Vo.2 Chapter 60
Tactical’s PoV
As I made my way back to the room reserved for special guests like myself, I mentally revisited the discussion with Gwendolyn. I was convinced that she was an ideal candidate for the team I was constructing. Her natural athletic abilities and rare talent of being born ambidextrous were exactly what I needed for the team I was creating.
An ambidextrous combatant like her possesses the ability to seamlessly transition between attacking with either hand, making it challenging for adversaries to anticipate her movements and respond effectively, especially in higher-level matches where pros are used to fighting opponents who only have one dominant hand. Additionally, her proficiency in effectively using both hands for defensive maneuvers such as blocking or parrying can enhance her overall defensive capabilities, even if she is an offensive-oriented player.
Coordinating offensive and defensive maneuvers with dual weapons present a higher level of complexity compared to using a single weapon. Even for ambidextrous individuals, mastering this skill demands rigorous training. However, she demonstrates a natural aptitude for it, which is evident in her fluidity despite the absence of formal training. I can only see potential growth in her, making her an extremely ideal recruit for the team I’m creating.
Although she didn't immediately accept my offer, that was understandable; a tactful individual like Gwendolyn will recognize the value of this opportunity and likely reconsider in due time. I sense in her a yearning for a sense of purpose, a quest to discover her strengths and potential, which I’m sure she knows I can provide to her. Hopefully, with the help of my background in unearthing talented monsters like Yuusha and Zetta, she would be more favorable to accept my offer.
After I arrived at my room, I put my thoughts of my recruitment attempt aside for some other time and entered. Inside, I was met with Caleb—I mean Calah's greeting.
She looked up with a curious expression. "Where have you been? The match is about to start."
As I made my way to my cozy chair, I eased into it and responded to her query.
"I was stuck in a bit of a long conversation. Kids these days do say some weird things every now and then," I replied, expressing my exhasperation.
Calah, perched on the plush armchair, eyebrow raised in amusement. "You sound like an old man. Who did you talk with?”
"You know the player, Gwyneth, right?” I queried.
“Oh, the dual wielder from the previous match?” she guessed.
I nodded at her response. “I offered her a spot on the team I am planning to build."
Calah's smile widened in amusement. "Ah, the one you said would be the one to surpass our legendary team. Well? How'd it go?"
"Not a yes yet," I said, sighing dramatically. "But I'm confident. She's smart, and she'll see the potential benefits of my offer."
Calah chuckled. "Always the optimist, aren't you? Though, knowing you, you probably made a compelling case. That is how you recruited us, after all."
"I did my best," I admitted, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips. "Though, maybe I should have laid out the details a bit more clearly. Back to the topic at hand, though – the match is about to start, right?"
“Yep, we have to show our support to our protégés. The best we could do for now is watch their match live and cheer for them.”
-----------------------------------------
Ariadne's PoV
A ghost of a smile flits across my lips as I replay the scene in my head—my time with Katherine.
A flutter erupts in my chest again, a sensation so new and unfamiliar it takes my breath away. Butterflies? Is that what they call this? My stomach does a nervous flip as I relive in my head what exactly happened earlier.
The hug.
I could feel my cheeks redden as I tried to relive the exact moment in my head. And I certainly remember it, oh so vividly, even up till now.
My heart raced against my ribs as she drew me into her embrace. Her touch was delicate, akin to a soft caress, igniting a blush that crept up my neck. Instinctively, my arms, which had been unconsciously extended, enfolded her, her warmth sending a pleasant shiver down my spine.
Every sensation felt intensified during that hug. Her hair lightly brushed against my cheek in a strangely delightful manner. Our bodies pressed together, her gentle touch creating a tingling sensation within me. The aroma of jasmine and rose enveloped me, adding to the allure of her sweet scent.
Above all, it was her tranquil and reassuring presence that resonated with me. I felt the calming comfort of her being by my side, of knowing I could depend on her. She is not just my mentor but also my friend. However, deep within me, a yearning starts to stir a desire for our relationship to evolve into something... more...
Wait! What am I thinking?!
Warning mental fluctuations detected. Heart rate is going above average standards. The player is advised to take a break.
Oh crap! I can't be forcibly logged out now! We are currently in the middle of an elimination match!
I steadied my breathing and tried to vanish all distractions. Calm down, Aria. Breathe in, breathe out.
Let's focus on the match. It would do no good if we got eliminated here because of me. I certainly wouldn't be able to face her if that happens.
"Aria, are you alright?" a sudden question from my best friend pulled me out of my headspace. It was a much-needed respite.
"H-huh?! O-of course I am! And what about you?" I reflexively turned the question back to her.
She stared at me curiously. "...I'm pretty sure I'm fine, but you... You appear preoccupied for some reason," she observed, peering at me with suspicion evident in her gleaming eyes.
I involuntarily gulped under her discerning gaze.
After a brief moment, she relented, easing my apprehension. " Well, I guess it's fine since you don't seem disheartened anymore. But I’m quite curious: What are you thinking of just now that got you smiling like a fool just now?"
My cheeks flushed with her unexpected query. There was no way in hell I could tell her what my thoughts were!
"I-it’s none of your business!" I exclaimed defensively.
"Alright, sheesh. I won’t ask if you don't want to say anything. There's no need to be so aggressive," she replied in a slightly exasperated tone.
"R-right, sorry… let's just focus on the match," I forcefully changed the topic, receiving a determined nod from her.
I surveyed my surroundings again, and I was void of any distractions this time.
Towering trees with lush green leaves stretch towards the sky, forming a dense canopy that filters the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. Shafts of golden light pierce through the foliage, creating a mesmerizing play of shadows and illumination.
The air is alive with nature's symphony—the melodious chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, and the soothing murmur of a nearby stream. Each breath I take is infused with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, the earthy scent of moist soil, and the freshness of the rainforest air that fills my lungs.
As we proceeded to walk towards the middle orb, our destination, we passed by exotic plants that dot the landscape. Butterflies flutter gracefully from one flower to another, their delicate wings painting the air with hues of red, yellow, and orange, creating a whimsical dance of nature before my eyes.
A couple of minutes of walking later, we arrived at the middle orb, where two players greeted us. One is a large armored man sporting a tower shield, while the other is a bow user in a roguish medieval cloak.
We are up against these two, huh? It means that Blitz is up against their captain. It seems like Seer’s prediction is on point this time.
“I thought you guys would quit the tournament altogether after that shameful showing earlier,” the loudmouth, who almost had an altercation with Blitz when we first arrived at the hotel, mocked.
Hearing no response from us, he then turned his attention towards me. “Getting soloed by a single player? And you call yourselves the 'new team Paragons.' How laughable," he taunted.
“Aria, don’t listen to him. He's just trying to rile you up. He is their tank, after all, so he wants you to focus your attention on him.” Lucy reminded.
“I know, Lucy, no need to worry,” I replied, showing disinterest.
But I think it's probably a bit of bad blood, too though, stemming from the longstanding discord between our guilds ever since the start of CoA. It's understandable; considering the enemy is our rival guild, a bit of trash-talking is probably inevitable in such circumstances.
Seeing that we seem unaffected by his provocations, he continued.
“Yuusha can easily 1v2, but I guess her protégé can just as easily lose in a 2v1 scenario. How pathetic, hahaha," he let out a boisterously irritating laugh that grated on my nerves.
"Lucy, please cast haste on me," I said in a cold tone.
"U-understood!" my partner affirmed, casting her haste buff on me.
Having received the haste buff, I began to move. The humid air of the realistic VR stage hung heavy as I walked towards the enemy duo, my trusted daggers in hand. The irritating brute stood guard before the archer, a cloaked figure with a drawn bow. The boisterous brute was the undeniable tanky, but the archer he was protecting is a complete glass cannon. And from what Seer told us, the archer's weapon skill is strong but takes time to charge up. He won’t be getting that chance, though.
"Looks like I have to remind you guys where you stand," I said in the most intimidating tone I could muster.
As expected, the hooded figure flinched, his aim wavering by my unbridled show of confidence. That was all the opening I needed.
In a blur of motion, I darted towards the archer as fast as possible with my hasted movement. Seeing my movement, the tank positioned itself in front of me to halt my charge, but it didn't matter. I dodged his pitiful attempt of a shield bash as I weaved around the lumbering brute. He was so slow compared to my hasted state, laughably so.
Seeing me pass by him so easily, he bellowed in outrage, his massive shield slamming into the ground in an attempt to trigger his weapon skill – a repositioning skill that teleports the owner of the weapon skill near the player the user wishes to protect.
“Quick Guard!” the brute exclaimed.
The air shimmered, and for a fleeting moment, the brute vanished, appearing right beside the archer with his shield towering in front of me– a valiant attempt to act as a human shield. I scoffed.
With a flick of my wrist, my daggers transformed into a shimmering chain whip. The maneuver was so swift the brute didn't even have time to react. The chain snaked around his ankle, yanking him off balance with a surprised yelp. He crashed to the ground in a heap of metal and confusion, his valiant shield now uselessly pointed at the sky.
The hooded archer, momentarily stunned by the turn of events, finally loosed his arrow. But his aim was shaky, fueled by panic due to how fast I closed the gap and easily handled his tank. With a disdainful flick of my wrist, the chain whip morphed into the khopesh. The curved blade sang through the air as I deflected the arrow with a resounding clang. The archer's eyes widened in terror as the deflected arrow skittered harmlessly across the grassy ground.
There was no time for theatrics. The khopesh blurred once more, this time turning into a gleaming spear for a longer range. I danced around the still-distraught brute, focusing my sights on the DPS archer. A swift thrust on his dominant shoulder arm forced him to release his bow. His health bar started to blink ominously at the attack.
Xanix
HP: 68%
With a choked gasp, the archer finally fumbled for his dagger – a last-ditch attempt at close-quarters defense—a pitiful one at that.
I closed the distance in a blink, the spear transforming back into twin daggers of my own. The archer's dagger clattered to the ground as I disarmed it with a practiced ease. A single, precise slash across his arm sent him sprawling, his own weapon clattering beside him. Then, a stab at his now defenseless head.
Xanix
HP: 0%
His health bar winked out of existence, his form then turning into blue motes of light.
After defeating the only source of DPS in a matter of seconds, too fast for even his defender to react, I turned to the remaining survivor—the loudmouthed brute.
"This outcome should make it clear to you by now. You and your teammates are nothing but cannon fodders in this tournament," I stated with a hint of contempt.
------------------------------------
"W-what a commanding display by Team Paragons! They have clearly surpassed their rival guild in this match! Demonstrating that they are still very much in the competition!" exclaimed the caster as the bout concluded.
I smiled at the result. It was a dominating win, with Aria's team emerging victorious in every orb skirmish. Notably, none of their team members died at all, highlighting the formidable strength of their team.
Given the gap in skills, I already expected the outcome, but I'm still relieved that their performance was not greatly affected by their earlier loss from their fight. In fact, it seems their team bounced back, stronger than ever, after learning from their loss and moving forward as a team. Undoubtedly, Celeste played a significant role in this positive development.
Nevertheless, isn't Aria displaying a more brutal demeanor than usual? She can be rather intimidating at times, but she was completely merciless in this fight. I need to constantly remind myself that I better not get on her bad side at all.
Still, after that outstanding performance she showed on stage, it looks like it's my turn to keep my promise to her.
A sudden, courteous knock on our door drew my teammates' and my own attention, prompting us to pay attention to the room's entrance. Moments later, the door swung open, unveiling a familiar staff member.
“Excuse me, team Paradigm. Please prepare for the final match of the day,” the staff politely reminded us.
“Yes, we will be right there in a short while,” our captain, Liz, responded to the team.
After nodding amicably, the staff left us to our own devices.
As the door closed, a hush settled over the room, enveloping our team in quiet contemplation of the insurmountable challenge that lay ahead.
I empathize with my teammates' sentiments. It seems as though we are at a huge disadvantage. The situation appears dire, with us going up against the strongest opponent we have ever faced so far. Lua’s team is undoubtedly formidable and intimidating. Going up against them feels as though we are embroiled in a futile struggle, with victory seeming out of reach.
“I really don’t think we have a chance at winning this battle, guys…” Clarence broke the silence.
A moment later, a cheerful voice came from none other than our captain, Liz. "Yeah, but let's not lose hope just yet. Let us at least give our all and hope for a favorable outcome, alright guys?" she encouraged.
Another silence. The brief pause that followed was filled with the weight of anticipation and the echoes of conflicting emotions. The contrast between Clarence's initial doubt and Liz's unwavering belief created a juxtaposition of perspectives within the team.
This time, I was the one to break it.
“Guys, I have a suggestion to make,” I raised my voice.
That caught the undivided attention of my teammates.
“This might sound crazy, but please hear me out," I continued.
"Sure, go ahead! I completely support your idea," Liz encouraged.
"I'm open to it," Clarence chimed in.
Meanwhile, Chu acknowledged my words with a nod.
"You guys haven't heard the details of my plan yet..." I deadpanned.
"I believe that whatever you have in mind will benefit the team. I have complete trust in you, Kat," Liz said encouragingly, expressing her honest thoughts about me, which is actually quite sweet of her.
"Liz is right. Without doing something unexpected, we have little to no chance of winning against their ace, Lua," Clarence remarked.
"…So, what do you propose?" Chu inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.
Taking a moment to compose myself, I focused my thoughts on the strategy. “Regarding Lua… let me have a one-on-one duel with her,” I finally proposed.
Silence again... It stayed a lot shorter this time before Clarence broke it.
“I agree with what you said earlier. You do sound completely crazy.”