Vol.2 Chapter 73

Lua’s PoV

The enemy's ace lunged at me, her daggers glinting in the fading sunlight. She was fast, and her speed is a testament to her expertise in utilizing the haste buff.

I braced myself, my body flowing into the Wing Chun stance, my arms forming a protective barrier. As her daggers slashed toward me, I used the principles of redirection, channeling her force and redirecting it toward a different aim.

WHOOSH*

The daggers whizzed past my face, a mere inch from my skin, a reminder of her deadly precision. But I redirected it perfectly nonetheless.

Sensing the opportune moment, countered. My open palm, honed by years of training, slammed into her, or it should have been. She instantly used her weapon skill to form a buckler, protecting herself from my attack.

THUD*

A resounding thud sent her reeling backward due to my immense strength stat, but she remained relatively unharmed due to her timely block.

As I was about to capitalize on her broken stance, my instincts reminded me of danger. As I focused my senses back on the surroundings, I saw the enemy support mage firing a barrage of ice arrows.

“Oh, my ~ Can you give us both some quality time alone?” I complained.

As the ice arrows flew toward me, I met the onslaught with a calculated series of movements, redirecting the arrows with precise strikes of my hands and feet. Some I deflected back towards the mage that chip away at her health, others I sent spiraling harmlessly into the trees.

Lucy

HP: 82%

"Wha-!" the mage exclaimed in surprise as my redirection caused a couple of her own attacks to hit her back.

Talk about having a taste of your own medicine. Still, her actions served the purpose of buying time for her teammate to recuperate. It was a good trade on her part; otherwise, I would have finished her partner already without her meddling in our fight.

Seeing that I was holding my ground against the two of them, they both stared at me with much apprehension.

"Are you sure you could play like this ~ Aren't you on a timer?" I teased as I laced my voice with a playful challenge.

“Tsk!" Ariadne, their ace, exclaimed, her frustration evident in the sharp sound.

She immediately shifted into a more aggressive stance as she rushed towards me while simultaneously shifting her weapon into a broadsword.

Ariadne's movements, previously fluid and controlled, now had a raw edge to them. She made her strikes faster and more desperate. Her face, stoic since the start of the battle, was now contorted with fierce determination, her eyes blazing with an almost primal intensity. Each attack was aimed with calculated ferocity, exploiting any opening in my defenses.

"Oh, how passionate ~," I murmured, my gaze fixed on her while dodging and redirecting her swings while playing it relatively safe.

Honestly, if it were me from before, I would not have been so cautious and would have matched her aggression. However, I wish to gain more experience from this girl before my rematch against Katherine. Her teammate is also a nuisance, throwing low-tier spells like fireballs and ice arrows at opportune moments in perfect synergy with her partner, so I cannot underestimate them. It is clear that they have been teammates for a very long time, given their high level of synergy.

As Gil suggested earlier, before the fight, I could play it safe for now and buy some time until her haste wears off. The duration of the haste depends on the mastery and skill points allocated to the skill, but judging by how long we have been fighting, it seems that her haste is at its maximum possible duration.

Since it has a long cooldown, recasting it is not possible. Besides, I do not want to rush things and get outplayed at the last second, as happened in my fight against Katherine. People learn from their mistakes, and that is especially true for me, as I can confidently claim that learning from my fights is one of my greatest strengths.

This girl, Ariadne, is also exceptionally skilled, but her strong desire to win is also her weakness. I can read her movements through her expressions and body language, unlike Katherine, who maintains an impassively calm expression, making it impossible to gauge her intentions. Oops, my bad. It would be rude of me to think of another girl while I’m up against my current opponent.

As our dance continued, I finally found an opening after one of her aggressive overhead swings.

I readily took it.

My counterattack followed. It was a powerful palm strike aimed at her chest. But just as my strike was about to connect, she suddenly surged forward, a burst of speed that seemed to defy the laws of physics. She dodged my attack by a hair's breadth, leaving a trail of what seemed like an afterimage, then shifted her weapon into a dagger to land a counterattack.

She planned it from the start, huh? The opening was just a bait so she could catch me off guard with a sudden burst of speed. Her tactic is mainly similar to what Katherin did in our previous match, although less potent than hers. That won’t work on me again, though.

I let the adrenaline surge through my veins, a thrilling rush of energy that fueled my move. I had anticipated her tactic as I had seen it once before, so I dodged her initial attack with practiced ease and then leaped away in a graceful arc through the air to prevent her from unleashing her dagger combo due to her dagger’s short reach.

I landed lightly, my feet barely making a sound on the ground as my eyes locked with hers.

"Oh ~ it seems like you finally showed the full extent of your speed. I was right to be cautious, and now, you don't have any more surprises," I said, a smirk playing on my lips.

As if on cue, her haste buff suddenly fizzled out as the aura surrounding her vanished. It was probably the reason why she was desperate in that last attack; she expected her haste to disappear. Sadly for her, I did not show any openings to exploit, making her efforts unfruitful.

The apprehension was palpable, a visible shift in their demeanor. The aura of determination that had surrounded them moments ago had dissipated, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. Ariadne's last move, her desperate attempt to regain the upper hand, had been futile. The haste buff had also fizzled out, leaving her vulnerable and exposed. They are in the back, and they know it.

“Aria, let's stall for now,” the support nervously suggested.

Her suggestion was met with a silent nod of approval from her partner.

I won’t let them, though. It's time to finish this once and for all.

"Seems like this is the best you could offer," I professed, my voice laced with a playful taunt. "I'm not complaining, though; it was fun~ Sadly, all good times must eventually come to an end."

I rushed towards Ariadne while keeping my position in between me and the mage, a strategic move to prevent the mage from unleashing supporting low-level spells. The fear of friendly fire would deter her from acting, leaving Aria vulnerable and isolated.

My first strike was a swift jab aimed at her chest. Due to her sudden lack of speed, she dodged barely. I followed it up with a flurry of punches, each aimed with precision at her weak points. She dodged all of it, but the relentless assault broke her balance.

I feinted left, then struck right, a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at her side. She blocked it by shifting her weapon into a defensive shield but stumbled, her balance compromised. I seized the opportunity, driving my palm into her stomach, a gut-wrenching blow that sent her reeling backward.

“Guh!” she let out a cry.

Ariadne

HP: 57%

Due to my strength, the damage was immense, even though it was not a critical hit. Almost half of her health was lost in that single attack. She tried to regain her footing, but it was too late.

Just as I was about to deliver the final blow, a powerful palm strike aimed at her head, a primal instinct surged through me, a warning bell ringing in my mind. Suddenly, the air erupted with a deafening roar as a cannonball launched from the hidden trees in the forest. I reacted instinctively, with a sudden shift in my balance and a twist of my body. The projectile whizzed past my head, a mere fraction of a second short of hitting me.

BOOM*

It landed with a thunderous sound on a nearby tree. The impact was instantaneous, and the tree splintered and collapsed in a shower of wood and leaves. The ground trembled as the giant tree fell, and the air filled with the scent of sawdust and the sound of cracking wood.

That was a close call; I almost instantly died there. It's a good thing my prodigal battle instincts had saved me from such a devastating blow. That’s why I always trust my gut.

“Whew ~ it’s quite rude, but in like that, don’t you think?” I said as I turned my head towards the source of the cannonball.

Seer

HP: 22%

It was one of their teammates. If I remember correctly, he is their team’s strategist, Seer. If he is already here, then that means Antonio lost to him. Although, it seems like a close fight since he has barely any HP left.

“Right on time, Seer!” the support mage exclaimed.

For his part, he ignored both of us and remained vigilant, probably planning their team’s next move. How uncouth.

Still, their formation is still in disarray. I need to take down one of their members at least before they can fully regroup, or else I will be in a tough spot.

I didn’t waste a second. I sprinted at their mage, which was still unguarded. Having run out of haste buff, Ariadne cannot protect her now.

“Lucy! Be careful!” their ace shouted in worry.

It was too late; I was already near her before they noticed what I was trying to do.

Just as I was about to engage, a flash of movement caught my eye. A figure emerged from the trees. Then suddenly, he was in front of me, his rapier a deadly extension of his arm, aimed at my torso. This guy, I fought him before. He used his weapon skill to blink right next to me and catch me off guard!

"Tsk!" I exclaimed.

He was fast—incredibly fast—faster than when I fought him before. His movements were fluid, and his strike was precise, a testament to his skill and experience.

I received a glancing hit, the rapier grazing my shoulder and searing pain that shot through my arm due to the pain receptors. But I barely dodged it. My reflexes and battle instincts had saved me from a fatal blow.

Lua

HP: 78%

I glanced at my HP bar. I took that much damage just from a glancing hit, huh? My build really is squishy.

I disengaged to get some breathing room, and he didn’t pursue, likely wary from the last time we fought one-on-one when I defeated him easily. Instead, they took the time to gather in a formation: the support and their tactician at the back and the two melee users at the front.

This is not looking good for me.

"What happened to Gil and Haeun? Don't tell me you defeated them?" I asked the newcomer, my voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"Yep!" he said jovially, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Don't tell me you didn't notice the notification?"

"Hmmm... I don't really pay attention to it. It's just a distraction for me, especially when I’m enjoying myself in a battle," I made my excuse.

Besides, I have Gil to tell me the team’s status… but I didn’t expect both him and Haeun to actually lose to this guy.

"Well, it bit you back this time, huh? You should pay more attention to it in the future," he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

This guy... I only like it when I'm the one who teases people. His playful banter and his confident demeanor are all starting to get on my nerves, especially since I am in a predicament like now.

“Blitz! You really did well this time! I didn’t expect you to win a 2v1!” the support mage, Lucy, praised her teammate.

“Hehe, you know me, I always make clutch plays!” he bragged in response.

This situation… Why do I feel like the villain from a second-rate movie right now…

I shook my head to dispel the thought. History is always written by the victors, making them the protagonists of the story, and I would be the winner here.

“Come on ~ are you guys really going to gang up on a fair maiden like me,” I complained.

“There is a lot that is inherently wrong about that statement…” the support mage deadpanned.

"Lucy's right! There's nothing frail about you! I can't even forget how you demolished me in our duel; it gave me nightmares for crying out loud!" Blitz shivered as if to prove a point.

“Stop fooling around. We haven’t won yet. Do not underestimate her because she is alone,” their tactician, Seer, reprimanded both of them.

“Seer is right… Blitz and I will take the front. Seer and Lucy, cover for us!” their captain commanded.

They are even taking me this seriously even when they have an overwhelming advantage. I kind of feel proud about it, although this means I really have no chance to catch them off guard now since it’s highly likely they won’t show any openings. I can’t possibly beat a team as coordinated and as skilled as them alone.

I sighed. "Looks like I have to do it, huh?" I murmured to myself, a hint of resignation in my voice.

Without any warning, they moved in unison, demonstrating their polished teamwork. Both melee front liners charged towards me, while the two at the back unleashed a cannonball hurtling through the air, followed by a volley of low-level spells from the support mage.

I easily dodged the projectiles with precise and fluid movements, and just as the two melee fighters were about to close in, I finally made my move.

“Shiva’s Decent,” I murmured softly.

Suddenly, a surge of energy, a wave of power, coursed through my body. It was as if a divine force had descended upon me. As the name of the skill implies, it is like a blessing from Shiva, the god of destruction himself.

It began as a warmth, a tingling sensation that spread through my limbs. Then, it intensified, a surge of energy that pulsed through my veins, filling me with a sense of overwhelming strength. My body began to glow, a soft golden light emanating from my skin like a beacon of divine energy.

The skill amplifies my strength stat, which is aberrant on its own due to my unorthodox build, up to five times its normal value.

From what Gil told me, no one else has ever been recorded to possess this kind of weapon skill, even among the pros. I don't even know how I acquired this unique weapon of mine. I just beat an abyss dungeon or something by myself, and I probably got it by chance due to passing specific requirements for it.

The downside is that it only lasts ten seconds and has an hour-long cooldown, making it impossible to use twice in a single battle.

Nevertheless, ten seconds is all the time I need.

As I used my weapon skill, their eyes conveyed surprise, a flicker of disbelief that they couldn't quite mask. It was too late for them to halt their charge, though, as their momentum carried them forward, their coordinated attack already in motion.

“It’s an uncharted weapon skill! Everyone! Be careful!” Seer warned his teammates.

Wasting no time, I capitalized on their momentary lapse in focus.

I stomped at the ground with all my force. The impact reverberated through those near me, especially toward the two melee fighters, Ariadne and Blitz. My sudden move caused a tremor that shook the ground, and the earth beneath our feet trembled, a wave of energy radiating outward, a testament to my raw power.

One of the amazing features of this game is its lifelike environment, as evidenced by the slight tremor that resulted from the amount of strength I exerted, with me as the epicenter. This type of attack is risky, but I have practiced it a few times so that I am not affected by it. However, the same cannot be said for my opponents.

Their surprise was palpable, and their eyes widened in disbelief as they struggled to regain their balance.

It was a moment of chaos, a brief window of opportunity that I seized with ruthless efficiency. I rushed towards the nearest player, Blitz, then unleashed a powerful palm strike aimed at his chest, a move that combined raw power with precise technique.

“Tsk!” he exclaimed in shock as he tried to parry my strike.

Wrong move. His arms, though strong, were no match for the raw power behind my attack in my current state.

His arms bent at an unsettling angle, then buckled under the force of my blow. The shockwave of my attack damaged him slightly, along with my forceful attack.

It was not a direct hit since he parried it perfectly, but his HP bar was nearly depleted anyway, so it was enough to finish him off. Even though they both lost, I guess Gil and Haeun did their part in their fight against him.

Blitz

HP: 0%

One down, three to go.

After defeating Blitz, I turned my focus toward Ariadne with a quick palm strike. Sensing danger, she lept away immediately. It was just a fluke, though; my real target was the backlines.

Now that I had some space due to her retreating, I stepped on the ground, my foot sinking slightly into the earth. With a surge of power, I unleashed a powerful leap, a horizontal jump that defied the laws of physics. The ground beneath my feet burst outwards, a small crater forming where my foot had been. It wasn't that my speed increased, but my strength exponentially increased, allowing me to make a leap that defied real-life logic.

“Wha!”

“Huh!”

Both of the backliners exclaimed in shock, their voices laced with a mixture of disbelief and fear as they did not expect I could close the gap with only one leap.

Lucy hastily released a spell, a barrage of ice arrows aimed at me in a desperate attempt to slow my advance. Seer, on the other hand, was quickly trying to reload his cannon with frantic movements, his face etched with a mixture of panic at the unexpected turn of events. He likely has no mana left to use his weapon skill, ‘Rearm,’ all due to Antonio's efforts in their duel.

I dodged some of the ice arrows, but I was struck by a few, the sharp shards of ice piercing my skin. I ignored it since I am on a ten-second timer, so every second counts. I must play as aggressively as possible, trading my HP for efficiency.

Lua

HP: 48%

Seeing that her long-ranged attacks were not serving their intended purpose, Lucy readied herself in a judo stance, a surprising display of combat prowess. Her eyes narrowed, her focus unwavering, as she prepared to counter my attack.

As I neared striking distance, my hand shot forward as I unleashed a powerful palm strike aimed at her chest.

For her part, she met my strike with a well-timed grapple, her movements fluid and precise, a testament to her proficiency in Judo techniques. She shifted her weight, her arms extending with lightning speed. Her right arm shot out, catching my wrist in a firm grip, her fingers locking around my hand. Her left arm followed, wrapping around my waist, her grip tight and unwavering.

It was a textbook judo grapple, a move that combined strength, agility, and technique. Her grip was firm, her leverage perfect, her movements calculated and precise.,

She is indeed skilled, but sadly for her, it was a bad matchup.

I overwhelmed her with my raw strength. I lifted her high up, her body dangling in the air, her face contorted in a mixture of shock and fear as she shouted in terror.

“KYAAA!” she cried out loud.

I then unceremoniously slammed her into the ground with all the might I could muster.

BOOM*

“Ack!”

The impact reverberated through the forest, a tremor that shook the very foundations of the battlefield. Lucy's body crumpled to the ground, her HP bar plummeting to zero as she disappeared into blue motes of light.

Lucy

HP: 0%

Wasting no time, I redirected my focus to the last remaining backliner, Seer. He had already regained his composure, waiting for me to make a move. I paid it no mind and rushed towards him.

At the right time, he launched his cannonball point blank, making it impossible for me to dodge it.

But I don’t plan on doing so.

Instead of attempting to dodge the attack, I punched the cannonball as it flew toward me, my fingerless gauntlet meeting the projectile with a deafening clang.

TING*

As my fist collided with the cannonball, it exploded into fragments, and a shower of metal rained down around me. The force of the explosion and its invisible shockwave sent us both staggering backward.

But I was the first to regain my balance and posture. Not letting the opportunity slip by, I quickly attacked him with a palm strike. Because he was out of balance, he failed to dodge my attack, his body a sitting duck, vulnerable to my assault.

"Gah!" he exclaimed.

Seer

HP: 0%

“This is absurd..." he muttered, his voice laced with incredulity and despair as he vanished into blue motes of light.

Then, as if on cue, my body's glow slowly diminished until it was back to normal, the surge of energy that had fueled my every move fading away.

It seems like the ten-second timer is up. The adrenaline that had coursed through my veins, the weapon skill ‘Shiva’s Descent,’ had dissipated, leaving me feeling drained but exhilarated.

I focused my attention back on my only remaining opponent.

She surveyed her surroundings with disbelief. I don’t blame her. In less than ten seconds, her whole team has been wiped out. I’m also quite surprised I managed to pull it off.

It all boils down to their lack of information. Since they have no idea what my weapon skill can do, therefore they have no way to counter it. I guess heeding Gil's advice to keep my trump card concealed was a wise decision on my part.

“It looks like it’s just you and me now. Let’s enjoy some time alone, shall we~?” I coquettishly said to ease the atmosphere.

Contrary to my carefree attitude, she shivered in fear, her mouth twitching uncontrollably., Then, as if accepting her fate, she closed her eyes.

Looking at her, I feel a pang of guilt. It feels as if I cheated just now for using that overpowered weapon skill. I’ll just have to finish this as quickly as possible as a sign of respect for her and her team's efforts.

As I approached her slowly, it seemed like her countenance was changing bit by bit. Is she perhaps trying to do something? Experimenting with a high-stakes battle like this, huh? How amusing.

However, whatever it is she is trying to do, I doubt she has a chance against me. No need to rush, though; I’m curious as to what she is planning to do now that her back is against the wall.

Then, after what felt like an eternity—a span of time that stretched out before me like an endless desert—she finally opened her eyes.

I halted at my advance.

Those eyes—eyes that seemed to gaze at my every move with an intensity that pierced my very core, analyzing my every being as if peering directly into my soul—were the same as hers, the one who made me experience my first defeat in a high-stakes battle.

I shivered in ecstasy as I stared longingly at my opponent. It looks like you have some fight left in you, after all.