Vol.2 Chapter 70
“What a play! She parried and dodged the combo from Yatsufusa’s weapon skill! What an unbelievable move from Ariadne!” the caster exclaimed in shock, eliciting a roar of cheer from the crowd with Aria’s showcase of skills.
“Whoa!”
“What the!”
“Huh…”
Liz, Clarence, and Chu also displayed a mix of surprise and disbelief in their reactions. I don’t blame them. I feel the same way. Those were some incredible dodges.
“H-how did she even dodge that combo? Even I didn’t see those slashes when I fought her! But that girl dodged it like it was nothing! That’s impossible!” Clarence incredulously asked as his gaze eventually turned towards me for the answers he sought.
I sighed inwardly. Why ask me? Although I did know how she did that, why do you guys always default to me for answers? Don’t look to me as if I held the key to all solutions and possessed an infinite well of knowledge. I’m not an omnipotent being, you know…
Despite these thoughts, I composed myself to address his inquiry. His gesture was a sign of trust in my judgment and knowledge, which is a good thing, so I shouldn’t be complaining too much.
After gathering my thoughts, I finally began to explain what happened as I saw Aria engage with the male twin with aggressive attacks to press her advantage. "She uncovered Hana's weakness. Unlike Murasame, who can pinpoint the enemy's weakness just before executing the weapon skill combo, Hana's attacks are highly predictable, as if meticulously rehearsed. If you could anticipate where those slashes will come from, dodging each one of the attacks is feasible," I explained.
I already had a countermeasure in case our team happened to face off against Hana. Thankfully, it wasn’t needed. However, I’m surprised that Aria also learned about those attack patterns by herself. She really is something else.
"Really? I thought dodging Hana's weapon skill was impossible!" Liz said in disbelief.
I shook my head in response and elaborated further. "Not quite. Think of her combo attacks like a fastball that only has a limited trajectory and predictable destination. No matter how fast her attacks were, if you know where it will land, it’s possible to dodge it. That is why even pro pitchers mix up their pitches every time to prevent it from being predicted. Hana probably lacks the experience to do so like her sister… for now, that is," I continued to elucidate.
At that moment, Hana's slashes were exceptionally swift and incredibly challenging to evade. Dodging them seemed almost impossible unless you were familiar with the opponent's attack patterns in advance. She must have spent a lot of time since yesterday analyzing Hana’s movements to be able to pull off that last play perfectly.
“Is it really that easy to counter? Why didn’t you tell me that sooner when I fought her?!” Clarence questioned, expressing a sense of injustice.
"Whether I informed you or not is irrelevant. You wouldn't have been able to evade it with your mediocre dodging skills, regardless. You are not as good as Aria when it comes to dodging attacks, especially crucial ones that require plenty of experience to do so," I remarked nonchalantly with a shrug.
“I guess. But shouldn’t you tell me important things like that before I fought someone?” he continued to press on, not wanting to lose.
“If I did, you would only get distracted trying to dodge her weapon skill and forget the initial plan of tanking her combo head-on just to look cooler in front of the audience. I don’t want to risk it, given your personality and inclination to show off,” I deadpanned.
“Urk! I… can’t deny that…” he finally acquiesced.
With that being said, it is exceptionally challenging—nearly impossible—for her to possess the intuition and foresight required to anticipate the timing of when the slashes would hit and evade them as flawlessly as she did. Even for someone like me, whose primary strength lies in dodging, I am uncertain if I could replicate her flawless execution. Considering her current dodging expertise, she should have received at least one slash under normal circumstances unless...
…She had entered the zone at the last second before Hana’s combo was about to hit her.
That thought made me involuntarily shiver. If Aria mastered the zone and learned to enter it at will, can I even win against her as I am now?
It’s quite a dilemma. On one hand, I am immensely proud that she is both my protégé and dear friend. On the other hand, I’m quite scared of her immense potential. Her continuous advancement throughout the tournament is remarkable.
Perhaps it is fueled by the psychological stress and adrenaline she is perpetually immersed in throughout the tournament week. After all, the saying that hardships make people stronger is true. Not only that, she also bears the weight of carrying the Paragon's name and the accompanying expectations from all of the original team's fans and supporters.
Whichever the case, coupled with the effort she is putting into improving herself, her rapid and significant development is undeniable.
"Oh, she's unstoppable, everyone! Following her victory against the opponent's ace, Team Paragon's Ariadne effortlessly defeated RE, the male twin from Sakura eSports!" the caster's loud, boisterous voice jolted me back from my contemplation.
Well, that is to be expected. Their morale is probably at rock bottom after losing their ace in an unexpected show of perfect outplay from the enemy’s ace. Nobody in their team could stop Aria now without Hana stepping in. I predict that it's only a matter of time before Team Paragons secure the win and advance to the semis.
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Aoi’s PoV
"What another impressive display from Paragon's team! Despite their drop from the upper bracket in their first match, they showed us that they are still one of the top teams in this tournament through a consistent and formidable demonstration of their strength, beating all the teams they’ve encountered in the lower bracket convincingly!" the caster exclaimed as the match concluded with our team's defeat.
It’s a bit disappointing, but I already expected this might happen. The adversaries proved to be exceptionally formidable this time. Although I possess a certain tactical acumen stemming from my background in high-level competitive games, strategic expertise is still not my forte.
If our captain, Yuna, were present, she might have solutions to counter the enemy's strengths. However, I doubt she would offer assistance if I were to seek it. Despite this, our team put forth a praiseworthy performance, so I shouldn't dwell too much on the loss. I need to reassure Hana, especially now that she experienced her first defeat in a real tournament.
I continued to watch as both teams came together in a moment of sportsmanship and camaraderie after their admittedly one-sided match on the main stage. As the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, Hana led her teammates to congratulate the other team on a hard-fought battle that captivated the audience and showcased their skills on the main stage.
Amidst the roar of the crowd and the glow of the blinding lights, Ariadne and Hana's teams exchanged handshakes and nods of respect, acknowledging the effort and dedication that each side had put into the match. The spirit of friendly competition and mutual admiration filled the air, creating a sense of unity and camaraderie among the players in the thrilling atmosphere of the tournament.
As the crowd's cheers reverberated through the arena, Ariadne and Hana conversed a bit. Due to the loud background noise, the content of their conversation is lost, but I can see Hana seems to try to stay positive in their talk, likely congratulating the enemy ace on their victory.
As I observed Hana's cheerful expression amidst the post-match celebrations, a pang of dejection tugged at my heart. Despite Hana’s usual outward facade of cheerfulness, I sensed a deeper emotion brewing beneath the surface. As her sister, I knew her well enough to recognize the subtle signs of disappointment and frustration that she was holding in.
Behind the mask of a smile and the facade of good sportsmanship, I could see the flicker of dissatisfaction in Hana's eyes, a shadow of sadness that she was trying to conceal. I am quite certain that the pain of losing burdened her significantly, despite her efforts to uphold composure amidst the cheers of the crowd and the camaraderie of the post-match festivities to preserve her image.
Similar to my initial tournament experience and first defeat, I could empathize with what Hana is going through right now—the disappointment of falling short, the frustration of not achieving the desired outcome, and the determination to bounce back stronger from the defeat.
The bright side is that I’m sure she will continue to improve after getting through this minor setback. I’m not worried that much since she is not someone who gives up easily after just a single loss. After all, the essence of competitive spirit and the pursuit of excellence flows deeply within our shared lineage as descendants of the Yamamoto clan.
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Hana’s PoV
The cheers of the crowd slowly dissipate as we head back towards our room. The weight of defeat pressed down on us like a physical burden. Each member of our team lost in their own thoughts, contemplating the crushing reality of our loss.
“Don’t worry, guys! We had a good run! We did our best, so there’s nothing to regret!” I tried to cheer the team up, filling my role as their captain and ace.
My normally cheerful voice felt strained as I heard myself speak those words. Even though I said that there was nothing to regret in our performance, I knew deep inside that it was a lie.
Despite my attempt at optimism, the sting of defeat was sharp and raw. I knew that I had let them down. That my performance hadn't lived up to the expectations they placed on me, the expectations I placed on myself.
The truth was, I couldn't shake the gnawing feeling of inadequacy. If only I were a bit faster, if only I had coordinated the combo better, if only I were stronger...
Every missed opportunity, every miscalculation, played on a loop in my mind, a constant reminder of my shortcomings. It felt like a physical weight bearing down on me, suffocating the usual cheerfullness that had always been my trademark.
“Hana’s right, guys! Fourth place in the largest tournament for non-pros is nothing to scoff at! We should be proud of reaching this far in our first tournament!" Kaito echoed my sentiments.
However, unlike me, I am sure that Kaito genuinely means it. He has always been easy to accept things. He never places too much expectations on himself or others, which is not a bad thing in itself. I even wish sometimes that I could be as easy going as him.
"Sorry,"
"Hana,"
The twins uttered in unison.
"We weren't much," "Of use to you," they completed each other’s words as they lowered their heads in disappointment.
Hearing them apologize made me a bit flustered. It’s not like they did anything wrong; if anything, their ace outplayed me, leading to our loss. I should be the one to apologize to them.
"D-don't mind! Don't mind! Our opponents this time were just exceptionally strong. It's not your fault," I tried to reassure them.
"That's right! I didn't even last long against Blitz, even though I tried my best to hold him off! Those guys are on a different level!" Kaito attempted to lighten the mood.
After hearing our words, the twins appear to feel a little better. Although they're probably still disheartened by the loss, knowing that we don't hold them responsible, they seem a bit more relaxed.
A sense of shared camaraderie enveloped us as we continued our walk. The familiar hallway leading to our room felt strangely empty compared to the usual buzz of excitement that accompanied the main stage. The heavy silence was punctuated only by the rhythmic click-clack of our footsteps as we walked, each of us lost in our thoughts, grappling with the bittersweet reality of our defeat.
Finally, we arrived at the entrance to our room, the familiar sight of the door offering a sense of comfort and familiarity amidst the whirlwind of emotions that we were experiencing after our loss.
And then I saw her—my sister.
As our eyes met. I couldn't help but brace myself. Her gaze was like a laser, dissecting me, analyzing my body language. She knew me too well, and the knowledge was both comforting and terrifying.
As I approached her, she was the first one to speak, her voice a soothing tune amidst the turmoil of my mind.
"You did well…” she said, pausing to study my face intently before continuing.
"It's not your fault, Hana," she added softly, a hint of encouragement in her voice.
There was a flicker of warmth, a display of care that she often shows towards me, but this time, even more profound. It made her words all the more impactful, far from her usual cold and aloof self, which she often shows when interacting with others.
That made me even more emotional. She already knew I was feeling down, so I guess there was nothing left to hide. My cheerful facade, the one I had worn so well throughout the tournament, instantly faded. My shoulders slumped, and I hung my head, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Sorry, Sis… I lost… Even though I promised I would win..." I mumbled, my voice choked with emotion.
I know my teammates are watching. As their captain, I need to act cheerful in front of them to avoid worrying them. I know that already… but still, the tears won't stop flowing.
As I pondered those thoughts, I suddenly felt a warmth enveloping me.
My sister hugged me, a silent gesture that spoke volumes. There were no words, no comforting platitudes, just the warmth of her embrace. It's just so like her. My sister, despite her usual stoic demeanor, was always there, a beacon of support in the darkest of moments. Even though she always acts cold and aloof to everyone, deep down, she is warm and kind, the best sister I could ever wish for.
I didn’t know how long we stayed like that, but after her reassurance, I felt a sense of peace settle over me, a calm that spread through my body like a warm wave. The pain of the loss from the earlier match still lingered, but it felt manageable now, softened by her embrace and unwavering support.
Just wait for me, Sis! I'll become even stronger than ever so that I never lose again!
And hopefully, maybe someday, I could step into the same stage as you…