Vol.2 Chapter 78

We’re in a terrible pickle right now.

I thought to myself as I prepared to dodge another large spell coming my way.

The spell had formed in a flash of searing light, a ball of molten fire crackling with raw energy. It had erupted from the Seer’s unique weapon staff, hurtling towards me with terrifying speed. As it exploded, the air itself seemed to crackle with heat, the flames dancing and swirling in a chaotic inferno.

I rolled as quickly as I could, dodging the fiery blast by a hair's breadth.

BOOM*

The explosion rocked the virtual stage as a wave of heat washed over me even though I had completely dodged the spell. 

Novo

HP: 84%

Tsk! That high, even though I was not even in the radius of the blast?! I really need better stats and survivability gears. Since my level isn’t max, I do not have the best set possible, so there is a significant difference in stats.

Even though I barely felt the heat of the flames due to the limitations of the VR system, the small comfort didn't stop me from dodging for my dear life. I kept moving, my heart pounding in my chest, as Seer and Lucy continued to barrage me with AOE spells.

"Time Stop!" Lucy's voice rang out.

Suddenly, a white radius spell pulsating beneath my feet.

I scrambled to leap out of the way, my heart pounding in my chest as I survived another close call. If that chronomancy spell had directly hit me, I would've been unable to move for a couple of seconds, long enough for Seer to cast a spell on me, which would surely kill me due to my lack of survivability stats.

This is bad. Things couldn’t go on like this.

I surveyed my surroundings to analyze the dire situation we were in with the little time I had left before their next spell finished its casting time.

Across the other side of the skirmish, a haste-buffed Aria continually pressures Clarence and Liz, making it hard for them to do anything except survive her aggressive attacks.

Even though Aria is alone, my two teammates are still having a hard time against Aria. Liz and Clarence are supposed to be winning against Aria 2v1, but the momentum shifted when Aria entered the zone. She really has completely mastered going into that extreme focus state after her last consequent fights that pushed her to the limits. And now, even if it is 2-on-1, she is holding her own against both of them.

To make matters worse, I’m in a far dire position than my teammates are, with Lucy and Seer relentlessly bombarding me with area-of-effect spells, especially Seer, who spares no mana or resources in unleashing devastating spells designed to chip away at my health. The constant barrage has rendered it impossible for me to cast supportive spells for my teammates, as my opponents refuse to grant me even a moment's respite.

I didn’t expect Seer to have a fully built fire-mage character. This presents a significant weakness for me, as their area-of-effect attacks of Fire Mages are notoriously difficult to evade. The unpredictable nature of the flames and their chaotic movement pose a considerable challenge for someone like me, who relies on memorizing attack patterns. The only weakness Fire mages have is that it is prone to friendly fire, but considering his only target is me, that weakness is now unimportant.

I should have anticipated that Seer would possess a fully built fire mage as a character in his arsenal. It was partly my negligence that led to this. Professional players typically maintain multiple characters within their accounts. Tactical, for instance, boasts over five fully built characters back then, probably even more now that he has played for more than three years.

I can’t help but acknowledge that this guy really is Tactical's protégé. He is undeniably formidable when he has prepared meticulously for an opponent. I only wish his preparations were not so thorough when facing me, though.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a skill like self-destruct to sacrifice his HP at the ready if I get too close to him. It would be impossible for me to dodge something like that.

Furthermore, using my usual trump card is out of the question. Seer is likely anticipating it, poised to unleash a devastating area-of-effect spell the moment I sacrifice the majority of my HP. Even a glancing blow would prove fatal if I were to sacrifice my health for damage with my unique weapon, assuming they granted me the time to prepare in the first place.

Adding to the challenge, Lucy and Seer seem to have a thorough understanding of my dodge patterns and habitual movements, as if they had meticulously analyzed my gameplay. The only ones with access to my replays during our training back then would be Tactical and his protégé, Seer, who needs the replay to take notes and learn from the previous Paragons. This leaves me with only one conclusion.

They already knew I was the user of Yuusha's account.

Could Aria have revealed my identity? No, she’s far from a tattletale, and her upright personality wouldn't allow her to break her own promise. Seer, however, is known for his meticulous analysis of replays, making it highly probable that he discovered my identity through his own efforts.

 System notice: Teammate (ZiJi) has been defeated.

The notification of Chu's death jolted me out of my musings.

What?! I thought Chu would last longer than that!

I had known Chu was at a disadvantage against Blitz in a one-on-one, but his prideful nature had prevented him from accepting it. I had held onto a sliver of hope that he would win, but I guess I had been too optimistic. On the bright side, though, I was sure he would learn a lot from this defeat, making him grow as a person.

"Tsk! That damn fool!" Clarence exclaimed.

"Kat, what do we do?!" Liz cried, her voice filled with panic.

They had probably seen the notification as well and were unsure of what to do in this situation.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. "I'll think of something," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Play it safe for now," I ordered as I dodged another incoming bombarding spell.

Panicking wouldn't help; it would only negatively affect team morale, so I have to keep a calm façade for my teammates.

This is getting worse and worse, though. I thought, my mind racing. We were in a battle against time, and we had to do something to get out of this predicament.

The best thing to do here is to take out one of them before Blitz arrives, or it would be impossible for us to win this game.

As the battle went on in a stalemate, I finally found the opening I’d been waiting for.

Lucy was a bit out of position due to her aggressive spellcasting. This was my chance.

I quickly placed my staff in its holder on my back, a familiar movement that felt both comforting and urgent. I made a swift dash towards Lucy as my fingers brushed against the twin daggers hidden within my mage robe, the weapon I rarely used now that I’m a support spellcaster.

Usually, I wouldn't make this kind of risky and aggressive move. But I needed to do something before Blitz arrived, or we would surely lose. As they say, no risk, no reward.

As I neared Lucy, I noticed something unusual. Instead of retreating, she held her ground, her gaze fixed on me with a look of steely determination.

The Lucy I knew back then never had this kind of look before. Something felt off, but I had no choice but to risk it. I'd just have to reduce their number by one to even the playing field.

My suspicions were proven true, as instead of casting an AOE spell, which I had been prepared to dodge, Lucy cast haste on herself. She then dashed towards me with increased speed due to the haste buff, which surprised me even further.

I already know what she is planning to do. She aims to lock my movements. This is a dire situation for me, but it is not the end of it. I need to take the risk of eliminating Lucy, or else I will not have a chance like this later.

As she charged at me, I felt a surge of adrenaline at the upcoming exchange. I was ready for her.

With lightning-fast reflexes, I drew my twin daggers, the blades glinting in the dim light. I twisted my body, my movements fluid, and dodged her initial grab.

As she lunged for me again, I unleashed a flurry of strikes, my daggers flashing like silver streaks. The first strike landed on her shoulder. The second found its mark on the side of her head, dealing critical damage.

Kachack*

I pressed my attack, my daggers a blur of motion. The third strike with my right-hand dagger landed again on the other side of her head—a critical hit. But I wasn’t done yet. In my final strike, I drove my dagger into her forehead, the tip finding its mark just above her eye.

Kachack* 

Lucy

HP: 31%

What! That many hits should have killed her. How is she still alive!?

Then, I finally realized it.

It seems that I made the wrong move. I instinctively went for the kill due to my old habits. I would have gotten the kill, too, if I was using a DPS-built character instead or if I had a little more stats added to my dexterity and better gear.

I momentarily forgot that I had little damage output right now due to the intensity of the match. It seems that they knew it, too, and had more than prepared for it. I fell right into their well-crafted trap.

Lucy, for her part, resolutely tanked all my attacks. Her resolve to pin me down was unwavering. She had clearly assessed the situation and understood that evading my strikes was impossible, even with her increased speed. She had chosen to sacrifice her own HP for this moment, and she certainly won’t let this opportunity pass by her.

She was upon me in an instant, her grip like a vise, her arms locking around my torso. I felt a surge of adrenaline, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to break free. But her hold was too strong due to her high strength stats and better gears.

She lifted me off the ground as she twisted me, her grip tightening. She then slammed me against the ground, the impact jarring my vision. I felt a wave of vertigo wash over me due to the sudden impact.

I struggled to regain my balance, but she held me firm, her grip unrelenting. She shifted her weight, pinning me to the ground, her knees pressing onto me with our faces inches apart.

"Seer! I can't hold her for much longer! Do it now!" Lucy said hastily, her voice laced with urgency.

My mind raced, trying to piece together the situation. Don't tell me these guys planned this all along?! Does she intend to take me with her and eliminate us both with a large spell from Seer?

I desperately tried to break free, but her judo hold was too well-polished, her movements precise and fluid. This instantly reminded me of my fights with Celeste back in the day. And honestly, Lucy might have even surpassed Celeste with her own years of hard training.

Lucy, for her part, noticed my struggle, but her resolve to pin me down as long as she could had only intensified.

"Sorry! But I'm not letting you go no matter what, even if it kills me," Lucy said, her eyes burning with determination as she stared through me, her grip tightening even more.

And as if things couldn't get any worse, Seer's voice rang out across the battlefield, signaling that his spell was ready to be unleashed. Even in this dire situation, I can't help but be amazed at how perfectly coordinated they are.

“Meteor Blast!” he exclaimed.

A fiery meteor, a blazing ball of molten rock, ripped through the sky, leaving a trail of smoke and fire in its wake. It hurtled towards both of us, growing larger and larger, its fiery heat radiating like a furnace.

I need to get away, quick!

In a burst of motion, I twisted my body, using Lucy's weight against her. With a sudden, almost unnatural twist due to my inherent flexible body, I shifted my body weight, slipping out of Lucy's grasp. I felt her grip loosen, her surprise evident in the widening of her eyes. I seized the opportunity. I pushed off the ground, my legs driving me forward, my arms breaking free of her hold.

I rolled away, landing on my feet. I finally managed to get away with Lucy’s judo hold, but it was too late.

Meteor blast is one of the most mana-intensive skills for a fire mage. But it is worth it due to its high damage and huge AOE range. Lucy’s effort to make me stay in place for even a couple of seconds means I cannot escape its explosion radius. I hadn’t time to precast any supportive spells either since I unequipped my staff a moment ago in favor of my daggers. I just hope I can survive this, even just with a sliver of health.

As I braced myself for the inevitable, the meteor slammed into the ground in front of me, creating a massive explosion of fire and debris. The earth trembled, and the air filled with the blast's roar.

BOOM*

The force of the impact swept both of us away, engulfing me in a wave of searing heat. I felt my character's health bar plummet, the red bar shrinking until it vanished completely.

“Ugh!” I cried out.

Novo

HP: 0%

In the aftermath of the explosion, I saw Lucy's health bar also being depleted until it reached zero.

Lucy
HP: 0%"

Despite her character’s death, she looked fulfilled, as if she had served her purpose. A sense of peace seemed to radiate from her expression.

It looked like we could not come back from this match. But even though I was a bit disappointed, I couldn't help but be impressed by how well-executed their play was. They had truly come a long way from the beginners they were three years ago. It kind of made me proud that I had had a hand in helping them grow from back then.

"Well played," I muttered to Lucy, a faint smile playing on my lips before we both vanished into blue motes of light.

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

Tactical’s PoV

"What a strategic play by the Paragons to take out their opponent's ace!" the caster exclaimed animatedly, his voice echoing through the arena.

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers, a wave of sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of the stadium that came along with fans acknowledging a well executed play filled the air.

That was indeed impressive.

The way Team Paragons countered her so meticulously makes it clear they've figured out Novo and Yuusha are one and the same. They executed their plan, too, against Yuusha no less, which is no easy feat given how difficult it is to outplay that girl. They really performed exceptionally well in this match.

It wasn't just their strategy, though. All the members of Team Paragons had demonstrably improved. Their synergy and teamwork were remarkable. I am sure that they could now challenge almost any standard professional team and not lose easily.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled by the caster's voice, once again echoing through the arena.

"Oh, looks like Paradigm's team captain, Lizbeth, just made a blunder and got caught in a coordinated attack set up by Team Paragons! Team Paradigm is in a dire situation now with only one player remaining!" the caster exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.

"Hmm," I muttered, watching the unfolding match on the screen. It seemed Yuusha's remaining teammates were devastated by her getting eliminated, so much so that their fighting spirit was visibly dampened. She had clearly been the pillar of support for their team, and her loss had a profound impact on them, making them prone to mistakes. Team Paragon's risky plan to eliminate Yuusha at all costs, even using Lucy as bait and sacrificing her in the process, had proven to be the right play for them.

The remaining member, Renz, fought valiantly until the end, but the outcome was inevitable. Despite his valiant efforts, the tide of battle had turned decisively in favor of Team Paragons.

After a tense period of sustained combat, Team Paragons emerged victorious, and the arena's announcer officially declared their triumph.

"The Paragons have won, folks! The protégés legendary team sure does not disappoint! Looks like we are going for a second and final game of the series!" the caster exclaimed, his voice booming through the arena, reverberating through the stands and reaching every ear.

I as I watched the final moments of the match, my brow furrowed in thought. I was surprised that Yuusha hadn't dodged the 0-3-1 rotation the Paragons had used. She seemed completely aware of their strategy but still opted to face them head-on, even though they were at a disadvantage.

Had her drive to win waned? Or was it the fact that her opponents this time were her former friends that she didn’t try as much as she would, a huge contrast to her competitive nature back then?

Whatever the case, this was their worst-case scenario for Team Paradigm. They were mentally unprepared for a defeat, having enjoyed a relatively smooth journey to the finals.

They still have their last chance, though, as being the upper bracket finalist grants a ‘twice to beat’ advantage compared to the finalist coming from the lower bracket since they hadn't lost a single match yet up till now. But judging by their morale, things looked bleak for them.

And from my experience, I didn't think they could easily bounce back from their first major tournament loss.