Vol.2 Chapter 72

"Welcome back, everyone! It's time for the highly anticipated semi-finals of the tournament! Team Paragons takes on Team Variables in a rematch you won't want to miss!" the panelist exclaimed, his voice booming across the arena, electrifying the atmosphere.

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers, whistles, and shouts, the energy palpable, the anticipation tangible. The already dazzling lights pulsed in rhythm with the crowd's energy, creating a spectacle of pure excitement from the spectators.

“It’s starting! It’s starting!” Liz, who was sitting right beside me, matched the enthusiasm of the crowd.

She seemed excited about the match. Looking at her, her eyes sparkled with a glint of anticipation, her body pulsing with a barely contained energy. I can’t blame her, though. Both teams fighting this time are incredibly skilled. Therefore, this game is a treat for hardcore fans of e-sports tournament matches like Liz.

"Who do you think would win?" Liz suddenly asked while looking at me curiously.

I'm used to her asking me such questions by now, so I wasn’t surprised. After pondering for a bit, I finally replied.

“Hmm, I don’t know…”

Her expression was one of surprise. It's understandable, though, since I usually have an answer for her curiosity, but this time, I'm genuinely unsure who would win.

Seeing her surprised expression, I continued. “I’m leaning a bit towards Lua with how good she is, but now that the Paragons know her weakness, I don’t really know who would win this time,” I added.

"Hmm. Lua is indeed super strong… although, now that I think about it, you seem pretty close to her. I watched a replay of our match yesterday. She said something about nightly rendezvous? What does she mean by that?” Liz said while wearing an unusual smile.

Her words, delivered with a measured calmness, sent a shiver down my spine, making me gulp instinctively. Her usually cheerful smile didn't quite reach her eyes this time. Was it just me, or was she upset about something? Could it be because of my friendship with Lua? I couldn't fault her for that, though. As our captain, she might be concerned that my closeness to an opponent could negatively impact my performance in the tournament finals.

“W-we just happen to meet often during the night at the rooftop terrace since we both have the same spot we relax on, that’s all,” I said as diplomatically, trying to sound as casual as possible.

“Really?” she stared at me with a doubtful look.

W-why is she looking at me like that? Is she doubting my words now? I’m telling the truth here!

Looks like it’s time for plan B. Misdirection.

My mind raced, and I sought a distraction, a way to shift the focus away from the uncomfortable scrutiny in her eyes. Thankfully, as the crowd’s cheer grew louder, I found one.

“Oh! Aria and the others are entering the center stage,” I said, my calm voice laced with a hint of enthusiasm, a desperate attempt to change the subject.

My plan worked, at least for now. Liz's eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement as she turned her gaze towards the flat monitor screen, her focus shifting to the entrance of Team Paragons.

“Oh! You’re right! Ria! Lucy! You guys can do it! Go, Go, Go!” Liz exclaimed, blending seamlessly with the enthusiasm of the crowd.

“You know they can’t hear you inside this room, right?” Clarence, who was seated next to Chu, deadpanned.

“Hmph! It's not about whether they can hear us or not; it’s our feelings that we want to convey through our cheers that truly matter!” Liz rebuked.

Honestly, even though there is no logic in what she said, her words do sound convincing. Well, that’s Liz for you.

Clarence, knowing that he didn’t stand a chance in this argument, shook his head, his gaze turning back towards Chu, the two of them settling into their own conversation.

At the same time, I also redirected my full attention to the upcoming match. A meticulous analysis is crucial, after all, as the victor of this match will be our next opponent in the grand finals.

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Lua’s PoV

The familiar hum of the transport system filled my ears, a gentle vibration that signaled the transition to the virtual battlefield.

This time, we were transported to a forest stage, a stark contrast to the previous stage, where we fought against them. As I kept my eyes closed, I could smell the thick air, which was filled with pine needles and damp earth. I could also feel the sunlight through my skin, which seemed to be filtered through a canopy of towering trees, casting dappled shadows across the ground. I can never get used to how real this game is in replicating my senses.

Suddenly, the sound of our captain’s voice pulled me out of my reverie.

“Let us proceed as we had discussed,” Gil said in a clear and concise tone.

In his words, we all gave a positive response. But before we could go to our respective positions, Gil suddenly spoke again.

“Are you sure about this, Lua? They already know your weakness,” he spoke worriedly.

“All the better. ~ Think of it like a practice for the finals,” I said confidently.

He sighed in resignation, having grown accustomed to my audacious nature.

"Very well," he conceded, "but be careful. Our victory hinges on your performance."

Returning his words with a reassuring yet playful smile, I proceeded to my designated orb, and I could feel their presence wane, indicating that they all did the same.

I was in no rush as the orb won’t be capturable for a while. As I traveled the forest terrain, I stretched out my senses, feeling the subtle shifts in the air currents and the vibrations of the earth beneath my feet. My world was a tapestry woven with sound, smell, and touch, pulsed with life.

The rough bark of the ancient trees against my fingertips, the soft, damp moss beneath my feet, the scent of pine needles and damp earth filling my nostrils. It was a world of sensation, a world where my senses were heightened and my perceptions sharpened.

I followed the path, my feet moving with an instinctive grace, my body navigating the uneven terrain with ease. The wind whispered through the leaves, its melody a guide, its rhythm a compass.

A while later, I could feel the subtle incline and then a flat surface suitable for a duel as I finally arrived at the middle orb.

When I opened my eyes, the world was a blur of colors and shapes. The beauty of the forest, the intricate details, the vibrant colors, the symphony of sounds, the whisper of the wind, the rustle of leaves—it all washed over me, a wave of tranquility, a sense of peace as I surveyed my surroundings.

I felt my muscles relax, my mind quiet, and my spirit calm. The forest, with its beauty and tranquility, plus the thrill of the impending battle, had sent me into the flow state.

Looking at the other side of the orb, I saw two figures silhouetted against the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. My senses, sharpened by the flow mode, instantly recognized their presence.

It was Lucy and Ariadne, Team Paragon’s usual duo. Their movements show a hint of cautiousness. They stood in place as they carefully surveyed their surroundings, likely preparing for an ambush and ready to flee at the first sign of it.

“Don’t worry. ~ There won’t be any unsavory tricks like last time,” I assured them with a playful tone.

"Forgive me, but we cannot simply trust your words," Ariadne, their team’s ace, retorted while still remaining vigilant in her surroundings.

“T-that’s right, how can we be sure if you’re not deceiving us so that we let our guard down,” her teammate retorted, her voice laced with wariness.

"My presence here is sufficient proof. When have I ever requested help?" I stated with confidence.

Both of them looked at each other as if confirming whether what I said was true. But in the end, they remained vigilant in their surroundings.

“Fine, let’s wait a bit,” I said exasperatedly.

We did not wait for long as our captain’s voice rang in the team chat.

"Blitz is here in the bottom orb. He is alone. Haeun and I will handle him,” Gil voiced out in his usual confident tone.

“Seer is in the top orb. I’m about to engage with him now,” Antonio also reported in the chat, his voice a mixture of excitement and anticipation for his upcoming duel with his opponent.

“Their ace and support is also here,” I added.

That brings the total to four. With all enemy team members present in their designated orbs, my teammates could rest assured that no ambush was imminent. It seems like our opponents have opted for a direct confrontation. How amusing.

Looking at my opponent, it seems like they also received confirmation from their team chat. Knowing that the coast is clear, they both visibly relaxed.

“See? ~ What did I tell you guys,” I teased.

Without saying a word, the girl, Ariadne, signaled for her support to buff her before preparing her stance.

“Oh ~ already preparing for a fight? Don’t you guys want to chat a little ~?” I suggested jovially.

My suggestion was met with silence as their ace rushed toward me after receiving a greater haste buff.

I smiled confidently. Their aggressive advance was expected. Given the 2v1 situation, they would be at a disadvantage if I prolonged the fight since they must win against me before my teammates Gil and Haeun defeat their other teammate, Blitz. However, whether they could win remains to be seen.

“All right, if that’s what you want, I’ll play with you guys for a bit~,” I said with a hint of mischievousness in my voice.

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Gilligan’s PoV

I analyzed the opponent before me as he readied his attack. My mind, a whirlwind of numbers and equations, raced, calculating the odds and predicting the next move. I calculated the probability that there is an 82% chance that would initiate a thrust toward my head with near certainty… and I was correct, yet again.

CLANG*

My blade, a counterpoint to his, met his steel with a resounding sound. As both our stances were broken due to the strength of our respective attacks, Haeun followed up with an offense of her own as she saw the moment, the opening, and the vulnerability in our opponent's stance.

Her attack was swift and decisive. A powerful kick, a testament to years of training. It landed with a resounding thud against our opponent's chest, sending him reeling backward.

THUMP*

“Oof!” our opponent recoiled in the opportune attack as he distanced himself to create some breathing room.

Blitz

HP: 31%

I didn’t let him. We need to finish this as fast as possible after all. The faster we can win, the faster we can back Lua up. Although I don’t think she would need it, it is better to be safe than sorry.

“Crescent Slash!” I exclaimed.

I unleashed my weapon skill, Crescent Slash. A powerful long-range crescent wave aura shot out of my blade. It sliced through the air, targeting Blitz.

But as it was about to hit, he suddenly disappeared. In a blur of motion, he was gone, leaving an afterimage of where he was from before. He then reappeared just beyond the reach of my crescent wave in order to get some breathing room.

It seems like he used his weapon skill, Flicker, a repositioning skill commonly used by fencers like him. It has a relatively lower cooldown compared to its counterparts like Shadow Step, but the downside is that it only lets you travel short distances.

It doesn’t matter. I already calculated this outcome. This was his last line of life. Our next cooperative attack will result in his defeat. He must already know by now that he has no chance against me and Haeun. Although, I must admit, if it were a 1v1, I would have a hard time against him. Unfortunately for him, this is a team match. Therefore, I have no qualms about attacking him in a two versus one scenario.

"Hmph! It looks like Zetta's protégé nothing much," I taunted, hoping to get a rise out of him.

While I don't believe he would easily fall for my provocations, there's no harm in trying, especially if it could give us even the slightest advantage in this fight. After all, every little bit helps, and any psychological edge we can gain could be the difference between how fast we could achieve our victory over him.

However, contrary to my prediction, he hung his head down in defeat, not moving an inch. Has he already given up? Is this truly the best that the protégé of the legendary player Zetta could offer? He lacks even the spirit to fight until the end, surrendering easily. I have always admired the strongest team in CoA's history, the original team Paragons, and it has been my goal to create a team capable of rivaling those legendary veterans. Witnessing this scene, with one of their protégés no less, fills me with a profound sense of discontent.

"How disappointing," I murmured, my voice betraying a hint of emotion for the first time during our match.

I readied my stance in preparation to finish our opponent. I should end this farce now so that Haeun and I can back Lua up as soon as possible.

Just when I was prepared to lead the charge for a cooperative attack with Haeun, I suddenly heard a chuckle, a sound that seemed to echo through the forest. It was both playful and menacing. The unusual sound stopped me in my tracks, made me hesitate, and made me question my assumptions.

There was no one present besides the three of us, so the laughter could only have originated from him. Why is he laughing now? His actions made me question his sanity.

Contrary to my expectations, as he raised his head to face us, I was met not with a look of defeat but instead with a gleeful smile. His aura suddenly changed, and his eyes seemed to gleam with an unsettling light—it was as if there was a spark in them.

“Hahaha, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time!” he exclaimed with uncontrollable delight.

He then suddenly charged at us, going against my prediction. The best thing for him to do is to stall for time, not play aggressively. I would’ve instantly branded him foolish, but his sudden change in disposition prevented me from doing so.

As he neared us, I calculated his attack patterns. Judging from his form, it is highly likely he would aim for a quick stab. But in a heartbeat, he was upon me as his speed seemed to suddenly increase significantly.

I had predicted his move and calculated the odds, but his speed and agility had outpaced my calculations. The blade found its mark, a whisper of pain, a sharp sting that sent a shockwave through my body due to the pain receptors' function that I had maxed out.

“Ack!”

Gil

HP: 64%

"Mr. Gil!" Heun exclaimed, her voice laced with worry.

However, I ignored her, as I had a more pressing concern. How could he move so fast?! Only one thing came to mind. Could this be the rumored flow state that he and Zetta both mastered? Why have I not witnessed this during his previous encounter with Lua?

A thought occurred to me. His fight with Lua was so swift that he may not have had the opportunity to enter this state. However, now that he is on the back foot, with a fight that seems unsurmountable to him, he seems to be enjoying the thrill of the fight, leading him to enter this state.

Tsk, what a crazy bastard! Had I known this would happen, Haeun and I would have gone all out to defeat him as quickly as possible, even if it meant taking significant damage in our health bar. Still, it’s too late to have regrets now. The best we could do is do our best to defeat this monster before us.

In the midst of my predicament, Haeun delivered a swift kick, but he dodged it easily. In his broken stance due to his unorthodox dodge, akin to an acrobatic movement, he still managed to deliver a counter toward Haeun, prompting her to disengage to prevent the attack from hitting her.

However, contrary to expectations, he did not pursue Haeun. Instead, he charged towards me.

Not good; we were just separated by his dexterous combo attacks and sudden burst in speed and skills, leaving me without assistance. I must survive his onslaught for now.

As he engaged me, he feinted a thrust to my left, his blade a blur, his movements defying logic, leaving me no time to think and predict his movements. I desperately parried, my blade meeting his with a resounding clang. But it was a feint. He had already shifted his weight, his movements a symphony of speed and agility that left my posture broken.

Capitalizing on my mistake, he skillfully lunged towards me, and I was caught off guard. Then, he disarmed me with a swift, precise move—a flick of his wrist, a twist of his blade. My weapon flew from my grasp, clattering to the ground with a metallic clang. I watched in disbelief as my weapon lay helpless on the ground.

Without a weapon left to guard myself, he then unleashed a series of strikes. The first strike landed with a resounding thud against my chest, sending a wave of pain through my body. The second strike followed a precise cut across my arm, a testament to his skill and accuracy. The third strike, a final, decisive blow, pierced my noggin. It was a critical hit, barely enough to deplete my HP. It was a calculated combo from him, showcasing his experience in scenarios like this.

Gil

HP: 0%

“You overthink too much,” he said while giving me a contented smile.

“While it can be beneficial at times, it leaves you unable to react effectively when things don't go your way. You should try to trust your instincts sometimes. It was enjoyable, though, so I have no complaints. So, all in all, it was a good game nonetheless!" he exclaimed with a broad smile, failing to hide his enthusiasm and satisfaction from our fight.

My complacency in this fight was a grave error. So this is the true strength of the protégé of the strongest duelist, Zetta. I doubt Haeun stands a chance against this monster on her own.

We can only rely on you once more to carry us, Lua.

Those were my last thoughts before I disappeared into blue motes of light.