The Grand Duelist

It was impossible to lie in front of a demon who has control over the domain of Deceit. That was why Joseph didn't bother about lying anymore and just expressed all of his thoughts and emotions and placed them onto the table. Like in poker, he was now going all-in...

There was no turning back anymore.

Joseph moved...

He leaped towards the direction of Gelial and uttered.

"Discharge, Point!"

He took a stance with his Rapier and infused the strength of the energy swallowed by his Parry from Gelial's attack into the power of his [Point].

All of these combined created a terrifying might that even Joseph was afraid of.

But mysteriously, Gelial merely maintained a smile on his face and he looked as leisurely as ever. In fact, he looked like he was even inviting Joseph to attack him.

When Joseph's eyes landed on Gelial's eyes...

He felt himself being sucked into an endless abyss, a whirlpool without an ending.

[You are currently under the effects of a great Temptation!]

[Under the effects of your title, The Sun That Overlooks Everything.]

[You have resisted.]

Almost immediately after entering that whirlpool. He awakened from his trance and his attack that flew straight towards Alice's vitals changed trajectory and struck the ground instead.

Bang!

A fierce explosion occurred.

The ground tainted by the darkness was muddy and soft to the touch. But when Joseph's attack landed on the ground, a sound similar to a glass being shattered rang out as the world around Joseph promptly collapsed like it was a mirror that received a smash from a sledgehammer.

The Alice in front of him lost her fierce expression. It was replaced by anxiety and fear as she rushed towards Joseph's direction like a child that got lost and finally reunited with her mother. 

Gelial invited him to attack since he secretly swapped positions with the real Alice along with surrounding her with an illusion so that she'll look like the City Chief. If Joseph's attack continued and landed on his body. Alice could've been severely injured or died.

But Gelial made a mistake. In order to increase the success rate of his plan. He tried on implanting his illusions directly in Joseph's mind using his entire strength. From Gelial's knowledge, those who possessed abnormal statuses immunity were indeed immune to those conditions.

But only to a certain extent...

Unfortunately, he didn't expect that Joseph's passive could actually resist his full strength.

Joseph received Alice's embrace and he carried her with his left hand and placed her on his left shoulder. Afterwards, he faced the City Chief whom Gelial swapped positions with Alice.

He was already above them.

"You may have shattered my illusion, but both of you will still die today!" Gelial fiercely screamed.

Joseph lightly chuckled, "If I am to assume that demons cannot descend on this mortal world like gods. That would mean that you are nothing but a mere avatar. How dare you be so arrogant when you are a mere reflection of reality?"

He pointed his Rapier at the City Chief and uttered.

"Grand Challenge."

An imperial decree with an undeniable might descended upon the two and surrounded them with a brilliant light.

In a single instant, they found that the two had mysteriously disappeared from the area.

The City Chief and Joseph had disappeared, just what was going on?

The residents were thoroughly confused. 

But in the very next moment, another flash of light appeared above them all as the Joseph and the City Chief reappeared once again.

The only difference this time was that the City Chief looked incomparably pale, while Joseph still looked energetic.

No matter what angle you used to look at this scene...

The winner was obvious.

It was Joseph's victory against Gelial.

He won against the avatar of the Demon of Deceit and Temptation.

Even if he fought against an avatar, it was an absolute achievement for anyone to beat a demon of Gelial's caliber.

But Joseph couldn't be happy about his victory.

Why?

It was because as soon as they arrived at the Arean of the Gods, Colosseum. Gelial's avatar was instantly vaporized by the remnants of the Grand Duelist's Divinity.

Furthermore, his death was also quite brutal...

Not even a trace of his existence remained within the Colosseum.

It was as if the Divinity in that place absolutely hated him.

But this is also good... I mean, I shouldn't downplay what I did. The Grand Challenge is my skill, so it is a part of my strength. In other words, I still indirectly used my own strength to defeat the avatar of that bastard! With this, Julie and Hulie are finally safe...

Joseph heaved a sigh of relief.

He turned to look at Alice, but before he could even take a good look at her expression.

His chest was met with a strong force as Alice buried her head deep into his chest.

"I was so scared..." 

"I thought I was gonna die..."

This girl...

Joseph stared at the crying Alice in shock. The snot and tears that riddled her face made her look quite pathetic. Normally, in this kind of situation. Joseph would rub salt on her wounds and tease her indiscriminately.

But seeing her like this, trembling in fear in the face of death made Joseph think that she was indeed a human being.

Even though Joseph knew that Alice was just an NPC made by the A.I that governed this game...

She was displaying such a human-like expression and reaction towards the threat of death that Joseph couldn't help but sympathize with her.

He couldn't mock her for being such a cry-baby.

After all, no one in this world was immune to the fear of death unless they didn't really care about their life in the first place.

"It's fine... I'm here... I'm not going to leave you..." He caressed her head and said.

Alice trembled, she raised her head and said these words in a whisper, "Really? You won't leave me?"

Joseph scratched his head. He was dumbfounded for this was the first time that he saw such a maiden-like expression on Alice's face. But a light chuckle escaped from his mouth as he played with her hair, like how he ruffled the hair of Julie and Hulie before he said.

"Mhm... I won't leave you. Well, that is at least until I delivered you safely to Senior Krid. I promised him that I will take care of you after all."

"I see..." Alice revealed a sweet smile.

She hung her head low, but when she raised her head again. The expression on her face had already changed. There was a teasing look in her eyes as she asked, "What happens after you delivered me to grandpa?"

Joseph was astounded for a moment but he still replied, "Of course, my job is done and you will now be free. Aren't you happy that you don't have to be with someone like me? I mean, you know? We always tease each other, don't you hate someone that always rub salt on your wounds?"

Alice chuckled, "Hearing you describe yourself so accurately like that really makes me speechless... But, I don't particularly hate you..." The teasing look in her eyes disappeared. Replaced with a newfound determination as she took a deep breath, and mustered her courage before saying...

"Can I still stay with you after all of these?" 

Joseph raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you mean stay with me? You should stay with your grandpa! That old ma- No, senior Krid really misses you too much."

Disappointment briefly flashed on Alice's face and she became silent, not saying anything anymore.

Joseph felt that the atmosphere was quite strange.

He turned to look at Alice and noticed her disappointment.

After staying with her on the same bed for several weeks...

Joseph could confidently say that he now understood Alice to a certain degree.

She was a strong-willed woman, but timid towards unexpected situations. Whenever she slept, she would always try and take all the blanket for herself, and whenever she was the first one to sleep.

It would always be a nightmare for Joseph since she snored like she was an electric generator generating electricity for the whole City of Sibu.

She always had that cold expression on her face, but Joseph realized after several weeks that it was just a facade.

He realized this fact when he observed Alice whenever she was talking to Hulie and Julie...

Joseph thought that Alice would probably not get close to the two sisters since he judged that she was a socially inept person.

But he never expected that there was more to Alice than what he could see...

But it was the truth, Alice was a more complex person than he expected.

Not only she managed to get close with the two sisters despite the fact that she felt like she was a socially awkward person...

She even managed to make them call her as their big sister!

Despite the fact that she was only an Artificial Intelligence made by NOAH.

Joseph now looked at her as a fellow human being, rather than an A.I.

"Are you disappointed?" Joseph suddenly uttered.

Alice raised her head and her cold facade that she subconsciously assumed instantly crumbled.

It was replaced with a crimson blush that streaked through her cheek. But she didn't turn her head away from Joseph.

She maintained eye contact with him despite the tumultuous momentum of her rapidly beating heart.

Hehehe...

Joseph inwardly chuckled.

"Do you want to stay with me?"

"Yes!"

Alice almost immediately nodded her head, afraid that Joseph may change his mind if she dared to delay her answer.

It was because after all, after several weeks of staying with him on the same bed made her understand Joseph more than anyone else in the world of Victory. She knew that if she delayed her answer, he could possibly use that to tease her.

"Hahaha... That was really a quick answer."

"I never thought that you could be this decisive when it comes to this.." Joseph pinched her cheeks.

"Hmmph! I am always decisive, when did you see me hesitate?"

Alice puffed her cheeks up in defiance.

"Just recently." Joseph poked fun at her.

But when he was about to continue his teasing...

Oh, here it comes! The good ol' smack!

... He was met with a fierce-looking, yet light smack on his chest. 

Joseph gritted his teeth in preparation for enduring the pain that would come with Alice's smack.

But he was astounded when he didn't feel any pain.

Instead, he saw an incredibly beautiful, yet rare scene.

It was Alice with a sweet and wide smile on her face as she asked, "I still haven't heard your answer."

Joseph was dumbfounded...

Fuck, when did she become this beautiful? How did I manage to stay sane while sleeping on the same bed with this girl as a virgin? Is it because I have never looked at her as a member of the opposite sex?

Well, you can't really blame me. This girl just doesn't act like a genuine woman! Well, I mean I still recognize her as a woman, but I haven't been looking at her like I would look at girls that I want to be with. More like, I see her as a good friend or brother instead with how bold she often acts...

Joseph rapidly blinked, he felt nervous looking at Alice who suddenly turned into an incredibly beautiful woman in his eyes.

After a few minutes of silence, he managed to suppress his nervousness as he answered.

"Mhm... When the promise that I made to Senior Krid is done and over, you can stay with me for as long as you want."

Alice sweetly smiled when she heard the answer, "Hehehe... But can we have Julie and Hulie with us?"

Joseph nodded his head, "Of course, they will be with us! We will explore the world together as one big..." He suddenly paused near the end of his sentence and he stared at Alice.

Alice repeatedly blinked, "As one big...?"

Joseph awkwardly scratched his head, "I guess... We will explore the world together as one big family...?" It was his turn to feel embarrassed as he turned his head away from Alice, not daring to stare directly at her.

But it was unfortunate that he turned his gaze away. It was because when he finished his sentence.

A furious blush appeared on Alice's face, making her look incomparably dazzling and beautiful.

If Joseph knew in the future that he missed such a scene, he would probably regret it as much as he regretted taking a loan from the Easy Cash Company.

After a few moments, Alice finally managed to calm herself down.

But before she could even speak to clarify things with Joseph.

Sobbing voices interrupted and awakened her from her reverie.

Both Joseph and Alice turned to look at the source of the sobbing voices and they were astonished to find the residents crying along with the three Elders.

Tears rapidly streamed down their eyes and drenched their cheeks wet.

What? Why are they suddenly crying? Joseph was astounded.

He turned to look at the City Chief and asked, "Hey, you bastard! What is going on? What is happening? Why are you guys crying?"

The City Chief glanced at him and revealed a languid smile before bitterly saying: "We are crying because the condemned are no more..."

The condemned are no more? What does he mean? Joseph's pupils suddenly constricted, memories flashed across his eyes as he stood there rooted in place.

"The condemned are no more... Given that you stayed with them for a few weeks, we will give you time to grieve. But afterwards, I hope you can hand them over to us so we can give them a proper burial." The City Chief couldn't even smile anymore

But Joseph couldn't hear what he said, he was panicking inwardly.

No way... There's no way... Didn't my blood already heal them from the Curse of the Condemned?

But from the words of the City Chief, they seem to have the ability to notice the presence of those afflicted by the Curse of the Condemned...

If Julie and Hulie were already released from the Curse, they shouldn't be able to find where we are right now in the first place!

Yet, they managed to find us...

Could that be the interference of that bastard Gelial?

Or do they really have the ability to detect those afflicted with the Curse of the Condemned?

If that is the case then, Julie and Hulie lied to me!

They still had the curse even after they consumed my blood!  

But why did the City Chief say that the condemned are no more?

Could it be that...

"JULIE! HULIE!"

Joseph ran as fast as he could towards the cave where the two sisters stayed.

"OPEN THIS UP! OPEN THIS UP! JULIE, JULIE!!!"

Joseph roared.

He hurriedly rolled the stone door blocking his way; the instant that his feet stepped inside the room, he froze in place.

Julie and Hulie sat beside each other, their hands intertwined and their heads dangling in front of their chest. 

Despite Joseph's desperate screams, the twin sisters were not responsive at the least. 

Joseph could no longer feel any shred of life within their bodies.

"Julie… HULIE!!!"

Joseph let out a maniacal scream.

Thank you, brother Joseph. Thank you so much for everything. I really liked the stories that you told us and I really wish to hear more of them

Mhm!… Thank you very much, Kuya Joseph! I will be obedient. Please don't worry about us and please be safe, okay?

No, they are not fighting! Ate and Kuya are just expressing their love to each other, just like how Mama and Papa does. 

Why… Why did the two of you have to die…

Don't the two of you want to see how the sun looks? Once I am done with my objectives here, then I will take both of you to the outside world. Until then, promise me that you both will wait for that day, all right? 

Yes, I promise!

Mhm! I promise, Kuya!

Joseph's knees directly collapsed underneath him. His brown eyes were filled with pain as tears streamed down his cheeks, washing away the mud on his face.

I just want to say thank you, Kuya Joseph. Thank you so much for everything. I really liked the stories that you told us these past weeks and I am sure that you have a lot of those stories with you and I want to hear more of them!

Hahaha... Now that that despicable Curse is gone, you will be able to do anything in this world. No one will be able to stop you. Nothing could ever stop our capable Julie, after all... But for now, stay there and protect your sister, Hulie. When we come back I'll read you lots of stories in all sorts of genres.

He gnashed his teeth and turned silent for a second before he suddenly sprawled...

What's wrong, Hulie? Can't bear to part with your Kuya?

Thank you very much, Kuya!

I will be... obedient, Kuya Joseph... So, please... uh... please don't worry about us and be safe, okay?

He let out a roar of anguish and anger, his clenched fists heavily pounded the floor.

I should've... I should've not left them alone... It's my fault... I left them alone to die... I wasn't protecting them, I was only delaying the inevitable and in the end. I didn't even manage to be with them as life left their bodies...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Joseph kept crying as he repeatedly slammed his fists onto the ground, amidst his pain, anger and sorrow was clear helplessness and self-abhorrence.

I couldn't do anything for them… Am I really a myth? I clearly gave them my blood that has the Divinity of the Grand Duelist, yet why did it not purge the curse in their bodies?!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Joseph looked up when he heard the sounds of hurried footsteps behind him. He saw Alice's figure that had just arrived at the scene through his blurry vision.