Vol.2 Chapter 81

Clarissa’s PoV

"What a well-executed ambush!" the caster, Mr. DJ Riot, exclaimed, his voice booming through the speakers. "Just like that, Team Paradigm eliminated Seer!"

My eyes were glued to the large screen at the center of the stadium, watching the replay of the ambush, which featured the swiftness of Novo’s slashes and the precision of Miss Lizbeth's strike.

The crowd cheered in response to the caster’s announcement, signaling that the first blood was drawn. Thankfully, it was the enemy’s player this time.

"Amazing..." I muttered, a wave of admiration washing over me. "Ms. Lizbeth and Novo’s synergy is so strong. No wonder Novo partnered with her to become her support. I wonder when I can play like that, too,” I muttered, a wave of admiration washing over me.

"What an unprecedented play!" Mr. DJ Riot continued, his voice filled with awe. "This has never happened before in any tournament! A 0-0-4 rotation play, folks!"

"I agree. Pulling it off requires a complete understanding of your opponent's behavior. It looks like even though the Paragons knew how to counter Paradigm's ace, Team Paradigm also knows Paragon's weakness!" Mr. ParaTrooper, the co-caster, chimed in

The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices a symphony of excitement, their energy palpable, their admiration for the players on display.

"Paragons is on the back foot now. Can they turn the tide of the battle?!" Mr. DJ Riot's voice boomed through the stadium, his words echoing the tension that had gripped the crowd.

"Wow! Big brother's teammates are so strong!" my little brother, Colin, exclaimed, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Is your brother winning?" Dad asked, his gaze fixed on the match unfolding before us.

"Yeah! They now have a 3v4 advantage! And better yet, Novo is unbeatable in one-versus-one fights! She won't lose!" I said, my voice filled with excitement.

Mom, ever the observant one, noticed my fascination with the players on the screen. "Those two gorgeous girls. Aren't they the ones who picked up your brother at the airport? Do you think your brother likes one of them?" she asked, her voice laced with a playful curiosity.

"I-I don't know," I stammered, my cheeks flushing with a sudden heat.

"They both look like amazing people, a good match for your brother. I hope he makes a move on either one of them," Dad chuckled.

I don't know why, but the thought of Brother making a move on Novo leaves me feeling rather uneasy. No, bad, Clarissa! I should be happy if that's the case! Then it would mean that Novo could be my sister-in-law!

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Chu’s PoV

"Stop running away!" my teammate Clarence yelled, his voice laced with frustration. He missed his spear thrust, the tip of the weapon whizzing past Blitz's shoulder.

Blitz, ever the nonchalant opponent, simply shrugged with a playful grin on his face. "Haha, sorry about that. Got orders to stall you guys."

"Hmph, are you that scared of facing me head-on?" my teammate taunted.

Blitz's carefree attitude didn't falter. "Well, considering there are two of you here, then, I guess I am," he replied, his voice a mix of amusement and challenge.

Suddenly, a shadow crossed Blitz's face, his lively and carefree expression replaced by a solemnity.

Clarence seemed to notice the shift in our opponent’s mood, too. "Heh, it looks like they succeeded in the ambush," he guessed.

"Miss Novo, huh? Looks like we fell right into your trap. Frankly, I'm not surprised. It's her we're talking about, after all," he replied with an unreadable expression.

I didn’t expect him to hold our strategist in that high of a regard. Well, I can relate to the notion. That girl is an aberrant one.

"That's right!" he crowed, his voice dripping with smugness. "Our strategist is a lot better than yours! Your team just got outplayed! Wahahahaha!" His laughter echoed across the battlefield

I’m not sure if he’s doing that to taunt the enemy for a tactical play or if he really is that obnoxious. I’m leaning over the latter.

Blitz simply replied with a hint of a smile, "I guess that's true..."

Clarence, emboldened by his teammate's apparent surrender, pressed his advantage. "You're admitting to it now, huh? Are you giving up already? That's good! Better surrender now, and we can make this quick and painless."

I sighed at his words.

"…Stop acting like a common thug," I chided, my voice laced with exasperation. "You're embarrassing our team."

"Tsk! This is called strategic persuasion for our opponent to surrender," Clarence retorted, his tone defensive. "You really don't know anything about tactics, do you?!"

"…You acting like a clown makes him less likely to surrender," I deadpanned, my voice devoid of amusement.

Blitz, watching the exchange with amusement, interjected, "Hehe, you two seem close."

"Like hell we are!"

"Not a chance."

We both spoke in unison, our denial seemingly proving Blitz's point. How irritating.

Blitz, unfazed by our denials, continued, "I'm not entirely wrong, though. You both are even on the same page. And you also have unexpectedly good synergy in your attacks."

As much as I loathe to admit it, he is right; this clown’s mid-range spear thrusts were surprisingly effective in combination with my close-range attacks. Our strategist had suggested this pairing, claiming that our frequent sparring sessions would make it easy for us to coordinate. I had doubted her at first, but, as usual, she was right again.

"Hmph! It's all me, though. I'm doing all the work," Clarence bragged, his ego seemingly inflated by our success.

I scoffed at his words, but he blatantly ignored me. This guy really is irritating.

"So, whatcha going to do now that you're cornered? You know we won't let you escape and regroup with your teammates, right?" he continued, his voice dripping with smugness.

Blitz feigned deep thought, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hmm. On the contrary, this is good," he said, his voice taking on a playful edge. "Seer specifically told me to stall you guys, but since that plan has fallen apart, then I could go all out without worries."

A change came over him, his demeanor shifting from playful to focused. It seems like he entered a state of flow, his eyes gleaming with newfound intensity. He seemed genuinely happy now, the thrill of battle coursing through him.

Without hesitation, he charged towards us, completely disregarding our numbers advantage. His target was Clarence, who appeared momentarily stunned by Blitz's sudden burst of speed. I reacted instinctively, stepping in front of my teammate and raising my weapon to parry Blitz's attacks.

Ting*

The clash of metal echoed through the battlefield as my butterfly swords met Blitz's rapier, sparks flying from the impact. He was as fast as he usually is when he is like this; his movements were a blur of motion, and his strikes were precise and powerful.

I slashed at him in the lull of the moment, but he swiftly dodged my attack, his body twisting out of the way with a grace that belied his build. He countered in turn, his blade a blur of motion, aimed at my exposed side.

Tsk! He caught me off guard. I won’t be able to dodge this one.

I braced myself for the impact, but a sudden interruption shattered the moment. Clarence’s spear thrust forward, and his weapon intercepted Blitz's attack. 

The near hit left me breathless. I glanced at Clarence, a silent nod of gratitude passing between us.

As much as I loathe to admit it, I would’ve lost long ago if my teammate isn’t supporting me in this battle. He is surprisingly good at timing his attacks, careful not to disrupt my tempo while making sure to interrupt our opponent’s strikes whenever necessary.

Blitz, however, was not easily deterred. He danced around our attacks, his movements fluid and unpredictable, his eyes gleaming with a fierce determination.

But despite his skill and relentless assault, we were slowly but surely gaining the upper hand and chipping away at his HP. Our coordinated attacks and shared understanding of each other's movements were proving to be too much for him to handle.

Clarence, his initial shock fading, had regained his composure. Once hesitant and uncertain, his spear thrusts were now precise and deadly, each strike aimed at disrupting Blitz's rhythm, creating an opening for me to exploit.

Backed into a corner, it didn’t take long for him to make a play. And then, it happened.

I capitalized on a mistake that he made due to us pressuring him with a quick attack of my own. But in that split second, as my blade was mere inches from his chest, he blinked.

The timing was perfect.

My attack, aimed at his chest, passed through empty air. I had been fooled, tricked into believing my attack had connected, causing a wave of disbelief to wash over me, followed by a surge of adrenaline.

I had been lulled into a false sense of security, my guard dropping for a fleeting moment.

He then appeared on my right-side blind spot, ready to punish my overextension.

Under normal circumstances, I would have taken the hit. Too bad for him; this was the moment we were waiting for.

“Reversal,” I muttered the name of my weapon skill as I positioned my parry onto my blind spot.

Even though it was aimed at my blind spot, I perfectly blocked Blitz’s blink attack, redirecting the damage toward him and momentarily stunning him.

“Wha- how!” he cried in disbelief.

It seems that her advice was on point. He really has a habit of faking to the left, then blinking to his opponent’s right side blind spot when cornered. With him relying on his instincts whenever he is in his flow state, switching up his habits is much harder for him to do.

I’m quite curious how she knew a glaring weakness like this while even I, Blitz’s sparring partner for the past week, failed even to notice. But then again, everything about that girl seemed so absurd that I was used to these kinds of surprises.

I glanced at Clarence, my teammate. He was already poised, his spear held at the ready, his stance a picture of focused determination. I hadn't expected him to have complete trust in our strategist's advice or in my ability to block Blitz's strike. As much as he irritated me, I had to admit he was a good teammate.

It was a fleeting moment, but it was all Clarence needed.

"Sovereign's Charge!" he shouted with all his might.

He charged forward, his spear a blur of motion, his eyes locked on his target. His spear connected with Blitz's chest, the force of the blow sending a shockwave of explosion through the air.

BOOM*

Dust erupted, obscuring the battlefield in a swirling cloud as the attack blew our opponent away.

As the dust settled, I saw Blitz standing there, his body rigid, his eyes wide with disbelief. His HP bar, once a vibrant green, was now a lifeless gray.

Blitz

HP: 0%

We had won.

"Well, that's unexpected," Blitz said, a genuine smile gracing his lips before he dissolved into blue motes of light. "You guys even predicted my moves. Good game."

Although I didn't do it by myself, a win is a win, I thought, a flicker of pride stirring within me. Next time, my win will be in a proper duel.

"Hmph, is that guy the one you're so caught up in surpassing? He was nothing against me," Clarence said, his voice laced with arrogance.

I sighed, my good mood evaporating. Why did he have to ruin the moment?

"Say that when you managed to best him in a duel," I retorted, my voice sharp. I then proceeded to capture the orb, the victory a bittersweet taste on my tongue.

"So, what do we do now?" Clarence asked, his tone shifting from boastful to practical.

"…Let's back up our teammates after I take this orb," I said, my voice firm. "They're fighting at a disadvantage in numbers."

"I'm not so worried about them, though," Clarence said confidently. "Liz is with Katherine, after all."

"…I agree, but better safe than sorry," I said curtly, my gaze fixed on the battlefield ahead.

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Liz’s PoV

Ria lunged, her weapon shifting into an axe for a heavier blow. I made a perfect parry with my rapier by deflecting her attack with practiced ease, even with the added weight of her attack. She was relentless, with a constant barrage of shifting weapons, each strike aimed at exploiting any opening or weakness.

One moment, she was wielding a heavy, double-edged axe, its weight threatening to cleave me in two; the next, a whip that cracked through the air, a deadly lash aimed at my legs; then, a dagger flashed like a silver serpent, aimed for my heart.

I danced around her attacks. My movements were fluid and graceful, my rapier a deadly extension of my will. I let my instincts guide me through the battle.

The clash of steel echoed through the battlefield, sparks flying from the impact. We were locked in a deadly dance, a blur of motion, a symphony of skill and precision.

A sense of exhilaration washed over me, a feeling of pure, unadulterated freedom. I felt light as a feather, my movements fluid and effortless. With Kat as my support, I had no qualms, doubts, or fears anymore.

I didn't know how long it had been or what our HP was with us constantly chipping on each other's health. Time had become irrelevant. All I had to do was lose myself in the moment and surrender to the flow of the battle.

It was amazing to let my instincts dictate my moves. I didn't have to think about unnecessary thoughts, about losing, or about anything other than the thrill of the fight.

This was pure, unadulterated joy. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the clash of blades and the exhilarating rush of adrenaline. It’s like we are dancing, Ria and I, a deadly ballet of skill and precision, exchanging blows, showcasing our talents for the world to see.

This was the most fun I'd ever had, the most alive I'd ever felt.

I pressed my advantage, my movements becoming more aggressive and my attacks more relentless. I used my weapon skill, ‘Shadow Step,’ to create openings or to dodge attacks.

But Ria was not easily deterred. She countered my every move, shifting her weapon, making her movements unpredictable. She isn’t called the Armsmaster and my idol’s one and only protégé for nothing.

Ria moves incredibly well; I'm hasted, so I'm putting the pressure on her, but her mastery of her weapon skill keeps the match fair. However, my haste is running out. Ria knows that, too, so she's shifted to playing defensively, with counters here and there. So, as fun as this is, I have to take a risk as our carry and end the match soon.

With that in mind, I rushed at her, deliberately showing an opening to force her to play aggressively and risking myself for a fatal strike.

She didn’t hesitate. She faced me head-on. As expected of Ria’s straightforward personality.

Ria's attack came with deadly grace. A blur of silver as her weapon shifted mid-air transformed into a pair of twin daggers, her close-ranged go-to weapon.

Even though her attack was about to connect, I didn't try to parry it nor hesitate, letting my instincts take over. Instead, I launched an attack of my own towards her unguarded head.

As her attack was about to connect, a wave of white light enveloped me, shimmering like a protective shield around my body.

A smile touched my lips. As expected from my partner.

The white light dissipated, leaving me unharmed. The force of Ria's attack was negated, which made her flinch a little.

My attack, however, had landed true. Ria stumbled back, her eyes widening in disbelief as her HP bar plummeted to zero with my last attack.

KACHACK*

Ariadne
HP: 0%

"Wha- how!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Then, her gaze shifted to Kat, a flicker of understanding dawning in her eyes.

Ria was so focused on me that she had failed to notice that her teammate, Lucy, had already fallen to Kat, who now stood poised, ready to assist me at a moment's notice with support spells.

"It was a good match, Ria!" I said a genuine smile on my face.

"…It was," she replied, her voice laced with respect. "Good game, Elizabeth."

And with that, she dissolved into blue motes of light, her fading presence a testament to our victory as tournament champions.

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Tactical’s PoV

"That’s it, folks!" Mr. DJ Riot announced, his voice filled with excitement. "Team Paradigm has eliminated Ariadne with amazing coordination from one of the best duos I’ve ever seen! And with that, they have won the tournament!"

The crowd erupted in a thunderous roar, their cheers echoing through the stadium. Some even gave a standing ovation at the battle's outcome. Their applause was well deserved. I, too, hadn’t expected Yuusha’s teammates to become this good.

"What a performance!" Riot exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement, echoing the crowd's sentiment. "Team Paradigm has dominated the Champion's Brawl tournament, proving themselves to be the best of the best!"

"That’s right, Riot. They've shown incredible teamwork, strategy, and skills," Paratrooper added, his voice filled with awe. "They've overcome every challenge, every obstacle, every opponent, and they've emerged victorious!"

"They won as expected," I muttered, my gaze fixed on the screen. It seems I'll be facing off against my former teammate in the all-stars match.

I think Celeste predicted this outcome, too. I’m sure she would be more than pleased to face off against her former partner.

Speaking of pleased, there is someone who is more than delighted near me.

I glanced at my co-panelist, Murasame. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement, a big contrast to her usual emotionless, aloof self as her gaze fixed on the screen. It seemed that she was extremely eager for the All-Star match. What a battle maniac to the core.

I share her sentiment, though. It's been so long since we last had a spar. I'm looking forward to fighting you again, Yuusha.