Vol.3 Chapter 8

How did it come to this?

I thought as I surveyed my surroundings.

I stood in the center of the bustling sparring hall. The flickering torches glow warmly on the stone walls, creating an almost festive atmosphere. The wooden beams above us echoed with the cheers and excitement of our fellow guild members, who had gathered in a lively crowd eager to watch the match unfold.

Looking around, I see that there are so many of our guild members gathered here, maybe almost all of those online at this moment. Don’t you guys have anything better to do?

Arroganz, the strongest player in our guild, as Liz had told me, stood across from me with an uninterested gaze hidden behind his somewhat mysterious-looking mask. His mask honestly looks great on him, though; I should get cosmetics like that myself.

On second thought, I probably don’t need it anyway, though, since I could use my perfected poker face to mask my intentions in a fight, and a mask probably wouldn’t compliment the harmless support player look I’m going for to fool my opponent.

As the crowd buzzed with excitement, I strained to catch snippets of their conversation about the match.

"Do you think she stands a chance?" one voice asked, barely audible over the excited chatter.

"I don't think so," another replied. "Arroganz has never lost a duel.”

“But Novo is incredibly skilled! She even held her own against Murasame!”

“You know that was just for show, right? Murasame wasn’t serious in that match!”

“Well, maybe, but what about Lua, the one who gave the new Paragons a hard time in their matches? Novo beat that monster in a proper duel!”

“I guess that’s true, but Arroganz is on a whole different level versus amateurs. His skills are practically professional. I’ve heard that he was unrivaled back in the day. He was even favored to win the first AC if Yuusha hadn’t eliminated his team.”

He’s that strong?! How come I’ve completely forgotten that I’ve fought him before?

“Kat! You can do it! You got this!”

“We believe in you, Miss Novo!”

“D-do your best, Novo!”

I could hear the encouraging shouts from Liz, Reynolds, Clarissa, and other guild members with whom I was on good terms. Clarence was also there next to his sister but opted to stand silently on their side of the sparring hall without any words of encouragement.

“Okay, okay, ~ quiet down now, you guys. To be clear, this is just a friendly sparring match requested by both parties; there is no bad blood between them or anything you might think of, alright?” Dust's jovial but commanding voice cut through the crowd's chatter.

I didn't request anything! This is entirely your idea, born out of your provocations! Now that dangerous-looking guy in front of me probably thinks I'm way over my head, challenging him like this—all thanks to you!

"For fairness' sake, I've activated a feature of the sparring arena that normalizes the stats of the players inside. This means the duel will be based entirely on skill. No stat advantages, alright~?" Dust continued, addressing the gathered crowd.

Given the disparity in our stats, it was expected that Dust would initiate the friendly practice mode feature. This mode ensures that deaths are impossible within the sparring hall and balances the stats of both players for a fairer sparring experience. This means I can deal significant damage to him without relying on my double-edged unique staff weapon skill, which completely drains my HP.

This kind of match is favorable for me since challenging him with my lower gear and stats attributes would be disadvantageous. Now, I have a fighting chance against him, even if he is as strong as they say. This also means I can proceed with a plan of mine.

Once everything was in order, Dust spoke again, preparing to initiate the duel.

“Okay, are both parties ready?”

“…Ready,” Arroganz replied in his usual husky voice; his weapon materialized in his hand with an eerie glow, revealing a massive bastard blade that immediately drew everyone's attention.

The blade itself was almost as tall as he was, its heavy, broad body tapering to a vicious, razor-sharp point. Intricate, ominous designs were etched into the dark, gleaming metal, patterns that seemed to shift and writhe as if alive.

So that’s the weapon he uses. It does look familiar. I’m quite certain I’ve seen it before.

“…Yes,” I responded as well, summoning two normal-looking daggers from my inventory.

It doesn’t matter if their stats are low since everything is normalized. What matters is their weapon skill.

“Then~, since both duelists are ready, let the friendly match between two of our strongest members… begin!” she declared with an exaggerated hand gesture.

The match started with both of us staring each other down, eyes locked, searching for any sign of weakness or hesitation. The room was filled with the low murmur of spectators, but all I could focus on was the opponent in front of me and the giant bastard blade he wielded.

Seeing that he uses a giant bastard blade as his main weapon, I could exploit the slow swing downtime of his massive weapon in this match. With that in mind, I initiated the first move.

Summoning my resolve, I lunged forward, aiming to bait his swing. As expected, my opponent reacted, bringing his giant bastard blade down with a powerful, calculated arc. I sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of air as the blade sliced past me. My plan had worked—or so I thought.

Before I could capitalize on his momentary vulnerability, Arroganz's leg shot out with surprising speed. His boot connected with my side, knocking the wind out of me and sending me stumbling backward. The kick had caught me completely off guard.

“Ack!” I exclaimed in both shock and surprise.

Novo

HP: 82%

The speed and unexpected nature of that move left me with no time to react. This guy is extraordinarily strong! It seems the rumors about his professional-level skills were true.

On the bright side, the kick triggered a memory—now I recall who he is. In the early days of CoA, he was known for his trash-talking and brashness, but his personality has changed so much that I didn't recognize him sooner. If it were back in the day, I would’ve received a bunch of verbal assaults before the match even began. What happened to him?

Well, I’m not complaining. He does appear more mature now than he was back then. And it’s the plus that I won’t get any trash-talking from him if he wins this duel.

After receiving the kick, I quickly disengaged, putting distance between us to prevent any follow-up attack from him as I struggled to regain my footing.

To my surprise, Arroganz didn't pursue after me. Instead, he stood his ground, silently observing me. His eyes tracked my every move, analyzing and calculating, but he made no effort to press the advantage. It was as if he was giving me time to recover, yet the intensity in his gaze never wavered.

After our first quick exchange, the crowd's reactions were varied. Supporters of my opponent erupted in cheers, while Liz, Clarissa, and the others looked visibly worried with the quick turn of events. I tuned it all out, taking a moment to assess my situation and mentally review my strategy.

It seemed I needed to give it everything I’ve got, or I would surely lose this match against an opponent of this caliber.

This just proves that there are incredibly skilled players outside the professional scene as if Lua wasn't proof enough.

Gathering all my resolve, I entered the zone.

The noise of the crowd faded into oblivion as I zeroed in on my opponent. My world narrowed to the figure before me, every fiber of my being focused on his every movement. His stance was relaxed but deceptive, masking the coiled tension ready to spring into action.

I studied the way his muscles twitched beneath his armor, the subtle shifts in his posture, and the minute flickers of his eyes concealed behind his mask. Each detail painted a picture of his intentions. The grip on his massive bastard blade tightened ever so slightly, a prelude to his next attack.

I caught the faintest tensing of his calf muscles, signaling an imminent strike. My senses heightened, and I readied myself to react.

After another short while of gauging each other, he made his move. His blade swung with terrifying speed, but I was already moving, sidestepping the deadly arc.

As I anticipated his next move, I noticed a slight shift in his weight, a precursor to another kick. The instant he launched it, I was prepared, narrowly dodging and countering with a swift slash of my dagger.

My blade found its mark, cutting across his side. The damage of my successful strike was evident in his brief surprise at the fast strike.

Arroganz

HP: 79%

Our gazes locked for a moment, a silent acknowledgment of the blow I had landed. I could have pressed the advantage, but instead, I chose to mirror his earlier actions. I took a step back, allowing him to disengage and regain his footing.

Arroganz straightened, his eyes never leaving mine. I could see a flicker of respect glimmering in his gaze. Following the exchange, he adjusted his stance; each movement was measured and deliberate… as if reassessing my capabilities.

It appeared he was ready to take me seriously now, and the mere thought of what was to come brought an involuntary smile to my lips.

It seems that Tactical was right about me. I do really enjoy fierce battles like this against exceptionally strong opponents, where the tides could change as easily with minor mistakes, and the outcome is determined by outplays. This match could very well end in an instant.

With our mutual respect acknowledged, Arroganz and I resumed our deadly dance. The intensity in the air was palpable as we moved in sync, each of us attempting to read the other's every move.

He swung his massive blade with precision, each heavy arc filled with lethal intent. But I was faster, my nimble daggers allowing me to weave in and out of his reach. His swings, while powerful, along with his unexpectedly fast kicks, were not as fast as my movements in the zone state, giving me precious moments to react.

As I dodged another powerful swing, the blade whooshed past me and quickly countered with a quick slash toward his unguarded sides. My dagger found its mark, allowing for a quick chip in his HP bar.

Arroganz

HP: 62%

I was gradually gaining the upper hand, leveraging the speed and agility my daggers provided. Slow and steady wins the race, after all. By chipping away at his HP little by little, I aimed to secure victory. This strategy was honed from my experience battling against similar heavy weapons.

As the duel raged on, I focused on maintaining my advantage, using my speed to outmaneuver his powerful yet slower attacks. Every step, every strike, and every dodge was executed with precision.

However, I couldn't afford to become complacent. I was acutely aware that a single hit from his giant blade could deplete my HP bar to zero. The stakes were high, and I couldn't afford any mistakes. My approach was more defensive than how I used to play when I was at my peak, but given my lack of practice, it was the best I could manage.

Sensing that he was in the backfoot of our exchanges, Arroganz finally made a move. His ominous bastard blade began to glow an eerie red. The air around him seemed to vibrate with raw power, and I knew what was coming—his devastating weapon skill that could surely one-shot me if it landed.

“Blood Shockwave!” he exclaimed.

In an instant, a blood-red shockwave erupted from him, radiating outward with lethal intent.

But this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. I was more than prepared for his counter.

I leaped away, calculating the exact safe range of his attack as quickly as I possibly could. The shockwave surged towards me, faster and closer than I would have liked. My heart raced as I felt the edge of the energy just graze past me. It was a narrow escape, too close for comfort, due to a slight miscalculation on my part. But I dodged it nonetheless, avoiding the full brunt of the attack.

Avoiding hits from moves I've seen and analyzed before is my specialty. His weapon skill was no exception. Although it seemed like an undodgeable AOE attack, knowing the proper distance of its effect made it easily avoidable. Once I remembered who he was, I ensured I maintained the correct distance in case his weapon glowed red—an indication of his impending weapon skill.

After recognizing the signs, all that remained was for me to leap away at the precise distance my muscle memory recalled from meticulous practice three years ago.

I could hear the onlookers' gasps and shocked reactions, but I ignored them and focused solely on my opponent.

My opponent, too, seemed stunned by how I had completely dodged his attack. His face registered a moment of surprise as he realized his trump card had missed its mark.

I couldn't blame him. I had meticulously studied his moves, along with those of other top contenders from the first AC, day and night. This gave me a significant advantage in terms of information for this matchup. Maybe it was also Dust’s plan, but this duel was highly in my favor in the first place.

In response to his attack, I quickly capitalized on his recovery downtime of using his skill. Although I was a bit too far back to deal any significant damage due to my timely leap, I had a solution—a trap I had laid from the start of the match.

Not wasting a single second, I swiftly retrieved a dagger from my robe. The blade I brought out shimmered with a gradient of colors, transitioning from a deep midnight blue at the hilt to a pale, ethereal white at the tip, reminiscent of the sky at dawn.

This artistic design was not merely for show, for it was the second Unique weapon skill I’ve acquired in this account. It is a dagger with extremely high burst damage, perfect for one-shooting my opponents as long as it lands perfectly. It does have the downside of having an extremely long cooldown, but if used correctly, it could be a game-changer.

“Sky Piercer!” I exclaimed as I threw the dagger at him with as much force as I could muster.

The dagger gleamed brilliantly as it soared through the air. The blade shimmered with a gradient of colors, transitioning from deep midnight blue to a pale, ethereal white, leaving a trail of light behind it like a shooting star.

The dagger's special effects activated, swirling the air around it with gusts of wind and sparkles resembling stardust. The wings on the hilt seemed to flutter, propelling the blade with an almost magical force.

Time seemed to slow as the dagger closed in on its target. Arroganz’s eyes widened in shock, and he was unable to react in time due to the fatigue debuff of using his weapon skill.

KACHACK*

The blade struck with pinpoint accuracy, hitting him square in the head.

The impact was immediate and devastating. Arroganz staggered, his ominous bastard blade falling from his grip.

“How!?” he exclaimed in shock at the unexpected surprise attack.

Arroganz

HP: 0%

As expected, he didn’t notice the hidden third dagger inside my mage’s robe. Although concealed, it was my main weapon equipped, enabling the use of its weapon skill. I had already equipped this weapon even before entering the sparring hall.

Materializing ordinary-looking daggers earlier before our duel began was merely a ruse to give him a false sense of security and to lay the foundation for using my weapon skill without any counterplays from him.

Normally, equipping this weapon would be currently impossible due to my mediocre stats. However, I had calculated the sparring stat normalization bonus beforehand using all available online data.

With these calculations, I deduced that I could equip three daggers without compromising my speed or inducing fatigue, thanks to the heightened Strength and Vitality stats granted by the sparring rules.

Knowing the full extent of the rules is crucial in a fight to ensure every possible advantage and to understand what can be exploited.

As a result of my meticulous planning, a perfect critical hit, combined with the normalized stats and the insane DPS output of the throwing weapon skill I used, was enough to end the match.

Game Set! You won!

As if reading my thoughts, the system announcement declared my victory in the duel, officially ending the match in my favor.

After the match concluded, my opponent unhurriedly walked towards me. Since it was not a death match, he was still alive even after his HP went to zero.

“…I see. That was your plan from the start. You completely caught me off guard. Well played. You’re truly as talented as they say.”

After regaining his composure from the unexpected move I had executed, Arroganz suddenly praised me.

“You’re quite formidable yourself. It was an excellent match,” I responded with a courteous nod, meaning every word.

He acknowledged my words with a nod and then seemed to ponder before asking, “May I inquire how you deduced the range of my weapon skill so accurately?”

I couldn't just casually reveal that I had already battled him before and meticulously analyzed his unique weapon skill beforehand, though!

“Just instincts, I suppose?” I lied.

He scrutinized my face for a prolonged moment, each passing second increasing the weight of his stare. My perfected poker face almost crumbled at the pressure of his gaze.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, unable to bear the scrutiny any longer.

“…No, you just reminded me of someone. In any case, I am confident you will lead our guild to even greater heights.”

With his endorsement echoing for all guild members to hear, he departed the sparring hall unceremoniously, leaving behind a stunned silence among the other guild members present.