Chapter 121: The Mock Duels (Part-7)
*WOOSH* *WOOSH* *WOOSH*
The fireballs hit me three more times before I could come out of shock.
“Damn it! Earth Shield!”
Once again, the ground erupts beneath feet, but this time, it covers my back instead. Due to the concave shape of the Earth Shields, a dome gets formed around me, giving protection in every direction.
I could hear the swooshing noises again as the barrage of fireballs hits my shields. They are trying to invade the dome from everywhere— front, back, sides, and even the top. But fortunately, I made sure that the dome is completely sealed so that I can remain unaffected inside— for a few seconds anyway.
Fuck! This is getting worse and worse.
It’s clear to me now that Alex can use Double Elemental magic (though I don’t know how that fucker learn it). And thus, it goes without saying that he must have learned single elemental magic perfectly. If he uses something dangerous like Water Blade right now, my shield will break easily. I won’t even have the time to escape— basically, I will lose the match.
But the problem is, even if he doesn’t change elements and continues using fireballs, I won’t last long inside this dome. It’s gradually getting really hot in here and I’m even starting to take damage because of it. In fact, my body already feels significantly weaker due to being hit by those four fireballs, I cannot afford to take any more damage.
I need to act. Now.
“Let’s use it before he does,” I mutter, poking a really small hole in my Earth Shield and inserting my index finger.
“Water Blade!” I shout.
The next moment, I really thin jet of pressured water shoots out of my finger. I don’t know if Alex gets hit by it or not— it doesn’t matter anyway. I just want to distract him, break this continuous chain of fireballs.
“Yes!”
The next instant, the swooshing sound stops. Not losing this golden opportunity, I quickly raise my body, bursting out of my dome-shaped Earth Shield, and starting to run blindly.
Alex definitely got startled earlier, though he is starting to focus again— new fireballs are forming in his hand.
Yeah, like I’m going to let you throw them again. This match is mine now, bastard.
“Mud Trap!”
A mudhole appears directly underneath Alex. Instantly, his feet sink down and he loses balance. But this much is not enough, the fireballs are still in his hands and running won’t help much because he doesn’t have to aim them at me.
“Up!” I shout, pointing at Alex.
A small circular patch of mud solidifies again and a thick rod of earth shoots out— hitting Alex between his legs.
“YIAAAAAAAAA!!!”
The following scream that Alex issues is so thunderous that it silences everyone around us— the crowd, the judges, and even the rest of the people in our group. They stop doing whatever they were doing and just stare at Alex in surprise.
“Ahaagh… Not again… Haa… Haa… You just wait… I will make sure… that bitch…”
With intense hatred and much effort, Alex starts saying something. But before he could finish, his legs give out and he falls face-first into the mud— a broken pieces of rod sticking between his thighs (or…?).
…
The match is over.
The crowd roars to my victory and begins applauding hard. The volunteers run into the arena and carefully pick up Alex, taking him to the infirmary. They made sure not to touch the rod sticking inside his… Ahem.
[Hehehe… You did that on purpose, didn’t you?]
No! I was just trying to push him down so that I could get close. My plan was to attack him using the Water Blade.
[Come on, don’t lie, buddy.]
I am not!
[ (-_-) ]
…
Okay, fine… I did that on purpose.
[Fufufu… Nice!]
By the way, did you hear what he said before falling down?
[Yup, he told you to “just wait” and called you a bitch.]
No, he didn’t call me a bitch, he said “that bitch”. I think he was referring to someone else.
[Come on, he must’ve said it by mistake. You’re overthinking.]
Maybe… Maybe not…
Well, I know this is a really small thing, but still, I have a bad feeling for some reason.
I think I should be a little more cautious around him. And tell my women to do so as well.
[As you wish. Anyway, now that you’ve won the match, are you going to meet that anonymous person who wrote that note in your slip or not?]
Yeah, I guess I will.
…
In a few minutes, every in my group finishes up with their duels, and together, all of us walk back to the stands. The crowd cheers for me again and I could see Kate and Riley waving at me excitedly, telling me to hurry up and come to them.
Sorry, I cannot.
I simply mouth back the word washroom, wishing that they would understand before leaving the stadium through the exit.
I quickly make my way to the P.E. storage room and open the door (which is unlocked by the way) to enter inside.
… what!?
“Princess Ilyrana!?” I exclaim.
Standing in the middle of the room is the Princess of the Elf kingdom. She’s looking as breathtakingly beautiful as always, dressed in a full length pure white skirt and a white blouse. As she looks at me entering the room, a gentle and elegant smile forms on her flawless face that increases her beauty tenfold.
But sadly, she’s not the only one here. There’s also a guy (Elf) in a black tuxedo standing behind her. I’ve seen this guy before, he’s Ilyrana’s bodyguard.
“Thank you for coming, Jacob. Allow me to congratulate you on your splendid victory in today’s duel. Your last move was… quite unusual,” Princess Ilyrana says, the end of her mouth twitching.
“Wait, so you’re the one who wrote in my slip!?” I ask, still in quite a shock.
“Yes, indeed. I wished to meet you,” She replies promptly.
“Me!? But why?” I ask suspiciously.
This makes no sense…
“I remember writing the reason in the slip. I want to talk to you,” she says.
…
“Okay, fine. But why did the invitation depend upon the result of today’s mock duel?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“Oh, it’s nothing. That was just to confirm a few things,” Ilyrana answers.
“What few things?”
Ilyrana’s smile widens but she doesn’t answer.
“Anyway, I recently came to know that Princess Leena was giving you private lessons before the mock duels. I imagine it was because you were… eh… not that good at magic, am I correct?” she asks.
The fuck!?
She won’t answer my question but still expect me to answer hers?
[Well, she is a princess, buddy. What do you expect?]
… Yeah, I guess.
“Yes, I was bad at it,” I lie.
“Amazing! It’s quite an accomplishment, don’t you think? From being bad at magic to becoming your school’s top duelist in less than two weeks. Princess Leena must be quite a good teacher,” Ilyrana remarks.
“Y-Yes, she is,” I say with a small nod.
“I see, I see. And if I’m not wrong, you even visited Princess Zakira privately in her hotel room, didn’t you? Why, I am sure you two must be close friends,” She says, looking amused.
Shit! How the fuck does she know that!?
“Y-Yes, we’re friends— I mean, close friends,” I reply in a slightly shaky voice.
“The Vampire princess befriending a human, I never thought it could be possible. You’re quite an interesting man, Jacob. Even the White Fox would agree to that,” Ilyrana says, nodding to herself.
“T-Thanks.”
This is all I could think of saying.
“Hmm… I see, two of them haven’t even realized the truth and even then, I am way behind them. But it doesn’t matter, I will be the first one to make a move,” Ilyrana says in a low voice.
What is she mumbling about?
“Excuse me, but I don’t think I understand—”
“Jacob, I have to ask you something,” She says in a loud voice again, interrupting me.
Isn’t that what you’ve been doing?
“Yes?”
“When I return to my country, will you come with me?”