"What?" Phina was taken aback. 'He wants to challenge me?'
She then decided to check out Mayor Mayo's strength.
Piercing Sight!
Phina used the World Energy in her eyes to see if there was any World Energy concentration in the mayor's body. If he didn't, it would mean that he is below Intermediate-rank. To her surprise, Mayor Mayo had a constant stream of World Energy near his heart. It was the size of a palm, meaning that he was a Middle stage Advanced-rank! The same as her!
"Alright, Miss Shira. Let's get started." Mayor Mayo rolled up his shirt's sleeve with a smirk. 'Young people really do underestimate the old sometimes.'
"Alright then!" Phina smiled. She quickly made her World Energy rush into her arm. 'Finally! A challenge!'
Both put their elbows on the desk as they gripped the other's hand.
'What a strong grip!' Mayor Mayo was shocked. 'Looks like I hit the jackpot! I won't have to pay her for five Waves if I win!'
The guard stepped forward and held both their hands together. "Three, two, one...begin!"
Crack!
The table immediately splintered as both of them started exerting their force. Both the old man and the young lady grunted slightly as both their hands didn't move. If the Intermediate-rank guard couldn't see the World Energy swarming around the two, he would've thought they were acting!
"Y-You're not bad...old man." Phina barely said as she increased her World Energy output. She had forgotten that she needed a reserve in case of emergencies!
"You shouldn't...underestimate...your elders!" Mayo said as he started moving Phina's hand.
'Crap! He's gonna win!' Phina used up her World Energy even faster as she tried to hold on for dear life. The deadlock stayed for 2 minutes straight!
"You're...going t-to...run out...of...World...Ener...gy...eventually...just...give...UP!!" the old man couldn't take it anymore as he used up all his remaining World Energy in one push.
"In your dreams!!" Phina's Life Energy rushed into her arms. As she used her Adult-rank Skill!
Attack Mode!!
BAM!
The table got smashed into pieces as Phina hit the Mayor's hand right through it.
"Uh..." Phina groaned. She had moved her Life Energy like a damn barbarian, using a decent portion of it! Her entire body can't function properly until she gets it back in order! Not to mention that restoring her used Life Energy will take a little over 2 days!
"Hahaha!! It seems that I was the one to underestimate you here!" Mayor Mayo laughed. "Very well, then! It seems I owe you 52 Beast Repellants!"
"T-Thank...you." Phina said as she tried to gently move all her Life Energy back into place.
"Here you go." the mayor pulled out 52 papers that looked like charms. There were the Beast Repellants, the main currency of all arenas! "Oh, and one more thing, Miss Shira!"
"W-What?" Phina turned around as she was about to leave.
"I'm going to have to see your face." Mayo smiled. "It's just protocol since the Elf Monarch wants us to investigate everyone in town for the bounty. We haven't started the search yet, but what better place to start than here? I'd love to see who the young lady who beat me is."
'...shit.' Phina panicked internally. 'I can still make it out of here. The old man is out of World Energy and the guard's only an Intermediate-rank. If I aim my Holy Devastation at the guard's neck, I can take both of them out and heal myself enough to get the hell out of here.'
She then slowly pulled down her mask.
"You look younger while covering your face." the mayor looked at her with squinted eyes, then sighed. "A lady, scarred. What uncivilized bastard would do such a thing..."
'...what?' Phina looked at him. 'He...didn't notice?'
What Phina didn't realize is that, since she used up her Life Energy, her body aged quite a bit. Instead of looking like a 26 year old woman, she looked like she was in her mid-thirties! Her stupidity had saved her life!
"I...don't like to talk about it." Phina covered her face quickly. 'He might not have noticed now, but I shouldn't push my luck.'
"I understand." Mayor Mayo sighed. "Well, we have detected a Wave incoming and are estimating that it should arrive in two days. I hope you stop by a day before that."
"I definitely will." Phina smiled. Of course, she would, otherwise she'd be completely broke in this damned place.
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Ding!
The bell of the shop rang as Phina entered.
The old Elven man beamed. "I see you are back! Are you back for the mask?"
"Y-Yeah." Phina replied as she pulled out her Beast Repellants. She was still a little terrified from the inspection back at the mayor's office.
"Excellent!!" the old man rushed into the back and retrieved the mask. "Let me warn you though. This mask is not a normal mask. It perfectly replicates any face you choose. So, after you put it on, think about the face you want while inserting Life Energy into it. Choose carefully, you can only change the face once after that."
"Can I not just leave it as a normal mask?" Phina asked.
"B-But...what's the point in buying it, if you won't use its features?" the old man asked. He was confused beyond belief.
'I guess I can use its features later.' Phina said while in thought. She then smiled at the old man as she took the mask. "I'll just use it later...maybe."
"V-Very well, then..." the old man smiled awkwardly as he took the Beast Repellants. He wouldn't say no to money!
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Phina went into a dark alleyway as she put on her mask.
"It's a perfect fit!" Phina smiled. "W-Well...if it can change into a literal face, it can probably change sizes."
"Nice." Phina felt the freedom around her neck as she threw away the shirt. "How comfortable!"