Vol.2 Chapter 84

Ting*

The clash of metal echoed across the field as Liz’s and Tactical’s weapons met.

Liz pivoted on her heel, her movements fluid and controlled, and struck again with a series of rapid thrusts. Tactical parried each one, his broadsword moving in calculated arcs to intercept her strikes.

“You’re quick, but let’s see how you handle this,” Tactical remarked coolly.

He shifted his stance and countered with a sweeping horizontal slash, aiming to unbalance Liz. She responded by ducking under the swing and retaliated with a precise upward strike. Tactical blocked just in time, their blades locking in a test of strength, which prompted Liz to disengage quickly due to being on the lower end of the strength stat.

This exchange of blades continued as both players seemed to be having fun at the exchanges.

"You’re getting faster. You really are talented," Tactical suddenly said mid-fight, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he blocked another of Liz’s strikes.

“Thanks! That means a lot coming from you!” Liz replied, her eyes sparkling with appreciation.

Despite its intensity, the fight had a relaxed atmosphere. They even chatted between strikes, a testament to how carefree they both are. I can’t blame them, though. It was only a show match, after all, a display of skill for the viewers to admire rather than a competitive battle.

Celest and I, meanwhile, played our roles normally. I had timely buffs and healing spells from my dual orb, and Celeste had haste buffs and slow debuffs from her chronomancy specialty, making sure our respective partners had all the support they needed for their duel.

Like Seer, Tactical can wield a variety of weapons with exceptional skill. Earlier, I wondered why he switched to his broadsword user account, especially since Liz has extensive experience and proficiency against broadsword users. But now, it’s crystal clear.

Tactical is showcasing Liz's strengths. He has thoroughly analyzed her attack patterns, strengths, weaknesses, and more. He targets her strengths instead of exploiting her vulnerabilities, ensuring her moves remain unhindered. This makes Liz’s movements appear naturally graceful to the spectators, highlighting her talents and making her shine for potential organizations and sponsors.

A sudden realization struck me. If Tactical had focused on Liz's weaknesses instead of her strengths, she might not have lasted long against him. Despite his retirement, he remains one of the strongest and most strategic players I know.

"Are you jealous that they're the only ones getting some action? Do you want to have a passionate exchange with our bodies, too~?" Celeste addressed me directly, her voice laced with a playful smirk, breaking me out of my musing.

It seemed she had noticed that my mind was wandering, too, because of the match's lack of urgency. Normally, I would be shocked since she was able to figure out my thoughts even through my usual tried-and-true poker face, but she was my former partner, so it's not too out of place.

Besides, I could relate to her much more now as I've recently become increasingly focused on my partner's state of mind and expressions. I guess I'm becoming more attuned to this support business than I'd like to.

"That statement could be considered as sexual harassment. Please be careful about what you say while the tournament is being broadcast," I completely shut her down, my voice firm but not unkind.

She pouted, trying to act cute, but her large, full-muscled build made it more comical than endearing.

I ignored her antics. It wouldn't do any good to show that we were close to each other; otherwise, some might pick up on our true relationship.

“Time Freeze!” sensing the opportunity, Celeste cast another chronomancy debuff.

A grayish circle appeared beneath Liz's feet before erupting upwards, perfectly predicting her movements. The spell hit Liz flawlessly, a testament to Celeste's honed skills. She hadn't lost her touch throughout these years. Her spellcasting was still on point.

"Ugh-!" Liz exclaimed in shock. Her movements, previously fluid and graceful, abruptly halted by the debuff. 

Anticipating her move, I was already prepared to counteract it with a pre-cast counterspell.

“Minor Dispel,” I muttered quickly, casting the spell I was holding.

Liz, who was frozen by the debuff spell, quickly broke free and easily avoided Tactical’s downswing attack.

"Hoh! Nice counterspell," Tactical praised, his gaze briefly meeting mine, a flicker of admiration in his eyes before settling back his attention to his opponent.

"Your support is also extremely talented. The spell my partner cast didn't even hold you back for half a second since she completely predicted Celeste's move," he continued, his voice laced with genuine appreciation.

“Of course! She is the best support player anyone could ever ask for! And I’m incredibly lucky to be her partner!” Liz, evidently delighted by the praise directed at me, happily replied as her eyes sparkled with glee.

I could feel the cheeks of my body in the real world heating up with their antics.

I know what you're doing, Tactical! You're also upping my stocks for sponsors and organizations to take an interest in me, effectively upping my future prospects in professional gaming! Well, too bad that won't work, though, since I don't plan on joining any!

I sighed mentally. If he only knew that I was his old teammate, I doubt he would feel the need to resort to these kinds of embarrassing stuff.

The fight dragged on with the current status quo, and contrary to my expectations, we were on the back foot.

Despite having a healer on our side, which should give us an advantage in drawn-out fights, Celeste’s relentless on-point debuff spells are forcing me to cast dispel more frequently than I would like to just to counteract her aggressiveness. This, in turn, was putting a huge burden on my MP, which was almost non-existent to begin with due to my low stats and under-level character.

Calculating my mana reserves, I realized I only had enough for a couple of heals, dispels, and one haste buff. We needed to end this now, or we would lose in a drawn-out battle of attrition.

On the bright side, Tactical, unable to heal his own HP, was vulnerable to chip damage. He seemed to notice our predicament as well, shifting into a stance that indicated he was readying for a decisive final exchange.

“It seems we are in a dire situation without HP sustainability on our side. It appears that I have to end things now before I run out of HP,” he remarked, his voice steady and calm as usual.

I’m pretty sure he doesn’t really think that way and just putting on a show for the audience. If he played defensively, not letting any chip damage past him, and allowed Celeste to hit a few more debuffs, I would eventually run out of mana, and they would easily secure the win.

I had anticipated it before the match, but now I’m completely convinced. It really does seem like the Tactical in front of me now wasn’t playing to win at all; he was playing to give us, the new talents, a chance to shine.

"You better get ready. I'll end this in one strike! ‘Blood Blade,’" Tactical exclaimed with a rare hint of bravado creeping into his voice, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.

Tactical

HP: 38%

As he uttered the name of his weapon skill, his broadsword began to glow with an ominous blood-red aura. His HP visibly drained, transferring its energy into the weapon.

Blood Blade, huh? It's a high-risk, high-reward weapon skill that sacrifices the user's HP to deliver a single, devastating attack. Perfect for ending a battle decisively.

"Bring it on!" Liz replied, her voice determined.

She was clearly in her element, accustomed to showcasing her skills with flair during her streams. Although, why do I feel like I’m watching more of a play instead of a battle?

Despite this, I kept my focus sharp, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice in what seemed to be the final exchange. A performance or not, I have to do my part as Liz’s support.

After saying his piece to excite the crowd watching their fight, Tactical lunged forward, his broadsword gleaming as he aimed for a decisive blow with his weapon skill’s enhanced firepower. Liz met him head-on with her rapier at hand.

With a swift, powerful motion, Tactical brought his broadsword down in a deadly arc, aiming to end the fight in one final blow. The sheer force behind the slash seemed unstoppable, the blade slicing through the air with terrifying speed.

But Liz was ready. Before the blade could connect, she activated her weapon skill, 'Shadow Step.' The world around her seemed to blur as she vanished from sight, her form dissolving into shadows.

For a heartbeat, the battlefield seemed to hold its breath. Tactical's broadsword cleaved through empty air, the force of the swing carrying him forward.

Then, just as suddenly, Liz reappeared behind him, her movements swift and silent. Her weapon skill had transported her to a new position, her rapier poised and ready.

But just as I expected, Celeste was ready to cast another debuff. Although I’m sure, she also expected me to nullify her efforts by now.

In the split second that followed, I cast my final dispel in as if in conjunction with Celeste’s, neutralizing her last attempt at a debuff. It made it seem like Liz was not affected by the debuff at all, allowing her to move wholly uninterrupted.

Liz seized the opportunity. With a burst of speed, her rapier struck true. Tactical was unable to block the hit due to his recent downswing attack. Liz expertly delivered a finishing blow that brought Tactical’s HP to zero.

Tactical

HP: 0%

“Well done, good game,” Tactical acknowledged our skills before he completely disintegrated into blue motes of light.

Upon seeing her teammate get eliminated, Celeste began praising our efforts.

“You both are really good~. You managed to win against a former pro like Tactical. Your synergy and coordination remind me of my time back then with Yuusha! Oh, those were the days!” Celeste spoke, her tone nostalgic, almost wistful, as if she were reminiscing about a cherished past.

“I know, right?! You two were the best duo ever back then! I’m a huge fan of both of you, especially Yuusha! Your team’s AC tournament run was just iconic!” Liz chatted excitedly, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Upon hearing that, Celeste glanced at me, seemingly amused. "Oh~ really, now! Are you also a Yuusha die-hard fan?"

"Of course! Who isn't?!” her expression suddenly changed before continuing. “Sadly, Yuusha retired. I have always dreamed of meeting her someday. Do you know why she suddenly quit the game? Is she ever going to return to playing CoA?" Liz asked, her voice filled with a hint of longing.

“I also have no clue why she quit. That girl has always been secretive, but I'm sure she has her reasons. As for whether she is coming back… that's up to her to decide," Celeste said solemnly, her expression thoughtful.

"…I see," Liz seemed disappointed, her shoulders slumping slightly.

Noticing Liz's mood, Celeste quickly tried to console her. "Don't be too dejected. I'm sure you will meet her someday if you keep improving as you are," she glanced towards me, her expression a bit amused by the absurdity of the situation.

I mentally sighed at my former partner’s antics. This woman… Please don’t insinuate things that may not happen. You’re giving her false hope.

Liz seemed speechless, her eyes widening in surprise upon hearing Celeste’s reassuring words.

“Well, I think that’s enough chitchat for now; we can’t let the viewers get bored, can we? Let’s continue with the match! Just so you guys know, even if it’s two against one, Celeste, the Guild Leader of the Paragons, won’t go down easily!” Celeste declared with a hint of intimidation, further emphasized by her bulging muscles and large build, which would surely terrify a child.

--------------------------------------

Despite her bravado, Celeste did, in fact, go down quite easily.

I kind of expected that. Besides being a lone support against the two of us, she clearly held back with her grapples, aiming to make Liz shine even more in the battle. All factors included, it didn’t take too long for us to beat her handily.

“What do we do now, Kat?” Liz asked, her tone curious.

“Let’s take the orb for now, then back up our teammate after,” I suggested, trying to keep our momentum going.

“What about Miss Aoi?” Liz asked anxiously.

I knew exactly what she was thinking. The notification of Chu’s defeat had been quite shocking, especially since it came just after we started our fight against Tactical and Celeste. That meant Chu had fallen almost instantly to Murasame.

The prospect of facing Murasame filled me with unease. The only reassuring sign was that she seemed to be taking her time getting here, probably not wanting to butt in on a 2v2 battle. If she wanted to, she would have likely already arrived a while ago in the middle of our fight with Tactical.

“Let’s stay focused on helping Clarence first,” I said, attempting to calm my partner’s nerves. “We’ll deal with Murasame when the time comes. For now, let’s stick to one course of action.”

Liz nodded, though I could see the worry still etched on her face as she started to capture the orb. However, her worries soon became a reality as a figure appeared from a large tree a bit away from us. The figure then walked towards the open field as calmly as a serene lake.

How long had she been hiding there? How come I didn’t notice a single thing? My intuition, honed through years of experience, was blaring on red alert, constantly reminding me non-stop to be careful around her. This girl… is extremely dangerous.

“I didn’t expect you two to come out victorious. It seems my teammates are too soft,” Murasame said calmly, her gaze steady and unflinching.

“Hehe, I know, right? I don’t think we would’ve stood a chance if they were serious,” Liz responded with a nervous chuckle.

Liz noticed it, too, huh? She’s more perceptive than she usually lets on, so no surprises there.

“I see. I’ll apologize in advance, but I do not intend to hold back in our fight,” Murasame stated, her voice unwavering as she shifted into a battle stance.

The sheer intensity of her presence made Liz instinctively gulp, and I could clearly see a metaphorical bead of sweat forming on her brow.

Given how intimidating our opponent was, it was completely understandable. The atmosphere was so tense that I could almost hear the 'Boss Music' playing in my head, even though the battlefield was eerily silent aside from the ambient sounds.

Liz, visibly nervous, took her stance in response to Murasame’s.

Their eyes locked, each assessing the other's weaknesses and searching for any exploitable flaws. Meanwhile, I didn't remain idle; I pre-casted my defensive spell, preparing to support Liz the moment anything went awry.

Suddenly, without warning, Murasame sprang into action. She moved with the speed and precision of a seasoned warrior, her movements a blur as she closed the distance between them. Liz braced herself, her rapier at the ready, eyes locked onto her opponent.

Murasame's approach was swift and calculated. She feigned an opening, shifting her stance just enough to give the appearance of vulnerability. I could sense Liz's eyes light up as she saw what she thought was a clear opportunity to strike.

This is bad. Liz fell for the perfectly executed feint.

As Liz thrust her rapier forward, Murasame moved with lightning speed. Just as Liz committed to her attack, Murasame's true plan unfolded.

In a fluid motion, Murasame attacked in conjunction with Liz's strike and won in speed. Her blade moved like a serpent, slipping past Liz's defenses with ease. The speed of her counterattack was overwhelming, and before Liz could even register what was happening, Murasame's blade had found its mark.

“Guardian Angel!” I said with urgency.

Before Murasame's blade could connect with Liz, a shimmering barrier materialized in front of her, a protective shield conjured by my ‘Guardian Angel’ skill.

Ting*

I gave myself a figurative pat on the back with that save. It seems my spellcasting barely made it on time, a considerable feat with how fast that slash was.

However, the sheer force of Murasame's blow was overwhelming. Liz was caught off guard, stumbling back as her stance crumbled under the strike.

What?! Just how high are her character’s strength stats to deliver such an impact? Or is she channeling her entire body weight into each attack, further highlighting what a monster she really is?

My questions went unanswered as Murasame fluidly transitioned into an Iai stance, perfectly timed with Liz's disrupted balance. The precision and smoothness of her movement were breathtaking, showcasing her undeniable mastery of the art of the sword.

This is bad! My defensive skill is still on cooldown; I won't be able to help Liz!

In an instant, Murasame executed her Iai slash, the blade moving with blinding speed, aimed to cut Liz in half. The force of the attack was terrifying, a testament to Murasame's lethal precision.

But just as the blade was about to make contact, Liz vanished, her form dissolving into shadows. She activated her ‘Shadow Step’ weapon skill with perfect timing, escaping the deadly strike by a hair’s breadth.

Whoosh*

She dodges it using her weapon skill! Nice one, Liz!

In the blink of an eye, Liz reappeared behind her, her rapier poised for a counterattack.

However, before Liz could strike, Murasame thrust her katana backward without even turning to look, passing through her shoulder and aiming for Liz's blind spot. The unexpected move was flawless and precise, catching Liz completely off guard!

KACHACK*

“Wha-!” Liz gasped in shock as the blade hit its mark, a critical hit.

Lizbeth

HP: 0%

I mirrored Liz’s surprise as the reality of our situation sank in. I had failed to heal her back to full health earlier after our fight with Tactical in a misguided attempt to conserve my dangerously low MP reserves, and that decision had come back to bite us hard.

In addition to that, our current opponent is the strongest we’ve ever faced as a duo. Right from the start, Murasame had calculated the exchange in her mental landscape, baiting us both to use my ‘Guardian Angel’ skill and Liz’s weapon skill with her initial attacks. She had thoroughly analyzed Liz’s movement patterns before the match even began, exploiting them with surgical precision. It was quite chilling to witness such mastery.

Now I understand why Murasame is considered the most aggressive player in the pro scene. Her relentless aggression, an uncanny ability to predict opponents’ moves, and preemptive strikes were not to be underestimated. Her accuracy was also terrifying, and I had second thoughts about whether even I could evade her attacks.

“You’re too straightforward. It’s a good trait to have, but in battle, your forthrightness can be your downfall against a skilled opponent. You need to mix in fakes and unpredictability in your movements,” Murasame lectured, her voice calm but firm.

Liz could only remain speechless before she disappeared completely, leaving me alone with this monster.

Hey! You do know this is only a show match! At least let Liz showcase her moves a little before you eliminate her!

My internal monologue was interrupted as she finally turned her attention to me, acknowledging my presence for the first time since she arrived.

"Now then," she said, her gaze piercing through me like a sharp blade. "Show me what you're truly capable of."

Her words were a taunt, a challenge that resonated deep within me. Normally, I wouldn't take a show match too seriously since there are no stakes at all in this battle, but her swift elimination of Liz and my failure to protect my partner stung more than I cared to admit. It makes me want to get some revenge, at the very least.

Besides, I was genuinely curious to see how I compared to the current world’s strongest female professional player.

I mentally berated myself. Her goading provoked my overly competitive nature, which I thought had already completely mellowed down. But since this was my final tournament match, I felt an overwhelming urge to give it everything I had.

Fine, let’s go all out… just this once.

"…Alright," I said, my voice steady as I retrieved the dagger from my cloak and assumed a battle stance.

"Just don't regret it later."