Vol.3 Chapter 9

Aroganz's PoV

I walked down the long corridor leading to the guild master's office, my footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls.

As I reached the ornate wooden door of the guild master's office, I knocked casually, waiting for a response. A cheerful voice from within beckoned me to enter.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside the spacious office. The room was filled with the scent of aged leather and parchment, perfectly replicated in this VR world.

Shelves lined with tomes and artifacts for a more medieval feel. In the center of it all, behind a large mahogany desk, sat our soon-to-be ex-guild leader, Rana.

“Oh~ what brings you here? You usually don’t visit me on your own. Oh! Are you here to treasure the moment before I step down from my position?” she teased.

I brushed off her teasing.

“I’m here because I have some questions that need answers,” I replied nonchalantly, accustomed to her playful attitude.

“Oh~ you mean about your fight yesterday with Novo? Honestly, it exceeded my expectations! The fight was incredible~ Even now, it's still the talk of the entire guild. Everyone knows the results by now.”

I glanced at the guild chat, and she was right. Discussions about our duel from yesterday were still buzzing, with everyone talking about how entertaining it was. I couldn't help but agree with them.

I hadn't fought like that in a while, and I felt a sense of contentment from battling such a strong opponent in a duel.

“So~ what do you think about our next guild leader?” she suddenly asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“I initially thought I needed to hold back in the fight you orchestrated to let her win and gain my faction’s approval. But it turns out that wasn’t necessary. She’s clearly more skilled than me,” I answered admitted.

“Skilled, resourceful, charismatic, intelligent, and highly competent. Now you know why I chose her to lead our guild!” she said proudly as if speaking of her own daughter.

Her words hung in the air, and I could see the respect and admiration she held for the girl. The question that had been gnawing at me since our duel yesterday and the reason for my current visit surged to the forefront of my mind, and I knew I couldn't hold it back any longer.

Taking a deep breath, I locked eyes with her, the intensity of my gaze unwavering.

“She’s Yuusha, isn’t she?”

A thick and palpable silence fell over the room as Rana’s amused smile slowly spread across her face.

“Why do you think so?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Memories of my duel with her from three years ago flooded my mind—the adrenaline and sheer awe I felt facing Yuusha as she dismantled my gameplay, outmatching and outplaying me. My heart pounded in my chest as I recalled the exact feeling she had evoked in our duel yesterday.

“I can never forget that fight with the legend three years ago. She gave off the exact same feeling in our battle earlier—call it a veteran fighter’s intuition,” I responded earnestly.

“Hmmm~ Maybe?” she teased again as usual.

“You’re not denying it?” I pressed, my curiosity intensifying.

“Well, it seems like you’ve already formed your opinion on the matter~ so if that’s what you really think, I can't change your mind even if I say she isn’t,” she replied with a playful smirk.

I considered her words.

Now that I’d fought her again, even after all these years, I was certain. Nobody moves the way she does, and even though many imitate her gameplay due to Yuusha’s popularity, her moves and ability to outplay cannot be replicated by just anyone. However, there is one significant difference.

“She’s changed quite a bit. She’s not as aggressive in her movements and dodge-counters,” I observed.

“Time does that to you. I could say the same about you. You’ve also changed from your arrogant self in the past few years since she eliminated our team and humbled you in the first AC tournament,” she countered, her tone both teasing and a little bit sincere.

As much as it irks me to admit it, she’s not wrong. Back then, my younger self was overconfident in my skills. I felt invincible, believing I was the most talented player in the world. I treated every opponent like trash… until I fought her. That was the first time I glimpsed what true talent really is.

“Then, the reason you wanted me to use my old unique weapon from three years ago was also because she had already completely analyzed it from before?” I asked a follow-up question that had also been lingering in my mind.

“Who knows~,” she replied cryptically.

I sighed, knowing it was pointless prying further if she was like this.

On the plus side. Now that I know she is really Yuusha, I feel more confident about the future of our guild. Realizing that such a highly competent leader, Yuusha herself, would guide us moving forward filled me with an unexpected yearning for what was to come.

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Aoi’s PoV

The tension in the air was palpable as I faced my opponent across the battlefield. My focus was solely on the duel at hand. This was it—the match that would determine who would proceed to the grand finals of the tournament.

My opponent, Phantom, one of the strongest duelists and considered by many a rival to Zetta, stood in front of me. An obstacle I must surpass to become the strongest.

Phantom

HP: 22%

I was one critical hit away from securing victory. We had both fought relentlessly to reach this point, and neither of us was willing to back down. The outcome of this battle will greatly affect both our honor as a duelist and the fate of our team, making the stakes higher than in any match I had ever been in.

The silence between us was thick with anticipation, every second stretching into an eternity. Taking a moment to compose myself, I glanced at my HP bar to strategize my next move.

Murasame

HP: 52%

I had the advantage in terms of HP percentage, but I couldn’t afford to be complacent. One wrong move could change everything, and I would lose the battle and our spot at the grand finals.

Both of us had already utilized our weapon skills, his to counter mine. Now, the match could only be settled by the usual CoA custom.

With our skills.

I tightened my grip on my trusted katana, feeling the familiar weight and balance. My mind raced with strategies and counter-strategies, analyzing Phantom’s every move and possible next step as I went further into the zone.

It happened in an instant. As if we had orchestrated our battle beforehand, we both moved in complete unison. I initiated the attack with my practiced IaI slash.

My katana sliced through the air with deadly accuracy, aimed directly at Phantom's midsection.

He reacted with lightning speed, his eyes narrowing as he anticipated my move. With a fluid motion, he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding my blade. His shortsword came up in a flash, countering my attack with a calculated strike aimed at my exposed side.

He was fast, but not as fast as the opponent I had faced a month ago. A fleeting vision of her surfaced in my mind before quickly vanishing.

I responded with a calculated block, intercepting his counterattack. The clash of metal echoed through the arena as our blades met, the force of the impact sending vibrations up my arm.

But I was not done yet.

In the blink of an eye, I shifted my weight and pivoted, using the momentum to my advantage. My katana flowed seamlessly into the next move, a graceful arc that caught Phantom off guard.

His eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected attack. He managed to just barely dodge the slash, but it cost him his balance.

Seizing the opportunity, I pressed the attack. Phantom attempted to parry, but with his stance broken, my katana slipped past his defenses with precision.

With a final, decisive strike, I landed a critical hit on his head.

KACHACK*

Phantom

HP: 0%

Phantom's HP bar dropped to zero due to my attack. He staggered slightly before falling to one knee, his expression a mix of shock and respect.

“I can’t believe I lost,” he murmured, a rueful smile forming on his lips. “Well played. Give Zetta a good beating for me in the finals.”

His words were filled with a blend of regret and genuine sportsmanship. As he spoke, his form began to dissolve into blue motes of light, the particles drifting upwards like ethereal fireflies.

In response, I gave him a short, respectful bow, acknowledging his efforts and the skill he had shown. It was a gesture of honor from the Yamamoto clan, a silent promise to carry his spirit with me into the final match.

As he disappeared, the announcement of our victory flashed across my vision.

"Team Atelier Wins! Congratulations!"

The words blazed in bold, triumphant letters, spreading across my virtual screen. The virtual battlefield seemed to shimmer with the glow of our achievement, the system's celebratory graphics adding to the moment. I took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of triumph and pride.

We had won.

But before I could fully bask in the glory, a notification appeared in my VR vision.

"Logging Out in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."

The countdown began, and I felt the familiar sensation of the VR environment fading away. The vivid colors and sounds of the arena dissolved into darkness, replaced by the reality of the VR pod.

It seems I’m back in the stadium.

With a soft hum, the VR pod powered down, and the lid lifted open. I removed my headset and took a deep breath, feeling the cool air of the arena stadium wash over me. The sounds of the VR pod faded, replaced by the overwhelming noise of thousands of excited voices.

The moment I emerged from the Pod into the booth, the applause and cheers grew even louder. The massive arena was packed with spectators celebrating our victory. The sight was overwhelming: a sea of people cheering for Team Atelier.

Banners bearing our team’s emblem fluttered in the air, and fans waved glow sticks in unison, creating a mesmerizing display of lights. The large screens around the stadium replayed the final moments of the duel, showing my decisive strike against Phantom in slow motion and drawing loud cheers and applause from the crowd.

I stood there, soaking in the fans' adulation and palpable energy, until my teammates rushed to greet me, their faces beaming with joy and relief.

“Yaaaay! We won! I knew you could do it, Senpai!” Yuna exclaimed, her voice brimming with happiness as she gave me a quick celebratory hug.

“You carried us to victory again! Thanks to you, we have a shot at winning the Andarta’s Cup! We would make history!” Freya chimed in.

“That’s right! You clutched our last match! Way to go, Aoi!” Artemis cheered enthusiastically.

“Humble as always! That’s our ace for ya!” Artemis teased, a playful glint in her eye.

I smiled, completely satisfied with our win and my teammates' adulation, but there was still one problem.

“…How long are you intending to stay like this?” I asked Yuna, who was still holding me in a tight embrace.

“…mmhmm. Just five more minutes,” she mumbled sleepily as she buried her face further in my bosom. Her voice was hard to hear due to the crowd’s overwhelmingly loud cheer.

I sighed, gently prying her off me.

She reluctantly let go, giving me a pout that I promptly ignored.

Although I sometimes sense the genuineness of people around me due to my innate talent at reading body language, I couldn’t quite tell if Yuna's actions were sincere right now or if they were part of her act.

However, something told me it was a bit of both—a way to maintain her bubbly, friendly, and happy-go-lucky image for her fans while also showing her appreciation for me and our hard-earned victory.

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Zetta’s PoV

The deafening roar of the crowd filled the massive arena and reverberated through the air. Thousands of fans had gathered, their cheers and chants creating a cacophony of excitement.

Bright lights and giant screens displayed the action of the VR world wherein the duel between the two players had just concluded, capturing every moment of the match for the eager audience to see.

I stood in the special room for participating players, a glass-walled sanctuary overlooking the stage. The room was equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, providing a comfortable and focused environment in preparation for a game.

“And with that, Team Atelier is moving on to the grand finals! This is momentous, folks! This is the first time an all-girls team has made it to the grand final of the Andarta’s Cup!” the caster declared enthusiastically.

“Whoa! It looks like we’ll be facing Team Atelier in the finals. I didn’t expect your rival to lose to Murasame,” Brant exclaimed in his irritatingly boisterous voice.

“I don’t consider that guy my rival. He hasn’t even won a game against me in any of our duels,” I responded, my tone uninterested.

“Well, no one can match you one-on-one, so every team tries to dodge you or 2v1 you. That’s why it’s easy to play around the fact that no one can beat you. I have an easy time creating favorable matchups for us,” my other teammate, Creed, said analytically.

“I just hope the finals won’t be as boring as our fight in the semis,” I said, a hint of fatigue in my voice.

As he had said, no one can rival me in a one-on-one match. They can only try to win with the numerical advantage, making everything predictable and dull.

“As you have just witnessed, Murasame is incredibly skilled, so don’t be complacent.” Creed lectured.

“That’s right! She is said to be the strongest female player. She might even match you one-on-one!” Brant interjected again.

Strongest female player, huh? If Yuusha were still here, that title would undoubtedly still belong to her.

“I hope she does,” I replied with a bit of anticipation, which was evident in my tone.

“Their ace isn't the only problem. We should also be wary of their captain. She’s a talented strategist who knows how to bring out the true strengths of her teammates,” Creed pointed out.

Hearing the praise, Brant practically lit up in adulation.

“You mean Yuna?! She's incredibly talented all right, and absolutely adorable to boot! I’m a huge fan of her streams! Did you guys know that—”

I tuned out Brant’s irritating voice as he continued ranting like a fanboy. With nothing to do before the finals, I turned my attention to the team we would face tomorrow.

The members of Team Atelier were celebrating their victory without a care in the world. They didn’t appear particularly strong at first glance, but appearances can be deceiving—a lesson I learned all too well when I first fought Yuusha.

However, it doesn’t matter how skilled they are. Our victory is practically guaranteed. Unlike last year, my teammates this time are formidable and can keep up with me. I’m sure to win the trophy, and no one could prevent me from achieving my goal.

I couldn’t surpass Yuusha before she quit, but winning this tournament and becoming the first to claim a second title—a feat no one has ever achieved—will prove to the world that I’m stronger than her.