tell you that we have discovered the one who attacked us with the missiles."

"Let me guess, the one from Luzviminda?" Rhys glanced at Maria.

"Yes," Maria nodded, "Lance Aquino, and there is a high chance that he is the one who is blocking us with that truck right now."

"Hm," Rhys could really only let out a short but deep breath as they continued to approach the tank. And as soon as they got close to it, the main gun slowly started to point toward them. Of course, Rhys and Maria just raised both of their palms in the air, "I am guessing this tank was made by his abilities too?"

"That is most likely, a tank just doesn't appear out of nowhere," Maria said calmly even with a tank pointing its main gun at them, "I will have you know that we truly are in danger at this point, Rhys Wilder — you should have asked Talia to destroy it."

"We were in danger minutes ago," Rhys shook his head and sighed, "He could have blown up the convoy if he wanted to, but he didn't. I do have to say, though, I really wish I knew someone who could create weapons — there was one back when I was in Old York High, but I snapped her neck. She had the same name as my sister, have I ever told you that story?"

"You mean when you killed all the students inside the cafeteria?" Maria blinked a couple of times as she glanced at Rhys.

"...You knew?"

"I did," Maria shrugged, "K knows too."

"...Oh," Rhys could really only blink a couple of times as he heard that, "Then… why are you staying with me?"

"Rhys Wilder…" Maria sighed, "...Have you not realized yet that we are not good people?"

"Hm…"

"And you do have a Weaponer Maker by your side," Maria shook her head, "Dominique."

"What…? She's a Weapon Maker?" Rhys quickly looked at Maria, "I thought she controlled the elements?"

"She does," Maria nodded, "You seem to be underestimating your new friend too much, Rhys Wilder — there is a reason why she was one of the gang leaders of Typhon's — she is able to use all the abilities of the gods flowing through her veins, no matter how minuscule it is."

"What…?"

"Yes," Maria nodded, "A majority could only use the most dominant genes they have. Dominique could use everything — you might benefit greatly if you woo her."

"...I won't woo her, she's a lesbian," Rhys shook his head and sighed, "And I have never once tried to woo anyone — if it happens, it happens."

"You actively sought out Ayesha and Talia with the intention to woo them," Maria also shook her head.

"I only actively sought them out. Whether or not I woo them is out of my control."

"I do not see the difference in that, Rhys Wilder."

"Can we just—"

[Acting so calmly even in front of a tank, I expected no less from the man who took my position.]

And as Rhys and Maria were starting to get comfortable just talking to each other, a voice resounded from the tank — and just with the accent alone, it confirmed that Maria was right.

"I didn't take your position, they gave it to me," Rhys just let out a sigh; his left palm still raised in surrender, "I am not interested in it, you can take it back if you want to."

[Well… what do you think I am doing now…?] The hatch then suddenly opened, causing Maria to slightly flinch as she got ready to attack, but Rhys quickly glanced at her and quietly told her not to do anything,

"I'm here to reclaim my position."

And there, emerging from the tank of the top, was a tanned-skinned man with white glowing hair that reached his shoulders, Lance. He was wearing an oversized winter jacket, perhaps the reason why he was currently struggling to get off the tank.

"Ack!" Lance then let out a groan of frustration as he slapped the tank. And as he did so, it just disappeared, causing him to fall face first on the ground, "Argh! Why does this always happen to me!?"

Lance then screamed in frustration as he punched the hard ground several times… cracking it. And as Maria and Rhys watched this, the only thing they could really do was slowly lower their hands and look at each other.

"Hays…" Lance then finally got up from the ground, patting his winter jacket several times while approaching the two, "...Why is it always so cold in this flace? They should start putting up pires everywhere."

"...Pyres?" Rhys squinted his eyes.

"You know, plames," Lance then snapped his fingers, causing a flame to spark on his hand, "Flames. Anyway, it doesn't matter — I came here to challenge you for the position."

"I already said you can have it," Rhys shook his head, "I'm not interested in rankings."

"...Why not?" Lance seemed visibly confused, "Are you saying that you're better than me because I care about the rankings?"

"No," Rhys quickly answered, "I didn't say anything like that at all."

"Well…" Lance then stood right in front of Rhys, "...It feels like you are looking down on me."

"He is," Maria was the one to answer Lance's words, "You are 5'4", he is 6'8". Rhys Wilder is more than a foot taller than you."

"What…?" Lance then looked up at Rhys as he raised his eyebrows, "And that makes you better than me?"

"No one is saying I am better than you, Sir," Rhys could really only sigh as Lance seemed eager to instigate something.

"Maybe, but you are thinking about it."

"I'm not."

"I am," Maria answered without any hesitation.

"See!?" Lance then pointed at Maria before once again looking at Rhys, "Your girlpren is thinking about it!"

"Can we please just talk about this somewhere else? My friends need to rest, we've been on the road for half a day," Rhys glanced at the convoy, "We can talk at my place if that's what you want."

"No, no talking," Lance shook his head while wagging his finger, "I am challenging you to reclaim the position as the 15th Strongest Explorer in the world, Rhys Wilder."

"And I don't accept the challenge, Sir," Rhys sighed, "Please, sir. Just move out of the way so we can continue our—"

"No," the slight friendliness in Lance's voice disappeared as he looked Rhys in the eyes, "I don't think you understand, Rhys Wilder — you don't have the luxury to refuse my challenge. I placed several bombs, with the strength to level this road under your trucks and cars."

"Hm…" And of course, any sort of friendliness in Rhys's tone also disappeared as he returned Lance's glare

"Accept my challenge, and you have my word that I will remove them," Lance took several steps back as he started clicking his tongue, "Tick tock, Rhys Wilder."

"How can I trust that you'll remove them?"

"Because there weren't any bombs in the first place," Lance then smiled as he stretched his arms to the side and laughed, "I just wanted to make you realize that I could do that if I want to, at any time. It's a nice open field, Rhys — and I've blocked the roads. No one is going to come here."

Lance then pointed at the open field next to the freeway. He then snapped both of his fingers, and as he did so, a large metal stage emerged from the field.

"...They can do that?" Rhys turned to Maria.

"They can, apparently," and Maria only shrugged, "Be careful, Rhys Wilder — Lance Aquino is strong, he is the 2nd strongest Weapon Maker in the world."

"Duly noted…" Rhys sighed,

"...Let's just get this over with."