《Untouchable (A LitRPG ManhwaBook)》 Prologue November 18, 2028 The stage was a dazzling spectacle, bathed in the soft glow of colored lights and a radiant LED display that seemed to pulse in time with the audience''s heartbeat. Enormous screens displayed the game''s action for all to see. A panel of casters provided live commentary, their voices filled with excitement and expertise, narrating the unfolding drama in the game. The crowd hung on their every word, erupting into cheers or groans in response to the game''s twists and turns. The sponsors'' banners adorned the arena, their logos glowing brightly. Vendors in the concourse area sold merchandise, and the scent of freshly popped popcorn and sizzling hot dogs wafted through the air. Gamers of all ages, clad in jerseys and gaming gear, mingled with one another, discussing strategies, sharing stories, and celebrating their shared passion. "It''s over, folks! Yuusha has done the impossible! Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat! A 1v3!" "And with that, we have our very first champion of the Andartha''s Cup, team Paragons!" Like a tidal wave of enthusiasm, the crowd''s collective roar surged through the air and reverberated throughout the whole venue. The floor vibrates, resonating with the thunderous applause of thousands of fervent fans. "So, let me get this straight. She entered the tournament, emerged as the champion, defeated the best CoA players, and proceeded as if it was all in a day''s work?!¡± the announcer expressed his incredulity. ¡°I don¡¯t want to take credit from her teammates since it''s impossible to win the Andartha''s Cup alone, but she does make it look easy the way she plays today. However, I hope they change the rules to make the tournament mandatory for players to attend LAN next time instead of online, considering our huge fanbase. Don''t you agree, crowd!?¡± the caster hyped. ¡°Yeeaaaahhh!¡± The crowd roared in response. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - September 1, 2031 Ring* Ring* Ring* I woke up to the sound of my phone alarm ringing. I reached out to the small table beside my bed, where I usually put it. It was still too early. I had two hours before my class. I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. ... ... ... ... The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. My phone rang again, waking me up from my peaceful nap, albeit with a different tune. "What is it this time," I pondered irritably.
Uh-oh... This isn''t good; my dry and croaking voice probably gave away the fact that I had just woken up. How was she even so sure that I was still in bed? Her tone of voice sent chills down my spine. The chilling tone of her voice sent a shiver down my very core, pushing me to immediately jump out of bed. "In other news, the prize pool for the popular VR MMORPG Champions of Andartha''s yearly tournament, also known as Andartha''s Cup, was revealed. It has yet again surpassed the record for the highest prize pool in a single tournament in the history of e-sports. The current prize pool is a whopping 48 million dollars for the whole tournament!" the newscaster exclaimed. After finishing my breakfast, I put the plates and utensils in the sink for me to wash later. I brushed my teeth and did my final preparations before going out the door and pressing the button on the elevator in the hallway. I reside on the 8th floor of the building, so walking down would be pretty tiring.
I don''t carry any wallets since they have become obsolete nowadays due to the ease of mobile payments. It''s also harder to steal your money as it needs confirmation from you when transferring money to another account.... unless, of course, they cut off your finger to use it for the fingerprint lock and brutally torture you to use your voice to bypass security. Passing through the terminal and onto the railway platform, I could hear the sound of the approaching bullet train. Boarding the somewhat crowded train, I found a seat and reflected on what the first day of my college life had in store for me. Chapter 1 Upon reaching the train station stop, I walked a short distance until I arrived at the front gate building of Summit Peak University. The name of the university was prominently displayed on the gate in a combination of blue and gold colors. Having visited the university before for enrollment and entrance exams, I was somewhat familiar with the area and had previously explored it to some extent. I strolled nervously among the many students who were also heading in the same direction as me. I was promptly stopped by the scanner, wherein I flashed my ID card to gain entry. Inside, there are plenty of security officers roaming around who politely greet students as they enter. I reciprocated the ones who greeted me as I headed for the east building. As I exited the gate building, I passed the beautiful park-like courtyard of the university and saw many students sitting on benches and relaxing under the red oak tree. I kind of envy them since I, too, would wish to spend my time here if I didn''t have my first class to attend. I arrived at the east building and took in the scenery. I then slowly headed towards the classroom I was assigned to. My social anxiety started to kick in. I was nervous and a bit apprehensive as I stopped a few meters away from the door of the room. I saw other students walk inside and composed myself to do the same.
"I heard from my sister who studies here that our professor in this class is kind and considerate," came from a male voice. "For real? I hope so. I''m kinda scared, to be honest. It would be a huge relief if our teachers weren''t super strict. For real!" a high-pitched female voice responded. I''d be more relieved if you could just speak normally, for real. The voice came from a lanky boy with sharp facial features and brown hair with a faded cut. He has an air of arrogance and confidence around him giving off an aura of someone who is prideful and conceited. I''m most likely wrong in my initial deduction but that is just the impression I get from looking at him. I know I''m being biased but considering his earlier statement, it was the first-impression I formed of him. "If you can''t even defeat me in a one-on-one fight, how do you expect to win against any professional player, especially someone like Zetta?" she retorted. "I was just holding back because you''re a girl! If I got serious, you won''t stand a chance," the boy claimed. "Once again, you''re making excuses! Just admit that I''m better than you!" the girl fired back. I get that trash-talking is a part of playing competitive games, even more so between close friends but pick the right place and the right time for Pete¡¯s sake. You guys are garnering stares you know, I feel a second-hand embarrassment just by looking at you two. Thankfully, the professor arrived halting their bickering. No, wait! Not ''thankfully'', I haven''t mentally prepared myself for the class yet! I blame these two for this. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. What that guy said earlier about the professor seems true. While he may be intimidating at first glance, he probably paired us in consideration of those who have no acquaintances yet in this class to make friends. Like me, for example...... How depressing. As I was ruminating about our professor''s actions, I heard someone call out to me. "Katherine Katyusha, right?" A polite yet cheerful sound came from the girl who was supposed to be my pair. Okay, Kat, don''t screw this up; better make the best first impression you possibly can. "Elizabeth Miles, I presume?" I gave her a polite smile ''I presume'' my ass! Now, I sound like a stuck-up honor student. God, I''m not used to interacting with other people. "You can just call me Elizabeth, or Liz for short." I nodded, not knowing how to respond to her straightforwardness. "Ohh, are you Russian? I mean, your surname sounds like one." Is she doing the activity thing already? Probably not judging by her demeanor. I think she is just genuinely curious. None at all in fact besides my aunt, but let''s not tell her that. "Oh! I grew up here in Philadelphia, so you can ask me anything you''d like to know!" she proudly proclaimed. I thought so. She''s not writing anything at all, and I doubt she has a perfect memory to remember all that I''ve said so far. Our conversation continued while writing the important points. It was surprisingly easy to talk to her with her leading the conversation of course. When it came to hobbies, she became much more energetic and expressive than she usually was (which is a lot). She talks about her being a streamer of the game Champions of Andartha. A game that I was very familiar with. Champions of Andartha or commonly called CoA by its players. It is the most successful game that came out when the full immersion virtual reality pod was in its initial stages of becoming well renowned. It has drastically risen in popularity along with the full immersion VR with a current player base of over 870 million and rising. That is all according to the article I read back then, which, in hindsight, might be a blatant promotion of the game by highlighting their huge player base. Its meteoric rise is mainly due to its competitive scene, which has garnered a lot of attention from potential players and the like. It was out for almost four years, but every year, the player base keeps increasing. Its biggest event, the Andartha Cup, a yearly tournament held every late November, has the largest prize pool in the history of esports and is also integral to its popularity. Being a champion in that tournament can set you up for a lifetime of luxurious living, except for the first tournament, though.
As memories of my sister rushed back, my heart sank, and a wave of nausea threatened to overpower me. Not here. Not now, Kat. Hold it in. "......Katherine?" "O-ohh sorry! I didn''t hear you. I was lost in thought. What was it again?" "I said. My friends and I scheduled a friendly match later with the local VR cafe players. Wanna come with me later? Pleaasssee?" She begged cutely, making me want to accept it there and then. VR cafes, huh? I''ve never been into one, but I heard it became commonplace after the rise in popularity of the VR pod. The news I read said that it would experience a boom just like those PC cafes back in the day, though I was probably just a baby back then when the net cafes were commonplace.
"But for now, let''s focus on the activity," I redirected the conversation, steering us back to the task at hand. We talked a lot, sharing most of the things we are both comfortable with sharing, like our courses and such. I mostly avoid the topics about my family, and thankfully, she doesn''t pry either. I also found out that aside from being a streamer, she is also the guild leader of Concord of Heroes''. It doesn''t ring a bell, though. To be fair, I''m not up to date with the current popular guilds. She is adamant about only recruiting members that she knows personally, which is a big reason why she wants me to play with them later and also join her guild. Time flew as we talked and listened to things about each other and pondered what we were going to write in the bio. She is surprisingly fun and easy to talk to, even for an introvert like me. Chapter 2
Please put on the nerve gear* Vital signs green, mental state green, emotional state green, preparing for virtual dive* Loading 26%..... loading 59%..... loading 100% complete. Initiating full dive*
Loading..... Loading..... Loading complete! Warning: mental and emotional state fluctuating* Player is Advised to take a break* Thorn burst: Conjures small thorns that impede the enemy''s movements. Cooldown: 21 seconds. Cost: 50 mp
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Player Lizbeth has invited you to a PVP lobby. Would you like to accept? Notice: you will be teleported to another location. Some quests or dungeons may fail if teleported, do you want to continue?
As I surveyed the surroundings, my eyes were drawn to an enormous round table capable of accommodating more than 10 people with plenty of space to spare. The room exuded a Victorian-style ambiance, adorned with lavish accessories and intricate designs. It quickly dawned on me that this was the lobby for the upcoming match. Seated on our side of the table were the knightly beauty, Lizbeth (undoubtedly Elizabeth), KingRomel (obviously Romel), and Ozz (most likely Benny). On the opposing side sat our opponents. To the right, there was GigaChad (presumably June, given his muscular physique), accompanied by two unfamiliar individuals who seemed completely absorbed in their own world. I couldn''t help but roll my eyes at their in-game names, "Dan<3Kay" and "Kay<3Dan," which only served to grate on my nerves. Please get a room, you two! "Is my character, ok? No dissonance whatsoever?" Elizabeth broke me out of my musings. "When I walked around town earlier, I felt completely fine. Except for the chest area. How do you even walk with these?" I groped my own enlarged breast as if to prove my point. Feels soft actually. I might actually get used to this. Wait a second, is this considered sexual harassment or something? "It''s not that bad! But still, looking at my 3D-designed facial features and having a conversation with me at that is kinda... unnerving." That is why you should not readily lend your account to just anyone. I hope this will be a lesson for her. What if I were a creepy, sexually harassing stalker, which I''m not, of course, then this would not end well for her? "I don''t see the problem, though; your face looks pleasing to the eye," I responded with my honest thoughts. "Hehehe thanks," she said appreciatively. Tsk! Not the reaction I was hoping for. I was hoping she would be caught off guard and act bashfully cute or something. "How long is your last member going to make us wait!?" Before I could respond further, Romel''s exclamation abruptly shifted the attention of the group towards him. "Patience, we also waited for you guys to arrive you know? Our last member is just finishing a dungeon. He will be here soon," GigaChad replied. "What?! He''s in the middle of a dungeon run when we were supposed to have a match? Those things take too long to finish!" Romel whined. "Not for him though, he''s pretty skilled," GigaChad explained. In the corner of my eye, I saw Elizabeth narrowing her eyes. "Who exactly is your last player?" she inquired. It''s right for her to be on guard. Our opponents looked pretty confident and reassured that they would win, their ace player must be really good for them to have this much positivity. "I suppose there''s no harm in revealing it now. Our last player is Chu," GigaChad proudly announced. Elizabeth couldn''t hide her surprise. "You managed to recruit him?! I thought he only played 1v1!" she exclaimed. "I found a way to make it work. I have my own methods," GigaChad replied smugly. "T-that''s unfair, isn''t it? Chu is a ranker," Benny worriedly said. "Really now? It''s just a normal match where the loser pays for the winner''s VR time cost and not a high-stakes betting game. And don''t tell me you guys forgot your captain is also a ranker," GigaChad said as he looked at Elizabeth as if proving a point. Well, that was quite shocking. I didn''t expect Elizabeth to be a ranker. In Champions of Andartha (CoA), there are two separate leaderboards for rankers. One is for team matches, and the other is for 1v1 matches. To attain the ranker title, a player must be among the top one thousand players in either the team or 1v1 leaderboard before the end of a PVP season. The player then holds the title for the whole duration of the next PVP season. "Don''t tell me you''re chickening out this late in the game? It''s not like it''s a betting match, either. We just need a little practice in our teamplay by fighting another ranker," GigaChad taunted. "...No, we''ll continue with the match," Elizabeth firmly stated. "Excellent. In that case, let''s wait a little longer. Chu messaged me saying he''s almost finished with the dungeon," GigaChad informed the group. Curious about Chu''s identity, I leaned closer to Elizabeth and whispered, "Who exactly is this Chu?" "Chu is a 1v1 ranker in this game," Elizabeth whispered back. "He''s well-known for participating in 1v1 betting matches at this VR cafe, and the impressive part is that he has never lost a single 1v1 scenario. From what I remember, he''s also a second-year Student at our university." "That is.... honestly impressive," I murmured to myself. Those ranking leaderboards are filled with pro and tier 2 pro players and for him to place in the top one thousand on 1v1 while taking into account CoA''s massive player base is an incredible feat. "Don''t worry too much though! Doesn''t matter if we lose as long as we have fun!" Elizabeth reassured me with a broad smile. I contemplated Elizabeth''s perspective on finding enjoyment in matches, realizing that my own mindset had shifted over time. While winning was once the main source of fun for me, I was no longer as driven towards victory as my younger self. I nodded in response, recognizing that everyone has their unique way of finding enjoyment in the game. I didn''t want to dampen Elizabeth''s enthusiasm by expressing my own uncertainties. Just then another player arrived via teleportation. He is wearing a set you would expect from a Taoist with a Longbow attached to his back and a pair of small butterfly swords to his waist. Looking at his in-game name, it reads ZiJi. "Finally, you''re here! Good to go Chu?" GigaChad asked his teammate. "Let''s just finish this fast, I have something more important to do later," ZiJi replied distantly. Wow, how edgy. He seems to act like your typical cool guy anime protagonist or something. "Understood... You can start whenever. My team is also ready," Elizabeth replied eagerly. "Great! It''s time for our revenge match!" GigaChad exclaimed, pressing an invisible button. Suddenly, a timer appeared and began counting down, signaling the start of the match. The game starts in 3.... 2..... 1....!* --------------------------------- -Lenna''s PoV- I have always watched Liz''s streams. When she plays PVP she sometimes explains the rules to her new viewers that are not all too familiar with team PVP. From what I can summarize from all the times I watched her, the basics of team PVP revolve around three main objective points on the map. The first is the Top Orb, located at the highest point of the map. The second is the Middle Orb, situated at the center of the game map. Lastly, there is the Bottom Orb, which is self-explanatory in its positioning. The main goal in a team match is to capture all three of these Orbs. There are three potential winning conditions to consider. The first condition is when a team successfully captures all three of the Orbs (Top, Middle, and Bottom). In this case, the capturing team instantly wins, regardless of the statuses or positions of the individual players. The second condition is when a team completely eliminates all members of the opposing team. If your team manages to eliminate all enemy players, you secure a victory. Conversely, if your own team is wiped out by the enemy, it results in a loss. The third condition involves the passage of time. If the match reaches the 50-minute mark, the team with the most captured objectives at that point wins. For example, if your team has captured 2 Orbs and the opposing team has only captured 1, you emerge as the winner when the time runs out. In the rare scenario where both teams have one Orb each or no Orbs captured, the game ends in a draw. These are the fundamental rules that I understand, but there are many more specific details that I am not yet familiar with. As I contemplated this, Raynold''s sudden voice caught my attention, breaking my train of thought. "Didn''t expect a 1v1 ranker to be on June''s team," Raynold commented as he looked at one of the TV screens specifically set up for viewers in the VR cafe. We were currently in a dedicated lobby area where viewers could watch matches or catch up on gaming-related news while placing orders. The manager had anticipated the match between Liz''s team and June''s team, so he had arranged for it to be broadcast to the viewers. Liz had a considerable fan base among the players here, and this match served as both entertainment and promotion for the VR cafe, known for hosting betting matches among CoA players. "A ranker?" I inquired, seeking clarification. Raynold nodded in response. "Chu Xiaolong, also known as ZiJi in-game. He holds a global ranking of 921 in the 1v1 matches leaderboard." I was taken aback by Chu''s impressive ranking. "He''s that skilled!? I recall Liz mentioning that her own ranking is 970. Does that mean Chu is considered better than her?" Having heard Liz mention her ranking of 970 during her streams, I understood that achieving such a ranking was a remarkable accomplishment, even for someone like me who wasn''t familiar with CoA. The fact that Chu held a higher rank indicated his exceptional abilities in the game. "Liz''s ranking of 970 in team matches this season may be lower than Chu''s ranking in 1v1, but that doesn''t necessarily mean she is weaker. Team matches require teamwork, coordination, synergy, and strategic thinking, while 1v1 battles focus more on technical skills and predicting opponents'' moves. It''s a different dynamic and skillset altogether, so it''s hard to determine who has the advantage solely based on rankings," Raynold helpfully explained. I also think that way. Liz always says in her stream that she mostly plays team matches because she enjoys it so much more compared to 1v1. But whenever her viewers convinced her to play 1v1 ranked matches via donation or persuasion, I haven''t seen her lose a single time. "It''s quite hard to believe, though, that Liz can play on even ground with male players," I mused. "Hmm, I think it''s not that out of the norm. There has been a debate going on that female players have the advantage vs male players in CoA, and with the rising popularity of VR technology, its not rare for it to attract many more female players, some having immense potential." "Oh Really?" That got me interested. Raynold nodded in affirmation, continuing his explanation. "That''s right. Female players often have an advantage in terms of flexibility and balance due to their innate body type and lower center of gravity. This makes them more skilled in dodging, which is crucial in PVP matches. While males might have the advantage of physical strength and robustness in real life, it doesn''t necessarily apply to VR games like CoA. In virtual reality, players can simply increase their stats and acquire better gear to offset any physical disadvantages. In fact, being larger in size can even be a disadvantage as it makes them more vulnerable to enemy attacks due to their increased hitboxes," he explains in some gaming jargon I don''t quite understand. "But if that''s true, why is the pro scene still dominated by male players?" I said nonetheless. "In my opinion, it is more of a mindset kind of thing. Generally, men tend to be more competitive than women, though there are always exceptions. Have you heard of Yuusha ''the Untouchable''?" Raynold asked conspiratorially. "Hmmm, I think I heard of her. Liz always says she''s her inspiration in playing CoA." If I recall correctly, she was the ace of Team Paragon, the first-ever team to win the Andartha Cup tournament. "Liz and most female players started playing CoA because of her. The publicity team of CoA advertised the highlights of their final matches to promote the game to the female player base, which was a brilliant move on their part. One could argue that she had a big impact on the drastic increase of the CoA player base throughout the years. Some of her diehard fans even argue that she is the greatest player of all time. Considering her iconic 1v3 at the very first Andartha Cup finals, I wouldn''t be too surprised people think that way." he enthusiastically added. "But she''s not part of the professional scene anymore, is she?" I inquired. Raynold''s expression turned solemn as he shook his head. "No, she suddenly quit playing CoA. No one knows the reason behind her decision, not even her former teammates. Since the first Andartha Cup was an online tournament, the CoA community doesn''t even have a clear picture of what she looks like. The event didn''t have a grand venue or the same level of publicity that we see in today''s LAN events." I couldn''t help but feel disappointed. It would have been exciting to support Yuusha if she were still competing in the professional league. "...So, who do you think will come out as the victor?" I asked Raynold, curious about his prediction. "It''s difficult to say. The outcome will ultimately depend on who can make a greater impact in the matches, whether it''s Liz or Chu," Raynold gave out his honest thoughts. As Raynold and I were engrossed in our conversation, one of the TV screens caught our attention as it began a countdown. It displayed the match between Liz''s team and June''s team, who were ready to commence. "Ohh, it''s starting!" I exclaimed, feeling a surge of excitement and anticipation in the air. In that moment, both teams were swiftly transported to their respective starting positions at the back ends of the map, signaling the start of the battle. Chapter 3
That''s the right call, I suppose. Casting haste takes a lot of MP, even for a well-built mage. And getting to the orbs earlier than your enemies won''t be beneficial that much either since you can only capture the orbs after a certain point of time elapsed due to an electric field in the arena terrain. This prevents players from cheesing(a game slang used for tactics that borderline cheating) by using movement skills to capture the orb before the enemy gets there. "And be very mindful of Chu, don''t fight him solo." "O-okay!" "I''ll dumpster that guy if I see him!" They both said in unison. Observing Romel and Beny as they swiftly moved towards the top orb, I could see why Elizabeth had paired them together. Beny, a time mage, provided valuable support by buffing Romel, who wielded a giant claymore. The speed buffs from Beny helped counteract the sluggishness of heavy weapon users like Romel, ensuring optimal mobility on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Romel''s heavy-hitting attacks compensated for the time mage''s lack of high DPS. Elizabeth''s battle plan demonstrated her careful preparation. She had identified Chu as the greatest threat on the enemy team and crafted a strategy to neutralize him effectively. She isn''t too greedy, either. Instead of spreading the team too thin across all three orbs, she focused on acquiring two orbs, a wise decision that showed her understanding of resource allocation and control. Also, judging by her battle plan, even if we were the ones to encounter Chu in mid-lane, she seems confident we can take him on. And if Chu is on Bot Lane, then this match will go smoothly for us since we will have two orb advantages. Her experience in team matches shows with just those seemingly simple commands, which have lots of little nuances not easily determined by players unused to strategizing against their opponents. Then, as if remembering something, she turned to me. "Are you fine with supporting me, Katherine?" I nodded in affirmation. A warm smile appeared on Elizabeth''s face as she acknowledged my agreement. "Alright then, let''s get going. Follow my lead." ------------------------------- As we reached the location of the Middle Orb, the shimmering shielding field that encompassed the entire arena dissipated, meaning the orb is now available for capture. Positioned in the center was a remarkable sight¡ªa bowling ball-sized orb. This structure stood prominently in an open space, encircled by the lush forest from which we had emerged from. The Middle Orb held immense significance in determining the outcome of the match, and capturing it would grant our team a crucial advantage. As we stepped into the open space area, we were greeted by two players who had also just arrived. It was the same two flirting heedless of their surroundings back in the lobby, Dan<3Kay and Kay<3Dan. The man, Dan<3Kay seems to be a knight focused on using a heavy shield, a textbook defensive support, while the woman, Kay<3Dan was a DPS mage, an ice-oriented mage if I were to take a guess based on her staff. That''s it, I''m gonna massacre these guys. As I walked towards them Elizabeth suddenly called out to me. "Katherine, I''ll take the lead. Stay behind and support me from a distance. I''ve got this," she instructed. Oh yeah, I forgot that I was a support now. She has a point. "Fine, but promise me you will give them the beating of their life!" I conceded begrudgingly. "S-sure, I''ll do my best!" Elizabeth replied, seemingly surprised by my sudden burst of enthusiasm. Elizabeth made a beeline for the enemy mage, intentionally disregarding the knight. This is a common tactic since DPS characters tend to forgo survivability in exchange for more damage. She¡¯s fast. She wears a set akin to a decorative royal knight without the helmet so her set didn''t weigh her down too much. Her weapon of choice is a rapier. A good weapon for dishing out damage with fast thrusts. It also doesn''t require you to overextend your attacks since it has a long reach, meaning you can just thrust and back away if it gets too dangerous. A good weapon both defensively and offensively. "I won''t let you harm her! I''ll protect Kay even if it costs my life!" the knight in shining armor proclaimed. BOOM* Too late, Elizabeth suddenly delivered a strong thrust to the head of the mage, the part that gives the maximum damage multiplier if hit. Mages and other casters usually forgo adding HP in favor of int to increase their damage and MP. Compounded by the mage''s notably low defense and Elizabeth''s formidable red weapon, the blow proved fatal. Kay<3Dan Hp: 0% "Wha-! H-how did you dodge that!" the knight expressed his surprise and confusion. Elizabeth remained silent. What did he expect? That she will suddenly reveal all her cards just because he asked? I got an idea of what happened though but I''ll confirm it from her later. Right now, we have a match to win. "Tsk!" The knight, seemingly running out of options, made a desperate move and charged towards me in an attempt to level the playing field. I''m unguarded so that is actually a good move. But unfortunately for him, I''m not as helpless as he thinks. I have only defensive and healing skills though and my only cc is my weapon. At least it bought a bit of time because before he could get near me, Elizabeth thrusts at him from behind, halting his charge. "Grahhh!" he shouted. Dan<3Kay Hp: 76% He is pretty tanky but he has little to no damage in his build and no way for him to kill us both on his own. It''s only a matter of time before we deplete his hp. --------------------------- Romel''s PoV "Shit! Shit! Fuck! This should not be happening!" I yelled in frustration. I was so frustrated, there was only one enemy and we couldn''t even kill him! The only thing this piece of shit does is shoots arrows from afar and then hide in the forest. What a cowardly tactic. "C-calm down!" My teammate Benny said. "Calm down?! Aren''t you frustrated by his cheap shots?" I rebuked. "There is nothing we can do about it, let''s just play defensively like Liz said. If we go after him and leave the top orb, we might get caught in an ambush in the forest or someone might steal the orb while we''re gone!" Benny reasoned. "Then just block his arrows while I capture the orb!" I suggested. "Then think of something!" I exclaimed. "Let''s ask Liz for backup?" "What do you mean to ask for backup!? It''s 2v1 and you''re a man. Have some fucking pride and don''t just cry for help from girls!" Just then, I felt a very minuscule pain in my back. I got hit by an arrow again shit! Good thing the VR nerve pain receptors only go so far or that would''ve hurt pretty bad in real life. KingRomel Hp: 72% "This can''t go on. We got to do something. He will just keep shooting at us and we don''t have any healer. He''ll chip our hp to zero if this keeps up!" I reasoned. "What do you suggest?" "Speed buff me so I can go after him while you protect the orb, he''s probably shit in melee combat so he plays like a pussy!" I ordered. "......But Liz said!" "Hurry!" I shouted. "A-alright already! Just get back if you think you cannot handle him," Beny conceded. "You''re kidin'', right? I won''t lose to him." I declared. Beny finished his spell and cast it on me. I instantly rushed to the last place Chu''s arrow came from into the forest. I searched for him for a while but I couldn''t find any trace of where he had gone to. Just as discouragement began to settle in, a distress call from Benny came through the team voice chat. ("Help! Chu is here, need backup!") Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Without hesitation, I swiftly turned around and raced back towards the orb. What I saw when I came back was Benny dissolving into motes of blue light. Standing beside his defeated form was Chu, wielding a pair of butterfly swords in his hands and carrying his bow slung across his back. Chu looked towards the spot where my teammate had been just moments before, his expression unreadable. Honestly what a useless teammate, he can''t even last for more than a minute by himself! He slowly turned towards me, acknowledging my presence for the very first time since the match started. He then very deliberately gave me a condescending look. "Pretty dumb move leaving your support by himself," Chu tauntingly said. "Seems like a good one to me. Now that you showed yourself, I won''t let you escape and hide again," I say as I brandished my giant claymore. "Don''t need to. I can take you on easily," he said in an arrogant voice that made me want to smack his head a thousand times over. He then dashed towards me. --------------------------- Blue motes of light filled the air and eventually dissipated. That took longer than expected. He was a good shield user, and quite the team player too. After he realized he couldn''t win against us, he turtled and played very defensively to buy time for his teammates by stalling us from getting the orb. A pretty good tactic if I might add. But the skill gap shows and eventually, Elizabeth beats him. As the battle unfolded, I found myself with nothing to do. Since the opponent primarily focused on defensive maneuvers, Elizabeth''s need for healing was non-existent. That doesn''t mean I''m useless! I threw in some thorn bursts here and there. Every crowd control helps... even if he just easily shrugs it off. I tried to escape reality by convincing myself otherwise. My God, this is what it feels like to be uselessly carried by a teammate like a piece of luggage. How depressing. "They were quite good," Elizabeth mused. "Yeah, the fight would''ve taken us a whole lot longer if it weren''t for your well-timed ''Shadow Step''." Shadow step is a skill of some legendary tier weapons. I fought a few users of those weapons in the past. It is the skill she used earlier when the ''Crystal Nova'' almost hit her. It allows its user to instantly blink to a short distance below the 20-foot range. It is not a popular skill mainly because of its high cooldown(30sec) and its simplicity. Players like more flashy weapon skills but one cannot argue that a well-placed shadow step can change the tide of the match, a perfect example of what transpired earlier. Elizabeth seemed surprised by my knowledge of the skill. "So, you''re familiar with Shadow Step? I recently acquired it and wanted to put it to the test in this match. I didn''t realize it was a well-known weapon skill," she inquired. "I do my research," I replied smoothly, delivering a well-crafted lie. Suddenly a message resounded through the team voice chat. It was from Beny. ("Help! Chu is here need backup!") ("Beny, are you guys alright there!") Elizabeth voiced the message to the team chat for all of us to hear. We received no response. They are probably busy engaging the opponent. "We better hurry!" Elizabeth exclaimed, her voice tinged with worry. Just as she spoke, my attention was drawn to a figure approaching us from a distance. It became clear that he had come from the bottom orb, indicating a strategic play of 1-2-1. Chu had likely engaged Benny and Romel for the top orb, while the couple we had recently defeated focused on securing the middle orb. Lastly, June, aka GigaChad, was likely in possession of the bottom orb already. He probably came here to back his teammate up and stall us from taking the mid-orb. That serves us better, though; if we can defeat him now, we can take 2 orbs, giving us the advantage of playing defensively. It seems Elizabeth noticed him, too, since she is looking in his general direction. "Continue taking the orb while I stall for time," I declared. In order to optimize time efficiency, it would be wise for Elizabeth to continue with her channeling. If she were to abruptly stop at this moment, it would result in a significant loss of valuable seconds. Time plays a crucial role in team matches, as even the slightest delay can lead to the unfortunate circumstance of a teammate being left vulnerable and potentially getting killed without the necessary backup. Given Benny''s panicked state and the urgency implied, it is clear that they are in dire need of assistance. Therefore, ensuring a quick and coordinated response is essential. "A-are you sure?" she asked in a doubtful tone... which kind of stings to be honest. I''m not that useless, you know! "Yeah, please trust me," I replied, my expression serious and determined. After a brief moment of contemplation, Elizabeth finally conceded. "...Okay, be careful. I''ll back you up as soon as I can. Just play safe and stall for time," she agreed. With a sense of urgency, I swiftly dashed towards GigaChad, fully aware that every second mattered in the fast-paced PvP environment. The faster we secured the middle orb, the sooner we could come to the aid of our teammates. It was crucial not to allow June to distract us from our objective, and I knew that as a support without any protection, I made for the perfect bait. As I closed the distance, I noticed GigaChad''s attire resembled that of a street brawler. His muscular physique was accentuated by a simple black vest and pants. He wielded a pair of caestus, one in each hand, ready to engage in close-quarters combat. When we reached a semi-ranged distance, GigaChad halted his running and began to walk towards me to conserve stamina. I did the same. "Oh? You''re approaching me? Instead of running away, you''re coming right to me?" GigaChad asked, seemingly surprised by my decision to engage him in one-on-one melee combat. He must be wondering why a support like me is opting for 1v1 melee combat. It was part of my plan to bait him into staying to fight and not escaping with the orb he currently held. "I can''t beat the shit out of you without getting closer," I replied nonchalantly. "Oh-ho! Then come as you like!" GigaChad exclaimed. When we were near enough to each other at melee distance, I focused intently on the enemy in front of me. Time seemed to slow down as I took in every bit of information I could to predict his movements. I flawlessly entered what most people call the ''zone'', a state of extreme focus, but to me, it''s as natural as breathing. He made his move. His right foot left the ground while his left arm''s muscles twitched ever so slightly. I saw his eyes lock on my head without hesitation. Based on his small movements, I predicted that he was going for a dash and launching a quick yet powerful straight punch at my head with a minuscule chance of it being a fake. I instinctually analyzed his motions based on my thousands of hours of experience in playing against players of far higher caliber than him. He is underestimating me, opting for full forced aggressive strikes without any prompting jabs which leaves many openings to exploit. He probably thought that I had no means to inflict damage onto him this close because I''m a spellcaster. I took advantage of his aggressiveness. I calmly took a step forward. He stomped his right foot on the ground in front of me and threw his long-reaching straight corkscrew punch at my head. As his attack was about to connect, I tilted my head ever so slightly while at the same time twisting my body in preparation for my counterattack. His punch barely flew past my face. My cheeks felt the air pressure of his punch, a testament to how strong and close it was to hit but it didn''t quite connect just as he had hoped. I launched the counterattack I had prepared almost at the same time I dodged his attack. I saw his eyes widen in shock at the realization as I twirled my staff for added momentum and whacked his unguarded head. WHACK* "Guhh!" GigaChad Hp: 81% I expected more damage than that since I have plenty of dex stats even as a support. It was a critical strike to the head with my full force. The fact that I am not a DPS-oriented character shows. If I just had one of my old red weapons, a hit like that would''ve been near fatal. "Wha- you!" GigaChad exclaimed, clearly agitated by my unexpected counterattack. I saw his facial expression shift into irritation as he prepared for another attack. He is at point-blank range now since he had just taken a step closer to me in his last attack. He sent a quick 1-2 punch combo at my head. I tilted my head slightly to the right, evading his first jab, and then swiftly bobbed down to dodge his second forceful punch, taking the opportunity to deliver a well-placed elbow blow to his stomach. The strike caused him to flinch and take a step back, creating the perfect distance for me to swing my staff at his head once again, aiming for another critical hit. WHACK* "Argh!" GigaChad Hp: 57% He took a distance from me and eyed me warily. It seems he''s being cautious now. He''s starting to see me as a threat that can kill him in melee combat and not just a healer that can be dealt with easily. I can''t let that happen, though. "Are you sure you should be wasting time? Elizabeth is almost finished securing the orb, and she will be here to support me shortly," I calmly reminded GigaChad of the dire situation he was in. His initial plan was probably to eliminate me fast enough before Elizabeth backed me up and then have a 1v1 match with her. "Tsskk!" GigaChad let out a frustrated sound, realizing that his original strategy would no longer be feasible once Elizabeth joined the fight. He panicked because he realized he would not stand a chance in a 2v1 fight given my skills. Desperation and a lack of focus often lead to unwise decisions, and in his case, he resorted to utilizing his trump card¡ªhis weapon skill. As his fists started to glow, I knew instantly what his weapon skill did. Having accumulated countless hours of experience in PvP matches, nothing could truly surprise me anymore. He lunged at me as his caestus glowed bright yellow and then threw a barrage of strong punches. "Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora! Ora!" he shouted. But it was still not fast enough, I''ve seen techniques that are harder to dodge far above his level of skill and utilization. I dodged all of it. "I-impossible!" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by my ability to evade his attacks with such ease. I saw his expression change into a mix of admiration and fear as I prepared for my attack. The weakness of his weapon skill is that there is a second after the barrage that he will be in a fatigued state, a condition where he is unable to move. It might sound short, but a second in a deadly melee can be the difference between life and death. Without wasting a single moment, I swiftly performed a 360-degree sweep with my staff, aiming at his feet. Caught off guard and fatigued, GigaChad lost his balance and fell flat on his back. Seizing the opportunity, I leaped as high as I could, utilizing the force of gravity along with the strength of my body and the staff. With all my might, I drove the pointed end of my staff toward his defenseless head resting on the ground. THUMP* GigaChad Hp: 0% "...What a monste-". He didn''t get to finish his last words as he was immediately replaced by blue particles, signaling his defeat. At the spot where his body was supposed to be, a glowing blue orb the size of a bowling ball appeared floating in the grave of its original owner. It was the orb located at the bottom part of the map that June took without any obstacle or threat. As I was about to take it, Elizabeth arrived with her expression of complete shock and disbelief. "What... happened here..." she looked at the orb dumbfounded. I remained silent as I didn''t know how to reply. "Don''t... don''t tell me you defeated him?" she asked, her tone filled with disbelief. "I was lucky," I replied curtly. "Lucky!? You managed to defeat him in less than a minute without sustaining any damage, all while playing as a support character!" she exclaimed. Now that I think about it. If she put it that way, it would sound suspicious. I completely forgot that my initial tactic was just to stall for time. However, GigaChad''s actions presented numerous openings that I found difficult to ignore. It was challenging to resist the temptation to take advantage of those weaknesses, even if it deviated from my original tactics. No one in their right mind would let those opportunities pass by, would they?! To mask my inner turmoil, I simply shrugged, concealing the thoughts swirling within me. Noticing my hesitance to answer, she finally conceded. "Fine, I won''t pry if you don''t want to tell me. Let''s just focus on taking the orb first, and then we''ll assist Romel. I believe he''s facing some trouble." "What about the other one?" Barry was it. I was never good with names. "Beny? He''s already taken out. Didn''t you see the system notification?" "Ohh, must''ve missed it earlier," I was too engrossed in the fight, paying my full attention to the enemy. I took the orb so that Elizabeth wouldn¡¯t be too bothered by the increase in stamina consumption of carrying two orbs, and we prepared to leave the area. It will take a while to get to the top lane if we are to conserve stamina, which is undoubtedly the correct way to go if we were to fight against a ranker. I just hope that we make it in time. --------------------------- -Raynold''s PoV- "Did you see it? Did you see it, Raynold!?" Lenna exclaimed with excitement, clearly thrilled by Katherine''s victory. "We are so close to winning!" "Uh-huh..." I responded, still slightly dumbfounded by the turn of events. "I never thought Katherine would actually be able to beat June," Lenna continued, unaware of what just exactly happened. "...Defeat June? It''s more than that! She didn''t just ''beat him''. She completely demolished him! She outplayed him both mentally and mechanically! She utterly annihilated him!" I interjected passionately. "Sheesh, calm down," Lenna replied, seemingly unimpressed by my enthusiasm. "You don''t seem to grasp the magnitude of that play," I fervently persisted. "The dodges she executed were flawless! It was done with no wasted movement and always chained perfectly to a counterattack. A counter that was aimed at the head, resulting in the highest damage she possibly could. Furthermore, by strategically exploiting her role as a healer, she baited June into an aggressive playstyle, forsaking defense. Most supports are naturally weak at melee since they''re always at the backline and have low HP in exchange for MP. She took advantage of that common notion to punish his aggressive plays. The way she dodges, too. Most players, when they dodge, either leap away to distance themselves from the attack or dodge with exaggerated movements to reassure their dodge, which, in turn, makes it hard to do a counterattack. But she dodges at the last second, with as minimal movements as possible, baiting June into believing his attacks would hit so that he becomes complacent and unprepared for her counterattacks. You¡¯ve got to have numerous battle experiences to move like that. She either has insanely godly reflexes, or she predicted all his moves, or maybe even both! She moves as well as some amateur pro players I watch, or even better!" I ranted. "Okay! Okay! Stop, I get it! Sheesh, you''re such a nerd sometimes," Lenna admonished. Hmphh! Casuals. They cannot appreciate a great play even when it is right in front of them. All that matters for them is the kills or the insanely flashy but unpractical moves like Meteor Strike or Thunderstorm. It is slightly disappointing that there''s no one else with me here to appreciate that kind of outplay. "But do you think they can win against that Chu guy?" Lenna asked "Judging from how good they both are, I don''t think they would lose to a single non-pro player 2v1." "That''s good to know!¡± Lenna said with a broad smile. "You seem happy," I inquired. "Of course, if they win, you know what that means, right?" Lenna remarked with a playful smile. Returning her smile, I shared in her excitement as I contemplated the upcoming reward. "Liz will treat us at the cafe!" Lenna exclaimed. ------------------------------- -Chu''s PoV- "Hmph, you talk big, but you don''t have the skills to back it up," I taunted. ZiJi HP: 84% "It¡¯s......it¡¯s not over yet, so don''t get too cocky!" KingRomel Hp: 8% He''s already low. One more hit would probably kill him. What a disappointment. I was hoping for more of a challenge. I¡¯m not satisfied with an opponent as weak as this. "It seems your teammates are not as weak as you thought since they managed to wipe out all of mine. They might back you up if you survive a bit longer." The notifications of my teammate¡¯s death happened about a while ago. The enemies are probably heading this way to help this guy. I¡¯m sure that ranker girl will put up more of a challenge than this fool. The only reason I accepted June''s offer is to have a bout with that famous ranker I keep hearing about who is said to be a regular here. "I don''t need their help! I¡¯m going to kill you right before they arrive!" he exclaimed. What a stubborn guy. He could''ve just retreated for now to regroup with his other teammates and push their advantage in numbers, but his stubborn pride won¡¯t let him. I have to give him respect for that, though he is an honorable opponent. "Last Stand!" he let out a battle cry. His sword was then covered in a blood-red aura that let off a dreadful atmosphere. "......." I silently watched him. I was wondering what his Claymore weapon skill was. So it was a buff-type weapon, huh? The last stand basically increases your damage as your health goes lower. Having only 8% of his HP remaining will dramatically increase his attacks to double or even triple his firepower. So, this is where his confidence comes from. Coupled with the innate damage potential of his claymore plus his weapon skill, one direct hit from him might instantly kill me. This is getting interesting. He rushed at me; his buff only lasted for 30 seconds, so he was on a timer. I can just kite him and stall for 30 seconds if I want a surefire way to win, but I also don''t have that much time; his backup might arrive any second. And besides, where is the fun in that? As he was in melee distance, he did an overhead swing. His weapon is too large, and his windup is too exaggeratedly long, so it was pretty easy to dodge. Sadly, his battle spell only increases his power, not his speed. I took a step back and dodged his swing completely. BOOM* "Huh!?" ZiJi Hp: 79% Shit! His swing was so strong due to his buff that it sent shockwaves around the impact of his strike. That was unexpected. Had he planned that attack from the start? "Got you now!" He declared. As my balance was off from the shockwave, he didn''t miss the opportunity and did a side swing in an attempt to bisect me in half. "Reversal!" My weapon suddenly glowed white on the edges. *Ting* I positioned my twin butterfly sword to block his swing and used my weapon skill, ''Reversal.'' A normal parry would''ve surely sent me flying and probably fatally wound me, but using my skill reversal sends the power of the attack right back at the enemy. It can only be activated if you can do a perfect parry. It takes a lot of skill to use, but it is a skill of my red weapon that helped me climb the ranking leaderboard at 1v1. It sucks I have to use it, though, since its cooldown is pretty long. I was saving it for the later fight. "Gah!" he cried. He flew a few feet away from me as he was damaged greatly by the force of the impact of his own swing. KingRomel Hp: 0% "Damn!" he exclaimed. "Don¡¯t feel too bad. It was a good last attempt." As I was complimenting his last-ditch effort, he turned to blue motes of bright light and completely vanished from the playing field. I''ve wasted enough time. I have to get the orb before his teammates arrive. I reminded myself. I rushed to the barrier and channeled to remove the barrier of the orb while paying attention to my surroundings for any surprise attacks. About halfway through channeling, I heard a voice. "Thorn burst!" A girl with a staff, presumably their healer, tried to impede my movements with a spell. Are they here already? I canceled my channeling to dodge the skill. Shit, how unlucky. I would''ve finished breaking the barrier if I only had a couple of seconds more of uncontested channeling. Just then, I felt a foreboding feeling. I ducked instinctively. *Whoosh* "Tsk!" she exclaimed. Another girl with the same face as the healer appeared, holding a rapier in her hand. She is probably the ranker based on the bits of info I heard about her. So, the first attack was just a distraction for the real carry to finish me off when I least expected it. They have a good synergy. Her suddenly appearing instantly at my blind spot means she has a displacement skill. A blink or shadow step is more likely. That''s a surprise, though; I thought my teammates would''ve at least eliminated 1 of the 2, considering they have the numbers advantage. Either these two are good, or my teammates are just that useless. I leaped a few times back to get some distance as I pondered my choices. Hiding in the forest while firing some arrows at them to chip their HP is not possible since they have a healer, and I will definitely run out of arrows before their healer runs out of mana. Melee it is, then. I rushed to the healer. "Katherine, be careful; he''s going after you!" How astute. She immediately put herself in front of me and her healer in an attempt to block my charge. She thrust her rapier at me, but I dodged it at the last second, and I followed it up with a quick dual stab. She dodged the 1st stab and parried the other with her rapier, but I was expecting it. I delivered a straight kick. She managed to guard it with her free hand, but my blow overpowered her. She had a very nimble body type but was also lightweight, so my kick sent her flying. "Khh!" Lizbeth Hp: 94% Having achieved my purpose of separating the two, I instantly rushed at the unguarded healer in an attempt to eliminate her. I can''t waste this opportunity. I had to eliminate her quickly so I could have a bout with the ranker. I did the fastest combo of slashes I possibly could, close to depleting my stamina. "Hyahh!" I exclaimed. I did a quick 12-strike combo with my butterfly swords. But what is this feeling... It feels like I¡¯m trying to cut the air. Just as I thought that my slash was about to hit, she dodged it flawlessly. I have never fought anyone like this girl before. None of my hits connected. No, my last hit did connect, but it only managed to scrape her chest, making her distance herself a bit. Beth Hp: 92% "Tsk! Useless bag of meat," she murmured. In my shock, I failed to realize that her teammate was already right behind me. With a sudden quick stab, she hit me in the back. KACHACK* "Guhh!" ZiJi Hp: 42% She prioritized my body instead of my head to make sure I didn''t dodge this time. How laudable. My HP is going down, and I don''t even have a healer to help me get back to full health. And to top it off, they''re both extremely skilled players. This is bad. I need to do something. Just as I was recovering from the damage the rapier user dealt, the healer suddenly rushed at me. That was a bad move by her, but I won¡¯t let this opportunity pass. Now is my chance. My weapon skill just barely went on cooldown. If I can create an opportunity to eliminate her with a well-timed skill, it will become a 1v1 match wherein I have a higher chance of winning. She wound up her weapon, preparing for an overhead swing. Perfect, I positioned my twin butterfly sword in the trajectory of her swing and activated my skill, making my twin weapon''s edges glow white. Just as her staff was about to hit my weapon, she suddenly stopped it mid-swing and transitioned her attack into a sidekick. A feint! It caught me off guard and hit me in the sides. Did she know of my weapon skill? Did she predict I would use it at this exact moment or is it just a fluke? Whatever the reason is, my posture was destroyed by that kick, which made me flinch. "Now!" She yelled. Just then, the rapier user appeared right beside me. Shit! Her ''Shadow Step'' skill just went on cooldown, and the healer knows it, too, so she created an opening for her. The stab went through the back of my neck, and I felt a very slight pain in that area. "Guhh!" ZiJi Hp: 0% "It was a Good Game," the ranker said in courtesy. It was all I heard from my opponent before my vision went entirely black, and annoying red letters showed at the center of it all, reminding me of my own death. Chapter 4 -Elizabeth''s PoV- As we both agreed upon, June paid for our time at the VR cafe. He even wanted to recruit Katherine for their team, but I firmly declined on her behalf. I harbored concerns about the potential negative influence of joining a team involved in betting matches at various VR cafes like June''s. I want to protect Katherine from being lured into a cycle of gambling addiction. "Cheers!" "Yeah!" "Woohoo!" "Great job guys!" We are seated around a moderately large square table nestled in a cozy cafe/bar area within the confines of the VR cafe building. This section serves as a communal hub for players looking to unwind and take a break from intense gaming sessions. A prominent feature in the space is a sizable television screen positioned at the center, streaming various games for entertainment. The television is seamlessly integrated with the adjacent bar area, creating a vibrant and dynamic ambiance for patrons to enjoy while socializing and unwinding after playing VR games. I found myself positioned in the center of the table, with Katherine seated to my left, occupying the seat by the window corner. My best friend, Lenna, was on my right side. Across from me, at the other side of the rectangular table, was Romel seated in the center, Benny situated by the window, and Raynold positioned directly in front of Lenna. Each of us had ordered a selection of pastries or food, except for Katherine, who ordered a coffee. "Didn¡¯t expect there to be a literal cafe here inside this VR cafe building." Katherine mused "This area is mainly for customers of the VR cafe to relax, eat some good food, or take a break from VR gaming." I supplied. Katherine is relaxed, taking a sip of her coffee while the others are talking about our recent game, with Ronel mostly bragging loudly. "Are you sure you don¡¯t want to order any sweets?" I asked. I said it was my treat at the cafe since I had invited her in the first place, but she insisted on paying for herself. "Yes, I¡¯m sure; I¡¯m not too fond of sweets," she replied coolly. So mature. She really gives this air of a dependable and cool adult. Very humble, too. She is probably as good as me or even better, but she still doesn¡¯t brag about her CoA skills. Not like someone I know. "I almost killed him solo without any help! And because of me, he is severely weakened, so my teammates could finish him off!" Romel bragged. "If you had to choose an MVP in that match, that would surely be me!" he added. "We didn¡¯t do much, though......" Beny shyly butted in. "It is only you who didn¡¯t do anything. I almost killed their ace. If my single slash had just connected back then, he would¡¯ve died instantly. He has the advantage in gears, but I¡¯m more skilled than him!" Romel exclaimed. "Hmph! We both watched the whole match and you two didn¡¯t do anything, right Ray?" Lenna argued. "They didn¡¯t seem to do much, but every small contribution matters in a match," Raynold commented in a neutral tone. "You guys just cannot comprehend the complexity of the plays I¡¯ve done!" Romel exclaimed. "Please don¡¯t mind him, Katherine. He has a medical condition that makes all of the words that come right out of his mouth seem obnoxious," I sighed. "I don¡¯t mind, he actually seems kind of fun to be around," Katherine replied Are we even talking about the same person? While I was pondering, I took a bite out of my strawberry cake. On the edge of my sight, I notice Katherine looking intently at the strawberry cake. Does she want a bite or two? Probably not. She said she doesn¡¯t like sweets. "By the way, Miss Katherine, where did you learn to play like that? Your movements are so good that I thought I was watching an amateur pro player.¡± Raynold addressed the elephant in the room. All eyes fell on Katherine, likely eager to know the reason for her aberrance. At least control your curiosity, guys! Look at her. You guys are making her flustered. ¡°Oh, I... I just played a lot of VR single-player games, so I had a lot of training,¡± she answered slowly. I doubt that, though, since I heard no single-player games had as complex skills required for gameplay as CoA does. Map awareness, stamina management, dodging, parrying, and aerial combos are just a few examples of its complexity that no other games have integrated into their games. However, I might be wrong since there may have been new VR game releases I¡¯m not privy to, so I didn¡¯t push the subject. All of the others were convinced by her reasoning except Raynold, who probably reached the same conclusion as I did. Just as Raynold was about to ask another question, there was a sudden commotion among the other customers inside the cafe. I tried to find the cause and saw they were all looking at the cafe''s TV screen. After watching it for a few seconds, I instantly knew what the commotion was about. "Look at the screen. The Razor Gaming team is having a press conference." "Ohh, they''re interviewing Zetta? He¡¯s your idol, right?" Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "That¡¯s Zetta ''the Duelist''?" "Many players claim that he is unbeatable in 1v1!" "Shhh, I can¡¯t hear what they¡¯re saying." "It¡¯s just a replay, though. I watched it live." "My dream is to beat him in a 1v1 match someday." The die-hard fans of the pro gaming scene, seated at the tables surrounding us, filled the air with excitement and enthusiasm. Engaged in lively conversations, they animatedly discussed their favorite players. It was a replay of the post-game press conference of team Razor Gaming for their win yesterday. The captain and ace of team RG (Razor Gaming), Sebastian Guillaume (aka Zetta), is shown on screen. The commotion died down a bit when the press started asking their questions. "Mr. Sebastian, what is your take about your team''s comeback from a 1-player deficit with a spectacular 2v3 in game 3 of your match against team Eclipse?" A reporter said. "The other team put all their resources into eliminating our two supports, so Flamboyant and I capitalized on their lack of MP and HP to play aggressively and not let them recover," Zetta answered confidently. I glanced at Katherine and noticed that she seemed to be deep in thought. I''ve already watched it, but Katherine seemed entirely focused on the screen, making me wonder if it was the first time she had watched a press conference of a CoA pro league. "Mr. Guillaume, many people are asking, who do you think in the current pro league can give you the hardest challenge in a 1v1 match?" another reporter said. "Right now, I think team Royals''s ace Rance and probably team Shaolin''s ace Yang can give me a good fight." "Do you think that you will be the first ever player in the history of CoA to have 2 Andartha Cup belts under your name?" A reporter asked In the past three years since the first Andartha Cup, no one has ever achieved the feat of being the champion for the second time, so fans of the game would kill to see one in hopes of putting them on a pedestal and worshiping that player like a god. Fans are weird like that, I suppose, but I¡¯m no different. I also want Zetta or one of the former team Paragon members to have a repeat win since I¡¯m a big fan of them. The closest currently was Zetta, who won with team Paragon on the first Andartha Cup, or AC for short. His new team got only 5th place in the second AC due to the sudden disbandment of the team Paragon due to their ace player ''Yuusha,'' who had been my inspiration in playing the game, suddenly quitting CoA. His third chance at the AC cup was the closest to anyone ever having a repeat champion, with him joining Razor Gaming(a well-known e-sports organization with many different teams in different games) and placing 2nd, just almost winning the whole tournament. That is why all eyes are on him to win the 4th Andartha Cup that will be held this November. "We can never know what the future holds. All I know is that my team and I team are going to do everything we can to bring home the crown for our fans and supporters!" Zetta passionately said. Even though I heard it already yesterday, that statement really does give me the ''chills.'' It makes me want to support him more. "Speaking of team, your former teammate Tactical from team Nexus Gaming might be relegated to division 2 if they lose their match next week. What are your thoughts on that?" Tactical is the former captain of team ''Paragons'' who is currently playing for team NG and is also Zetta''s former teammate. It breaks my heart to see all the backlash that they receive from the player base just because they keep losing their games this season. "As Tactical''s former teammate, I hope they get out of the slump their team is currently experiencing right now. But as a fellow player in the pro scene, I will not show any mercy if we face each other in CoA," Zetta said with determination. "Tactical is getting relegated?" Katherine suddenly asked. Her sudden interest surprised me. Is she a fan of Tactical, by any chance? If she were, she would know their concurrent sub-par performance this pro league season. "Sadly, yes, they haven¡¯t been playing well since the start of the season." "When is his team playing next? I want to see it," she inquired. "I think their match against team Atelier is on this weekend. Oh! wanna watch it together?" I subconsciously blurted. "S-sorry, I¡¯m not being a bother, right? People keep telling me I get overly friendly sometimes." I added. I can¡¯t help it. I get overly enthusiastic from time to time, and things just come right out of my mouth unfiltered. Especially if it is CoA-related, she might think I¡¯m too overbearing. "¡­Sure, let''s watch it together." "Really! It¡¯s a promise, right? No backing out in the last moment?" I smiled. "Hoo? What is this? I¡¯m hearing you two are going out on a date or something." Lenna playfully teased. "Ohh, Lenna, we''re just going to watch Team Nexus vs Team Atelier''s match this weekend," I informed her. "Oh, I want to join; let''s watch it at Katherine''s home. I want to see where you live! And maybe we could have a sleepover?" Lenna asked, a bit hopeful. After hesitating for a bit, Katherine replied. "I¡¯m only renting an apartment, so there is nothing much to see. I¡¯m also fine with just watching the match, but no sleepovers." "Tsk! You¡¯re no fun," Lenna pouted. "Can we join in too, Miss Katherine?" Raynold butted in. "Sorry, boys, it¡¯s a girls-only bonding session." Lenna mischievously said. "I agree, two is too much already. My apartment is not that big to accommodate more people," Katherine added. "Humph, we don¡¯t need you girls! We will have our own boys-only session." Romel added. The conversation continued like that for a while. Then we eventually went home. ________________________________________ Haahh, I¡¯m tired. Socializing is tiring. We did win the match, though, so it was a bit fun and rewarding. I thought to myself as I approached the apartment complex in which I was currently residing. As I entered, the ever-so-kind-looking middle-aged guard greeted me again with the typical pleasantries. I bobbed my head in acknowledgment, too tired to make small talk but not enough to forgo all of my manners. I entered the elevator along with three tenants who probably just got out of work and pushed the 8th-floor button. I immediately got out of the elevator after it stopped on the floor of my apartment. I pulled out my phone from my bag and positioned it beside the lock. The lock opened after a second, signifying that I was indeed a tenant of this exact room. The key could be a card or, if you''re an old antique lover, a physical key, but I chose the phone-type key since it is with me all the time. When I opened the door, I was greeted by the lights turning on, the AC activating, and vibrant, soothing music playing as I entered. I went to the kitchen as soon as I could, ready to prepare some food. I didn''t have quite the appetite earlier, so I didn''t order any food. Besides, only ordering coffee would make me look mature and cool. I could only hope that it had achieved its intended effect or all of that posturing was for nothing. Spotting the familiar sight of bacon and eggs in the freezer, I instantly decided to prepare that for my meal. Cooking more intricate dishes wasn''t exactly in my skill set, which was a somewhat disheartening realization. Once I finished eating, I left my kitchen utensils and plate in the sink. It dawned on me that I had yet to wash the dishes and utensils from my earlier morning meal, adding to the growing pile that needed attention. "Well, I better get started; the dishes won''t clean themselves," I sighed. After completing my chores, I headed to the bathroom to indulge in a refreshing shower, allowing my mind to wander freely. Post-shower, I meticulously dried my body, taking the extra time to blow-dry my hair to perfection. Thinking back to today''s events, I see that I miss playing CoA. I guess you can never part with something you really love that easily. I have to thank Elizabeth for giving me the slight push I need. "Perhaps I can..." Filled with a newfound sense of purpose, I retreated to my room, changing into comfortable nightwear. Nestled in the corner of the spacious room stood my trusty VR pod, a gateway to immersive single-player VR adventures. Though slightly outdated compared to the setups at VR cafes, it remained reliable and efficient. Donning the gear, I launched Champions of Andartha, greeted by a significant update, as I hadn''t played in a while. Thanks to the swift and stable Fiber-Optic Internet connection, the massive update was downloaded in mere seconds. After the update, I logged into my... no, that''s not right... our account. IGN: Yuusha My sister''s legacy. I saw her face, an exact 3D replica of her features right in front of me, staring back emotionlessly. She never took my advice not to use the facial scan when creating her character. *Warning: mental and emotional state fluctuating. The player is advised to take a break.? A wave of intense sadness engulfed me, sending my heart plummeting. Despite my attempts to push the emotions aside, memories cascaded through my mind like a torrent, overwhelming me completely. These memories were of someone irreplaceable: my sister, my closest confidante, and the person dearest to me. The undeniable reality crashed over me like a relentless wave - she was no longer a part of this world, and the realization that I would never again see or converse with her pierced my soul. The weight of this loss gnawed at me from within, leaving me shattered and consumed by immense grief. *Warning: emotional state: Red Mental state: Red Initiating forced log out.* I disconnected from the virtual world and returned to reality. "Haaah, Haah, Haah!" I heaved. Chapter 5 - Flashback "Ohh here to visit your sister again?" Asked the familiar nurse I was passing by in the hallway. "Yes ma''am, is she awake right now?" I inquired politely. "She is, I just took her blood pressure a while ago. Your sister must be happy seeing you often." The nurse smiled at me. "I think so..... Then, I''ll go meet her right now." I replied awkwardly. "Ohh right sure don''t let me hold you up, have fun and take care!" The nurse gestured for me to go on with a motherly smile. I nodded and proceeded to head to the intended room. After a short while of passing nurses and visitors alike, I arrived at my destination. I knocked reflexively, a habit of mine when visiting her room, and entered without even hearing her permission. The smell of disinfectant with a mix of other chemicals assaulted my senses. The inside of the room was white and clean, decorated with the intent of being simple and pleasing to the eye. In the corner of the room is a therapeutic VR pod intended to ease patients'' mental states, especially for those prohibited from leaving the room due to medical reasons. This allows them to experience a simulation of the outside world that would normally be impossible for quarantined patients. A pale girl lying on an inclined bed rests in the center of the room holding a tablet. She has long brown hair, soft brown eyes, and a smile plastered on her face. She was always cheerful and bright, though I don''t know how much of that is a facade to not make us worry any more than we do. She is 2 years older than me but her childish demeanor coupled with her cute looks and frail body makes people think that I''m the older one. Most people say we don''t look alike (Her facial features and hair color resembles our mother whereas I got my sharp blue eyes stoic looks and black hair from my father). We instead have the same interests though which include mostly gaming and watching movies and anime. I probably just acquired my hobbies from her cause we always spent time together ever since we were little. Her body prevents her from having any strenuous hobbies making gaming one of the few choices for her in the pastime department. "Sup, sis." I greeted casually as I saw her. "Ohh good you''re here! Come here, come here look at this." The girl, my sister, beckoned me to come near with exaggerated movements. I sat in the bed close to her, curious about why she was making such a fuss. "Kat look at this it''s so cute! Right, right?" She excitedly said while showing me a video. It was a video of a puppy trying its hardest to climb the stairs while failing spectacularly..... My God, it IS adorable!...... Wait calm down Kat, act mature. "Yeah it''s ok, I guess," I replied with restraint. Our appreciation for cute things is also the same, though I don''t act as childish as her. "I want a puppy too, I''ll ask Mom if I can get one later." She declared. "I don''t think they even allow pets in the patient''s room." I countered. "Hmph, you''re always such a killjoy Kat." "No, I''m just stating facts." "Yeah, and that is the definition of being a killjoy." She said with finality. I''m pretty sure it''s not, but I keep it to myself. I can never win an argument against her since she is not confined to any rules. She even makes the rules herself if I''m to be perfectly honest. "Oh, I just remembered that I have something to show you!" She said as she swiped and pressed her tablet to open her e-mail account. "Is it another one of those e-mails you got saying you won a million dollars?" I deadpanned. "I-it''s not that, and I told you that was the last time that I''d fall for a scam like that!" She visibly reddened. After a short while, she handed me the tablet with an expectant look. "Here, read this." I took the tablet from her and read the contents. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Dear Ms. Katyusha We are pleased to inform you that your application for the beta test program has been approved. Be one of the first to take part in Champions of Andartha before it would be open to the public. We appreciate any feedback, suggestions, criticisms, or concerns you may have during this trial period and encourage you to voice them out to our team so that we may continue to provide you with the best gaming experience we possibly can. Sincerely yours Champions of Andartha team *Please Note that the beta key and download link are provided below this letter* I looked at her with awe while she made a smug face, which in turn dampened my amazement. "How did you even manage to get this?" I asked unbelievingly. V-Tech, the creator of the full dive VR technology and also the company behind the CoA team was said to have funded the game with millions of dollars, They also have gone wild in their publicity, promising their players that they will experience the best VR technology has to offer. They are even planning to release new VR pods that will complement the game. If you''re an avid gamer, it''s impossible for you to not have heard of this since it is even featured in local news outlets. "I have my ways, and also a whole lot of time in my hands," She said smugly as if that was something to be proud of. "Are you sure it''s not a scam?" I asked incredulously. "Of course! What do you take me for? I learn from my mistakes you know." I guess it looks legit, and it also doesn''t ask for any personal info or bank accounts. "How many keys do you have?" I asked curiously. "I uh, only managed to get one.... Sorry. I''ll share my account with you though so we can level it together. Playing for 2 hours a day is the most the nurses would let me anyways." She said regretfully. "Sure, sounds good. Send me the account info after you create an account so I can play it at home." I replied with a grin. It''s not the first time we shared an account due to her circumstances. I''m the one mostly doing the leveling when we share accounts though. "What should we name it?" She inquired. "I''ll leave it up to you, I''m bad at names." I shrugged. "Ohh okay I already have something in mind" "What?" "A name that means ''hero'' in Japanese and also close to our surnames." She riddled. "Out with it already," I said impatiently. "Yuusha" she smiled. --------------------------------------- "You''re here again? You always come here almost every day." "What, are you tired of seeing your cute little sister?" I quipped. "Cute? Pffft, cute is the last thing I would describe you, more like obnoxious." She giggled at her own joke Not funny. "But seriously, don''t you hang out with your classmates after school or something? Like a normal high school girl?" I''d rather spend time with her though. I have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that our time together is limited, especially after overhearing my parents talk about her worsening heart condition. I won''t talk about it obviously since I don''t want to ruin the mood. "Nah I''m good, going out with them is pretty troublesome and tiring. I''d rather relax here." I reasoned. "Are you sure you just don''t have any friends at your school?" She teased. "W-wha, of course, I do, I''m even quite popular since most of the clubs want to recruit me to their team!" I defensively denied her claim. And that''s not even a lie, my kinetic vision and reflexes are top notch so I excel at any sports I try. "Sure sure whatever you say, Ms. Loner." She said unconvinced. "Urkk" My pride took a blow at that. "Ohh by the way, earlier when I was playing CoA, someone PMed me demanding a rematch. Do you know what that was about?" It has been a few months since the official release of CoA. All of the hype it garnered and all the mentions it received on the internet made its launch a total success and amassed millions of players worldwide just in its first month. It also lived up to its hype as the most realistic VR experience up to date. No current game is even close to comparable to it in the realism department. We both continued to use the same account we created back in the beta test since there are tons of benefits and rare sets we got from the perks of being a beta tester. I also don''t want to repeat the grinding I went through. Besides, I''m more focused on PVP right now since it''s infinitely more fun than grinding or battling NPCs. "Not sure, I can''t even count the number of players I beat in the past week. What''s his IGN?" "I think it was, Zetta or something?" "Ohh, I remember him, I barely won against him in my last rank match yesterday before I logged out. His pride probably got wounded since I recall that he''s in the top 10 rank of 1v1. What did you say in response?" "Nothing, I just ignored him but he''s so persistent so I blocked him. Nobody likes persistent guys." She giggled. "Huh too bad, he might be a good sparing partner. I''ll just unblock him later and accept his request." "You really are focused on PVP these past weeks huh." "I guess. I''m planning to join the Andartha Cup." I confessed "Really! I heard the prize pool was a million dollars for the champion, even though it''s split into 4 team members, it''s still quite a large sum of money. They really are adamant about making the game an eSports success huh? This much prize pool will entice many new players to the game" I''m more interested in the prestige of winning the tournament than the money though. Sure the money is a plus(a very big one at that) but my main reason is to immortalize the character my sister and I use. A proof that our bond existed at some point and cement it in a game that I am certain will leave its mark in history. It''s quite sentimental I know but that''s how I feel. I won''t tell it to her though since I''m sure she''ll just make fun of me. "Yeah, if you help me with acquiring the best gear, I''ll give you half the prize I win so how''s that." I offered. Though our parents are the ones who are probably going to manage the money if we ever place high enough to earn significant amounts, but I won''t tell her that. "Really! Then I''d better research on how to get some of the hard-to-find unique weapon skills then." She said excitedly. "Sure, but don''t push yourself too hard though. We still have 3 months to prepare." I worriedly replied. "No biggie, I''ve got nothing to do much here anyway." She gave me a melancholic smile. ----------------------------------- I briskly walked into the hallway eager to arrive at my destination while ignoring the familiar nurse who called out to me. I normally don''t act that rude to others but I have something I need to confirm badly. I caught many curious stares as I continued to walk frantically toward the room my sister was in. Usually, I would be too flustered and mindful of the commotion I was garnering but I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to even care the slightest. As I arrived at my destination, I entered the all too familiar room without knocking. "Ohh yo-" "I heard from Dad that you''ll be having a heart operation next week." I cut her off mid-sentence "I know, what bad timing, right? Exactly the same date as the online tournament. You guys worked hard through the qualifiers but I might not be able to watch the main stage." She said apologetically. "I don''t care about that!" I shouted. "I heard there is a chance that your body might not survive the process." ".....Yeah, I always had a weak constitution and hypoplasia since I was born." She paused for a bit as if preparing what to say next. "The doctors say it''s even a miracle that I survived up until now with my body being this fragile and that there is a chance my body could not take the strain of the operation." She smiled sadly. After a short while, her melancholic face did a 360, back to being her bubbly self. "But it''s not that bad! It''s more than a 60 percent chance of success or so they say, I guess I''ll have to pray to the RNG gods so that they would bless me!" She attempted a joke to lighten the mood. "I....." I croaked feeling breathless. "I know what you are thinking, but please continue the tournament. It''s not fair if I''m the only one fighting that day, don''t you think so? Besides, I won''t forgive myself if I''m the reason you forfeited this, we''ve worked hard for this remember? Not only us but our teammates too, I would feel very bad for them." "......I understand." "It''s settled then let''s both win our fight next week okay? Pinky promise!" She held out her hand. I took her hand, intertwining it with mine. I held on to this sensation for a while, feeling her soft, fragile hands as if it was a precious treasure. It took a while before I crossed my pinky finger with hers. ".......Promise." I declared with renewed determination. Chapter 6 I woke up from my dream, sweating buckets. I feel nauseated. It''s been a while since I had dreamt of my sister, but due to yesterday''s events, I''m not surprised in the slightest that it happened again. Tears began to well in my eyes at the thought. I feel too depressed and unmotivated to even get out of my bed. On top of it all, I seem to have a headache due to all my emotional stress last night. *Ring ring ring * I lethargically picked up my phone from the table next to my bed. I forgot to set an alarm yesterday so I''m certain that It was mom calling to check on me again. She''s been too overprotective of me ever since my sister left us. Maybe a bit too nosy for my liking but I understand that she''s just worried about my mental state so it also makes me glad at the same time. I answered the call. "Kat, don''t tell me you''re not done preparing for your class again?" She asked. I hesitated for a bit, dreading to tell her that I probably wouldn''t be able to attend the first class. "...... I don''t feel too well today Mom". "Are you alright? Have you taken your medication?" She inquired, worry with a bit of panic apparent in her tone. "If you don''t feel that well, take the rest of the day off." She said something I didn''t expect to hear from her. "N-no, it''s not that bad this time around, though I might just miss my first class." "I see...... Just don''t push yourself too hard honey, okay? Your dad and I are worried about you living alone there." "Yeah, I won''t. I''ll hang up now and rest for a bit mom, love ya." I said as I pushed the end call button. I sighed. "I''ll rest for a bit before I take my pills" I murmured to myself. -------------------------------------------------- The drool-worthy smell of greasy pizza wafted from the entryway that everyone was jammed into. Stick figures lined both sides of the salad bar. I sit alone on the far opposite side of the cafeteria doorway eating my lunch consisting of unhealthy, fatty, and oily foods. All the while enduring the noisy talking and squealing of the students having their lunch which is gradually grating on my nerves and fuelling my mild headache. I should''ve brought my lunch today, I thought to myself. "Katherine there you are!" I was brought back from my thoughts as I heard a familiar voice. The voice of Elizabeth instantly lifted a bit from my unpleasant mood. "I was looking for you earlier. You weren''t in the first class we were in together," she added. "......I had a headache earlier when I woke up, I didn''t really feel well enough to go to class so I wasn''t able to attend." I reasoned. "What! Are you alright now?" "I''m fine thanks for worrying." I gave her a wan smile. She seems unconvinced though but did not push the subject. "So do you need me for something?" I inquired. I tried to change the topic so that she would not pry anymore. My condition is not something I am comfortable sharing with others. Luckily she took the hint. "Hmph! Do I need a reason to talk to a friend?" She pouted as she sat beside me. Friend huh? Hearing her saying that to me warms up my heart. I felt my cheeks heat for a moment but I did my best to hide it. "Really? So there is nothing you need from me?" I asked as I suppressed my embarrassment. She looks like she has something she wants to talk about. It must be something really important. "W-well there is a favor I would like to ask," she said hesitantly. I thought so. "Let''s hear it first," I replied curiously "Right, have you heard of the ''Champion''s Brawl''?" "Not that I remember, no." "Oh then let me explain, the CoA team is hosting the first-ever LAN tournament for ages 15 to 20. Its main stage venue will be held in New York City," she explained. So they are even creating a strong foothold for the youth player base huh? the CoA''s Marketing and publicity team are quite scary, to be honest. "Of course, pro players of Division 1 and Division 2 teams cannot join even if they are under 20 cause it would be very unfair for the other participants." she continued Wait, am I even allowed to participate in that tournament? Well, I suppose I never officially became a pro since, after the 1st cup, I declined all the offers I had received since I lacked the motivation nor the reason to play at all that time so I guess I''m eligible to join...... probably. "It is a very huge event that has a prize pool with a total of $500,000. The 4th place team will get $50,000, the 3rd place team will get $75,000, the 2nd place team will get $100,000, and 1 place will receive a whopping $200,000! I forgot the other prizes but as far as I can remember, 5th to 8th place will also receive some cash prize." She continued as if reading from a script. That is a pretty high prize pool overall even for an amateur tourney. I guess it is to be expected when the CoA team is the one hosting the tournament. "Soooo... You know what I am getting at right? Wanna join the team I''m creating?" she said expectantly. I kind of want to join, 200,000 bucks just for winning a tournament without any pros in it. Just think of how many kinds of stuff I could buy with those. And this time around, I''m planning to keep it all instead of letting my parents manage it if we ever win! Also, spending more time with a friend with the same hobby is a big plus on my list. It has been fun talking to Elizabeth about common things we like and dislike. Lastly, I can finally repay my debt to her. That''s 3 big enough reasons to accept her offer. There is 1 huge problem though. "But I..... don''t have my own max-level account," I told a half-truth. "Oh, I don''t think that would be a problem. The online elimination tourney for all the entrees will start next month on October 2nd, and the top 16 teams will be able to join the LAN event on October 21st. You will have more than a month''s worth of time to power-level your account and I can even boost you. Or if you want, you can always borrow mine?" If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "No, I''ll just create my own account thanks." Your oversized breasts will only get in the way of dodging. That''s good news though, I better create my account later so I can grind my levels in time for the elimination. And as long as I am not using ''that'' account, I probably can play without any difficulties. "So does that mean you''re in!?" she said excitedly. "I guess it does." I smiled. "Woohoo! Thank you, Katherine!" She celebrated and tried to hug me, but I blocked her with my hand. Too slow. "No hugs." I declared "Tsk! You''re no fun." she pouted I can''t seem to understand why other girls are so touchy-feely. Don''t they have any respect for personal space? "Ohh I almost forgot, what role do you want to play?" I pondered for a moment. Playing support is really quite fun now that I think about it. It adds a different perspective that I haven''t yet experienced as opposed to playing the carry of my team in the past. Also creating a support-oriented character falls in line with my plan to a fresh start playing CoA again. "I''ll play as your support like last time." I decided "Ohh, I was hoping you could be the carry. But with how good you are, you can probably excel in any role you want." ".....You overestimate me." I looked away not meeting her gaze. "Ohh, do I?" She smiled at me knowingly "What about our other teammates?" I changed the subject. She pondered for a while then finally said "I have a skilled guild member who is under 20 that plays well at team-ranked matches. The other one though, I''m not sure if he would join us. But if all goes well he will be a strong teammate. I''ll inform you if I manage to poach him." "Sure, then if you don''t have any more business with me I''ll be going to my next class," I say as I look at the time on my phone. Looks like I only have 10 more minutes before my Robotics class. Better get there early to get the farthest seat at the back. "See ya Katherine, and thanks again!" She waved goodbye. "Kat," I mumbled "Huh?" "Katherine is too long, just call me Kat," I said, barely audible. "Then just call me Liz and we''re even. It''s what my friends call me" she replied jovially. "Later then, Liz," I said while walking away so she didn''t notice my reddening cheeks. I returned my half-empty tray and got out of the cafeteria. __________________________________________ Since I cannot use my sister''s account without triggering my past trauma and having a mental breakdown, I decided to create a new character. That is the main reason I like to tell myself but deep down I know there is something else. I''m scared. When I played the match with June''s team the other day, I realized the gap in skills between the current me from my past prime. I don''t know if I could live up to the expectations of being Yuusha''s user. I''m scared that I will drag my sister''s legacy to the ground with my current lack of skills and knowledge of the current meta. Looking at the brighter side of the picture though, having a new character and a fresh start would probably help me overcome my mental trauma bit by bit. I have to thank Liz for giving me the push I need to return to the game I love. I''ll return the favor by doing my best to win our matches. Also, it would be a lie if I said that I''m not intrigued by the notion of creating a support-oriented character. I always wanted to try one back then but I never got a chance to do so due to circumstances beyond my control. That is why I''m currently looking at the text in front of me. *Account created, do you want to save your username and password for this VR pod? Yes / No* "Yes" prompted the voice command. *User name and password saved preparing to enter the game.* *Please create your character* It was my first time creating a character in CoA since I never had one I could call my own so the novelty and excitement I feel multiplied tenfold. -A long while later- Ok, the hairstyle is good. Time to move to face customization Do you want to scan your facial features for your character? Yes / No "No" I don''t want my face to be plastered all over the net if we ever did manage to garner attention at the tournament. Initiating Facial Customization What appeared in front of me was a screen with hundreds of customization options. There is even an option to put cat ears in my character? Yes, please! W-wait let''s not get carried away now, shall we? Think of what would happen if Liz saw my character has cat ears, it would shatter my image. This is gonna take a while though. -An eternity later- "F-finally done, whew that was harder than any PVP I''ve ever fought." It was worth it though. Wavy black hair, beautifully supple cheeks, a small but cute nose, and round and curious blue eyes in contrast to my piercingly intimidating one. I''ve created the cutest avatar character I possibly can. Very far off from what my real image is but I''m not complaining. Face creation complete Moving on to body type creation. Would you like to do a full-body scan? Yes / No "Yes" *tut, tut, tut, tut, tut* The machine resounded as it scanned my body''s proportions. No picture though so it doesn''t breach any privacy terms and such, just the full measurements of my body from head to toe. It''s the same principle as if you''re going to get measurements from tailors or designers, or so they say. Now that I think about it, having my body measurements known is too much for a reserved person like me. *Full body scan complete* As I was having second thoughts about having my full body measurements shown to the world, there was a ping signaling its completion. It showed me the final results of my avatar. *Showing results. Is this acceptable? Yes/No I saw my full body proportions bearing the cute face I had just created. Honestly, this went better than I expected. The cute facial features highlight my thin and lithe body type. "Yes" Character creation complete. Please Enter a Name: ___________ A name huh? After pondering for a while, I suddenly remembered one of our classes on Robotics about innovation. "Hmmm, let''s go with......Novo." It means ''new'' in Old Portuguese. The name symbolizes my new start in the world of CoA. Please Enter a Name: Novo *Entering game* A cutscene then entered my vision about the lore. I immediately skipped it. It''s a waste of time since I already know it by heart. It''s about Andartha choosing me to be one of her champions to save the world. Something so cliche like that. *Synergizing character to the nerve gear......... 40%....... 78%........ Synergy complete* *Entering the World of Palios* Zffff* The view of the blue sky instantly entered my vision. Wispy layers and smokey formations in feathery strokes that do not look out of place when painted on a canvas. I looked at my eye level and saw a beautiful town bustling with countless new players, the town of Lumiria. There are this many new accounts in the starting town, huh, the player base of CoA just keeps increasing. Obviously, these are not only the newbie players in the starting town in the entirety of CoA even if they number more than a thousand. Due to CoA''s rise in player base, cross-server instances have been implemented. This basically meant that in a single server, the player count could not pass more than a specified number of players. For example, a town already has 2000 players and the cap of the server is 2000 players, if you log in or teleport to that town, you would be transferred to a different town with different players but is the same exact replica of the said town. This was implemented so that grinding spots and many other different quests that require certain items won''t become a problem due to overcrowding. Parties are inseparable though so if you want to play with someone you know, party with them so you won''t miss each other when trying to play together and explore the world of CoA. The names of the newbies I saw vary and some even imitate the name of their favorite pro players. Different players can have the same exact name so it''s possible but their game id is the one that separates them individually. Pro players also have an indication in their name when you identify them signifying that they are the real deal. An example of this is the newbie here that I had just identified. Zetta Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 12 Guild: none Duel wr: 25% Wins: 1 Matches: 4 Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: N / A id#:*********** Introduction: I''m the real Zetta ''the Duelist''. Follow me on twi**** and insta**** and I''ll give you free weapons and stuff. Hmmm, very convincing, but considering Zetta is max lvl 95, a high-rank guild officer of Razor Guild, and has more than thousands of matches in his ranked match history, it makes me doubt your intro a little Mr. Real Zetta. I took a look at the settings. Voice changer on, check. Auto translate feature, check. I made sure to enable both specifically since I''m not comfortable with strangers hearing my real voice (which I customized to blend well with my cute avatar) and also the auto-translate feature so I can understand even people who speak different languages. Technology sure has come a long way for us to have these conveniences. Welp, no time to lose, time to grind and do the main quests for XP. The elimination round will start in a month so I need to power-level. I immediately headed straight to the grinding area to do some leveling. Chapter 7 Novo Hp: 100% Mp: 52% Lvl: 9 Guild: none Duel wr: N / A Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: N / A id#:*********** Introduction: This player has no introduction CoA has no job system like other games. Your stats build and the weapons you equip determine your playstyle. Wand or staff users on the other hand can cast spells but the most potent spells require channeling so caster types need to be guarded. They also tend to be very squishy since they spend the majority of their stat points in MP and int rather than HP making them terrible for 1v1 situations. I''m aiming for a hybrid support that can dish out a bit of damage in melee combat which is why building MP for heals, strength and dex for melee damage, and stamina for longer movements is my main stat priority. It means I will be extremely squishy with low HP since I will not be putting much on vitality, just the bare minimum necessary, but I probably can manage with my dodging skills. They don''t call me ''The Untouchable'' for nothing. Though hearing it come from myself sounds quite pretentious in my head. As I was pondering my stats build while mindlessly grinding the beginner area of wolves and slimes, I heard a commotion. "Please leave me alone!" a female voice cried. "Come on just accept the duel and I''ll go away after that!" Came another albeit rowdier voice. I immediately identified the man. Gurand Hp: 91% Mp: 84% Lvl: 21 Guild: none Duel wr: 100% Wins: 27 Matches: 27 Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: N / A id#:*********** Introduction: Add me and I''ll carry you. I''m a PVP veteran here in CoA I see, judging by his win rate and the fact that he is camping on newbie grounds far below his level, he''s farming duel win rate just for bragging rights. He also looks like your typical bully and probably is using a Smurf account that only fights low-level players to maximize his chance of duel victory. Well, I''m not one to talk since I''m also using a Smurf account but still! He already has a low leveled purple-tier knight set and purple-tier knight sword which can be acquired from the main quest. His weapon set is one of the best early on in the game so it will be impossible to beat him in a duel if you''re new to the game based on stats alone. I feel a little bad for the newbie he''s harassing but frankly, I don''t have time to help others, I''m just gonna focus on leveling and leave them to their own business. "I, I don''t want to! I''m not good at fighting." the girl shakily replied. I took a look at where the cute voice came from and I was flabbergasted. She looks about a year younger than me if her avatar is the same as her real-life features. Golden blonde hair reaching her neck with a perfect angelic face plus a petite body covered by a beginner''s coat for newbie mages, and to top it all off her demeanor exudes cuteness. I think I can understand now why girls like to hug each other cause right now, I want to hug and protect her at this very moment. Protect from whom you ask? Probably from people like me..... but that''s not the point! What do you mean hypocrite? It is a good virtue to help your fellow newbie players you know? If we don''t support the new players, the CoA community''s player base will go downhill. New players are the future of CoA. I went to mediate. "Excuse me, sir, if you don''t mind, you can just duel me instead. But promise me you''ll leave her alone after the fight," I said politely. I said that, but after I kill him in a duel, he will have no choice but to go back to his respawn point. "Huh, a level 9? Sure, sure, I promise I''ll leave her alone if you fight me hehehehe." He laughed creepily. "W-wait please, if you die here in the game, you''ll get hurt, please don''t mind me!" The girl pleaded. Hearing her worry for me, my cuteness sensor meter just went over nine thousand. "Don''t worry about me, it doesn''t even hurt that much," I assured her. It really doesn''t, maybe she isn''t just used to VR games. Usually, in the pain receptors settings, 10% of the pain is the maximum output you can increase it to. There is an option to turn it off so you completely don''t feel anything but almost nobody does that. The main reason is that players want full immersion in playing CoA and the pain adds a whole lot to the realism. Another reason is so that competitive players could react better when getting hit so they can pinpoint the exact location where the projectile(for example) came from if it is a ranged attack and react faster due to adrenaline rush if it is melee combat. That is also the reason why most PVP rankers max the pain receptors in the setting. The mental shock of dying in a virtual game is probably what also gets her since CoA is very realistic. That is why there are terms and conditions warning players of those. I''ll be sure to instruct her on how to minimize the pain receptors later. "I challenge you to a duel," Gurand said while pointing at me, distracting me from my thoughts. *Player ''Gurand'' has challenged you to a death match duel, would you like to accept? Y / N "Accept it fast!" he ordered impatiently. ".......Yes I accept" I replied. Suddenly, there appeared a semi-invisible circle on the ground encasing us. Only the two of us can see it, and if you happen to exit the area then it is considered a loss and instant death since he opted for a deathmatch duel. 3..... 2.....1..... Duel! Gurand Hp: 100% His outline suddenly turned red, meaning I can now deal damage to him, and in turn, he is now able to deal damage to me without triggering player kill (pk) mode and all its repercussions. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation."This is gonna be easy hehehehe!" He laughed maniacally. "Yes, I completely agree". He proceeded to rush to me in an attempt to swing his knight''s sword. I hit him in the head before he even swung. whack* "Gahh!" he growled. Gurand Hp: 93% "Your wind-up is too slow, it''ll work against new players but more experienced ones will punish you for that mistake." I berated him. "S-shut up!" He shouted, clearly fuming. He attempted to do a ''quick'' (for his standards) thrust but his lack of mastery shows in that his thrust was way off the mark. It was so far off that I didn''t even have to sidestep to dodge it. I just moved my body a little and countered with a quick neck thrust with my wooden staff. "Khack!" he choked. Gurand Hp: 85% "Practice your thrust more, you won''t hit me with that kind of speed and accuracy." He''s pretty tanky due to the level and stats difference. This is gonna take a while. --------------------------------------- "Please don''t! I''ll do anything so please!" Gurand Hp: 6% My opponent suddenly kowtowed on the ground. It took a bit of time to deplete his hp considering the stats difference but in CoA, skills are what really matters the most. "I''m sorry please let''s end it in a draw, I can''t lose my perfect 100% win rate please!" he begged. Player Gurand offered a draw, do you accept? Yes / No Shit, I feel bad now. He is so pathetically weak that it''s like I''m the one bullying and the roles have been reversed. Should I accept his offer? Nope, not a chance. He needs to be taught a lesson for bullying the cute- I mean the weak. "....You should challenge stronger players next time. Your skills won''t improve if you only prey on the inexperienced." I hit him in the head with my staff with enough force to deplete his hp, effectively killing him. "Fuck! I won''t forget this!" That was his last death cry before he vanished into small motes of blue light. Duel ended You won! The girl I just helped approached me after the duel ended. When she got near, I realized that my initial assumption was off. She was waaay cuter than I though. I identified her. Clarissa Hp: 53% Mp: 20% Lvl: 10 Guild: none Duel wr: 0% wins: 0 matches: 1 Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: N / A id#:*********** Introduction: This player has no introduction. "T-that was amazing! You won and he didn''t even hurt you once!" she exclaimed. "Not really, he''s just a bad player that''s why he can''t hit me." "Ohh uhm, but you did challenge him to help me, so thank you very much." She bowed slightly enunciating her cuteness. I need to get her picture somehow. So I can immortalize this view. I can take a picture using a VR screenshot at this very moment but it would be rude without her permission. I''m not some voyeur who secretly takes photos of others, I have my own dignity to uphold too you know? "You look like you''re not used to playing VR games?" I asked. She seems like a complete beginner in VR games. She doesn''t look like the type to enjoy battles, she doesn''t even look like she could hurt a fly. And to top it off she even uses her (I presume) full name as her in-game name. At least use an alias or something. "Uhm, not really, it is my first time playing a VR game but it''s pretty scary playing it,". "Why did you play CoA then?" I asked out of curiosity. "CoA?" she tilted her head cutely. "I meant Champions of Andartha. We, veterans, use the term CoA to shorten it." I explained. "Ohh uhm, It''s...... I want to play this game with my brother." She replied earnestly. "Huh, what do you mean?" I pressed on. "My brother and I have always been close, but lately we rarely spend time together. He''s too focused on playing this game and I always hear him talk about it. He even tells me stories about his adventures in this game and how many strong people he beat in PVP. That is why I thought if I learn how to play it, we can spend more time together." she confessed. "I see......." I kind of get where she is coming from. It was the same with my sister. "Does your brother even know you are playing CoA on your own?" I asked curiously. CoA is a very challenging game for VR standards. Especially if this girl has no experience in playing any VR games and going solo. She won''t last a week by herself and quit the game with the number of deaths she is surely gonna rack up playing alone. "N-not yet." She answered sheepishly "I wanted to surprise him by trying the game myself first. Besides, I can''t bother him right now. He is busy practicing for a tournament with his teammates and I have never seen him this focused and determined on a goal. If he knows I''m playing he would likely prioritize teaching me how to play over his practice. I''ll tell him after his tournament is over." That would most likely happen. I mean who could ignore such a cute sister? "I guess it can''t be helped then, I will always be online during this time of the day, if you want I can help you level up and teach you to play?" I offered. "R-really you''d do that for me? But won''t I be a bother?" "No, you won''t." I assured her "Besides, we''re in the same level range after all so you''re helping me level too." And it helps heal my soul too on top of it all. Like 2 birds with 1 stone. "Thank you very much!" she exclaimed. After a short while, clearly pondering something weighing on her mind, she continued. "Is.... is there any way I can repay you for helping me?" She asked with such purity and innocence that it made my heart skip a beat. That was dangerous! "I....... could I take a picture of you?" "S-sure, but may I ask what is it for?" she asked hesitantly. Shit. I just blurted out my deepest thoughts. She might think I''m a creep asking for photos out of nowhere. I have to salvage this somehow. "No, it''s to um.... er.... so that I could place a picture in the friend list contact next to your profile after we add each other. It is so that I won''t mix up the contacts since I have so many." I lied. Who am I kidding, I have exactly 0 friends on my friend list right now..... How depressing. "Ohh if it''s just that then sure!" She beamed at me which made me instinctively hold out my nose. I don''t know if online avatars could have nosebleeds, but I''m not taking any risk to find out. "Y-yeah thanks, but before that, let me add you to my friend list first". I focused on her which prompted her information feature to show up in front of me. Then I tapped the ''Add Friend'' button. She looked at some notification screen that popped out of nowhere, probably the friend request I made then she tapped on it. You added ''Clarissa'' to your friend list. Finally made my first friend on this account! Someone so cute and kind at that. I would consider this a huge accomplishment in my books. After taking a picture of her while doing my best not to fawn over her cuteness, we spent most of the time grinding and me showing her the ropes. After a while, we finally parted ways with a promise to meet again tomorrow. --------------------------------------- The trees sway in the summer winds. I am currently in the school courtyard, a somewhat popular spot for the relaxation of students. I was sitting on a fairly large bench that can accommodate up to 3 people while overseeing the courtyard. As for why I''m here, it is close to the building of my next class. I''m waiting for my next subject which will start in about 20 min. looking at my surroundings, I hear college students talk about different things, minding their own circles. Some talk boisterously loud while others laugh uncontrollably at jokes that I didn''t get to hear. Others for the most part just listen to the ramblings of their friend. Most have accustomed to the new semester in just a few days. Almost all have cliques of their own save for a few, including me...... How depressing. Just as I was having my thoughts I heard a familiar voice. "Kat!" Said a cheerful voice. I took a quick glance at the source and what greeted me was Liz, along with Lenna standing next to her. "You alone here? Are you waiting for someone?" She asked curiously. That question hit me like a truck. I know I''m not good at socializing but you don''t have to rub it in! I know she was just being polite in case I did have a friend and didn''t want to be bothered.... but still! "She just left earlier feel free to sit," I told a white lie to make it not look like I''m a loner. Well, it wasn''t technically a lie, some random girl was sitting here before and she did leave earlier. I just omitted the fact that we do not even know each other and haven''t had any interaction whatsoever besides me asking if I could sit here and her nodding. "Ohh good, you look like you''re in deep thought and I don''t want to be a bother so I''m glad." She smiled in relief. Do I really look that unapproachable? Liz sat directly in the middle with Lenna following suit after we had a nod of acknowledgment from each other. The bench was a great fit for the three of us. Having two people in it that I DO know and was quite fond of makes me a bit comfortable in these semi-crowded places. "The other guys not with you two?" I asked just to start a topic. "Rommel and Liz are having a fight." Lenna suddenly drops a bombshell out of the blue while giving me a conniving smile. "What! What happened?" I asked with a mix of curiosity and worry. "We are not having a fight!" Liz vehemently denied it. "It''s just that Rommel invited me to join his team with Beny and Reynolds for the under-20 tournament and I declined since I am also planning to make my very own team." She continued. "And Rommel took it personally, saying that he will beat whatever team she makes," Lenna added cheerily "Yeah, that guy hates losing. That is why he barred me from their ''secret team strategy meeting'' saying that we might face each other on the elimination and that I could find out their weakness if I listened to them." She said wearily. Huh, I can relate to that. I was the same back then. The thought of losing infuriates me. I want to prove that I''m the best to my sister and that she can always rely on me. That is why I spent all my time outside school practicing hard, resulting in me not having a social life outside CoA... How undoubtedly, unmistakenly, depressing. "Ohh" Liz continued. "And don''t worry about them recruiting you, I already said you''re a part of my team. You should''ve seen the look on their faces when they heard that," She giggled. "Well, it is their fault for being too slow to talk to Katherine," Lenna added. We spent the time talking about nonsensical stuff, mainly gossip that Lenna shared with us both about different students (mostly first years) that I didn''t know but pretended that I did. It was quite enjoyable listening to the gossip though and time went by quickly until our conversation ended when It was time for my next class. Chapter 8 It was the next day after I promised to meet with Clarissa she is still a bit reserved so it is kind of hard to converse with her. We are currently having a break from grinding mobs together. I also said I would teach her the basics, so here we are, in the middle of the forest. Just a little far off one of the grinding spots for new players so that we could converse in peace. "Before we start, is there anything on your mind?" she seems like she wants to say something but does not have the courage to. "U-uhm...." I waited in silence for her to muster up the courage to talk. After a short while, she finally continued. " Aren''t I being a bother? I-I mean you''re clearly too good to waste your time on someone as useless as me," she said in a soft self-deprecating voice. I stared at her for a while, pondering what to say. As she became more and more comfortable with my probing gaze I finally let out my piece. "Prioritize yourself more! It''s okay to be selfish sometimes even if you think you''re being a bother!" I exclaimed. "If I hear you say something like that again.... I''ll be livid, understood?" I said while wagging my finger at her, as if a mother nagging her unruly child. "Y-yes!" she subconsciously straightened her body. After a short while, I continued with the lessons. "Okay, now that that''s cleared up, what do you want to know about CoA?" "Uhmm... I''m not really sure...." Maybe that was too broad of a question, but I have no experience at all in teaching newbies. I did have a student back then but she was not a complete amateur so I''m just grasping some straws here. It also doesn''t help that the game doesn''t have tutorials except for how to use the basic functions. It encourages players to have a more trial-and-error type of approach, which means you die more often than not in learning the ropes. It''s incredibly harsh I know, but the CoA team reasoned that players are more than likely to enjoy a challenging game that they need to explore to learn it themselves as opposed to a game that spoon-feeds them. It seems to be working out for them I suppose with them being the most popular VRMMO currently. Though there are countless beginner-friendly guides you can search on the net anyways so it helps if you despise this manner of approach of theirs. I never read any of those tutorials so I have no basis for teaching newbies. Besides, It will surely shatter my pride to a billion pieces if I, a former champion of the Andartha''s Cup, stoop as low as reading a beginner''s guide. Seems like I have no choice. I''ll just tell her whatever comes to mind I guess. I''m a veteran after all so how hard could it be? "Okay, let''s start with stats, first off is uhh..... the HP bar you can see on the topmost left side of your vision, the green one. It goes down whenever you take a hit. If it goes down to zero...... you uhm..... die...." I tried. Okay, I definitely don''t know what I''m doing, I mean, everybody already knows that. Why am I even telling her such useless information? "Oh, I see! So that is why it goes down whenever I''m hurt!" She exclaimed as if she had a scientific revelation, so mind-blowing that it could revolutionize society as we know it. Seriously! Is this the first ever game you''ve played? I sighed... This is gonna take a while. "Moving on, next is the mp bar. Skills cast by mages and weapon skills consume mana. If you want to be a mage, you need to excel in proper mana management so you don''t run out of MP on crucial times when you need to cast a certain spell that could turn the tides of a battle. And even if you''re not a mage, you need to properly manage your mana so you don''t run out when you need to cast your weapon skill." I continued. "Uh-huh." Seems like she has a hard time grasping the concept, but it doesn''t matter much, I''ll just instruct her as she experiences it for herself. Experience is the best teacher after all. "Below the mana bar is the stamina bar, it goes down if you perform laborious tasks such as running and doing combo attacks. Like mana, you have to properly manage it since if it is depleted, you''ll be in a state of fatigue wherein you cannot move for a short time... Still with me?" "Y-yes". "There are things that increase stamina consumption such as debuffs, weapon skills, acquiring a PVP orb, and many other things, but I won''t get into much details of it for now." She nodded. "Okay let''s move to the main stats. This will decide what role you specialize in depending on your stats distribution. "There are a total of 5 main attributes you can allocate your stat points into, namely: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Vitality, and Wisdom. You should know them by now if you open your stats window... you do know how to open it, right?" "Yes! I learned it from the kind man I met yesterday" she replied. She must be talking about one of the NPCs who teaches the basics of basics in one of the side quests. To be fair, AI in this game could be mistaken for real people due to all the advancement and progress we had from AI chatbots over the years. I skipped that quest though because I already know most of what it wants to teach to newbie players. "Okay, I''ll explain every stat in detail so you would know what you want to specialize in." "First is the Strength stat" I continued. "It is the basic requirement of heavy weapons and shields such as claymores, swords, and bucklers, among others. Increasing it lets you equip those weapons. The main feature of this stat is increasing physical damage by 5 multipliers per point in it and 2 critical modifiers per point. It also affects your weight by a very slight degree so you won''t get blown away easily by the heavy hits you receive. Though weight is mostly affected by armor so if you want to be heavier, equipping heavy armor is your best bet. But let''s get back on topic." "Next is Dexterity, most weapons that rely on grace and mastery instead of brute strength need the Dexterity stats for you to equip them. Some of the examples of this in the back of my mind are daggers, whips, claws, dual-bladed swords, katanas, and scimitars, among others. The main point of increasing dex is to increase your critical damage. Do you know what critical damage is?" "Uhm, I''m not quite sure," she hesitated. Thought so. "Have you noticed when you hit the wolves and slimes earlier when we were grinding, they sometimes die instantly?" "Oh yes, I was wondering about that!" Her mood suddenly shifted, as if a light bulb lit her mind.....how cute. "What you did there are critical hits. Every enemy has a critical point in them. For example, most humanoid monsters have their heads as critical points, so always aim for the head if you can. Some monsters are an exception though. For example, the slimes we fought earlier have blue orbs in their body, right? That is their critical point. "I see," she pondered for a moment. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "Is that why you kept hitting the guy''s head yesterday when you two fought?" "Precisely, humans also have critical points. 2 points to be exact, the head and the back. The head gives a much higher damage multiplier but hitting the back of a player also counts as a critical hit, though not as high in damage compared to hitting their head if you don''t include backstab multipliers from some weapons. I''m not going to bore you with the exact numbers and calculations of the damage but that''s the gist of it," I summarized. Though it''s more on the fact that I''m not really sure about the exact numbers. I just let the CoA community nerds do the calculations. "Increasing dexterity gives a large increase in critical damage and a little bonus in physical damage, an increase of 5 and 2 respectively. The opposite of strength''s stat increase which is 2 and 5 respectively. So if your gameplay is doing precise attacks at the enemy''s critical point, prioritizing dexterity would be the best thing to do. Though I don''t recommend it since you''re still fairly new to the game as it requires skill in landing critical blows," I added. "Moving on, we have the Intelligence stat. Intelligence increases your magic damage. Int stat is also a major requirement for you to equip staves and crystal orbs. Staves are what we have currently right? But do you know what a crystal orb is?" She shook her head. I opened my inventory. Then materialized an orb that shines dimly white. Materialize function can only be used outside dungeons and PVP scenarios so you cannot materialize a different weapon mid-fight in PVP. You also cannot use it in grinding combat scenarios when there is an enemy (a wolf for example) that is aggroed to you. She looked at the crystal orb with awe. I can''t blame her, it does have a good visual effect even though it is for early levels. "This is a crystal orb, you could equip it to a staff if you have the required stats and mastery needed. Once equipped, you can cast the skills that the orb has," I equipped the orb to the slot my newbie staff has. It fits perfectly in the circular end of the staff where to orb is meant to be placed. "Now I can do this," I pointed the staff at her, and after channeling for a bit. "''Heal," I spoke softly. A dim white light enveloped Clarissa. Healing her hp back to full. "Huh! I feel refreshed!" she said with amazement. Clarissa Hp:100% "This orb lets me use the skill heal, as long as I have the mana required for it. Orbs are categorized into different elements, for example, red lets you cast fire-based spells while blue lets you cast ice-based ones, and so on. There are also the extremely rare dual orbs which is a combination of 2 elements, but that''s not important for now." "Can I cast a fireball if I have a red orb?" She said expectantly. "Of course, it is its main function after all. Do you want to specialize in spellcasting?" I asked. "Yeah! I saw a movie once about a strong mage with my brother. The mage looked so cool!" she said excitedly.....how adorable. "I see....." I tried my best to not fawn over her. I succeeded... barely. "Then I suggest you allocate your stat points to intelligence. I''ll help you buy an orb later with our loot from grinding," I continued. Mages generally don''t put themselves in danger so it''s better for new players like her. It''s kind of a bad party setup since I''m going for a spell caster role myself but it doesn''t matter that much since I could always act as a dodge tank for our party. "Those three main stats are often called the Trinity stats since they are required to equip weapons. Most weapons require a mix of strength and dex but there are also exceptions. One example is a battle staff who needs mainly int with a bit of strength and dex." "Lastly are the Vitality and Wisdom stat. Vitality increases your HP stat while Wisdom increases your MP stat, it is not as complex as the other 3 stats. I suggest that you increase your HP first though so you don''t get 1 shot by mobs. Having higher hp makes it so that you could have more room for making mistakes since you don''t die easily as much," I reasoned. "Uh-huh." Her focus seems to shift from me to some of the players passing by to grind mobs. Her concentration is dwindling, it would be hard to continue giving her lessons. I wanted to teach her proficiencies next but I guess I''ll save it for another time. "Okay, that''s it for now, want to go back to grinding," I suggested. "Sure!" she said giddily. She seems to enjoy killing mobs. Maybe it''s because she finds it rewarding? I let her kill the wolves and slimes on her own so that she would improve naturally and only interject in crucial moments whenever she is surrounded or when she runs out of stamina due to having little experience in stamina management. For me, grinding is like a chore since the enemies here don''t pose even a bit of a challenge and I find NPC mobs quite frankly, very boring and predictable. Good thing I had made a party with her since it''s quite enjoyable seeing her learn and enjoy the game or I''d die of boredom mindlessly grinding solo. -------------------------------------- -Elizabeth''s POV- Guys, I''ll also be playing a lot of team-ranked matches today. I''m practicing for the upcoming under-20 tournament our team will be joining." I looked at the in-game VR streaming platform window that CoA has built for players. 1358 viewers today? That''s a lot considering my average views are only about 800 viewers. Taking into account CoA''s popularity, it''s pretty low compared to the other well-known CoA streamers that have tens of thousands of regular viewers. And especially incomparable to team Atelier, which is the most popular streamer group in the entire CoA with more than hundreds of thousands of regular viewers. BillSmith: my team will be joining the u20 tourney too! I hope we can both pass the elimination round Simpguy99: I always loved watching you play, your movements are so graceful and captivating! im12btwxoxo: If you win 5x in a row in 1v1 ranked, I''ll donate using my dad''s credit card! Anna124: who will be your teammates for the tourney? HardcoreViewer: will Photon also join? HardRock69: show tits plsss .......Honestly, every now and then, there is always someone who comments perverted things like that, if I leave them alone others will follow suit so I should be firm here. "HardRock69 in case you''re new here, I''ll repeat myself, this is a no sexual harassment stream, that''s strike 1, I''ll ban you if this continues." HardRock69: @Lizbeth sorry ma''am it''s just a joke! it won''t happen again please don''t ban me! DiligentChad: ban him now! Simpguy99: @HardRock69 don''t talk to our princess like that! HardcoreViewer: Perma ban him now lol im12btwxoxo: kekl Anna124: hahaha what a pervert BillSmith: @HardRock69 KEEEP. MY. FAVORITE. STREAMER''S NAME. OUT. OF. YOUR. FUC**** MOUTH! or ill slap the sh** out of you. I sigh. "And to answer some of your questions, I''ll be having two new teammates since my usual teammates FairyDust and Photon are over 20 years old and cannot participate. Renz will still be joining me though along with 2 new teammates who I''m sure will surprise you guys with their skills! It''ll be a secret on who the other 2 are for now so stay tuned on my stream for the reveal of the 2 new members." I explained excitedly. Just as I was hyping my new team up to the viewers, a ping entered my field of vision. Player ''Photon'' invited you to a PVP lobby, do you wish to accept? Yes / No "Guys, we will be playing team-ranked matches now, I won''t be able to reply that much mid-PVP fight but I''ll do so in between breaks." *zffff I teleported into the usual party lobby, a somewhat comfortable Victorian-style luxury round table, I saw Renz and Photon already in the party lobby. Photon is dressed in a sleek semi-futuristic knight set with a modern helmet covering his head. His weapon of choice is a sword and a large shield, suitable for a hybrid DPS tank. He''s one of our guild mates and a close friend of my cousin, the last person we are waiting for. Renz on the other hand prefers the lance weapon for its long reach along with his medieval knight armor. His avatar has a very homely face with blonde hair that makes him look like a cute prince from the historical era. However, I wouldn''t call him cute to his face since he has developed a complex due to our classmates back in high school making fun of him for being too cute for a boy. Seeing him in the corner of the lobby, completely lost in thought about something made me worry though, he seemed to be troubled. "What''s up with him?" I asked Photon. "I don''t know, but I heard him mumbling about his sister," Photon replied. "I.... see." Lately, we have been practicing hard in preparation for the tournament. Maybe the reason why he''s down is because he cannot spend much time with his sister. He was always so attached to his sister even back then when we were in high school. I can''t let this go though, it''ll cause trouble for the team morale if he gets mopey like that. As the team captain, my teammate''s mental state is part of my responsibility too. "Uhmm, Renz. Is there something on your mind?" I approached him. "Ohh Liz you''re here, It''s just...... I was thinking about my sister. "Why, what happened?" I ask with a hint of worry. "When I asked her to watch a movie with me yesterday, she said she has to meet someone in VR." He said begrudgingly. "That''s..... pretty normal, right?" "No, it''s not! She seems happier these past few days and is always excited to meet this person! And when I pry about it she suddenly becomes very secretive and forcibly changes the subject! Do you think she''s meeting a boy? Is she VR online dating? She''s too young for that!" he panicked. I''m pretty sure she''s just 2 years younger than him, but I kept it to myself. No use in making him more agitated. "C-calm down, I''m sure you''re overthinking things, she''s probably just having a chat with her high school friends on VR." ".......You''re probably right" he sighed. "Maybe I am just overthinking it. Thanks, Liz, I''m grateful to have someone dissuade my worries." He said with a smile. "You''re always welcome, it''s my job as your team captain after all. Let us focus on our practice matches shall we?" zffff* Suddenly, a silvered-haired woman teleported into the lobby. She is wearing modern elven priestess clothing that you would see in your average fantasy games. Along with her beautiful mature looks and elven fashion, she looks just like a regal elf you commonly see in the movies. "Sorry, I''m late! Did some errands on my way home." She said apologetically. FairyDust our last member arrived. She''s the oldest of our group and also a healer-type support player. She is my cousin and was supposed to be our captain and also the guild leader of Concord of Heroes, but lately, she''s busy with her work and other stuff so she relegated the position to me. She helps me from time to time though in managing our guild members which I appreciate from her. "Looks like everyone''s already here! Shall we start then?" she suggested. ------------------------------------ "5 wins and only 2 loses! Looks like we''re improving! Especially you Lizbeth I see you''re working hard for the upcoming tournament." "Yeah, I have to improve to not fall behind my team," I replied with conviction. "Oh, if they''re really that good, Renz will only drag your team down! you better replace him now before he chokes in important matches" she joked. "Hey, I can hold my own too you know, I''m just as good as Lizbeth!" he bantered. "Hahahaha, welp I gotta go sleep, imma need to get up early tomorrow for some errands." "Me, too, I''m quite hungry we''ve been playing all night. Ggwp guys." Photon added "Yep, good games." Renz waved goodbye After they''re all gone, I look up my stream window in preparation to sign off. 829 viewers huh, still high enough considering the time. "Guys I won''t be streaming tomorrow since I''ll be going to a friend''s house to watch the match between Team Nexus Gaming and Team Atelier." HardcoreViewer: oh im also gonna watch it tomorrow! I''m pretty hype for it. Masamune FTW! GigaMaster: aww why not, I wanted to watch your stream on weekends Underminer092: have a good time with your friend. Anne111: cant you just stream instead SimpGuy99: What am I gonna do tomorrow without you brightening up my day? "I''ll stream the day after though so don''t worry, also thanks as always for watching my stream. See ya guys!" I waved goodbye and then logged off the game. After Eating some light snacks I brushed my teeth and then laid on my bed. I glanced at my phone to check the time. 10:21, it''s this late already? After viewing my messages, mostly from Lenna, group chats, and some of my friends, I put my phone on the table beside my bed. While excitedly thinking about meeting my friends tomorrow, I gradually succumbed to dreamland. Chapter 9 I woke up normally. I didn''t set up my alarm since I didn''t have to wake up early for school today. I checked the time and saw that it was already 10:27 a.m., it was still too early. Well, too early for me on weekends. Liz said they would be arriving after lunch since the match was at 3 p.m. Remembering that my friends would visit my house later in the afternoon, my drowsiness vanished. I''ll just cook up a quick breakfast before cleaning my apartment room. I thought to myself. After eating my brunch, I cleaned my plates and proceeded to organize my apartment which is usually messy since I''m too lazy to tidy it. I can''t have them thinking that I''m actually this disorganized. Changing the sheets, dusting the floor, spraying some air freshener, and cleaning my apartment took a lot of time. I opened my phone to check the messages from our group chat to see if they were on their way here. Liz: We''re heading there right now, I''m excited to see the match with you Kat! Lenna: I''m with Liz right now and we will both arrive in a couple of minutes. Save some snacks for us ;) Katherine: You sure you guys don''t need me to get you at the station? I replied. Liz: No need, we got this. We have goo*** maps after all and you already told us your complete address. It''ll be a walk in the park. I closed the messenger and opened another app. A couple of minutes later while watching cute cat videos on my phone, a call came. It was Liz. I let it ring a couple of times before answering it so it makes her think I''m mostly busy and not holding my phone 24/7. "What''s up?" I asked. "The guard told us to wait in the lobby to verify if we really are your guests." Oh, I forgot about that, this apartment complex is usually strict especially to unfamiliar people for safety reasons. It is one of the main reasons why Mom lets me live here on my own in the first place. "Wait a sec, I''ll head down there now." I immediately hang up and then proceed to go to the ground floor. I notice them sitting in the lobby intended for the guest. "Liz, Lenna," I greeted them. "Kat!" Liz said excitedly. "About time," Lenna smiled. "They are with me, can we enter now?" I asked the receptionist in the lobby politely. "Of course Miss Katyusha. Please forgive the delay. It''s just our policy to not let unfamiliar guests in." he replied. "No, it''s alright, It''s my fault that I forgot to mention them beforehand," I said placatingly. "Well, then let''s go?" I said as I led the way to the elevator. Liz and Lenna followed suit. The both of them surveyed the ground floor as we headed for the elevator. After we entered the elevator currently devoid of people since it was a relaxing weekday, Lenna suddenly started talking. "Wow, I didn''t expect your apartment complex to be this lavish. Ohh! Are you secretly a CEO''s daughter or something?" Lenna said with amusement. "You''re exaggerating, It''s not that luxurious. It has a good ambiance and is always well maintained so you get a good bargain for your bucks since the price is not that high. Their market target is just the upper middle class, not the billionaires." I explained. Besides, were not short on money since Mom and Dad earns well and I also got the cash prize from the 1st AC to pay for it. Though my teammates and I had to split it into 4 so it''s not really a life-altering amount of money compared to the prize now. "Well, what matters the most is that it''s safe and secure." Liz chimed in. "Yeah, that''s what my mother says too". We chatted as we headed towards my apartment room. After arriving at the front door of my apartment, I beckoned them to enter. "This is my apartment room, come inside". They entered unceremoniously and then took in the view of my living room. I''m glad I cleaned it earlier. "Wow, what a nice place you got here. It is neat and tidy." Lenna praised. "Yeah, it also has a relaxing ambiance and music too!" Liz exclaimed. "Anyways let''s head to my room for now". I lead them to my room just on the opposite side of the kitchen. "This is my room". I opened the door prompting the two inside. The area is quite spacey, a 15x18 feet room with a personal bathroom. A closet can be found next to the door with a mirror right beside it. Next to the bed are various decorations placed on a standing wall table. Most of the decorations are cute stuffed toys and other miscellaneous adorable decors that I think would look well in a room. At the other side of the door is the entrance to the bathroom. At the center of the room is a small table that is placed on top of a relatively comfortable carpet. On the far corner is my desktop PC, It rarely sees any use nowadays since I mainly play VR games now, but I still use it sometimes for projects or school assignments. "Ohh, your room is clean and comfy. Mine''s always messy since I rarely clean it myself." Liz suddenly said. "Yeah, it''s also quite....girlier than I thought it would be. You should have a look at Liz''s room. It''s full of toys." Lenna giggled. "Haa? What did you just say? Did you just call my prized CoA figurine collection toys? Do you want to end our friendship that badly?" Liz bickered. "And listen to this! She even has that limited edition Yuusha schoolgirl uniform figurine she keeps bragging about to me nonstop like a national treasure when she got it!" "Of course! It''s the hardest figurine you could get, I was super lucky that I got the last one before they ran out! Die-hard male fans of Yuusha would even kill for it since it is the only figurine available where you can see her panties!" Liz rattled off. My cheeks suddenly reddened. Good thing they didn''t notice since they''re both busy bickering, but I mean, what the heck! Is that even legal!? But I suppose there were some kind of terms and conditions that allowed them to have all the monetization rights to the characters of their game or something when you first start the game. But I mean, nobody reads that so it''s like cheating. Curse you and your greedy conglomerate company ways V-tech! The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Suddenly, the doorbell rang distracting me from my thoughts. "I''ll go get it, wait here for a bit," I said as I quickly headed towards the door. I don''t recall having any visitors today except these two. But I doubt the security would let anyone suspicious in, so it could only be either my parents or my aunt. I arrived at my front door and looked at the CCTV screen attached to the side that focuses on the door. It was my mother. I opened the door and she greeted me with a loving smile. "How''s my baby? Are you having any difficulties here on your first week here?" she asked. "Of course not, I''m old and responsible enough to live by myself you know," I rebuked. "By the way, is Dad not with you?" I continued. "Ohh your dad has an important meeting to attend, so I''m the only one here visiting you today." She regretfully said. "....I see" While mom has been overprotective since my sister left this world, my dad allocated all his free time at work, attempting to change all his grief into productivity. At first, I thought that I was the only one affected by my sister''s passing but it became apparent that my parents were greatly impacted by it too, it''s just that we each had different ways of coping with it. I''m just the weakest one out of us three. The only one experiencing panic attacks. It was naive of me back then to even think that they didn''t care about my sister at all. I guess I''m not as mature as I thought I was. "Ohh by the way, I heard from Carlos you had visitors!" Mom bought me out of my musings. Carlos was the name of one of the guards in this apartment. Mom has always been chatty and social (the complete opposite of me) so she probably got the information from talking to him. "Uhuh, they came to hang out". I spoke slowly. "Ohh I want to see them," she said excitedly. I have a bad feeling about this. But I don''t think I have a concrete reason to decline nor the choice since she will just barge into my room anyway. "Fine, they''re in my room," I said as I led Mother to my bedroom. I opened the door and saw Liz and Lenna looking at some of my stuff and decorations. They noticed I had someone else with me so they instantly straightened their back and stood up. "Mom, these are my friends Elizabeth Miles and Lenna Taylor. Guys, this is my mother," I introduced them to each other. "My my, aren''t you kids gorgeous!" My mother cried out. "Thank you, You look beautiful as well Mrs. Katyusha" Liz replied respectfully. "And polite too it''s hard to believe my daughter made such wonderful friends like you girls. I was skeptical at first when I heard she had her friends here. She never bought any of her friends home, you girls must get along pretty well." I don''t like the way this conversation is going. My instinct is telling me to cut off their conversation. But it would be quite rude, so doing that would be out of the question. "Well, we''re pretty grateful to Kat too, she''s dependable and always takes care of us." Liz politely said. "That''s good to hear, ohh you can have some cake I bought whenever you''re hungry. It''s Kat''s favorite cake from a famous bakery back at Ardmore." "It.... is? I thought she didn''t like sweets?" Liz asked dubiously. Oh yeah, I remembered telling them that back at the cafe to look more mature. "Oh of course she does. I bought two cakes since she can easily finish 1 whole cake all by herself. She always eats a lot whenever she sees sweets. She also likes it more if they have some sort of cute designs on them." My face instantly flushed. To be fair, their serving is not that big so I can eat it by myself, also having a good visual presentation for a food makes it more desirable right? I can hear Lenna snickering in the background. Thanks, Mom you always were really good at embarrassing your own daughter unknowingly, It might even be called a talent at this rate. "Ohh you girls want to see some photos of Kat when she was younger? She was so adorable back then!" Ok, that''s enough, drastic times call for drastic measures. I have to do something now that it''s come to this. My image will be in tatters if this keeps up, I have to salvage whatever''s left of it somehow. "M-Mom, we''re going to watch the match now. You can just bother us later." I cut her off. I pushed my mother (quite gently if I might add) out of my room to prevent any further destruction of my well-maintained image. "Ohh alright, you girls have fun! Remember to call me if there''s any problem, I''ll just be in the living room watching TV. I shut the door after my mother left my room. Looking right behind me I can see both Liz and Lenna smiling at me playfully. I sigh. "Let''s just watch the game." ------------------------------- The three of us are lying in my bed with Liz sandwiched in the middle of me and Lenna, luckily the bed is quite big and can fit us three though it is still a little cramped so we''re compressing to fit. We spent the time talking about school-related stuff and watching random videos on my and Liz''s laptop. I took a look at the time at the bottom right side of my laptop. it is 2:58 already so the match should be starting soon. "The match is about to start. Let''s open the streaming site." Liz apparently noticed it too since she had already opened the site on her laptop. "I want to eat some snacks while watching" Lenna chimed. "No eating in bedrooms, especially mine." I admonished. "But I''m hungrrryyy, please just this one time?" I sigh. "Fine, I''ll go grab some chips and whatever mom bought, but try not to make a mess while eating," I warned. "Yes! Thanks Katherine you''re the best!" "Yeah, yeah" I went to the kitchen to pick up some of the snacks my mother bought. I picked a couple of chips and packaged caramel popcorn (one of my favorites) then went back upstairs. "This is Lumen your host along with my 2 panelists for this game to help us break down the intricacies of this match. Dr.AnaList and Rainstorm." I heard the introduction of the panelist signaling the start of the live stream match. I haven''t followed the pro scene that much for more than 2 years but I remember Lumen and Rainstorm. Lumen is in the mid to late 20s and is a beautiful streamer that has quite a lot of followers for her outspoken and polite personality. Rainstorm on the other hand is a sponsored pro player from the days I was active, I even fought him once in the 1st Andartha Cup. He has medium-length hair, a serious-looking face, and a pale white complexion contributed by the fact that he probably seldom goes out into the sun and only plays VR as most pro gamers do. He must have retired recently and become a panelist talent. "Kat, come fast! It''s starting" Liz excitedly called out. I lay down on my bed and then handed them the snacks which they both gratefully accepted. After that, we listened to the panel''s take on the match. "Let us first ask the question that the viewers would like to know, who do you think will win?" Lumen asked her co-workers. "Personally, I would like team NG to win. We all know that I''ve been rivals with Tactical ever since I can remember and I can confidently say that I know how dangerous his strategies can be. But considering their recent declining past performances and their concurrent lackluster individual and mechanical skills, a good strategy can only take you so far. Also considering team Atelier''s stellar improvement this season, I bitterly have to give my vote to team Atelier for this one." Rainstorm explained. "I have to agree with you there Rainstorm, There is a saying that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. Even if team NG has a tactical advantage, if they get outplayed individually and fail to execute their strategy then things will easily fall apart for them. Also, I do not want to bet against team Atelier''s rising ace Murasame who is undoubtedly the best female pro gamer this season. People even call her the next Yuusha, although she will have to win an Andarta cup title under her belt for both of them to be even comparable." Dr.AnaList analyzed. That got me intrigued. Team Atelier is a fairly new team before I quit playing. I can recall that they were created for the sole purpose of marketing idol streamers and pro gamers so all their members are attractive and quite famous among the CoA fanbase. I remember they didn''t do very well when they debuted and lost most of their matches but still garnered a very high fanbase because they are all popular female streamers. I didn''t pay much attention to their roster but I can confidently say that they didn''t have this ''Murasame'' player back then. "Who is this Murasame?" I asked Liz. "You don''t know her? She''s Murasame ''The Unseen Blade''. Her Real name is ''Aoi Yamamoto'', 22 years old. She was the Japanese women''s kendo champion before she became a pro gamer. Her slashes are so fast that you won''t even be able to follow them! Her hobbies are tea ceremonies and gardening. She also likes listening to relaxing music. She''s soft-spoken but can be very blunt sometimes. Her three sizes are-." "Wait, wait, wait! How do you even know all this stuff? Are you her stalker or something?" I eyed Liz dubiously. "That is suspicious. I didn''t think you would stoop so low to be a stalker. As your best friend, I''m so disappointed I wasn''t able to correct you on the right path, boo-hoo." Lenna fake cried. "I''m not a stalker! You can find all of their public information on Team Atelier''s site. And besides, she''s a streamer too, I need to know who my competitors are and also take notes from them." Liz denied my accusation with a somewhat reasonable counter-argument. "She''s a streamer too?" I asked. Judging from what I heard about her personality, she doesn''t seem to be the type to do streams. "Team Atelier''s organization requires their players to stream so she streams sometimes but she rarely talks even on stream and just plays PVP. She still has the second highest stream followers next to Yuna though." Liz recounted. "Before we start, here is a quick advertisement from one of our sponsors." Suddenly a well-crafted commercial advertisement played in the stream. All the while the stream chat is spamming sellouts and the like. Likely mocking the ads. After the advertisement, Lumen continued. "Keep in mind that 20% of the sales of our products will go directly to the prize pool of this year''s Andartha''s Cup. So what are you guys waiting for? Buy as many figurines, t-shirts, and merch of your favorite pro players as you can so that you will also be supporting them at the same time!" Lumen advertised. "And now let''s head over to our casters DJ Riot and ParaTrooper for the start of the match!" Lumen announced. Chapter 10 And now let''s head over to our casters DJ Riot and ParaTrooper for the match." Lumen announced. The screen then switched to the 2 people who were supposed to cast the game. One is a guy with loose-fitting clothes, cementing the look of a free spirited man. The other is a neat and professional-looking man in his mid-20s. "Thank you, Lumen, here are your favorite duo casters DJ Riot and ParaTrooper to give you the uptakes on this wonderful match. Who do you think will win ParaTrooper?" Our conversation was interrupted when we heard that the match was about to start. I didn''t even remember who these casters were. They must be relatively new to the scene. "Everyone knows I''m a huge Atelier fan as almost every male player is, so I''m still betting all my money on them. But you also cannot count out the fact that their opponent is Tactical, one of the best strategists in CoA. His unorthodox style of plays may change the tide of the battle even when they are at a disadvantage." ParaTrooper rambled on. Just as he was saying his biased thoughts, the screen suddenly switched to the match. The Map this time was a grassy plain. Perfect for a direct confrontation and hard for surprise attacks. Both teams started on the other side of each map, team Atelier is composed of 4 female players. All 4 of them were a sight to behold, earning their right to be called an idol group. As the camera gave a close up view of the players, two of them caught my attention easily. One is wearing what I can describe with my limited fashion knowledge as a Japanese kimono refitted for battle with a blue-themed katana attached to her waist. Her avatar has Dark blue hair complementing her dark red eyes. I can only assume she''s Murasame in accordance with her image. The other one caught my eye because of her cuteness moreso. She is wearing a pink-themed mage outfit with more frills than usual. It is a custom outfit probably made by a talented tailor as most pro player''s sets are so it doesn''t forgo defense over its looks. Her avatar has pink hair with a lot of work put into styling it appealingly. If Clarissa and she were in the same room, I''d probably die of cuteness overdose right there and then. When the screen switched to show Team NG, I instantly became nostalgic. I saw Tactical with his usual admiral-looking set and his legendary trusted cannon the ''Armada''. Cannons are the closest thing you can get as a gun in the world of CoA since using a gun would be downright cheating. It is far faster and stronger than arrows but has a longer reload time and is very heavy to make it balanced. One direct hit to the head could be fatal though so it''s still a dangerous weapon. His Avatar as usual has a clean haircut and a very long beard akin to a pirate. I always told him that his beard is in the way of his avatar''s cute looks and that he should just customize and remove it but he never listens. Another player that caught my attention was Vanguard. He was the best defensive player a while back in the first Andartha Cup and earned his moniker ''The Wall'' For his godly parries and defensive maneuvers. He wears a heavy knight set with a helmet covering his whole head. He is also only armed with a single-handed giant heavy shield. He may seem to not do any damage with only a shield as his weapon but you can never underestimate a well-executed shield bash that can leave you susceptible to combos. I learned that the hard way the first time I fought him. "There we go ladies and gentlemen the match between team NG and team Atelier is starting! For team NG, we have Critical their ace DPS carry, YNT their time mage support, Vanguard who is one one the best defender and also known as ''The Wall'', and of course Tactical their captain. While on the side of Atelier, we have Freya their aggressive axe user, Artemis the 1v1 oriented archer, Yuna their young prodigal captain, and of course, their ace Murasame ''The Unseen Blade''. We can see team Atelier going for a 1 - 2 - 1 play with Artemis going solo top, Freya and Yuna going mid, and Murasame going solo bottom orb." DJ Riot summarized. "Oooh, what is this? It looks like team NG is going 2-0-2! What do you think of this ParaTrooper?" "That''s unusual per se since securing mid is the norm so you can either back up the top or bottom orb if necessary since mid orb is the closest to both. But I like what the team NG is doing here. They not only predicted that team Atelier would send only solo players to the top and bottom orb, but they also predicted that Murasame, their ace, would go secure the bottom orb." ParaTrooper analyzed. "What do you mean by that?" DJ Riot asked. "Look at team NG''s composition, Critical and YNT are going towards the top. Both players won''t give you any breathing room with their fast tempo and can run at you due to their assassin and time mage comp. They can instantly close the gap and kill Artemis who is a ranged 1v1-oriented archer if she overextends. And look who is heading at the bottom. It is none other than Tactical and Vanguard, the best duo on their team. They plan to eliminate Murasame, the biggest threat on their opponent''s side." "I see that was a well-executed battle plan indeed! And even if they can''t eliminate both, if they could just make them retreat and take the orb instead, it would give them a 2-orb lead. After that, they could just play defensively and stall for time. How do you think team NG knows of team Atelier''s battle positions?" DJ Riot questioned. "I''d say map hacks if I didn''t know any better. But knowing Tactical, many of the rumors I heard from his opponents say that he can get into your mind." ParaTrooper answered. "Whoowhee, I sure don''t want to fight him! Can''t let him see through my mind or I''d be in jail........ that''s just a joke folks. You guys at home watching the stream please don''t overthink it." DJ Riot managed. These casters are good and knowledgeable in the game. They completely analyzed the exact battle strategy of both teams in just a short time. They could use some help with their jokes though. After a couple of minutes of their nonsensical banter and other trivia they tell to the stream, the teams have finally arrived at their respective orbs. "Ooohh they finally arrived just in time for the orbs to be capturable!" DJ Riot exclaimed. "What''s this!? Artemis suddenly retreated? Did she notice the enemy has a 2v1 trap in store for her? How perceptive!" He hyped. "Team Atelier must have a counterplan also in case this happens. Artemis knows that she will just needlessly sacrifice her life in stalling the two so she opts to just help out her other teammates and leave the top orb. Critical is taking the orb while YNT is guarding him in case Artemis comes back which is the best play since they can''t see Artemis fully retreating as we do." ParaTrooper explained helpfully. "That''s some fast decision-making skills. Just as expected from pro players!" Liz next to me chimed in. "I don''t understand much of what''s happening but thankfully those two casters'' insights help a lot," Lenna added. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "And look at the middle map, Yuna is taking the orb while Freya instantly left to back up Murasame as soon as they have the info that their opponent is doing a 2-0-2 play. They communicate and coordinate with each other pretty well and their team captain Yuna makes all the right decisions in a bad situation like this." ParaTrooper commented. "Ooohh you''re right! Team Atelier''s gorgeous captain won''t let herself fall too far behind against Tactical''s maneuvers. And at the bottom orb, Surely Murasame needs to defend this right?". "That is correct Riot, team Atelier knows that having a 2 orb disadvantage would make the game very hard to win for them. So they''re banking all their hopes on their team ace to carry them. They are hoping Murasame can last long enough against the 2 veterans for Freya to back her up." "Can she last that long though? The trip from mid to bot at full sprint will last roughly 4 to 5 minutes without any movement buffs or skills."DJ Riot quarried. "It''s definitely hard but we''ll see. I honestly think she ha-". "Hold that thought since the action on the bottom lane just started!" DJ Riot interrupted. Just as both teams spotted each other, I saw Murasame wasted no time and rushed to get to Tactical but predictably, Vanguard got on her way. Murasame unleashed a flurry of fast sword slashes, so fast that even Vanguard was having a hard time blocking all of it even with his 2-handed large shield. The mastery, skill level, speed, and precision of the sword strikes she is showcasing can only come from someone who has held the blade in their entire life. Some of the slashes even went through his guard and connected to Vanguard albeit shallowly. I guess the saying practice one kick 1,000 times applies to her since her sword mastery is something to be feared. Vanguard Hp: 83% "Whoa, she''s going on the aggressive instead of the defensive!?" DJ Riot hyped. "That is always her way of fighting, attacking relentlessly and pressuring the opponent into making a mistake. I don''t think there would be any change in her playstyle anytime soon even when fighting at a disadvantage." Just as Vanguard was receiving the flurry of slashes, he instantly sidestepped to the left and a cannonball went past beside him. Murasame was caught off guard and failed to dodge it. The cannonball clipped her on the shoulder and the impact sent her flying. "Guhh!" she cried. Murasame Hp: 62% "Whoaahh, what a godly coordination!" DJ Riot hyped. "I completely agree, Tactical hides directly on the blindspot Vanguard provided and then coordinates a synergically perfect attack through the use of team chat." ParaTrooper summarized. It''s not just that though, they did it in a pro match with high stakes and a talented opponent, not just in any pubs. The mental strength to do it perfectly in such a situation against another obviously talented pro player deserves praise. They must''ve put a lot of work into practicing that move. Just as I expected from you, Tactical. "Did you see that, guys? Their teamplay is amazing! They might even be able to win!" Liz exclaimed. "Yes, they really are amazing," I said as I found myself smiling slightly. You got this Tactical, I''m rooting for you. Show everyone the strength of team Paragon''s captain. "Oho, what is this? As soon as she recovered she instantly went on the offensive again!" DJ Riot exclaimed. As if nothing happened, Murasame instantly rushed towards Tactical, and as expected, Vanguard got in her way again. Even the speed and precision of her slashes did not falter, maybe it even got faster as Vanguard was failing to block her more than before. "Tsk!" Vanguard Hp: 66% Then it happened again, Vanguard sidestepped, this time to the right and the cannonball went past him. This time though she was prepared. She sidesteps opposite of Vanguard, which is to the left to completely evade the attack. She dodged the cannonball and then used the instant Vanguard was off balance in her favor to get past him in an attempt to defeat Tactical first. Vanguard didn''t let the opportunity pass and went for a shield charge at Murasame''s unguarded back in an attempt to tackle Murasame off balance. However, she instantly did a two-foot kick at the shield and used the momentum of the shield strike to accelerate herself toward the unguarded tactical who was currently reloading after firing the shot. "Whoah, what a move by Murasame, not only dodging the cannonball but also using the well-executed shield tackle of Vanguard against him!" DJ Riot hyped. She sprinted towards the unguarded Tactical who had no time to reload his cannon. But not everything is as it seems though. "Rearm!" Tactical said cooly. Suddenly his cannon glowed sea blue and then instantly became ready for firing. ''Rearm'' is a unique skill to his weapon Armada. Unique skills are just like their namesake ''unique'' in that they can only be acquired through very difficult to almost impossible means like an achievement, crafting using a bunch of incredibly rare materials, extreme luck, or other means that are borderline impossible to come by. Most pro players have unique skills embedded into their weapons and these skills are more powerful and valuable than legendary ones. ''Rearm'' instantly reloads his Armada in a second for a hefty cost of mp. The overpowered part of it is that it has no cooldown, only a very high mana cost thus, making 6 to 7 straight cannon shots in a row possible before you run out of mana. After using his skill, Tactical has time to fire a single more round. This will decide the match if it hits Murasame or not. Tactical Aimed slightly lower than necessary, then fired his weapon. *Boom* It missed, Murasame perfectly predicted the trajectory of the shot by looking at the angle of the aim and jumped to dodge it when she saw the fire animation. "Whoaa what a brilliant dodge by Murasame, Tactical is in a tight spot now!" I smiled. What an outplay. By Tactical that is. "Displace!" a sudden shout came from the shielder, Vanguard. Suddenly just as Murasame''s jump attack is about to land a hit on Tactical, Vanguard instantly swapped positions with Tactical due to Vanguard''s own weapon skill ''Displace''. Murasame, being in the air, has no possible way to cancel her attack. Vanguard used his giant shield to bash Murasame forcefully upward. "Hwwwrrrrrraaaaa!" Vanguard shouted as he put all his strength into the attack. Sword and shield collided. Murasame blocked the bash with her sword but was hurled into the air with the sheer raw power of Vanguard''s full-force shield bash. Murasame took minimal damage from the collision. Murasame Hp: 55% "Rearm" Tactical stated unhurriedly. It''s over. She was outplayed the moment Tactical aimed his shot at her lower body. He predicted that she would be able to dodge it by jumping. She would still get hit if she failed to dodge the blast, a win-win situation for him. Now that she is flung into the air, she cannot dodge the shot nor can she activate any weapon skills. Weapon skills can only be activated on the ground with very few exceptions making aerial combos a go-to for pros to avoid defensive weapon skills from messing up their combos. "This looks like it! One more direct hit and Murasame might die!" DJ Riot hyped. Boom* The sound of the cannon blast resounded throughout the field. The cannonball flew straight and hit her in the head. Or it was supposed to. Ting* She slashed the cannonball in half while in mid-air. "What the?!" "The heck?!" "Holy shiiieeeet!" Liz, ParaTrooper, and Dj Riot shouted simultaneously. I was speechless. What the heck did I see, is she even human? Tactical once told me his cannonball reaches as fast as 140 mph at its peak speed. That is 2x faster than an average pro baseball pitch speed, and she just slashed it in half while she was mid-air without the aid of any in-game skills? Granted that a cannonball is bigger than a baseball but still, anything other than a well-executed slash at the center would not slice it in half that perfectly. She must have predicted that Tactical would aim for the finishing headshot since her backup is about to arrive. She''s insanely skilled and quick-witted to be able to pull that off. "Did you see that folks? What a monster! This is the first time I''ve seen a spectacle like that. What a god!" DJ Riot said in awe. As DJ Riot was expressing every single praise he could for that play, the match continued as Murasame landed close to Tactical and further away from Vanguard who had just switched positions with him. She did not waste a single second for her counterattack as Tactical was currently close and unguarded. She sheathed her katana and then murmured. "Falling Rain Blossom" She activated her weapon skill, A skill that I had never seen before. Her sheathed katana glowed dark blue then she disappeared, at least seeming to disappear to the untrained eye. She dashed towards Tactical and then made an insanely fast draw slash. No, not just a single slash, I think it was 4 supersonic slashes but my eyes could not follow it completely. My eyes that are trained to dodge fast strikes.......lost to her speed. Whoosh* She then sheathed her blade signaling the end of the skill with its dark blue glow dimming entirely. Tactical Hp: 0% "Whoah that was lit! Now you folks know why she is called ''The Unseen Blade'' I didn''t even see her slash!" "What the heck was that skill?" I asked Liz. "That..... was her unique weapon skill. It accelerates speed for 1 sec by 1.7x, the fastest movement haste known so far. She is able to do 3 very fast slashes in that same moment due to her sword skills. It''s super strong but the fans speculate that it has an incredibly long cooldown since she only does it 1 time a match. Nobody knows how long its cd is since their team doesn''t want to give up that strategic advantage." Liz answered. That was kind of overpowered. Haste buffs cast by time mages only have a maximum of 1.25x speed increase since movement speed gives high advantages in PVP matches. Haste skills do have their downsides though. It messes with the perception of players so more than likely they make mistakes by attacking too fast which completely destroys their tempo. Only skilled and veteran players would want to get hasted, more so a 1.7x. She''s pretty talented to master a skill like that. It only lasts for 1 sec though so you need to be extremely skilled to make the most of it. You also need to use it at the right moment since it has an incredibly long cd or the weapon skill would be a complete waste. "She did 4 slashes though not just 3... I think." I corrected her. "Really? All the slow-mo replays I saw her only do 3 slashes at max." "Maybe Katherine''s eyes are better than slow-motion cameras" Lenna joked. "What an amazing play from The Unseen Blade! She singlehandedly defeated Tactical giving her team the bottom orb advantage and she didn''t even wait for the backup to arrive! What a badass!" DJ Riot exclaimed. This is bad, I don''t think anyone on team NG can beat her if even 2 of their best players can be soloed by Murasame. I just hope you can make a strategic play to reverse this situation in the next game, Tactical. ------------------------------------------ It was only a matter of time before team Atelier won the first game. With Tactical dying, Vanguard did not stand a chance against Murasame without a proper DPS so the match became a 2v4 with an orb advantage in favor of the team Atelier. The worst part is, Yuna just healed all the damage Murasame received from her fight earlier when all of their 4 of their members regrouped, getting her back to full strength. This resulted in a 2v4 match where team NG had no chance of making a comeback. Game 2 was worse for team NG since their morale was incredibly low due to the 2v1 of Murasame in their first match and their best strategy failed to even win them a single game. The series ended 2-0 in favor of team Atelier thus putting the final nail in the coffin of team Nexus Gaming''s chance of playing in the 4th Andartha Cup and their pro league division 1 run came to an abrupt end. Bonus Chapter - Paradox -Elizabeth''s POV- I took a look at the comment section of the ongoing stream. Waves and waves of toxic comments from millions of viewers just pass through in the blink of an eye. So fast that I couldn''t even read their profile names fully. Most of them have the same context though and many users just repeatedly type the same disparaging words. What a trash team Lost to wamen KeKw F*** lost my money because of this shit team Washed-up players should just retire! How can you even lose like this to girls lol WTF NG gt dstroyed. Wata trash team xoxoxo Good luck in Div 2 kekl They dont even belong to div 2, they belong in the dumpster "I don''t understand. How can they be so cruel? When team NG were winning their games, all the comments were full of praise and congratulations. But now that they are losing games, when they need encouragement the most, all these people type are nasty comments instead." I whined at the injustice. "Yeah I agree, and what is wrong with losing to women? Those guys are so gender-biased." Lenna fumed. "Just let it be and just don''t read the comments. Some people are just like that cause they want something to feel good about themselves at the cost of others'' misfortune. They drag others down to feel superior to them. What utter garbage of human beings." Kat replied testily. This is shocking. I''ve never seen Kat this angry before. She always seems so understanding and forgiving. Though I quite agree with her, those comments are getting a bit over the top. "T-That''s quite philosophic of you Katherine, I didn''t know you could say stuff like that ahahha," Lenna said placatingly in order to calm her down. As if recognizing Lenna''s attempt, Kat composed herself. "Somebody just told it to me once. I didn''t understand it at first, but now I think I realize what he meant." Kat replied. "He seems like an intelligent person." I prodded. "He is," She nodded. "That is why he became our captain," Kat murmured something I didn''t quite hear. I wanted to pry but she seemed to not want to talk about it. "So, shall we stop watching then?" Lenna asked cheerfully to lighten the mood. "No, wait, not just yet! Just close the comment session, I want to see the winner''s interview." I hurriedly denied it. "There is an interview?" Kat asked. "There is, only for the winners though since interviewing the losers of the match would be quite awkward.....I hope it''s Yuna or Murasame they interview." I voiced out. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Yuna is their captain right?" Lenna inquired. "U-huh. Eun Ae Seong, ign Yuna 20 years old. A Korean child actress who became a streamer/pro gamer and recently got the position of team Atelier''s new captain even though she is their youngest member. She''s my inspiration on why I started streaming and also has the largest fanbase out of all the CoA streamers. My dream is to have as many viewers as her in my live streams in the future." I said as a proper fangirl would. ".......I see, I''m sure you''ll achieve it someday. Especially after we win the u20 tourney, you''ll get closer to your dream." Kat replied encouragingly. "Hahaha, it''s fine if we don''t win as long as we have fun during the event." To be quite honest, our chance of winning the whole tournament is minuscule at best, that is if we even get past the elimination. There are too many good teams out there that we don''t even know of. I''ll still do my best to get our team as far as I can though. "Ohh it''s starting!" Lenna exclaimed. "Here is what you''ve been waiting for, we have the opportunity to interview who you guys voted as the MVP of the match, Ms. Aoi Yamamoto." Lumen hyped. "Ohh they actually got her to interview, She rarely makes an appearance for things like this." "Ms. Aoi, thank you so much for giving us your time for the interview." "It is my pleasure." a softspoken voice came from the screen. She has a little bit of a Japanese accent but her English is fluent even in her streams. I even wonder sometimes if the team Atelier requires its players to be proficient in English. "First question, some of the staff told me that they had a replay in slow-mo of the 1st game match when you defeated Tactical, is it true you did four slashes that time instead of three?" Dr.Manhunt, the other panelist voiced his inquiry. "Whoa, you''re right Kat! Do your eyes actually have a slow-mo feature?" Lenna asked shockingly. "Just a lucky guess." Kat downplayed the praise. It''s unreal that she saw through it, I made the right choice in recruiting her for the team, she''s extremely talented. She just needs good gear and a max-level character and she might become unstoppable. It is such a shame she chose to play support though, I would have loved to spar with her if she had just created a DPS character so we could both improve. "Yes, that is correct. I have been training and improving a lot in preparation for this year''s AC tournament." Aoi answered with determination. "Hooh, it''s as if three instant slashes aren''t enough, now it''s four. I dread to be on the receiving end of that combo." Dr.Manhunt shuddered to prove his point. "Next question. With this loss, team NG will undoubtedly go to division 2 and fail to participate in the upcoming 4th Andartha cup, does your team regret beating them this series?" Lumen inquired. "I am not sure about my other teammates but I regret nothing. We are all rivals in the end and I always do my best no matter who the opponent is." Aoi stated bluntly. "As expected from Murasame. I have another question for you, a lot of players are comparing you to Yuusha as you are considered by most pro players and fans alike as currently the best female player in CoA. What are your thoughts on it, Ms. Aoi?" Rainstorm, the 3rd panelist asked. "I think it''s an honor to be considered her equal," she replied curtly. "Follow-up question, many fans are also debating who will win in a 1v1 against you two, what do you think of your odds if you two were to have a match?" Rainstorm pressed. "I will win, I cannot fathom her dodging my slashes, even if she is still in her prime three years ago," she answered confidently. "Oh ho! A straightforward answer as always. One of the reasons why we love to have you on interviews like this." Lumen chimed. "A lot of Yuusha''s die-hard fans would not agree with that though," I mumbled. "Who do you guys think will win if they do fight 1v1?" Lenna asked curiously. "It''s hard to tell, But I''m a big Yuusha fan so I''ll vote for her." I let out my biased thoughts. "How bout you Katherine, who do you think will win?" Lenna asked Kat. "I honestly have no idea...... But I would love to see them battle one day." Kat grinned in anticipation. I saw a glint in her eyes as she talked. Almost as if she''s anticipating Yuusha and Murasame''s match. I mean who wouldn''t though, it would be epic. One who can dodge anything and another whose attacks cannot be dodged. Like the unstoppable force paradox. Sadly, I''m probably just getting my hopes up, Yuusha is already retired so it may never happen in this lifetime. "Thank you so much for answering all our questions, Ms. Aoi. Ladies and gentlemen for those of you watching the live stream, give it up for Murasame ''The Unseen Blade''!." Lumen hyped. "You are very welcome," she answered promptly before the screen switched back to the panel signaling the end of the interview. "Sooo, what should we do next it is still too early." Lenna inquired. I''m going to grind my new character in CoA." Kat voiced her thoughts. I can kinda understand her. I''m itching to play CoA now after witnessing those highly skilled players fight each other. I want to play with Kat too, I haven''t even added her to my in-game friend list yet. "You''re power leveling now right? Want me to boost you." I asked her. She seemed to ponder for a moment before answering. "No thanks. The mobs at my current level is not strong enough to require any assistance. I''m also going to focus on the main quests to earn extra XP." "Ohh, okay. That''s true I guess." I said dejectedly. ".......But you can help me grind after I get past level 50 where grinding is more efficient with party members. I need to level up quickly so we can practice for the tournament." "Sure leave it to me, I''ll boost you till level 95!" I enthusiastically said After eating snacks and Lenna trying to convince Kat (And getting rejected many times) for us to sleep over at her apartment, we said our farewell to Kat and her mother. After that, Lenna and I went straight to our respective houses while I pondered what our future in the upcoming tournament would bring. Chapter 11 I saw an angel standing alone under the shade of an oak tree a little further away from the entrance of the crowded dungeon. A dungeon cave that leads to the next town with many players camping at the entrance in hopes of finding the same leveled party members to help them defeat the boss. The said boss could be a little bit difficult for newer players since it can be considered an initiation for newbies to earn their right to be called intermediate players of CoA. I identified the said angel. Clarissa Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 28 Guild: none Duel wr: 0% wins: 0 matches: 1 Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: N / A id#:********** Introduction: I''m new to this game so please take care of me. Also, I don''t like duels so don''t invite me to a PVP match, please! "Sorry, I''m late! Have you been waiting long? "I asked apologetically. "No, it''s ok, I just got here," Clarissa replied bashfully. What''s with this setting? And what''s with that reply, is this some kind of a date?! No no no we''re just going to a dungeon to do the main quests and to level up a bit, nothing to be gung-ho about. Entertaining guests at my apartment took a lot longer than expected especially with Lenna pestering me for a sleepover so I''m a little late at our agreed time. I can''t just shoo them away and say I''m going to meet someone especially after they took the trouble to make a trip to our house. That would be downright rude. We had a good time though and watching a match as good as that renewed my motivation to play and improve my skills. "Then let''s go to the entrance. This dungeon will be a little harder than usual so stay close to me at all times." I suggested. As we approached the hustle and bustle of the entrance to the dungeon, the noise of the players became louder. There are many players today, especially since it''s a weekend. "Need healer please add me". "Any healer here?" "Need tank!" "Need only 1 more support!" Honestly, all the newbies want to become DPS which is why we always lack healers or other support in this area. Though it would be hypocritical for me to judge them considering I was one of those so-called DPS myself. As we neared the entrance, 2 men approached us. One was wearing a newbie knight set with a sword on his left plus a round silver shield on his right and a helmet covering his entire face. He has a stoic posture and a serious atmosphere around him. You could only equip 1 weapon as your main one, giving you the option to use its weapon skill. He probably has a shield weapon skill considering his shield is equipped in his dominant right arm, or I could be wrong and he is just simply left-handed. There are some exceptions though, like dual-handed weapons that are considered as a single main weapon like daggers that also have a single weapon skill. I mentally berated myself for getting a bit off track and went back to sizing up these guys. The other guy was wearing casual newbie traveler''s clothing and a scimitar attached to his belt. He has handsome rugged features and a demeanor full of confidence. I immediately thought that he was too handsome for it to be anything but artificial. He probably fiddled a lot with the character avatar customization, ironically making his overblown appearance less appealing since it lacks the natural charm of simple but detailed character customization. I identified them both. Hecct Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 32 Guild: Round Table Duel wr: Hidden Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: Hidden id#:*********** Introduction: This player has no introduction. Xeno Hp: 100% Mp: 100 Lvl: 30 Guild: none Duel wr: Hidden Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: N /A id#:*********** Introduction: Any female players can add me anytime ;) "Hello ladies, looks like you two could use some help. How about you two join our party and we''ll carry you? I promise I''ll protect you girls from any harm." Xeno stated confidently then transitioned it to a smooth wink. I might have swooned there and then if he was cute. But he''s not really my type. So I crossed my arms and remained unimpressed while Clarissa hid behind me clearly wary of the man''s straightforwardness. Good, she should be always on her guard against these kinds of people. She''s amazingly cute so a lot of strangers may suddenly approach her with ill intentions. His friend suddenly butted in when he realized we were cautious of them both. "Forgive me for my friend''s rudeness but you two seem to lack party members and we also lack support players. May I ask that we form a party to help each other out?" Hecct asked politely. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "I''m not a support though."Clarissa chimed warily from behind me. That is right, she''s a pure DPS-oriented fire mage. I suggested that she focus on increasing her int stats and MP so that I could just aggro the monsters while she dishes out most of the damage for our party. That is the most efficient build for our party since I''m already a healer and can act as a dodge tank. "But you''re a DPS mage and your friend is a support healer is she not?" he rebutted. Clarissa just nodded silently. He must''ve known our role judging by the color of our staff orbs. Very astute of him. "Then it would be perfectly fine. So would you please join our party?" he pleaded. I deliberated if we should join or not. We don''t really need their help in finishing this dungeon, heck I could even do it solo. But it would not do any good for Clarissa to be overly reliant on me. She needs to meet different kinds of people in-game, both rivals and party mates for her own personal growth. Also, one of the best parts of playing VR games is meeting new kinds of people you both share the same hobbies and I want her to experience it fully. After pondering for a moment, I conceded. "....Fine we''ll join, but the loot should be evenly distributed." "Of course. My party loot is already set to be evenly distributed to party members regardless of who gets the last hit or has the most DPS." Hecct explained. After a brief introduction and Hecct cementing our battle positions, we headed for the dungeon. In CoA, dungeons are only available for at most a party of 4 people. Upon entering a dungeon stage, you teleport to a new dungeon instance, meaning only 4 players may exist in the specified dungeon no matter how many enter said dungeon. Other parties that enter the same dungeon as you at the exact same time are separated into another instance of a dungeon that is generated specifically for them. Upon entering the dungeon we were teleported to the inside of a limestone cave. The ceilings are full of stalactites with an alluring blue-green glow while the ground is littered with stalagmites of the same color. "Beautiful" Clarissa murmured. "It is, but we''re not here on a picnic so please keep your guard up. There are monsters everywhere in this dungeon." Our impromptu leader Hecct reminded us. He charged forward leaving us behind with Xeno. "Is it ok for him to go ahead on his own?" Clarissa anxiously asked. "Don''t worry, he''s actually a veteran player, I''m pretty sure he can even solo this dungeon if he wants. He just wants to help new players like you who don''t seem to have a front-liner. What a softy right?" Xeno informed us. Our battle plan was that he would first check the area ahead of us and aggro all the monsters he could. He proposed that the two of us stay back and focus on monsters that get past him while Xeno protects us. Quite a bold battle plan but if he really is skilled, I''m sure he can pull it off. It also means I don''t have to do much so it works well for me too. "How many times have you tried this dungeon?" Xeno asked. "It''s only our first time" I replied. "Really? Well, then it''s your lucky day! We will save you two the hassle of dying a bunch of times in this dungeon." he bragged. He''s pretty laid back and relaxed for someone going dungeon diving, he must really trust his friend''s skills or he might even be a veteran player himself. As Xeno was conversing with us, a group of goblins approached our front liner Hecct. There are only 3 of them but will be hard for a newbie to defeat all three of them at once. He rushed forward without any hint of caution. He made a quick precise stab at the head of the 1st goblin, killing it instantly then he blocked the 2nd goblin''s attack with his shield while simultaneously slashing the neck of the 3rd goblin which instantly killed it. That leaves the 2nd goblin which he also killed instantly by stabbing its head. All of his attacks are quick headshots, he''s pretty skilled and experienced to be able to pull that off. "Whoa he''s so fast, I can barely follow his sword," Clarissa said with awe. Is it just me, or are his eyes glowing red while slaughtering those goblins? Is that a cosmetic item or does he have a thing for goblins that his eyes glow even when we can''t see his face through that helmet? "Told ya he can handle his own!" Xeno stated proudly. The dungeon run continued just like that with Hecct leading ahead of us and Xeno leisurely chatting with us. Only 2 to 3 goblins or a single hobgoblin at most got past him and was easily defeated by Clarissa with a fireball or two. Xeno and I haven''t even done anything. With the way the dungeon run is currently proceeding, I doubt we even need to do any work. That''s fine I guess, it means I can just leisurely appreciate the sceneries of the cave and let Hecct do all the heavy lifting. My leisure walk did not last long however when a group of 5 goblins and 3 hobgoblins in our front blew a horn. Then after a couple of seconds, a sudden crash resounded from our back. We took a look at the origin of the noise and saw an 8-foot giant ogre emerging from a destroyed wall, a giant club in its hand. With the goblins in our front and the ogre at our back, we are sandwiched. "Shit, it''s been too long since I last finished this dungeon, that I forgot about this part. I''ll take care of the hobs. Xeno, stall the Ogre and buy time for me to back you guys up!" Hecct shouted. "Finally some action! You ladies just sit back and just enjoy the show. I''ll give you girls a front-row seat view of why they call me, ''The Lightning Demon Slasher''." he stated smugly. Oh, he even has a moniker. Only skilled people have those from the CoA community. I was right, he''s also a veteran player who is only smurfing like his friend. He rushed to face the ogre while brandishing his scimitar then he astonishingly....... tripped and fell to the ground face-first. "Are you okay!?" Clarissa yelped in surprise. ".....Lightning demon slasher huh" I watched him unamused. Don''t hype me and just fail spectacularly like that. It was such a newbie mistake too. Focusing solely on your opponent and not paying any attention to your surroundings might be your undoing. I''ll remember to use him as an example when I teach Clarissa the importance of paying attention to her surroundings when in a fight. "Fuck! Why is there a rock lying around he-!" As he was standing up, he didn''t get to finish his sentence as the ogre hit him on his side with its club full swing like a batter would a baseball. he flew far away from us and slammed into the nearby cave wall..... Homerun, I guess. Xeno Hp: 37% It''s a good thing he survived that, I''ll just heal him later after I take care of this ogre. "What the heck are you doing Xeno!" Hecct panicked. "Stay there and aggro those goblins, I''ll handle the ogre," I ordered. "Wait! I''ll back you up in a bit, don''t engage it!" he pleaded. I ignored him and rushed towards the ogre. I was extra careful to pay attention to my surroundings this time since it would be extremely humiliating if I tripped and fell just like that guy lying on the wall over there. As I approached the ogre (while not tripping of course) it swung its giant club overhead at me. Time slows by as I focus intently on its movements. I could almost fall asleep on how slow it was. I leaped away towards its side to dodge the blow since the shockwave might damage me and swung my staff full force at the back of its knees. The hit made it kneel, enough for me to reach its head with a dagger for a critical hit. I pulled the dagger out of my belt and instantly used it to stab the ogre in its ear. The dagger pierced its head for a fatal blow. Ogre Hp:41% "Tssk!" Still alive huh, this guy is pretty tanky. Even though I had plenty of dex stat since I was increasing it this early stage of the game for more efficient farming, it was still able to survive my full forced dagger thrust into its brain. Roar* The ogre howled. He''s enraged. I took a step back in preparation for his retaliation when a fireball flew straight at his head. "Nice shot!" I complimented Clarissa. Ogre Hp: 5% She waited for me to aggro the ogre while she chanted her spell. Then fired her shot at the best possible time she could when the ogre''s full attention was on me. A normal newbie won''t be able to make a coordinated play like that. Looks like all the tips and tricks I taught her weren''t for naught. She''s absorbing everything I''m teaching her like a sponge. She''s pretty talented in her own way. "Th-Thanks!" she replied cheerfully. The ogre flinched from the headshot and I didn''t waste a moment. I hit his body with my staff, any hit would do since he only has 5% hp. The Ogre let out a final death cry and disappeared into blue motes of red light. "Where is the ogre?" Hecct worriedly asked. Looks like he just finished taking care of the goblins. "We already took care of it," I replied. "That fast?" he said in disbelief. "Looks like the saying to not judge a book by its cover is true. Never thought both of you could kill the ogre this quickly," he added. "Looks like I did my part in creating a distraction for you girls to handle the ogre. All according to plan." Xeno explained his tactically inspiring strategic battle plan as he cooly walked towards us like an action movie protagonist ready for the female lead''s affection after a hard-won boss fight. He didn''t do anything though. "You didn''t even do anything." Hecct read my thoughts. "S-shut up! Want me to beat you again in PVP?" Xeno admonished. "You won 1 out of 10 times, and it is only because you convinced me to fight you without any weapon." Hecct rebuked. "Reasons! A win is still a win no matter your disadvantages. It just meant that I mentally outplayed you into giving me an advantage!" Xeno made a point. "More like I took pity on you since you wanted a single win so badly." Hecct countered. They continued to bicker until we arrived at a large locked door akin to a castle gate with 2 large keyholes. On its left and right are 2 paths. If I remember correctly, these two paths would lead to 2 different keys needed to open the door for the boss fight. "The two paths would lead to 2 keys needed to open this door," Hecct explained. "I would''ve proposed that we stick together and acquire the keys one by one, but seeing that you girls are pretty skilled, I think we can split up here for a faster run," Hecct suggested. "I completely agree, would you come with me, my Lady? I promise to not let any harm befall upon you and to protect you with my life." Xeno winked at me seductively. "No, you come with me, these two have great synergy, and I wouldn''t want you to mess up their combos if you went with them. Besides you''re the weakest link to this party." Hecct instantly denied him. "Tsk! I just got unlucky all because of a rock! Let me at least redeem myself and show my cool side to these girls!" "You can do that at the boss fight later. Let''s go. The faster we finish the dungeon the better the rewards." He pulled his friend away from us and went straight to the left path. If I remember correctly, that path is annoyingly full of traps. I guess he''s still helping us in any way he can, what a kind-hearted guy. "Looks like we''re on our own again. The cave is dark so there might be other ambushes from monsters. Keep your cool and don''t be scared of enemies that might get close to you." I coached her. "I''ll be fine. I won''t be scared if I''m with you ''cause I know you''ll always protect me." She smiled at me innocently. What the hell?! Honestly, is she doing this on purpose? At this rate, I will die of a heart attack before we even arrive at the boss fight. Is she secretly the last boss of this dungeon or something? I swear she''s more dangerous than the monsters were about to face in here. After a brief moment of calming down and recovering from the critical hit I just received, we headed straight to the right path. As expected, the path was straightforwardly easy, only monsters like goblins, wolves, and hobgoblins were there. Our synergy is also constantly improving since we have been playing together for the past week, resulting in an easy monster genocide. The only thing that poses a little bit of a challenge is the gargoyle at the end of the path that holds the key. It was tanky and my dagger was not able to pierce its stone hide. We were able to beat it quite handily though with Clarissa''s spells and me aggroing it and acting as a dodge tank while doing some chip damage with my staff. "Good work, you''re improving quite fast." I praised Clarissa. "It''s all thanks to you for teaching me. But I think it''s still not enough. I''m still nowhere as good as you right?" "You''re advancing at a good pace. No one starts off good at something, you just need time and experience playing the game, and I''m sure you could catch up to me in no time." I gave her an encouraging smile. "R-right! I''ll do my best to not let you down." She replied resolutely. We backtracked to the large locked door from where we came. When we arrived, there was no one there quite yet. After waiting for a short minute or two, our other 2 party members arrive. Hecct Hp: 84% Xeno (poisoned) Hp: 12% Xeno''s health is very low probably due to the poison. He likely was hit by some traps. He''s a bit slow and inattentive so it''s more than plausible. Good thing we finished early or he might have died in a couple of minutes. This is one of the main reasons why having a healer is very crucial at parties. "Oh, good timing! I thought we would have to wait for a bit. Can you cure Xeno? He''s been badly poisoned." Hecct requested. "What happened?" Clarissa asked worriedly. "I told him earlier before the dungeon run to bring a temporary buckler for him to be able to block the poison arrow traps but he didn''t listen." "''The Lightning Demon Slasher'' doesn''t need any shield! Shields will only slow down my lightning-fast moves and reflexes! I only rely on my dodging skills. I was just a bit distracted so I got hit that''s all." Xeno reasoned. Hecct sighed After casting a cure spell on him,(wherein he thanked me rather flirtatiously at that) I healed the team to full health in preparation for the boss. We then proceeded to use our respective keys to unlock the door. "Are you guys ready?" Hecct asked in confirmation. "Y-yes!" "I''m always ready." "...Ready." Creeeaaaaaak* The giant door to the boss room opened. Chapter 12 The sound of the rusted antique door opening echoed throughout the cave walls. As we entered further into the dark cave, the door behind us suddenly closed shut. I surveyed my surroundings. We are currently inside an island-like rock formation surrounded by water with many rock pillars in sight with no way out except the door we came through or towards the path blocked by the dungeon boss. "Be careful everyone, focus on repelling the tentacles while I deal damage to the head," Hecct warned. "Tentacles! For real? You didn''t tell me were fighting some Japanese abomination." Xeno exclaimed. "I didn''t tell you ''cause I knew you''d react like that. Now focus on the fight or we might get wiped." "Getting wiped here is a small price to pay for a man''s hopes and dreams!" My impression of him is getting worse as time passes. The internet corrupted me enough to know what he was getting at. Good thing Clarissa seems oblivious to his innuendo. I have to remember to be wary of this guy. I need to protect her innocence from him. Suddenly the earth quaked. An enormous sea creature rose from the depths of the water along with giant tentacles. It uses two of its many large tentacles to support its body by curling around the rock pillars in the area. Its head has two large eyes, a massive, fanged mouth, and small spines or gills along its sides. It also has many smaller tentacles all of which do not have that much reach. The creature roared as it slammed the ground with one of its large tentacles for extra added intimidation points. Kraken Hp: 100% Hecct suddenly rushed into the Kraken''s head repelling and dodging tentacles while ignoring the damage of some that hit him while dealing damage to it, thus successfully aggroing most of the Kraken''s tentacles. What a guy! His friend should learn a thing or two from him. Hecct Hp: 89% Kraken Hp: 91% As if inspired by Hecct''s heroic actions, we then proceed to stick to the battle plan and focus our attacks on the tentacles. At the same time, Hecct is attacking the head to retain the aggro all the while dodging and blocking the tentacles that came after him. "Hyup" "Firebolt!" "Demonic Lightning Spinning Slash!" I slashed the smaller tentacle close to me with my dagger, Clarissa fired a stronger version of the fireball spell at one of the large ones, and Xeno instantly sliced 2 small tentacles near him in half. I''m pretty sure he just did a normal ''Spinning Slash'' weapon skill though, not whatever move he said. All our attacks combined dealt high damage to the boss. Kraken Hp: 69% Suddenly, I noticed one of the small tentacles managing to slither into Clarissa''s blind spot and grab her left foot. "Kyaaa!" she yelped. She let out a cute voice that got me a bit distracted. Focus me! I don''t have a single long-range spell and my weapon skill is nonexistent. I might just have to heal her instantly after she survives the boss''s attack but the problem is that I am almost out of mana. Even though beginner-level spells like fireball and heal don''t require much mana compared to intermediate spells like haste, I don''t have that much MP left since I used up most of my healing on a certain someone who just keeps getting poisoned and hurt nonstop. I''m also building 3 stats priority, not just two so my mana pool is not that large compared to your average healer. This is a conundrum. "Sheild Boomerang!" Hecct shouted. As I was pondering my move, a shield flew like a boomerang and sliced the tentacle, setting Clarissa free. It completely broke the laws of physics and returned to him like some captain from a certain movie I know. I almost forgot about his weapon skill. Considering he was still aggroing the majority of the tentacles, that was a nice situational and surrounding awareness. What a nice assist while dodging the tentacles at the same time. He has a good affinity for leading and commanding. "Tsk! So close! I-I mean good job nice save Hecct!" Xeno managed a ''nice save'' in his dignity too. Stolen story; please report. You do know this is not an X-rated game right? The Kraken will only most likely throw her or slam her on the ground for extra damage, not whatever you were expecting to happen. This cannot go on. I don''t want to fight this boss any longer than necessary or that guy might develop weird fantasies involving Clarissa. I rushed towards the head while dodging every single tentacle that came after me. "Be careful! Don''t overextend" Hecct commanded. I ignored him and continued to come close, suddenly the Kraken attacked me using one of its giant tentacles. I jumped sideways to avoid it and the tentacle slammed into the ground next to me, creating a small crater. Bam* Whew, that might have insta-killed me if it hit since I don''t have much tankiness, only damage, and mp for healing. As the Kraken began to lift its giant tentacle, I immediately jumped at it and used it as a lift. "W-what are you doing! That''s crazy!" Hecct worriedly shouted. I put my staff on my backstrap and equipped my two daggers from my belt on both my hands. I then ran towards the main body using the giant tentacle as a makeshift bridge and as soon as I deemed the distance suitable enough, I leaped toward its eye and used both my daggers to stab it for a critical blow. "Roaaaaar!" Kraken Hp: 41% The Kraken was enraged. It flailed hysterically making me almost lose my balance. I used both the daggers as an impromptu climber''s gear to pull myself up and situate myself on top of its head for a more stable footing. Naturally, all the aggro went completely onto me, freeing everyone to focus on dealing damage and not minding the tentacles. "Focus on its head!" I shouted while dodging the many tentacles coming my way. They all focused fully on dealing damage while I prioritized keeping myself alive on top of the Kraken''s head all the while maintaining my balance to not fall. If I fall here, it will be extremely fatal since I cannot move freely in the water. I received a few hits here and there from whip attacks of the tentacles but not enough to kill me since I dodged everything that could be fatal. I saw Clarissa channeling her current strongest and highest mana-costing skill. She probably held onto casting this skill for so long to find the perfect opportunity to cast it like this where all the aggro is onto me. This skill takes a long time to channel and the backlash of a canceled channeling will drain her mana so kudos to her for having this much patience. The thought of her listening to my teachings and applying them perfectly makes me proud to be her mentor. After finishing the channeling, Clarissa cast her spell at the same time Hecct used his weapon skill. They both aimed at the head of the Kraken. "Shield boomerang!" "Flame burst!" A shield boomerang and a ball of fire more than triple the size of a normal fireball hit its mark and exploded. *Boom* The impact of Clarissa''s attack made me almost fall but I luckily held on. Roarrrrrrrrr* After a while, the Kraken finally gave its last death cry due to our fatal damage. It disappeared into red motes of light. Kraken Hp: 0% Dungeon Cleared! Sub Quest Cleared!: Dungeon Diving. Main Quest Cleared!: Beast of the Sea. Level increased to Lvl. 30 Level Increased to Lvl. 31 I got a bunch of quest XP and I leveled up 2 times from that. But sadly no rare or epic drops. Not even a special dungeon appeared for our efforts. Well, that''s life you can''t get what you want and always be lucky. I fell into the water after the Kraken died but it took only a little swim for me to get back to my party. They greeted me with varying emotions. "Novo! Are you alright?" Clarissa came running to me worriedly. You know this is just a game, right? She''s getting too engrossed in this. To be fair, it is her 1st VR game so it is to be a bit expected. "I''m perfectly fine," I reassured her. "That was badass! I would''ve done the same but you beat me to it." Xeno suddenly called out. "That was a bold move, but I guess you have the skills to back it up so it worked out in the end." Hecct chimed in. "Yeah, I was quite lucky it turned out well." "I''m quite positive that''s not just luck. It takes a lot of skill to balance on top of the boss'' head while dodging its attack at the same time. Do you have another main account?" ".....Kind off," I replied hesitantly He seems to ponder for a while before deciding on something "How old are you"? He asked curtly. "Huh, I expect that question to come from your friend, not you," I said apprehensively. Having realized what implications he just asked he suddenly became flustered, his face would have been crimson if CoA had that feature. "Wha...Th-That''s not what I meant! It''s just that, I''m building a team to join the u20 tournament. If you''re available and under 20 years old, would you like to join mine?" He hurriedly said. "Sorry, already taken. I''d probably join you if someone hadn''t already invited me to their team." I declined politely. I''m not saying that just to be polite either, he''s pretty skilled so joining him would not be a bad idea, unfortunately for him, Liz is my friend and I owe a lot to her for helping me return to the game I love. I wouldn''t trade her for any team no matter how good they are compared to hers. "I see... I guess I''ll just have to stick to Xeno for my last member." He sighed. "Hey! I can hear you, you know!" Xeno chimed in. So my assumption is correct, he is boosting that guy. To be fair though from what I saw from Xeno, he does have the potential to be very good at the game. His moves are not completely amateurish and his experience in playing different VR games shows, although his overconfidence would be his undoing if he doesn''t learn to be extra careful in fights. "It''s such a shame, but understandable. A support like you would be in high demand. It''s rare to see a support that can also hold their own in melee combat since supports usually just stay at the back due to their low defense." Hecct praised. "I get that a lot. I hope we both get through the elimination round. I would like to fight you in the main tournament." I voiced my inner thoughts. "I hope so too. Oh right, I''ll give you guys this. I got it from the boss just now." He requested a trade. *Hecct would like to trade with you. Do you wish to accept? Y/N I accepted his offer then he gave me the loot he got from the boss. "I don''t really need it since I''m not a spellcaster, and it''s only useful for early to mid-game so I can''t trade it for my main account," he added. I identified it. Kraken''s Staff (epic) A staff that is said to have the power to call the power of the sea. Wisdom + 20 Intelligence + 25 Mp + 200 Weapon skill Tsunami - Casts a medium-sized tidal wave that damages enemies that come across its path. Cooldown: 34 sec Mp cost: 118 mp A pretty good weapon for Clarissa. It also has a good aoe weapon skill for us to grind faster. Though one major downside of it is its mana cost but Clarrisa''s mp and int-oriented build will probably balance it enough. I''ll give it to Clarissa later so she can equip it after we exit the dungeon. It''s a pretty good weapon, he could just sell it for a hefty amount of extra gold but he knows we will benefit more from it so he gave it to us. My respect for him is increasing. "Are you sure we can have this?" I asked appreciatively. "W-wait, we will give it to you in exchange for your cellphone numbers." Xeno chimed in. My respect for this guy on the other hand is decreasing. It''s not like you''re the one giving us the loot you know? "Don''t mind him. Please take it. A friend list add would suffice though if that''s fine with you guys." Hecct rebutted him. The four of us added each other as we exited the dungeon cave. After a brief farewell, they both got on their separate ways. "They''re both very kind." Clarissa mused. "Yes, they''re both good people." I agreed. Well, that is not entirely true since the other guy is a complete pervert........ but I guess he''s not really a bad person so I can''t complain too much. We passed the time with little chats and I gave her the weapon while also suggesting tips to improve based on the dungeon run we had just finished until we arrived at the port city of Lallias. We then settled on the time we would meet the next time we play then eventually logged out with the promise to explore the port city together. Chapter 13 - Tactical Sitting in a large lobby with comfortable sofa chairs, I surveyed the room. The back and white theme of the Nexus gaming colors the whole room like an extravagant, yet modest modern canvas. The mood of its staff occupants was melancholic though. After what happened in our last match, it is to be expected. It was so silent that you''d rarely hear anyone utter a single word except for the sound of a TV in the waiting lobby room playing the interview of an all too familiar Japanese beauty. The same player who wiped the floor with us earlier in our match. "I will win, I cannot see her dodging my slashes even if she was still in her prime three years ago". I snorted at that ridiculous statement. She might be talented, but she never faced a different kind of talent like Yuusha. Though I might be biased since I was once her teammate...... And also, probably a little bitter cause she ended our last chance of qualifying for the AC tournament. "Bob, Mr. Royce will see you now." The receptionist politely caught my attention. "Ohh, right," I replied. I stood up immediately, extra careful to not let the team manager wait even by a single second. I walked ahead into an opaque glass door that hid the manager from onlookers outside of his office. I braced myself for the worst as I entered. Inside, I saw a neat-looking room with luxurious paintings and ornamental flowers. Relaxing and pleasing to the eye is what I would define it. However, the current owner of the office is anything but relaxed. "You know why I called you here, don''t you," The team manager asked intimidatingly. Our team manager has always been the serious type, he has brushed-up shiny hair and a no-nonsense look always plastered on his stoic face. He is clean-shaven and neatly dressed in a luxurious suit that is probably a whole month''s worth of my salary. "Is it to invite me for a drink later so we can drink our problems away?" I made a joke to lighten the mood. He ignored it completely. Looks like he''s pretty pissed that it didn''t even have any effect. Let''s not push our luck then. "That was your last chance to qualify at the AC and you blew it! This is the 1st time our organization cannot even attend the tournament. Do you know how humiliating it is for me, a newly appointed team manager!?" He raised his voice, further hammering his resentment. "Yeah, sorry bout that, I''ll take the blame, I underestimated their ace. I tried to finish it faster by doing a headshot but it backfired." I apologized to calm him down. "At least you know when to take responsibility," he said sardonically. "Let me be blunt, you will be getting kicked out of the team after the contract expires," he continued. "I... I understand" I said bitterly. "The only thing you''re good at right now is publicity. You can''t even qualify for the Andartha Cup. I should''ve listened to the higher-ups when they warned me that you guys cannot match the current competitive scene," he admonished. My pride as a veteran pro CoA player took a big hit in that, but there''s nothing I could say as a comeback since the results of our matches say otherwise. I just took it all with grit and a clenched fist. "The higher-ups are planning to recruit new young players and rebuild the entire roster from scratch. I''m telling you this now for you to prepare for it when the time comes that your contract expires. You should be grateful," he said condescendingly. "Yes sir....." After a while of dumping all his frustrations onto me, the ''meeting'' with the team manager ended. I exited the Nexus gaming building. I don''t have any destination in mind. I just walked aimlessly for a while until my feet dragged me into the usual bar I go to when I want time to think by myself. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! As I entered the bar, the smell of ale and wine instantly permeated my nose. The ambiance of this bar suits my taste perfectly with its slow music and relaxing decors. It is charmingly old-fashioned and also doesn''t have that many customers being out of the way of the main city streets. You could even call it ''hidden'' as others might say. I''ve been a regular here ever since I became a member of team Nexus Gaming cause it''s relatively close to the building, just a few meters away, and also serves some of the best alcohol I have ever tasted. Considering I''m sort of a heavy drinker, that is a pretty high standard. I entered the bar and took a seat at the long bar table counter. The bartender Jonas, whom I''m very familiar with given the number of times I''ve been here gave me an acknowledging nod. He was currently mixing drinks for another customer with astonishingly exaggerated movements, which made it quite entertaining to look at. After serving him the drink, a Long Island Ice tea if I''m not mistaken, he took my orders. "The usual," I said before he gave me a shot glass along with the standard bottle of rum I always order when I want to wallow in regrets. I spent a couple of minutes in peace, thinking about the events of today and what the future entails when suddenly a familiar voice spoke from behind me. ¡°I knew you''d be here, you always go into this pub whenever we have a bad match" a familiar gruff voice came from someone who sat beside me without warning. Gustav Fernandez, aka Vanguard ''the Wall''. We have been teammates for more than a year. I''m sometimes quite jealous of him since he has a moniker. People just call me the strategist of the team, or something like that, nothing concrete by the CoA community. Can''t blame them though, I don''t have any skills that stood out, except for my strategies and tactics, which unfortunately didn''t do any help to our most recent series of matches. "Here to blame me for the loss too?" I replied without looking. "You know the fault lies in the whole team on why we lost back then, not just on you, right?" after pondering for a second, he continued. "Though you are the one who suggested our battle plan, so it probably is mostly your fault." He said jokingly. "Not helping," I said irritably. He sat next to me and ordered the same bottle of rum as mine. He was tall, muscular, and well-built with a clean-shaven head and scary-looking face. If I hadn''t known him for a long time, I would''ve been a little bit intimidated by someone like him sitting close to me. "If it makes you feel any better, I''m getting replaced too you know," he said gruffly. "So, you know about the news?" "Yeah... The management wants to build a new team from scratch. Now that our contracts are about to expire, nothing is going to stop that from happening. I''ll probably find another team eventually though. There are always many teams who change their roster after the AC tournament concludes. And if it doesn''t go the way I want, I could always easily join any tier 2 pro team with my experience. "Well good for you". "Not planning to join me this time in team hunting?" he asked a little surprised. "Probably not," I said curtly. "That''s surprising. What do you plan to do?" I looked up at the lights of the bar, it was dim, with a good ambiance. The main reason why I love to drink at this place. It is quite relaxing. "I''m not sure myself, probably retire? I''m getting too old for this shit," I replied tiredly. "What! Why? I thought your dream was to win a second AC before you retire?" He replied a bit shocked. "We didn''t even qualify for it this year. I''m already 27 and my skills are already rusting because of my age and diminishing drive to improve myself. I can''t wait another year just to play in the tournament.¡± I reasoned. ¡°So what? You plan on quitting CoA just like that?" He said with a hint of aggravation. "...I''m not quite sure myself." I pondered as I shook my shot glass. After a short while, I continued. ¡°When I first started CoA, it was the best thing that happened to me. I worked hard, and I was motivated in playing to improve, I also found close friends online while playing and formed a team. We eventually won the AC with that same team. After that though, it''s always full of pressure. Pressure at being a title holder, as ''THE'' very first AC champion, is unsurmountable. The pressure of always being the captain of my team is also getting too hard for me to handle. You need to work extra hard in keeping your team together and prepare battle strategies with the coach against your opponent. You also always take the blame whenever your team loses or plays badly. Frankly, I''m getting tired... but you already know how hard it is since you were also a captain back then before we teamed up.¡± ¡°Yeah, if it weren''t for your team, we would''ve been the first AC champion. I still resent you for that you know.¡± ¡°If you want to resent someone, resent that girl who destroyed you guys at the finals.¡± "Argghh, don''t remind me. It was fucking humiliating getting soloed back then by a single-player 3v1, especially in a finals match. I had nightmares from that match for weeks. That girl is a different kind of monster." He shivered. "I get what you mean. I know it all too well playing as her teammate... though her drive to win during that first AC tournament was entirely on a whole new level." ¡°Yeah, I noticed that too, as if her life depended on getting the cup. Never seen a player that determined to win before. It''s such a shame she just quit though. I''ve always wanted a revenge match with her.¡± "...A shame indeed." That girl has been always secretive even when in-game. She always uses a voice changer and sometimes even ignores us like she''s an entirely different person. When the tournament ended, she didn''t even go online a single time in CoA and also never responded to our in-game PMs. Something must have happened after that tournament. I hope she''s doing fine wherever she is now. We transition into a comfortable silence for a while, slowly taking our shots. Until he suddenly piped up a question. "Do you really plan on quitting CoA?" he asked genuinely. I pondered for a moment. Thinking about what to do from now on. "Probably, I mean, what use is there for someone as untalented as me? We both know CoA is different from most of the other strategic e-sports. Skills are what matters in CoA. Cheap things like strategies won''t win against pure raw skills. There are monsters out there that defy logic and completely ignore tactical advantages. You know, I''m not as good as those monsters." "I completely disagree, I won''t let anyone talk shit to my rival like that, even if it is you doing the shit talk." "Heh, thanks man, that means a lot..." I smiled at that. Another silence, a lot shorter this time before Fernandez suggested something. "I think that it''s a waste for you to leave the pro scene completely though. Why not try becoming a coach or somethin'' so you could put that big head of yours to use?" His suggestion hit me like a truck. Realization begins to dawn on me. If winning my second AC tournament as a player is impossible, why not use my strategies and leadership to build a team that can win it for me? Why not use all my experience and knowledge in the game to train players full of potential to become monsters in the game? My heart pumped fast and loud like a bass drum. This feeling, it has been so long since I last experienced it. I barely remember it from when I first built the team Paragon from scratch. A dream. A vision. A desire to create the strongest team that will shake the world of CoA. ¡°You know, you do say good things sometimes.¡± I grinned. Chapter 14 The city gate in front of me is enormous compared to the previous ones I''ve seen, though it is to be expected for a major city like Lallias. Surrounded by walls on half of its part and water on the other, the city is a majestic sight to behold. It is guarded by NPCs that take offense in the sight of red players or PKers (Player Killers). Starting from this city, players can now kill each other through PK since players have already gotten past the beginner territories. There are severe punishments for red players such as getting chased by NPC guards, being unable to party in dungeons, getting killed without repercussions by other players, and many more disadvantages. That is why there are not that many red players, only those foolish enough or confident enough in their skills to survive CoA alone do PK. Players go in and out nonstop in the city. There are plenty of players around especially on a Sunday. As for why I was here in front of the city port gate, I was waiting for Clarissa to arrive at our agreed time. As I was getting bored waiting, there was suddenly a commotion near the gate. I got curious so I went to check what it was about. I caught a glimpse of someone fighting when I got near enough surrounded by many onlookers with the same curiosity as me. One was a swordsman with a knight set you would commonly get in this stage of the game, the other though had a rugged rogue kind of look. He has twin claws equipped in both of his hands. His clothes are in tatters and he''s wearing a hood so I could not quite see his facial features at this angle. I identified the rogue. Dravyn Hp: 100% Mp: 76¨G Lvl: 95 Guild: Ravenhide Duel wr: Hidden Team Rank matches wr: Hidden (rank 921) 1v1 Rank matches wr: Hidden (rank 872) id#:*********** intro: Duel me if you want to test your skills! "Hahaha, weak! So very weak! You haven''t even done any damage to me!" the ranker taunted with a high shrill voice. Krane Hp 21% "Tsk! Crazy bastard!" the knight exclaimed. I see what''s happening here, the knight must have challenged the ranker. A pretty bold move considering he is only level 51. The ranker is toying with him. There are plenty of those kinds of people who want to prove themselves by challenging a ranker like this guy so it''s all his fault that he is being humiliated right now. Though that ranker is quite a trash-talker. "You''re so weak that I don''t even need my weapon to beat you!" he taunted. He drops his weapon to the ground, a form of disrespect to your enemy, many would even call it the ultimate BM (bad manners) move. You can do it freely in this game since other players cannot pick up the weapons or equipment drop from another player unless they specifically unequip it. This is made so that even if you accidentally dropped a useful item or got disarmed by a powerful blow from an opponent, your weapon or armor set would not be lost instantly to any looters. Unless you got PKed (Player killed) of course, then your killer will have the right to your loot. The BM move went viral on YouTube when 2 popular streamers had a conflict that lasted for weeks. It started with trash-talking, then their fans came to join the fight so the situation escalated and it got a little bit overblown. PKs started to go rampant and unconcerned players got caught up in the clash. The 2 streamers eventually both decided to have a PVP match to settle the dispute once and for all. The match started fairly even, but Kaeneth, one of the streamers got the upper hand eventually. Before he finished his opponent, he tossed his main weapon on the ground and pummelled his rival to death using his bare hands. He then stated after the fight in his stream that he didn''t need a weapon to beat someone as weak as him. That notion went on to the community as the ultimate disrespect you can do to your opponent. Many say that your opponent dropping his main weapon in front of you would be the most humiliating experience you''ll ever have in PVP. However, I haven''t experienced it yet because I''m not that weak to be defeated by someone without a weapon. As the two were about to resume their bout with the ranker dropping his weapon, an angel caught my attention. "There you are, Novo! What are you doing there?" Clarissa called out to me. "Oh, nothing, ready to explore the port city?" I said as I immediately went to her. The match was pretty one-sided so there''s no point in seeing someone get humiliated, and I also don''t want Clarissa to watch a match with that much toxicity. "Yeah, let''s go!" she said excitedly. We explored the whole city while I taught Clarissa the things that came to mind. Such as where to find the blacksmith and weaponsmith, the guild branch for the quest, and other basic necessities that she would benefit from learning. We arrived eventually in the town square, we bought many things. Some decorations and accessories and some food that can affect your taste receptors, though you do not get the satisfaction of filling your stomach after eating it so it''s quite a strange experience. An experience I would never get used to no matter how many times I tried it. After a while of traveling around the city, something caught my attention. I might be wrong about it but my intuition tells me otherwise. Still, it is better to be cautious so I stopped for a bit. "What''s wrong?" Clarissa asked curiously. "Ohh sorry, stay here for a bit I forgot something. I''ll be back soon so don''t go anywhere or we might miss each other." "I''m not a child you know," she pouted... how cute. I left her at the LVL 90 guards. They might be NPCs but they still have raw stats so one hit from them would be fatal for players at this stage of the game. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. I walked to a back alley in the small part of the city where there were seldom any players and no NPC guards in sight to confirm my theory. After a while of waiting, 3 players approached me. At the center of the trio, I spot someone familiar. I identified him. Gurand Hp: 91% Mp: 84% Lvl: 39 Guild: none Duel wr: 96% Wins: 27 Matches: 28 Team Rank matches wr: N / A 1v1 Rank matches wr: N / A id#:*********** Introduction: Add me and I''ll carry you. I''m a PVP veteran here in CoA "You again?" I said exasperatedly. "Hehehe time for a payback for ruining my 100 percent win rate. I told you before you''ll pay for this right? Now beg if you don''t want to be farmed out of your set like a useless mob! So, apologize to me if you don''t want that to happen hehehehhe." he did his signature creepy laughter. Ohh, if an apology is the only thing he wants then it''s fine. It''s more troublesome to kill them all here and become a red player. "I''m sorry I ruined your win rate, it won''t happen again so let bygones be bygones, and let us get out of each other''s hair," I said politely. "Oooh, you seem tame now, where was your bravado when we fought last time? Teach me more of the moves you said I was lacking. You''re so good in the game that you can even tell me how to swing my sword, ain''t that right, bitch?!" he spat out his words. I remained silent. That''s constructive criticism, not even trash-talk. How will he improve if he ignores his weakness and doesn''t take advice from others who are more experienced than him? He''s so prideful that all my suggestions and teachings went for naught... how disappointing. "Ohh I know, get down on your knees and lick my feet, then maybe I''ll let you go heheheh." He smiled manically. You know, I could just log out and all your posturing will be for nothing, right? We''re not in some death VR game or something similar where logging out is not allowed. I sigh. Though, if I don''t teach him a lesson here, he will probably bother us later down the road.... how bothersome. Looks like I have no other choice. There are three of them so it''s a 3v1 huh, it has been so long since I fought 3 on 1. Almost 3 years if I''m not mistaken and also at a grander stage compared to this back alley.... how nostalgic. "Fine, just please leave me alone after this," I lied to let their guard down. Though to be fair, I don''t think they will leave me alone even after I apologize judging by their reactions. I took the initiative. I placed my staff at my back strap as I got near his strike zone pretending to beg on all fours. When he let his guard down, I took out my hidden dagger from my belt and stabbed his head. A notification pinged, warning me of my PK attempt, but I ignored it. "Wha?!" Gurand Hp 63% He seemed confused, he could not comprehend that I would actually try to fight them 1v3 so I used his moment of confusion to land another stab in his head. Gurand Hp 25% He got scared at his own diminishing HP, he probably didn''t expect that a mage could do this much damage in melee combat. Too bad for him, I allotted a lot of stats on my dex. Also, my accessories have dex-boosting attributes while my cleric set and robe have wisdom and int-boosting stats for sustainability and increased healing power. In his moment of terror, he fell out of balance and landed butt-first on the ground. He panicked and crawled out of the way to hide behind his subordinate. The near traumatic experience he got from our last match where I single handedly destroyed him must still linger in the depths of his psyche for him to show this much reaction to my move. I almost feel bad for him cause he''s just probably doing this to have some form of closure from his last humiliating defeat. I let him go though since I don''t actually plan on killing him or I would become a wanted player. "W-what are you guys waiting for?! Get her!¡° He shouted at his subordinates. "Hraaa" "Lightningball" As if the confusion spell they were subjected to finally faded, his two subordinates finally made their move. The rogue slashed at me with his dagger while the mage fired a small ball of lightning, a basic lightning spell in the same tier as a fireball. Lightning spells are faster than fire-based ones but lack the proper firepower. I let the dagger scrape me but did not let it damage any vital parts while I took the lightning ball head-on with my other free hand. *Ting Another notification pinged in my peripheral vision but I ignored it since I already knew what it was. It is a notification that allows me to use defensive measures against the enemies trying to kill me. Meaning, I can now kill them without any repercussions. Kritika Hp 100% Martz Hp 100% Novo Hp 78% That took a lot more in my HP than I would have liked. I am reminded again of my squishiness with just how their weak attacks are doing this much damage to my HP. However, the sacrifice was worth it since I can now fight back without any bit of worry. I dashed at the rogue first and waited for his response. He panicked and slashed at me just as I expected. I sidestepped his slash and prepared my counter. As his overhead dagger swing missed my head by an inch, I jammed my dagger into his mouth. "Khack" he flinches at the gruesome attack. Kritika Hp 61% Even though he doesn''t feel the attack strongly in terms of pain receptors due to the pain limiters, the psychological damage of having a dagger in your mouth was more than enough damage. Pure terror was plastered on his face making him unable to move, he is inexperienced. I took advantage of his inexperience. I jammed my other dagger onto his ear and used the other dagger in his mouth as a pivot to slash him with both of my dual daggers. I made an X-shaped crescent with his head as the canvas. Kritika Hp 0% In the corner of my vision, I saw the mage channeling a powerful spell while all that was happening. Even though he was surprised at how quickly his teammate died at my hands, he kept his cool and continued his channeling. He''s better than expected, compared to this guy at least. He''s a couple of feet away so it would be hard to stop his magic. Hard, but not impossible. From my experience in PVP, the moment the enemy is about to attack is the best moment to attack them. "Lightni- khack" Just as he was about to cast his skill, I swiftly threw my left dagger into his mouth. He failed to dodge it since he was eager to cast the spell and got complacent. As a result, his spellcasting was canceled. I rushed at him in an effort to press the attack and not let him get enough breathing space. He tried to swat me with his staff but he''s so slow and bad at melee combat that it doesn''t even look like an attack to me. I easily dodged it and stabbed his head with my remaining dagger, again and again with me dodging his futile attempts at melee defense until he disappeared into blue motes of light. I picked up the dagger I threw that was dropped in his death, along with a robe item. You''ve acquired Robe of Vergoth (epic) Whoah lucky! Clarissa will need this later on. It has a level 40 requirement but we will power level quickly enough for her to wear this. A thought crossed my mind, maybe PKing players are actually worth it? No, wait! Hold that thought, let''s not get into any psychopathic tendencies now shall we? After I took all the loot I turned my head to the source of all this trouble. He was stricken in both terror and awe judging from his expression. Though to be fair, I just soloed his whole gang in a little more than a minute, so I guess it is to be expected. I walked towards him with slow and menacing steps. This is kinda fun. "Eeek I''m s-sorry please forgive me!" he cried. You could just log out you know, though I guess he''s too panicked and immersed in the present to think of something as simple as that. As I got close to him, I placed my dagger to his throat for extra intimidation points. "Listen here, I don''t want you anywhere near me or my partner. Got that?" I mustered the most intimidating voice I could. Which is admittedly, not that intimidating given my current cutesy voice via voice changer. He whimpered still. "You must have already concluded that I''m a veteran player myself, but what you don''t know is that I also have a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired from playing CoA, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. I''m also a high-ranking member of the Paragon guild. If you try anything like this again, I promise that my guildmates and I will find you, and we will kill you, over and over till you drop all your equipment. Got that?" He nodded his head so fast that it looked like he was having a seizure. "Now get out of here, I don''t want to see your face ever again." He immediately stood up and ran away as I released my dagger from his neck. I used my old guild as a threat. It''s more of a white lie since I don''t have any contacts in the guild now. Though the Paragon guild was one of the top guilds back then, I would like to think they have at least some influence in the CoA community till now. Well, I guess that''s it. I don''t usually resort to threatening players but he gave me no choice. I don''t want him to go after Clarissa when I''m not around, so that''s the best solution I could think of in that given situation. I just hope I terrified him enough so that he won''t bother us ever again. I walked back to where I left Clarissa, I saw her looking at something with an unfocused eye. She is probably surfing the net or something akin to that. "Sorry it took so long. Did I make you wait?" I said apologetically. "Novo! I didn''t wait that long but where did you go?" she asked curiously. "I just got something for you," I said as I initiated a trade with her. I traded her the robe I got earlier from the mage. "Wha- this is an epic robe, I can''t just have this for free!" she denied the trade. "It''s not for free though". I said in a strict voice she is used to by now when I teach her about the game. "As I said before, you''re helping me level so I need you to have stronger items so that you won''t slow me down, understood?" "Y-yes!" she said determinedly. How easy. She accepted the robe with such a broad smile that it made me think that becoming a PK-crazed player would actually be worth it. Chapter 15 It''s been two weeks since college started. I''ve been focused on grinding levels in CoA most of the time and doing dungeon runs with Clarissa. I''m at the school library today. Well, almost every day of my free time at school since I do my homework here instead of at home so I can focus on grinding levels when I''m at my apartment. It helps that it is quiet here in the library and I don''t have to interact that much with any of my schoolmates on the pretense of studying. So yeah, the school library is my most frequently visited place here at our school besides the rooms we regularly have our classes in. In my contemplation, I saw in the corner of my eye someone walking towards my table. He looks familiar but I can''t seem to remember his name. "Uhm, are you doing the homework for our next class?" he asked amicably. Ohhh so that''s why he seems familiar, he''s a classmate of mine in my Robotics class. If I recall his name is Brandy or Brendant or something. I''m not good with names okay, so don''t judge. "Yes, why?" I replied more irritably than I would have wanted. Who could blame me? It''s almost our next period and I''m doing my assignment last minute, I was preoccupied last night for various reasons (mostly grinding my character''s level) so I haven''t been able to finish it at home. So I have no time for idle chatter. "It''s just, uhmm, you could copy my assignment if you''d like?" he said hopefully. Ohh, I feel bad now. He''s just here to help and I almost got mad at him. Although I have to decline his help. I don''t really like copying assignments. I trust my own answers more and even if I''m wrong, I wouldn''t have anyone to blame except for myself, which is a good mindset to have for self-improvement. Besides, we might have a different solution to our answers and I''m not really sure if his answers are all correct. Better to do it myself than take the risk. "It''s fine, I''m almost done with it anyways, but thanks for the offer," I said politely. "Ohh uhh, alright. If you change your mind though I''d be glad to help." He left me alone after that and went back to his table where some of his friends made quite a ruckus before they were silenced by the librarian. Did he lose a bet or something so his friends ordered him to approach me? After a while, I finally finished my task when all of a sudden I heard someone close by. "I told you she''d be here," a familiar voice said. It was Lenna, together with Liz. We became close over the past few weeks and even Lenna calls me on a nickname basis, especially since they are the only group that I hang out with. It also helps that Liz is the most friendly and sociable person I know. She has many different cliques and almost everyone we pass by when we walk in the hallways talks to her or greets her. "You look unapproachable as always. A lot of our freshmen students would really like to talk to you if they only knew you''re not as cold as you look." Lenna poked fun at me. "It doesn''t matter. You guys are more than enough conversation partners for me" I replied. "Ohh you''re getting good at flattering" I shrugged at her statement. "Anyways, you guys need me for something?" I changed the topic. "We just came to find you ''cause we missed you~" Liz said teasingly. I know they were just fooling around, but that actually made me glad, and a little bit embarrassed, which I hide perfectly by acting aloof. "No seriously need me for something? My next class is about to start." I replied nonchalantly. "Hmph," she pouted then continued. "I''d like you to log in later at around 6 if you''re available of course. I''ll introduce you to our teammates." I''ll finally get to meet the 2 other players. I don''t know anything about them since Liz kept it a secret. She said she was hyping it for her stream but I think she just wants to give me more time in leveling before introducing me to the other two, that is how considerate she is. I kinda agree though since it would be a bad first impression if they see a LVL 20 healer joining their team. I finally hit the LVL 45 mark yesterday though so I probably get to play with them in PVP matches. My leveling had not been as fast as I would like since I''ve been prioritizing doing quests with Clarissa rather than just mindless grinding and leveling up. It''s fun though so I''m not complaining. "Sure I''m free, it''s Friday after all so we have no classes tomorrow. I''ll go online later after school. Pm me when and where we will meet later." ------------------------------------------ The hustle and bustle of the lively town of Ragath are as captivating as ever. This city is next in difficulty after the port city Lallias, wherein you can arrive via ship by doing a certain main quest. With a motif of the Victorian era, its houses are so eccentric and ornate that even someone like me(who is a complete amateur regarding anything art related) can appreciate. This town is reserved for middle to high-level players and is also one of the largest cities in Palios. Liz probably chose this place in consideration of me since I recently informed her that I unlocked the waypoint here after finishing one of the main quests. Power leveling over the past 2 weeks has been fun and not as grueling as I''d expected mainly because of the fairy accompanying me in the process. An angelic fairy that a mere glimpse of her can cure all your fatigue and motivate you to do your best. Still, matching my pace with Clarissa and helping her learn the ropes made my leveling not as fast as I had planned, but I wouldn''t have it any other way. I was having fun, and that''s all that really matters, well for the current me anyways. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I walk past the vendor player offering me a set with a discount, probably aware of my armor being too weak for my current level. I don''t need it though cause I rarely get hit and I''d rather save up all my gold for the endgame since I''ll be power leveling and I''d quickly outgrow any sets I would buy here anyways. I also ignored the other ones promoting their wares in hopes of making a profit out of unsuspecting players which I am the picture-perfect example of in their eyes. It is likely due to my set, but I garnered a lot of attention and greedy looks from merchant-minded players. I entered the alley feeling relieved to be away from the marketplace and after a short while of walking, arrived at my destination which is also one of the 3 popular pubs in this city, the Hunter''s Haven. I took a short breath, composing myself then opened the ornate, wooden door. The smell of savory food overwhelmed my senses as I entered the pub. I took a look around and saw some people entirely focused on their own group discussions while others just gave me a passing glance and got right back at their own business likely also waiting for someone they were supposed to meet. After a short while, I saw a familiar girl waving at me at the farthest table from me. "Kat! Over here!" She shouted. I sighed, please don''t just use my real name like that in an online game setting, well not that it matters much since nobody knows me here personally. Though I felt uncomfortable with the other players'' renewed interest in me because of her resounding voice. I really am bad with crowds huh? I quickly walked to her table, eager to pass by the prickling eyes I''m currently under. I arrived near Liz''s table and sat next to her while she focused her eyes on me with a grin. "I''ll never get used to the contrast of your real cold looks to your cute 3d avatar." She voiced out. Of course, I spent a lot of time making my avatar as cute as I can... not that I''d let her know that. "I just picked a random template when I started the game" I shrugged, feigning disinterest. "Ohh I forgot to introduce you guys, this girl here is Novo, one of my members. Don''t let her cute looks fool you, she''s a very skilled player." As I was wondering if she finally lost her marbles while she was talking to the air, a sudden realization occurred to me. "You''re streaming right now!?" I blurted with a higher volume than I intended. "Of course! My viewers are curious about who my teammates will be in the qualifiers and I''ve been hyping it for the past few weeks so there are more viewers than usual this time. Ohh, say hi to them Novo!" She put me on the spot. Shit, what do I say? What do I do? I haven''t prepared for this. Calm down Kat, just act naturally. It''s only about 1k people from what I''ve seen in her streams..... That''s a lot actually. Certainly more than half of the college students in our university..... Shit. "H-hello nice to meet nyu-" I bit my tongue. "........." Liz fell silent. At least say something! Arrrghh! Please just kill me right now, I don''t care how but please end this grueling moment. After a short while of looking at her stream chat, Liz finally talked. "Chat said you''re adorable" She giggled If my avatar has blood, I''d be beet red by now with how embarrassed I am. Thankfully my predicament came to a halt when Liz immediately spotted someone and abruptly stood up. "Chu! Over here!" She shouted again. I spot a familiar-looking man in his customary Taoist set with butterfly swords hanging on his belt on both sides with a bow on his back. He seems uncomfortable too with all the attention when Liz shouted. Welcome to the club, now you know the difficulties I''m dealing with. As he walked towards us, our eyes met, and I identified him as he did the same to me. NambaWan Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 95 Guild: none Duel wr: 80% Wins: 879 Matches: 1098 Team Rank matches wr: Hidden 1v1 Rank matches wr: 75% (Rank 921) Wins: 2239 Matches: 2978 id#:*********** Introduction: I work alone. One thing that I immediately notice from identifying him, aside from his high win rate in 1v1, is his introduction. What an edgy guy. He seems discontent after the brief interaction but he continued walking without missing a beat and sat at the farthest side of the large table opposite us. How edgy. "You''re finally here! Let me introduce you two, Kat, this is Chu, you have actually already fought against each other with our team match with June." Liz introduced us. He was visibly shocked at the news and his discontent look vanished after hearing that. "Where is her main account?" "Ohh, that was mine, she was just borrowing it, this is the account she will be using in the tournament." "I....see." Chu accepted it in stride. I''m right here guys, please don''t talk to each other like I''m invisible. But fine, I''ll let it slide for now since I''m also not good at conversing with strangers. After that, Chu went silent, minding his own business, intent on maintaining his dignity as the edgelord he was destined to be while Liz continued talking to her stream chat while occasionally asking me questions her viewers wanted to know about me. It took a couple of minutes of me being interviewed by her chat with questions which range from normal ones like my age or my stats build to bizarre ones like if I''m single or my romantic interests and so forth. All the while that is happening, Liz seems to be enjoying asking these questions for her viewers and putting me on the spot. I''ll get you back for this someday Liz, I swear! My savior comes in the form of a literal knight with a shining armor set and a lance as his main weapon. He is incredibly cute for a boy, so much so that he would not look out of place in a K-pop idol group. I don''t know exactly why, but he kinda reminds me of Clarissa, although it might just be because I haven''t seen her today and I lack my daily intake of vitamin C (Cuteness). Liz failed to notice him approach us while she was focused on interviewing me. I identified him Renz Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 95 Guild: Concord of Heroes Duel wr: Hidden Team Rank matches wr: 65% Wins: 1871 Matches: 2876 1v1 Rank matches wr: 69% Wins: 1264 Matches: 1833 id#:*********** Introduction: High-ranking member of Concord of Heroes. Pm me if you wish to scrim for a team match. "Sorry I''m late, my sister needed help with one of her projects and I lost track of time helping her with it," he said apologetically. "Ohh Renz you''re here! It''s fine, we weren''t waiting for long." It''s not fine at all for me though, this guy''s tardiness cost me some of my precious dignity. He looked at Chu. "Wow, you managed to recruit a ranker? Good job Liz!" he said excitedly. "Where is our last member?" He asked while looking around. "Ohh all of us are already here." "You mean that girl is also part of our team? I thought she was just a bystander," he said as disappointment slowly crept to his face. "She''s not just a bystander, this is Novo, she''s actually quite skilled." "Are you serious? The qualifier is already in 2 weeks and she is still level 45. We can''t have that kind of handicap while we fight max-level players! No matter how good she is, she won''t be able to keep up with the level and gear of our opponents. I know she''s your friend but you cannot be biased about something as important as this!" He was getting agitated. His criticism hit me right in the feels. It was kind of my fault though for not giving it my all in power leveling. I was treating this tournament lightly, underestimating my opponents and also undervaluing how important this tournament is to some people. I felt a little bit ashamed. "Clarence, calm down a little," Liz said placatingly. "Calm down? Liz, we worked hard practicing for this remember? Don''t tell me I''m the only one who was taking this seriously." Liz was speechless. It probably hurts to have her resolve getting doubted like that, especially when she''s giving it her all in creating this team from scratch. I was annoyed. It''s fine if he only doubted my lack of drive but I knew how hard Liz worked for this over the past weeks. It''s not right for him to question Liz''s determination to lead our team so easily. I interjected. "Isn''t that a bit too much? How about a match then? I''m not really sure if you''re good enough for the team either so I want to test if you could even beat me?" I said haughtily. "K-kat, don''t provoke him," Liz pleaded. "....Hah? Not only are you a newbie, but you''re also a clown huh, what a combination. Let''s make a deal then, whoever loses will quit the team?" "I wouldn''t have it any other way." I replied instantly." "Wait, wait, wait! Stooooooppp! Nobody is quitting anywhere! Besides, I already submitted our team with the info and requirements I asked you guys to fill remember? We cannot change our lineup this late in the game!" "I still want to beat this punk," I said venomously. This sour feeling won''t go away until I beat this guy and prove my skills. Looks like I''m getting a little bit competitive again. "Right back at you, newbie," he spat out. "O-Oh I have a solution, how about we have a 2-on-2 match? This way you both can gauge each other''s skills while at the same time we can have a team-building exercise, how''s that?" Liz attempted to lighten the mood. "...I guess." "Sure thing, can''t wait to teach this newbie a lesson in humility." I glared at him. "Chu, you''re in, right?" Liz suddenly asked our resident edgelord. "....Fine," he said reluctantly. "Great! This is gonna be a fun team activity!" Chapter 16 We are currently in the middle of a Roman Colosseum-like arena. Standing next to me is Liz while Renz and Chu are standing on the opponent''s side. Sitting on the arena spectator stand are hundreds of NPC spectators programmed to set the mood by cheering whenever there is blood drawn. This is the custom PVP map that Liz chose, probably with the intent to increase the hype of the battle for her more than one thousand stream viewers. "You sure this is fair Liz? I know you''re skilled but you have a dead weight as your teammate." Renz looked at me pointedly. Even with all the noise from the spectator NPCs, you could still hear the sound of the players due to the feature of this arena for PVP communication. "You will be surprised if you keep underestimating her you know," Liz replied. "Hmph, I''ll be the judge of that." He said while smugly looking at me. It has been a long time since I wanted to kill a single person in PVP this bad but I need to calm down. I''m fairly confident we got this match in the bag if my predictions are correct that is. We have a balanced team composition unlike these two who are both DPS oriented. As I was ruminating about our chance of winning, a mechanical voice started to count down in leu with the match. 3.... 2.... 1.... *Battle Start* After the buzz, Renz and Chu simultaneously made their move. Renz dashed towards me quickly (he''s pretty fast) while Chu fired his arrow at me. They both have the right instinct to take down the weaker enemy first for them to have a numbers advantage. Sadly, it didn''t exactly go according to their plan. The arrow Chu fired hit Renz in the back. Renz Hp: 91% The crowd roared at the sight of the first blood even though it happened between teammates while Liz and I stood there, processing what just happened. I predicted this since it was their first time working with each other and they both seem to be 1v1-oriented players, especially Chu, but I didn''t think it was this bad. The disadvantage of having two DPS-oriented characters and lack of proper communication from them shows. They also both have the same aggressive playstyle which makes it harder for them to have any synergy. "What do you think you''re doing!" Renz shouted. "You''re in my line of fire, move," Chu replied irritably. "Tsk! Just, stall Liz while I take care of the newbie." "You''re not the boss of me." At the rate this is going, I wouldn''t be surprised if this transitioned to a 2 on 1 on 1. Also, don''t announce your battle plan to the enemy. Look, Liz is already positioning herself in front of me to protect me and counter your strategy. However, that won''t be necessary since I can take care of myself and most importantly, I want to kill that guy myself. ''Don''t worry about me too much. Just play like how you usually do on your team matches.'' I used the team chat function while the enemy was still busy arguing. ''Are you sure?'' Liz replied via team chat. ''Yeah, trust me, I can handle my own.'' She looked at me and nodded, affirming our battle plan. "Just...! Don''t get in my way, okay?" Renz finally said to his teammate as he rushed towards us. "That''s my line," Chu voiced back as he drew his bow and readied his arrows. They would probably prioritize attacking Liz since she was in front of me. It would be bad if they ignored her and went straight for me since they can be backstabbed by her given how quickly she moves. Renz was the first one to make his move. He dashed towards Liz and did a quick thrust with his lance at the longest reach possible, making counter-attacks nigh impossible due to the length of his weapon. He has a fast sprint, one of the fastest I have ever fought. I can see why Liz would want him on our team. Combined with his weapon of choice, he can close the gap easily and deliver devastating quick attacks at the enemy. Liz however, was prepared for him. She knows his movements too well since from what I know, they have been playing together for a long time. She leaped away with perfect timing to dodge his attack. As if expecting her movement, an arrow flew straight at her position. That was a very well-executed bow attack from Chu. It hit her body since she was out of balance after her initial dodge. Lizbeth Hp: 92% It was a good attempt, though it won''t do anything in front of me. After I saw Chu knock his arrow, I already pre-emptively chanted my heal skill. All that''s left is to cast it. "Heal" I cast the spell. Lizbeth Hp: 100% "Thanks!" Liz voiced out. It''s our turn now, I saw Liz going for her usual rush attack with her rapier skill. I''ve watched her stream a couple of times over the past week whenever I have free time (using an anonymous account of course) and analyzed some of her habits and attacks. I''m not a stalker though, it is just purely for research purposes and team synergy reasons, no other motives, I swear. She Shadow Stepped right next to Renz to deliver a strong attack. Renz is probably anticipating her moves too so I threw one of my throwing knives at his head. I have only 4 of them hidden in my robe since it is the most I can carry without slowing me down too much due to my low strength stat. He could''ve just ignored it and prioritized dodging Liz''s attack since my damage is relatively low compared to hers but his instinct prevailed since it was perfectly aimed at his head. He got distracted by the knife and prioritized dodging it, leaving him vulnerable to a follow-up attack. Liz hit him in his body with a strong thrust. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "Ackk" Renz Hp: 71% "Nice assist Kat!" she complimented me. Of course, I did my research after all. Doing a combo attack with a teammate is child''s play for a former AC champion with how I analyzed your moves based on your PVP streams. Though, it''s not like I''m glad that you complimented me for my hard work or anything. "Sure," I replied curtly to hide my diffidence. Renz distanced himself from Liz to prevent any more damage. He looks at me with relative surprise and irritation. What, didn''t expect a healer that can also do combo attacks? Too bad for you I was used to dealing damage back then so it''s like breathing for me. "Get the healer, I''ll stall the other one," Chu commanded. "That''s what I proposed we do from the start!" Renz aggravatedly raised his voice. Renz rushed to me while Chu attacked Liz, making her unable to back me up. Renz aggressively attacked me, forgoing all manner of defense with his lance, aiming for my head to eliminate me as quickly as possible. How predictable, underestimating a support as usual. I focused my perception on his movements intently as time seemed to slow down, and I dashed toward him. I saw him smirk as his attack was about to hit. I tilted my head to the side just as his attack was about to connect. The change in his expression from a smirk to shock was exhilarating as I got past his lance easily. He has no means of protecting himself now. When I got to the perfect distance, I quickly took out my trusted dagger from my belt and jammed it at his head. "Ack!" He shouted in surprise as he distanced himself from me. Renz Hp: 60% It didn''t do that much damage even though it was a critical hit, but it was to be expected considering the stats and gear difference. Nevertheless, it was oddly satisfying that I got to release all my frustrations from earlier with that attack so it''s more than worth it. "It takes more than playing like a rampaging bull to hit me." I taunted as payback for earlier. "D-don''t get too cocky, newbie, you just got lucky!" He reasoned though I could hear a hint of doubt in his voice. I''m pretty sure he knows that wasn''t just pure luck since he''s pretty skilled himself, what a stubborn guy. He readied himself with a semi-defensive stance, clearly wary of me now. He did some probing thrusts and swings with his lance to gauge my reactions. It was easy to dodge since he was not fully committed to attacking and prioritized playing safe. I could not counter-attack easily as I did before due to the reach of his lance and because he is skilled in using his weapon of choice. Still, all his efforts were in vain since he could not even land a single blow. We are at a stalemate. "Stay still newbie! Don''t move too much!" Why the hell would I do that? Though I''m okay with this situation since I''m buying time for something.... it probably is on CD now. ''Shadow step, now.'' I used the team chat function while he was regaining his stamina from all his combo attacks. I then threw one of my throwing knives at his head while he was recuperating from his earlier attacks. He dodged it but I followed up with a slash at him with my dagger. He parried my attack but was distracted enough for Liz to do another sneak attack behind him. "Ack, not again Liz!" Renz Hp: 32% I didn''t let him rest now that he was near me. I pressed the attack until I saw an arrow flying at me. I dodged it but it made me drop my pursuit, resulting in Renz getting the distance he needed from both of us. Chu went near Renz to protect him from any more surprise attacks. He is doing all he can to keep Renz alive because he knows it will be a repeat of last time if this battle turns into a 2v1. They are at a huge disadvantage. If they attack Liz, I would just heal her. If they both attacked me, Liz would use the opportunity to deal lethal damage to them. Their best bet is to kill me 1v1 while someone stalls Liz, though it didn''t really work out since Renz couldn''t even graze me. They will lose the battle of attrition unless they can kill me first. They probably knew it too so they disengaged to get breathing room and change tactics. Liz let them go since her main objective in this fight is team building, not winning. They both went silent, probably using the team chat function... about time. We could''ve just attacked them in the middle of their planning but I''m quite curious about what they would do to reverse the situation. They would be my teammates after all, so it would benefit me greatly if I could learn all their capabilities. Besides, Liz also let them talk since it would be beneficial for the team if they started to get along well. The main purpose of this match for her is team building after all, so it''s a whole new world of improvement that they are even communicating now due to them being on the back foot. Adversity does promote camaraderie, I guess. After a short while, they seem to agree on something. They''re finally making a play, though Renz seems unsure about their plan. "Are you sure about this?" Renz hesitated. "Just go!" Chu pushed Renz hard in his back to make him accelerate towards me. "Careful Kat, he''s coming at you," Liz warned. Arrows flew in her direction cutting her off from immediately backing me up. "Your opponent is me," Chu exclaimed as he rushed towards Liz to distract her. "I got this," I replied confidently. Renz rushed quickly toward me even faster than before. As I was wondering what he was planning to do, his weapon suddenly glowed crimson red and fire enveloped his lance. He''s about to use his triumph card. I know this weapon skill; it infuses your weapon with explosive firepower for a single attack. If it so much as grazes me, I¡¯ll be done with how squishy I am. Though I won''t let it happen, I entered the state of focus I''m proficient at in an attempt to dodge his attack. "Hurrah!" he let out a battle cry as he rushed at me. As he got near attacking range, I was prepared to dodge his attack when he suddenly thrust his lance into the ground in front of me. "Explosive Lance!" he exclaimed. The ground in front of me exploded, destroying my balance and damaging me slightly. Novo Hp: 89% How astute, he knows he has no chance of landing a hit on me based on our clash earlier so he instead used the shockwave to damage me, though his play was not entirely out of my predictions so I negated a bit of damage by leaping away before the explosion. What happened next caught me completely unprepared. He threw his lance at my head. He used the explosion as an impromptu smoke grenade to hide his attack. Nobody in their right mind would throw their main weapon since it would leave them completely defenseless so his move caught me off guard. Shit, this is bad, I''ll die instantly if that hits me. *Whooosh* I managed to dodge it barely, my heart almost leaped out of my chest at how close I was to dying with that but I''m alive! I survived! I saw him rush out of the smoke, sprinting straight at me. Wait, what are you doing, you don''t have any weapon, why are you rushing at me? This is bad, I''m in no position to dodge now that I''m completely off balance from dodging the lance, he threw at me earlier. As I was wondering what is he up to now, he tackled me to the ground. Naturally, my experience in playing PVP in CoA is so broad that nothing could ever shock me. I move according to my instinct and experience to dodge whatever attacks the enemy makes. I probably would''ve dodged it out of pure instinct when I was still in my prime, but it caught me completely off guard with his unorthodox sequence of attacks. He hugged me so tightly that I might have gone red if we weren''t so focused on killing each other. Even while stabbing him a couple of times, he never let go of his grip. However, it''s only a matter of time before he dies due to my persistent stabbing. Though my arms are also locked in his grip so I can only stab at his stomach, not his head. A ping chimed in the corner of my vision. *Warning you have been immobilized by player ''Renz'' via grappling. Do you wish to log out? * Look! You even triggered the anti-sexual harassment feature you pervert! I''ll be sure to report you later so you will get a suspension warning. Though it probably won''t lead anywhere near as drastic as a suspension when the devs look at the replay. I''m just petty like that so I''m still going to report him. "Let go! Don¡¯t you know, nobody likes persistent guys!" I exclaimed as I continuously stabbed him. He completely ignored me (this bastard) and shouted at his teammate. "Shoot her now! I can''t hold on for much longer!" So that was their plan all along. It has many flaws so I can kind of understand why Renz would hesitate earlier but to be fair, it probably was their best bet to win given the situation they''re in. I''m also confident I can dodge his arrow or use this bastard as a human shield if worse comes to worst. "No need," Chu replied coolly. I was wondering what he meant by that until I realized something. At the back of Renz, there''s a bomb ready to explode. Yes, a trap bomb. A sudden memory occurred to me. He must have planted it on his back the moment he pushed Renz at the start to execute their play earlier. We both didn''t even notice it until now in the heat of the moment and also because it is hidden well. Same as my throwing knives, you can equip consumables like arrows and bombs. Not many equip trap bombs in competitive scene since it takes up a lot of weight and slows you down unless you want to do cheese tactics like setting up traps. Additionally, it cannot be thrown like a grenade by the user, limiting its use. It can be a double-edged weapon as well since if your enemy notices it before it explodes, they might just throw it back at you. He must have this on hand for a dungeon run and forgot to unequip it or I might be wrong and he always uses it on PVP. What a sicko. It usually is an uncommon consumable to bring in PVP since it takes at least 5 sec (depending on the craftsmanship of the bomb) or more to detonate after planting it. Also, by the time it is activated, no players are dumb enough to not run away and take the whole blast headfirst. So, in conclusion, very useful for monsters but useless for PVP because of its limitations and nerfs.... unless you make your teammates go suicide bombing that is. Kudos to him for this innovative thinking, it might change the way bombs are used by players. All they need to do is find a believer and eureka, easy suicide bomber. "What the heck is wrong with you!? Are you trying to kill your tea-!" Liz exclaimed as she saw the bomb. *BOOOOOOOMMMMM* The bomb exploded. Any player would normally live through that, that is how nerfed a bomb''s damage is in PVP compared to PvE, another reason why it is rarely used, but my build is anything but normal. The bomb is also the highest grade there is judging by its color. No surprise there though since Chu is max-level after all with the resources of a veteran player at his disposal. Renz is also in the red due to Liz''s damage and my continuous stabbing so there is no way he would live through it. My vision went suddenly black after the explosion. Crimson red words popped into my vision, reminding me of my death. My very first death in this account. Suddenly I came to again, with a front-row seat in the spectators'' area where the crowds are. From here, I saw Liz and Chu about to continue their bout. "That''s pretty harsh, he''s your teammate too you know." Liz scolded. "I saw you waiting to back her up, that guy would''ve died instantly without his weapon, so the only way to beat that slippery girl is to eliminate them both." Hey! Who are you calling slippery? At least word it better. Liz sighed "How practical of you. Though team matches aren''t all about practicality." "Results are what matters in the end." "I don''t agree with that. Having fun in the game is what matters the most." He scoffed at her words and readied his butterfly swords. Chapter 17 "Kill that guy Liz!" A voice resounded in the colosseum, mixing with the cheers of the NPC crowd as we all watched the two players readying their stances with the intent to duke it out against each other until the last man..... or woman standing. The one who shouted just now was my former enemy and also the main reason why I am sitting here in the spectators'' area in the first place instead of helping Liz win our match down there in the field. My annoying soon-to-be teammate who irritates me to no end, Renz. "Destroy him in the most humiliating way possible!" He shouted angrily. Hey! You''re both on the same team so why are you cheering for the enemy to kill your teammate? Who''s side are you even on? Though I can''t blame him after what happened earlier. With him being used as a suicide bomber and all without his consent by someone he trusted no less. I kind of feel bad for him now that I think about it. After their short conversation about their values and attitude toward the game, Liz was the first to make her move, she used her skill to instantly blink next to Chu and slash at him. Though as expected, without anything to distract Chu in a 1v1 scenario, he parried the attack perfectly with his weapon skill, which in turn damaged Liz due to the recoil. "Khh" Lizbeth Hp: 72% That didn''t stop her from continuing her attacks though. She instantly proceeds to go on the offensive, clearly taking advantage of the time Chu''s weapon skill is on cooldown. I have to agree with her thought process given the situation she is in. Chu''s weapon skill has the advantage compared to her own in a 1v1 match given that her Shadow Step skill cannot do any surprise attacks if the enemy is solely focused on her. We watched the match progress, Liz is having a hard time keeping up with Chu. It is to be expected though since Liz''s playstyle is focused on quick and decisive strikes, eliminating the enemy before they even receive healing or support. That kind of playstyle is more effective in team matches, where there are many diversions she can take advantage of and deal lethal blows to the enemy while they are distracted. Like what we did earlier versus Renz in the 2v2 match. On the other hand, Chu''s gameplay is more 1v1-oriented. He focuses on dealing chip damage with his fast dual weapon and bow. He also specializes in parrying the enemy''s attacks and doing fast counters with his own moveset. Coupled with his weapon skill, he is a great threat to any opponent in 1v1 situations. This is bad, Liz will gradually lose her hp until it goes down to zero if this continues. She only has ever landed a single hit the whole time they were fighting, and that only happened earlier because Chu was focused on stalling Liz during our 2v2 match. Lizbeth Hp: 56% NambaWan Hp: 72% "Looks like Liz has no chance in this fight huh," I murmured. "Heh, that''s why you are still a newbie," Renz smirked. He must have heard me because of the hearing feature of the arena that enhances the player''s voice. However, his attitude only makes me more irritated at his smug-looking face. I would''ve sat up and walked away into a different seat but sadly I can''t change locations because of the spectators'' mode restrictions. I could only move my head, arms, and body for viewing purposes or get out of the PVP lobby, which is not an option since I want to learn both of their capabilities as they would be my future teammates. The restrictions make sense cause nothing will stop players from going out of the spectators'' area and back in the fray if they can still move their feet. "Ohh please do enlighten this humble one, Mr. Veteran of CoA," I said sarcastically. "That''s right, respect your superiors more and I might teach you a lesson or two with my broad experience, my beginner teammate." He replied smugly. This bastard used my sarcasm against me. Wait, I can still move my arms, right? Maybe I could use my dagger and jam it into his big head..... Ohh all my weapons are unequipped huh? A shame, what a waste of a good opportunity to deflate his head full of air. Let''s just calm down and look at the bright side, at least he is now fine with calling me his teammate so I guess that is a major improvement from his earlier attitude. "To answer your question," he continued. "Liz has always played for fun in team matches, but if she ever gets serious, she''s the strongest player I know. I never once saw her lose a 1v1 match in an even ground ever since she reached max level on her second account." He said solemnly. I looked at his expression to find any signs of jest or tomfoolery, but all I saw on his face was utter respect and sincerity while he was watching Liz fight. I might have been wrong about this guy earlier, he probably believes in Liz''s capabilities even more than me. It kind of makes me jealous of their trust and bond with each other that had accumulated through years of playing together. That''s another thing I can add to my ever-growing list of reasons why I hate this guy, I guess. "Khack" Hearing Chu''s voice suddenly brought my attention back to the match. Liz finally landed another blow against him using her Shadow Step skill to counter Chu''s parry weapon skill. I took a look at both of their hp bars. NambaWan Hp: 51% Lizbeth Hp: 38% I saw her grinning as she continued her relentless attacks, what a battle maniac. I noticed right away the difference in playstyle from before and her current one. Liz''s moves seem more free, primal, and unrestricted compared to before with her graceful and timely attacks and dodges. Her offensive strikes are also faster, more accurate, and deadlier. That must have been her usual playstyle, a more natural way of playing based on pure instinct and predicting the opponent''s movement. She might be subconsciously holding back from enjoying matches longer against average opponents based on her personality. It also doesn''t help that her show-offish graceful type of gameplay for her viewers on stream became her facade, hiding her true gameplay. Fighting Chu, however, brings her close to her true level of skill. She might just have the potential to become a fearsome monster in the future. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They continued exchanging blows, countless dodges and parries that my eyes could hardly perceive. They got so used to each other''s moves in the short while they fought that they were at a stalemate. It also helps that Liz''s speed and precision now evenly match Chu''s, or even surpass it. I can also see our resident edge lord having an upturned lip as opposed to his usually flat expressions. Not entirely smiling, but I guess it''s his closest expression to one given his personality. He is clearly enjoying the match. Their dance of death goes on for a long while. They both look like they''re having a blast. They''re both focused on enjoying the bout without thinking of anything else. A multitude of skillful dodges, parries, slashes, stabs, thrusts, and strikes. They are both like kids in a playground without a care in the world. Watching them duel gives me a feeling of envy and desire in my heart. I also want to join them and have fun playing the game I love. Renz and I were both so captivated by their bout that we became speechless. They''re both so skilled that it made me doubt if the current me can keep up with them. I joined Liz''s team thinking that I would carry them but the way I see it, they might be the one who does all the heavy lifting. I was complacent. Their match made me realize that I should train a bit more in PVP so I wouldn''t drag them down. Still, my topmost priority is power leveling though. Ting* Suddenly a ping resounded throughout the stage that caught our attention. It was the timer notifying the players that the match would end in 30 seconds. They''re both so immersed in their battle that they don''t even notice it. To be fair, Renz and I also failed to spot the timer due to the eye-catching match in front of us. Liz probably didn''t tweak the time in the settings before the match began cause she didn''t expect the match would last this long. I doubt they would end the match in a draw though, so it is do or die for both of them. They distanced themselves a bit to get some breathing room after they heard the timer. "I guess we should wrap things up?" Liz asked, a happy grin plastered on her face. Lizbeth Hp: 7% "........" Chu remained silent. NambaWan Hp: 18% They both focused for a second and then at the same time, aggressively rushed toward each other. Looks like they are both dropping all attempts at any defensive maneuvers and going for each other''s jugular, intent on having a satisfying conclusion. Liz did a quick thrust, faster than any attacks she had done before. Chu positioned his butterfly swords perfectly in her line of attack though, it takes incredible skill for someone to execute that move given how fast Liz is moving right now. He voiced his weapon skill. "Reversal!" Chu cried. Liz''s attack is about to be parried when suddenly she makes timely use of her weapon skill. She disappeared before her attack got parried leaving both of their weapon skill rendered useless. Chu was shocked for a split second before he did a wide crescent slash at his back. To be honest, that is what I would also do in his situation. The only position left for Liz to blink to is her opponent''s back if she wanted to finish the fight. Chu would have won too if he predicted correctly given Liz''s minuscule hp, but it seems like we were both wrong on our predictions. Liz was 5 meters above Chu falling headfirst onto the ground. I noticed it first since I had an eagle-eye view of the match, but Chu noticed it a little too late. Liz landed a coup de grace with her rapier. "Ack!" NambaWan Hp: 0% Although Liz also suffered falling damage due to her risky move after slashing Chu. "Eeek!" she let out a cute voice after she fell headfirst and bounced a little. Lizbeth Hp: 0% "That was a fun match! Right?" Liz cheerfully asked while she lay on the ground. "....Yes, it was,". Chu replied before they both turned into blue motes of light. ----------------------------------------- I smirked at the guy in front of me. I''m having a very pleasant time right now. "Looks like we won, Mr. veteran player." I teased. "You''re just lucky Liz managed to carry you!" Renz reasoned. We''re back in the city of Ragath, just outside the pub we used as our meeting place. The match concluded in our favor because Liz dealt the finishing blow before she died and according to the system, that is counted as our victory. It means that we officially won and I can finally rub it in this guy''s face. "Renz, I''m sure you also know how good she is when you both fought." Liz reprimanded. "F-fine, I''ll accept you for now newbie. Just don''t drag us down in the qualifiers, ya hear?" Hey! What''s with the difference in treatment? One word from Liz and he readily accepts it. "What would be our team formation?" Chu chimed in. Looks like our resident edgelord is finally opening up a little bit after the match. I guess Liz achieved what she intended to do with the team-building exercise she proposed. "I think it would be best if we do a common 1-2-1 tactic. Novo and I will team up and go spearhead middle orb while you two go for the top and bottom orbs both solo. We will back you guys up after we get the mid-orb." Liz explained. "I agree with the formation, I don''t ever want to play together again with a guy who kills his own teammate." Renz venomously spat out. "You would be dead anyways, at least you got to take an enemy with you instead of dying pointlessly." Chu bluntly replied. "....Hah? Why didn''t you become the sacrifice then?" Renz raised his voice. "O-okay, let''s just forget what happened earlier and start anew? Infighting in our team would only lessen our chance of winning the qualifiers." Liz became the voice of reason. "Hmph, be grateful for Liz that I''m letting you off lightly for what you did earlier." Chu ignored him. Yep, looks like our team would definitely get along just fine, very peachy, super dandy, a-ok, no problems whatsoever. "So, what did you name our team when you applied for the qualifiers? You didn''t even consult us about the team name right?" I changed the topic. "Yeah, ''cause I already have a name in mind!" She replied cheerfully. Typical Liz, always going at her own pace unmindful of others'' opinions. "And what''s the name you came up with?" Renz butted in. She smiled mischievously before announcing our team name. "Team Paradigm!" Bonus Chapter - Curiosity Killed the Kat -Flashback 2 days before Team Paradigm''s first meeting took place- "Hyah!" I slashed the dire wolf that tried to bite me with my left dagger and stabbed the last one that lept onto my blind side with my right dagger. Dire Wolf Hp: 0% Wolf Hp: 0% Dire Wolf Hp: 0% Wolf Hp: 0% Wolf Hp: 0% Wolf Hp: 0% Dire Wolf Hp: 0% Wolf Hp: 0% Corpses of wolves litter around me before they disappear into red motes of light. I had just finished easily killing the pack of wolves on this grinding spot outside the city of Lilias in a broad forest. I''m currently grinding alone since Clarissa was busy with a project or something. I didn''t pry because real life should be separate from your gaming persona. Here in the game, you could be a different person as opposed to what you are in real life, an escape from reality. Whatever you want to become or however you want to act is all up to you. Nobody would stop you if you opted to become a deranged PK player or a Saint who gives away tons of freebies and items to other players. The sky is the limit. It is probably the main reason why I''m more open in the game world than in real life because of my principles. I yawned. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "I''m bored" I murmured. To be honest, grinding alone like this is faster as opposed to partying with Clarissa. I can easily dispatch whatever mobs that come at me. The XP also won''t be distributed to the two of us and instead would go all to me. But frankly, it''s super dull without her. I''ve been grinding nonstop for a while and I''m incredibly bored to death. "Let''s just take a break" I walked to the nearest comfortable-looking tree and sat with my back hunched to it. I then opened the in-game streaming app that CoA has for their players. I tapped on the search function and typed ''Lizbeth'' using the virtual keyboard. Many streamers popped up, plenty have her name but few are as popular as her since she is a ranker. I tapped on her streaming profile which has more than a thousand viewers. Another tab opened, the live stream of her playing against an enemy. It''s 2v1, she''s teamed up with a player named FairyDust, her usual support, and the enemy is in the red so they more than likely got this. I watched for a while, analyzing her moves and attack patterns. They won handily after a few minutes and celebrated their win. "Another match?" FairyDust asked. "Oh, I gotta go, I need to help my sister with something." Renz apologetically said. From my recent views on Liz''s streams and reading her chat, I concluded that this ''Renz'' guy would be one of my teammates in the qualifiers. He seems like a good person who prioritizes his siblings first and foremost, how admirable. I''m pretty sure we will get along just fine after we meet, we might even become close friends since we have the same moral principles. "Ohh that''s fine, I also have to do some homework so I would have to log out too," Liz replied. That''s right, I also have some homework to do. Meh, I''ll do it later, or probably at the library tomorrow, no rush. I typed in the chat. RandomGirl123: Nice game! Good luck with your homework UwU. It''s fine, the more I act cute and energetic in her streams, the less she would associate my stream account with the real me. I mean, she wouldn''t actually think I would type UwU right? However, it got flooded out quickly with all the people typing their goodbyes. "Thanks, guys! I''ll be introducing my entire team roster this Friday, so stay tuned all right?" She said cheerily before she turned off her stream. What to do... I don''t want to grind but Liz is already done streaming. Let''s just watch other streams. Besides, I''ve been curious about someone ever since her match against my former teammate. I tapped on the search button again and typed Murasame. The results show many streams but you could easily identify the one on the topmost list as the original. It has 748k current viewers. That''s quite a lot on an uneventful weekday. I guess some people have plenty of time on their hands. With the streaming culture becoming this popular, it is probably the norm nowadays. Though I''m also part of those people now that I''m here so I can''t really complain. I opened her stream and I saw her playing 1v1, destroying her opponent easily while silently playing the game. I took a quick look at the stream chat and I noticed something... Weird. Most of her stream viewers are Japanese based on their usernames. That is to be expected though mainly due to her nationality but thanks to the auto-translate function, I could understand what they were typing. Even though the chat is always flooded with the ongoing rush of words, most of them say almost the same exact lines. Aoi-chan please marry me! Murasame is as cool and stoic as always. Aoi-chan is ignoring us again! Feels good! Step on me miss Aoi-chan! Ahhnn, I love how she ignores us like we''re pieces of trash! I sigh. Japanese stream viewers, I couldn''t seem to understand their thought process. Though to be fair there are a lot of weird communities like that. It was even featured on the news about some guys who bought bath water from streamers. I mean who in their right mind would even buy USED BATH WATER and then DRINK IT?! This was a mistake, curiosity got the better of me. "...I think that is enough watching streams, I''ll just go back to grinding." Chapter 18 -Chu''s PoV- The world can be classified in different ways, depending on one''s interests and principles of classification. The classifications (also known as taxonomies) in turn determine which comparisons seem natural or unnatural, and which are literal or analogical. For example, it has been common to classify living creatures into three distinct groups¡ªplants, animals, and humans. According to this classification, human beings are not a special kind of animal, nor are animals a special kind of plant. Thus any comparisons between the three groups are strictly analogical. Reasoning from inheritance in garden peas to inheritance in fruit flies, and from these two species to inheritance in human beings, is a sheer poetic metaphor. Another mode of classifying living creatures is commonly attributed to Aristotle. Instead of treating plants, animals, and humans as distinct groups, they are nested. All living creatures possess a vegetative soul that enables them to grow and metabolize. Of these, some also have a sensory soul that enables them to sense thei-. "Chu, someone is looking for you!" a loud male voice resounded throughout the classroom. The voice of one of my coursemates brought me out of my focus in reading the passage I was reviewing for my later subjects. I glanced at the entrance and saw a girl, Team Paradigm''s captain, talking to my acquaintance who just shouted my name. This might be important if she wants to talk in person instead of just sending it in a messenger app. I put my school-issued tablet down for later and stood up then unhurriedly walked towards the entrance of our classroom while some of my classmates in this course looked at me curiously. I took a quick glance at my watch. It is still about 10 more minutes before class so the professor will not be arriving anytime soon. "Chu, there you are!" the girl exclaimed after she noticed me approaching. "Oh he''s here, I''ll leave you two alone then," My coursemate, Hugo, teasingly said as he smirked at me and left. How irksome. The last thing I want is rumors to spread about me and this girl. Though the said girl seems oblivious to his imputation. "What do you want?" I said curtly. "What? Not happy to see your teammate?" she replied teasingly. "Not in the slightest," I replied unamused. "T-that''s harsh" She instantly deflated like a balloon. "On with it, I need to get back to studying." "Oh right!" she instantly went back to her positive demeanor. I''ll never get used to this girl''s quick change of pace. "I just want to ask if you''re available on Friday after school, I arranged a scrim match against another team so we could practice before the qualifiers." "You called me out in the classroom just for that?" I said incredulously. "Uhm yes, shouldn''t I have?" She said confused. If I didn''t respect her as our team captain and also as a skilled player who bested me in a 1v1 match, she would have been getting an earful from me. "...Nothing. I''ll go online that time." "Great! See you on Friday then!" she loudly exclaimed before she waved goodbye and walked away. I sigh. Her last words of farewell probably have been heard by the whole classroom judging by how audible it was. I walked back to my seat mindful of the stares and murmurs I was presently receiving. I sat in my chair, intent on getting back to reading when, as expected, Edward (a close friend of mine) approached me. "You lady killer! What is this rumor I heard about you having a date with a cute busty girl on Friday?!" He exclaimed loudly for all the class to hear, intent on turning the smoke into a forest fire. This scoundrel. He''s always been the type to relish my discomfort. What a friend indeed. I stared at him in complete silence. He seems unabated at first but slowly caves in. Coupled with my no-nonsense face and stoic demeanor, doing that seems like the best way to warn him when he''s getting out of line. Works every time. "O-okay fine I''ll stop the teasing. Though I''m quite curious about what a popular freshman wants with an antisocial sophomore like you," he asked. "She just wants me to play a scrim match in preparation for the qualifiers in the CoA tourney." "What? You said you don''t want to join the u20 tourney." "I said I didn''t want to join it with you." "Urk! Are you still mad about the username fiasco? Just buy a name change card if it bothers you that much." "It is inefficient and it won''t do anything to raise your stats. I''d rather buy a material for forging than buy a name change. Though it has nothing to do with it. I just deemed it impossible to win and therefore, a waste of time if I teamed up with you." "As blunt as always. Just hook me up with that girl or something and I''ll forgive this grievance you inflicted upon me," he said dramatically. "I do not think you have a chance with her in the slightest," I replied honestly. "Hmph, nothing is impossible. We share the same hobby of playing CoA and I don''t look too shabby myself right?" Don''t tell me that these guns have no shot at her?" He said as he flexed his non-existent muscles. I stared at his actions flatly before continuing. "I am not sure if she is even interested in guys, to begin with." "What!? Is that true?" "Just a hunch. But don''t go spreading any weird rumors about her or I will get livid." I said intimidatingly. "U-understood," he said nervously. "Though, it''s quite a shame if what you said is true since she''s one of the top 5 most popular freshmen beauties rated by us sophomore guys," he continued. I stared at him curiously. "Ohh of course you don''t know, you never were once one for gossip and rumors." "Gossip and rumors are oftentimes exaggerated and far from the truth." "Then tell me what you think of these rumors about the top beauties and then we''re even," he said jovially, eager to share stories with a friend. "...Fine," I conceded. "Okay, first is the cute and bubbly girl you just talked with, Elizabeth Miles. They say that she''s a full-fledged gaming fanatic, which I suppose is true since she managed to recruit you to her team. There are even rumors that she turned down the e-sports club which is intent on recruiting a talent like hers. She is also the most popular girl among the freshmen since she''s pretty lively and outgoing and almost part of every circle." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "I guess most of those rumors are authentic. Though I am not sure about the e-sport club part." "You know what they say when there''s smoke, there''s fire. Which reminds me, they also tried to recruit you right?" "Yeah, I turned them down since it seems like a bother," I replied bluntly. "Still adamant about keeping your reputation I see," he teased. "And do tell me what exactly you meant by that?" I asked menacingly. "N-nothing, moving on, the second is the complete opposite of Miss Miles. Katherine Katrisha or something. I heard she is the cold beauty you often times see in the library. I haven''t really seen her in person since I don''t go to the library that much and she was not there the one time I did decide to go look for the said beauty," he paused to think for a bit then leaned a bit towards me before continuing in a lower voice. "Rumor says that she''s an honor student with rich but strict parents so she always studies non-stop even during her breaks at the college library. If you''re not up to her standards, she will likely ignore you or probably think lowly of you due to her upbringing," he said conspiringly. "I see, she seems like someone hard to get along with." "Yeah, I think so too. Third on the list is Michelle Thompson, the cheerleader team''s new recruit. They sa-" "Good morning." a loud and authoritative voice broke our conversation. Mrs. Smith, a pleasant-looking woman of medium build in her mid-30s unceremoniously entered our classroom. The gaze from her black-rimmed glasses is all it takes to silence everyone in the room. "I''ll continue later," Edward said as he hurriedly went back to his seat. A couple of seconds later, when she deemed it proper to start the class, she began talking. "Okay class, let us begin. The first order of business is attendance. After that, we will continue where we left off at our last meeting." -------------------------------------- -Liz''s PoV- (after class) I entered my own room after a long day at the university. Inside the room is a floor made up of wood in a bright golden tint. The walls and ceiling of the whole area are sky blue, my favorite color. It gives me a sense of freedom with its hue resembling the unrestricted morning sky. Littered on the walls are many posters and other things I could plaster onto it. Mostly composed of portraits of Team Paragon''s members and a few other CoA-related arts. My bed is next to the rightmost side wall of the room, while my laptop, PC, and Xbox are situated on the leftmost side of the room. I haven''t really played much of the games they offer ever since I started playing CoA though I still use the laptop mostly for school purposes. Virtual Reality games offer much more sense of freedom and immersion that you cannot get from playing a game while just looking at a monitor screen. I do not have a television here however since TVs are a nonfactor for me. To my front is the VR pod I use to play CoA. It is a fairly new model and well-maintained ''cause I always clean it myself. Next to it are three narrow racks connected to the wall full of numerous figurines I have collected throughout the years of playing CoA. It is composed of different figurines of pro players and primarily of my favorite team, the Paragon members, whom I proudly displayed as some sort of trophies. After changing out of my outfit and donning comfortable clothes, I immediately went to the VR pod and started streaming. I said my greetings to my viewers before announcing that I would be just mostly practicing in PVP today since the qualifiers are almost near. There are not many viewers for today since it''s in the middle of a week but there are some enthusiastic fans whom I feel grateful for who always watch me play whenever I stream. One of them is the new girl who donated just now. RandomGirl123 Donated 30 dollars Good luck with your practice match! UwU HardcoreViewer: Wow, how rich! Gregory864: Minus 30 dollars kekw im12btwxoxo: My dad is wealthier than that. I can beat that easily! Simpguy99: Nice! another fan of our princess! "Wow, thanks RandomGirl! You have been donating a bunch of times even though you have just been a viewer for only a week, right?" RandomGirl123: Oh! Do you remember exactly when I started watching your stream? UwU I tapped her profile to filter out the other chat and see what she was typing. "Of course! I keep track of most of my viewers." Those that do not type perverted stuff in chat anyway. Those types get a warning or are permanently banned if they persist. RandomGirl123: Wow, for real!? I feel super important right now! I''m like, a big fan of yours, for real! UwU. "Really? That makes me so glad to know. Oh! You have an account, right? How about we play CoA together?" RandomGirl123: No! "H-huh why not?" I asked a bit dejected. RandomGirl123: I mean, I''m sure you''re super busy and all with the tournament practice you''re having so I don''t want to be a bother. UwU Ohh so that''s why. For a second I thought she didn''t want to play with me. What a kind person, she even prioritizes my time over herself. Now I really want to meet her in-game, I feel we could have a blast if we play together. "Well, we are kind of busy preparing for it. But you can pm me anytime you want to play and I''m sure to make time, alright?" I said enthusiastically. RandomGirl123: O-okay I''m looking forward to it. "Ohh that reminds me, my team and I are going to have a practice match with some of my acquaintances on Friday in preparation for the qualifiers so please cheer for us on that day!" Simpguy99: Anything for our princess! I would even catch a grenade for you if you so ordered me to! im12btwxoxo: Of course, I''ll donate with my dad''s credit card if you guys win! BillSmith: Good luck with the scrim match on Friday! I already got the approval of Kat and Chu personally earlier so the match is set in stone... Which reminds me. I opened my friend list and saw that Kat is online. I wonder what she is doing now, probably grinding since the qualifiers are getting close. I''ll ask her again if she needs any boosting, but judging by her skills, it seems I would just slow her down since she is getting half the XP if I join, and with the penalty in the level difference, it would be better to leave her alone for now until level 70 or so. Argh, this sucks! Really want to play with her right now. Oh yeah, Kat can now join a guild. I''ll ask her to join mine after the scrim match. I would love to introduce her to my guildmates! Chapter 19 ¡±Fire Cage!¡± A wall of flame enveloped the enemies in front of Clarissa, burning the last 2 swamp trolls. They''re not dead yet but the burning damage should suffice in killing them since they cannot move due to being trapped in the cage of fire. "Nice work. You''re getting good at this." I complimented her. "It''s all thanks to you!" She beamed at me...how cute. Over the last few weeks we have been playing together, Clarissa and I have become much closer. She is no longer anxious around me and speaks her mind freely. She also improved a lot in CoA. It helps that she''s an incredibly fast learner so she can make use of the broad knowledge I have in helping her develop her own play style. Another perk of hers is that this is her first VRMMO game so she did not develop any bad habits from playing different ones, and even if she does show slight signs of it, I always do my best to nip it in the bud. We have been grinding for a while, though it''s mainly me boosting her since she needs to catch up in level for the few days she was not able to play. I made it more efficient by not partying with her but instead luring all the mobs and dodging their attacks while she spams her skills effectively killing them by herself, thus getting all the XP. It''s almost time for the scrim match so I need to get going for now. "It''s almost time for our match so I''ll leave you on your own for now. Though you can take a break in grinding if you want." "It''s okay, I want to keep going. I love killing these monsters!" She said innocently with unadulterated happiness just as the last troll''s eyeballs gruesomely popped due to the intense heat of her flames and screeched in agony as it died. I involuntarily shivered at that. I didn''t unknowingly create a psychopathic killer, right? Probably not. It''s just a game after all so she could kill as many as she wants to as long as they''re just monsters. Besides, there is no way someone as cute and as harmless looking as her could become a crazed psychopathic mass murderer... I hope. "O-okay, just... don''t push yourself too hard alright?" I said a bit nervously. "Okay! Good luck with your match Novo!" She cheered. I nodded. Player Lizbeth invited you to a PvP lobby. Would you like to accept? Y/N What perfect timing for the invite. ¡±Yes¡± I murmured. My vision suddenly faded, replaced by the usual Victorian-style lobby Liz uses for her PVP lobbies I looked around and saw Liz and Renz at our side of the large round table. What greeted me on the opposite side of the table were the in-game characters of Romel, Benny, Raynolds, and some hooded boy I am not familiar with who has a roguish black and white themed set akin to an assassin for better mobility. I identified him. Light Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 95 Guild: Assassin''s Creed Duel wr: 64% Wins: 335 Matches: 524 Team Rank matches wr: Hidden 1v1 Rank matches wr: 57% Wins: 693 Matches: 1,215 id#:*********** Introduction: Nothing is true; everything is permitted. I didn''t get to finish checking his profile when my teammates suddenly greeted me. "Kat, you''re here!" "Yo newbie, you ready to play?" I nodded at them both in response. "A pleasure meeting you again, Ms. Katherine," Raynolds gave me a gentlemanly smile. "Long time no see, Raynolds," I replied politely. "Please stop it with the lady killer act. It''s making me shudder." Renz voiced out. "Hmph, you just don''t know how to treat the ladies right, that is why you''re still single," he said smugly. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I think it''s the other way around though. But I''ll stay out of their way for now. "Like you''re the one to talk! You also don''t have a girlfriend. At least in my case, someone already asked me out, I just declined," Renz rebuked proudly. "Ohh yeah, I remember! It was the guy 1 year below us who thought you were a girl right?" Liz chimed in. "T-that was a while ago, I now go to the gym daily so no one would mistake my looks for a girl!" Renz reprimanded. All the boys chortled at that, except the last member of their team, Light, who also probably did not study in the same high school they went to and didn''t get the memo. I feel out of place here... Can I just go now? You guys could just reminisce about the past and share with each other the old good times without me. "By the way, I haven''t seen you around, how did these guys recruit you to their team?" Liz suddenly asked the 4th member of the enemy team to include him in the conversation. "Me?" he asked before continuing "I was recruited by Romel, we share some classes at our university so we became acquainted. I''m actually part of the e-sports club in our school. Our seniors already formed a team so I was one of the members who had no teammates. Good thing I heard about Romel wanting to form a team so it just kinda happened," he said as a matter of fact. He''s kind of talkative, and here I was thinking I''d find another kindred spirit but it seems I was mistaken. "I see, so you''re also in the same college as us," Liz replied. "Yeah, to tell you the truth, we already kind of met. My avatar just looks different from me in real life since I did not use the face scanner. I was actually there when they tried to recruit you to the club, but you declined. I was kind of hoping you would join so that I have another first year to talk to," he said bashfully while scratching his cheeks. "Oh, yeah sorry about that. I just didn''t think I''d get to play freely in a club as I do back in my own home," Liz said apologetically. "Oh no it''s all good, we would not force you to join if you don''t want to. By the way, where is your last member?" He changed the subject. "Oh, just wait a bit, Chu already promised to come so I don''t think he would leave us hanging." "You mean sophomore Chu Xiaolong is your last member?! He''s pretty popular in our club for his skills. They say he has never lost even once at a duel with any of his peers." He sighed "It looks like we''re in for a very tough battle," he continued. "Oh no worries, just treat it like a normal match. It doesn''t matter who wins or loses as long as all of us have fun while improving in the process!" Liz said her usual sermon, which I''m starting to become a believer in. "Although, he is taking quite a long time even for his standards," Renz interjected. Don''t mind him, it''s just the usual edge lord thing to do in this situation. He''s also busy governing Edgeville after all so he has a valid reason to be tardy. "Maybe he got scared that I would pay him back tenfold for his lucky win the last time we fought," Romel taunted. "I don''t think he''s scared of you in the slightest. We are the ones who have a huge disadvantage in this practice match," Raynolds chimed in. "Y-yeah, they have two rankers on their team," Beny replied weakly. "We have a solid battle plan though. We will turn the match in our favor with well-executed strategies and tactics. I''m a better tactician than Liz so we got this." Romel bragged. "Ohh, he''s online now, wait a sec, I''ll just invite him," Liz blurted out. A few seconds later, Chu suddenly entered the lobby. "Chu! Ready to play?" Liz asked. "...Let''s just get this over with," he replied unenthusiastically. "Is everyone on your team ready Romel?" "Let''s go! We are all ready! I''m itching to win this match and make you regret not joining our team, Liz." ---------------------------------- "This is a complete waste of time. I have better things to do," Chu said bluntly as he left the lobby. "W-wait!" Romel tried to stop him but it was too late. He was already out of earshot. "What a coward!" Romel shouted. Waste of time was an understatement. We played 3 games straight and they got completely demolished in all of those games. They didn''t get a single kill throughout the whole duration of those 3 matches even though we never changed tactics nor used some sort of advantageous strategy. This huge disparity in skills would not help anyone ?improve in the slightest and would only damage the enemy team''s morale. So it was, in reality, detrimental to them instead of helping them improve. I kind of feel bad now for their team since I always found them pleasant to be around. I was thinking of throwing the last match to give them a little boost in morale but considering how prideful boys are, especially Romel, I disregarded that notion since it might backfire. This far exceeds my expectations though. Our team lacks proper synergy since we only started playing with each other for a week and this is our 1st team match together due to me being severely under-leveled. I guess we could just brute force our way through the qualifiers with pure skills... even if we do lack proper team play. "Well, he''s not wrong. This was kind of a waste of time." Renz added. "What did you say?! Wanna go at it femboy?" Romel fumed. "...Hah? What did you just call me? Want me to beat you up in real life as I did in our last match?" Renz asked menacingly. "I want to see you try!" Okay, this is getting scary. This does not look like some friendly banter, they really seem like they are both pissed at each other. Boys and their fragile egos I suppose. Someone needs to stop them before this escalates. "Stop it you two!" Liz caught our attention. "Romel, you know how he hates being called like that. I know you''re frustrated with how the matches turned out but please don''t dump all your frustration on Clarence," she became the voice of reason. "Tsk!" Romel let out as he quit the lobby. "And Renz, at least don''t fall for his provocations. You know how he is sometimes." "Hmph, fine. But I was just telling facts, this scrim match doesn''t benefit anyone here," Renz reasoned. Liz sighed while holding her head. Silence permeated the whole room. This is kind of awkward. I could even hear the imaginary sound of a cricket if I focus enough. It didn''t last long though before someone spoke again. "Uhm, I forgot I have to do something," Light suddenly said. "Y-yeah me too," Beny followed suit. They both logged out. This leaves me, Liz, Renz, and Raynolds in the lobby. Just as I was thinking of a good excuse to get back to grinding, Liz suddenly called out to me. "Uhm, Kat. I know this is not a good time, but I might forget to ask you again later." "What is it?" I asked apprehensively. "Will you join our guild?" Liz quarried. "That is a good idea, Liz. I would love to be part of the same guild with someone as skilled as Miss Katherine," Raynolds chimed in. "Yeah, it''ll help boost the strength of our faction too," Renz added. "Oh, but please don''t get the wrong idea, we are not forcing you or anything, but I really would love for you to join. I will even make you a guild officer so you could participate in guild battles! So, will you join our guild, pleaseee." she said pleadingly with a dash of puppy eyes. Do you seriously think I could decline now? Even without all the peer pressure from these two guys, I''m sure I would cave in if you beg like that! "Sure, count me in," I said instantly. "Really?! Thanks, Kat you''re the best!" she said as she went for a hug. I could dodge it if I want to but I let her win this time. After what happened earlier, I kind of needed it too. It doesn''t affect my real body in the slightest and it''s also just a friendly hug so it didn''t procure the anti-sexual harassment warning. Unlike someone I know who clings on to me so tightly that I can''t even move just for him to blow me to smithereens. I glanced at the person in question with an annoyed look and he just looked back innocently. No use playing dumb though because I''m onto him. I can see it in his eyes, those are the eyes of an absolute degenerate. "Oh right, since you''re an officer, you could join the guild war," Liz caught my attention as she released me from her hug. "Though you will have to wait another month to participate since you cannot join the guild war the same month you joined the guild," she continued. Guild war huh, I had only joined 2 guild wars in my whole time playing CoA. The guild patch just came out back then around 3 months before I stopped playing so there is still some that I do not know about guilds. If I remember correctly, guild war takes place every end of the month where guilds duke it out with a maximum of 30 players per guild. Those 30 players are either high-ranking guild members or officers assigned by the guild leader and vice-guild leader. One of the rules that Liz was implying is a restriction that you cannot participate in a guild war if you just joined the guild in the same month. It is implemented to reduce freelance players and promote camaraderie among guild members. If a rule like this doesn''t exist, nobody is going to stop someone who is not an officer from joining a weaker guild, playing for the guild war, and then coming back to his or her previous guild. Many guild members will leave quite often and it will result in a diminishing guild loyalty of the entire CoA player base. "It''s fine, I''m not high leveled enough to participate regardless." "Okay then I''ll invite you now," Liz said as she made a couple of taps and swipes. After a few seconds, a notification entered my peripheral vision. You have been invited to Guild: ''Concord of Heroes''. Do you wish to accept? Y/N "Yes," I murmured. Congratulations! You have joined the guild ''Concord of Heroes''. "Welcome to the guild!" the three of them greeted me in unison. Chapter 20 -Renz''s PoV- *Player Novo'' has joined the guild A message pinged our entire guild. "Welcome to our guild!" We greeted Novo in unison. "T-thanks... I guess," she replied bashfully while scratching her head, clearly overwhelmed by our lively welcome. I guess she could act cute sometimes huh? And here I thought she was just a bundle of silence, petulance, and annoyance at all times. "Wait just a minute, I''ll make you an officer right now," Liz tinkered with the guild system. "How much do you know about guilds?" I asked her while Liz was busy. "Not much," she replied curtly. I guess she is still a newbie after all even if she is extremely talented at playing VR games. I asked Liz about her after our first battle out of curiosity due to her extraordinary skills and she said that Novo had been mainly playing VR single-player games. I guess that is where her mastery in dodging comes from. Just as I was about to explain the guild system, Raynolds beat me to it. Tsk, this simp. "Then let me enlighten you, Miss Katherine," he winked seductively before continuing, which in turn made my gut wrench. "There are 5 distinct rankings in a guild. First is a normal member who is part of the guild but has the lowest rank compared to others. Next is the officer rank which can be assigned by the guild leader and vice leaders, mainly for guild war purposes. Moving on is a high-ranking officer wherein a guild can have a maximum of 5. The last 2 ranks are the vice leader and guild leader. A guild can have only 1 vice leader and guild leader. They are responsible for assigning officers to participate in guild battles. In essence, a guild''s ranking is classified as members, officers, high-rank officers, vice leaders, and guild leader," he explained. "I... see," she muttered. She seems unsurprised. Though to be fair, the guild system of CoA is no different from most fantasy MMO games. Player Novo'' has been promoted to Officer rank. "There, all done!" Liz energetically said. I checked the guild chat and saw that many players are online today. 67 online out of 82 members. It''s no surprise though since it is Friday after all. A good day for gamers to play their favorite games and have a bit of fun after a long arduous weekend. Most of the response after Novo joined the guild was the standard greetings and welcome from the guild but after she became an officer instantly, the guild chat became a buzz. Glave: Wow, an officer right off the bat? Is the new member that strong? Serendipity: I wanna see this new guy. Klyth: Yeah, me too, if I win in a duel against him, I¡¯ll be an officer too, right? I typed in the guild Renz: No, that''s not how it works, besides she''s a support player so a 1v1 duel is out of the question. Serendipity: she is a girl? Now I''m itching to meet her! Rayder: Must be the leader''s friend so she became an officer this quickly. I''m sure she''s not that good and only got promoted due to her connections. Zed: What a bold assumption, Lizbeth is always fair in her decisions. The guild members went on about their theories about the new member-turned-officer. Most of them are basically categorized into two factions. The Liz supporters and the anti-Liz faction. This is occurring right now because FairyDust, our former guild leader, stepped down from her position and assigned it to Liz. When I asked her about it personally, she conveyed to me that Liz would be a better guild leader than her and she wants the guild to thrive and become even stronger than it currently was. I fully agree with her though. Liz is charismatic and has something particular in her that draws talented players like Novo and NambaWan. Still, many did not take the guild change in leadership lightly. It is mainly because the guild has been around for a long time (approximately just after the first Andartha''s Cup) and is also one of the well-known guilds in the North American CoA server, composed of mostly skilled guild members. Most of the players who were unhappy about the change were veteran players who were jealous of young blood suddenly upping them in the guild sovereignty. It was more rampant 2 months ago when the leadership had just switched, but many have been silenced when Liz became a ranker. However, that achievement is clearly not enough given the current situation we are in. This is one of the main reasons why I suggested that Liz should only recruit members she knows and trusts for now until this whole thing blows over. I glanced at Novo, the three of them appeared to be busy talking to each other. Good thing too, since I don''t want her to see our guild in such discord. Raynolds probably knows it too that is why he''s busy chatting her up. That, or he''s just simping as usual. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "Want to go check our guild hall?" Liz invited her before continuing to explain how. "You can get there by checking your teleport list. It''s already been added to your list since you''re now part of our guild. You can go there anytime you want! Well, as long as you''re not currently in a battle with monsters or players... but I''m sure you already know that" Liz rambled on. "Sure, it''s still early so why not," Novo shrugged. We all teleported to our guild base. It is located in the guild continent where all of the guild halls are built after creating a guild. This continent cannot be visited by normal means, except by joining a guild and teleporting to your guild hall. What greeted us outside was a huge guild hall with the usual three-story Gothic architecture-style building with large stained-glass windows, pointed arches, and flying buttresses situated on the sides of the building. We went inside and what greeted us was an enormous hall complete with a vaulted ceiling, stone-clad statues of gargoyles for a more alluring design, and many more ornate decorations akin to medieval luxury designs. A few members passed us by while giving a quick greeting which Liz returned amicably. Novo marveled at the sight, clearly impressed. A hint of pride welled up deep inside me even though I knew all too well that I did nothing to affect the designs of our guild hall. I have to admit though that FairyDust and Photon have a keen eye for architecture since I heard from Liz that they are the ones who renovated and designed this whole place. "It''s huge..." Novo murmured. "Of course, we put a lot of resources into constructing this building for our fellow guild members to hang around and have fun!" "Oh, but first, let''s go to the workshop, I want to forge a set for you since you have Armor for beginners," Liz suggested. "No need, I will outleve-," Liz placed a finger on her lips to silence her. "No excuses, I will not have one of my members go around with a set for level 20s. Besides, we have a lot of guild resources since we are also a fairly strong guild," Liz said convincingly. Or so she says, though I''m a hundred percent sure that all the resources will come right out of her pocket. "Liz is correct Miss Katherine. Also, I will be the one to craft your set, if you would allow me to since I am the highest-level blacksmith of our guild so do not be wary of the quality," Raynolds bragged. "Alright fine," Novo relented. We all went to the guild workshop while garnering stares from members we passed by. Most of them likely already identified Novo and saw that she is only level 65. This is bad, it might start some severe rumors about Novo''s recruitment even though they haven''t really seen her aberrant skills. I should have advised Liz to not make her an officer right off the bat, though I''m certain she would ignore me anyway, she never was one for caring about reputations and other trivial stuff and always follows her heart in whatever she does, which is a trait that I greatly admire from her if I were to be completely honest. "Here we are, the workshop!" Liz exaggeratedly gestured with her hands to the workshop like some kind of a grand reveal. The workshop is just a large room inside the guild hall and not that grand compared to the main hall. We went inside to see a room full of assorted kinds of stuff, Armor, weapons, and such, with a forge smith situated at the farthest part of the room. ¡°How long does it take you to make a level 65 set?¡± Liz asked Raynolds. "I could probably do it in a couple of minutes, but I want her set to be stylish so I would have to think of a good design instead of just a randomly generated one," Raynolds pondered. "Oh, I want to help in designing her set! Let''s add some frills and make it look cute to match her in-game avatar!" Liz proposed. I took a quick glance at Novo and saw her look flabbergasted. I wallowed in schadenfreude at the sight. "W-wait, at least let me pick the design!" She exclaimed. "Nope! It''s our gift to you for joining the guild so we want to surprise you with the finished product. Renz, please show her around the guild first, we will catch up once we finish her set," Liz instructed. "Give it up, newbie. Once she''s made up her mind, there is very little we can do about it," I dragged her out of the workshop by hand while she was still frozen in shock. ---------------------------------------- We both toured the whole place while I guided her. From the guild training hall where members can duke it out in a friendly PVP match all the way to the guild alchemy room where we craft consumables like explosives and other dastardly concoctions which she eyed warily. I''m sure that what happened during our last bout is still fresh on her mind wherein I had to resort to... unusual tactics. I blame it all on that Chu guy though. In the middle of the tour, we bumped into another player I hardly get along with. A man who looked to be in his late 20s if he used the face scanner as his avatar. He''s has long cut hair and wears a samurai-style armor of red with his katana sheathed in his left side hip and 2 small wakizashi on his other side that he sometimes uses as a backup weapon or for long-ranged throwing if necessary. I identified him. Jarde Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 95 Guild: Concord of Heroes Duel wr: 78% Wins: 632 Matches: 810 Team Rank matches wr: 61% Wins: 528 Matches: 866 1v1 Rank matches wr: 59% Wins: 551 Matches: 934 id#:*********** Introduction: Add me, and I can boost your level for a price! "Well, well, well, what do we have here? If it isn''t the guild leader''s lapdog?" he taunted. Spoken like a common thug, the only thing missing are two lackeys by his side and it would''ve been perfect. I''m sure he must''ve heard about the rumors regarding the level of the new officer and came to check for himself and this was not a coincidental meeting since he is still infuriated about what happened recently. "Want me to beat you up again in a 1v1 duel?" I responded irritably. He already challenged me once for the officer position and I defeated him soundly. He''s someone who is unskilled and doesn''t train in the slightest to improve all the while blaming it all on something superficial like a rigged system or a biased guild leader simply because he''s still not an officer. "Hmph, even if I took that match seriously and beat your sorry ass, I''m sure you guys still wouldn''t''ve made me an officer," he dismissed. I don''t blame him for wanting to be an officer this badly. Officers have the right to participate in guild wars that happen every month and in return, get more resources than just regular members. Many take the game very seriously. For one thing, it is the most popular VR game right now, another is you can actually exchange resources in the game for real-life money due to the never-ending buyers of materials in trading sites and such to increase their stats. Some even boost characters as a side job and are paid for their time due to the difficulty in leveling up in this game. No wonder why he is adamant about becoming an officer and getting preciously, limited guild war materials that can be exchanged for monetary purposes. Though that does not excuse his poor attitude. "You know that''s not true, we had a bet, and I would have gladly stepped down if you somehow managed to beat me," I countered. "And you expect me to believe you? What''s your proof? That girl over there who became an officer at level 65? How pathetic. Hey girl, tell me the truth, how many dicks did you suck to get promoted to an officer right off the bat?" "Jarde!" I shouted. Just as I was about to punch this dickhead, penalty be dammed, a hand stopped my movements. "It''s fine, let''s just ignore him," Novo declared nonchalantly as she walked past him. I followed suit, not without giving my most menacing glare to this dickhead as I walk past him. "That''s right, run along kids ''cause you both know I''m right. Nepotism runs in our guild. I guess this is what happens when a useless girl becomes the guild leader," he spat venomously. My blood boiled at his insult to Liz. Just as I was thinking about how should I deal with this guy, a murderous voice cut me off. "How about a bet then," Novo spoke. It stopped me from doing what I was supposed to do. She appears to be extremely pissed, which is unusual for someone like her who doesn''t fall to provocations easily. The only time I saw her even come close to being this angry was the time we first met when I mistakenly questioned Liz''s dedication to the tournament. This is bad. "A bet?" "Yes, if you win against me in a duel, I''ll step down from being an officer and convince Lizbeth to give you my title." "Hoh, really?" "But if I win, you''ll have to quit the guild." "Hahaha, what a funny gal, you think a low leveled twat like you has a chance against me?" He guffawed. "Wha-what are you saying!? You''re a spellcaster, not a melee fighter, this is absurd!" I exclaimed. "Stay out of this Renz," she warned. Shit, the situation is getting worse. Anger is clouding her judgment. A 1v1 is completely different from a 2v2 match for a spellcaster-type player. For one, she won''t be able to cast any skills due to having no backup to stall or make space for her to channel her spells. Basically, she is going to have to fight without any spell usage making her entire character build rendered useless. There is no way she can possibly win this. I know she is good at survival and dodging attacks but it will only take two to three lucky hits to end her while she would have to hit the enemy numerous times for her to win. She might get an unexpected critical shot like what she had done to me using her hidden dagger but after the element of surprise wears off, she would become a sitting duck. I have to somehow stop this match from happening. Chapter 21 -Renz pov- You have entered a private Zone. "Are they seriously going to fight?" "Is Jarde really going to fight a level 65?" "That girl is an officer, though." "But she looks like a total newbie. Her set is from the earlier levels of the game, too." "Oh sheyyt, Jarde''s gon'' butcher that poor lassie..." "I heard that whoever loses the battle will quit the guild!" "Wow, that''s some high stakes there right off the bat. The girl just joined, and now she''s gonna be forced to quit?" "Yeah, too bad. I really wanted to play with her." Murmurs of guild members filled the large hall while I kicked myself mentally for my inability to stop this from happening. I stand on a raised balcony that offers a panoramic view of the entire square private guild training hall below, where Novo and Jarde are currently training. This area is designated as private, prohibiting any form of recording or photography to safeguard the privacy of players. Such restrictions aim to create a secure space for players to hone their skills without the risk of being recorded and having their vulnerabilities exposed. Surrounding the square hall are guild members who are eager to watch a battle between guild members on the same balcony surrounding the entire room. Novo and Jarde are preparing for the match downstairs. Shit, Liz is going to kill me. She''s going to literally PK me if she finds out about this. The worst part is, Jarde publicized their fight in the guild chat with the intent to humiliate her so there are more than 20 members here watching the fight who have nothing better to do. This makes it even harder to sweep under the rug. However, not all hope is lost. As a last resort, I messaged someone who could de-escalate the situation. It''s a good thing she arrived here as soon as she heard about it. "You''re here, finally!" I cried in relief. "Heya Renz," FairyDust greeted. "Can you stop the match?" I asked FairyDust, who just emerged from the stairs. She assessed the situation for a while before speaking her mind. "Hmm... nope, not a chance," she said nonchalantly. "With this much crowd gathered, it''s nigh impossible to just cancel it unless I want the guild members to think that I play favorites." "Can you at least do something? They had a bet. If she loses, she will step down from being an officer. She might even quit our guild outright if that happens! We will lose a skilled member," I pleaded. "No worries, I have some semblance of a plan. She''s one of your teammates for the tournament, right?" She guessed correctly. "How did you know?" "It''s pretty obvious, isn''t it? If Liz made a level 65 an officer, it is a testament to how skilled that girl is. She also keeps bragging nonstop that she found a talented support for the tournament. It is easy to connect the dots," she said smugly. "And what do you suggest we do to stop this fiasco?" "Nothing." she smiled playfully. I looked at her with a mix of irritation and annoyance. "Wait, hear me out before you complain. Nobody here expects a spellcaster to actually win in a 1v1, right? All she needs to do is show her full capabilities, and I''ll handle the rest. This will also silence all the members questioning why Liz made a level 65 an officer of our guild. Judging from what I heard about her, I have full confidence I could spin a narrative that will favor her greatly," she said confidently. My eyes widened. As expected from a former leader of a top guild. Phew, I''m relieved now. "Though, I can''t stop her if she herself wants to honor the bet they made," she added. "Yeah, leave that part to me; I''ll try to convince her not to throw away the officer title." "Renz, what''s going on here!?" A loud voice interrupted our conversation. It was Liz, along with Raynolds, behind her. They probably just finished crafting Novo''s set and came to find us just in time to arrive at the commotion. "W-wait, Liz, I can explain!" I said nervously. She looked at the guild hall arena and saw Novo and Jarde preparing for a duel. She more than likely has an idea of the whole picture now. I''m definitely screwed. "Tsk! I''m going there to stop this whole farce right now," she exclaimed. "Wait a sec, Eli. This is the perfect opportunity to nip the rumors in the bud if she could just show the other members here her potential," FairyDust stopped her. "I don''t care about the rumors," Liz countered. "But I''m sure your friend does. And I''m willing to bet that it is the main reason why she''s down there in the first place." "But-" "No buts, don''t you trust your own teammate to pull through?" FairyDust appealed to her conscience. What a manipulative question! If she goes down to stop the match now, she would be implying that she doesn''t have faith in Novo in the slightest. What a sly fox! I keep it to myself, or she would skin me alive if she ever heard me say it. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Liz forcefully closed her eyes to think hard for a bit before she conceded. "Fine, but if this scheme of yours backfires, I won''t forgive you," "Of course, I wouldn''t want my favorite cousin to get mad at me," FairyDust smiled disarmingly. "I''m disappointed in you, Clarence. I entrusted you to protect Miss Katherine while I was away, and you failed to do so in my stead," Raynolds walked beside me while simultaneously guilt-tripping me. "Shut it, you simp," I said curtly. "How rude!" he exaggeratedly said while feigning a hurt look. "Quiet, you two, the show is about to start," FairyDust interrupted our bickering. It brought my attention back to the training hall, and I saw that they were both already in a position for a duel. "Are you ready, girlie?" Jarde mocked. "....." She remained silent as she stashed her healing staff for the final preparations. She likely stowed it away in her inventory, a wise decision considering its lack of utility. In this duel, where uninterrupted channeling is crucial, relying solely on her daggers would give her a higher chance of success. However, just as I was contemplating her combat strategy without a staff, she summoned a different one from her inventory. This staff differed significantly, notably due to the orb affixed to it. The white-hued orb indicated its functionality for chronomancy spells, suggesting that she had invested spell mastery points in this area as well. It was surprising to see her depart from her usual choice of staves with holy orbs tailored for healing spells. What truly captured my attention was the staff itself. An eerie dark red aura emanated from the staff crafted from pure black wood, adorned with intricate designs of tormented souls seemingly wailing in anguish. A white chronomancy orb instead of a light orb was positioned within the mouth of a human-sized red skull at the staff''s tip, sending a shiver down my spine as the crowd''s whispers intensified around us. "Ray, what the hell is that staff?" I asked Raynolds who is the most knowledgeable person I know in-game. "That''s... that staff is called ''Crimson Blood,'' a unique weapon," Raynolds blurted gravely. That is shocking. Has a newbie like her already acquired a unique weapon? Those kinds of weapons are extremely hard to get, either from accomplishing hidden requirements in a quest, fortuitous crafting, or other impossibly hard means of playing the game. The most distinct features of unique weapons are being untradable and undroppable upon death. It will always bind to whatever account that manages to obtain them. "I heard rumors from the deep forum of the CoA community threads, but I haven''t seen them myself. They say it is a unique staff you can get from a certain storyline quest in the demon continent that is only available by doing the quest below a certain level threshold," he continued. "It is extremely hard to acquire since it requires not taking any damage throughout the whole quest line for the NPC to give it to you as a bonus reward item. If you happen to make a mistake by taking damage even once during the quest, you will have to create another account for you to have a chance at getting the staff, or so I heard. "Whoah, then acquiring that staff is already a testament to her skills, right?" FairyDust chimed in. "I agree, although few take the quest seriously except for unique weapon collectors because that staff has one of the most double-edged weapon skills in the game, and almost nobody can use it that effectively," he continued to explain. "Why is that? What does it do?" I asked curiously. "You can sacrifice your hp for a damage boost," he replied helpfully. "Sacrifice?" FairyDust hinted to him to elaborate. "Yeah, for example, if you sacrifice 10 percent of your HP to the skill, you will acquire a 10 percent damage boost, and the amount of HP you sacrificed will be proportionate to the amount of damage boost you will receive." "That is pretty good, right?" I wondered. "Not quite. It isn''t called a ''curse'' for nothing. The hp you sacrificed cannot be healed nor recovered by any means for the duration of the curse. It has bad synergy for support mages like Miss Katherine, who are squishy enough as it is, making them even easier to kill. It''s not that good unless you are a DPS mage who wants to go full glass cannon mode, which is also extremely risky because even a stray arrow could kill you if you''re not careful enough about the health you sacrifice. I don''t advise her using it for a duel where there is no one you can rely on to tank hits for you." He rambled on. That is very bad. I hope she knows what she''s doing. I glanced at Liz, and she remained uncharacteristically silent while looking at Novo. She is more than likely anxious about the fight that is about to transpire, which is resulting in her current somber mood. "Ready to get publicly humiliated and brought to light for the fraudulent cocksucker you are, girl?" Jarde obnoxiously exclaimed just as the timer for the battle counted down. My blood boils at his unjust claims, but Novo seems to ignore him completely. Duel starting in 5.... Just before the timer started its countdown, Novo was already channeling a spell. Preemptive channeling is a textbook way for a mage to fight a duel since they can instantly cast any spell they want for a single time after the battle starts, provided that they finish the channeling before the battle starts, of course. Some players complain that it is unhonorable and all that nonsense, but I think it is perfectly fine given the drastic disadvantage spellcasters intrinsically have in a 1v1 duel. The spell she was preemptively casting was a greater haste spell. It boosts your speed by 1.25x. It is faster than the usual haste spell that only boosts the speed by 1.15x. The downside is that it only lasts for forty seconds and has a very high mana cost, making it severely less efficient than just a normal haste spell. 1.... Duel Start! Novo Hp: 100% Jarde Hp: 100% "Greater Haste," Novo cast her pre-emptive spell, creating a white light that enveloped her body. After about a second, she used another skill. "Blood Curse," she murmured. A dreadful crimson aura engulfed her whole body completely as her hp drastically fell. Novo Hp: 5% "Huh!?" "Whoah!" "Kat!" "What are you doing, newbie!" The four of us exclaimed just as the other guild members became rowdier. Is she out of her mind!? Why did she sacrifice 95% of her hp?! One wrong move or even a lucky graze from her opponent will kill her instantly at this rate. "Hahaha, I don''t know what you did, but that''s the right decision; save yourself the humiliation and just go kill yourself right now!" Jarde taunted. Novo ignored Jarde''s ramblings as she put the sinister staff on her backstrap and walked unhurriedly towards him, akin to someone casually walking in a park. Her uncanny stroll while being engulfed in a crimson aura was so ominous that it made me quiver. It appears that Jarde had become wary of the unusual situation, too, and lapsed into silence. Novo seems unguarded and full of openings to the untrained eye, but someone as experienced in PVP as I can slightly notice the full caution in every step she makes while retaining her absolute focus on the entire battlefield. Her casual way of walking might even be a psychological trick to make her opponents let down their guard and inadvertently net her an extra advantage. Jarde made a prompting attack by throwing his small wakizashi toward her head. Even if he has a trashy personality, he does have some skill befitting a member of a high-level guild. The throw was fast and precise, directly aimed at Novo''s head. As I thought that it would be the end for her, she dodged it perfectly by tilting her head ever so slightly. It almost made my heart leap out of my chest on how close it was to almost hitting her before she made a move. What is wrong with you, newbie!? Don''t scare us like that! "Tsk!" Jarde was now taking her seriously as his casual demeanor suddenly changed into a serious one. Jarde places his hand into his katana, readying a sheathed slash while waiting for Novo to walk into his striking zone. This is getting dangerous, if I had to name a strong point of Jarde reluctantly, I would pick his insanely fast opening iai strike that even I failed to block or dodge when we fought. "Be careful, newbie!" I shouted. She did not hear my warning, probably due to her intense focus on the match. Even if she did, she completely ignored it as she continued to walk towards a fully prepared Jarde. When she reached Jarde''s striking distance, a quick horizontal crescent slash met her upper torso. It was supposed to cut her in half, but it passed through her like she was transparent. No, that''s not it. She suddenly ducked while simultaneously closing the distance the moment it almost hit, exhibiting extreme flexibility and the ability to read her opponent''s moves. It was done insanely fast, and it made me think that the slash went right through her. They met eye to eye, both their faces a couple of inches short of brushing with how close they were to each other before she did two quick stabs with her daggers aimed at his head while he was fully open after he had just swung his sword. Shluk* Jarde Hp: 0% "Wha-, "Jarde was in complete utter shock and disbelief that he couldn''t even form coherent words. And so is the entire hall. "Honor your promise," she said coldly as Jarde turned into motes of light, disappearing completely from the battlefield. "T-that''s impossible. Did she kill him in just two hits? Even if she has a 95% damage boost due to her weapon skill, that''s still not doable with her level unless she did a full Dex build, right?" FairyDust exclaimed. "No... She did four stabs perfectly aimed at his head, not just two," Liz said solemnly. That revelation shocked me. How did she move so absurdly fast in a short span? But then I instantly remembered something. She was self-hasted the whole time, but it just slipped our minds. No, that''s not quite right. It is more like she made us forget. We fell to the illusion of her pace when she slowed down her movements to perfectly match that of a player without any haste buff. The crimson aura also helped to conceal the white light color of a haste buff for her benefit. She then purposely held back her movements to change the rhythm of her attacks and dodges to make it harder for her opponent to get a read on her true speed. Almost everyone''s eyes were tricked by the sudden burst of acceleration of her last attack when she went for the kill, except for a few with very keen eyes like Liz. Haste is one of the most difficult buffs to master as it can make the timing and tempo of a player''s attacks out of whack if used by the inexperienced. It also changes your perception of time, making it seldom used by players who are not used to having a drastic change in their movement timings. But the way she moves, it''s as if she poured blood, sweat, and tears into training while under the influence of movement speed-altering buffs. Newbie, my ass, that is the last thing anyone will think of her when they see how flawless her motions are. Who the heck is she? Where did Liz even manage to recruit a monster like her? After killing her foe, she silently walked out of the training hall as if she had just finished throwing out the trash on a normal, busy day. The entire hall became deathly silent. "Ray," I whispered, ensuring only he could hear my words. "Y-yeah," he responded, still visibly startled by the recent events. "Make a mental note for me never to criticize Liz in her presence," I added, reflecting on the consequences of underestimating her capabilities. Anouncement First of all, thanks to all those who messaged me with encouraging words and assurance. Knowing our work has given you (the readers) much pleasure and enjoyment in reading our story is what we writers strive for. Please forgive me for my very long, overdue break as I experienced something most writers do, writer''s block with a dash of burnout due to work. Though I''m more accustomed now to maintaining my schedule, I''ll still probably update at a more mellow pace than I did back then to avoid it from happening again. As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. Still, I honestly think what happened is for the better as I can say with complete confidence that I have grown and improved not only as a writer but as an overall better individual in the past couple of months I''ve been away. I also started learning to use Grammarly so proofreading, which has always been a big problem in the past for me (as English is not my native language) is now easier to do. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Ps: I have also edited and proofread all the past chapters (credits to Tomi for all his help. He basically did all the work, I just hid the corrections as the comment section would surely be flooded with how many mistakes I make) and added tweaks to some of the chapters for a better flow of the story. Also added a bunch of artwork (more than 50) in different chapters for a more immersive reading. So be sure to check out the previous chapters. Chapter 22 In front of me, my opponent vanished into blue motes of light after I stabbed him in the head four times as quickly as I possibly could with my current skills. Begrudgingly, I must admit that he does have some skills. His sheathed blade strike was very quick and precise. Any normal player would have not a shred of hope dodging his first deadly attack. Too bad that the matchup was overwhelmingly skewed against him for it to even be considered anything but unfair. Although I don''t regret humbling him, not even a bit considering his earlier attitude. Now that my concentration in the duel diminished and my agitation was doused after killing my opponent, my focus returned to the present. I slowly glanced at the entire hall to survey it carefully without letting anyone know my gentle probing. Complete silence. If I drop a pin here I''m pretty sure everyone in the huge hall can hear it making a sound. Worse yet, all eyes are on me as if I''m some kind of rare specimen from a zoo. I''m a human you know! Don''t treat me like some kind of unidentified species from a different planet. This is bad! I might have overdone it juuuust a little bit. Though too late for regrets now. Besides I''ve accomplished what I set out to do in the first place. I silenced anyone having any doubts about me being an officer and disproved rumors about Liz''s nepotistic nature. Now I just have to walk normally like nothing worthwhile happened, so that I can downplay whatever I did. I walked out slowly towards the exit of the hall like any normal person you can see walking in a park. Hopefully, this act can give a better first impression of myself than what happened in the duel, especially since I''ve just joined Liz''s guild. I hope that they would think of me as a calm, approachable, and mature guildmate. Not a bloodthirsty gremlin ready to PK anyone who even dares to look her in the eye. The silence grew even louder as I exited the duel area and to my relief, I finally got out of that stifling atmosphere. I sighed. Before I could even begin to appreciate my much-needed privacy from prying eyes, a familiar voice threw that notion out of the window. "Kat!" Liz''s voice caught me off guard. She rushed toward me with a tackle. Though I can easily avoid it, I don''t want her to stumble and fall if I get out of the way of her dive. So I made peace and accepted my fate. *thump "Humph," I made an unladylike sound just as she knocked the air out of my lungs with her forceful tackle which sends me down butt first. I don''t prioritize strength and my armor is too light to be of help, what did she expect to happen!? Of course I won''t be able to support her weight! For her part, she did have the sensibility to look abashed by her actions. "S-sorry". She apologized and after a moment of silence, she continued. "And also, thanks!" She said with a bright smile, brighter than the sun itself, her eyes gleaming with earnest appreciation. She might have read my true intention in setting up that duel and is very grateful to me for defending her reputation as this guild''s leader, though it still made me quite embarrassed to be on the receiving end of her earnest gaze. So I did the best thing an awkward person like me can do in this situation. "I-it''s not like I did it for you or anything! That guy just got on my nerves so I beat him up." I made another excuse while averting my gaze from her gleaming eyes. Wait, what am I doing!? I''m becoming one of those tsundere types! "Heehhh, what do we have here" came a familiar teasing voice. I glanced at the source and saw the mature beauty I often see in Liz''s streams, FairyDust. Following her was Renz who looked quite abashed and Raynolds who was grinning from ear to ear. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Before I could say anything, FairyDust continued with her mature but teasing voice, a contrast I found rather endearing. "I didn''t expect you to be this bold Liz. Doing it out in the open? My, my, how has my cousin grown this fast without me even knowing it." she said with a playful smile. My confusion from her words turned into comprehension as I finally realized what she meant. Due to Liz''s earlier tackle, she is now positioned on top of me in a very suggestive way while my butt is the only thing standing in my way of being completely sprawled into the ground. "T-that is not what happened and you know it!" Liz immediately shuffled to stand up while denying the allegations. I, in turn, was completely at a loss for words. Good thing this is only a VR avatar or my face would be beet red by now with how embarrassed I am. "Hehe, sorry sorry, can''t pass up the chance to tease my favorite cousin and her cute girlfriend." "Rana!" Liz made an embarrassed shrill cry. "Yeah, yeah, I''ll stop, sheesh. You don''t have to be so loud." I, in turn, triggered my survival instincts by staying completely still, not even moving a single inch while my brain almost short-circuited. I mean, we''re both girls! What are you even implying?! After a short while of berating her cousin, Liz helped me up by lending a hand. "Sorry, she''s always like that just don''t mind her." "It''s fine." I leveled my voice into a calm one, careful of letting any of my emotions show through. "Tsk! I was hoping for more of a reaction, you''re no fun. I''m FairyDust by the way, former guild leader of this guild. Nice to meet ya!" "A pleasure" I responded amicably and shifted to polite mode. "Liz told me a lot about you, she always brags about this amazing prodigy she found to join her team." "Thanks, although I believe she might be over-embellishing my skills." "I thought so too at first, but after seeing that fight, she might be even downplaying." she eyed me probingly. As if she was laying all my secrets to bear. It momentarily gave me the chills, like a rabbit caught in a snake''s deadly gaze. Thankfully Raynolds cannot hold his enthusiasm and begins to blabber out his amazement. "Miss Katherine, that fight was impressive! I was right the first time I saw you! You''re extremely talented! The way you dodged that slash was impeccable! The timing was perfect! And don''t even get me started on the counterattack, it was so fast that I barely saw it coming! You''re so good that you could even go pro with your skills and that kind of talent!" Raynolds showered me with praise in quick succession that I didn''t have time to respond to. "That should be expected of a member of our team Paradigm," Renz stated approvingly. "Not bad at all......for a newbie that is." You could have just excluded the last part! Honestly, this guy is just so prideful. However, it works in my favor since the last thing I want is for them to be overly enthusiastic in digging up my past. As I was thinking up insults to hurl at this stubborn pervert, the background murmurs of the outside hall increased, it took me a bit to realize that we were slowly garnering attention from other guild members who witnessed the match. Chatters of guild members can be heard but none closely approached us. However judging from their growing interests and discussions, it''s only a matter of time before they do. "Let''s go, Kat, we still haven''t given you the set we promised." Liz thankfully noticed my apprehension and suggested a way out, which I''m very grateful for. "Sure, lead the way" I accepted her offer. ------------------------- We are back in the guild workshop. The room is filled with racks of armor, each one made of the finest materials. Helmets, gloves, boots, breastplates, bracers, shields, and more all fill this room in a chaotic yet organized way. It''s purely for aesthetics design since nobody can actually wear those but it does help with the setting for a better crafting environment for the craftsmen working at our guild. The only people here are me, Liz, and Raynolds. Renz told us he had plans to watch a movie with his sister and logged off early while FairyDust said that she had something important to do. As Raynolds traded me the set, I immediately complained at the waste of materials for something I would replace eventually. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this a bit overkill? I would be changing it eventually when I get enough levels¡± I protested. "It''s fine Miss Katyusha, it is only customary to sponsor a guildmate using the guild funds especially if even qualifying for the main tournament gives our guild a huge increase in prestige. Also, you¡¯ve proven your skills earlier in your fight against Jarde so I don¡¯t think anyone will criticize us for burrowing a bit from the guild funds,¡± Raynolds gave me a conspiring wink. ¡­I see, so that¡¯s how it is. They really went out of their way to find a gear at my level. They even handcrafted me a purple earring accessory, which is rare for lower levels to have. Only a maximum of three accessories can be equipped at a time so this will occupy one slot until I find a stronger one, though I doubt that would happen anytime soon. The design is also better than I anticipated. To be fair, what I expected were cute frills and other designs befitting a magical girl judging from what Liz said a while ago when contemplating the design. While I might not be entirely against those kinds of designs, it would be extremely embarrassing if I were the one wearing them. Raynolds probably held her off from going too overboard. I''ll be sure to thank him for that later. However, I do have one major problem with this design. I opened the character page menu to see how the outfit looks on me. "Ray, isn''t this set a little bit too revealing?¡± "O-of course not miss!" he stuttered. "This is a perfectly normal design for female mages of your body type! It highlights your perfectly shaped figure and also makes you look more mature in the eyes of people!" he rebuked. I sighed. Hmm, I guess if it does make me look more mature and stylish then I don''t really mind. Better than wearing magical girl''s clothes for kids. And who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth? They worked hard for this set and allotted a lot of resources too, the least I can do is be grateful for their actions. "By the way, does this mean you want to transition into a DPS? With your new staff and all." Liz addressed the elephant in the room. Ray became silent, likely dying to know my answer to the question that had been bugging him but too afraid to ask. I pondered for a bit before replying, "No, it''s too risky for team fights to use my unique weapon since all it takes is a stray projectile to kill me if I rely on it too much. It does increase our options since I can now cast haste on you or hold my own 1 on 1 if needed." Team fights are often so chaotic that I cannot be sure to dodge everything that comes my way. Not with my current skills at least. "I see that makes sense, but aren''t you spreading your stats and skill points too far with that kind of build?" She has a point. I didn''t even get some of the survivability passive skills that healers tend to have in favor of putting it to chronomancy just to cast haste buffs. "Yeah, kind of. I am grossly neglecting my survivability in exchange for healing, support buffs, and a little bit of damage. That is why I''m counting on you to protect me, my faithful knight." I teased. "I promise none shall harm thee till my last dying breath, Milady!" She teased back. We both giggled at our banter and in the corner of my eye, I saw Raynolds grinning at us from ear to ear. Chapter 23 ???? PoV In front of me was a door carved in a pattern of vines and leaves, the wood forming intricate patterns that wrap around the surface. The wood''s design was rich and dark, with a deep red hue. The carvings are elegant and precise as if the designer had taken their time to make sure that every detail in the layout had been fully realized. Though I might be wrong and it was only a premade design. Something that you can copy just about anywhere in the guild-building creator mod. It was set on a wall covered in silk whereas the silk provides a stark compliment to the elegance and beauty of the wood itself. I knocked as common courtesy, even though I was certain that the receiver of the polite gesture did not deserve it. A second or so later, an alluring voice responded. "Come on in". I did as I was told. When I entered the ornate door, my eyes immediately surveyed the room, a hushed air of anticipation hung heavy in the dimly lit chamber. The floor is covered in the finest woolen rugs, and the furniture in this room is made of the most luxurious materials - rich, red wood and dark, deep-hued leather. Behind the moderately large work desk resides a comfy-looking chair where a mature-looking beauty sits. The woman is none other than the guild leader, no, former guild leader of my guild, the "Concord of Heroes". "What do you want to talk about that can''t be discussed just over the chat?" I said irritably. "Oh come on now, don''t you want to see the face of your favorite guildmate and longtime friend?" Said the fox with a teasing smile. "I already saw Photon earlier". She pouted at my response. "Humph! You can at least pretend to flatter me. Ladies adore flatteries you know.¡± "Out with it already, I don''t have all day." "Tsk. You''re really no fun. Is that an attitude required to be good at this game? Almost all the skilled players I know have that no-nonsense disposition. But fine, let''s get back on track. I called you here to talk about the video....you already saw it right?" She must be talking about the short video circulating in our guild chat about the newly assigned officer who joined our guild and made Jarde quit in all but a single day. Not that I''m complaining, that guy is extremely irritating and toxic. Even if this didn''t happen, it''s only a matter of time before someone else puts him in his place. "You mean the clip about the new girl?" I asked just to be sure. "Yep yep, what are your thoughts? Think she can beat you in a duel and uncrown you as the strongest player of our guild?" She smiled mischievously. "No, that''s impossible. Even if you discount my insurmountable advantage in gears and stats, that kind of trick won''t work a second time against veterans like us." I replied confidently. It might work again for average players but it won''t work for those who are truly skilled and fully prepared for it. Although I admit that it was an innovative gameplay strategy, it will still lack the surprise factor if her opponent knows what she is about to do. A true battle always starts at the preparation phase long before the combatants meet on the field. It''s a shame she used it in a public duel and on an average enemy at that. It could''ve been a huge trump card that can change the tide of battle against other officers in the guild war placement. "Hehe, of course, of course. She won''t stand a chance against someone who took a single match against the legendary Paragon team in the first Andartha Cup," she said in a teasing manner. She talks as if that''s the greatest achievement I''ve done in the game, which is kind of annoying. Even if we did take a point from them, we still lost the series 2-1 leading to our elimination. Therefore, that feat is not really something to brag about. Worse yet, I can''t even get a revenge match because their ace suddenly went MIA. I know Rana is just messing with me but it always irks me a little whenever she brings it up. "Hmph, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be going now." "Oh wait, on another note, any notable changes in your faction?" She inquired. The faction she is referring to is the group of players who are not satisfied with the current proceedings of the game. Most are veterans who hate that new blood is the one who gets to be the guild leader, others are people like Jarde who just want to go up the guild ladder. They swarm to me like flies since I''m the vice leader of the guild and also a veteran like most of them. I also share their sentiment on the status quo of the guild, or at least pretend to. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "You mean the faction you pushed onto me." She looked melancholic at my response which made me instantly regret what I said. "You know it can''t be helped. People are prideful and vindictive. You can''t expect them to readily accept someone as young and fairly new to the game as Liz to instantly become their leader without any pushbacks. Moreso since some of them rely on CoA for their livelihood considering how much money you can garner from it due to its overwhelming demand for materials in the online market. It takes time to adapt to changes, and it is your role to regulate their actions so that something like yesterday won''t happen again." Though I loathe to admit it, I completely agree with her. Thankfully the new leader is proving herself capable, already garnering more and more support, which will exponentially increase if she makes it through the u20 tournament qualifiers. In hindsight, Rana might have planned this from the start, what a cunning fox. "...They were all silenced by that new member''s display of skill. Although, this little squabble could all have been avoided if you just didn''t step down from your position in the first place." "Our guild won''t have any future if we don''t adapt to the changing tides. You very well know what happened to many of the guilds that started early and refused to give way to talented newcomers. They got outranked more and more by the newer guilds that came up and eventually became obsolete. I can''t even keep up with the new blood nowadays with the ever-changing meta. Even legendary pros like Tactical gave way to the newer generation of pros. That is why we need someone like Liz who has great potential.... and is extremely charismatic too if I might add." She smiled as if remembering a joke that only she knew the punchline to. I closed my eyes for a little bit to contemplate her remarks. Even though she''s manipulative and cunning, I can''t deny her love and devotion to our guild and its members. That''s the main reason why I still respect her and continue to tolerate her antics. "So you''re using Elizabeth as the new face of the guild? How very like you." "Hehe, I won''t say ''using'' though. It''s more liiike..... grooming? Training? Readying? She''s bound to become a wonderful leader someday. People are like moths, they''re attracted to individuals who shine brightly like her. You know she even has plenty of followers in her streams? As I recall it''s more than a thousand now and steadily increasing!" She went on like a parent bragging about their child''s accomplishments. "Yeah, yeah. Then if that is all, I shall be going now." I stood up in preparation to leave. "Oh, wait. One last thing before you go," she said in an authoritative voice befitting a guild leader. I have a bad feeling about this. "I hope that you continue to keep your guys in check. Cause'' if something like yesterday ever happens again.... I''ll be livid." She stated as she gave me a smile that sent shivers down my spine. She went back to writing the logistics on her desk which I assume is a cue for me to leave. I took it readily to get away from her as she was at the very top of my list of people I would never want to piss off. I cursed the fool Jarde in my head. It''s not like I can predict the actions of that retard. Good thing he is out of the guild now. Gotta thank that newcomer for making that wager. Too bad I have to keep up the act so that probably won''t happen anytime soon. As I passed the door and walked into the hallway, I saw someone leaning against the walls of our guild likely waiting for me. She was Serendipity, the second strongest person in our guild in terms of pure skill and was a veteran player who started the game at the same time as us Photon and FairyDust. She was younger than us, the same age as Liz but was just as strong as her, or maybe even stronger in terms of skill. The only thing hindering her is her lack of PvP practice and drive to improve due to her laid-back nature. She has green hair and the homely face of someone trustworthy, her yellow eyes complementing her overall looks. "Finally done with the meeting? What did you guys talk about?" She asked cheerfully. "None of your business," I replied curtly. "Oh come on, don¡¯t be like that, you know I love gossip!" She pouted showing her disapproval. "More reason not to tell you anything". "Hmph what a meanie! Oh I know, is it about the new girl?" I stayed silent. "I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?! Did she want you to fight the girl or something? She seemed so good! Also what a badass right? What she did back then was so cool, the way she dodged Jarde¡¯s slash like it was nothing and followed with attacks so quickly that I almost missed it completely! She got so many of our guildmates to revere her in just a single day with that play, how admirable! Do you think she has a main account? She has to have one, right? With that kind of skill! Who do you think is her main account? It''s probably a veteran account right with the way she moves! I also think that...¡± I mentally blocked her ramblings. She went on with her loud-mouthed nature while following me, attempting to learn more about my meeting with our former leader. I was used to her since she was my PvP and dungeon-run party mate so this was not out of the norm. We proceeded to go to our guild raid as she pestered me about inconsequential things and rumors about the guild. Chapter 24 Clarissa I''ve always been timid when I''m around people. A person who is reserved when interacting with others. Someone who simply just doesn''t want to be a bother to anyone. But because of my reticent attitude, my parents always praised me for being kind and selfless. It made me delighted that I could make them happy by just being kind to others so it gradually became my dominant personality. It also makes me happy to see others I care for smile. That is why it clung to me, the desire to please others. To prioritize others'' happiness over mine because I know that in turn it will make me happy. Although sometimes I get selfish thoughts. I wanted the last slice of pizza, but I know my little brother also really wants it. I wanted to go out with my very few close friends just to have fun all day, but I know It would make my overprotective parents worry. I wanted to watch romance movies, but I know my big brother hates those kinds of films. I wanted to tell my big brother that I''m playing CoA, but I know he would abandon his practice for the sake of playing with me. I wanted many things, but if what I wanted would just lead to others'' inconvenience, then it''s better to keep it inside. That is... until I heard her say it. "Prioritize yourself more. It''s okay to be selfish sometimes even if you think you''re being a bother!" That one statement resonated inside me, it made me want to get close to her. So I accepted her offer to help me. Then it went on. The time we spend together has been the most fun I''ve ever had. The way she helps me even though I know I''m an inconvenience. The way she teaches me all I need to learn and more. The way she gives me stuff that I know is worth a lot from what I read at the CoA community. The way she smiles at me even when I''m being selfish. I can sense its authenticity and that she truly wishes for my happiness. It made me realize that I can also make people that I care for smile even if I get a little bit selfish as long as they know I''m happy too. It made me realize that true happiness is not attained through self-sacrifice but through mutual reciprocation. Not something linear, but something akin to a cycle. That is why I''m trying my best to catch up to her so that I can help her too when I''m strong enough. That is also why I''m trying my hardest not to waste her effort in teaching someone like me. ".....rissa, Clarissa!" "Huah wha-" I was caught off guard. "The movie is already over, you were spacing out. Something on your mind?" My brother called out to me worriedly. "Oh, nothing brother, I was just thinking about the ending," I lied. I can''t very well tell him that I''m playing CoA, not when their qualifier round is coming up this week. It would be just an unnecessary distraction for him. He should be focusing on his practice, not on me. "I know right? I was shocked to find that the killer was his best friend all along!" he stated as he browsed the TV for another movie to watch. "Oh! do you want to watch this? They say this movie is good. I heard one of the best parts is when the protagonist says ''It''s morbin'' time!'' Then he proceeds to morb all over the bad guys! It looked so cool when I first saw it in the trailers," he rambled on. I see... that does sound kinda cool. I thought to myself. Although if I remember correctly, his qualifier matches are coming up. I don''t want him to neglect his practice because of me. "But, shouldn''t you be practicing for the uhm... tournament you''ll be having? You told me it''s almost up right?" I asked hesitantly. "Ohh, we will be practicing later tonight, but for now, one of my teammates is just going to be busy boosting my ''other'' teammate for the qualifiers." After contemplating for a bit, he murmured in a low voice that I failed to hear. "Though I don''t think she even needs help in the first place." "I see..." I replied, not really knowing what to say. "So anyway, you wanna watch this one?" He showed me on the smart TV screen a picture of a man whose half of his face is transformed into what I can only identify as a fanged monster. I glanced at the digital wall clock on top of the family living room. It''s already past noon. Good thing today is a Sunday so there are no classes. Although it''s nearly time for Novo and me to meet. We agreed that we would play this afternoon. He then made a pleading face while asking me with a pitiful voice "Don''t you want to spend time with your brother?" I felt my knees wobble, I almost gave in. No Clarissa! You need to endure! You already made a promise to Novo that you will meet her today! "S-sorry brother, I already made a promise to a friend," it takes all of my willpower to decline him. My brother''s attitude turned 360 degrees. "Is this the same friend you meet up with almost every day?" He said in a serious tone. "Y-yes, why do you ask?" "Is your friend a boy or a girl?" "She''s a girl," I replied honestly. He visibly calmed after that. "Listen, Clarissa, I know you trust this person but I just can''t help but worry about you." "...I understand, brother." "Do you really? You''re naive, clumsy, gullible, and easily susceptible to doing others favors." "Ughh!" So this is what Novo sometimes calls a critical hit. "There was that time when you fainted due to hunger in school because you gave all your lunch money to a homeless person you met on the way." "Guh!" Another critical hit as my cheeks redden even more. "There was also that time when our parents got called because it has been found that you let the entire class copy the assignment that only a few of you guys got to finish." Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. "Hugh!" In my defense, that assignment was pretty unfair so I helped all my classmates, I didn''t want them to have a bad grade, not if I could help it. It made me quite embarrassed that my parents were even dragged into it. "There was also that time you-"! "Okay, okay, I get it brother, just.... please stop reminding me of embarrassing things!" I pleaded. He sighed, "My point is you''re too kind for your own good. Just please promise me you will not let yourself be taken advantage of by ''this'' person you are constantly meeting online. There are many people over the net that may appear kind to you online but in real life, they carry extremely malicious intentions, especially to someone as cute as you." "I promise." Though to be honest, it is the other way around. I feel like I''m the one who takes advantage of her. He then returned to his usual caring smile. "Go on then, don''t let me keep you up any longer." I breathe in relief that he didn''t push any further. I don''t expect that I can keep my secret any longer if he even pushes a little bit more considering how clumsy I am with these things. Though I promised myself I would tell everything after his qualifiers. The thought of his surprised face when he sees that I''m also playing his favorite game and his astonishment at how strong I''ve become makes me unconsciously smile. "Hehehe," I grinned. I can''t wait to introduce him to Novo so that he will know for sure how kind Novo is. It will surely alleviate his concerns about who my online friend is. I''m sure these two will get along cause they''re both very kind people. I excitedly went upstairs to my room. I opened my door to find a spacious enclosure. The walls are painted in a warm yellow-cream color, with pink and peach highlights from the furniture. Light wooden hardwood flooring provides a contrasting warmth to the chill of the outside. The window is opened just slightly, allowing sunshine to shine in and dance in the wind, creating a gentle breeze. The large furniture that holds my stuffed animals is made of a variety of woods and paints, with some white and pink floral patterns as decoration and a pop of color. The walls are adorned with photos, drawings, and paintings, creating a cozy space with a plethora of personal touches. Near my bed is my VR pod, its floral design matches the entire room, vastly enhancing its beauty. I quickly went inside the VR pod so I could meet Novo again. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I am currently inside a creepy dark forest in the Demon continent famous for its leveling spot for mid-level players. The forest loomed before me like an ancient cathedral, its canopy of dense foliage blocking out most of the daylight. As I stepped onto the gnarled roots and fallen leaves, an eerie silence enveloped me, broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures in the underbrush. The trees, ancient and towering, seemed to lean in, as if whispering secrets amongst themselves, their branches intertwining like skeletal fingers against the overcast sky. Vines snaked around trunks and roots like serpents, adding to the sense of entanglement and obscurity. It was a bit scary at first, but I know it will all be worth it after I meet her as she never failed to protect me. With each step, my excitement grew. Even in this dark forest, I could feel the anticipation bubbling as I made my way to the designated place. Then I saw her, a smile lit up the entire space as our eyes met. We both moved almost involuntarily, closing the distance. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m the first one to arrive today,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Yeah, you beat me to it again, I wanted to arrive first,¡± I said, a bit disappointed. ¡°No can do, can¡¯t let a cute girl like you wait for me,¡± she jested. I know she is just joking whenever she calls me cute, but even so, my heart skips a beat every time she does. ¡°Wh-what will we be doing today?¡± I quickly changed the subject to not let her notice. ¡°Remember the friend I talked to you about, she will be helping us today in grinding XP.¡± As if noticing something, she did a double-take and continued. ¡°Oh, looks like she¡¯s already here too.¡± As I turned around I saw a beautiful girl. She is the epitome of elegance and grace. Blonde hair falls neatly past her shoulders, and pale blue eyes glimmer with liveliness. She stands in a regal custom knight set whose design leans more on aesthetics rather than practicality. However, from what I learned from Novo, costume sets like that have more stats than normal ones since they are custom-crafted by high-level blacksmiths. It serves as a symbol of both her strength and power in this game. All the while, a soft, elegant smile complements her beauty, though there is also a hint of mischievousness from it. When she spotted us, she then charged at Novo and hugged her. My heart sank at that. "Kat!" She cried out. She''s even on a nickname basis with Novo, I know her real name is Katherine when she told it to me one time, but it still felt off calling her anything other than Novo. Before I even knew what I was doing, I pried Novo away from her by clutching her left arm. As I did, the newcomer finally noticed me. "Ohh, is this the companion you''re talking about? She''s sooo cute! But hmmm... she kind of looks familiar though." She said as she surveyed me from head to toe. I hide behind Novo like I always do while staring at her cautiously. "Aww, I think she doesn''t like me," she smiled awkwardly. "Don''t mind it too much, Clarissa is always like that around people. Give it time, she will open up to you eventually," Novo stated while she gave me a quick, reassuring look. I know I''m being selfish as I cling to her more than necessary, but I can''t seem to help it as this foreign emotion wells up inside me. I tightened my grip on Novo''s hand while I stared at the newcomer with newfound determination. At least, please let me continue being selfish on this matter. Chapter 25 I''m currently in a pickle. I might even literally be getting pickled right now. You ask why?! Because on my left side, Clarissa clings onto my shoulder like a very cute koala. I can''t really blame her though. She is likely scared of the creepy dark forest atmosphere we are situated in. The fact that she''s still likely shy about having a new member to our usual two-man party adds to her unusual behavior. Not that I''m complaining since a cute angel is basically half-hugging me.... but still! Meanwhile, on my right, Liz pulls on my hand like I''m some sort of wagon. She seems very eager to help me in any way she can to show gratitude for the ''debt'' she still thinks she owes me. I always remind her that I did what I had to do so she doesn''t have to feel that way. Being an underleveled officer is the reason something like that happened in the first place so I''m just assuming full responsibility. I know I should be delighted by this current scenario cause'' it feels like I suddenly became a normie going out with close friends. It feels like we''re walking to a karaoke place or a mall, which I admit I had very little to no prior experience whatsoever with. That''s fine and all, but the thing is, we are really not in an area that can be considered a ''friends hanging out'' type of place. We are currently in the Nightshade Forest in the demon continent famous for its grinding spot for levels 70 to 80 leveled players. It is located northwest of the city of Cindersoul, the demon continent''s capital city. I''m currently level 67, four levels higher than Clarissa who is still just 63 (mostly because I grind solo sometimes) but we still chose this place to be our grinding spot even though we''re grossly under-leveled because we have someone boosting us. Sure, Clarissa is getting some of the XP but I calculated that bringing her won''t make that much of a difference in the long run because of the party bonus for a larger number of parties. I also don''t want to leave her too much behind in terms of level so it''s a little biased on my part. We could''ve even gone for a full four-man party to grind with if we could find someone who won''t slow us down and is still in the level 60s. Sadly, those types of people are hard to find since we cannot be sure of other players'' skills in the game just by identifying them. The ambiance in this dark forest is quite dreary though. The trees are so tall and thick that any light that might''ve managed to break through the treetops is completely muted once it reaches the ground. A heavy silence fills the air, broken only by the rustle of leaves and birdsong. Even my own footsteps seem quieter here as if the forest is sucking the sound out of the air. There is an unsettling feeling of being watched, but even when I glance back, the only thing behind me is even more darkness. It also feels like I cannot dodge at all if an enemy decides to ambush us because I''m sandwiched between these two. I know that nothing really poses a threat against us now that Liz is accompanying us but I''m not used to my dodging instinct being suppressed. We are currently walking to the next grinding spot to conserve stamina. Our grind is going smoothly, having just finished clearing two grinding sites in less than 10 minutes is quite a good use of the time. This is mostly thanks to Liz just killing every mob that comes into view with nothing but a single precise critical strike with her rapier. I can also do that with my unique staff by casting the ''Blood Curse'' weapon skill to drastically boost my damage potential but it''s risky and has the inconvenience of waiting for 5 min every time I use it. To top it all it only has an effect time of 30, seconds making it impractical for repeated uses. One big upside in all of this is I managed to convince Liz to not stream for today. She was against it at first, telling me how her followers were literally begging her to feature me on her streams again since her last stream with me on our scrim matches was well received. It just made me more motivated to not let her stream today, and after a couple of back-and-forths, I finally managed to convince her... just barely though, and with a heavy price. She got out of the agreement that I would not dodge her if she tried to hug me for the whole day. It''s a fair trade I guess.... probably. We continued grinding and clearing up the level spots. It takes a while for mobs to respawn so we always move from one grinding spot to another after wiping out all the mobs that reside there. The enemies we face are mostly dark elves of different variants like knights, archers, and mages. I mostly just try to protect Clarissa and buff Liz while she does all the hard work. It''s the quickest and safest play if we are to grind effectively for long periods. There are a few close calls where Clarissa almost died but I always manage to heal her on time or parry a fatal arrow or dark ball coming her way so our grind remains smooth and uneventful. It also helps that she is talented in her own way. Her basics are impeccable and her intuition is on point. I know I''m probably biased because I''m her teacher but anyone seeing her rate of growth would have to admit that she is an extremely fast learner. We garnered a lot of attention from people who were also grinding in the same Forest as us, which made me feel a little bit sorry for them because we always get almost all the XP from the surrounding mobs. Most of them gave us a look of displeasure, some death stares, but none called out to us nor made any trouble for us mostly because they saw Liz. Having a ranker in your party does that, it serves as a deterrent for people especially if they think there is a chance of getting PKed by the said ranker. Though I''m pretty sure Liz won''t resort to that, not if she can help it. Higher-level hunting grounds have limited servers so as not to fluctuate the prices of materials. Although cross-server instances have been implemented in low-level grinding spots, it is still regulated in higher-level ones that drop valuable materials for high-level crafting. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The scarcity of the materials drives up the value of it in the market. Having a high demand from the millions of active gamers playing CoA and a low supply of crafting materials boosts the market price after all. Conversely, the price of the materials on the market will inevitably become nonexistent if they enable too many servers for grinding. Some people will just hire players to spam farm loot 24-7 if that is the case. The CoA team manages it very well, making the price of the materials fairly decent creating a stable market of the materials. The result of this is that guild skirmishes often happen between guilds that happen to be on the same server as each other. That is why joining a guild is required if you want to survive in the later stages of the game, that is unless you are incredibly skilled and can survive solo. CoA is a competitive PvP-based game after all so the devs do whatever they can to promote conflict between players. Our grind repeated a couple of times for about 3 hours of continuous grinding while taking quick small breaks mostly for Clarissa''s sake. We leveled just 5 times making me just past level 72 and Clarissa at level 68. I am reminded again of how hard it is to level in the later stages of the game. At this rate, I won''t even get to level past 70 before the qualifier starts. It could''ve been a whole lot slower, but thankfully, we had Liz boosting us so I''m not complaining. After a while of even more grinding, I noticed Clarissa was getting exhausted. Although getting physically fatigued is impossible for VR games, mental exhaustion is a different matter. Especially if the said person is not used to playing VR games for a whole day like us ''gamers''. I paused for a second to check up on her. "You alright Clarissa?" I asked worriedly. "I-I''m fine, I can still go on!" she gave me a resolute look... which was extremely adorable if I might add. Although I''m worried she might be pushing herself too hard. As I was contemplating what to do, Liz chimed in. "Let''s take a break for now, I''m exhausted!" Liz made a mock yawn while stretching her arms upward like a cat. A pretty charming gesture that I would love to have a stolen picture of. Wait what are you thinking Katherine!? You already stalk her streams, let us not get any more degenerate than that shall we? "My shoulder is getting numb with all the strikes I did," Liz made an excuse to convince Clarissa. "...Alright," Clarissa gave in. She perfectly knows how to handle Clarissa even if they just met a while ago. As expected from an extrovert, meanwhile it took me a couple of days to handle her personality. How unfair. Extroverts really are built differently... but I''m not jealous or anything! Liz summoned a somewhat luxurious bench and a fireplace, making a comfortable resting spot in the middle of the enemy territory. Summoned items like this cannot be used inside dungeons nor in battle mode. It is also a one-time use and disappears after a set amount of time so it is not an item that can be used willy nilly. It is only used for luxury purposes and is quite a bit costly in terms of materials for crafting it. It made me recall that Liz is ''the'' guild leader of a high-ranking guild, my own guild leader at that. She just doesn''t flex her in-game wealth often so I forget that she is somewhat of a big shot in CoA by the normal standards. Also a ranker and accomplished streamer to boot... I said I''m not jealous! "Come on sit, sit! Let''s rest for a while," Liz forcefully suggested. I got onto the ornate bench first to encourage Clarissa. After seeing me sit, she quickly sat to my left and then latched on to my arm just like before. Liz looked at us for a little bit with an unreadable expression before scooting over to my right side and copying Clarissa by latching onto my other arm. Although the big difference is my whole arm is trapped in softness personified... I''m really not jealous at all! She smiled at me mischievously while I gave her a look of utter defeat... what are you, a kid?! We sat in comfortable silence. Clarissa was never much of a talker to begin with and Liz was leisurely enjoying the ambience. The scent of wood smoke hangs thick in the air, an added effect from the luxury item. It makes a practical type of person like me appreciate its worth in materials. The calming fire crackles and sparks in the crisp night air. In the dim light, the shadows of surrounding leaves seem to come alive as they dance and sway in the subtle, cool breeze. The peaceful sound of a running stream nearby adds to the already serene ambiance. Coupled with the cozy high-class bench plus the snuggling sensation of the two brings me closer and closer to dreamland. After a few minutes of resting, we prepared to continue our grind. As we were about to head out, A melodious high-pitched feminine voice caught our attention. "So you guys are the ones greedily occupying all the grinding spots in this forest." she declared in a self-righteous manner that broke off any doubts of being in the wrong. The girl seems a year older than us judging by her build alone. Blazing red hair. A furred cloak that embellishes her regal look. An aura of authority that matches her striking face, and ''assets'' that can even stand up to someone like Liz. The thing is, this girl seems familiar. I identified her Ariadne Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 95 Guild: Paragons Guild (Vice Guild Leader) Duel wr: 73% Wins: 1617 Matches: 2215 Team Rank matches wr: 81% Wins: 3967 Matches: 4898 1v1 Rank matches wr: 73% Wins: 3937 Matches: 5394 id#:*********** Introduction: Our guild is not recruiting right now. Do not bother messaging me to not waste both of our time. Then it clicked on why she seemed so familiar. She was a former acquaintance of mine from my previous guild. Announcement I am pleased to announce that I will be opening my own Patreon. I will opt to try a more professional approach to writing instead of treating it as a hobby as it helps me focus more on my goal of completing the book. I hope you can support me in my endeavor to become a full-time writer. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The Patreon will have advanced chapters available feel free to check it out if you''re interested. It is pretty cheap as I don''t want to overcharge my readers but I do want to earn a living doing my passion. It will also include side chapters of popular characters. Thanks for your support! Chapter 26 The guild system was introduced 3 months before the first Andartha Cup. Three months before I stopped playing. Our four members of the Paragon team have already been practicing with each other at that time so we decided to form our own guild when the feature was first introduced in the latest patch. That guild quickly became well known mostly due to our individual strength that dominated the guild wars. There were few players in the guild back then since 30 is the maximum member slot for a new guild. This girl is one of those initial 30, and if I remember correctly, she was an acquaintance of the Chronomancer of team Paragon, my very own partner in team matches, Celeste. Celeste knows her personally and I had somewhat of a favor I owe her back then. I repaid her by helping this girl improve her PvP skills and constantly sparring with her. You could say that she is, in technical terms, my first apprentice. So she became the vice leader, huh. I''m genuinely happy for her. She had come a long way from being a regular member, not even an officer back then. She''s probably extremely skilled now since she had always been a fast learner back then. She''s a little taller than I remember though. I guess that''s only natural since you can do a regular body scan in CoA and if you so wish, you could customize the height or body proportions of your character according to your most recent body scan. That only works for the body shape and facial features though, not the hairstyle, hair color, and other aesthetics. There are paid methods to change those... but I digress. "I heard reports from one of our branch guilds that a ranker is hogging all the loot and experience in this leveling spot." Branch guild!? My former guild has those now?! But in hindsight, it''s a good way to bypass the 100-member limit of max-level guilds. I guess she came to aid her branch guild to foster camaraderie and also as a show of strength. They also probably want to preserve their reputation since sending many strong members of their main guild just to stop a single ranker and her 2 under-leveled teammates will be frowned upon especially if it got recorded by us and went viral, not that were that type to do that though, except for Liz of course. I guess the best move is to send a single strong individual, but not many can confidently take on a ranker so she decided to go herself. Is she that confident she can take on all of us by herself if this results in PK territory? I don''t want it to escalate to that though. I might not be currently her guildmate now but that doesn''t mean I want to get on bad terms with her. Clarissa hid at my back, more intimidated than usual by the newcomer''s confident demeanor while Liz stepped forward seamlessly as if she was used to this kind of thing, which I''m sure she is, to be our negotiator. "Oh, sorry bout that! We didn''t think we were bothering other players that much." Liz stated with a placating smile. "Many players grind materials and XP today since it''s a weekend and some even treat it as their part-time job. It is only natural that you would inconvenience many players if you, a ranker, is in a place far below your level and skills. You seem reasonable, so I will let you off lightly if you leave the grinding spot for the others to have their turn," she stated with authority. "Sorry, no can do! We gravely need the experience for the qualifiers. Can you pleeeaaase let us off? Just this once?" Liz pleaded cutely. I didn''t expect Liz to be this willful, but it kind of made sense. One thing I know about her is her sense of responsibility she probably feels that she has a duty to boost me as her teammate and friend. "So you are also joining the tournament," she murmured in a low voice that I almost didn''t hear. She seemed a little taken aback by what Liz said. It was the most reaction we got from her so far. I also didn''t miss her wording ''also''. Is she joining too then? Or a friend of hers? She quickly composed herself and then adopted a more understanding tone. "Forgive me, I understand where you are coming from, but I cannot grant your request. My priority lies in helping my branch guildmates, so I insist that you leave now." "Well, I''m sorry too. Just because you''re one of the top guilds and Yuusha''s guildmate doesn''t mean we will easily give in." Her demeanor instantly changed at the mention of my sister''s account. "Don''t you associate our guild with that coward," she growled. Liz was taken aback by the insult to her idol, Clarissa flinched at the sudden increase in volume, and my hands trembled in shock and realization. I probably did look like a coward to her since I just abandoned the guild without any forewarning. I know what I did was unfair to them but I also thought that I''d already come to terms with it. But facing the remnants of my past sins, the full consequences of my actions, and hearing directly from the people I let down still leaves me heartbroken. I know I should do something to de-escalate the situation, but I can''t think straight with my emotions in complete turmoil. "Last warning, If you won''t comply, then I have no choice but to wipe out your entire party," she threatened with a low menacing voice. As I was preparing for the inevitable, suddenly the earth shook. A massive, horned demon appeared before us. It is tall, with its broad, muscled arms making it look more imposing. Its skin glows a bright red in a molten rough texture, as do the sharp, pointy claws that protrude from its fingers. *ROAAARRR It lets out a deep, menacing growl as if we were facing a wild beast. A field boss. Field bosses appear every once in a while whenever a certain amount of mobs in a given area is killed by the players. Considering we had a mass genocide of elven mobs for the past three hours, I''m almost amazed that it didn''t happen anytime soon. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Can we prioritize killing the field boss first?" I pleaded. As I did, she looked me in the eye for the very first time since she arrived, evaluating me. I reciprocated with a solemn stare. I don''t want to fight her. After what I did to Celeste''s guild, I don''t want to add killing her vice leader to the list. I want to resolve this as peacefully as possible. She sighed and gave in to my earnest request "Fine, we will settle this later, but for now, don''t get in my way," she declared as she turned to charge at the monster. Usually, field bosses stay for a while since they outmatch the level of the field they are set in. It will take a whole lot of sacrifice from the same-level players before they can chip a field boss'' health bar down to zero. That usually takes a lot of time and seldom happens because someone always gets wind of the field boss and spreads the news so other higher-level players will form a party to hunt for the boss''s materials. Though luckily for us we already have two max leveled rankers here so it wouldn''t take that much time. Ariadne charged at the boss after warning us to not get in the way. The demon for its part, identified her as a threat when she got near. As Ariadne got closer, the demon lunged towards her, the ground shaking under its weight. She darted to the side, her small stature was a stark contrast to the demon''s immense size, but she used it to her advantage, staying light on her feet, her movements quick and precise. The demon swung its massive arm, aiming to crush her, but Ariadne was faster. She leaped high and landed on the demon''s arm. She ran up its thick hide, her boots barely making a sound, and plunged her dagger into its eye. *ROAAAARRR The demon roared in pain, thrashing about, trying to throw her off, but Ariadne held on. She pulled her dagger free and jumped off, landing gracefully on the ground. The demon, now blinded in one eye, was disoriented, its movements clumsy. She perfectly hit one of the boss''s weak spots resulting in a blind and distortion debuff for the field boss monster. What a skillful maneuver. She used the arm of the giant demon as a stepping stone to land a critical hit. She made it look cool and effortless too. She really had gone a long way from back then. Mephisto Hp: 77% The heck! What is that damage!? How much did she put in her dex stats for that high of a damage on a critical hit? Is that guy even a field boss? Though considering she''s over-leveled for the enemy and her stats are incredibly high it''s probably the norm. I guess I shouldn''t be even surprised as she has the strongest possible gear due to her position in a top guild. Liz, for her part, didn''t let the opportunity go. She was never one to stay in the background like me. She used her shadow step to instantly close the gap and made a precise strike at its main weakness, the tiny glowing gem found in the center of its heart which is almost impossible to hit due to it being well protected by the boss. But having a ranker like Liz give it a shot especially when the said boss is debuffed is another matter. *kachak Mephisto HP: 48% The critical hit to its weakest spot did immense damage. The towering field boss demon entered its enraged state due to missing half its HP. Its body became a grotesque fusion of muscle and shadow, eyes glowed a sinister red as it readied its stance for a charge. He seems to have stat boost powerup in his enraged state. Then, as the demon charged, Ariadne and Liz sprang into action. Ariadne darted forward, her movements a blur, while Liz held her ground, her rapier gleaming in the faint light of the moon. Ariadne was the first to strike, her dagger slicing through the air towards the demon''s leg. The demon roared in pain, but its attention was quickly drawn to Liz, who stepped forward, her rapier poised to strike. With a swift, powerful thrust, she struck the demon''s other leg, forcing it to kneel. *ROAAAARRRR Mephisto HP: 39% The demon roared again, swiping its massive arm at Liz. But it was too slow for Liz. She rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, and swung her rapier at the demon''s arm. Meanwhile, Ariadne had climbed onto the kneeling demon''s back, her dagger poised for a strike. With a swift thrust, she plunged her weapon into the back of the demon''s head. The demon howled, thrashing wildly, but Ariadne held on, her grip unyielding. Mephisto HP: 21% Liz seized her chance. With the demon distracted, she ran forward, her rapier aimed for its main weakness again. With a final, mighty thrust, she drove her weapon deep. The demon''s roar echoed through the night. Mephisto HP: 0% Congratulations! Your party just defeated Field Boss [Mephisto]! Experience, gold, and materials will be distributed to the members according to their contribution. Ariadne jumped off the demon''s back just before the demon vanished into red motes of light. She landed next to Liz, both giving each other a nod of approval. They stood side by side, victorious. On the other hand, Clarissa and I... did absolutely nothing. Sure I guess we could''ve helped but looking at the two, they got it completely under control. Clarissa can''t keep up with Ariadne''s movement since it''s their first time fighting together and might cause a friendly fire so she made the right decision of holding her spells there. Her damage is too minuscule to be of help and she might hit her if she''s not careful by the AoE nature of her fire spells. I on the other hand am waiting with my heal ready. A heal that is not needed by the looks of it since they both didn''t even take a single point of damage. "Whoahh, those girls are something!" "Right! Right? They looked so cool!" "What do you expect? Those two are rankers!" "Hey look, That girl is the Vice Guild master of Paragon guild! I''ve always dreamt of joining that guild!" One look at the surroundings also proves my point, there are about ten people (probably here to grind) looking at the scene in awe. They didn''t even offer a single assistance with how the two basically radiate an aura of protagonist halo. Also, I am most definitely not envious that I didn''t get to make a cool pose as the boss died or anything! As I was debating in my head on how I absolutely and undoubtedly did the right thing by not doing anything, an abyss portal opened. A portal to a hellish dungeon. Chapter 27 Abyss dungeons are a source of extremely rare items. Most speculate that Abyss Rift makes an appearance when certain hidden quests have been accomplished when fighting field bosses. These two rankers must have accomplished a hidden quest with how they completely destroyed the field boss. Requirements of abyss dungeons are mostly closely guarded secrets. CoA is a competitive game after all so most players who have a semblance of competitiveness will withhold the information or sell it for a price. It might be because they took down the boss without taking any damage. It might be because they killed the boss in under 10 strikes. It might be because they finished it in less than a minute. It might be because they both looked incredibly stylish doing it. It might be because they had 2 deadweight watching them from the sidelines. Maybe all of those combined is the hidden requirement and not accomplishing even one of those requirements won''t generate the abyss portal. Or maybe the RNG gods had blessed them or something and we just got the portal to appear due to sheer luck. The devs of the game are strictly bound by the law of confidentiality and must abide by a bunch of strict contracts to even be able to work as a developer of the game. That is one of the defining traits that made the game very popular though. They gave priority to secrecy so that the players could explore the game in their own individual ways leading to a thrill and sense of adventure akin to finding uncharted regions and discovering unexpected treasures. Trial and error will be needed for normal players to determine the true cause, but it would be hard considering field bosses don''t grow on trees. One thing I know is that only these two rankers and their specified parties are the only ones that have access to the abyss dungeon and a max party can only have up to four members. The fact that no one seems to comment on a portal shimmering in front of us is enough proof that other than us, none can see it. Clarissa and I can only see the portal cause we are already Liz''s party members from the start. "What do you plan to do?" I heard Liz ask Ariadne. "I wish to call for my guildmates, but I doubt they would get here in time before the portal closes as there are no nearby teleportation points." Liz seems to contemplate for a second before continuing. "Then wanna join our party? I think we have a higher chance of beating the dungeon together!" "With these two? They will only slow us down," Ariadne glanced at us from the side. "You know abyss dungeons normalize our stats right?" Liz made a point. That is the unique feature of abyss dungeons. CoA prioritizes skills above all that is why you cannot brute force abyss dungeons. It takes the ratio of your stats and normalizes them to a certain number that matches the dungeon''s level. This means a level 95 won''t be weaker in terms of stats versus a level 1, although weapon skill effects and spells are an entirely different matter since a level 1 cannot possibly learn, for example, a lightning storm spell. But in terms of power, a level 95 will do the same amount of damage with a fireball a level 10 does even with set and weapon differences since those are normalized too. "Yeah, but it doesn''t affect our player skills. I''d rather have a low-level veteran player than an average... level 72," Ariadne proclaimed as she identified our levels. "Trust me, you won''t be disappointed by these two!" Liz declared confidently. "...Fine, only because I have no other choice, but under one condition. I will get the first pick on the loot from the boss if we manage to succeed in defeating it." "Wha- that''s kinda..." "What? Do you think it''s unfair? I''m being lenient here, you have 2 deadweights on your team. Half the loot is supposed to be mine. You should be grateful for getting my assistance," Ariadne declared haughtily. "Hey, you cannot finish the dungeon by yourself you know. You also need our help so why don''t we all just roll for the loot?" Liz pouted. "I''d like to see you guys finish the dungeon by yourselves too then," Ariadne countered. "Maybe we will!" Liz raised her voice. "Please don''t fight you two!" Clarissa chimed in. "Y-you can have all my loot if you help us," she then gave Ariadne a pleading look that tickled my very soul with how gorgeously cute it was. Her gesture shocked Ariadne, and on a completely different note, critically struck me right in the heart. Ariadne scratched her cheeks a little as if ashamed of her own actions, a gesture I know she often does whenever she''s a bit embarrassed. Nice Clarissa! What a move by our resident angel! Not that she knows what she actually did though nor it was her intention to begin with. I guess the proverb kill them with kindness is true after all. She sighed and finally gave in "Fine, let''s just have the normal roll and let the RNG decide the loot distribution." "Then we better party up, the portal is about to close," I hurried them when I saw the portal shimmering. Liz quickly invited her to join then we proceeded to enter the portal after adding Ariadne to the party. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The portal brings us in front of a castle that stands majestically atop a hill, its stone walls reflecting the golden rays of the setting sun. It''s an imposing structure, a testament to the architectural prowess of a bygone era. Its towers rise high into the sky, their pointed roofs piercing the clouds. The main gate is an enormous wooden affair, reinforced with iron, and it gives way to a drawbridge that stretches over a wide, deep moat. The water in the moat is still, mirroring the castle walls and the sky above. The castle walls are thick and sturdy, lined with battlements where archers would have once stood, ready to defend their stronghold. Ivy has started to creep up these walls, adding a touch of green to the otherwise grey stone. Beyond the walls, I can see the tops of several buildings - perhaps a glimpse of the castle''s inner courtyard. There''s a chapel with its delicate steeple, the stable''s roof, and the high arched windows of what could be a grand hall. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The castle''s outer defenses are completed by a series of watchtowers, each strategically placed for maximum visibility. The watchtowers are cylindrical, with conical roofs and arrow slits that allow for a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. It''s a sight to behold, a perfect blend of strength and beauty. "Whoah, it looks beautiful..." Clarissa murmured from behind me. "It does... be careful though, abyss dungeons are nothing like we have faced before. Stay close behind me at all times," I went into tutor mode. "You both stay behind us and just focus on both supporting and surviving. Also, I''ll act as our dodge tank while you focus on DPS, is that fine with you?" Ariadne asked Liz for confirmation. Hey! What''s with the difference in attitude? She acts as if we would just be deadweight... not that I can blame her since we haven''t done anything to prove otherwise. She does make the right calls so I can agree with her battle plan and she does have the skills to operate as our frontline. She also has an aura of reliability and competence so it''s probably best if she takes the lead. "Yeah sounds good," Liz nodded. Ariadne took the leadership role with Liz being perfectly fine with it due to her easygoing personality. She proceeded to enter the ominous castle gate, clearly wary of her surroundings. Upon entering the castle, we were accosted by a group of armed demon guards. The surroundings are barely lit by candle flames attached to the side walls of the giant hallway, making the battlefield a shadow of flickering lights. The three demon castle guards blocking our way are all towering figures, standing at least seven feet tall. Their skin is a deep, smoky gray, almost like the ashes of a long-burning fire. Their eyes glowed with a fiery red intensity that made Clarissa shiver when I saw her look at them. Their body is muscular, built like a mountain, and you can see the power radiating from them. They are all clad in an armor that seems to be made of obsidian, reflecting the faintest glimmers of light, giving them an even more intimidating appearance. Their helmet is adorned with large, wickedly curved horns. They all each held a massive sword signifying their battle style. Clarissa positioned herself even closer to me, evidently intimidated by the imposing figure of the enemies and their countenance. I, in turn, readied myself for combat. Ariadne gestured to Clarissa and me both to stay put. "Mages, conserve your mana, we will handle this," she said as she signaled to Liz to back her up. That is probably the best course of action given that both of them are extremely capable fighters. She makes the best commands in the limited amount of time she has. Her leadership skills have come a long way. Still... I can''t help the feeling that we are being treated as a piece of luggage... how depressing. Ariadne led the charge and Liz followed after her. They initiated with their targets without any hesitation, more than ready to face the three demon soldiers. The grotesque demon soldiers tower over them, but Ariadne and Liz are undeterred. The battlefield is a chaotic mix of shadows and flickering firelight, casting an eerie glow on the scene. Ariadne moves first. She''s fast, almost a blur as she lunges at one of the demon soldiers. She strikes it accurately in the head, a critical hit and one of the soldiers disappears into red motes of light. Liz, meanwhile, followed suit. Her rapier dances in her hand as she parries a blow from one of the remaining soldiers. She moves fluidly, each step calculated and deliberate. With a couple of quick thrusts, she pierced the soldier''s defenses, and the enemy soldier disappeared into red motes of light. The last demon soldier, seeing its companions fall, charges at both Ariadne and Liz. But together, they''re unstoppable. Ariadne''s daggers and Liz''s rapier work in tandem and soon, the last soldier is defeated easily and vanishes into motes of red light. Okay... now you guys are just showing off! I expected that from Liz, being a streamer and all, but not you Ariadne, when did you become so standoffish!? "Let us continue," Ariadne said nonchalantly as she carried on being our frontline. We faced more monsters after that, with each wave increasing in difficulty. Most notable were the demon archers grouped with a strong demon knight. The archers managed to get a hit on both Ariadne and Liz due to the knight distracting both of them. We made a quick counterplay by letting Clarissa blast the archers while I quickly healed the damage both of them took. This earned us an approving nod from Ariadne and maybe net us a promotion from being luggage to somewhat usable party members from her. "You guys are not half bad. I honestly thought this would be a two-man party run." "Hehe, now do you believe me? They''re both good right?" "T-thanks." Liz gave Ariadne an ''I told you so'' smirk while Clarissa delivered a shy smile in response to the praise. "Don''t get carried away though, abyss dungeons aren''t called hell difficulty for nothing. Expect enemies to be stronger the closer we get to the abyss boss," she bashfully looked away from them. I guess even her prideful nature cannot handle the pure unadulterated cuteness of our angel. It went on for a while with the difficulty amping up as we explored the castle. We faced some dead ends and traps that Ariadne easily triggered and avoided. She is quite a reliable party mate and a good leader at that, always making the right decisions in the least possible amount of time needed. That is until we finally arrive at an imposing room that is evidently different from the others. Chapter 28 As we entered the imposing room, we saw four large marble statues. Each statue has an empty circular slot in its chest. In the middle of the room, there''s a pedestal with four orbs, each engraved with symbols corresponding to the elements. The orbs are colored green for earth, white for air, red for fire, and blue for water. The door to the next room is locked with no visible keyhole, only a hard-to-find mysterious inscription that I almost did not see that reads: "Balance the elements, and the path forward shall open." ¡°Looks like we are in a puzzle room,¡± Ariadne pointed out the obvious. ¡°Yeah, I hate this kind of obstacle. It would be better if they just sent us mobs instead of this,¡± Liz whined. ¡°Any idea how to solve this?¡± Our impromptu leader asked the party. ¡°None, as I said, I''m terrible at puzzles.¡± ¡°N-no¡­¡± Clarissa shook her head. I stayed silent. I have an inkling of ideas on how to solve the riddle, but I''m not sure it''s the right solution, I''ll just let them handle it for now and intervene if necessary. ¡°It seems that we need to put the orbs in the correct slots in the statues'' chests, but the tricky part is the arrangement. I have a bad feeling that if we mess this up, we will trigger a difficult trap,¡± Ariadne continued to ramble her thoughts. "Ohh I know! let''s just open my stream and ask my viewers," Liz made a horrible suggestion. "That''s a good idea. The more heads, the better. I will also ask my guild for a helping hand too," Ariadne agreed to the atrocious suggestion. Please don''t! No streaming, please! You guys just want to show off! Besides, I¡¯m not sure if the world is ready to see Clarissa''s cuteness right now. She might get some online stalkers if they even have a glimpse of her angelic face. Looks like I have no choice but to try and solve this myself. "Wait a sec, I have an idea of how this puzzle works. Would you guys let me try first before you call for help?" I interrupted their dangerous schemes. Ariadne eyed me contemplatively for a second before agreeing to my request. ¡°Sure, be my guest, but don¡¯t mess up too much or we might trigger some dangerous traps if you fail to solve the riddle.¡± That¡¯s a fair concern. Some riddles, especially in abyss dungeons, trigger traps or send monsters after you when you fail to solve them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kat''s got this. She is the smartest person I know!¡± Liz defended me. I appreciate the sentiment but please, like I said, don¡¯t use my real name in a game setting, especially when someone whom I have a history with is nearby! ¡°Y-yes I agree too¡­¡± Clarissa shyly chimed in ¡°K-Ka¡­ Novo is the smartest person in the whole world!¡± Clarissa tried to say my real name but failed. Please do use my real name even if we are in an online game setting! Even if you say it to the whole CoA community I don¡¯t mind! I encourage it even if it comes from such a cute voice! ¡°Leave it to me,¡± I said faking nonchalance. Although deep down inside, I¡¯m more motivated to solve this now than ever while maintaining my poker face. I can¡¯t fail now after all of that praise or it would be extremely embarrassing. It might even lead to the most awkward dungeon run if I fail here now after what they said. I walked towards one of the statues while explaining my thought process regarding the puzzle. ¡°I think¡­ the objective is to place the orbs in the correct slots on the statues. Each of the statues depicts a Celtic god of some sort.¡± I recognize most of them being in the lore. ¡°This statue, for example, is a statue of Belenus, the Celtic God of fire,¡± I said as I tapped the statue next to me. I then proceeded to point to the other three statues, describing them each respectively. ¡°That is the statue of Manann¨¢n, the God of the sea. That is a depiction of Borrum, the Celtic God of wind, and lastly, Danu,¡± I said while pointing to the last and only female marble statue. ¡°The Celtic Goddess of Earth.¡± A look of comprehension appeared on all of their faces as if solving the puzzles themselves. ¡°I see! So we just have to put the fire, water, wind, and earth orbs in their respective sockets?¡± Liz voiced out the thoughts the other two had. I pondered for a bit, then shook my head. ¡°No, it''s not that simple.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ariadne chimed in. I pointed at the mysterious inscription near the locked door that is too easy to miss if you don¡¯t pay much attention to your surroundings. "Huh, so there is an engraving there. Hmm, ¡®Balance the elements, and the path forward shall open.¡¯" Ariadne read the inscription. ¡°You have a keen eye, I almost didn¡¯t notice that inscription with how well it is hidden in plain sight. It blended so well with the background, making it harder to spot,¡± she praised with a bit of astonishment seeping out of her voice, a far cry from her usual stoic tone. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I see, so we just have to put the elements in their opposite statues, like placing the fire orb to the water god statue to ¡®balance¡¯ it¡­ right?¡± Liz asked for confirmation while staring at me. ¡°Yes, that is what I believe we should do at least.¡± ¡°Well, none of us has any better ideas, and yours seems rational enough so let us go with it,¡± Ariadne declared. No one contested her and we proceeded to place the orbs as I instructed. Once the orbs are correctly placed, the door to the next room unlocks, allowing us to be able to proceed with our abyss dungeon run. "Huh, you''re pretty good¡­ in many ways,¡± Ariadne commended after we completed the puzzle room. ¡°It was just pure luck that I know of the statues.¡± "Not just the statues though, you are very observant for noticing even the smallest details, and if I''m not mistaken you haven¡¯t even taken a single point of damage from the start of this dungeon run.¡± ¡°You just both did well in guarding us,¡± I countered. "Hmm, not really. You manage aggro quite well and force the ranged enemies to attack you so that they won''t target your mage friend,¡± she retorted. Healing party members can cause the aggro of enemies to fall onto the healer so spamming heals would not be a good idea unless you want full aggro for yourself. She must have taken notice that whenever I see Clarissa about to get attacked due to her aggressive fireballs, I always cast support spells to take the aggro for myself. She is even more perceptive than before, likely thanks to her being a vice leader now that she pays extra attention to her party members. "If you want, I could let you join into one of our branch guilds. You know how famous our guild is right? Even if it''s just a branch guild, I''m sure it''s better than your current one," she offered. "Hey! That''s daylight robbery! You can''t just poach one of my members in front of me you know!?" Liz protested. "Can''t blame me for trying whenever I see potential. It is my job as the vice leader of Paragons after all. In the end, it all depends on her if she wants to join right?" "Well... I can''t refute that, but I guarantee Kat won¡¯t trade my guild for the world!" Liz proclaimed with a confident smile. "Yeah, sorry but I''m not interested," I declined politely. "A shame. Well, let us leave it at that for now. I will give you time to think. You might even get to join our main guild if you prove your worth and gain enough levels," she said as she walked towards the exit of the puzzle room. We proceeded more carefully than ever as we delved deeper into the dungeon with Ariadne leading the way and Liz right beside us both as a form of protection in case something unexpected happened. We arrived at a large open area where a giant humanoid golem was blocking the entrance to what I assume is a king''s throne room. I watched in awe as the gigantic humanoid golem prepared itself for the confrontation against our party. Its towering form loomed over us, casting a menacing shadow that seemed to swallow the light. Our dodge tank, Ariadne, stood at the forefront, her daggers gleaming ominously. I knew she was surveying the golem, looking for weak spots, planning her attack as I had always instructed her back then when fighting a tough battle. To her right Liz wears a confident grin, unwavering even in the face of such a formidable and intimidating opponent. In contrast Clarissa stood tall and resolute, with her usual determination (whenever we played together) to pull her own weight and not slow her teammates down. Her staff was aglow with a fiery light, likely preemptively casting a spell. I would likely have to only focus on healing since we already have a balanced team. Going DPS for no reason might be more of a deterrent in this kind of situation. I also haven¡¯t equipped my unique staff for this dungeon run, meaning I can only use healing and support spells and not chronomancy spells. ¡°Finally! Something I can hit,¡± Liz celebrated. ¡°What a battle maniac,¡± Ariadne sighed at her teammate¡¯s attitude. ¡°Clarissa, limit your fireballs, don¡¯t aggro the sub-boss too much or it may kill you instantly,¡± I lectured her in preparation for a hard battle. ¡°U-understood!¡± She replied, nervousness evident in her voice. As the golem advanced, the ground shaking with each of its lumbering steps, Liz charged. The golem swung a massive arm, but Liz was quicker, deftly dodging the attack and striking back with a powerful stab. *Ting The golem, even while receiving damage, was undeterred by the attack. Although its aggro went on to Liz because of her actions. Ariadne, seizing the opportunity, darted forward, her daggers finding purchase in the opening Liz had made. The golem roared, reaching for Ariadne, but a sudden burst of fire from Clarissa''s staff sent it reeling back. "Fire Blast!" *Roaarrr Berserker Golem HP: 71% It was an extremely practical use of her element as fire was the golem''s weakness. Although Clarissa was under-leveled, we are currently in an abyss dungeon, so her stats were on par with the rest of us due to the normalization of stats. Her fireblast was super effective, making the golem flinch for the first time. It made me feel conflicted. On one hand, her coordination with the two was immaculate. On the other hand, this means that I''m the only one doing nothing now. I put that thought to the back of my mind while secretly wishing that one of my teammates got hurt just a little so I could show them that I at least have some use in team fights. As the golem staggered from Clarissa''s spell, it reached the threshold for its enraged state which I would guess was somewhere below the 75% hit points range. Just when it seemed like we might be gaining the upper hand, the golem let out a roar that shook the earth. It drastically increased in speed while blindly swinging its massive arm, catching Liz off guard. She was thrown back, skidding across the ground. My heart leaped into my throat as I saw her hitting the castle wall, the overall damage almost resulted in her death. "Ack!" she yelped in surprise. Lizbeth HP: 14% "Miss Lizbeth!" Clarissa cried out, worry showing on her face. I immediately regret wishing that they would take some damage as I cast my pre-chanted healing spell, a warm, golden light enveloping Liz. The opponent is easy to micromanage but hits extremely hard. One hit from that giant arm and I or Clarissa would not be able to survive with our builds seeing as Liz almost died. Slowly, she stirred and got back on her feet, a little shaky but ready to fight again with a glare sent towards her adversary. Meanwhile, Ariadne had climbed onto the golem, driving her daggers into its back intent on taking the aggro. But the golem was undeterred yet again. It reached back with incredible speed, grabbing Ariadne and flinging her away. "Eeekk!" she made an uncharacteristically cute sound. Ariadne HP: 63% She made a summersault just as she was about to land, reducing any more incoming damage by landing on both of her feet like an acrobatic cat. After the golem''s wild rampage, it seemed to slow down to a more manageable speed, though its movements were still far faster than it was when the fight started. Liz, now back on her feet thanks to my healing spell, charged once more. She used her weapon skill to instantly close the distance between her and the golem. She did a feral strike with her rapier, her sword slashing across the golem''s leg. It stumbled, giving Ariadne the opportunity to leap onto its back again. This time, Ariadne was ready for the golem''s attempt to grab her. She swiftly dodged its massive hand and drove her daggers deeper into its back. The golem roared in pain, its movements becoming even more sluggish. Meanwhile, Clarissa was pre-casting a spell. She began to chant, her staff glowing brighter and brighter. I could feel the energy building and could see the concentration on Clarissa''s face. She was preparing a powerful spell, one that would hopefully end the fight. The two vanguards kept the giant golem busy, being extra careful this time to not get hit. It went on for a while and, eventually, Clarissa released the spell that she had been pre-casting since earlier. "FLAME RAY!!!" Clarissa cast her spell. The front liners took that as a cue and leaped out of the way to avoid friendly fire. A brilliant beam of light shot from Clarissa''s staff, hitting the golem square in the chest where its weakness is. It roared, staggering back, and then fell, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. Berserker Golem Hp: 0% Flame Ray is a high-level fire spell Clarissa has just learned recently. It shoots a beam of light toward the target, which is effective against large or slow mobs that can''t dodge the attack easily. While it has extremely strong firepower, it lacks accuracy and can be easily dodged, all the while needing huge amounts of mana to cast. I think it''s a bit overkill as the two already had a clear grasp on the golem''s attack patterns. She should have just conserved mana for the final boss and just spammed low-level spells, but she seems a bit rattled by what happened to Liz and forgot to conserve her own MP. A classic newbie mistake but a forgivable one due to her inexperience. "Phew, good work guys, that was a difficult fight but we managed to win," Ariadne praised the party. She''s right, we had defeated the golem. Although it made me dread to think that, if this is just a sub-boss, and not the boss itself, then how hard the fight would be with the enemy just on the other side of the large ornate door to the throne room. Chapter 29 We did our last preparations, which was me healing the whole party. While I was at it, Ariadne suddenly spoke to all of us. "When we first met, I never expected that we would party up to take on an abyss dungeon of all things. We faced a couple of obstacles, but now we find ourselves on the cusp of the final stretch," Ariadne brooded. "Yeah, you almost fought us back then," Liz teased. "In hindsight, it would be more troublesome than I initially thought If I went with the plan," she said as she glanced at me. "Oh, are you implying you could take us all on?" Liz asked suggestively. "Who knows, but a sparring match won''t be too bad after this," she said evasively, although I could sense her confidence in her skills. Liz giggled at that. "Well, well, aren¡¯t you confident, but I won''t say no to a friend invite." Ariadne smiled for a bit but went back to her serious demeanor. Typical Liz, I bet she could even befriend a stray cat in a second if she wanted to¡­ no pun intended. "One thing before we proceed. I want to remind everyone that we may find ourselves facing a boss that seems insurmountable, and the odds may not be in our favor," she stated without a hint of humor in her tone. Clarissa visibly gulped at her statement. It makes sense, though; we have been quite lucky thus far, but our luck has to end sometime. Moreover, abyss bosses are known to be extremely difficult. She is propping us up not to give in even if we face difficulties. "Let us not fear the possibility of losing. Let''s face this boss battle with all our might, knowing that even if we don''t emerge victorious, we''ll gain invaluable experience and insights in this experience. So, what I am trying to say is, let us go into this boss fight with a carefree spirit and play to our heart''s content," Ariadne declared. The heck! Since when have you done speeches like this!? Please give me back the taciturn Ariadne I know. But I guess being a vice leader of a famous guild alters your personality. It also has been almost three years since I last saw her, so it is only natural. People change, and she is not an exception. "Yeah, we can do this! Let''s go clear this abyss dungeon and receive some legendary loot!" Liz shouted to raise our morale with the promise of the rewards. "Y-yes!" Clarissa, easily swayed by Liz''s actions, shouted with her. "Let''s be careful, though. We have a tough fight ahead of us, so don''t get too careless." I tried to become the voice of reason. "Let us go then. Good luck, everyone. Let''s do our best." Ariadne pushed the sizeable ornate door, opening the entrance to the last boss. Upon entering, we saw the undoubted king of the castle, a figure shrouded in both mystery and melancholy, sitting calmly on an ornate throne on the far side of the door. He stayed there unmoving, painting a picturesque sight of vintage and class, waiting for our party to reach near him before making a move as a boss monster should. His face, etched with the lines of time, tells a story of a thousand battles, countless decisions, and the burden of leadership. His beard, a snowy white, matched the streaks that ran through his hair. He has the aura of a ruler who has weathered countless storms yet remains unbroken. His presence is like a steady, ancient oak in the midst of a storm-tossed forest. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. We walked cautiously towards him until we triggered the start of the event. "Ah, so you''ve finally arrived. I''ve been expecting you. Welcome to my humble abode, this ruined castle of mine. It''s not much, but it''s home. You''ve come a long way, haven''t you? I can see it in your eyes, the weariness, the determination, the spark of hope. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen that in someone so young." He gave us a kind, fatherly smile as if we were about to play golf the moment his monologue was over. "You know, once upon a time, this castle was filled with laughter and joy. There were balls and feasts, music and dance. Now, all that''s left are echoes of a past long gone..." he paused solemnly for a moment as if reminiscing the past. "Oh no..." Clarissa, fully engrossed at the moment, made a saddened cry as if pitying the NPC boss... which I''m sure she is because she is Clarissa. "Oh, but do not feel sorry for me, no. This is the path I chose. The path of a king is always a challenging one. I''ve seen kingdoms rise and fall, watched as the world changed around me, and yet, I remained. A relic of a bygone era, a king of a ruined castle. There''s a certain beauty in it, don''t you think?" "But enough about me. You''re here for a reason, aren''t you? To fight, to reclaim what was lost. I can see it in your eyes, the same fire that once burned within me. I will not dissuade you from doing so. But remember this: every choice has a consequence, every action a reaction." "So, come then. Let''s see if you have what it takes to bear the weight of a crown," he said as he stood from his throne without any weapon. Is this boss a spellcaster type, I wonder? "C-can we just talk it out? It looks like he doesn''t want to fight either," Clarissa pleaded. The three of us looked at each other as if debating who would make the big reveal, which none of us wanted to do. So this is what it feels like to be a parent having to tell your kids that Santa is not real. I can finally relate to their conundrum. *Cough *cough "Clarissa, we need to beat him to uhh... save the people," Ariadne failed to shoulder the burden of revealing the truth. "Y-yeah, we need to defeat him in order to, uhm... stop the war, which will save many innocent lives!" Liz went with the flow. "I see... it is inevitable then... forgive us for this, Mr King," Clarissa stared with newfound determination, ready to sully her hands for the greater good. The king stood in place unmoving, loyal to the predetermined program he was on not to attack until engaged by the players. "Let us go. Lizbeth and I will take the aggro while Clarissa and Novo support us with heals and long-range attacks. Be careful. This boss is an uncharted one," Ariadne commanded as she charged towards the final boss. As the name implies, an uncharted enemy or place is not known to the public, nor does it have any specific information about it. If Ariadne, the most veteran player out of all of us here, doesn''t know this boss, chances are none of us do. "Understood!" Liz was the first to engage, charging at him with her sword. He met her attack with a shimmering blade of his own, materializing out of thin air. Their swords clashed, sparks flying. "He is a warrior type! Don''t get too aggressive! I will back you up!" Ariadne stated the obvious. She circled around the boss stealthily, looking for an opening. After a while of patiently finding the right timing while Liz kept the boss busy, she found one. She capitulated on the opportunity to land a quick blow to the head, a critical hit. King Aurelius HP: 91% He is pretty tanky. Considering Ariadne did a head critical damage, that was a pretty low reduction to his HP pool compared to what I expected. Although, considering he is an abyss boss and Liz has normalized stats, I can''t be too optimistic. Before we could further push the advantage, the boss changed his sword to an enormous broadsword and did a huge crescent slash, hitting both of them as they failed to react in time due to being caught off guard. Liz took the brunt of the blow while Ariadne was caught in the area of attack. Lisbeth HP: 28% Ariadne HP: 54% "Tsk! He can change weapons! Be careful!" Ariadne stated the obvious again. "He also hits hard! I would have died if it hit my head! This guy is such a cheat!" Liz groaned. I immediately cast the healing spell I was preparing at Liz before preparing to cast another two for them both as the boss took a high chunk of HP bar from them. "Heal," I exclaimed. Lisbeth HP: 58% Clarissa, who had been preparing a spell since the fight began, released her spell after the boss had just attacked. A good execution, just as I taught her, since the boss won''t be able to dodge right after attacking with such a heavy weapon. "Firebolt!" Clarissa cried after finishing her chant. But the boss was ready for her, too. Instead of dodging, he switched his broadsword to a shield, deflecting the burst of energy from her firebolt. "Huh?" Clarissa was confused as her attack was deflected easily. This is bad. Our party suffers from a bad matchup against this abyss boss. I can¡¯t sustain healing with my limited mana pool. At the same time, Clarissa is basically deadweight with how skilled this boss is and how inexperienced she is in fighting highly skilled enemies, as the boss just easily blocks her attacks. "This guy is OP! How unfair!" Liz wailed as she engaged the boss again. The boss ignored Liz and quickly lunged at Clarissa while simultaneously shifting his weapon to a spear. Clarissa, busy pre-chanting another spell, was caught off guard by the sudden rush. "Clarissa, dodge!" I shouted. It was too late. Due to Clarissa''s inexperience coupled with the boss''s lightning-fast thrust, she was fatally hit in the head. "Wha-!" Clarissa froze in terror as she was impaled in the head by the spear. A critical hit multiplier coupled with the boss''s high stats and Clarissa''s low base survivability stats means instant death for her. Clarissa Hp: 0% She was further spared from suffering in fright from the gruesome scene of a spear impaled through her head by disappearing into motes of blue light. However, she would become an observer in ghost form after she died and can still be brought back to life with certain resurrection spells. A spell that I am too under-leveled to learn nor have the mana capacity to cast. "Shit! He''s AI-trained!" Ariadne shouted. She was right. That was not a move of a regular NPC mob. AI-trained enemies are scarce but incredibly skilled, as their AI was trained by copying moves from real players. As such, this enemy was able to go after Clarissa while ignoring aggros since he felt that she was the weakest link and easiest to eliminate. After quickly dispatching Clarissa, he immediately went for me. I instinctively dodged his fast lunge. Before he could do a follow-up, Liz did a counter. "Not on my watch!" Liz used her weapon skill to blink behind the boss while he was focused on me, landing a blow on his back. King Aurelius Hp: 86% "Stay far away, Novo! Focus on healing, and don''t come close!" Ariadne ordered. She was likely worried that if I got too close, what happened to Clarissa might also happen to me. It''s an excellent strategy to minimize the risk to the healer since if I die, it''s all over, as they would lose in a battle of attrition against a boss as skilled as this guy without someone mending their HP. "Understood!" I affirmed as I stayed further away from the battle, all the while intensely surveying the boss''s attack patterns. If this all turns haywire for some reason, I have to know as much as I can about the enigma we are facing right now. Hopefully, that won''t be the case, but I doubt that it will go that easy for us. Chapter 30 As the fight went on, both Ariadne and Liz received damage whenever they were caught off guard by the change in both the weapon and the stance of the boss. They also managed to do some major damage against the opponent while I kept their health green. The situation is dire though. We are losing in a battle of attrition mainly because we don''t have a tank, a staple role in a high-end dungeon run. Most parties rely on tanks in PvE, especially in the later stages of the game. The boss is also incredibly tanky for someone who hits like a truck, making us extra cautious in the fight whilst prolonging the battle. To make matters worse, my mana is almost depleted with my constant healing and the boss''s HP is still more than half. He is also almost in an enraged state which could be bad for us depending on what triumph card he has in store for his opponents. King Aurelius HP: 61% While surveying the match from afar while pre-casting my heals, I saw Ariadne and Liz communicate with a glance, an unspoken understanding. Their rapport had only become more refined since the short time that they teamed up. Both their experience and skills play a major role in it as they are both extremely talented players. They executed their plan. Liz created a diversion by throwing quick thrusts at the enemy to draw its attention. Ariadne on the other hand disengaged while using her weapon skill. She melded into the shadows and became invisible to the untrained eye. However, if you pay extra attention, you will see a visible shadow where she is. This type of weapon skill specializes in surprise attacks but has a very long cooldown, suited for assassination. It is also easy to spot if you know where to look or if you have a keen eye for details. Fortunately, the boss doesn¡¯t have a clue about the situation he is in. As the boss¡¯s weapon shifted into a sword, Liz¡¯s deft movements kept him focused on her. Sensing an opportunity, Ariadne went for a critical strike. "Hyaahh!" The enemy reacted swiftly, but he couldn''t change his weapon form in time due to the surprise attack. Ariadne¡¯s dagger struck true, hitting the boss right in the head. He let out a pained cry as Ariadne¡¯s dagger pierced his noggin. He stumbled backward, disoriented, and Ariadne seized the opportunity to deliver another hit with her daggers. ¡°Augh!¡± The boss cried out. King Aurelius HP: 47% The perfectly executed combo of the two barely made the boss enter its enraged state. The boss teleported into the center of the room, a bit far away from us with a tempest of aura surrounding him, preventing the Boss from taking any more damage. "Stand before me, noble warriors, bearers of courage and honor. As a king, I have ruled with honor and prestige. Yet, in this moment, I am not merely a king, but a warrior, steeled by the fires of countless battles. I see in your eyes the same fire, the same resolve. It is a rare thing to face such worthy opponents." He monologues just as he disengages from our fight. He is preparing for an attack and it seems like an area of effect skill. This is bad, we don''t have a proper shielder. We also cannot interrupt it due to the raging aura surrounding him. Even if we tried we would just take unnecessary damage from the tempest. "Our fates are intertwined on this battlefield, our stories forever etched in the annals of time. It is with great respect and a warrior''s spirit that I face you now with all my power!" "Please tell me that you have the ''Guardian Angel'' spell!?" Ariadne pressed as the boss continued his monologue. "I... still need 2 more levels to learn it due to stat deficiency," I bashfully answered. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "By the might of my crown and the power vested in me, I unleash my wrath upon thee! May the heavens bear witness to my ultimate move! For the kingdom, for glory, for victory!" He exclaimed. "Stay behind me! Both of you!" Liz positioned herself in front of us and adopted a broader stance to shield us. It was the best strategy we could do in the given situation. Liz has the highest chance of surviving this attack due to her stats build that doesn''t wholly rely on dodging like mine and Ariadne. The boss channeled the intense energy into his sword, causing it to glow with an intense light. The air around him begins to crackle and shimmer, creating a palpable tension that can be felt by all of us. With a mighty roar, the boss then did a full crescent swing. The energy from his sword is released in a wave of power, causing a massive AOE shockwave. "Sovereign''s Fury!" The intense light blinded me momentarily. As I came to, I saw that I had taken some damage, and so did Ariadne. The worst of it was that Liz''s HP was completely depleted. Lizbeth Hp: 0% "Ughh! Looks like it''s all up to you two. Good luck, you guys! I''ll cheer you on from the sidelines," she gave us a regretful smile before fading into blue motes of light. "I see you have managed to survive my ultimate attack, a worthy opponent indeed." The boss quickly resumed his attacks, not giving us any breathing room right after his powerful skill. Ariadne intercepted him in order to protect me. The two mighty fighters stood locked in a dance of steel and valor. Their weapons clashed with a symphony of sparks, their movements a tapestry of grace and power. The good news is that a boss can only get enraged once, therefore he cannot use that overpowered skill again. The bad news is he seems much faster than before, so much so that Ariadne is failing to keep up. She is getting mentally fatigued due to her consistent dodging since earlier, she needs a break or it will only be a matter of time before she slips up and gets fatally hit. The boss''s movements became quicker after his enraged state, while the opposite could be said for Ariadne. Ariadne is suffering heavily from stamina depletion, a very troublesome debuff that affects players like us who constantly move around. This is extremely bad; I can literally see her movements slowing down. This is why proper shield tanks are better for prolonged fights against tanky bosses. She depletes her stamina quickly with her excessive dodges and quick movements just to keep the boss at bay. She had also been acting as our dodge tank since the start of the dungeon run so it''s no surprise that she is suffering the feedback now. In hindsight, I could have prevented this by taking a bit of the burden, but it''s too late for regrets now. The past is in the past, we just have to do better in the present. The boss''s weapon shifted into a spear, pressing the advantage in Ariadne''s dwindling movement. Ariadne did all she could to dodge every attack but it seemed harder and harder by the second. She is being forced back by the masterful use of the boss''s spear, receiving glancing hits here and there. Ariadne Hp: 12% "Heal please!" She panicked as her HP bar was depleted by the constant barrage of spear thrusts. "I don''t have any mana left!" I exclaimed. "You what!?" She said taken aback by my statement. I never did tell her that my stats build sacrifices a bit of my mana pool as I saw her as an adversary in the upcoming tournament. That decision came and bit us back when we least expected it. The boss took the momentary distraction and attacked her whilst changing its weapon to a heavy mace. Coupled with her slowing movements due to stamina depletion and her panicked thoughts, she failed to dodge the attack. The mace bash sent her flying towards me. She lay there unmoving on the marble floor, regretting her shortcomings. "Shit! Sorry... I failed you guys," she said regretfully. She looked ever so downcast and defeated that I just had to reassure her. "Don''t worry, you have done your part. The boss has low enough HP for me to have a chance at this." I gave her a gentle smile. She stared at me, shocked at my words before she vanished into blue motes of light. She likely thought that we had already lost so my statement startled her. I do have a chance against this boss though and it''s not just wistful thinking. The main thing I noticed in my observation from earlier in the boss'' fight against my party is that his arsenal of weapons only encompasses a spear for mid-range attacks, a sword for quick melee combat, a giant broadsword for sweeping attacks, a mace for heavy blows, and shield for defensive purposes like the time when he blocked the spell earlier from Clarissa. Each of the shifts of his weapon completely changes his stance and gameplay, likely incorporating that of a player''s move and play style. This doesn''t bother me at all as I had more than plenty of my fair shares of battle with veteran players of each of the aforementioned weapons. From all the information I gathered earlier from his attack patterns and skills, he is attuned to fight at a semi-pro level of skill. This dungeon was such a cheat from the start. It almost feels like the boss is unbeatable for normal players. Although this is perfectly fine for me since I''m used to fighting players of that level. Moreso, the AI thinks like an actual player, an unfair advantage against most players since he can do feints or bait the enemy into overextending their attacks but for me though, it''s the opposite. Thinking like an actual player makes him much easier to deal with. I smiled calmly as I walked unhurriedly towards the boss. "Looks like it''s just you and me now, Mr Abyss Boss," I said as I tossed my staff away, the sound of the clattering wood on marble reverberating throughout the silent throne room. I have no mana anyway for me to have any use for it. It would just be dead weight, better for me to just toss it aside. It would just return to my inventory later after we finish this dungeon or after I die, which I hope won''t happen. I would loathe to see all our hard work gone to waste if I lose here. He stood there unworried as he had already finished the strongest threat from our party and didn''t register healers as a threat on their own without any damage dealers backing them up. Artificial Intelligence seems to be getting more and more humane as time passes and technology advances, which is honestly quite frightening. "Come, let us finish this once and for all," I said as I pulled out my twin daggers hidden in my robe. They glinted as I readied my stance. Then I saw it. At the corner of the blade, a reflection of my face. I was grinning. This was the most challenging opponent I had ever encountered since returning to the game. It is honestly a bit exciting that I have the chance to go all out again. Liz and Ariadne had their fun. It''s my turn now. Chapter 31 King Aurelius Hp: 44% Novo Hp: 72% The main thing I noticed in my observation from earlier in how the boss fights against my party is that his arsenal of weapons only encompasses a spear for mid-range attacks, a sword for quick melee combat, a giant broadsword for sweeping attacks, a mace for heavy blows, and shield for defensive purposes like the time when he blocked the spell earlier from Clarissa. Each of the shifts of his weapon completely changes his stance and gameplay, likely incorporating the move and play style of the player it was based on. This doesn''t bother me at all, as I had more than plenty of my fair shares of battle with veteran players of each of the aforementioned weapons. I took a deep breath. Steadying my nerves, I entered the state of intense focus I usually do to perceive his every movement, the zone state. I paid exceedingly close attention to his body language. The way he moved, the shift of his weight, the focus of his eyes - these were all cues that helped me anticipate his next move. As I got close enough, he lunged at me, his weapon morphing into a long, wickedly sharp spear. I sidestepped easily, his attack missing me by a hair''s breadth. Having haste cast on me would have been perfect here, but I don''t have the mana nor the weapon equipped to self-cast it. I would just have to win this the old-fashioned way. He was fast, but I was faster, especially since my stamina bar was completely full. I darted in and out, my every move calculated to keep me one step ahead of his attacks. Everything else melded into the background as I focused solely on my opponent. Suddenly, his weapon shifted into a broadsword, and he swung it towards me. I rolled to the side, feeling the wind from the blade as it narrowly missed me. I sprung back to my feet, using my momentum to spin and land a quick strike on his arm. King Aurelius Hp: 41% My attack was a quick blow without much power, but it helped me gauge his reactions. It made me reassured that he also has the same habits as players when taking hits from enemies, namely going on defensive to avoid further damage instead of going full aggressive to counterattack. His ability to change his weapon at will made him a formidable opponent, even if not as skilled as the best players. He was constantly shifting his tactics based on the weapon he was wielding at any given moment, keeping me on my toes. When he wielded a spear, he would try to keep me at a distance, using the weapon''s length to his advantage. He would thrust and jab, forcing me to keep moving and dodging. I countered by relying on my speed and nimbleness to stay out of his reach, using quick, darting movements to narrowly avoid his thrusts and jabs. I kept a close eye on his body language, anticipating his movements and reacting accordingly. When his weapon morphed into a broadsword, he switched to powerful, sweeping attacks, trying to use the sword''s weight and size to overpower me. He wanted to force me into a corner where I wouldn''t be able to dodge his strikes. I countered by using my agility to dodge his sweeping attacks, often by a hair''s breadth. When he used his short sword, he did quick slashes and thrusts to keep up with my dodging speed. It was actually the hardest gameplay to counter for me. I just focused on playing defensively by dodging and limiting my attacks when he was on this type of gameplay. And when he had a mace in his hand, he aimed for crushing, direct blows, hoping to end the fight with a single, powerful strike. I had to avoid direct hits at all costs, so my counter tactic was to use misdirection and feints to confuse him, making him think I was going one way when I was really going the other. His strategy, if an artificial intelligence even has one, was to keep changing his attack patterns, hoping to catch me off guard with the constant shift in tactics. That wont work if I have counter measures in his every stance though. He never went for a shield throughout the fight since he is probably programmed to only use it against spells or unavoidable attacks. The fight continued, a dance of speed and agility versus raw power and versatility. He was strong, but not strong enough to be comparable to those veteran players I battled back then in my prime. His only advantage towards me is his extremely high stats, but stats matters little if you can''t hit your opponent. I dodged his attacks, waited for openings, and struck when he least expected it. My agility and fighting experience managed to keep me one step ahead of his attacks. It was a truly exhilarating experience. I hadn''t fought like this since three years ago at the tournament, and it made me a little giddy inside despite the constant pressure from the boss''s attacks as one wrong move will be the end of me. I didn''t get my moniker through my speed and flexibility to dodge alone, though. It''s not just about agility but also about understanding your opponent and anticipating the enemy''s moves. And I read the boss like a book. I the boss''s strength lay in his ability to change weapons and tactics on the fly, so I stayed adaptable and ready for anything. I would dart in when the boss was recovering from a swing or when he was changing weapons, landing quick strikes before darting back out of reach. A quick tried and true poking tactic for high HP enemies. I would hang back, creating uncertainty about when and where my next attack would come from. This unpredictability kept the boss guessing and made it harder for him to anticipate my moves. I knew when to strike, when to retreat, and when to bide my time. I understood the rhythm of the fight and used it to my advantage, choosing the right moments to attack or change tactics. Anything that I thought would be useful in the fight, I used it without hesitation. I didn''t know how long it took. I was so engrossed in the fight analyzing my opponent that everything else melded into the background. That includes my sense of time. It could be minutes, hours, or even days. I couldn''t care less. The only thing in my mind is winning against this insurmountable foe. I did a counter at his broad swing by dodging it narrowly and stabbing his head in quick succession. After that, I saw that he stopped moving abruptly. "Khuagghh!" The boss made a death cry. I was cast out of my reverie when I saw his HP bar. King Aurelius HP: 0% Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "...Huh?" I murmured. I blinked a couple of times, a bit shocked with a hint of disappointment. Is it over already? As the boss''s HP bar was depleted, all my party members were revived. This was a feature of abyss dungeons made for everyone to have a fair chance at the loot regardless of who stayed alive in the end. It is made so no one would play too passively or would be too afraid to tank to give the party a higher chance of completing the dungeon without self-preservation and greed hindering them. The three of them looked at me with varying expressions. They all saw the fight from a ghost perspective when they died, and they had just watched me solo the boss. Clarissa was as happy as when we finished a normal dungeon. She didn''t comprehend how difficult it was to clear an abyss dungeon with us three carrying her. She also likely did not doubt that I would lose the fight, which makes me happy she has so much trust in me. Liz was more or less the same but was more ecstatic since she knew how hard-fought it was. She is grinning from ear to ear. Ariadne, on the other hand, wears an unreadable expression, a face so bizarre that I have no grasp on what she is thinking right now. "That was AMAZING Kat!" Liz cried out. Before she could continue her praise, all of our attention was shifted to the boss when he started his monologue. "Well, well... So, this is what defeat feels like. It''s been so long; I had almost forgotten. You fought well, better than I expected. You''ve certainly earned your victory." He credited. "T-thank you, Mr. Aurelius, but I-I didn''t do much..." Clarissa mumbled in a voice I could barely hear. "I can see now; the world has changed. It no longer needs an old king in a ruined castle. It needs fresh blood, new ideas, people like you. You who carry hope and determination, who fight for what you believe in." The boss continued. "I suppose it''s a relief, in a way. The weight of the crown, the burden of rule, it''s a heavy load to bear. Perhaps now, I can finally rest..." He said solemnly as he disappeared into motes of light. I could feel the serenity in his voice. It made me pity him a little bit despite knowing that he is not a real human. Maybe Clarissa was right all along. Maybe the AI had become so sentient that they could feel emotions, too. It''s best not to think about it, though, or I would be opening a different can of worms with how many NPC characters I have killed over the years I''ve been playing different VR games. "You did it, Kat! We beat the abyss, thanks to you! I never doubt you for a second! Well, I did at first when I saw how much of a cheat that boss was, but when you outplayed him hard like that, I went instantly back to team Kat! I mean, he didn''t even get to land a single blow!" she said as she gave me a celebratory hug. I wanted to dodge her, but I was too mentally tired to be even bothered to. "It''s not that hard once you know the enemy''s attack patterns." I reasoned. "That''s what a genius in class would say to someone who doesn''t get the lessons," She said sardonically. "I did not doubt you for a second, Novo!" Clarissa darted to my side. She hesitated for a bit, looking a little left out. She likely wanted to join the victory group hug but was too shy to. "Too bad I didn''t get to stream it. My viewers would''ve loved to see a fight like that!" Liz added. "We likely would''ve lost if you did, as it would surely distract me." "Oh, don''t be like that! I think you should start streaming, too. There are a lot of people who would want to watch you play! Your movements are so refined that I was so captivated by the fight!" Liz exaggerated. "Save your banter for later; let''s get the loot first," Ariadne interrupted. She walked past us in a somber mood, urging us to hurry. Liz gave me a questioning look at her attitude but proceeded to follow her while Clarissa and I did the same a second later. After a short walk, we stumble upon a door that looks like a treasury room. Ariadne opened the door and went in without a word. As we followed her inside, I was immediately overwhelmed by the opulence that surrounded me. The room is bathed in a warm, golden glow, thanks to the countless flickering candles that line the walls and the precious gemstones embedded in the ceiling that catch and refract the light. The air is heavy with the scent of ancient leather, polished wood, and the unmistakable aroma of wealth. ¡°Whoahh, how grand! What a good remembrance to end the dungeon with.¡± Liz exclaimed. ¡°Y-yes, this room looks¡­ very luxurious,¡± Clarissa agreed. At the center of the room, we saw our prize. The chest is a work of art in itself, a testament to the skill of master artisans and the wealth of the realm. It stands about three feet wide, two feet deep, and two feet tall, constructed from rich, dark mahogany polished to a lustrous sheen. Ariadne walked near the chest and opened it without hesitation. A notification popped up at the edge of my view just as she opened the vessel of our spoils. Congratulations! Abyss Dungeon Cleared! Drops: Unique Skill Stone: Weapon Shift Dual Orb Slot Sword of The Forgotten King Broadsword of The Forgotten King Spear of The Forgotten King Shield of The Forgotten King Mace of The Forgotten King 5,000,000 Gold What good loot! 5 legendary weapons of the highest tier and two unique loots. "You take the first pick... Novo," she suggested without taking her eyes off the chest. "Are you sure?" I double-checked. "It would be an affront to me if you didn''t. You basically soloed the boss," she replied solemnly. "I couldn''t have done it alone. You guys bought me enough time to analyze the boss''s moveset completely." She stared at me with an unreadable expression before murmuring something I couldn''t hear. "Sorry, but can you repeat that?" I urged her to clarify. "Nothing, just choose your item. I will not back down on this." I paused for a second to think as nostalgia overtook me. She had always been stubborn, so it would be hard to change her mind now. I gave her an appreciative nod and pondered what loot to take. The rarest one would be the weapon skill stone ¡®Weapon Shift¡±. Skill stones are embedded in craftable weapons to make the specific weapon have the skill of the embedded stone. Deriving from the name, I assume it has the same effect as the boss we fought earlier, which lets the user switch their weapon at will. It''s definitely a strong weapon skill that gives plenty of strategic advantages in the fight. I do not have much use for it, though, as the weapons I could switch are limited to light weapons like daggers due to my build. I''m sure Ariadne or Liz would make better use of it, so I''ll leave it to them. What I currently need now is the dual-orb, which is also very rare to find on its own. With a good blacksmith, you could set 2 different orbs in it. It''s a much-welcome addition to me since I won¡¯t have to switch staves when I need to use healing or chronomancy. This also means I could use a single staff in the tournament, drastically reducing my load and making me move faster than if I had two staves weighing me down. I also don''t need to put much on vitality now, as that was my plan from before, just so I can bring two staves without hindering my movements. "You''re not going to take the unique skill stone?¡± A hint of shock was evident in Ariadne¡¯s voice. "I''m a mage. The dual orb would benefit me the most." I stated the obvious. "Could have fooled me," she mumbled, something I couldn''t hear. "Why don''t you take the second pick, Ariadne?" Liz suggested. "No, our deal was to roll for everything." "Didn¡¯t stop you from conceding first pick to Kat, though. How about this, you take the weapon skill, and Clarissa and I split the weapons evenly? A guild like ours would benefit more from the weapons, which I''m sure the Paragon''s guild has plenty, than just single weapon skill." We all agreed on the allocation of resources. This is honestly better than someone being left out by not getting what they want in the roll. We get to distribute the spoils evenly according to everyone''s wishes; therefore, everyone is satisfied. After getting the loot, the portal opened back to where we first met with Ariadne. We step "That was a good run. Now I''m tired of how hard the last fight went!" Liz shouted out loud. "Sorry, I didn''t do much..." "It''s fine, it''s fine! You did great for someone who just started playing!" Liz reassured her. By the way, Clarissa, what would you do with the spear and shield? You can''t equip it, right?" Liz asked curiously. "I... will give the spear to my brother. I heard him tell me that he is good at these types of weapons," she said with a soft smile. Extremely cute and kind! What a deadly combo! "For the shield... I don''t know," she continued. "Aww, what a sweet sister!" Liz cooed. "I bet you have the luckiest brother in the world!" Clarissa blushed at the compliment. "Though I have a suggestion. Would you let me buy the shield for you?" Clarissa looked at me for confirmation, to which I just nodded. Liz is right. It would be better to sell the shield to someone who will give her a reasonable price. I''m sure Liz wouldn''t just scam her. "O-okay..." "Then, let''s talk business!" Liz gave Clarissa a look akin to a snake finding her prey. Clarissa visibly gulped at that. I almost forgot that Liz was a guild leader first and foremost because of her demeanor and friendly personality. I was so sure earlier that Liz wouldn''t just scam her, but now... Not so much. As I was contemplating whether to butt in or not, Ariadne suddenly spoke to me. "Novo, I need to talk to you... alone." Liz''s ears perked up at that. She immediately went next to me and leaned on my ear so fast that I almost thought she was about to do something¡­. immoral. Wait, what are you thinking of me!? ¡°Whaawaahh!¡± I heard Clarissa¡¯s shrill voice in the background, but I was too preoccupied to pay much attention to its cuteness. Thankfully, she only wanted to whisper something. "I think she wants to recruit you to her guild. I won''t tell you to decline her offer, but at least consult me about it before you decide so I can make a counteroffer," she winked before separating from us. That''s probably the most likely deduction of what Liz thinks Ariadne is going to say. "Clarissa and I will just finish our negotiation, and I will log out for today. It''s getting late, and I''m getting hungry. So, bye, for now, both of you!" "M-me too, Novo. I''m going to log out after this. Take care! Y-you also Miss Ariadne..." Clarissa shyly waved goodbye. Ariadne and I both nodded at them and said our respective goodbyes. After a moment, Ariadne beckoned me to follow in a secluded place in the forest. After a couple of minutes of walking in complete silence, we stopped far enough from the populated spots. After a quick scan of the whole area for any listeners or interruptions, she found none. She then stared at me with an unreadable expression. We stayed still for a while in complete silence. Just as I thought I would be able to put up with the uncomfortable stare coupled with her solemn silence, she asked me a question that completely caught me off guard. "...Are you Yuusha?" Chapter 32 Ariadne Very few videos of Yuusha''s gameplay exist. It is the main reason why her playstyle is almost impossible to copy due to its lack of content. Many would kill to have videos of her gameplay as she singlehandedly set the standards for the meta of dodging when she won the first Andartha Cup. However, that does not apply to me since she was my mentor. Even back then, when she was still in our guild, I had always dreamt of being as good as her. She was my ultimate goal in this game. I recorded all of her moves in raids, analyzed her plays when the team paragon was practicing team sparring, and watched her intently when she played PvPs with other guild members. I even had help from our guild leader in getting her recordings for their team PvP practice. I kept it all to myself, not even entertaining the thought of uploading it to cyberspace or sharing it with any of my acquaintances. I treated it like a precious treasure, something I can claim as only mine. I truly idolized her back then. But they say love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Parents only scold their children because they genuinely care about their well-being. Apathy is the epitome of really disliking somebody. If someone is indifferent towards you, then it means they do not care about you at all. My feelings started as anxiety when she disappeared without a word. It grew to longing and dread, then shifted to hate and injustice. How could she simply leave us behind like we were nothing? Does our time spent together building up our guild from scratch means so little to her? Spending time with them was the first time I felt like I was part of something big¡­ that I had irreplaceable comrades by my side. Defeating one guild after another, working together for one goal: to become the strongest guild in CoA. Those were the most memorable times for me after I started playing the game before it all changed when team Paragon won the 1st cup, and she disappeared. It became my duty and responsibility as her only apprentice to uphold the legacy of the guild that the strongest team that ever existed had built. Does all of our time spent playing together really mean so little to her? But now, I am assured. Those graceful moves, like a dance from the goddess of death herself. Those masterful dodges are akin to a blacksmith perfecting his craft through hard work and dedication. Everything she did back then when fighting the boss was impossible for anyone to imitate. A play style fine-tuned to her and her alone. It is something that even I, her protege, cannot replicate perfectly, no matter how hard I try. Even if she lacks the proper speed and practice to replicate her past prime, it is still something only the real deal could perform. The real Yuusha, not just an imitation of one of her millions of fans who litter cyberspace with their mockery of her playstyle and then have the gal to annoyingly call themselves ''Yuusha''s successor''. "Are you Yuusha?" I asked, my voice cracking with emotion. "....." she was shocked at first but stayed silent. But silence is as good as admitting it. "Please answer truthfully. Are you the owner of Yuusha''s account?" I pleaded, just to confirm my doubts. She broke off from my intense gaze before she regained her voice. "It''s... a little bit more complicated than that...". It made me irritated. She is dodging the question. Her personality was always the same as her playstyle, even back then. "What is complicated about it!?" I raised my voice in annoyance. Having her undivided attention with my emotional outburst, I continued. "Are you the same person who helped build our guild from scratch?! Are you the same person who led the Paragons to victory in the Andartha Cup?! ....Are you the same person who spent her time training and sparring with me?" I murmured the last part, barely audible. My feelings got to her. She made an expression of regret and a mix of anguish before hanging her head down. "...Yes, I am... I''m sorry." she stared at the ground as if I had shamed her greatly. There is a lot I want to say to her¡ªall my frustrations, anger, and criticism. But when I heard her admit it, All of that vanished instantly with relief and happiness at her admission. She''s back at last. "I see..." I paused to try and regain my composure. A moment of solemn silence later, I continued. "Do you even plan on going back to our guild?" She stared at the ground again. I instantly knew what she was about to say even before she voiced it. "...you are going to abandon us again, huh..." I stated, downcast. "That''s not wha-." I hold out my hand to silence her. "Let us make a bet," I interjected. "...A bet?¡± "Yes, let us settle this like true CoA players. Let our skills do the talking. The first one to hit the opponent wins." "If I win, you will return to the Paragons guild. If I lose, I will give up on recruiting you... you owe us this much at least," I made the suggestion not only because I wanted her back in our guild, but I also wanted her to see how strong I have become. A bet for myself... a bet to surpass my ultimate goal, the person right in front of me. I''m not so underhanded to leverage on my level and stats, so the constraint of being the first one to land a hit wins is there. We both prioritize our dodging skills, so the rules can only be considered fair for players like us. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Although I do have a considerable advantage, from what I can tell, she has no weapon skill on her daggers, while my weapon is something she would have no information of. It''s a new weapon from a patch back then after she quit playing. A weapon skill that I am certain she has no knowledge of. She seemed to somberly ponder for a while. Then, as if having found her determination, she obliged. "...Understood. I accept." she stared at me resolutely. Sometimes, a battle is settled even before it begins. Don''t hate me for this. I won''t let you go ever again, even if I have to throw away all aspects of fair play. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I created a lobby arena for both of us to fight to our heart''s content without any interruptions, as this is a crucial fight that could determine the comeback of our guild. Even if we are currently not the strongest guild, with Yuusha on our side, we could return to our former glory. I have to win, not just for her and my sake but for our entire guild, too. The lobby I created was dimly lit. No NPC spectators or distractions are to be found. Just the two of us in the vast space surrounded by walls that prevent anyone from escaping, not that it is needed. The first one to land a hit wins. A rule we always use to prevent PK when we spar. An effective way to master our art. The art of dodging. The tension is palpable for both of us. The silence is overbearing. I''m the first one to break it. "Our guild can give you so much. Your potential is wasted on that guild." I tried to reason with her. "...As I taught you before, let your skills do the talking," she replied unperturbed. "Tsk! Get down on your high horse!" I exclaimed. I will do whatever it takes to bring you back to us! I will beat you in this duel, and I will drag you by force if I have to! As the countdown ended and the duel began, I made my move. I lunged first, my dagger slicing through the air. But she was quick, her body tilting ever slightly, narrowly avoiding my attack before delivering one of her own. A masterful display of foresight and skill. I dodged delivering a counter of my own as well. I had not been a guild vice leader of the Paragons for nothing. I had continued to improve while she was away. We continue the flawless exchange, our bodies moving in a deadly dance. I feint to the left, but she doesn''t fall for it. She counters, her own blade flashing in the dim light. I ducked, the blade narrowly missing my head as I simultaneously threw in my own counter. Our movements are a blur, too fast for the untrained eye to follow. We twist and turn, our blades sometimes clashing but never finding their mark. The tension rises with each near miss, the suspense building with every second. Suddenly, she stumbles, a small, uncharacteristic misstep due to her lack of practice, but enough for me to seize the opportunity. I lunged, my blade aimed at her chest. But in a surprising move, she rolls on the ground, just in time to evade the attack. She disengaged for a bit, regaining her composure. I didn''t press the attack. "I know all your movement patterns, and compared to your prime, you''re much slower now whilst I have improved greatly. You are not as fast as you used to be!" I declared, more so to cement the mindset that I could win against her. She stayed silent. Knowing the predicament she was in. I can take her on. I can win this! I can win against Yuusha! I rushed at her. Our dance of death continued for a while, neither of us landing the deciding blow as we both focused on dodging rather than playing aggressively. As time passed, I felt it. She was gaining ground. She is getting used to my speed more than I am to her, an adaptability only someone like her can exhibit. She has drastically improved since we first clashed blades, so much so that I fear if we keep exchanging blows for any longer, I will be on the back foot. This won''t do. So, this is the true skill of a legend. It seems the fake still cannot beat the original after all. I have to do it after all. I know this seems unfair, but I know you will never hold it against me because I am just utilizing exactly what you taught me to use every possible advantage you can against your opponent to win! While in the middle of our exchange, I retreated a bit, creating some space between us before throwing one of my daggers at her. Throwing two of my daggers will leave me defenseless and arouse suspicion from her. She always had a sharp battle instinct, so I cannot be complacent. Besides, I only need one hit to win. She was caught off guard by the throw but narrowly evaded it by tilting her head ever so slightly, then rushed towards me, pressing my disadvantage of losing one dagger. She overextended. Checkmate. I activated my weapon skills. It is one of those skills that you don''t need to say its name to trigger¡ªa suitable skill for surprise attacks. Just as the dagger was on the cusp of its flight, it shimmered and then reversed its trajectory, aiming right at her head. I won. Just as it was about to hit, as I was mentally celebrating my victory of finally surpassing my mentor, she ducked, the dagger barely missing her by an inch. "Wha-!" Capitalizing on my stupefaction, she did a quick horizontal slash with her dagger that connected to my neck. Ariadne HP: 96% I froze. "I-I... I lost?" I said as tears began to well up inside. "Yeah, looks like I won," she sighed in relief. "But how! You shouldn''t have known about my weapon skill! It was not even introduced back then! How could you know of its effect?!" I whined at the unfairness. I know it is unbecoming of me, but this was hard to accept. Did she know what I was planning from the start and had already devised a counterplay? "I didn''t. That was actually quite surprising. You almost had me there. A lot has changed since I was gone, huh? There''s a bunch of crazy new weapon skills I had never even seen or heard of." Her admittance astonished me greatly. "B-but... how did you dodge that? It''s just not possible," I asked as if attempting to invalidate the duel¡ªa denial on my part. "Hmm," she pondered for a while, thinking of how to respond to my question. "I saw your muscles and body language relax for a bit and sensed something wrong. So I ducked since if you have a surprise attack that I didn¡¯t know of, you would probably aim for the head." She stated it is as if sensing your opponent''s body language in an instant while in a do-or-die fight was normal, which was honestly a bit aggravating. "...How did you even know where I would try to land my hit? My dagger was on your blind spot." I asked another question that has been bugging me. She smiled as she answered my query. "Cause I just had the feeling you would aim for a critical hit. It''s what I had always taught you when we used to spar, after all." She tapped her head a couple of times for emphasis. "Always aim for the head." She spoke out those exact same lines she did in all those times she taught me how to play PvP. All those times we played together... it all flooded me with a sense of nostalgia. She''s right. Subconsciously, I aimed for a critical blow even though all I needed was a hit on any part of her body to win. I could''ve done better in hindsight, but it doesn''t change the fact that she outplayed me at that exact moment when a fast decision-making aptitude was crucial. So this is what it feels like to fight a legend. Not only her skills but her processing speed, split-second decision, and capacity to outplay her opponents are outlandish. Witnessing it firsthand, I can now see why even the strongest of the pros call her a monster. She really is an unparalleled prodigy in the game. "Pfftt... Heheh... Hahahahahahah." I laughed wholeheartedly at her absurdity. She stared at me like I had a marble loose, though, to be fair, maybe I had lost it. Some might have already after fighting her. She defies common sense. "You really are a monster, you know that," I said as I wiped the tears from my eyes. "Hey, that''s quite rude, you know! I''m a perfectly normal mature woman." I smiled at her statement. I contemplated for a while before continuing. "Fine, I never go back on my word. I won''t recruit you again unless you want to join... but that doesn''t mean I already forgave you for leaving us behind." I declared as I crossed my arms. Deep down inside, I probably already did, but my pride won''t let me admit the truth. "Urk! T-that is understandable. Although..." she hesitated a bit before continuing. "I have a favor to ask of you. "What is it?" I asked curiously. As she stayed silent for a couple more seconds, I pondered what a legend in CoA needs from someone like me. She stared at me intently. The intensity of her gaze caught me unawares. "Would you please keep this a secret between the two of us?" She said as I bore the weight of her solemn gaze. My heart skipped a beat at that... this lady killer¡ªan apt description for her as it can be taken both literally and figuratively. "F-Fine, I''ll keep it a secret to everyone. Except for Celeste, though, she deserves to know." I said as I broke eye contact. "B-but!" "That is non-negotiable." I declared firmly "And also, you will help me practice when I ask you to in exchange for keeping your secret. Otherwise, there will be newscasters and crazy fans coming after you 24-7." "W-wait! That is blackmail!" she exclaimed. That made me smile again. I feel quite happy seeing this side of her. She acts differently now, more expressive than before. She was so very aloof and distant back then, not even mentioning anything about herself, as if she was keeping a secret she did not want to be found out. It is probably the same reason she stopped playing. I won''t pry about her past and personal life as it is a huge taboo for us CoA players. I''m just glad that she seems to have sorted her issue, though. It has been a long time, but it is worth the wait. She''s back at last. Chapter 33 I''m back in the grinding spot in the dark forest we went through the other day. The only difference is that this time, I''m farming alone. My top priority here is to do some last-minute grinding as the first round of elimination would be starting by the end of the week. I had just used my unique weapon skill ¡®Blood Curse¡¯ to farm and now I''m waiting for its downtime for me to continue my grind solo and also to catch my breath a little. As I was waiting, a group of people approached me. ¡°Hey you, wanna¡¯ join our party?¡± A man in a mid-level knight set asked. I took a good look at them. Two mages and a front-liner knight. They are all optimized for PVE but for PVP, this kind of team composition is one of the weakest. Still, they will just slow me down as they would leech my XP. While I would join any other day, now is not a good time since I''m doing a last-minute grind. Every level helps. "Thanks for the offer, but I will have to refuse," I declined politely. ¡°Don''t be greedy, if you don''t want to join us, we will have to take over this spot,¡± The tank spoke. "Yeah, you''re hogging this spot alone," A girl in a mage set backed him up. As I was contemplating what to do, their party leader spoke out to me. ¡°Kid, you look like a noob. Let me tell you the basics of this game. In higher levels, the grinding spots are limited. You either party up to not get your spot stolen or you call help from your guild. That is the reality of this game. In this game, skill is what matters. After all, the strong take from the weak. Your grinding solo might be fine at lower levels but at higher levels, it is plain stupid and suicidal. So just party with us. We get to have the loot but you get to have a share in XP, it''s a good deal right?¡± he negotiated. I get where they are coming from, except for the loot part, but I desperately need the XP and levels for the qualifiers. I guess we will just have to settle this dispute like true CoA players. Three of them, two mages and a tank, I could probably fake joining them then launch a surprise attack at the mage, reducing their numbers by one. A single PK won''t hurt that much if done in a grinding zone as opposed to safe zones like a town or city. I will let the two attack me first to not accumulate any more PK points. So, a 2v1, I think I can manage. ¡°Well? Are you going to join or will we have to teach you the harsh reality of higher-level skirmishes?¡± he threatened. I sighed. Having Liz here as a deterrent from these people would have been perfect. Our qualifiers will be this weekend, it would not be too bad to have a little practice. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As I was waiting for the mobs to reappear to continue my grind for XP, I heard a sudden ping. It made me instantly think who could have possibly messaged me since I only have very few players in my friend list¡­ how depressing. I glanced at the message screen and saw who the culprit was. It was Ariadne. Ariadne: What are you up to? I glanced at the loot of the fallen players, about ten of them. I don''t want to take it as I don''t need it but it keeps piling up. I mean I could just sell it, but none of these drops are even worth the effort to do so. All of it is trash drops from mobs you can find just about anywhere in the higher stages of the game. Most importantly, it will just slow me down since having unneeded loot contributes to weight. Although I should probably not tell her I¡¯m having a field day killing players. Novo: Just grinding for XP, why? Ariadne: Accept my guild teleport invite. Ariadne sent you a teleport invite to the Paragon¡¯s Guild Hall. Would you Like to accept? Y/N Usually, members have free access to their Guild Halls and can go in and out of their base freely. Unaffiliated players though need an invite from officers or higher to be able to visit their acquaintance¡¯s respective Guild Hall. This is done for peace talks and meetings, usually with the higher-ranked guild hosting the invite. I hesitated in accepting the invitation. I was adamant about returning to the guild I left behind and adding that to my unsociable nature, my answer is leaning to the side where I refuse her offer. As I was thinking of how to decline her request as politely as possible, she sent another message as if reading my current dilemma. Ariadne: If you don¡¯t accept, consider getting ready for an interview with the reporters in-game. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Is your hobby blackmailing people!? Get a new one for my sake, please! Having been left with no choice, I accepted the invitation. All went black for a second and I was teleported. Just as my field of vision cleared, what greeted me was beyond my wildest comprehension. A luxuriously large castle is a magnificent architectural masterpiece that exudes opulence and grandeur. The castle is surrounded by lush, manicured gardens and a vast, picturesque landscape. The exterior is adorned with intricate carvings and decorative elements, ornate balconies, and stained glass windows that catch the sunlight. The Paragon''s guild base is now a whole lot grander than I remembered it to be. ¡°Good, you''re here.¡± Ariadne gave me a welcoming smile. Of course, I would be, you left me with no choice! That is what I would like to say. ¡°Of course, I wanted to see my old guild, no need for veiled threats,¡± I said disapprovingly. ¡°Sorry, I had to make sure, Celeste has been bugging me to see you ever since she found out you returned.¡± ¡°Is Celeste the only one who knows about me?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t go back on my word.¡± You almost did though! ¡°Let¡¯s head inside then, stick close to me,¡± she beckoned me to come close to her. I followed her as she led the way. Stepping into the main hall of the castle is daunting due to its huge size. The ceiling soars to incredible heights, adorned with breathtaking frescoes and ornate chandeliers that bathe the space in warm, golden light. Enormous marble columns, intricately carved with fine details, support the ceiling. The walls are draped with rich tapestries depicting scenes of historical significance. Players go around the castle, some entertaining different players from other guilds but most just chat openly. Many of them noticed us when we went inside and the hall noticeably quieted. Most stares were focused on their vice leader while I received some curious stares here and there while offering murmurs of suspicion. ¡°Who is that player with Miss Ariadne?¡± ¡°Maybe from one of the branch guilds?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recall her guild as one of ours.¡± ¡°Is she a potential recruit?¡± ¡°No not a chance. She is not even max leveled¡± ¡°Yeah, she''s too weak to join the main guild.¡± Ariadne ignored them and continued waltzing in confidently. I did the same, they were right about one thing though, I would not quit Liz''s guild unless she kicked me out. I followed Ariadne onto a majestic staircase. The balustrade is made of the finest, polished marble, and the steps are covered in a plush, deep crimson carpet that muffles every footstep. It led us to the upper levels of the castle. A man in a custom-made royal guard set greeted her on our way to a large meeting room. He is seated in an ornate chair at a desk, akin to a medieval receptionist. ¡°Good evening Miss Ariadne,¡± the guy bowed respectfully, giving me a quick glance in the process but ignoring me otherwise. What the heck? People treat her like some CEO of a huge company! You guys even have secretaries! Although considering the money this guild is making through materials, I''m not that surprised that they have a strict, professional hierarchy. Ariadne, for her part, nodded in acknowledgement and continued. ¡°Is the leader inside? She is not replying to my messages.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Adrianne, Celeste is currently in a meeting between the 4 branch guild masters.¡± ¡°Is it about to end?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so, Miss. They have a lot on the agenda for today, considering the qualifiers are starting this week many of our branch guilds have their corresponding representatives that need funding.¡± ¡°Tell her this is much more important than entertaining those weaklings. None of their members will pass the qualifiers anyway.¡± The secretary, clearly taken aback by the bluntness of her statement, took another glance at me but this time with more caution. "Uhmm, but miss..." She sighed. ¡°I''ll handle it myself.¡± ¡°Wait! Miss!" the secretary protested. Ariadne for her part ignored him and beckoned me to follow. We continued to walk toward the end of the hallway where a closed door was situated. She then opened the door and spoke in a loud confident manner. ¡°Celeste, I have something important to talk about.¡± "What is it this time, Ariadne? Can this not wait? I''m quite occupied right now,¡± came a familiar voice. ¡°No, it cannot. It is about what I talked to you about the other day, you know how hard it is to get a hold of her with her.... personality.¡± ¡°I see... forgive me, gentlemen, something important came up, and we will have to adjourn this meeting for another day.¡± There were murmurs of discontent and a couple of seconds later, it transitioned into sounds of the teleporting function one after another. After the room was clear, Ariadne then beckoned me to come inside with her. As I entered the room, I was greeted by a feminine face with a figure of a large bodybuilder who would not look out of place in a gym. I became instantly nostalgic. ¡°Yuusha, is that you?¡± she asked in a deep but melodious voice. I nodded somberly. That is right. Celeste is a trans woman. I heard that back in the day they were treated badly, but due to many activists and such fighting tooth and nail for their acceptance, they are now treated no different from any other person. I completely agree with that, although my agreeability is mostly part of my upbringing on the matter since I was not taught to discriminate by gender or nationality by my parents. The only problem for me is her personality though. "I have waited for you so long. I knew that you would be back someday honey. How about a friendly kiss and a hug to greet your favorite teammate?" she said as she charged at me with her arms wide open ready to crush me with her bulging muscles. Is this how you greet a former comrade!? "How about a kiss on my dagger instead?" I said as I pointed my dagger at her face to make her stop in her tracks. ¡°H-hey wait You know I''m just kidding, honey!¡± she gave me a forced smile before becoming serious. ¡°It has been a while, Yuusha.¡± ¡°Yeah, it has been so long, Celeste,¡± I smile wanly, the nostalgia of seeing her face again made me emotional, to the point of almost tearing up. ¡°I really did wait for you, you know! I could''ve gone pro with the many offers I got but I know deep down in my heart, you''re the only partner I could work with!¡± "...Sorry." "If you really are that repentant, then you should just take responsibility and marry me!" Are you a teenage maiden in love?! ¡°You already know I''m a girl in real life, right?¡± I countered. ¡°As I said before, love knows no boundaries! You too know that I''m into the cool, mysterious type, and you have that in spades!¡± I sighed. She''s always like this back then, though I''m not entirely sure if her feelings are genuine or if she is just messing with me to break the ice. My bet is on the latter. Luckily Ariadne butted in. ¡°That is sexual harassment leader. Control yourself please, you''re embarrassing our guild.¡± ¡°Urkk! You''re so harsh Aria. Why can''t you be kinder to your poor guild leader sometimes?¡± "Because you don''t act like you deserve it!¡± ¡°Tsk, young people these days. It doesn''t matter though since Yuusha will be part of our guild again.¡± Silence engulfed the whole room. Well, this is awkward. "...Uhm, you didn''t tell her?" I adamantly asked Ariadne. "S-sorry, I couldn''t find the right time since she was so excited when she heard you''re back," Ariadne reasoned while uncharacteristically looking bashful. This girl! So, she''s putting all the work on me! Don¡¯t hate me if I get back at you at the tournament. Coming to the realization on her own, Celeste began talking again. "I see... so, you made new friends and joined a new guild, huh," she already put two and two together. I nodded solemnly. "That''s great news! I''m just glad that you''re back," she gave me a genuine smile. Even if I analyze every part of her body language, I see no hint of disappointment. She truly cares for me and it made me glad to have her as a friend. I returned her smile. "Besides, I¡¯m also into NTR, so it''s fine if you have another guild now," she gave me a flirtatious wink. What the heck are you even saying?! This sexual deviant is getting out of line! I sighed again for the umpteenth time. Though she probably just said it to lighten the mood. That''s how she has always been even back when we formed our team. While Tactical was our leader and Zetta my rival, she was the heart of our team. That is why all of us 3 nominated her as the guild leader due to her lighthearted nature. We continued talking about mundane things, mostly about the past and what happened to the guild after I was gone. It went on for a while and, after that, we parted ways but not without a promise from Celeste that she would not give up on recruiting me. I only got the promise from Ariadne but not from her so I cannot fault her for it. Chapter 34 Renz''s PoV "Big Brother! Colin! Dinner is ready!" shouted a cute voice. "We''ll be right there!" I said as I turned off the T.V. and beckoned our youngest brother to eat. As I walked into the dining room, the warm glow from the chandelier above cast a welcoming light on the polished wooden table. The table was set for three, a cozy sight in the vast room filled with family portraits and mementos from our childhood. The aroma of the home-cooked meal prepared by my ever-so-cutest little sister wafted in from the kitchen, a comforting blend of spices and herbs that made my mouth water. Clarissa was already seated at the table, her soft brown eyes focused on the intricate patterns of the tablecloth. Her hair was neatly tied up in a loose bun, and she wore one of her favorite soft pink sweaters that made her look even more adorable. As I took my seat across from her, I noticed her glancing up at me, a small smile playing on her lips. She was always more comfortable in small, intimate settings like this. "The food smells great as usual," I said, complimenting her cooking. "Yeah, and it tastes good too!" Colin happily said as he munched one of the cooked sausages. "Sit first before you eat! Honestly, you''re too impulsive, why can''t you be a little more like your calm and kind sister?" I reprimanded him. It was my job to act as their father figure as Mother and Father were always away from home due to the nature of their work. It was a bit hard at first but we got used to it. It also helped us to become mature and reliable, especially Clarissa who always does the chores like cooking and cleaning. I always remind her to just leave the cleaning to the house cleaner who comes every other day, but she insists that she helps too. My little sister is just too kind! As we started to eat, we talked about mundane things like school, and Colin''s unfinished homework, where Clarissa volunteered again to help him. Honestly, we don''t deserve such a cute and kind sister! Amidst our meal, the topic switched to the qualifiers. "Brother, your match is tomorrow right?" "Brig mbro hat a mach?" "Yes your big brother does, and Colin, don''t talk when your mouth is full, or I''ll eat all your food," I tried to intimidate him. For his part, he went silent and doubled his focus on eating, determined not to share a single morsel of the food on his plate with anyone. "On that note. Clarissa, could you wake me up early?" "Sure! But you don''t want to just set an alarm?" "I want it to be you who wakes me up, I have a feeling that we would have good luck if you''re the one to do it." "R-really?" "Yeah so don''t forget to wake me up tomorrow, ok?" "Yeah! It is a 4v4 right? Are your teammates as strong as you too?" "Oh, since when did you know the rules of the tournament your brother is joining?" I asked curiously. Clarissa never was one for gaming so it got me curious about how she knew the rules. "I, uhm, heard you talk about it a while back..." Hmm, I probably did as I always blabber whenever I''m around her. I mean how could I not? She''s just too cute and kind! "Hmm, I see. On your question earlier, yeah you got that right, your brother has very dependable teammates! They are all so good that we''ll have no trouble breezing through the qualifiers... but of course, your brother is still the strongest in our team!" I said confidently while thumping my chest. "Wow! Brother is so strong." "Big bro is so cool!" They don''t play CoA anyway so they don''t need to know that I was just exaggerating my skills. A little white lie won''t hurt, specifically if it makes them look up to their big brother more. Stolen story; please report. "Of course I am! And with our combined skills, we could even win the whole thing! Your brother will be all over the news! We''ll be famous with how many interviewers and reporters we will have knocking at our front door! So I''ll be counting on you guys to cheer us on!" "Wow!" "Whoaah!" My siblings exclaimed in unison as their eyes sparkled in their amazement. "Don''t worry, Brother, I will support you. I will take care of Colin and the house tomorrow so you can focus on your matches!" She determinedly declared. So cute! My little sister is just the cutest! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chu''s PoV As I sit at our dining table, the warm, honey-colored wood beneath my fingertips exudes a sense of familiarity and comfort. The table is of modest size but accommodates more than enough space for a family of two like ours. Its surface bears the subtle marks of daily life¡ªtiny scratches and faint stains, reminders of shared meals. The centerpiece is a simple vase filled with fresh flowers, a touch of nature that adds a burst of color to the scene. The aroma of dinner wafts through the air, a delightful blend of spices and homemade food. The table is set with matching, sturdy dinnerware, each piece worn by years of use but still cherished for its role in family dinners. In the center, there''s a platter of a home-cooked dish, steam rising as it awaits eager hands. Bowls of rice sit patiently, ready to complement the main course. A jug of water with glasses beside it completes the ensemble¡ªpractical and unpretentious. The chairs surrounding the table are worn but inviting, each with a unique pattern on the cushion that reflects the eclectic taste of our family. My mother and I continue to eat in silence, giving proper respect to the food that fills our stomachs as our tradition dictates. After a short while of eating, I cut the silence. "Mother, I have to go somewhere tomorrow early in the morning." "Where?¡± She stared at me skeptically. ¡°Don''t tell me you''re going to play that ''Bee Are'' game of yours again. I told you to focus on your studies or you won''t get anywhere in life," she admonished. "I am doing a project with a friend. We agreed to meet early," I lied smoothly. "Fine, just be sure to finish all your chores before you go. And study hard at your project, we can''t afford your tuition if you lose your scholarship." "Understood, Mother," I said as I picked up my dishes and washed them. After doing so, I went to my room. As I stepped into my room, my very own private space, the feeling of tranquility washed over me. It is small, but it has a certain charm to it. The walls are painted a soothing pastel color, and there''s a single window that lets in a soft, warm light, casting long shadows on the floor. The bed is modest, tucked into one corner of the room. It''s covered with a quilt that''s seen better days but still holds vibrant patches of color. A small, wooden nightstand sits next to it, holding a well-used lamp, a stack of books, and my laptop and school-issued tablet. On the opposite wall, there''s a dresser that''s clearly been handed down through generations. It''s a bit worn, but it''s sturdy and holds a lot of character. A mirror hangs above it, reflecting the simplicity of the room. In the corner, there''s a small chair with a knit blanket thrown over it, perfect for curling up with a good book. There''s not much room for anything else, but the essentials are there, and everything has its place. As I sat on my bed, I contemplated the current state of things. It is unfortunate that I don''t have a VR at home. It would save me a lot of time, so much so that I would not have to be late for our regular scrim matches. Mother doesn''t want to buy one as it is too expensive and I think she knows that I would be using it to mostly play games. I can''t complain though as I already have a laptop for schoolwork. No, I have no right to complain. Father is not with us so we only have each other and she is doing her best for our livelihood. That is why I need to win the tournament; the prize money will help us greatly. The title is just an added bonus for me, though trivial compared to the cash prize. It does help me further my goals if I perform well in the tournament though, if we somehow manage to pass the qualifiers that is. Statistically speaking, our chances should be slim. Yet I cannot help to feel optimistic about our chances with a teammate as good as our current captain and ace. Someone who specializes in team matches but could beat me in a duel is not someone to be trifled with. The other member, the irritating one, is passable. He is good, but not on the same level as me and our captain. The one who baffles me the most though, is the slippery one. I can''t seem to get a grasp on her skill level no matter how many scrims we have with other players. She might be weaker than any of us three, or she is on a different level altogether. The surefire way to know her true potential is to challenge her to a one-on-one. The only thing is, challenging a healer, and a low-level player at that to a one-on-one is extremely unethical and humiliating. It is a mockery of my pride as a duelist. Not only do I have a huge stats advantage due to my level and gear, but she also has a huge disadvantage in play style due to needing to chant. In a one-versus-one scenario, that would be paramount to suicide. Challenging her to a duel is not an option I would be willing to do just to quench my curiosity. Ring* ring* The sound of my alarm broke me out of my contemplation. I glanced at the time. It is getting late. I need to sleep now if I want to get up early in the morning to finish all my chores just in time for the qualifiers. I also have to commute to the nearest VR cafe. No that won''t do. It is a qualifiers match so I have to be at a higher class one to ensure that there will be no connection problems. I just hope I won''t be too late for the match. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Elizabeth''s PoV I am currently in a circular expanse, surrounded by towering stone walls adorned with ancient symbols. The sandy floor beneath my feet feels coarse and unforgiving. A single, harsh spotlight overhead casts stark shadows across the arena, emphasizing the solitary nature of the last clash. A clash that I had just won. Lisbeth HP: 18% Tranks HP: 0% ¡°GG, that was a good fight!¡± My opponent voiced out before disappearing into blue motes of light. Congratulations! You won the Ranked 1v1 Duel! ¡°Phew that was close,¡± I sighed in relief as I teleported back to the lobby. Marcy12: wow that was a good match. Rain4: That last play was clutch! Kalin32: GG! Simpguy99: My heart falls ever so much more with your captivating plays milady! RockHard69: That was a good fight! I can¡¯t wait for the stream on tomorrow¡¯s qualifiers! Im12btwxoxo: I''ll use my dad¡¯s credit card again to donate if you guys win! I glanced at my stream window and saw that most of my viewers were excited about my stream tomorrow. Sadly, streaming for the qualifiers is not allowed so I would have to disappoint them. ¡°Sorry guys but the rules don''t allow streaming. You can only watch at the CoA official website,¡± I said regretfully. HardcoreViewer: Aww, I want to watch it from your perspective :( Gregory864: It is only against the rules if you get caught. im12btwxoxo: I¡¯ll use my dad¡¯s influence to cancel that rule! Simpguy99: "In the garden of our shared moments, my love, the cruel hands of time threaten to pluck us from the same branch of existence. But fear not, for even as destiny orchestrates a temporary parting, the roots of our affection run deep, and the blossoms of our connection shall endure, awaiting the season of reunion." "That''s it for today guys! I need to rest early. The first part of the qualifiers will start in the morning and will continue for a total of 10 matches throughout the whole day! Assuming that we win of course, but I''m fairly sure we can!" NebulaNoodle: Good luck with the qualifiers! I''ll be rooting for ya! CelestialSnipe: Good luck! QuantumGamerX: Go beat them up! VelocityVortex87: Go Team Paradigm! MysticPixelMaster: Good Luck to your team! I logged out after seeing their words of encouragement. Although it does little to assuage the turmoil in my mind. A whole lot rests on my shoulders, I have a burden to bear as the guild leader of the Concord of Heroes where I currently am in a shaky position. A lot of my guildmates expect me to win. Most importantly, as the captain of Team Paradigm, I can''t fail my teammates. I need to do all I can for us to win the important matches tomorrow. My heart beats louder and dread overcomes my very being as I think of the consequences of losing on the first day of the qualifiers. I cannot fail. I cannot let them down. Chapter 35 *Ring, Ring, Ring* I woke up to the sound of my alarm. I felt a sudden sense of urgency to get ready for school, but I remembered that today was a weekend. I relaxed for a bit, knowing that I didn¡¯t have to prepare but my blood pumped again when I remembered why I set up my alarm in the first place. Later today, we will be fighting the first qualifier match. I got out of bed and did my morning routine. I had to wake up a little bit early today since our match will be at 9 a.m. and I need to focus and mentally prepare myself before the match. I ate a hearty meal and listened to relaxing music to calm my nerves. I thought that I would not feel nervous at all since I have such capable teammates but I guess the more I knew how important this qualifier was to them, the more I''m hesitant to screw up. I don¡¯t think we will lose in the first round but you never know what might happen in a match between two opposing teams. Anything can happen and it would be best to prepare for the worst outcome, though at the same time, there are things you cannot control, and just do your best on whatever you can. I heard my phone ring; it woke me out of my musings and I saw that Liz was calling. I immediately answered it. ¡°Liz? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing just checking up on you ''cause you weren¡¯t online yet,¡± she said with less levity in her voice, far from her usual demeanor. Is she nervous perhaps? I glanced at the clock and saw that it was already 8:47 a.m., and the assembly time for our schedule was already near. I was so engrossed in my pre-battle meditation that I almost forgot the match, how ironic it would be if I missed the match because of it. She doesn¡¯t need to know about that blunder. ¡°I was just calming my nerves, I was about to go online before you called,¡± I threw an excuse. ¡°Ohh I guess this is your first tournament too so I guess it could be a bit nerve-wracking, hehe,¡± She laughed nervously. A clear sign she was not used to high-stakes matches like this. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll go online now so wait for me a bit,¡± ¡°Sure, see you soon¡­¡± she said as she ended the call. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I appeared inside a rustic wooden room near the door of the inn in the city of demons. I recall that this was the last place I went before going offline. A wave of warmth and comfort embraces me. The cozy lobby is adorned with earthy tones and charming, vintage d¨¦cor. A quaint reception desk stands to one side, where a friendly innkeeper NPC offers a warm smile and a hearty welcome. While contemplating whether to message my team or not, I immediately got an invite to a private lobby. Game Master Rudy invited you to a private lobby, Would You like to Accept? Y/N Game masters are administrators of the CoA community for events like this. I knew plenty of GMs that served as observers or regulators back then. I can only assume they¡¯ve increased in numbers with the growth of CoA. I have never heard of this Game Master before but I can only be sure that they would be impartial to the rules given that it is their job in the first place and the CoA team is very picky on who they recruit. I accepted the invitation. *zffff This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. I was teleported to a modern luxury lobby that clearly is custom-made for the tournament to satisfy the younger generation. The vast expanse of the lobby is bathed in soft lighting from a picturesque chandelier, casting a warm and ethereal glow that dances across the polished marble floors. The air is scented with a delicate, invigorating fragrance, a function that costs a lot of in-game currency, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and luxury. Sculptural works of art adorn the space, seamlessly integrated into the lobby''s design. The lobby is dotted with plush seating areas where players are expected to relax and crimson-red chairs that seem to have been designed for maximum comfort and style. I took a quick look around and saw 7 players sitting in the comfortable-looking chairs scattered around the lobby completely out of place with their medieval looks in a futuristic background. In the center of the room stands a single professional-looking Game Master wearing the customary CoA formal uniform attire. Everybody focused their attention on the new arrival (which was unfortunately me). I saw signs of relief and even derision from the enemy team. Some of them even gave a smug look, likely because they found out my level through identify. I can¡¯t blame them though, I¡¯m currently only level 75. I went to my teammates who gave me a look of acknowledgment and a quick greeting. Renz looked quite pleased at my arrival while Liz seemed uncharacteristically tense. ¡°Seems like there is only one person left before we can start,¡± the GM said in a clear feminine voice that commands attention. I took a double take on all the players and saw that the person missing was one of ours. And why am I not surprised that our edge lord is still not here? If I was his boss, I would¡¯ve already given him negative social points. ¡°Where the heck is that guy?¡± Renz ranted. ¡°He has not picked up my calls since earlier. I hope he is alright,¡± Liz stated apprehensively. ¡°It''s already 9 am. What happens next?¡± One of the enemy players asked the GM. The Game Master stilled for a second, likely looking at the in-game clock, then continued to articulate in a cordial but imposing manner. ¡°If a player has not arrived at the allotted time slot, we will wait for 10 minutes. If the player still has not yet arrived when the grace period is up, then the team he or she is in will be disqualified,¡± the GM responded professionally. Come on Chu, leave your Edgeville early for once! Your edgy citizens can handle themselves without you lording over them all the time! The guy who gave me a derisive look earlier stood up. He wears a bullet-riddled, patchwork coat. Beneath the coat, a vest shows signs of battle damage. A torn shirt completes the look he is opting for, a clear sign of it being a custom-crafted equipment set. He then gave us a derisively smug look before speaking out loud. ¡°Why do we even bother wasting time here? That guy clearly chickened out knowing that they have no chance of winning because they have an under leveled teammate. Even if their last member shows up, do you think they have a chance against us with that kind of handicap? I know you¡¯re a busy person GM so just rule the game in our favor already and be done with it!¡± He said in a demanding tone. I identified him. RuG Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 95 Guild: Cosmic Pirates Duel wr: Hidden Wins: Hidden Matches: Hidden Team Rank matches wr: Hidden 1v1 Rank matches wr: Hidden Wins: Hidden Matches: Hidden id#:*********** Introduction: Oh, he¡¯s hiding his PVP stats. A good strategy since we cannot pinpoint his strengths and weaknesses. Liz suggested that the team also do the same but I mostly convinced them to keep it as it is since it would be an intimidating factor to show that our team has 2 rankers. It is also a good tactic to show that I had almost zero ranked and team matches in my stats. It will likely throw them out of their assumptions for a better chance to outplay them. I identified their whole team and it¡¯s the same. The only important information I could glean from it was their name, which is nothing beneficial to us. They really are determined to win this qualifier since they are covering all their bases for potential disadvantages. My respect for them is gradually increasing, except for the trash-talking strategy though. That is clearly not my cup of tea. Chu arrived. Upon his arrival, I saw looks of discomfort from the other team. This is likely due to the fact that we have 2 rankers in our team, which is pretty rare for a nonprofessional e-sports team. Seems like our strategy paid off. This will be a good blow to their morale. As Tactical always says whenever he gathers information on our enemy, ¡®The battle starts even before the fight begins¡¯. ¡°RuG, it¡¯s another ranker,¡± I heard one of his teammates whisper. ¡°There''s nothing to be scared of, it''s basically 3v4, and we have no chance of losing,¡± their leader RuG rallied them to keep their morale. I commend him for his leadership. He is doing his best to keep their team''s confidence high. Disparaging the enemy team is one good tactic for keeping their spirits up since having high morale in matches can improve a team¡¯s chances of victory, although it¡¯s not a tactic I would use. He might have plenty of tournament experiences due to his bearing and actions so far or he might just be a proud toxic narcissist. Although I think it¡¯s a combination of both. I looked at Liz. She on the other hand is uncharacteristically silent. This does not bode well for our morale seeing our ace like this, but I don¡¯t know how to give her assurance since I''m not good at those. I wish Tactical was here, that guy always knows what to say in every situation. ¡°Now that we are all here, the battle will start momentarily. I will act as a witness to the outcome of this qualifier match. I also have full autonomy to disqualify players as I see fit therefore, I advise you to comply with my suggestions and regulations. I also have the full authority to record the matches as stated in the terms and conditions you all agreed to upon signing into the qualifiers. This match will also be live-streamed on our official site as are all of the matches for the qualifiers. The videos will be used as proof of the match results and the records may be used in the promotion of the game as the CoA Team sees fit,¡± she stated in a practiced tone. I already heard most of it last time I entered the AC so this is nothing new to me. However, the promotion made me a little apprehensive about the match as it was not in the rules of the last qualifiers I joined. ¡°Any questions before we start?¡± she asked as she looked at each of us. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this over with already, it''s only the first round and we still have plenty of teams to beat,¡± their leader, RuG, stated confidently. The GM nodded to both our team leaders before she spoke in a voice that had the most emotion I had heard since the gathering of both teams. ¡°Then, the first round of the qualifiers, Team Paradigm versus Team Rugged Pirates, officially starts!¡± Chapter 36 We are teleported to the playing field. This time, the map for the battle is in an ancient ruin. A crumbling, ancient heap of stones standing proudly scattered all around us but weathered by time. Moss and ivy cling to its weather-beaten walls, hinting at centuries gone by. It''s like nature''s claiming it back, reclaiming the land with its green fingers. Broken windows stare out like hollow eyes, letting in streams of sunlight that dance upon the rubble-strewn floors. The air whispers tales of the past, carrying echoes of a history long forgotten. I can almost feel the weight of time as I survey the entire area. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Renz inquired. ¡°We stick to what we always practiced, a 1-2-1 play with me and Kat on mid, Ren on top, and Chu on the bot.¡± All of us nodded before proceeding to go our separate ways, we had already practiced this play many times and it was the best strategy for a team composition like ours. ¡°Want me to cast haste on you?¡± I asked Liz while we were on our way to the middle orb. I had recently equipped the dual-core I got from the Abyss dungeon with help from Raynolds in preparation for the qualifiers. I can now use both healing magic and Chronomancy support spells. I cannot use both haphazardly of course as my mana pool is still too miniscule to manage spamming both orb paths. ¡°Not this time, I haven¡¯t fully mastered it. I¡¯m afraid it will mess up my tempo. Also conserve your mana, casting haste takes a lot of MP, especially for someone of your stats build.¡± I nodded at her. I already told her all the capabilities and weaknesses of my build so it is no surprise she has already devised countermeasures on how to negate some of it. As we arrived at the middle orb, two people greeted us. One of them is their team leader RuG while the other is a spellcaster type, a force mage if I were to judge by his orb. An odd combination since a force mage is more of a DPS with few support skills but it could work if they have plenty of experience playing together. ¡°Hoh? It seems like you girls are lost, there are no kitchens around these parts,¡± RuG mocked. Okay... that''s going too far! You know we are being streamed right?! I begrudgingly ignored the quick jab and Liz, for her part, was uncharacteristically silent. She seems extremely serious, so much so that I dread it would affect her carefree playstyle. As RuG was distracting us with his toxic banter, I saw that the mage was chanting a spell, Liz likely saw it too, and proceeded to move. She ran towards them to stop the chant, RuG for his part blocked her to protect his mage. Liz ignored the scimitar user by using her weapon skill to appear behind the enemy spellcaster attacking with a swift thrust to kill him. ¡°Force Field!¡± the mage exclaimed. The mage released his spell, it was not a long-range attack that we had expected, instead a protective shield. Liz¡¯s rapier connected with the shield, resulting in a loud clang. *Ting ¡°Urk!¡± Liz exclaimed. ¡°Ha! Gotcha!¡± RuG bragged. Liz was momentarily disoriented by the recoil damage from her own attack hitting the force field. Lizbeth HP: 81% RuG for his part was ready to capitalize on the opportunity granted by his teammate. He used his weapon skill instantly, a very strong and fast skill but with an incredibly long cooldown, an effective trump card for finishing enemies. ¡°Lightning Rush!¡± He became clad in lightning, drastically increasing his movement speed before appearing next to Liz and delivering a strong lightning uppercut slash. Liz, not being able to dodge due to being disoriented by the force mage, received the full brunt of the attack and was critically hit and sent flying into the air. ¡°Kyaaa!¡± Lizbeth Hp: 18% They knew of her weapon skill and predicted her to go on the offensive. Their strategist was also good. They had devised a plan to bait her into going aggressive, then finish her in one go. They likely had many tournament battle experiences as they easily baited Liz into making a mistake. Their leader was also skilled. He might even be a ranker but he hid it well. Liz clearly underestimated him by taking that unnecessary risk, now she will have to pay the price. Her weapon skill is on cooldown, she is airborne with no chance to dodge and is now extremely susceptible to a follow-up attack after she lands. Her death is set in stone. ¡°Recall!¡± I shouted, my emotions running high. Liz instantly vanished out of thin air after I cast the skill, barely dodging the finishing blow. She then appeared right next to me, safe and sound. Recall is a light orb-based skill that teleports an ally it was cast on next to the caster. It has a restriction of a 50-meter range and it needs to be pre-cast but is effective in getting your teammates out of sticky situations. Thankfully my gut feeling was on point or Liz would have died back there. As Celeste would constantly say, always be ready for the worst outcome, that is what separates a good support from an average one. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Liz, let''s retreat for now,¡± I suggested. Startled by the displacement, she took a second to regain her composure. ¡°B-but the orb!¡± ¡°One orb doesn''t matter if it costs us the game. You have no HP! We need to regroup and patch you up first.¡± ¡°What''s the matter? Chickening out after that humiliating display? Hahaha, ranker my ass! What a weakling!¡± RuG continued to taunt. Liz gritted her teeth, her pride wounded by the enemy¡¯s provocation. I can sort of understand what she''s going through, but if we fight now, all it takes is a single hit for her to die and we would be in a tough spot. To make matters worse, the enemy is also good at psychological mind plays and is experienced in trash-talking enemies to get a rise out of them pushing them out of their comfort zone. He knows to hit where it would hurt the most. I had my fair share of enemies like that back then so it doesn¡¯t bother me as much as my partner. I am also not their target as they do not register me as a threat, only focusing on Liz. At the corner of my eyes, I saw the mage chanting a spell while his teammate distracted us. This just proves my theory that they have been fighting as a team for a long time with how synergized they are with their actions. One is adept at provoking the enemy and taking the aggression and focus of their opponents with his taunts while the other capitalizes on it stealthily. This is bad, we need to get out of here right now! I grabbed her hand and dragged her to retreat. ¡°Liz! Don¡¯t fall for his goading! Let''s go, NOW!¡± I raised my voice in hopes of dissuading her from fighting again. ¡°O-okay¡­¡± likely noticing the desperation in my voice, she followed my lead and continued with me. ¡°Are you guys really just gonna¡¯ run away like pussies? You guys are putting that name to shame! Paradigm my ass you guys are a joke! A disgrace!¡± he taunted. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Liz hang her head in shame. It broke my heart to see her like this. I almost wanted to turn back and solo those two. But that would do us no good if we show all our cards in the first qualifier match, which I''m sure we can win easily. Our stronger opponents in the future might have countermeasures in store for us if we reveal all our trump cards this early in the qualifiers. This game is being streamed after all and a recording will be available for all to see, our future opponents included. They did not pursue us, likely prioritizing the orb. They are also not so dumb to split up and let one go after us since it is too risky for them if they fall into a trap. We ran for a while, both of us downcast. After running for a short while, we found ourselves in a good spot to hide in the ruins. The silence continued as I healed her up to full. She is likely blaming herself in self-deprecation all the while I give myself some time to think about what to do next. She is pressured into making aggressive moves that even though they have a high reward if accomplished, also pose a high risk that our current skilled team could do without taking. We are not backed into a corner, on the contrary, we have an overwhelming advantage. She did not have to take those unnecessary risks and if she just played normally, we would win hands-down with our own skills. Then it occurred to me why she was rushing too much and not playing safe in the slightest. She was always teamed up with Romel and the other boys in important betting matches and her performance dictates whether their team wins or not. If she plays poorly, they lose, if she plays well, they win. That must have conditioned her into thinking she had to do everything or else they would lose. This mindset is completely wrong and has to go. We are now a team and with equal skills at that. She needs to know that she can rely on us too. I don¡¯t really know what to say, but I have to do something or this will hinder us in the long run. ¡°S-sorry Kat, I messed up bad there, ha ha...¡± she spoke awkwardly to break the dreadful silence. I sighed and steadied my breathing. Here goes nothing. Wish me luck, Tactical. ¡°Are you stupid?!¡± I shouted while giving her head a karate chop as hard as I could hoping that she could feel it through the pain receptors to pull her out of her stupor. Lizbeth HP: 91% Her HP goes down by 2%, but it doesn¡¯t matter since I am almost done patching her up from the beating she took earlier. ¡°Bwuuhh?¡± she made a weird startled sound at my outburst and my friendly fire. It must have been quite a shock to her since I¡¯m usually silent and composed. A complete 360 change in attitude was almost an impossibility coming from me, but I was just copying what I think Tactical would say in this situation. Besides, a good shock is always the best way to get someone out of their daze. ¡°Do you really think that your team is so useless that you have to do everything yourself?!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°No that¡¯s not-¡° I interrupted her. ¡°Then why¡­ why don¡¯t you put your trust in us more and let us share the burden?¡± I said solemnly, my voice cracking. ¡°I-I just...¡± she stuttered likely knowing that what I said was true. Heavy silence ensues as I let my statement sink into her. I want to let her realize by herself what error she had been making. A couple of seconds later, which felt like an eternity, I continued. ¡°Are you having fun right now?¡± ¡°¡­I, don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°No, of course not, you''re too focused on winning, it''s not like you. Please just play as your usual carefree self.¡± She stared at me, contemplating my words. ¡°Our team is strong and we won''t lose that easily¡­ so please¡­ rely on us too as we rely on you,¡± I declared as I stared at her intently. ¡°And if everything else fails, please have faith¡­ faith in me that I won''t let our team lose.¡± She made an unreadable expression before closing her eyes with a relaxed sigh, relief evident in her body language. As if dropping a heavy weight that she had been carrying for a long time. A moment that seemed like an eternity later, she opened her eyes again. She beamed at me, a smile brighter than the sun, her usual confident and cheerful smile. ¡°Hehe he, I¡¯ll trust you on that.¡± As if on cue Renz spoke up into the team chat. ¡°I just killed my opponent. I¡¯m about to take the top orb, how is it going on your end guys?¡± ¡°Killed him already a while back. I got the orb and currently heading to the middle of the map to regroup,¡± Chu replied. ¡°Tsk! Showoff,¡± Renz irritably voiced out. I gave Liz the best I told you so look I can. ¡°How is it on your end you two?¡± Chu ignored him and posed a question to us. ¡°We stumbled on a little setback, but nothing we can¡¯t handle,¡± I replied confidently. She giggled at that. I think she got the message since she is back to her normal happy-go-lucky self. However, there is one last thing I have to do before we go back to the middle orb. I send a private message to Chu. Novo: Can you do me favor? Let us handle this by ourselves. Delay your backup for a bit, please. Liz needs this win to help reinforce her newly acquired positive attitude. It will help us greatly in the long run if she gets the confidence from this victory. I¡¯m also sure we will not lose if Liz plays like her usual self. Like what I preached earlier, I also have faith in my teammates, especially Liz. NambaWan: I don¡¯t know what¡¯s up, but sure. If you guys happen to lose, I can just take both of them myself. Confident as ever, trusting us both to handle our own while reassuring us to not worry about losing. What a kind guy beneath that prickly exterior. A redeeming factor for our resident edge lord. Novo: Thanks. I replied before focusing back on Liz. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we can¡¯t let our teammates think we are deadweight, right?¡± ¡°Yeah! Time for a revenge match!¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We started to backtrack to the middle orb. A little while later, we stumbled upon our opponents. They must have known that both their teammates had already been eliminated so they went after us to even the scales for a 2v2 match. A good decision on their part but that saves us the trouble of finding them ourselves. ¡°Hoh! Fancy meeting you again, I thought you girls ran back to hide and let your boyfriends fight for you,¡± mocked RuG. ¡°Are you girls gonna¡¯ fight this time? Or you gonna¡¯ run again with both tails behind your back like last time?¡± he resumed his taunting to prevent us from escaping without sacrificing our pride. ¡°I really did mess up last time. Sorry, you guys had to see that. This time though, it will be different,¡± Liz replied with renewed determination. Our opponents were clearly shocked by her change of demeanor. Having been clearly playing CoA for a long time, these veteran players know when something is up. They instantly readied their stance in response to Liz¡¯s predatory stare. Liz, for her part, glanced at me before giving me a reassuring smile. ¡°Oh, and Kat, I know that you will always have my back. So can I ask you a favor this time?¡± I looked at her questioningly, guessing what she was about to say. ¡°Let me handle this solo,¡± she stated while giving me a huge grin. I was momentarily stunned; this was going better than I expected. Not only did she gain her confidence back, but she now even believes that if she somehow messes up, her team will be there to catch her when she falls. Her mental state now is drastically better as she can now play without any worries and just focus on the game. I returned her grin with an encouraging smile before agreeing to her request. ¡°The stage is all yours.¡± Chapter 37 -Elizabeth¡¯s PoV- I had always been standoffish. I enjoy it when people watch me play and show off my skills. It is the main reason why I enjoy streaming. Above all though, I want to impress the people watching me. However, right now, there is no one I want to impress more in the world than the girl watching me from the sidelines. I took a quick glance to see her watching me intently as I easily handled my enemies¡¯ attacks. My heart pounded like it was about to burst, my blood flowed like a gushing stream, and my adrenaline surged forth doubling my efforts in the fight. I love this feeling. The thrill of being watched. The pleasure of showing off, especially to people whom I respect and acknowledge, makes me feel ecstatic. ¡°You¡¯re crazy fighting us alone you bitch!¡± the enemy mage support called out. ¡°That¡¯s not something you should ever say to a lady,¡± I replied jovially while dodging a stab aimed at my body by their leader. I was not always this talkative when fighting, but somehow, I feel liberated. I feel that I can do anything as long as she is there to support me. She even promised that she would somehow handle it if I lost here. I know I can rely on her so I have nothing to worry about. All I have to do from now on is focus on playing the game I love. I dodged another attack from RuG while countering with my own, landing a critical blow. ¡°Khh!¡± RuG 78% ¡°That¡¯s payback for earlier,¡± I chided. He angrily stared at me, opting not to say anything. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the matter, why so silent? Where is your bravado from earlier? Cat got your tongue?¡± I taunted. Toxic people like him really confuse me. I can never understand his need to talk smack to us. Does it tickle his ego? Does it make him feel good belittling us? Whatever the case, this is revenge for the earlier humiliation, and with a 1v2, I will return it tenfold. I just hope they don¡¯t put my mistakes earlier on the compilation videos for the tournament that the CoA team would be making eventually for the tournament teaser. ¡°Tsk!¡± RuG charged forward to regain momentum, I sidestepped his attack, my footwork precise, exploiting his momentum to redirect the attack. My rapier danced like an extension of my body, aiming for strategic strikes rather than sheer force, seeking openings in the enemy¡¯s aggressive onslaught. As the fight went on, I easily parried and dodged everything RuG threw at me. Meanwhile, the force mage remained at a distance, conjuring orbs of crackling energy. Those type of skills needs a little pre-casting time and are useful for support fire. I do have to admit that they have a good synergy even if they are quite toxic. I had to constantly adapt, my focus split between evading the scimitar''s slashing arcs and dodging the unpredictable bursts of magic. The mage''s attacks were disorienting, forcing me to rely on reflexes and instincts honed through countless battles. Despite all that, I feel immensely positive, like everything would easily go my way as I move even quicker than ever before. As the battle raged on, I weaved through RuG¡¯s strikes, parrying with the rapier''s slender blade, each clash resonating with metallic echoes. Despite his brute and aggressive attacks, I used my speed and finesse to keep him constantly off balance while constantly hitting him whenever I could. They have no healer so every hit counts. RuG 51% ¡°Khh, stay still you motherfucker!¡± ¡°Haha as if! I¡¯m not as stupid as you!¡± In the corner of my eyes, I saw the force mage''s assaults grow more intense, pre-casting bolts of energy and creating barriers of swirling air. I instinctively adapted by utilizing the environment to my advantage. I used the pillars and debris of the old ruins to block his strikes as they were about to be cast or used my weapon skill to defensively dodge whenever I ran into a pinch. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The fight persisted, my movements free as the wind and my mind relishing the moment, enjoying every second of it. ¡°Tsk I¡¯ll end this farce!¡± the force mage growled as he attempted to cast a major spell. Spotting an opening I immediately went for RuG since he has no longer any backup fire. I slipped past his guard which had been constantly dwindling due to our exchange and gave him a quick kick, just enough to throw him off balance. And while the mage''s busy trying to cast some grand spell, I seize the opportunity to land a finishing critical blow right in his head with my trusted rapier. ¡°Shit!¡± he growled. RuG HP: 0% ¡°Sorry, better luck next qualifiers,¡± I teased as he vanished into blue motes of light. The force mage, realizing the fight was not in his favor, attempted to cast his final powerful spell. But I was quicker as my weapon skill had just come on cooldown, I swiftly closed the distance with a well-timed blink and delivered a decisive strike, killing the unguarded mage and ending the confrontation. CroW HP: 0% ¡°What a monster,¡± he murmured before disappearing into blue motes of light. Breathing heavily, I stood amidst the aftermath, relishing my victory as I grinned towards the girl standing on the sidelines watching me give my all. She smiled back. Your Team Won! Congratulations! Came the system announcement before we were brought back to the modern luxury lobby from earlier. ¡°The game is over. The winner, Team Paradigm,¡± GM Rudy greeted us with an announcement of her own. "Yes! We won our first match! only 6 to go for today! Nice job team!" Clarence celebrated. "Hmph, as if we even had a slight chance of losing this," Chu chided him. I was met with the mixed faces of the enemies, all of them must have watched the battle as a dead spectator. They were mostly silent and crestfallen, so much so that I felt bad for them. Joining and preparing for the qualifiers must have been hard only for us to eliminate them in their first battle. I loathe to think about what they are going through right now, but that is the spirit of competition, I have to win not only for myself but also for my team, therefore, I cannot show any mercy to my opponents. A moment of silence later, RuG shouted in a loud voice. ¡°What are you guys doing!? Quit your crying! Don¡¯t be such sore losers!¡± RuG reprimanded his teammates. He then went towards our team and shook my teammate¡¯s hands one by one and congratulated them; his act caused his teammates to follow suit. As he stood next to me to shake my hand last, he stared at me with a mixed feeling of regret and awe. ¡°We lost completely, you¡¯re pretty good,¡± he praised as he held out his hand. That made me pause, and give him a double take. Is this really the same cocky person from before? ¡°What? We may be trash talkers but it doesn¡¯t mean we don¡¯t have any semblance of sportsmanship,¡± he grinned. ¡°I guess you might be redeemable after all,¡± I stated while begrudgingly clutching his hands tightly to give a handshake for sportsmanship''s sake. ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t take it personally, that¡¯s just how we play. Listen, I know it¡¯s a hard feat, but you guys have to win the tournament so that our loss will not be in vain. I want to brag to my gang that I fought the winner of the U20 tournament as a consolation for this loss so that I could say that we were supposed to be in second place if we did not get matched to you guys!¡± he jested. I glanced at Kat; she was busy shaking hands with another member of the enemy team. I gave RuG a confident smile. ¡°Well, winning this whole tournament might not be impossible after all with teammates as good as mine!¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ariadne¡¯s PoV I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw in the match results from my phone that Yuusha, or Novo now, had won all their matches on the first day of the qualifiers. That''s good. Although it''s not that much of a surprise. As long as she is on their team, they are almost impossible to beat by just any team they come across. "Whatcha looking at Aria''?" came a curious voice. My longtime friend and teammate Lucielle pulled me out of my musings as I surveyed my surroundings again. I was inside a caf¨¦ my best friend and I often visit. The warm and nostalgic aroma of freshly brewed coffee tickles my sense of smell. The air is alive with the murmur of conversations, the soft clinking of cups, and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine. The cozy ambiance wraps around me like a familiar embrace, instantly putting me at ease. The walls are adorned with an eclectic mix of artwork, each piece adding its own flair to the space. Soft, ambient music drifts through the room, creating a soothing backdrop to the symphony of voices. The lighting is gentle, casting a golden hue that dances across the wooden tables and plush, overstuffed chairs. Behind the counter, baristas clad in aprons diligently craft intricate designs atop lattes, their movements a graceful ballet of steaming milk and rich espresso. The aroma of freshly ground beans mingles with the sweet scent of pastries displayed enticingly in the glass case. This is one of our favorite spots we frequent when we want to hang out or celebrate little things. "Nothing to be concerned about," I replied nonchalantly. "Aw c¡¯mon'' just tell me, I didn''t invite you here in the cafe to celebrate our flawless first-day quals victory just for you to ignore me," she pouted. "Nope, not gonna tell. Why do you even want to know?" "Jeez, I''m just concerned about our team captain you know! You seem distracted a lot lately!" Distracted huh? I guess I have been ever since I found out that she had returned. "I''m still giving my all at our matches, right?" "Who knows! All of the enemies we faced so far had been so weak it was so boring! All I had to do was cast haste buff on you then you obliterate them easily! I wish we could fight someone stronger!" she whined. "Be careful what you wish for. There might just be players beyond our current strength playing in the qualifier that we would be too hard-pressed to beat." "You mean the rumored leader of the Round Table guild leader that joined qualifier?" "No, we won''t lose to a one-man team like that easily," I declared confidently. Well, we might lose to a different one, but thankfully, Yuusha and my team are both in a different bracket for the qualifier. A lucky twist of faith indeed. Although luck might not be entirely true since the bracket is clearly biased towards high-profile players. Each participating team that the CoA higher-ups assume to be a top team gets its own bracket. A good example of it is our own. Our bracket has no notable team except for ours, Team Paragons, as we are considered to be one of the top teams joining the tournament. I get that they want the popular and high-profile teams to duke it out in the main event instead of just the qualifier but it still rubs me the wrong way to have a preferential treatment. The only silver lining I guess is that I won''t be facing her till the main event. That would be good, I want to show her how strong I''ve become with my teammates in a better stage than just a random qualifier match. "What are you thinking about?" "Huh?" "You were smiling earlier. Who are you thinking of?" she inquired. "W-what are you implying! It''s not like I''m thinking of anyone or anything!" "Hmm... suspicious..." she frowned. She contemplated for a little while before gasping loudly. "Don''t tell me you finally got yourself a boyfriend?! As your partner in CoA and longtime childhood friend, I won''t allow it if he doesn''t pass my standards! At least let me gauge if the guy is worthy of you!" she complained. I sighed. Although she is a reliable and strong teammate, she is sometimes a bit overbearing. Chapter 38 - ????? Inside the room, the hum of computers fills the air, a symphony of technology that I''ve orchestrated. My surroundings are a maze of screens, each one a window into a different aspect of the company. Stats of players, viral videos, current game news, future patch notes, various statistics about the game that few know of, and much more that CoA knowledge enthusiasts would kill to acquire. I sit in my usual comfortable reclining chair. The cool leather of the seat is a familiar comfort. My eyes scan the area, taking in the flickering lights of the monitors and the steady rhythm of data streaming across the screens. It''s like watching the pulse of the CoA community, a heartbeat that I can heavily influence at will. I can''t help but feel a thrill of anticipation as I glance at the clock, watching as the seconds tick away. Finally, after a few seconds of waiting, a voice came from the other side of the office door with a sleek, seamless panel made of a smart glass material that transitions from opaque to transparent with a state-of-the-art touch-sensitive interface. "Good evening, Sir. I bring news on the first day of the qualifiers," came a clear and precise feminine voice. "Come in," I beckoned. "... Excuse me." "Please give me the briefing of the first day of qualifiers, Miss Rudy, along with your fellow Game Masters'' insights," I ordered immediately as she came inside the large room. "Understood, sir," she nodded before continuing. "Firstly, the new generation of Team Paragon from the Paragons guild triumphed over all their matches handily, and they are expected to breeze through the qualifiers in their bracket." I grinned. The team ''Paragon'' is composed of skilled proteges of the original Paragon members. They are currently attempting to replicate what made the legendary team unstoppable in the first AC tournament. They are all young and talented players who have received the personal teachings of the first generation themselves. They all have bright futures in the pro scene. Above all, their ace has been said to have mastered the gameplay of the legendary player Yuusha before she disappeared. Teachings from veteran or pro players are highly sought after since, like martial arts, those who achieve mastery in their specific playstyle are in huge scarcity and, therefore, in high demand. Some pros even build dojos online to further profit from the mastery of their chosen style. "Yuusha''s protege, huh? I would like to see if she really is worthy of that title," I murmured. "Their rival guild also joined and passed the first day easily." The Shadow Vanguard guild, the Wall''s former guild. I suppose that''s expected. Those two guilds have always been at each other''s throats ever since the first AC. Their feud only grows when both Tactical and Vanguard, their former guild leader''s performance declines in the pro scene. They blame Tactical as the cause while the Paragons guild retaliates, not letting the mockery of their former guildmate and co-founder go unpunished. I recall that their ace is a very talented defensive player, currently one of the best in their guild. "Those two guilds always find something to argue about, huh." "Yes, I guess that is true," after a brief pause, she continued, "Another report I received is that Team Atelier won all their matches on the first day. They had some close fights but still emerged victorious. While they have no notable oppositions in their bracket, they are still expected to have a hard time in their future matches." "Hmm, those girls lack the skills to easily pass the qualifiers. The pro team of Atelier only got so far because of their ace player Murasame and their tactician Yuna. I doubt their agency found another player under 20 as good as those two." She nodded, then continued. "I also gathered from the Japan server GMs that the younger sister of Aoi Yamamoto, a ranker from the Japanese server, joined the qualifiers with her team and easily defeated all her opponents." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Hana Yamamoto, the young prodigy of the guild ''Sword Saint,'' the rank one guild in the Japan server, led by Murasame herself. I nodded and urged her to continue. I''m not familiar with how good Murasame''s sister is, but from what I know, she is exemplary with the sword, just like her older sister. I would have to do my due diligence to learn more about her later. "The ''Round Table'' Guild''s founder and guild leader is also joining. He also won all of his matches on the first day." That self-righteous guy who helps every player in need is also joining, huh? I''d love to have him as a promoter of our game in the future. His impeccably perfect image and huge fanbase would benefit us in the long run. The reports continued, the statuses of the first day of the qualifiers and which of the high-profile players, streamers, and YouTubers of different servers won their games. Some players I''m not familiar with, while others I know of by heart. Hehe, it looks like there will be plenty of high-profile players joining the U20 after all. This tournament is turning out to become the best investment we made this year, barring the Andartha''s Cup, of course. "Has anyone else caught your fancy?" I asked after the reports had finished. She hesitated a bit, as if wanting to say something, but opted to stay silent. "Tell me, no need to hesitate even if you think it''s inconsequential," I pushed. "Of course, sir," she pondered for a second before continuing. "There is a talented but relatively unknown player in a match I personally umpired who soloed two players on par with her skill cap." "Oh, how curious, show me," I responded excitedly. She taped on the tablet she was holding, and a picture of a player showed on one of the flat-screen TVs in the room. The player''s IGN was Lizbeth. "What are their ranks?" I inquired. "The girl, Lizbeth, is ranked 970 in team matches on the EU server." "Her opponents, RuG and CroW, are 1418 and 3870 of the EU server in team matches, respectively." I see... Players of the 1k rank to the 5k rank should have almost the same skill cap. The rankings are only divided by luck of who their opponents are on the calibration of the rank. Their time spent before the ranking also sometimes matters, as some players grind their asses off just to have a higher rank. I skimmed the match, entirely focusing on the middle orb bout where the said player who caught GM Rudy''s eyes played. They were losing in the first part but made a complete turnaround the second time they clashed. She eventually won in a 1v2 scenario with the help of encouraging words from her teammate. A sudden increase in skill like that should not be possible unless psychological factors are at play. After skimming the match''s video, I asked my assistant GM a question. "Tell me, Miss Rudy, what do you know about the flow." She seemed shocked at the sudden question, but after pondering for a bit, she replied. "I think I''ve heard about it. Is it when a player is extremely focused in a match that they block everything around them except for the opponent itself?" "Close but not quite. The one you are referring to is the zone." She looks quite puzzled at my statement. "I don''t blame you for confusing one for the other, as both are somewhat similar. To put it in technical terms. The term ''zone'' is often used in sports and refers to a state where an athlete is performing at their peak, with all their focus on the match itself. It''s like everything just ''clicks,'' and they''re able to react to the game at an extremely fast thought process, almost instinctively." "On the other hand, ''flow state'' is a term coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It''s a mental state in which a person is fully immersed in an activity they relish doing, experiencing a sense of energy and enjoyment. It''s not just limited to e-sports and conventional sports, but can be experienced during any activity, like playing an instrument, writing an essay, or even working," I paused a bit, letting her process my words. "In both states, flow and zone, people often lose track of time and are completely focused on the task at hand. However, achieving these states requires the right balance of challenge and skill, and not every situation can trigger them. So far, there are only a few players who have been verified to be able to enter these states at will," I continued to explain. "You mean, Yuusha?" she queried. "Yes, she is the most proven one due to her exemplary showing at the first AC. Someone who can enter the zone at will. Other examples are Zetta, who can enter flow at command due to his extreme love for dueling, and Murasame, who can enter the zone at any given time due to her intense focus, both are players I''m sure you know of very well." She nodded. "Good, I would have to fire you if you don''t," I made a quick joke. She''s not laughing. Well, you can''t please everyone. "You mean to tell me this girl had just entered the flow state in the middle of their match?" she asked curiously. I smiled at her before posing another question of mine. "What do you think when you examine her." She looked at the computer screen, watching the replay of the lass in query fighting her opponents 1v2, pure bliss showing on her face. "She looks delighted and carefree. It seems like she''s enjoying herself," she finally answered. "Precisely. That state of mind allows you to do everything you can without any hint of hesitation. It is as if you can never do wrong. A state that can only be attained by truly loving what you''re doing, giving the person more emotional energy and positivity. The psychological boosts it gives is a huge advantage in a game where split-second decision-making is crucial, and the ability to forgo all doubts or hesitations is a huge blessing." "I see..." she paused for a bit, processing the information she had just heard, and after a short while, she raised a question. "Do you think she can go into the flow at will?" "I''m not so sure, as it is rare for someone to be able to do that, but I think there are some... requirements and... prerequisites for her to step into that realm," I stated as I looked at her teammate. A low-level player but with the wisdom and calm mind of a veteran. How intriguing. She stayed silent, contemplating for a bit and digesting all that we had discussed so far. "I think this is a good time to wrap this meeting up. Anyway, please keep a close eye on this girl as well. Of course, the usual high-profile players that we discussed included. They are the future of the pro scene and the game itself." "Understood." "Then, if that is all, you are dismissed." She took a quick bow before turning around and leaving. "Look up player ''Lizbeth,''" I said to no one in particular after GM Rudy left. The computer sent me all the files related to my query. My gut feeling tells me that I should know more about this girl. It is my duty, after all, to know the future of CoA. I lean back in my chair, a small smile playing on my lips. I take a deep breath, feeling the electricity in the air. The game is about to begin, and I can''t wait to see how it plays out. After all, in this world, it''s not about the cards you''re dealt but how you play them that matters. Chapter 39 As I walked into the cafeteria, I felt the bustling hub of energy and chatter. A couple of students gather not just to eat but to study, socialize, and take a breather between classes. The space is large and airy, with high ceilings and wide windows that allow natural light to stream in. The aroma of food wafts through the air, an enticing blend of the day''s offerings. There are various food stations, each serving a different type of cuisine. Pizza with plenty of toppings to choose from, sandwich bar with an array of fresh ingredients, salad for those trying to eat healthily, and many other different types of food. The tables and chairs are scattered throughout the space, some in clusters for groups of friends. Others are tucked away in corners for those who prefer a quiet meal or a place to study. The chatter of students fills the room, their conversations a mix of class discussions, weekend plans, or the latest campus news. There''s a sense of camaraderie in the cafeteria, a shared experience among the students. It''s a place that feels alive, vibrant, and full of the youthful energy that is so characteristic of college life... sadly, youthful and energetic college life is just not for me. I bought my own lunch and was supposed to eat alone at the school park or somewhere a hundred times quieter, but a message from Liz prevented me from doing that. I wanted to decline as I loathe eating in the cafeteria, but she enunciated that she had something important to tell me. I didn''t know if it was true or a ruse just to not let me escape, but knowing Liz, she never was the sly type. As I tried to find where Liz was in the relatively large school cafeteria with a sea of people, a voice suddenly called out to me. "Miss Katherine, over here!" It was Raynolds. He was seated with Romel, Benny, Rena, and Liz. Basically, the whole gang is here. I hang out with them sometimes as they are the very few friends I have made since starting college, but not always. I periodically like to have some time alone to myself or with only Liz and Rena. Speaking of the two girls, they both waved me over when I saw them. "Pleasant afternoon to you, Miss Katherine," Ray greeted me suddenly as I arrived near them. "Cut it out already with the front, Ray." "What do you mean? I am always like this as a sign of respect to the ladies." "Really? You never act towards me like that." "Maybe because you''re not a proper lady." Ray blurted out. "What does that even supposed to mean?" Lena said as her lips formed an incredibly sickly-sweet smile. "N-nothing, milady." Ray acquiesced. As I looked over the whole group, I noticed the others were solemn, a bit sad even. "Did something happen?" I asked. "Oh, nothing much, just Romel''s team losing the first day of the qualifier match and losing our bet," Liz quipped. "None of it was my fault! We only lost because my team sucks. Beny died again too quickly, and Ray lost the battle for the top orb. Lary is the only one who did something good, but we two cannot carry the whole team behind our backs!" "S-sorry, it was my first time in a tournament, and I was so very nervous I couldn''t play well..." Benny reasoned. "I am not entirely to blame for losing the top orb to their ace. That guy was just too good. And it''s not like you beat him either." "I only lost because my HP was low when I faced him. If I had full health, I could''ve taken him on solo." "It doesn''t matter who messed up. It is a team game, after all, so you guys either lose as a team or win as one. Right, Kat?" Liz winked at me. "I agree. Please don''t fight over what has already happened. Just learn from your past mistakes and move on and use those experiences to improve the next time." "Hmph, fine, whatever. You guys can only say that because your first day went well." Romel sulked. "Yeah, I saw the matches! ''Went well'' is a huge understatement. Liz made it look so easy, winning one match after another! She was on fire the whole day!" Lena praised. "I couldn''t have done it without Kat encouraging me in the first match. It made me play all the qualifiers without any worries!" she beamed at me. "I agree. That was a good speech, Miss Katherine. Didn''t know you were that good at encouraging people." "Wait, you saw that?" "Yes, of course, I watched the whole game! The whole qualifier is broadcast on the main site. All you have to do is search for the team you want to watch. It''s good publicity, and it also prevents underhanded deals and mismanagement of GMs. It also promotes transparency of the matches because everybody can view them. It removes the option of influential people bribing the GMs, not that they could be bribed anyways." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Huh, I did remember the GM saying that, but I didn''t expect someone to actually watch us when we were just in the first round of the qualifiers. I just hope no one else except Ray will hear those cheesy lines that I spewed back then. "I saw that too! That was some profound wisdom, Kat!" Lena chimed in. No one else except Ray and Lena. "I admit that was a good fight. Liz moved better after your encouragement. She beat that motherfucking prick 1v2. It was a treat to see that bastard get humbled!" Romel stated. No one else except Ray, Lena, and Romel. "Y-yeah, I saw it too. Your speech was inspiring!" Benny said with twinkling eyes as he looked at me with awe and idolization. No one else except the whole gang. "Hehehe, I know, right? All my stream followers were incredibly touched by what Kat said to me! It made me play at my best!" Liz bragged. For Pete''s sake! How many people have already watched that match?! I¡¯m dying of embarrassment right now! It''s a good thing I mastered the art of poker face, or I would be yelling at the world¡¯s unfairness at this very moment. They bantered for a while, with Liz reminding Romel of their bet on who gets eliminated first. As they continued to chat amongst themselves, the topic went on to why Liz called me out here. ¡°I already told Liz about this, but I don''t know if you already know. You guys will face our school''s e-sports club in this weekend¡¯s qualifiers if both of you make it far enough,¡± Raynolds helpfully explained. ¡°How did you know about it?¡± ¡°We are teamed with Light, remember? He is in our own school''s e-sports club. They¡¯re pretty good players, to be honest, and will probably give you guys a hard time, but I doubt you guys will lose,¡± Ray gave his insights. The e-sports club, huh? Since e-sports have become extremely popular over the past few years, they are now comparable to sports clubs, even exceeding them. Schools use e-sports clubs as a means to promote their own as many students will want to get into an e-sports club with good facilities and reputation. Winning in popular e-sports tournaments also garners a lot of attention to the school, creating a win-win situation. "Kat, are you thinking what I''m thinking?" Liz asked with a conspiratorial smirk. I nodded, a sly smile forming on my lips. "Yes, we should probably sabotage one of their teammates to ensure our win," I let my inner thoughts slip. As Tactical says, the fight starts even before the battle begins. The group stared at me apprehensively, making me realize what I had just blurted out instinctively. "I-I was just kidding, guys," I redacted. "Ahem... I meant we should do some spying, espionage, or intelligence gathering, whatever you call it. Oh! I know! Let''s go right now to their club, Kat!" I see. That¡¯s fine, too, but there is one big problem: I¡¯m running out of social energy. "Sorry, not today. I have a class to go to after lunch," I lied to dodge further societal interactions. "Whaaaat! I know that you don''t have any classes until 1 p.m. today. Come on, pleaseeee! Just this one time," she pouted cutely. "Urkkk..." I hesitated. There she goes again, capitalizing on my weakness in cute things. Looks like I won''t be able to get out of this situation as easily as I anticipated. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I was right with my earlier assessment. I was brought to her pace yet again, and now in front of me is the door to our college e-sports club, which is robust and utilitarian, designed to accommodate a large volume of students while ensuring security and functionality. It''s a double-door system made of sturdy, soundproof material to minimize noise disturbances from the bustling college corridors. The wide and tall doors allow easy access for students carrying bags and laptops. Embellished with the college emblem or a digital display showcasing the room''s schedule or announcements, the door serves as a focal point in the hallway. ¡°Let''s go inside!¡± Liz proclaimed and went in without reservations. As Liz led the charge to the enemy base, she pulled me along to enter inside with her in an ironclad grip to prevent my masterful plan of walking away to escape. The main room is huge and well-lit, combining natural light from large windows and energy-efficient LED fixtures. The room is divided into two zones, one for the desktop PC gaming zone and the other for the VR zone. Both of the zones currently have few students using it, which is to be expected as it is still a bit after the lunch break as many student members of the club have their own classes to go to. As we entered, a normal-looking student greeted us. He seems to be our senior judging by his easygoing attitude and calm disposition. "Can I help ya?" he queried in a calm and friendly voice. ¡°Oh, we heard that our school e-sport team got through the first day of the qualifiers for the u20 CoA tournament. We just want to know more about them,¡± Liz replied amicably. I let her take over the conversation. She is good at getting people to loosen their guard on her. "Ya, we sure are! Hmmm," he stared at Liz before snapping his finger animatedly. "Oh, I know about you! You''re the Captain of Team Paradigm, right? ¡°You know about us?¡± ¡°Jin told us about you guys.¡± ¡°Jin?¡± "Ya know, the EMO assassin wanna be. Light is his in-game name. He is busy playing over there," he pointed to a nearby occupied VR pod.¡± "He also told us that we might fight you guys and that your team is incredibly skilled and has two rankers!" he added. ¡°He hehe, I know, right? My teammates are the best anyone can hope for!¡± Liz reveled in the praise. ¡°Well, I can''t argue with that. Definitely better than my team, haha,¡± he joked, and after a short pause, he continued. ¡°Anyways, are you guys here to find out our weakness or sumthin¡¯?¡± he smiled jovially. ¡°Oh, looks, we got caught,¡± Liz smiled sheepishly. ¡°Hahahaha, not gonna deny it, ain''t ya. Well, at least you¡¯re upfront, better than one of those backstabber sly types, I guess. Go on, ask away. A guy who has been listening to our conversation for a while chimed in. He is a bit short, shorter than me, at least. He has the appearance of the kind of guy you might easily pass by in a crowd without a second glance, with a build that''s neither too lean nor too muscular, just comfortably in between. His hair, a shade of brown that doesn''t particularly stand out, is neatly trimmed in a simple style that doesn''t draw much attention. His face is friendly and approachable, with warm brown eyes that hold a spark of curiosity. His features are pleasant but not striking¡ª a straight nose, a forced nervous smile plays at the corners of his lips, and a sprinkle of freckles across his cheeks that add a touch of character. ¡°C-captain, I don''t think we should be telling our possible enemies our info,¡± he stuttered. "It''s fine, it''s fine. They can easily find it on the CoA website and watch our matches anyway since they already know our team name. Besides, we will only get to fight them if we both win five of our matches on the second day of the quals. I doubt we would make it that far since we were barely winning before, hahaha," he laughed at his own joke. His clubmate sighed. ¡°Let me introduce our team first.¡± ¡°I''m Benedict, the captain of Team Summit Peak, our school name as it is required for the advertisement of the school.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Liz nodded at him. "This guy here is Ron, the ace of our team. Don''t let his meek demeanor fool you. He is a hardcore gamer through and through. He gets incredibly focused on the game so much that his shyness disappears completely, and you get to see a different side of him!" "C-captain!" Ron complained. I can relate to that when I played in the Andartha''s Cup. I was so focused on winning that I didn''t register the millions of people watching me play. I guess I finally found a comrade in arms, huh? ¡°The other two members of our team are not here, but you can learn more about them if you watch our matches if you¡¯re curious.¡± Yeah, that is what we should¡¯ve done in the first place. ¡°Nice to meet you two!¡± Liz beamed at them with her usually cheerful smile before continuing to introduce us both. ¡°You might already know about me, but I''m Elizabeth, and this is Katherine, the best support anyone could have!¡± I nodded politely as she introduced me while ignoring the embarrassing praise. ¡°Oh, so she''s the supportive girl! That was some nice speech by her.¡± The heck! Not these guys, too! "I know, right!" Liz beamed as if she was the one being complimented. ¡°Yeah, I can see why you chose her to be your support. Even if she doesn''t do much to support in the battles, she does give some good supportive encouragement.¡± I don''t know if I''m supposed to be pleased or offended by that. Maybe both? Both of them immediately hit off. Before I knew it, they were conversing about mundane topics like the pro scene of CoA and other CoA-related stuff. I guess Liz completely forgot why we came here in the first place. I didn¡¯t interrupt her and let her have fun. I can just research their playstyle later, as they already have videos of their fight for me to analyze. Their conversation continued, and we eventually parted ways due to me having a class without us gaining any substantial information. Chapter 40
Aroganz
Wait, calm down, Kat. You did nothing wrong; just act clueless and aloof, then deny if there are any allegations. If there is one thing I learned from watching crime movies, it is to never ever admit to anything!
Chapter 41 - Clarence Liz gracefully dodged the opponent¡¯s last attempt of a Hail Mary play while delivering a counter of her own, ending the match. Congratulations! Your Team Won the Match! The system announcement came as we were teleported back to our custom team lobby. ¡°Whew, that was a good game!¡± she pondered for a while, likely looking at the time before continuing. ¡°I think this is a good time to end our practice today so we can have plenty of rest. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow,¡± Liz suggested. ¡°Yes, rest is also important before the qualifier¡¯s second day,¡± Novo agreed. ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± I shared their sentiment. Chu, for his part, just nodded. ¡°Okay then! Good luck tomorrow, guys!" our captain cheered. I looked at my rival, who was preparing to log out. ¡°Chu, don''t be late again, or you will get us elimi-.¡± He logged out, completely leaving me hanging. That prick! "He completely ignored me! That guy is so infuriating! He is always late to our practice and almost had us disqualified on the first day!" I complained. ¡°Don''t be like that. Chu might have reasons for being late. As long as he arrives, it''s fine. Right, Kat?" ¡°Yes, everybody has their own circumstances. Be a bit more understanding for the guy.¡± ¡°Hmph, you guys are too lenient on him, especially you, Liz. As our Captain, it''s your duty to set him straight!¡± ¡°Ehhh? He is a senior in our school though. I don''t think I have the right to scold him.¡± ¡°But his attitude cannot go on like this!¡± ¡°He''s never missed a single practice scrim and always plays our matches perfectly, so it''s fine, unlike someone I know who always loses the top orb.¡± Novo stared at me purposefully. ¡°Ha?! What does that even mean? Want to go 1v1? I won''t go easy on you even if you''re a support!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to go easy on me. In fact, please feel free to go all out. I need the practice.¡± ¡°Come on, guys, tomorrow is the qualifiers. Please cut it out. No fighting, okay?¡± Liz begged cutely, which seemed to dissuade Novo. ¡°Hmph, fine,¡± I also conceded. I would be lying if I said I''m not apprehensive about fighting her anyway. I can never gauge how good she really is, and my pride would be in shatters if I lost to a healer in 1v1. ¡°I''m logging out,¡± I said irritably as my consciousness was brought back to the real world. Novo has a point, though. My teammates are too skilled, and as hard as it is to admit, I''m the weakest link. We haven''t even lost a single time in any of our matches, especially after last week after Liz¡¯s drastic improvement. Novo, huh? When have I stopped calling her newbie and started calling her by her in-game name? Maybe since her fight with Jarde? It doesn''t matter, though, as that girl blew my expectations away. At first, I thought she was just a newbie using Liz to get into a good team like ours, but I was sorely mistaken. She moves and acts like a true veteran, even sometimes surpassing my own knowledge in PVP fights. She''s very vague and evasive, though, so finding out her main account is almost impossible if she even has one. Liz and I just have an unspoken agreement not to pry too much, as it seems she doesn''t want to talk about herself and her past. I don''t mind, though, as the present and future of our team are what really matters to me more than anything. After exiting the VR pod, I saw my sister anxiously fidgeting at the door to my room. Wait, how long was she standing there for? ¡°Is something the matter, Clarissa?¡± ¡°O-oh, Big brother, your match is tomorrow, right?" Clarissa queried nervously. She seems troubled. ¡°Is something wrong?" I asked, my worry increasing by the second. ¡°N-nothing, it''s just...¡± I kept silent, waiting for her to compose herself and say what she needed to. After a while, she finally continued. ¡°I have been keeping a secret from you... sorry.¡± My heart pounded like a drum, my breath hitched, and a chill ran through my spine. My eyes went wide as saucers as I looked at her. Judging by her apologetic demeanor, she did the only thing I forbade her to do as she was still too young. She got a boyfriend. "Who is the lucky bastard?! I''m going to end him right now!" I exclaimed. "Wha- huh? What do you mean?" her expression was a mix of shock and confusion from my outburst. Huh? Am I mistaken? From her reaction, it seems like she did not get a boyfriend after all. Whew... good, that''s good. What a relief. I thought that my days as a law-abiding citizen would surely end today. I quickly composed myself, befitting the calm, collected, reliable big brother that I am. "Ahem... what is it you want to tell me? Don''t worry, whatever it is, I won''t get mad," I reassured her with a brotherly smile. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. She took a deep breath, mustering up her courage, before confessing in one go. "IvebeenplayingCoAforawhilewithouttellingyou!" she spouted quickly in one breath. Did she say she''s playing CoA? As in Champions of Andartha? My face instantly lit up at the comprehension. "Really? That''s great!" ¡°You''re not mad?¡± ¡°Mad? Why would I be?¡± ¡°It''s because I kept it a secret from you for so long,¡± she replied, the volume of her voice diminishing bit by bit. ¡°Oh, it''s fine. Everybody has a few secrets here and there. You should not be compelled to tell me everything... but if a man ever confesses to you, tell me right away, okay? No secrets!¡± She nodded. ¡°Good! Back on topic, you can always rely on your brother! I''ll boost you every day and protect you from any enemy, NPC mobs, or players! Also, now we can play CoA together instead of just watching movies!" I said excitedly. "T-this is why I didn''t want to tell you! I want you to focus on your qualifiers tomorrow, please." If there really is an angel, I''m looking at her in the flesh right now. "Okay, sure, sure, but after tomorrow, we are gonna play together every day!" I declared. She gave me an angelic smile as she nodded happily, "Okay, brother, I''m looking forward to it!" "But why tell me now though?" The Clarissa I know would have waited until after the qualifiers in order for me to focus on our matches. She must have a good reason for letting the cat out of the bag now. "Oh, right! It''s because I wanted to give you something I got from a dungeon! You use spears, right?¡± ¡°Of course! Lances and spears are your brother¡¯s specialty. No one in our guild is better than me at using those types of weapons!¡± I declared proudly. ¡°Perfect! I got a good spear for you! It''s very strong! I think you could use it for your match tomorrow," she jumped excitedly... how cute! I smiled at her enthusiasm. I know that whatever she got from her dungeon would be unusable to me, but I will still use it nonetheless! Whatever it cost! Even if the stats are worthless, if my very own sister gave it to me, it would be worth more than ten times, no, a hundred times than that of my current weapon. I took a quick glance at my clock. It''s not that late yet due to our practice ending early. We could go for a quick trade, and I can finally add my sister to my friend list before logging out again to rest. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I am currently in the town where we are supposed to meet. I haven¡¯t been here in a while, as it is for level 80 players below. In front of me is the door to a famous pub that Clarissa suggested to meet for the trade. As I entered the pub, I saw the bustling tavern alive with activity. Patrons, dressed in a myriad of woolen tunics and cloaks, gather around sturdy wooden tables, their faces illuminated by the soft light of oil lamps suspended from the ceiling. The sound of merry chatter and laughter mingles with the tunes of NPC minstrels playing lutes and fiddles in the corner. The players inside looked at me cautiously as I entered. It is rare to find a max-level player here; thus, their apprehension. I looked round to find my sister. I saw her seated at the farthest corner of the room along with two boys, chatting her up, making her uncomfortable. As I got near, I got a snippet of their conservation. "Come on, Miss, don¡¯t be like that, it will be quick, we promise! We could use a mage right now in our party, more so if the mage is as cute as you," he gave Clarissa a flirtatious wink. I swear! I knew from the start that this would happen. I quickly approached the two low-level players. "Ahem... is there a problem here?" I gave the two boys a death glare. If looks could kill, I¡¯m sure they would be returning to their respawn points by now. "Big brother! You''re here!" Her statement shocked both of the offenders. "H-he''s your brother!" They both looked at each other, panic evident in their eyes. "S-sorry, um, it seems like we have to go. Our friend just PMed us requesting help, r-right MarC." Y-yeah, let¡¯s go. Can''t let our friend wait, can we now? Ha ha ha..." he laughed awkwardly as both of them quickly retreated. "Okay, good luck in helping your friend!" Clarissa innocently encouraged them as they headed out of the pub. I sighed. I swear, she''s too trusting. It''s a surprise she even made it this far out in the game. "Oh, big brother, let''s trade now. I want to give the weapon." Clarissa requested a trade. Do you accept? Y/N. "Yes," I murmured. She quickly traded me the weapon. I identified it. Spear of The Ruined King (LEGEND) A legendary spear said to be used by an ancient king of old, his very own kingdom long forgotten in the ebbs of time. Strength + 110 Dexerity + 110 Weapon skill ¡°Sovereign¡¯s Charge!¡±- Clads the user in dark flames from the depths of the abyss before increasing charging speed by two times and drastically increasing the damage of a single strike based on the speed of the sprint. Cooldown: 600 seconds Mp cost: 500 MP W-where did you get this?" I said in shock and awe at the high stats it gave. The weapon skill also complements my type of gameplay, a rush type of skill that can be used one time as a trump card. One of the greatest abilities in my arsenal has always been my fast sprinting speed, as I have constantly remained the best on our track team ever since high school and now college. Therefore, my sprinting speed is no joke. Better yet, it''s a legend grade, the highest grade you can get in a dungeon drop, barring unique weapons that require specific conditions to drop. ¡°I got it from the friends I made who helped me in a dungeon run!¡± I paused at that. My expression became serious. ¡°They are not tricking you or anything, right? Like, giving you stuff so you would have to do... naughty things for them or something?¡± I queried, apprehension palpable in my voice. "Of course not, brother. Why would they?" she asked so innocently that it seemed like being scammed or taken advantage of, especially in cyberspace, had never even crossed her mind in the slightest. "You can be a little... gullible sometimes, so I''m just worried. And there are few players so kind as to help a complete newbie like you in getting a weapon as rare as this." "There is one, though, this friend I''ve been hanging out with a lot lately, the one I always talked about." "Oh, your online friend? Just to be sure, your friend is a girl, right? Not some boy that created a girl avatar?" "Yes, I''m sure she is. I always hear her feminine yet cool and relaxing voice! She''s always calm and collected, too, like nothing in the world could ever faze her! She''s also super duper smart, like, she knows everything there is to know! She always teaches me every day and gives me tons of things!" Clarissa praised enthusiastically. I have never seen her this attached to any person, not even our parents, as they are always away. It honestly makes me a bit jealous. I''m still not convinced, though. I''m sure her new friend must have some ulterior motive behind her actions. Now, I really have to meet this player in person just to be sure and maybe get a threat out or two to ensure Clarissa''s safety. "That sounds great, Clarissa. She seems like a good person! I want to meet your friend, if possible." "Sure, big brother! I can''t wait to introduce her to you! You two are so kind and caring that I''m sure both of you will get along really well!" ¡°I''m sure we will," I smiled innocently. After I set boundaries on dos and don''ts when around my sister, then we will get along after that. "I hope it helps you tomorrow!" she said with an angelic smile. "And also, don''t worry about the house and Colin while you''re busy with the match. I will take care of them while Mom and Dad are away." "Thanks, Clarissa. I''ll be sure to return the favor by giving it my all!" I said, my motivation and drive to win tomorrow''s qualifier matches doubled. What a perfectly kind and reliable sister I have! Chapter 42 *RING, RING, RING The sound of my mortal enemy echoed throughout the room, its persistence unmatched, like an insistent nagging that refuses to be ignored. The sound cuts through the tranquility of my dreams, disrupting the peace with its relentless, high-pitched insistence. I stopped the alarm and went back to sleep... not! Wake up Kat, you have a big day today! You can''t be late! My inner voice rebelled, urging me to get up this instant. After hyping myself up to fight my drowsiness, I won the hard-fought battle... barely. I immediately went to the shower to get my blood pumping. While thinking about the meaning of life while soaking myself in the satisfying rain of warm water droplets, my thoughts went to why I was tired in the first place. I shouldn''t have stayed up all night analyzing replays and taken heed of Liz''s reminder to just rest and take it easy. It''s not entirely my fault, as I sometimes get quickly absorbed in something I put my mind to, which is both a blessing and a curse in its own right. It''s not all that bad, though, as my findings might help us gain advantages in the later qualifier matches. Not that we desperately need it for now, but you can never be sure. After finishing my shower, I did the morning tribulations that I always do before important matches but made sure to set the alarm this time to remind me when the match was about to start. A whole while later contemplating and relaxing my mind, my alarm rang, spurring me to go into action. I immediately logged into my CoA account to meet with my team. My consciousness faded abruptly, then changed into the cozy and simple picturesque inn room where I last logged out of my account. Inn rooms are mainly used for storing materials and resting places for players since whatever materials you store in the room can be brought out wherever the inn you go. It is a convenient function for players who have little vitality to carry their items like myself. I did not have to wait for a while before a system notification popped up at the edge of my vision. Game Master John invited you to a private lobby. Would You like to Accept? Y/N ¡°I accept,¡± I murmured as I was again transported to the official tournament lobby. I instinctively scanned the room. The air is scented with a delicate, invigorating fragrance, a function that costs a lot of in-game currency, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and luxury. Sculptural works of art adorn the space, seamlessly integrated into the lobby''s design. The lobby is dotted with plush seating areas where players are expected to relax and crimson-red chairs that seem to have been designed for maximum comfort and style. In the middle, standing with perfect professionalism, was GM John, who gave me a friendly smile and a small nod of acknowledgment as I arrived. On our side is Liz and Renz, while on the other side is our enemy team, Icebreakers. I have already analyzed their gameplay, and it is pretty generic. They focus on capitalizing on their strong ranged ice mages, along with two knights protecting each mage for a 2-2-0 composition. They have a glaring weakness against fire-based attacks but were lucky enough not to face an enemy that specializes in those, thus surviving till now. I¡¯m not worried, though, as they are nowhere skilled enough to even have a chance at us, and I bet Chu can even solo two of their members easily. I glanced at my own team sitting opposite our enemies. They seem to be in high spirits, especially Renz. Did something good happen to him? As I walked towards them, I immediately noticed something different. ¡°¡­Renz, you got a new weapon?" "Oh, you noticed? It''s a rare drop from an uncharted abyss dungeon! If you must know, its name is ''Spear of the Forgotten King,'' my cute and perfect sister gave it to me just yesterday," he smiled proudly. "I see..." No impossible. The personality difference is so high that he and the one I''m thinking of cannot possibly be related. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "May I know your sister''s name?" I asked just to be sure. He eyed me warily. "You''re being weird today. You never ask anything personal about us. What''s the matter? You nervous about the match or something?" "Just answer the question." "Tsk! Fine, if you must know, her name is Clarissa, and she is the cutest and kindest sister any brother could ever wish for!" he bragged as if his sister were his most prized treasure. "Hmm... I see," I nodded slowly. It must be a different Clarissa. I denied reality. I mean, someone as brash and rude as him definitely cannot, in my life, even have the minuscule possibility of being related by even a single drop of blood to the angel I know, being her sibling moreso. Let''s just not think about it anymore. Out of sight, out of mind. Liz, who has been listening to our conversation butted in. "So Rissa is your sister! I thought it was a different Clarissa as the name is quite common, who would have thought? You should see how cute her VR avatar is Rence!" ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I meant that we were the ones who helped her acquire that weapon! What a perfect coincidence right Kat?¡± I nodded. ¡°A coincidence indeed.¡± ¡°What? They you guys are... then this means...¡± he pondered for a moment before looking at me with an unreadable expression. A couple of seconds of his uncomfortable stare later, which felt longer than it was supposed to be, Chu arrived. Nice! Saved by our Resident edge lord''s timing for once! Good job being late again, Chu! Plus, social credit points for you this time! ¡°Seems like all the members of both teams are here! If you guys are all ready, let us begin the match as we have a long day ahead of us. Without further ado, the day two of the qualifiers for the U20 tournament, first round! Team Paradigm vs Team Icebreakers, Begin!¡± GM John announced. "We need to talk later after this match, Novo." It was the first time I saw him look this scary. It almost made me instinctively gulp. It''s a good thing I can control my expressions pretty well, so I switched to innocent mode with a hint of confusion. "S-sure, but for now, let''s focus on the match." I redirected as we teleported to the battlefield. - - - - - - - - - - - - - All five of our 2nd day qualifiers matches went extremely well. Renz was in high spirits throughout the whole event, likely due to the weapon he got from Clarissa. Honestly, if Clarissa gave me a gift like that, I would be filled with determination, too. Liz and Chu also played their role perfectly, as always, giving us five wins and only a single match left before we passed the second day of elimination. The talk Renz and I had was much more challenging than the matches, to be honest. He asked me so many things. It''s a good thing I kept my calm and acted innocently and pretended that I had no ulterior motives in helping Clarissa, not that I need to pretend, by the way, as my friendship with her is tried and true, not fueled by any individual interest whatsoever! Therefore, I barely passed his ''test.'' We are currently resting in a lobby made by Liz, waiting for our next match as we have finished early. We are waiting for the news of whoever wins the fight in our bracket to be our next opponent. An announcement came, and we learned that our opponent would be Team Summit Peak, our very own e-sports club team. Not that I''m surprised, though, as it is within my expectations. "Yes! Looks like they won! Seems that we are fighting them after all! Can''t wait for the next match!" Liz stated excitedly, a far cry from her attitude during the first match of the qualifiers. "As long as I have this weapon, I''m unbeatable!" Renz bragged. How lucky to have a gift from Clarissa! I''m so jealous right now! Chu, for his part, just scoffed at him. It did not seem to ruin Renz''s good mood, though, as he was in high morale today and ignored him. "Yeah! We will win this as well. Our team is unbeatable!" Liz cheered. It is good to have a bit of a back attitude towards the match, Although I have one problem. Underestimating your opponents is also a no-go, especially the one we are about to face now. They might have a shot against us if we were not careful. They are skilled but not nearly as skilled as us, although there is one advantage they have over us. They have good strategies. I watched some of their matches when I was prepping for the second day to look for any team we might have difficulties facing. They have the most likely chance of beating us as they win most of their matches through sheer tactical maneuvers. One thing I''m more afraid of than a skilled player is a player like my former teammate Tactical, who can dismantle someone''s gameplay little by little, making them unable to play the game entirely while dancing at the palm of his hands. "May I ask you guys something?" My query got me curious gazes from my team as I was never the type to do a pep talk before matches. "Go on, Kat, what do you want to know? We will answer it the best we can," Liz smiled encouragingly. "Have any of you guys watched their matches?" "I watched one of their matches to support them, but that''s about it." "None at all. It doesn''t matter though. We won''t lose anyway with my sister''s support!" "No." I sighed that these guys are so irresponsible. "Listen, we might be okay with our current team play for now because we overpower the enemies through sheer skills, but in the long run, we need some tactical plays to have a higher chance of winning. Also, our enemy this time is different; they have good strategies and robust team plays." Sure, we could probably just brute force our win again, but I don''t like to take chances. Our opponents made it this far in the qualifiers, so underestimating them would be a huge mistake I am not willing to make. Tactical would scold me if I did. "You mean they have a chance against us?" "Anyone can win against an opponent if the enemy underestimates them enough. Remember what happened to Jarde, right?" I reminded Renz. He and Liz nodded emphatically while Chu gave me a curious stare at that as he likely had not yet seen the video of my fight with Jarde as it was strictly classified only to our guild. Dust made it that way to prevent crucial information from our guild from leaking by using legal methods and copyright infringement so that any and all information shared within the guild will stay inside the group. Some may still ignore it and just leak info but seldom do that due to the legalities and the risk of a court battle. They are also probably afraid to get on Dust''s bad side, which I can kind of understand. That woman is just so scary. "Hmm, I guess, but we''re not underestimating them, are we? We''re always giving it our all, whoever enemy we face!" Liz reasoned. "Not doing basic due diligence or even preparing for an opponent you are about to have a battle with is also a form of underestimation. Do you even know what their most used formation is, what type of play they usually go with, or what orb they prioritize getting?" "Urk! Y-you have a point. But we have you, though?" Pausing for a moment, she continued. "...You do have a counterplay for them, right?" I smiled. "I''m glad you asked." Chapter 43 Ronald PoV ¡°Whew, that was a close one! Can¡¯t believe we still ain''t out of the quals yet, how lucky!¡± our captain Ben celebrated after a close fight. "No, it¡¯s not just luck, we outplayed them with our initial strategy, we would have lost if we did not have the 3v4 advantage early on,¡± our mage Ethan disagreed. ¡°Yeah, good thing we have Ron on our team or we likely would not have made it this far,¡± our tank Oliver chimed in. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s our ace for ya!¡± ¡°I agree, you did pretty well there Ronald.¡± ¡°T-thanks guys¡­¡± I timidly responded. I was never good with praise. To be fair, it was a team effort so I don¡¯t think they have to be that grateful for me, I only analyzed the enemy¡¯s gameplays and created countermeasures and counterstrategies against them, the whole team¡¯s effort made it possible to apply those strategies and if not for them playing their part perfectly, the entire strategy falls apart. We are currently receiving our 10-minute break after our last match, I heard from the GM that our opponents for the next match were already waiting for us for a while. The team I dread to fight, Elizabeth¡¯s team, Paradigm. It is not only because they¡¯re really good, but because I genuinely want them to also get past the qualifiers. Although fate seems unforgiving by making us fight when we are both close to our goals. Life truly is unfair. "But we have another problem, don¡¯t we?¡± our captain voiced out while comfortably resting in one of the lobby chairs. ¡°I agree, this is what you would call, out of the frying pan, and into the fire.¡± Ethan nodded. Our team¡¯s morale suddenly plummeted when they also realized what team we were up against next. ¡°Don¡¯t worry guys, Ron has a contingency plan for them, right?¡± Oliver asked worriedly. ¡°Really? I think Ron will throw the match though. He has a huge crush on the enemy captain after all." ¡°Captain!¡± ¡°Oh, come on, we all know about it, you always talk about her and her streams, ya lovestruck dolt.¡± ¡°What! Th-that¡¯s not!¡± I panicked. I glanced at both my members to confirm if they knew. Ethan was nodding sympathetically while Oliver was glancing away evident that he too knows. Since when? Have I been that obvious? I hope they do not go spreading this. Someone like me has no chance with her: she¡¯s ten out of ten, very sociable, and famous in our school, especially among the guys due to her friendly behavior and charisma. This is also one of the main reasons why I do not want to fight her team. ¡°So, I guess this is where our journey ends, been a nice ride with ya guys, I have no regrets and I¡¯m glad we made it this far.¡± ¡°There you go again with your negativity. Who made you the captain anyway, all you do is say we will lose even before the fight begins,¡± Ethan criticized. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just being realistic here. Ya guys think we have a chance against two rankers, then ya guys are way in over your heads. I¡¯m just telling ya to not expect too much. Losing is part of life so it''s fine if we lose here. There are still many opportunities waiting for ya, so play your best and don¡¯t mind the outcome too much.¡± We all fell silent for a second, our captain rarely comes out this reassuring. He must have felt the palpable tension due to our insurmountable foes this time and felt the need to reassure us. He comes off as aloof and insensible sometimes but I''ve known him for long enough to know that it''s not true. Deep down, he really is a considerate and mature upperclassman and a good friend. This won¡¯t do. I know our captain is trying to dampen the blow if we do happen to lose, but that doesn¡¯t do anything for our morale, I have to step up if we even want to have a glimmer of hope of winning this next match. ¡°We have a high chance of winning this match,¡± I told a white lie. My team looked at me like I had grown another head, although it¡¯s not entirely a lie, we do have a good shot at this. In response to their questioning looks, I proceeded to explain our advantages. I glanced at the time, 6 minutes before the match, we can be a bit late, up to 10 minutes so we have plenty of time to prepare. ¡°Have any of you guys watched their games?¡± I asked. ¡°Ya, they¡¯re in our school, after all, gotta cheer for them sometimes.¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°Uh only 3 of their matches, I think?¡± ¡°I see, that¡¯s good, then have you spotted any patterns in their play?¡± Ethan pondered for a while before replying. ¡°You mean their 1-2-1 formation?¡± ¡°Yes, precisely. Their team is strong, incredibly so, but they lack adaptability and strategy. They stick to what works for them because they are never challenged by their enemies at all so they never need to change. They lack proper variation in teamplay unlike us.¡± ¡°So, what do ya want to do?¡± ¡°Simple, due to their unchanging pattern in teamplay, we have the advantage of choosing where we can strike. Think of them like a building, strong and sturdy but ever unchanging. Although, if we destroy the pillars, we can crumble them from within quite easily.¡± ¡°Do you propose we strike at their weakness? Then we should focus on their support, right?¡± Oliver inquired. ¡°Yes and no. While their support is a weak link, we cannot touch her due to their ace and captain always being within her reach, they always act as a pair so going after her is a no-go. But instead¡­ we go after Renz, their top orb contester. If we could eliminate him, we could get the top orb easily and have a huge advantage early on.¡± ¡°That sounds good, but what would you do about the other orbs? If we put too many resources into getting the top orb, wouldn''t the middle and bottom orb fall into their hands?¡± Ethan inquired. As perceptive and knowledgeable as always. I¡¯m glad to have him on the team to help me with the strategy. ¡°I do have a countermeasure for it. This is where Oliver and I come in. We both will stall the middle and bottom orb.¡± ¡°M-me?¡± Oliver gulped. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can win against two of them.¡± ¡°No, I will stall their middle orb while you stall their ace duelist, senior Chu. You don¡¯t have to damage him even once, just stall him to prevent him from backing the enemy up or taking the orb, I know you can do it, you are the best defender I know after all,¡± I encouraged him. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Oliver looked at me, determination palpable in his eyes. ¡°Leave it to me!¡± he declared. ¡°What about you? You have the hardest role in all of this. Can you really stall two of their members?¡± Ethan worriedly asked. ¡°If there is someone who knows Miss Elizabeth¡¯s attack pattern more than anyone here, then that person is me, her number one stream fan,¡± I joked to lighten the tension. Besides I would just have to stall her, and as far as I can tell, her support is a defensive one and a low level at that. She also lacks any offensive spells so it makes my role much easier. Well, I would not call it easy but it isn¡¯t hell difficulty at least. ¡°I see, then we will finish off one of their members quickly, back ya up then fight them 3v2?¡± ¡°No, not just 3v2, Oliver will also join us after I give him the signal. He will leave the bottom, making it a 4v2 to ensure our victory, and after that, it will be at most 4v1 or whoever is not dead yet will take on Senior Chu.¡± There are still many uncertainties, like the true extent of their skills or how will they react to our plays but I won¡¯t mention it for the sake of our morale. One thing is for certain though, I think this strategy is our best shot at winning this. ¡°I see, that¡¯s a sound plan. Let¡¯s go with it.¡± ¡°Your strategies and tactics got us this far, so I¡¯ll trust ya!¡± ¡°I trust your judgment.¡± They all agreed to the plan, the thought alone, that they believe in me makes me giddy inside. ¡°Thanks guys¡­¡± I smiled in appreciation. We spent the rest of the break time discussing the minute details and polishing the plan. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We entered the official lobby of the Game Master one by one after the invite. This time it was a woman going by the name of GM Rudy, the first time we had her to umpire our match. She is quite famous in the CoA forums and is said to be a scout for potential pro players. ¡°She definitely is not here for us...¡± I pondered as I glanced at the opposing side. The enemy team was chatting among themselves. My eye was immediately caught by their captain who was currently chatting with her support. She saw me looking at her and gave me a friendly smile. My heart pounded and my breath hitched. She¡¯s more dazzling in person than in her streams. ¡°Focus now, ya can fanboy on her later, we have a match to win right? Besides, ya could impress her if we do good. She might even join our club if we show her our true strength, and who knows, she might even fall for ya!¡± our captain teased. I nodded determinedly. I will win this, not just for myself, but also for my team! ¡°Everybody is here so we can now proceed to the final match of the day. Team Paradigm vs Team Summit Peak, begin!¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We were teleported into the Forest battlefield. It looms tall and majestic, a verdant tapestry of ancient trees swaying gently in a soft breeze. Sunlight filters through the thick canopy, dappling the forest floor with patches of golden warmth. Ferns unfurl their delicate fronds while squirrels scamper among the gnarled roots. The air is alive with the symphony of rustling leaves and the occasional call of unseen birds. The terrain is perfect for what we hope to accomplish. The dense trees make it easier for me to run or hide after using my arrows to stall the enemy from getting the orb. I¡¯m confident in my parkour skills so much that I can propose this kind of risky plan. The stage is also good for surprise attacks when we group up against them. It seems the RNG gods are blessing us with this match. ¡°Ya guys know what to do! Team Summit Peak, let¡¯s GO!¡± our captain cheered for once. ¡°YEAH!!!¡± we shouted in unison. We proceeded to go to our destinations, plan in mind. Oliver, our knight, will stall Senior Chu at the bottom orb. Ben and Ethan, our ace duo offensive support and fighter will rush at the enemy¡¯s weak link Renz to eliminate him quickly. And I am to stall the enemy¡¯s ace duo. As I arrived at the middle orb, I hid at the nearby tree, careful of letting them know my position, and prepared to snipe them from afar. After a couple of seconds of silently waiting, I sensed something amiss. Renz was the one who was here, not their duo. What¡¯s going on? Why is he here? It was supposed to be their duo, not him. As those thoughts went through my mind, I heard a distress call from the team chat. ¡°Chu and Elizabeth are here! They¡¯re engaging us both at the same time, trying to make it a one-on-one situation!¡± Ethan cried out. ¡°What?!¡± I exclaimed. This is bad, Chu and Liz are both good at rushing tactics, a glaring weakness for an offensive mage and a fighter duo since the mage has no protection whatsoever. And with both of their skills as rankers, my teammates can''t win a 2v2 against them. This is bad but I can still salvage this! ¡°Retreat and regroup! Leave the orb and don¡¯t let them kill you two!¡± ¡°WE CAN¡¯T! They¡¯re both onto us! They are constantly pressuring us, not letting us escape!¡± Shit, this is bad. They have little chance in a 2v2 scenario but if they both get separated and it devolves into a 1v1, they have no hope of winning. As I thought this couldn¡¯t get any worse, Oliver''s team voice chatted. ¡°Their healer is the one who is here, not senior Chu, what do I do?¡± Shit! Another bad matchup. Their healer has a high chance of stalling our defender since Oliver doesn¡¯t have the DPS to potentially kill her in one burst or combo even if he has the stat advantage. She will just heal herself and stall our tank, making a stalemate that is favorable for their party by dragging out the match. It is a battle of attrition that our tank has no chance of winning due to the enemy¡¯s heals. It then occurred to me why this is happening. They were always one step ahead of us from the start. It¡¯s not that their team isn¡¯t adaptable, it¡¯s because they did not need to adapt yet. As we analyzed them before the match, they also did the same and analyzed our movements and formations. They knew who we would prioritize and what form of tactic we would use and countered every single one of them. They did not show any of their cards from the start of the tournament and stayed to one tactic, therefore, giving them the advantage when they needed to change things up. It¡¯s honestly terrifying how on-point their counterplay was. ¡°Oliver! Listen, head towards the middle orb and help me secure it or we will lose!¡± ¡°What? But what about the bottom orb?¡± ¡°No time to explain, just please trust me!¡± ¡°¡­Understood, I will trust your judgment, as I always had.¡± That just leaves me and Renz. I also analyzed his plays and concluded that he was the worst matchup for me in their team. His sprinting speed is insanely fast and I cannot hope to run away from him once he knows of my location. An archer who cannot distance himself from his foes is as good as dead. I have no choice though. The bottom orb is in the enemies¡¯ hands, and so is the top orb. If they also acquire the middle, the match will be over instantly. I stared at my opponent, he was trying to capture the orb while being cautious of his surroundings, clearly wary of arrows from me. Another outplay on their part, they predicted that I was hiding in the shadows. ¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± I hyped myself up. I launched an arrow at his head for a surprise attack and also to dissuade him from further channeling to get the orb. He dodged it, but it separated him from the orb. He saw where the arrow came from, our eyes met and he immediately went after me. He¡¯s also very perceptive, I underestimated him. He¡¯s not that good compared to their two rankers but he is also skilled in his own right. I had hoped to stall him for a while to wait for Oliver, but him knowing my position was the worst possible outcome. Now is the hard part, survive while waiting for backup, hopefully, Ben and Ethan can escape and regroup. I cannot distract them right now nor can I afford to be distracted so I turned off the voice chat. I leaped out of the tree I was hiding to run away from him as my position was already revealed, but he still went after me. He likely knows I have no backup yet from the information network in their team. This is not completely unsalvageable though. I fired a couple of arrows to dissuade him from chasing, a micro tactic to control him and create some space between us by doing ranged attacks while running away. He took it head-on while avoiding taking hits to vital spots to lessen the damage and continued his sprint. A play that I can¡¯t help but be impressed with. His experience in fights makes up for his lack of skills. Renz HP: 81% Shit, he¡¯s also a bit tanky, the damage did not dissuade him from chasing, and to make matters worse, he was gaining distance on me even as I weaved in and out of the trees by grabbing branches and leaping through rocks to distance myself further away from him. He is also doing the same all the while possessing a spear, how good is this guy at chasing his foes?! ¡°Are you just going to run, or are you going to fight me like a man?!¡± I ignored his taunt, I¡¯m not so stupid as to fall for provocations and continued to run. But at this rate, he would eventually catch me and it would be the end for me. No choice, I have to risk it. Finding a semi-open space area without anything in the way to hinder my arrows, I grabbed one of the sturdy vines and then propelled myself away from him, I did so while charging my weapon skill while in the air. This weapon skill has a 3-second casting time but has the negative effect of me not being able to move while channeling. I used the momentum of my movement while swinging using the vine to continue moving in the air before I landed while initiating the channeling, making it more efficient in creating a distance between us while I could not move while my weapon skill was active. Hopefully this hits, as my weapon skill creates a knockback effect, letting me regain distance from him along with high damage that can hopefully chip a huge amount of his health. It is impossible for him to catch up to me judging by the distance and his sprint speed. He¡¯s fast but he has to be inhumanely fast to be able to cover this much distance in just 3 seconds. As I was celebrating my outplay, he shouted. ¡°Sovereign¡¯s Charge!¡± He became clad in white flame and his speed drastically improved. What! This was not in my database! Since when did he acquire such a weapon skill? ¡°Charged Sho-!¡± As I landed on the ground from my earlier leap ready to fire the charged arrow, he was in front of me, his flaming body glowing, casting a serene and sacred aura. Its flickering dance holds a mesmerizing rhythm, radiant and pure, emanating a comforting warmth that reaches deep within. Then, came a loud bang. *BOOOM Falcon HP: 0% I surveyed the surroundings, the trail he used to get to me was blazing with white flames, and the surrounding trees were burning while some trees near us got knocked over due to the impact. That was all I saw before I vanished into blue motes of light. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Liz PoV We are back in the GM¡¯s lobby after a sound victory against our school¡¯s e-sports team. I shouted in celebration of our victory. ¡°Yeah! We won! Let¡¯s go Paradigm!¡± ¡°You guys should¡¯ve seen me! I chased their archer like there was no tomorrow and defeated him in one blow!¡± ¡°Hmph, they were just weak, this is no cause for celebration.¡± ¡°Chu, please don¡¯t be like that, they are also good. We just outplayed them tactically so it seemed easy. Come to think of it, your predictions were on point Kat! Are you secretly a mind reader or something?¡± I said as I kept repeating in my head that she was cute. If she could really read minds, she would be blushing a bit at that compliment as she always does when I tease her for it. ¡°Are you stupid? Of course not, that would be unrealistic,¡± she replied, unamused. Sadly, she seems to be, in fact, not a mind reader. As I was fantasizing about how good it would be for the team if she actually was a mind reader, the enemy captain approached us. ¡°That was a good game! Ya guys are really skilled. We didn¡¯t even put up a fight against ya all!¡± he greeted us carefreely as if not affected in the slightest by their loss. ¡°You guys are good too! We just had favorable matchups so we won handily. However, you don¡¯t seem to mind the loss?¡± ¡°Hahaha, I guess I already expected it. Disappointment only comes if what ya are expecting to happen didn¡¯t happen, right?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I pondered his words for a bit before halfheartedly agreeing. ¡°I guess that¡¯s true?¡± He smiled for a second before speaking again. ¡°Although, can I ask a favor? Ron has just been blaming himself for the loss since ya guys dismantled his strategy so easily. Could you cheer him up for me?¡± their captain requested after shaking my hand for sportsmanship¡¯s sake. I glanced at Ron, we met at the e-sports club so I remembered him. He does look so downtrodden, so much so that it pains my heart that we were the cause of it, although it cannot be helped, as I cannot let my team lose either. ¡°Sure! Leave it to me.¡± As Ron came close for the handshake, I pulled his hand and gave him a quick hug while patting his head. ¡°Wha-wha- asdfkasaf!¡± he voiced something inaudible. I ignored it and continued to encourage him. ¡°It''s fine, you guys did good, it was a team match so it was not your fault that your team lost. Please don¡¯t beat yourself over it, okay?¡± I softly said to him. A quick hug always does the trick, my mother does it for me whenever I feel sad or have a bad day, therefore I¡¯m sure it would also help him mentally and emotionally. The entire enemy team cheered. Probably because their member seems out of his depressive state now. It is just as I thought, a good hug never fails to lift someone¡¯s spirits up! After separating, his captain approached him with a grin. ¡°At least, even if we lost, ya got something worthwhile out of this tournament,¡± their captain whispered to him in a voice I barely heard. Chapter 44 ¡°What do you want?¡± I said irritably. Currently, I find myself within the confines of the office that once belonged to our previous leader, FairyDust, (or Dust as I like to call her since she is nowhere near comparable to faeries I''m familiar with), after her message about a crucial issue she wishes to converse about privately. Given my inherent curiosity, I conceded... despite my better judgment. ¡°Oh my~ straight to the business, are we? Can''t we have a little chat first? Talk about our hobbies, likes, dislikes, or who we have crushes on like normal teenage girls? I''d like to know more about Yuusha from the person herself,¡± she teased. "You''re not a teenager anymore though," I quipped. "I''d like to think that I''m young at heart." I stared at her, unamused. "Fine, be that way," she pouted. "I called you here because I want to congratulate you guys on your second-day performance. Only two more matches and you guys are qualified for the main event! Although I''m sure it won''t be an issue if they have you with them." "Thanks... I guess. But surely that''s not the only reason you called me, right?" She made a face as if I offended every single one of her ancestors. ¡°What do you take me for? I truly wanted to congratulate you guys¡­¡± she withered a bit at my piercing gaze. ¡°Alright, alright, geez, no need to be like that. Fine, I did call you for another reason. Happy now?¡± I nodded at her to proceed ¡°The reason I requested to talk privately concerns matters of your previous guild.¡± ¡°The Paragons? What did they do now?¡± she got me curious. ¡°Oh~ nothing bad, we just agreed for our guild to have a... relations officer to handle affairs of the alliance for better cooperation of all parties included.¡± "And? What does that have to do with me?" I pressed on. Although, I do have a concrete idea of what she wants from me now. ¡°I¡¯m sure you already know what I am going to request from you,¡± she gave me a knowing smile before continuing. ¡°I want you to be our representative for facilitating cooperation with the Paragons guild. You understand why right? There is no one better fit to be in that role other than their co-founder to build favorable relations with them.¡± Makes sense, I can probably manage it easily as I know most of their core members and have a good relationship with their guild leader and vice leader. However, I do have one major problem with that, namely, the increase in social interactions. "Seems like a hassle. I''ll have to pass." ¡°Oh~ it''s not that hard, you just have to maintain contact and improve relations between both our guilds.¡± Yeah, like I said, communicating sounds like a hassle. "Not interested." "I''ll compensate with materials, sets, and guild resources. Name your price." ¡°Don¡¯t need it.¡± "Oh my~ oh my~ how affluent. I guess I''ll just have to compensate with... other methods?" she stared at me suggestively. I don''t like the sound of that, I have to take initiative if I were to win against her. "Whatever it is, I won''t be bribed that easily," I declared firmly. "Really now? How about¡­ something like this?" she said while handing me a photo. She gave me a picture of some kind. In this photo, there''s a cute little girl resembling Liz with sparkling eyes and a radiant smile that could light up the darkest room. She''s riding a charming, pastel-colored bike, which seems to be just the right size for her. The bike has a small, white basket in the front, adorned with a bunch of colorful wildflowers that she must have picked up on her journey. She''s wearing a polka-dotted dress and her tiny hands are firmly gripping the handlebars, showing her determination. The sun is shining brightly, casting a warm, golden glow on her, making her look even more joyful. I trembled at the sight, a picture of pure, innocent happiness at the tip of my finger... HOW INSANELY CUTE!!! It was then and there that I decided I must have this treasure at all costs, even if I had to trade a limb or two. I froze, she probably saw the unfiltered interest evident on my face. This is bad, this early in our negotiation and I''m already on the backfoot. "What makes you think I would want something like this?" I tried to play it cool and uninterested. "Come on, no need for that. Tell you what, if you accept this offer now, I will keep this meeting a secret. Nobody in the world would know about this transaction, not even Liz herself~. I¡¯ll also add in a complimentary portrait of her celebrating her 15th birthday," she made a hard bargain, giving me a wink in the process. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I got completely outplayed. To be fair, the playground was lopsided to begin with. In hindsight, I never stood a chance once she showed her trump card. Although this would probably be the happiest loss I have ever taken. I say that as I stare at the masterpiece of art in my hands... totally worth it! The photo disappeared as I placed it in my inventory. It costs a bit to convert a picture into a tangible CoA portrait but it is well worth it in some cases. These are mainly traded by collectors, used as a decoration for guild halls or rooms of guild representatives, or in my case, a treasure to be cherished and looked at every day. I¡¯m currently on my way to the meeting hosted by the Paragon guild. It will be held inside a well-known restaurant in the level 80 city of Aurora Vale on Channel 17 of our NA server. Aurora Vale is one of the most popular cities in the game due to its majestic view. It is a sprawling metropolis nestled between towering mountain ranges and lush forests, its skyline dominated by majestic spires and intricate bridges that span across crystal-clear rivers. The city is renowned for its enchanting blend of ancient magic and cutting-edge technology. Good thing I was just barely able to enter the city due to me having already finished the quest to enter it. Although I think Dust had already considered my current level before proposing me to be the representative of our guild. She might be annoying and a bit manipulative sometimes, but behind all those negative traits is a thoughtful and mindful ally. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. I arrived at the restaurant and it was as luxurious as I remembered it being three years ago. The exterior facade of the restaurant is an architectural marvel, exuding sophistication and elegance. The entrance to the restaurant is grand, with wide double doors made of rich, dark wood, embellished with intricate carvings guarded by what appears to be a Paragon guild member. Above the entrance, a sophisticated sign displays the restaurant''s name in stylish, illuminated lettering that reads ¡®The Noble Feast¡¯. A restaurant for nobles indeed, not that there are any nowadays in the real world. It costs a whole lot of in-game currency to even dine for a single meal here. Not worth it considering you won¡¯t get full anyway even if you eat a whole buffet. The taste is heavenly though so I cannot complain that much. I tried to enter but the player guarding the entrance barred me from doing so. ¡°Stop, newbie! The place is reserved by the Paragons Guild today, the upper officers are having a meeting, and no one can enter unless invited. Just switch channels and find one that is not yet reserved if you want to try the menu here,¡± he stated disapprovingly. ¡°I see¡­¡± Talk about well-off. Reserving the whole venue for the day costs a lot of in-game currency¡­ not that they lack any considering the status of their guild. Well, I guess I tried. I could just tell Dust that I was not let in due to my level. They probably won¡¯t believe that I am a representative of our guild anyway. ¡°Now get lost, don¡¯t loiter in the entrance or-,¡± the guard was interrupted by a newcomer. ¡°What seems to be the problem here?¡± came an authoritative voice. I turned to the suspect¡­ or suspects. A red-haired girl that I knew quite well, along with a familiar face. If my memory serves me right, she is the prot¨¦g¨¦ of Celeste. ¡°Oh! Miss Ariadne and Miss Lucy!¡± he instantly straightened his posture, appearing as the epitome of professionalism. ¡°I was just dissuading the newbie here from entering the meeting place.¡± Ariadne glanced at me for a short while before staring at him like he had grown another head. ¡°Are you stupid?! How can you not see that she is an officer of the ¡®Concord of Heroes¡¯ guild? The guild that I specifically said was one of the invited guest!¡± she exclaimed. What are you doing, Ariadne?! Now I won¡¯t have any valid reason to skip this meeting! ¡°S-sorry Miss Ariadne, I- I just, t-they said to me that we would only be letting branch and allied guilds in,¡± the guard stuttered. ¡°Concord of Heroes is an allied guild!¡± she exclaimed. Ariadne heavily sighed. ¡°I¡¯m surrounded by idiots¡­¡± she murmured in a barely audible voice that I was sure the guard heard. ¡°Come now, cut the guy some slack. After all, they are a recently allied guild of ours, so it''s not unexpected that he still doesn''t know yet,¡± the other familiar face attempted to de-escalate the situation. Ariadne for her part looked at me apologetically. ¡°I apologize for this mismanagement on my part, Novo.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really mind.¡± ¡°That is good to know,¡± she smiled in relief. As if remembering something, she introduced me, or should I say reintroduced me to her friend. ¡°This is Lucy, a high-ranking officer of our guild and also my partner for the U20 tournament,¡± ¡°Hi! Hi! Nice to meet cha''!¡± she greeted me cheerfully, hoping for a good first impression even though we already met before. ¡°Likewise,¡± I nodded politely. ¡°Let us continue our conversation in the establishment, all of the guests are already inside, it would be bad manners to keep them waiting any longer.¡± At Ariadne¡¯s prompt, we both entered the venue alongside her. Well, so much for not attending the meeting. Upon entering, I was greeted by a luxurious venue. I would readily believe that it was really themed for nobles because of how luxurious it looked. The place was half empty, with only a few players inside amounting to less than twenty. ¡°Still, I was not expecting you to be their representative,¡± Ariadne voiced with a hint of curiosity. I could say that I was just left without a choice because of a deal I made, but she didn¡¯t need to know that. ¡°Same, I didn¡¯t think you were the one directly managing this meeting,¡± I redirected the question. ¡°I know right?¡± Lucy butted in. ¡°I kept telling her to just let one of our officers handle this but she was adamant that she should be the one to oversee the meeting. It seems she likes you guys a lot for her to put this much effort into introducing our new allied guild,¡± she smiled teasingly. ¡°T-That¡¯s not it at all. I just deemed that it was my responsibility to introduce this alliance to the other guilds. It was both my and Celeste¡¯s idea to begin with so I have to carry it through.¡± ¡°I see, that''s an admirable mindset to have," I praised. She stared at me for a second before turning away abashed. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m doing it for your approval. Hmph!¡± I smiled wanly at the nostalgia. Her attitude when praised remains the same after all these years. Lucy stared at both of us curiously before murmuring something I didn¡¯t quite catch. ¡°Ariadne, Lucy, you guys finally arrived,¡± a lanky man in a knight set greeted them both with a nod. He glanced at me before focusing his attention back on Ariadne. I also remember this guy. He was still a newbie back then when we first founded the guild. Glad to see he is still with the Paragons after all these years and he seems very reliable now, a far cry from what I remembered him to be. Ariadne gave him an acknowledging nod. ¡°Ezequiel, tell everyone we are starting now.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± he went back to the bulk of the players, prompting them to take their seats as the meeting was about to start. ¡°Novo, please sit anywhere you like, I¡¯ll call you later when I introduce your guild.¡± Wait what?! Are we doing a show and tell now? I¡¯m not as good as you at public speaking, you know! She left me before I said my piece, Lucy followed after her but not before giving me a ''see you later'' gesture. Having no choice, I sat at the farthest corner of the huge room, a bit away from the bulk of the crowd. After a couple of pleasantries received from the other guests later, Ariadne officially started the meeting. ¡°First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone present for attending this meeting. Let me get straight to the point by introducing a new comrade of ours, the guild Concord of Heroes. Please welcome their representative with open arms as I am sure that they will prove to be an invaluable ally in the future.¡± She looked my way and signaled me to come forward. I made my peace and accepted my fate. As I stood at the center of the room I garnered the curious stares of everyone present. This is bad, my stage fright is acting up again and I can¡¯t think straight. Judging by the way things are going, it seems that I have to say some profound and inspirational words or something. Come on Kat! Think of something witty, or better yet, an icebreaker. First impressions are important! My mind blanked. ¡°Nice to meet you...¡± was all that I could say. What am I, an elementary student introducing herself to the class for the first time?! Complete silence, as if they were expecting me to say more, but sadly I didn¡¯t. Well, this is awkward. Please just end me now. ¡°Ahem¡­ so uhm. Any questions?¡± Ariadne thankfully came to my rescue. A couple of seconds later, a man who looks to be in his teens wearing a flashy rogue set, clearly hand-crafted, aired his thoughts. ¡°Miss Ariadne, I do have a concern.¡± Ariadne nodded at him to continue. ¡°It seems to me that their guild is looking down on us. They sent a newbie like her to be their representative. They do not seem to take this alliance seriously.¡± All it takes is one person to voice out their apprehension for the dam to break. Others instantly found the courage to complain about something that they perceived to be unfair after someone had already led the charge. ¡°Also, would they have anything they can add to the alliance? I haven¡¯t even heard of their guild until today. Aren¡¯t they relatively weak compared to those present here considering that they do not even have the proper resources to send a max-leveled member of their guild?¡± another player in a mage set questioned. Fair point, ours is not that popular, but I do know for sure that we do not lack strength in our members, especially with that accursed fox supporting us from the sidelines. ¡°Yes, they look kind of weak.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t even send a proper representative for this, how insolent.¡± ¡°Did they bribe the higher-ups of the guild or something?¡± Murmurs filled the room ranging from mockery to apprehension. It is human nature after all to doubt, especially for our guild who came out of nowhere and made an alliance to one of the strongest guilds in CoA out of the blue. ¡°Are you guys done?¡± came a chilling voice from Ariadne. Is it just me, or does the room seem a few degrees colder? ¡°Let me ask you all a question of my own, have any of you weaklings even passed the first day of the qualifiers?¡± Complete silence. I mean I would be completely quiet too if I were in their shoes. Ariadne is emitting a terrifying aura right now! ¡°Of course not. None of your representatives for the tournament even got through the first day. Let me tell you then, that their guild produced a team that has already passed the second day of the qualifiers.¡± The murmurs came back, this time full of shock and disbelief. ¡°And the one you¡¯re calling a newbie right now is a member of the team that got through, and I expect them to qualify in the main tournament.¡± All of the disparaging looks I got earlier were replaced with awe and envy. Most CoA players at their very core still respect an individual¡¯s skill and strength. Knowing that we have the proper capacity to back up the alliance completely silenced all of their complaints. ¡°If you guys can''t see the potential of allying ourselves with them, then you don¡¯t need those eyes as they are just for decoration. If you guys would allow me, I will personally pluck them out for you,¡± she gave a frightening smile as she made a blatant threat. I shivered at this tyrant''s actions. This is clearly an abuse of power! Reminder to future Kat: never get on her bad side¡­ ever. ¡°Do your own research for once and do not just spout whatever nonsense you deem true without any proof. Any other question that is not aggravatingly stupid for once?¡± No one uttered a single word. ¡°Good, now that is done, Ezequiel, please continue with the reports,¡± she proceeded as if nothing worthwhile just happened. The meeting went on for a while with some of the officers discussing topics concerning the whole alliance including where the farming spots were assigned to each guild to avoid vying for each other¡¯s grinding spots and other coordinative stuff. Honestly, Ariadne could just message it all to me, but I guess that these meetings are necessary to promote a sense of unity for the entire alliance. After the meeting, Ariadne and Lucy invited me to the feast, which I politely declined due to¡­ various reasons, but mainly because I had just run out of social energy. I logged out after that to recharge while pondering if the deal I made with Dust was well worth it after all. Chapter 45 ¡°Ha?! Are you hitting on my sister or something? Want to die right now?¡± ¡°I-I was just asking if I could join your party since you seem to be boosting them," the player wearing a high-level knight set defended himself. ¡°What? So that you could get her number after? Not a chance pub, beat it, or I''ll PK you right now!¡± Renz rudely dismissed him. ¡°Y-yes sir!¡± he exclaimed while hastily distancing himself from Renz like he was the plague. Stop acting like a punk you siscon! This is the 4th time you picked fights for no reason at all! Me, Clarissa, and Renz are all grinding together in a popular ghost town full of undead monsters suitable for our current level. Liz is sadly not with us today because she has guild responsibilities that Dust made her do. Quite shocking, but she is our guild leader after all, even if she doesn¡¯t look like she does that much. A shame really, ¡®cause she is a thousand times better company than this obnoxious guy right here. ¡°Why are you even here? We don''t need your help grinding,¡± I irritably called him out. ¡°Hmph! I''m here for Clarissa, not you.¡± ¡°Clarissa doesn''t need you either, she already has me helping her.¡± ¡°Ha!? What are you implying?!" Renz raised his voice, ready for another confrontation. ¡°P-please stop fighting! I¡¯m sorry if you guys are arguing because of me. Sorry for being selfish, I just want us three to play together,¡± Clarissa mediated, tears welling up in her eyes. Our attitude immediately did a 360 at that. ¡°W-were not fighting! This is just how we banter because we are very close, right Novo?¡± ¡°Y-yeah, that¡¯s right! Your big brother and I are the best of friends and comrades in arms!¡± I happily confirmed. ¡°Right! Novo is the closest friend and best teammate anyone could ever hope for!¡± Renz stepped up his act. We both praised while awkwardly patting each other''s back. "Hehehe, I''m glad I misunderstood. I knew you two do get along because you two are very kind," she made an angelic smile... how precious! Renz and I both instinctively held our noses to prevent them from dropping blood. ¡°But I can''t believe it. This feels like a dream come true. Novo and Big Brother knew each other and are working together in a single team! No wonder Brother said he has the best team in the tournament because he has Novo and Miss Lizbeth!¡± ¡°Of course, It''s exactly as I told you right? Your Big Brother¡¯s team is very strong!¡± ¡°He hehe,¡± she gave a cute satisfied giggle. ¡°Of course, I never doubted you brother because I already know you will never lie to me. Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Novo, how strong is my brother? He¡¯s the ace of your team, right? If he''s stronger than you then it means he is super strong cause you¡¯re the strongest player I have ever seen!¡± Never lie my ass! What kind of nonsense are you spouting to your sister now? How can you say that you¡¯re the ace of our team if you haven''t even won a single time against Chu in all your 1v1 sparring matches that you forced on him?! Renz for his part seems like he''s sweating buckets with how easily I can refute his claims¡ªa huge contrast to Clarissa''s sparkling eyes full of expectation. It seems like I have no choice but to go with the flow. All I see is a sister looking up to her elder sibling, I cannot, in good conscience, destroy that expectation. "O-of course, your brother is the greatest CoA player I have ever seen in my entire life! He¡¯s so skilled that he can wipe the floor with me with a blindfold on! You know he can even play in pro teams if he wants to!" I exaggeratedly confirmed. ¡°Wowww!¡± Clarissa¡¯s sparkling eyes became even more shinier. Renz for his part sighed in relief. I looked at him with a piercing glare that made him wither. Renz, you better live up to the expectations you set for yourself. If you don''t, I swear you will get an earful out of me! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Lucy PoV- ¡°Aria, Earth to Aria!¡± I called my best friend for the umpteenth time. ¡°H-huh? Lucy, what''s up?¡± she replied, a bit startled at my voice. "Don¡¯t you ¡®watsup¡¯ me! I was calling you so many times!¡± I pouted. ¡°Oh, forgive me, I did not notice,¡± she replied a bit sheepishly. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t. It''s because you¡¯ve been distracted a lot lately!¡± ¡°Am not," she instantly denied. ¡°You are! What are you even doing that got you distracted this much?¡± ¡°Just... chatting with an old acquaintance...¡± ¡°Is it the girl you seemed to be close the other day? The representative of the new allied guild?¡± I made a wild guess. "Wha- o-of course not! I said ¡®old acquaintance¡¯, Novo is a new one!" she quickly denied, as if hiding something. Hmm, suspicious, we have been friends since we were kids and I can tell when she is lying. I also know that I cannot get her to confess since she is stubborn as a mule. I stared at her, suspicion evident on my face. ¡°W-why did you call out to me again?" she replied, composing herself in the process. Changing the subject huh? Fine, I''ll let it slide for now. "It''s time for our practice," I reminded her. "Oh already? Just a sec." She seemed to type something in the air before closing an app and judging by the looks of it, a messaging one. I frequently see her doing that a lot these days, how suspicious. One thing that has changed for the better in the past few weeks is that she has become more motivated to improve. She has always been a hard worker, but it is on another level these days, to the point of creating a routine practice session while dragging me in the process. But, as the best friend that I am, I have to help her out. We headed to the huge training room of our guild where our practice sparring team was already waiting for us. The room was expansive, with high vaulted ceilings supported by sturdy stone pillars and timber beams. Large windows with stained glass panels adorned the walls, allowing sunlight to filter in and illuminate the space during the day. All four of them greeted us as we went inside. Meanwhile, their leader then went forward to speak with Ariadne. ¡°Miss Ariadne, are we going to have the same routine as yesterday?¡± Gerald queried. ¡°No, this time, four of you come at me all at once,¡± Aria bluntly replied. ¡°B-but Miss Ariadne.¡± ¡°Only two at a time didn''t even pose a challenge in our last sparring match. How do you expect me to improve with my new weapon? Now, four of you come, I don''t have all day.¡± She must have hurt their pride a little with that as all of them are also top players in our guild. Their team almost got through the first day of the qualifiers, but sadly they were one match short so they became our sparring partners. Although knowing Aria, she likely thinks she is only stating facts. A blunt but truthful friend, one of the traits I appreciate about her although calling her ''harsh'' sometimes is a huge understatement. ¡°U-understood Ma¡¯am!¡± their leader signaled his members to get ready to fight. ¡°Lucy, if you will,¡± she in turn signaled me to buff her. ¡°Yes, yes, one haste, coming right up,¡± I cast the haste skill I had been holding since earlier. Her opponents took it as a signal to begin the sparring match. Aria stayed still, unmoving. It is as if she had disconnected. One of her opponents, a rapier user, took the bait. He launched a fast thrust at her head for a fatal hit. Aria tilted her head ever so slightly, flawlessly dodging the attack before countering with four lightning-fast stabs with her dagger, all aimed directly at his head. The precision and speed of the hasted attacks were difficult to follow, even for me. DarkRaven HP: 0% ¡°Wha-!¡° he stared at her in disbelief before he vanished into blue motes of light. I sighed. When will he ever learn? Well, that¡¯s one down, three to go. Their leader, the only melee member remaining now doubled his caution, afraid of getting near her. A second later of composing himself, he signaled for a cooperative attack. Their mage cast his channeled ¡®Ice Spear¡¯. This happened simultaneously with their archer firing an arrow and their leader, a skilled swordsman, charging to slash at her. A perfect coordination of skills that is impossible for Aria to dodge all at once. I sometimes forget that they are a strong team on their own, Aria just makes them look weak compared to her. Just as their coordinated attack was about to hit, Aria¡¯s weapon shifted into a shield. She narrowly dodged the slash while blocking the arrow and ice spear at the same time with her new defensive weapon. What an unorthodox weapon skill. I heard that she acquired the unique weapon with the help of the Concord of Heroes¡¯ guild. No wonder she is so attached to them as they survived what I imagined to be an unbeatable dungeon. Adversity promotes camaraderie after all. Aria capitalized on the disbelief of her opponents. She sprinted past the swordsman and then went to the mage. The mage, being the veteran that he is, quickly composed himself, ready to dodge her attack. Although he was caught off guard when Aria¡¯s weapon changed into a spear, the extended reach piercing his head for another fatal hit. JohnSnow HP: 0% Another look of awe and disbelief from the mage just before he vanished into blue motes of light. What a broken weapon skill. It doesn¡¯t seem flashy or strong at first but the utility and element of surprise it brings to the table is undeniable. It has no cooldown; the only downside is that it costs mana to shift. Coupled with Aria¡¯s experience in using different weapons due to her being a player since day one and her creating many smurf accounts over the past few years out of curiosity in using different weapons makes it the best weapon skill for someone like her. After dispatching the mage, her focus instantly shifted to the archer, then dashed towards him. The swordsman, noticing her intent went to intercept her. The archer in his panic used his weapon skill. ¡°Explosive Arrow!¡± he exclaimed. The arrow flew towards Aria with the intent to blow up in her face, disrupting her charge. In the middle of the arrow¡¯s flight, Aria¡¯s weapon shifted again, now to a whip. With its incredibly long reach, she used it to detonate the arrow mid-flight. The explosion backfired as it hit the swordsman who was near the shockwave. Aria capitalized on their leader¡¯s disorientation by shifting her weapon to a heavy-hitting mace. Coupled with the momentum of her hasted sprint, she bashed his head into next year. *CLANG Gerald HP: 0% The sound reverberated through the entire room. Even with the high vitality of their swordsman, it was impossible for him to survive a blow that powerful. He disappeared into blue motes of light, following his comrades in the guild respawn hall just into the next room ¡°I-I surrender!¡± the last opponent yielded, too afraid to continue fighting Ariadne alone. Her concentration then shifted into a relaxed self-satisfied smile after the win. No matter how many times I see it, her graceful yet deadly moves never cease to amaze me. Coupled with her newly acquired weapon skill, she is unstoppable. She is a talented player in her own right but is on a whole other level when hasted. A true protege of the strongest haste user who ever played the game and also one of the founders of our guild, Yuusha. Someone who both Aria and I looked up to. Sadly, she left us abruptly after the first AC without even a single word as to why. It affected the Paragon guild as a whole, but Aria more so. She was probably the closest member of our guild to Yuusha back then, barring the other Paragon team members who won the AC with her. It is good to see her this lively now though, probably because of the big tournament the proteges of Paragons joined. Can''t blame her, I am a bit giddy too. Feels like we are making history by taking the mantle of the legendary team. ¡°You guys bullying our members again? Why don''t we just play rank matches to practice?¡± Blitz, Zetta¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦ commented on the one-sided match. ¡°We cannot leak anything about her unique weapon skill. Someone might capture a video of her using it. It would be best for her to practice in private zones to avoid showing any of our cards,¡± Seer, Tactical''s prot¨¦g¨¦ and our team¡¯s strategist reasoned. I did not notice them arriving, how long have they been there? ¡°Hmmm... makes sense. Although I still think you''re overthinking things, loosen up a little, will ya?" His personality is lax as always¡ªfar cry from Zetta''s competitiveness. I always wonder why Zetta even accepted him as an apprentice in the first place. ¡°Better to be prepared for every possibility than regretting it later.¡± Seer, on the other hand, resembles Tactical more, always cautious and logical. ¡°Good timing both of you. I need the proper challenge to practice my new weapon, come at me, two-on-one while I''m hasted.¡± ¡°Whaaat... can we just relax for once? You''ve been so hardworking these past few days that I cannot keep up! Learn to take it easy once in a while. You might overtax yourself, you know.¡± ¡°No, I need to prepare as best as I can for this tournament. Besides, you two also need the training. It would be like hitting two birds with one stone.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to toil this hard you know, I''m sure we can easily win the under-twenty tournament without any pro players around to give us a hard time.¡± Aria stared at him thoughtfully. ¡°What if there was?¡± Aria suddenly blurted out. "Huh?" Blitz tilted his head, probably thinking he misheard Aria. ¡°I said, what if there was a pro player in the tournament, what will you do?¡± she clarified. That was a strange question to ask, how suspicious. "Come on, that''s impossible. The Under 20 tournament will be held in a LAN setting. Not a single pro player can sneak into the tournament and play in the main event without getting found out," Blitz logically analyzed. ¡°Is there something you''re not telling us, Ariadne?¡± Seer posed a question of his own. Seer, for his part, catches on quickly. I have known Aria for so long so I have an inkling that she knows something we don''t, but not him. He understood it through pure deduction, I can tell that he really learned from someone as perceptive as Tactical. "...No, it is just a what-if question. And it is exactly what you said earlier, we need to be prepared for all the possibilities. Someone as skilled as a pro player joining the tournament is one of those." "Fair point," he acquiesced. Hmm... she is clearly dodging his question. How incredibly suspicious. Chapter 46 Rin "Blaze, I''m nearly there, but I''ve exhausted all my MP and HP. It''s difficult for me to admit, but I''ll have to depend on you now. We all believe in you, so give it your all!" My teammate Lyra spoke through the team chat. ¡°Don''t worry, Frostia, I will shoulder everyone¡¯s feelings¡­ and with the power of our bonds¡­ I won''t lose!¡± I declared. Whaaa- that was so cringe! Why do I have to say such lines? Still, I have no choice though, our contract demands we role-play for our fans like we are some sort of cosplaying VTuber. My opponent is one hit away from dying though, so let¡¯s make this as flashy as possible. ¡°You may be strong, but you stand alone. I carry the strength of my comrades who believe in me. With their support, I will end this now! Crimson Blaze Slash!¡± I exclaimed. I made a horizontal slash, releasing a long-range attack, a blazing arc that hit my foe. A burst of fire surged forth, dancing and reaching out with an energetic fervor as if nature itself had momentarily harnessed the passion of a roaring bonfire. The flames embraced my enemy, flickering with an untamed vitality. My weapon skill was not really necessary to end the fight, but it would be a flashy finisher that was needed to complete my role-play. ¡°Ghaa!¡± he shouted as he was enveloped in the flames of my attack. BlackThunder HP: 0% ¡°Accept the purifying flames of my heart and atone for your sins!¡± ¡°But¡­ I¡­ didn¡¯t do no crimes yet though¡­" he said before he disappeared into blue motes of light. I know, but please forgive me for saying that! My contract demands me to be a flashy ally of justice! As if scripted, which it might as well be because I¡¯m sure she planned for it from the start, my teammate Lyra arrived at the scene of the final battle. ¡°Blaze! Are you hurt?¡± she analyzed me from head to toe, worry evident on her face. Of course not! This is just a VR game you know! But¡­ we have to show how close our friendship is and how much we care for each other to our fans. I¡¯ll just have to play along. ¡°A little, but I can manage with you by my side, Frostia,¡± I said as I pulled her close for a hug. ¡°S-stupid, w-what are you doing! Don¡¯t hug me all of a sudden,¡± she replied while not entirely rejecting the contact, perfectly playing the role of a tsundere. Your Team Won! Congratulations! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After the match, we are currently resting inside the Atelier organization building lounge. It is only natural that we would be here considering that our team, Magical Atelier, is a semi-pro team created by the Atelier organization itself. The lounge has many endearingly designed plush, pastel-colored oversized chairs adorned with soft throw pillows and fluffy blankets litter the room. The lounge has a subtle, sweet scent of lavender wafting through the air, leaving a favorable and soothing smell. There are also delicate, sheer curtains filtering the sunlight, casting a warm, gentle glow across the room making the ambiance much more relaxing. It feels good to be sponsored by the Atelier itself. it''s like a dream come true. I have to work hard to not squander this opportunity, our team needs to pass the qualifiers at least so that we play on the main stage, garnering us more exposure and fans in the process. I should be relaxing and preparing for the next match, but the problem is, I am currently troubled by something I did earlier. Something so embarrassing It would be hard to forget so easily. ¡°What''s the matter Rin, you look bothered?¡± Wren, our captain, and tank of the group, noticed my apprehension. ¡°I-it¡¯s nothing...¡± I tried to pass it off. She studied me for a second before continuing. ¡°Hmm, don''t tell me you''re still thinking about what you did a while ago. I told you to get used to it.¡± ¡°I know I should... but still¡­¡± ¡°I see no problem with what you did though. Our fanbase likes to see how close we are to each other, and it is our job to give them a little service, besides, Lyra doesn¡¯t mind, right?¡± Elie, our archer, interjected. ¡°Of course not, I liked it even, I didn¡¯t know you were this bold, Rin?¡± Lyra, our mage, teased as she gave me a flirtatious wink. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be cool, calm, and collected, please stop acting like that¡­¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Yeah, on camera I am, but that kind of personality is unrealistic. Can¡¯t play tsundere forever, right? Gotta let loose sometimes and say what¡¯s on my mind.¡± ¡°I guess¡­ but aren¡¯t you embarrassed about¡­ what happened earlier?¡± I hesitated to ask. ¡°Not really, but I do get where you are coming from. The Atelier organization recruited you mostly for your skills, it is the reason you are our ace after all. It''s fine if you''re not used to public acting yet, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses so just focus on winning our matches. Besides, acting in front of the camera is a skill that you will just get used to over time. Trust me, you will get a lot of practice, especially in the U20 tournament where we will get a lot of exposure from interviews and the like.¡± ¡°Please don''t talk like we already won the qualifiers¡­¡± ¡°We might as well, you know the brackets are ¡®kinda rigged, right? We are already set up for success. And besides, we only have one last match before we get through the qualifiers,¡± Ellie butted in. ¡°I guess¡­ who are our last opponents anyway?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Wren pondered as she scrolled down her phone. ¡°Their team name is ¡®Paradigm¡¯? Sounds like Paragon fans¡­ hmm, I don''t know much about them, let''s just ask our manager for more info we can use against our next opponents,¡± our captain helpfully replied. "Where is she anyway? Isn¡¯t she supposed to cheer us on in our last qualifier match or something?" Ellie complained. Saying that, a brunette in her 30¡¯s entered the lounge. She is wearing a well-tailored blazer and dressed in stylish but professional-looking comfortable attire suitable for the fast-paced environment of a gaming organization like ours. ¡°Speaking of the devil,¡± Wren muttered. ¡°Hello, girls! Congratulations on your match! That was an exceptional showing, especially when Rin hugged Lyra after a hard-fought battle, our ratings went through the roof!¡± she greeted cheerfully. ¡°Please don¡¯t remind me!¡± I said as I covered my face in shame. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be like that, you did well, you¡¯re a natural at this. A lot of our fans are now shipping Blaze and Frostia because of what you did!¡± ¡°I only got the courage to do it because of the adrenaline I got from the fight, so I went with the flow!¡± ¡°Yeah, that is what you call a natural,¡± our manager rebutted. ¡°Urk!¡± ¡°Any news and weaknesses about our last opponents?¡± luckily Lyra changed the topic. ¡°Oh right, I almost forgot what I came here for,¡± she gave a sheepish grin. ¡°To be quite frank, they are quite an enigma, they are not backed by any gaming organizations but they have two rankers playing in their team. You guys should not underestimate them, they are strong.¡± The revelation made my tummy ache a bit. Two rankers on a single non-organization team under twenty. They do seem strong. No, Rin don¡¯t be scared, our team has three rankers. Believe in your teammates, we got this! ¡°Whether they¡¯re weak or strong doesn¡¯t give us a clue about what formation we should use next though,¡± Lyra¡¯s question brought me out of my self-encouragement session. ¡°Yes, it doesn¡¯t, that¡¯s another problem too. It pains me to say this, but they have a capable strategist backing their team. I fear if we do a counter strategy, we might fall into their trap like one of their past victims in the qualifiers.¡± ¡°They¡¯re that good?¡± Ellie chimed in, amazement was evident in her face. ¡°Yup, they can accurately predict where their enemies are going to send their players and create a match-up that is favorable for them. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a fluke or not, but better be safe than sorry. It is quite scary if you ask me,¡± as if to make a point, she involuntarily shivered. ¡°Hmm, coupled with two rankers, I can see how they can be quite problematic,¡± Wren assessed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a solution for that,¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°He he he, my ultimate strategy is¡­ to have you draw lots on what our formation for the next match will be! Yaaay!¡± We stared at her incredulously. ¡°Please take this seriously!¡± we all shouted in unison. ¡°I am serious, the enemy can¡¯t predict our moves if even we don¡¯t know what we will do ourselves, right?¡± That made me pause. I don¡¯t know if I should call it stupid or a genius way of thinking. ¡°Hmm, that seems to be the dumbest, yet brightest sentence I have heard for quite some time,¡± Wren shared my sentiment. ¡°Basically, you want us to choose an orb to go to randomly?¡± ¡°No, not choose randomly, we will draw lots! This way, we can completely erase human input from the variables, making our team much more unpredictable!¡± ¡°I see now what you¡¯re getting at, although there is a problem with that. What if we don¡¯t get a favorable matchup?¡± Lyra hesitantly asked. ¡°Well, we will leave it to the gods of luck and RNG. Beats having an unfavorable matchup, right? Besides, I have complete faith that you guys will win in a contest of skill,¡± she smiled at us, trust evident in her eyes. Her faith in us made me feel incredibly happy. She might look like an unreliable manager, but she always gives us her unconditional trust and always has our best interest as her top priority. Even if the organization would send us a better strategist and manager than her, I¡¯m sure my teammates and I would unanimously decline it. ¡°Well then, let''s talk about strategy, we still have plenty of time since the last qualifier match has a thirty-minute break before each match. As your manager, I¡¯ll try my best to disclose what we currently know of their strengths and weaknesses and what to do when you face off against each of their members.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After the long briefing and discussion of important information and strategies for our last opponent in the qualifiers, we all head over to our gaming room to log in for our match. In the middle of our short walk, we passed towards the training facility of the main pro team of the Atelier organization itself. The entrance to their facility has a sign plastered on it that says ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯. Noticing the sign too, Lyra pointed it out. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re busy.¡± ¡°Yep, they are all training hard for the Andartha Cup which will be held after the U20 tournament.¡± ¡°I want to meet them when they¡¯re not occupied. I always have been a huge fan of Miss Aoi. I want their autograph so bad, but I can¡¯t find the right time to ask her!¡± Ellie aired her grievance. ¡°I know right? She¡¯s so cool! The gaming community even unanimously voted her as the coolest female VRMMO player! I tried to learn the way of the sword because of her!¡± I agreed while revealing my internal fan-girl mode. ¡°She is, but I still think Yuusha would''ve won that award if she was still here,¡± Lyra butted in. ¡°Hmm, still a Yuusha fan-girl in this day and age huh¡­¡± Wren said dryly. ¡°Of course! Yuusha was the reason I started playing CoA in the first place! The legend¡¯s influence among us veteran CoA players will never wane. She will always have a special place in my heart!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, you girls can talk about your idols later, but for now, let¡¯s focus on your own match first. We can¡¯t be late or we might be disqualified,¡± our manager urged us to carry on. At her prompt, we continued to head towards our own gaming facility. As soon as we stepped inside, I felt the vibrant energy buzzing around. The walls are splashed with colorful artwork, some made by fellow gamers and fans in our community. There''s a central lounge area with snacks and drinks to keep us fueled during intense gaming sessions. Our setup includes a mix of consoles, PCs, and VR pods with adjustable setups to fit our comfort. After logging in to each of our respective accounts, we immediately received an invitation from the GM that umpired most of our games. Game Master Rudy invited you to a private lobby. Would You like to Accept? Y/N ¡°Yes.¡± I was teleported to a modern luxury lobby that I was used to by now with how many qualifiers matches we¡¯ve been through. Surveying the room, I saw our opponents on the other side. One of them is so dazzling that It would be impossible to ignore. She stands tall and composed, with a determined, yet friendly gaze. Her blonde hair cascades down in loose waves, complementing her custom royal knight-themed armor. There''s a warmth in her smile that sharply contrasts her stylish demeanor. She seemed to be busy talking to another player who also immediately caught my attention. Her tall yet petite figure was complemented by her bold, yet stylish outfit that revealed plenty of her fair skin. Her cute facial figure was a huge contrast to her mature and calm atmosphere, making her more endearing. I was bought out of my thoughts by the GM¡¯s clear and authoritative voice. ¡°It seems like everyone is ready. Let us start the final match of the Under 20 Qualifiers bracket H. The winner of this watch will be invited to play in the main tournament. Good luck to both teams! Team Paradigm vs Team Magical Atelier, BEGIN! Chapter 47 -Rin¡¯s PoV- We are transported to a stage that mirrors a dilapidated ruin for our final qualifier battle. The surroundings depict remnants of a place that was once teeming with life. Stone walls, weathered by time and nature, stand in varying states of decay, whispering tales of a bygone era. Moss covers the cracks and crevices, while vines ascend the walls like inquisitive spectators. Scattered stones form irregular paths, compelling us to tread cautiously and honor the history imprinted on each weather-beaten surface. ¡°Okay girls, let¡¯s do this just as we agreed to from the drawlots. Frostia and I will vie for the middle orb, Zephyr will head for the top orb, and Blaze will take the bottom. May your heart guide your magic!" Wren, or rather Terra as she''s known in-game, reiterated our strategy while using our customary phrase to wish each other good luck. "May your heart guide your magic!¡± we replied in unison. After the little pep talk, all of us went our separate ways. I found myself navigating through the baren ruins on my way to my destination. Some were adorned with intricate carvings, now softened by time''s touch. Patches of sunlight peek through the canopy above, illuminating forgotten corners and revealing the intricate details of once-grand architecture. As I arrived at the bottom orb, a man in a blue-themed custom knight set greeted me. As I recall from the briefing earlier, his in-game name is Renz. He is fast at blitz tactics so much so that Zephyr would have a hard time against him. Looks like I hit the jackpot. He¡¯s the weakest of their team in terms of close-quarter combat barring the support, therefore, he shouldn''t pose much of a threat against me. I guess luck is on our side, but for now, time to appeal to the fans. ¡°Feel the heat of justice as I blitz through the darkness for a brighter tomorrow! Blaze, here I go!¡± I exclaimed as I did my cute fan-service pose for a better impact. Yes! I did it flawlessly this time! I think I¡¯m getting the hang of this! I celebrated my improvement while making a self-satisfied smile. ¡°Hmph! Acting all cutesy won¡¯t make me go easy on you. I already have the cutest sister in the world. You look plain in comparison to her. Besides, if there is anyone I would ever fall for, it would have to be someone who is as cute and kind as my sister, so don¡¯t bother wasting your time flirting.¡± ¡°Urk!¡± I received a nasty blow to my psyche. Who¡¯s flirting, you creepy siscon!? It is required by our agency to say those kinds of things! I don¡¯t have a choice here! "That¡¯s it, I won¡¯t go easy on you, so you better prepare yourself!" I declared as I pointed my sword at him. "Hmph! I won''t have it any other way," he rebuked as he took his stance. I hastily composed myself for the upcoming battle. Let¡¯s just get this over with as soon as possible so that I can assist my teammates. Call it intuition, but I have this persistent nagging feeling in my gut telling me that they will need my help in this match. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "In the cold embrace of winter''s art, I''ll thaw away troubles and mend every heart! Frostia, ready to start!" the ice mage, Frostia, spouted with gusto. ¡°By the strength of stone and the power of earth, I''ll stand firm and protect what''s worth! Terra, going forth!¡± Terra, their shielder matched her teammate¡¯s enthusiasm. I stared at them in disbelief. They look way better in person than just watching replays. This is bad¡­ they¡¯re capitalizing on my greatest weakness. The power of cuteness. What a terrible match-up for me. I only hope Liz can handle this alone without me needing to interfere any more than being her support as I would loathe myself if I had to take matters into my own hands. ¡°Kyaaa! They''re so cool in person, right Kat?! I''ve always been a fan of the Magical Atelier streams!¡± Liz entered fan-girl mode. ¡°Stop praising your opponent and take the match seriously,¡± I chided her. ¡°I am taking this seriously, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t have fun in the process,¡± she pouted. ¡°Fine, whatever you say,¡± I conceded. ¡°Okay, here I go!¡± Liz, wasting no time, charged at her opponents. She prioritized going for the ice mage in order to cut off their damage output completely, the staple way to deal with this kind of popular lineup. For her opponent''s part, the shield user intercepted her before she even got near the mage. ¡°I won¡¯t let you! I will protect my friends, even if it costs my life!¡± Terra declared as she blocked Liz¡¯s advances. Just as they were about to collide, Liz vanished into thin air by using her blink weapon skill. The shielder was undeterred by the sudden disappearance of her opponent. She countered with a weapon skill of her own. ¡°Not on my watch! Earth Prison!¡± she declared while slamming her shield on the ground. Liz appeared next to the mage but was met with a cage of earth. ¡°What! How!¡± Liz exclaimed in disbelief. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Now Frostia!¡± ¡°Roger! Ice Meteor!¡± she shouted for dramatic effect. The mage conjured a huge meteor made of ice from above Liz¡¯s position, ready for impact. That spell takes a long time to cast but will definitely one-shot her if it hits. Their ice mage has complete trust that her partner can trap Liz therefore casting the offensive spell preemptively instead of going for a defensive spell¡­ how admirable. ¡°Uhm! Kat, a little help here?!¡± It was also an impeccable prediction from the Defender to trap Liz. Coupled with a perfectly coordinated attack from the mage, these players are extremely skilled. As expected from an organization-sponsored team. Well I thought this might happen, good thing I also prepared my spell pre-emptively. Time to save my partner, yet again. ¡°Recall!¡± I cast the spell I was holding onto as a counter-play. *BOOOM Liz vanished before the impact of the gigantic chunk of ice crushed her into nothingness, then reappeared right next to me, unharmed. ¡°Whew! I almost died there! Thanks, Kat!¡± "I told you not to underestimate them,¡± I calmly scolded her for her carelessness. ¡°I''m not! They¡¯re just really good!¡± She¡¯s right about that. They are contracted players for a huge gaming organization like Atelier, after all. Besides being able to practice all the time since it is their job, they also have the backup of professionals ranging from psychological performance-enhancing healthcare benefits all the way to state-of-the-art training facilities, equipment, professional coaching staff, and many more advantages normal players can only dream of. That in itself is a huge advantage and added to their natural gift and skills at the game that led to them being contracted to begin with, they are not to be underestimated. I think it''s time we get serious too. ¡±Liz, we have to do it.¡± She stared at me in disbelief. ¡°Whaaat? I thought we were saving it for the main tournament.¡± Liz in her current state can probably win one-on-one, but two-on-one would be a daunting task, and I won¡¯t risk losing her here just to save up one of our trump cards. ¡°No, we need to do it.¡± She stared at me, reading my expression. When she realized my solemnity, she readily agreed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m ready!¡± she stated, determination evident in her eyes. Sensing something wrong, our opponents readied themselves for whatever play we had in mind. I used their momentary apprehension and their wait-and-see tactic for me to finish my next spell. ¡°Greater Haste¡­¡± I murmured. My orb turned pure white after casting the chronomancy spell instead of the customary golden-white glow of the light orb. Liz was enveloped with the customary whitish light of a hasted player. Suddenly her movements became a blur as she quickly rushed towards our opponents, giving them little time to recover from their stupefaction. ¡°Wha-?! Their support is a dual caster! Our manager never mentioned this,¡± the ice mage exclaimed in shock. ¡°Frostia be careful! She¡¯s going after you!¡± the defender warned her teammate while attempting to intercept Liz. With a calculated move, Liz darted forward, her increase of speed due to the haste buff caught the shield user off guard. The shielder, reliant on defense, struggled to adjust to the sudden burst of agility from Liz, her heavy shield momentarily lagging as my partner weaved through her defenses. ¡°Ice Tendrils!¡± the ice mage exclaimed. Their ice mage conjured countless frosty tendrils she had pre-cast the same time I was casting greater haste. With a series of lightning-fast maneuvers, my partner ducked and dodged, exploiting the split-second openings created by her burst of speed while skillfully dodging all the countless ice tendrils attempting to ensnare her at a hair''s breadth. The shielder rallied, attempting to intercept Liz''s lightning-fast movements, but the sudden acceleration disrupted the shielder''s usual rhythm, leaving her in the dust, scrambling to readjust her poise. Sensing an opportunity, Liz closed the distance with the enemy DPS. With a swift critical strike, she exploited the split-second vulnerability of the unguarded ice mage. Frostia HP: 52% ¡°Ack! Terra, help!¡± Frostia frantically pleaded all the while trying her hardest to survive Liz¡¯s unending hasted attacks. ¡°My weapon skill is still on cooldown! Hang on!¡± Terra said as she rushed to help her teammate. But she was too late, Liz¡¯s hasted mode was too much for a mage to handle in a melee scenario. Liz relentlessly punished the undefended ice mage, depleting her health to zero. Frostia HP: 0% ¡°Ugh! It¡¯s all up to you guys, good lu-¡± she did not get to finish her sentence as she disappeared, into motes of light. Her friend seemed crestfallen at failing to intercept Liz. I cannot blame her for failing to protect her partner though. She was caught off guard by the sudden burst of speed and couldn''t regain her composure in time, as she hadn''t anticipated a haste buff to suddenly enhance my partner. Dual casters are a rarity due to the scarcity of dual orbs in the market. Moreover, possessing a dual orb necessitates a complete alteration of a player''s skill build, rendering it unsuitable for max-level players who rely solely on single orbs. It was fortunate that I acquired one while I was still at my level 70-ish, with a surplus of unused skill points, enabling me to swiftly modify my skill build to allocate points for chronomancy spells. ¡°...Sorry Frostia, but I don¡¯t think I can last long on my own against these two either,¡± Terra murmured, downcast as she failed to protect her mage. Terra glanced at us, apprehension apparent in her demeanor. She likely knows as we do that she doesn''t stand a chance against us both without a proper DPS. With this, the contest for the middle orb is good as won. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Ellie¡¯s PoV- ¡°Annoying¡­¡± ¡°That is not something you should ever say to a lady,¡± I taunted jovially as I continued to barrage him with wind arrows. Zephyr HP: 100% NambaWan HP: 37% This is easier than I expected. He''s a ranker just like me but his skills seem to be lacking. Initially, he attempted to engage me in a ranged battle, but once he exhausted his supply of arrows, the fight became significantly easier for me. However, I''m nearly out of mana. My weapon skill allows me to generate as many arrows as my mana can support, but at the moment, my MP reserves are almost depleted. Regardless, it seems to be of little consequence since he''s already on the brink of defeat. It''s somewhat disappointing, really. I expected more from a fellow ranker. ¡°You¡¯re playing too passively, you¡¯re boring me to death. Nobody likes boring guys!¡± I exclaimed. Oops, shouldn¡¯t have said that, I forgot we were live on stream. Welp, my fans already know me as a blabbermouth who speaks her mind, so I guess it''s fine. I continued to fire a barrage of wind arrows towards him. He dodged most, being extra careful to protect his vitals. Very few made a glancing hit, doing their purpose to chip his HP little by little. NambaWan HP: 17% I¡¯m almost out of mana, but I think his HP is low enough for me to finish this. I used all of my remaining MP to conjure a large arrow made of wind. He wouldn¡¯t be able to evade an arrow this large and fast. As I finished my conjuration, I released it to finish him off. ¡°Wind Blast!¡± I exclaimed as I released the concentrated wind elemental arrow. The arrow flew straight towards him, even if he managed to dodge it, the arrow would still explode near him, dealing AOE damage. There is no way for him to survive this. For his part, he rushed towards me, attempting to take the arrow head-on. What is this fool up to now? Had he given up already? How boring indeed. "Reversal!" he exclaimed. He perfectly parried my energy arrow, making it disappear completely instead of causing explosive damage. Being unscathed after that means he did a perfect parry. I have to elevate my estimation of his skills, he''s passable at the least. Although, he¡¯s defenseless right now without his weapon skill. I guess I will have to finish this the old-fashioned way. I drew a wooden arrow from my quiver. I still have 20 left, plenty to finish this once and for all. I drew back the bowstring with my arrow, focusing intensely on the persistent guy darting towards me, then released it. As the arrow sailed through the air, he suddenly moved with remarkable speed, wielding his twin butterfly swords adeptly. In a fluid motion, he spun one, deflecting the incoming projectile with the flat side of one blade. The arrow ricocheted off the sword, changing its path dramatically. Time seemed to slow as I watched my own arrow hurtling back towards me. ¡°Wha-!?¡± I exclaimed as I frantically dodged the arrow. That was a bad move, I should have just taken the hit but I instinctively dodged it. The maneuver left me off balance, making me susceptible to counterattacks, a moment he did not waste. He continued to close the gap between us and did a couple of combo attacks to not let me escape. Zephyr HP: 31% Shit! I¡¯m good as a sitting duck here without even a sliver of MP to retaliate! These are the few times where I wish I was a melee fighter. Unfortunately, I lack the proper melee skills to handle my own in a close-range fight. I tried to smash his head with my bow as a last attempt to get out of the sticky situation I found myself in. He expertly parried my desperate attempt to break free from his combo attacks, then proceeded to finish me off with a strong critical blow. Zephyr HP: 0% Shit! So close to winning, but I still lost! How good is this guy at parrying? I heard rumors of a ricochet parry but I had never seen one firsthand. To even do a perfect parry, you need to apply the right amount of force countering the force of the attack at the exact moment, a window of 0.5 seconds for it to work, leaving you undamaged as opposed to taking minor damage when doing a normal parry. I recall reading on the CoA forums that a ricochet parry, where you deflect the arrow back toward your opponent, requires even more precision, with a timing window as small as 0.1 seconds. That kind of precise parry in order to bounce the arrow back to me was almost impossible in the first place! Unless¡­ Realization struck. He was analyzing my attack patterns and the speed of my arrows from the start of the match. He waited for the exact moment my mana was depleted to ricochet my normal wooden arrow back at me. What a crazy guy, to risk the match over if I would run out of mana or he would run out of HP first. Someone as calm and collected as him in the face of difficulty deserves my approval. ¡°It was a good game, you did well,¡± he praised, giving me a genuine look of respect. I gasped as my heart skipped a beat. A kind interior beneath that uncaring cool guy''s personality, I think he just stole my heart! I thought to myself as I vanished into blue motes of light. Chapter 48 ¡°You have improved a lot at utilizing the haste buff,¡± I praised Liz. We had already taken the middle orb and are currently heading towards the bottom orb after we had learned that Renz lost against their ace. On the bright side, Chu won the contest for the top orb, netting us one orb advantage and a 3v1. We can regroup and take the easy win, but I don¡¯t think Chu would agree on that kind of play. He has always been stubborn and prideful and I¡¯m sure he would be offended if I were to even suggest grouping up against a single player in the first place. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all thanks to you for giving me a lot of pointers," she jovially replied. ¡°You''re a natural too. I only helped improve your potential.¡± ¡°Really? Glad to hear it!¡± she beamed at my praise, forcing me to avert my gaze to avoid being dazzled by its radiance. "Still, I''m a bit surprised how polished your knowledge on the ins and outs of movement-increasing buffs are," she pried. "...I played another VR game with similar mechanics," I lied. She didn''t seem to believe my excuse but didn''t pursue it nonetheless, which I''m thankful for. ¡°I do get why using haste is pretty hard though," she changed the subject. "It''s like¡­ when I¡¯m picking a light object, for example, an empty water jug, that I thought was full and heavy, I would put too much force into lifting it and stumble. It is the same but a hundred times harder when hasted. I would put too much speed and force into an attack and after that initial attack, I would be out of balance and susceptible to counters,¡± she rationalized. ¡°Yes, I completely agree. It is one of the major downsides of haste¡­ but let''s save the topic for later, we have company.¡± As I say that, a beautiful girl our age brandishing a red-themed broadsword appeared from one of the ruined ancient building. ¡°Terra... Frostia¡­ Zephyr¡­ I won¡¯t forgive you for harming them! I will avenge my friends!¡± her voice trembled as she cursed our very being. They¡¯re still alive though! You know we''re just playing a VR game, right?! I identified the newcomer. Blaze Hp: 71% Lvl: 95 Guild: Atelier Guild (Officer) Duel wr: Hidden Team Rank matches wr: Hidden 1v1 Rank matches wr: 76% (Rank 841) Wins: 2839 Matches: 3712 id#:*********** Introduction: Feel the heat of justice as I blaze through the darkness with my flames for a brighter tomorrow! Renz, you didn¡¯t even get her HP in half and you have the gal to call yourself our ace!? I sighed. It was a bad match-up for him to begin with so I can¡¯t blame him too much. He was supposed to fight their archer and Chu was supposed to face off against their ace. I guess the enemy is one step ahead of us this time. ¡°Be careful, Liz. She¡¯s strong,¡± I called out to her in the team chat to prevent anyone from listening. ¡°I know, I watch her streams so I have a grasp on what she is capable of. No worries though, even if I lose here, we still have you and Chu.¡± I nodded at her. She has a point; our enemy is the only one remaining and we still have three members of our team. Still, I hope I will not have to reveal the ace up my sleeve to win this match. I want to save it for the main event if possible. ¡°Want me to cast haste on you?¡± ¡°No need. You already healed me back to full health, besides, you only have mana for one more haste, right? Save it for yourself just in case,¡± she messaged back in our team speaker mode to prevent anyone from finding out. So she already has a grasp on the full range of my mana pool. Haste costs a lot of my mana pool to cast compared to white magic as my mastery of it is still not enough due to my level deficiency. No surprise that she found out, she is a veteran player after all. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll try to support you from the side with white magic, good luck,¡± I cheered her on. ¡°I don¡¯t need luck if I have you with me,¡± she said as she walked casually towards our opponent. What are you even saying?! We¡¯re being streamed so don¡¯t spout out such embarrassing things! When both of them were only a few meters apart from each other, Liz initiated the first strike. She used her weapon skill to launch a surprise attack. She teleported behind the enemy but was met by a sweeping slash before she even made her move. ¡°Ack!¡± Liz exclaimed before disengaging. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Lizbeth HP: 72% ¡°I won¡¯t fall for those kinds of tricks so easily,¡± her opponent rebutted. I underestimated her. I didn¡¯t think she would be this good. Her skill with the sword is nothing to scoff at, but her ability to predict the opponent¡¯s move makes her even deadlier. I think Liz will have a hard time in this fight, she might even lose if she gets outplayed. ¡°He hehe¡­ I guess it won¡¯t be that easy. Looks like I have to do it the old-fashioned way. I''ll just have to let my skills carry me through,¡± Liz declared as she rushed at her opponent for a contest of skill. The fight continued, Liz''s agile footwork kept her opponent constantly on the move, her rapier darting in and out with calculated precision. Her opponent, with broad, sweeping arcs, countered each advance with sheer strength, forcing Liz to adapt swiftly. The clash of metal rang out, a rhythmic melody in the air as their blades met time and again for the umpteenth time. Witnessing the battle before me unfold, I cannot pry my eyes off the two graceful yet deadly combatants¡­ not that I¡¯m planning to, of course. I still have to play my role and support Liz if things go south. This went on until both of them disengaged to catch their breath from the grueling exchange, wherein none came out unscathed. Lizbeth HP: 51% Blaze HP: 41% ¡°You¡¯re really good, even though you know you¡¯re outnumbered, you still play at your best,¡± Liz praised. ¡°Of course! I won¡¯t ever give up. I won¡¯t lose for the sake of my friends who all believe in me!¡± she declared. ¡°Kyaaa! That was so cool! I¡¯m a huge fan of your streams by the way!¡± Liz praised. You call that cool!? Daring is what I would call it! I would never spout such lines even if it costs my life! Our opponent seems stunned by Liz¡¯s fan-girl mode. The immersion broken from having her opponent as a fan seemed to catch her off guard making her unable to respond properly. ¡°U-uh¡­ thanks¡­ I guess?¡± ¡°He hehe, no biggie¡­ but sorry to say, I¡¯m not gonna lose either. Same with you, I also have friends who have faith in me and support me with their all. I vowed to not let them down again. I will play at my best and enjoy every match in the process!¡± Liz declared, ready for another round. ¡°Urk!¡± she seemed taken aback by what Liz said. Nice one Liz! Go beat her at her own game! Fight fire with fire, and cringe with cringe! Liz charged at her opponent. The clash of metal echoed through the battlefield just as Blaze parried Liz¡¯s rush attack. Liz''s lithe form weaved in and out, evading her opponent¡¯s powerful swings with graceful finesse. Yet, Blaze¡¯s relentless pursuit left no room for respite, putting the match at an impasse. It seems that Liz suddenly shifted tactics, utilizing quick feints and sudden changes in direction to exploit Blaze''s slower recovery times. With precise lunges, she aimed for gaps in her opponent¡¯s defenses, seeking to pierce through and land a hit. Her efforts were rewarded by a thrusting hit in right in Blaze¡¯s lower torso. Blaze HP: 28% Taking the hit head-on, her opponent was undeterred. Blaze adjusted her stance with each strike, channeling brute force into every swing. Her movements were less agile but carried an undeniable weight, each strike aiming to overpower Liz''s swift and calculated assaults. The brute force of her swings caused Liz to stumble. The enemy capitalized on Liz¡¯s misplay, bringing her huge sword down at Liz to cut her in half. *WHOOSH The swing hit the air. Liz used her weapon skill to completely dodge the fatal slash. She vanished, distancing herself to regain her composure. But her opponent seemed to anticipate her move. ¡°Got you now! You have nowhere to run! Crimson Blaze Slash!¡± she shouted, confident at her victory as Liz already had no means to dodge after using her Blink skill. Liz, instead of even making an attempt to dodge, charged right at the blazing pyro attack, facing it head-on as if intending to die. I smiled. You really trust me too much, Liz. ¡°Guardian Angel!¡± I exclaimed. Liz took the blow but was unscathed. It was all because of my white magic skill, Guardian Angel. It takes time to pre-cast but gives invulnerability to the receiver of the buff for one second. It is extremely hard to use because it requires you to predict when your enemy is about to use a massive attack or your mana will be wasted. It also has a long cooldown and, therefore cannot be spammed constantly. I knew of Blaze''s weapon skill from my information gathering so it was no challenge for me at all to predict when her weapon skill would come. In the heart of the raging inferno, Liz charges forward, undeterred by the licking flames that claw at her surroundings. With each quick step, embers dance around her, the white holy shield of the Guardian Angel skill protecting her against the scorching fire. Blaze, after using her weapon skill seems to need a bit of windup time after that kind of devastating attack. Capitalizing on her opponent¡¯s fatigue state, Liz did a charging fatal thrust aimed toward Blaze¡¯s head. It connected. *KACHACK Blaze HP: 0% ¡°Ack!¡± Blaze cried in surprise. What an outplay by Liz. Even though we did not communicate on that kind of maneuver due to time constraints in the middle of the battle, she still baited the opponent¡¯s weapon skill, risking it all for a do-or-die situation all because she had complete faith in my capabilities. Her trust in me paid off and her gamble won. I had already known her opponent¡¯s weapon skill so I had already pre-cast the Guardian Angel skill. However, her capitalizing on the momentary confusion of the enemy was solely from her skills and intuition. Honestly, she never ceases to amaze me. To put your wholehearted trust into someone in a desperate situation is not an easy task. I can tell that from experience with my old teammate and partner. It honestly makes me happy she has this much faith in me. What a peculiar, yet endearing girl. ¡°Wha- I¡­ we lost¡­¡± ¡°I told you before, didn¡¯t I? I have reliable teammates by my side,¡± she stated while giving her opponent a gentle smile. ¡°Good game.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ it was a good match,¡± Blaze reciprocated Liz¡¯s gesture before she vanished into blue motes of light. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Rin''s PoV- ¡°I... I¡¯m sorry guys¡­ It was all my fault we lost¡­ I wasn¡¯t able to win against them¡­¡± I sniffled as my voice trembled in admitting my shortcomings. We were back at the GM-created lobby. The other team is currently celebrating their win, the creepy siscon being the loudest even though he did almost nothing in the fight and got eliminated early. On the other hand, me and my friends are extremely solemn in comparison to them. This is all my fault. I failed my team. They put their whole trust and faith in me to carry them¡­ but I still lost. Even though I know cursing myself won¡¯t change the outcome of the match, I still can¡¯t help but to blame myself for my inadequacy. ¡°Nobody here thinks that way, Rin. You did the most work even in this match. If there is to blame, it is me for failing to protect Lyra. Because of me, we didn¡¯t even get to eliminate a single player in the opposing team. I could¡¯ve reduced the burden you had to shoulder, but I failed to do that,¡± Wren tried to console me. ¡°It¡¯s nobody¡¯s fault guys, please don¡¯t be too hard on yourselves, it can¡¯t be helped that we lost. The enemy is just the better team this time. Our informant did not even know their support was a dual caster because they hid it so well. They beat us both in tactics and skills so don¡¯t feel too bad. I¡¯m sure no one will blame us for this loss,¡± Lyra expertly pointed out. ¡°Yeah! If the management blames us for not qualifying even though they lack critical information on the enemy, I will personally kick their butts!¡± Ellie tried to lighten the mood. *Warning: mental and emotional state fluctuating. Player is advised to take a break.? I ignored the notification. Their encouraging words made me even more emotional. I am truly lucky to have them as my teammates. ¡°...Thanks guys¡­¡± I expressed my gratitude from the bottom of my heart. ¡°Well, enough of this dreary atmosphere. Let¡¯s congratulate the winners, shall we? We have a reputation to uphold as members of the Atelier organization. We at least have to show our sportsmanship, yeah?¡± Ellie beckoned us by going to our opponent¡¯s side to congratulate them. We followed her as she led the way. Ellie stopped in front of one of our opponents, a black-haired guy with a custom Taoist set, whom I assumed to be the one who beat her in the contest for the top orb. ¡°Hey, that was a good match, you earned the right to add me as a friend. I¡¯ll help you out sometimes in training if you want. We can even play together in front of my stream viewers!¡± ¡°¡­Sounds bothersome,¡± he replied unenthusiastically. ¡°What! You''re kidding right?! Don¡¯t you know many of my male fans would do anything just for me to add them to my friends list? You don¡¯t know how lucky you are! Or are you scared for a rematch ''cause you know you just got lucky earlier?¡± she taunted. That seems to have gotten a rise out of him, the very first time since they started talking. ¡°...Fine, I¡¯ll take you on anytime you want.¡± My attention was immediately caught by a familiar dazzling figure who greeted me before I had the chance to. ¡°Blaze, that was a good fight!¡± Lizbeth greeted. ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± She analyzed me for a bit. Then suddenly, her expression changed, giving me a solemn look. "Please cheer up. It was not your fault, I think you would''ve won against me if I was alone," she tried to comfort me. Am I that obvious? ¡°I... no, you''re too good even on your own... it felt like you were improving every second we exchanged blows. You would''ve eventually surpassed me in that fight.¡± She gave me an unreadable look before quickly pulling me for a hug. "W-whaaaa-!" I was caught off guard by her boldness. So this is what Lyra felt earlier when I did it to her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will carry the weight of your aspirations. Believe in us, my teammates and I will win the tournament so that no one could ever blame you for losing this match.¡± My heart skipped a beat. They say I am a natural, but this girl¡­ she is on a whole different level. We stayed like that for a while, her gesture comforted me even though we were in a VR game and probably hundreds of miles apart from each other. We did garner curious stares from our opponents and teasing ones from my friends, but I didn''t mind as much as I thought I would. I was too focused on Lizbeth''s comfortable and calming gesture to even think about the other players'' reaction for once. After mustering up my courage, I finally asked her. "Uhm... can we play again some other time? I-if you''re not busy practicing for the main tournament that is..." I asked nervously, afraid of being rejected on the spot. "Of course! I always watch your streams, I''m a streamer too so we could do collabs together if you''d like?" Sharing our hobby through streaming and playing the game we both love sounds... extremely delightful. I beamed at her. "I would love to!" Interlude -Dravyn¡¯s PoV- ¡°What a trash player! I¡¯m not using my weapon and you still can¡¯t do anything?! How pathetic, Ahahahaha!¡± I taunted as I kicked him away as hard as I could, making him tumble into the ground. Grom HP: 11% Ahh, this is so fun, it¡¯s addicting. I just can''t get enough of this feeling. Nothing feels as good as putting pieces of trash in their rightful place. ¡°Too weak! So very weak! Ahahahaha!" my laughter echoed throughout the battlefield. ¡°Come on bro, finish this already,¡± Rex one of my underlings got the gal to voice out. ¡°Yeah, dude, this is getting borin¡¯,¡± Brutus, my other useless henchman complained. I glanced at my surroundings, the stage for our current match is an old abandoned ghost city. It stretched out before me, an eerie silhouette against the fading light. In the far end corner of the orb, two of my teammates are watching, adhering to my command not to interfere. Seems like they already did their job this time. Well, it¡¯s the least I can do since I carried all the burden by soloing two of the enemies myself. But the thing is, they are irritating. I thought I specifically told them before not to hinder me while I was playing with weaklings. ¡°I told you guys before and I won''t repeat it. Don''t¡­ bother¡­ me¡­ while¡­ I¡¯m enjoying... myself," I warned. I fixed them with a stern glare, issuing my final warning. They should consider themselves fortunate that I possess a high level of patience, preventing me from resorting to straight-out physical violence. As the magnanimous captain and ace of our team, I extend my kindness to them, even if my incompetent subordinates do not deserve it. They back down at my gaze. ¡°Chill dude, no need to get angry.¡± ¡°Y-yeah, we''re just kiddin''.¡± Good, at least they know how to listen. ¡°Hmm, where was I?¡± I stared at my pathetic opponent. "Honestly, this is so boring. I can''t believe pieces of trash like you guys are our final opponent in the qualifiers." ¡°S-shut up you bastard!¡± he charged at me, fuming in anger. I swiftly dodged his sword, causing him to lose his balance and stumble to the ground due to his momentum. It was only fitting that he was planted there, as he should have shown his submission to me from the beginning. He attempted to rise, but I firmly planted my foot on him, treating him like a discarded piece of trash found on the streets. ¡°That¡¯s right, the only place a weakling like you have is in the bottom of my feet! Ahahahaha!¡± I taunted manically. He gritted his teeth. Forcing his body to stand up. I took him down again by stepping on him before he got the chance. ¡°Stay down. Pieces of trash like you need to know their place!¡± I ordered. ¡°Fuck you!¡± he exclaimed, voice cracking from the humiliation and fury. Ahahah, it feels good beating on this piece of trash! I would love to prolong the battle, but time is running out. Winning by default due to having more orbs than them wouldn''t be satisfying at all. I crave a resounding victory over this feeble and pitiful opponent. ¡°Let me end your misery. I''m so kind, aren''t I?¡± I declared as I stomped on his head as hard as I could. Grom HP:0% He vanished into blue motes of light. A fitting end for a piece of trash, being stepped on like he was a pebble in the streets. You won! Congratulations! I feel so good, it''s cathartic. I wonder how great it would feel to destroy the so-called talented players in the main tournament where the whole world watches. I¡¯m sure I will feel even more ecstatic. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Hana¡¯s PoV- Upon completing the final match of the qualifiers, I logged out of my gaming account. As I emerged from the virtual reality world, the familiar scent of my room welcomed me back to reality. My own little chamber, with its lofty ceiling and serene yet minimalist design, felt like a sanctuary. It provided a tranquil refuge from the chaotic and fast-paced virtual realm I had just left behind. Paper lanterns hung delicately from the ceiling, casting a warm, inviting glow that danced across the wooden floor. Sunlight filtered through the translucent shoji screens, painting intricate patterns on the tatami. The simplicity of the d¨¦cor was mesmerizing¡ªsparse yet purposeful, each element contributing to a sense of tranquility. At the room''s center sat a low, polished wooden table¡ªa masterpiece of craftsmanship my father bought for me as a birthday gift last year. Surrounding it were zabuton cushions, their inviting softness tempting me to sit and embrace the room''s calm embrace. Along the walls, scrolls adorned with elegant calligraphy added a touch of artistry. The characters danced gracefully, telling stories with each stroke, their meaning lost to me but their beauty not. As the adrenaline rush of winning the qualifier for our bracket fades, my tummy makes a loud cry. ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± I murmured. I haven¡¯t eaten since earlier before the last day of the qualifiers started because of nervousness so it can¡¯t be helped. I made my way to the kitchen, passing through the living room and dining room, in search of some food. During this brief walk, a fleeting sense of loneliness washed over me. The entire house seemed to echo with emptiness in the absence of my sister, who is now diligently playing for the Atelier e-sports organization in preparation for the Andartha Cup. I mentally chided myself. Instead of being greedy, I should find solace in the fact that she is doing her best and working hard. After eating leftover okonomiyaki from earlier breakfast, I received a call from someone dear to me. I instantly answered the phone. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Onee-chan, watsup? Are you already finished with your training?¡± I spoke animatedly, excited at the prospect of talking to my sister. We had little time to bond with each other these past few days apart from our weekend training session due to her being too busy with the AC and me busy with my own qualifiers. ¡°We are just on a break; we still have many scrims with other pro players later,¡± she responded in her usual relaxed, calm, and soothing voice I loved to hear. Glad to see she''s working hard, just like when she was still participating in the women¡¯s national kendo. ¡°Hehe, glad that you found a goal to pursue again, not just sitting on the couch watching dramas all day like a hikikomori,¡± ¡­Oops, I shouldn¡¯t have said that. ¡°Hana, you mocking your sister?¡± she said in a chilling voice, whilst calling my name for a more intimidating effect. ¡°O-of course not! I''m honestly proud of you! A-anyway, why did you take some time away from your busy schedule just to call me?¡± I used the art of misdirection to dissuade her from focusing on my slip of the tongue. ¡°You know why¡­ good work getting past the qualifier,¡± she congratulated, contentment evident in her voice. ¡°Of course! You helped me train after all! Even though you''re busy with the tournament, you always make time to spar with me.¡± ¡°Your posture with a sword is getting sloppy and your basics are dwindling. You needed the extra help.¡± ¡°Urk! As blunt as always. You''re just like Dad in that aspect. You also got the hobby of wanting to teach others from him.¡± ¡°Just being truthful. Besides, it''s beneficial to teach others what you have learned. It cements your basics. Basics matter more than you think,¡± she went to her usual voice when teaching. ¡°Fine, fine, I get it already, no more sermons, please. Oh, anyway, I have something to tell you!¡± I changed the subject before it transpired into a full teaching session. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked curiously. ¡°I heard that Yuusha¡¯s protege will be participating in the u20!¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve heard, and?¡± ¡°What do you mean by ''and''? This means that I can finally settle the long-standing debate on who the strongest female player of CoA really is!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°How so?¡± she asked innocently. ¡°Do I have to spell it out for you? It¡¯s cause I''m your prot¨¦g¨¦ and she''s Yuushas prot¨¦g¨¦. If I beat her then it means your play style is better.¡± ¡°You''re not my prot¨¦g¨¦ though, we both learned the art of the sword from Dad.¡± ¡°Ehhh, it''s the same right? Besides you give me pointers all the time!¡± ¡°It''s fundamentally different.¡± ¡°You also teach me different ways to improve my sword skills.¡± ¡°Still different.¡± ¡°Hmph okay, okay, fine, so stubborn. You have to make compromises sometimes or you''ll never find a date like that,¡± another slip of the tongue. ¡°Hana, I must''ve misheard you,¡± I can imagine her piercing gaze staring at my soul with that sentence alone. I suddenly got goosebumps. Scary! ¡°O-on another note, Onee-chan, would you come visit me in the tournament?¡± I used my special move, changing the subject. She paused for a while thinking for a bit, it seemed that my special move was super effective. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can make it. I''m busy practicing and the AC is very close,¡± she stated regretfully. ¡°Please Nee-chan! I promised my friends and teammates that they could see you at the u-20 tournament!¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m really busy for the upcoming AC¡­ but¡­¡± she hesitated. Nice! Almost there! My sister spoils me a lot so a little more push should do it. ¡°Hmph killjoy, that''s why I''m Yuusha''s fan, not yours!¡± I declared. She sighed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll ask our team manager if I can get a day or two off, but no promises.¡± ¡°Thanks! Onee-chan! You¡¯re the best!¡± I exclaimed. Hehe he. I can¡¯t wait to brag about her to my teammates in the tournament. They always bug me to let them see my sister in person, I guess they¡¯re going to get their wish fulfilled. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -?????? PoV- I''m fixated, eyes glued to the VR browser screen as I pour through endless replays. Each movement and swipe brings forth a new window, a fresh canvas showcasing the strategies and nuances of potential opponents. My eyes move almost instinctively, navigating through the layers of matches, dissecting every move, every calculated step, and then cataloging to scrutinize with the help of our company¡¯s prototype of an advanced analytical artificial intelligence not yet open to the public. It''s a meticulous process, pausing, rewinding, and dissecting each moment like a forensic investigator examining evidence. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯ve been focused on your VR browser for a while since the break earlier. I thought we were here in the forest to spar?¡± came a melodious and soothing voice from a pure-looking maiden. I minimized the VR browser to entertain our ace. Her usual calm demeanor hides a childish attitude and curiosity stemming from her upbringing. She does often take her pranks too far but I cannot fault her for it. It is the least I can do for someone with the unfortunate luck of being born with congenital blindness. ¡°I am analyzing all of the replays of the qualified teams.¡± ¡°Oh, as hard-working as ever. Want a reward from yours truly?¡± she playfully suggested. ¡°Not from you. I am 99% certain that whatever you deemed to be a reward would just be more of a prank anyway.¡± ¡°Oh, then wanna bet on the 1%?¡± ¡°No, it would be beyond foolish to gamble in something as low as a one percent chance.¡± ¡°Boo, what a spoilsport,¡± she pouted. ¡°I¡¯m just not as immature as you.¡± ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m offended. I¡¯m ignoring you now,¡± she stated while turning her head away as if to prove a point. ¡°Fine by me,¡± I said as I continued watching the replays, careful of anything I missed that may affect my exact estimation of our opponents. Not even a minute passed, and she finally gave in to her curiosity. ¡°Any findings about our future adversaries for the tournament?¡± ¡°What happened to ignoring me?¡± I said sarcastically. ¡°Please don¡¯t tempt me." I sighed before giving in. ¡°I analyzed most of the players. It¡¯s not that hard to begin with as most of them are high profile and have many replays of them in the PvP setting. There are a few unknowns, but using statistics, with the help of the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence from my father''s company, I am 91.12% certain that the only one who can pose a threat against us in the tournament is the new generation of ¡®Team Paragon¡¯,¡± I stated as a matter of fact. ¡°Oh, then what¡¯s the final verdict?¡± she queried. ¡°81.57% Chance of winning the entire tournament.¡± ¡°Oh, lower than ninety percent?¡± ¡°As I said, there are a few unknown variables. Worry not, none of them can be a match for you, Lua. You¡¯re the strongest of all the new-generation players, after all.¡± And the best part is, no one knows of her true strength yet as she did not need to show the extent of her skills in the qualifiers. Nevertheless, when they do, it will be too late for our adversaries to do anything other than graciously accept defeat. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Tactical PoV- Gaming Planet Breaking News! Champions of Andartha Set to Host Under-Age 20 Tournament in VR Gaming Capital, Los Angeles, California Virtual Reality gaming enthusiasts, especially fans of the massively popular game "Champions of Andartha," which took the world by storm, are gearing up for an unprecedented event as the CoA team announces a dedicated tournament for players under the age of 20. Los Angeles, California, renowned for its vibrant gaming culture and technological innovation, is set to host this thrilling competition, promising to showcase the next generation of VR gaming talent. The decision to host a tournament exclusively for under-20 players comes as a strategic move by the tournament organizers of Champions of Andartha to celebrate and encourage budding talents within the gaming community. Scheduled to take place at the state-of-the-art ¡®Virtual Nexus Coliseum¡¯ in downtown Los Angeles one of the largest VR venues, this event aims to provide a platform for younger gamers to exhibit their skills, fostering a sense of camaraderie and healthy competition. "Champions of Andartha" has rapidly emerged as a frontrunner in the VR gaming sphere, captivating audiences with its immersive VR graphics, intricate world-building, dynamic multiplayer experience, and incredibly challenging gameplay. With its strategic blend of fantasy elements and competitive gameplay, the game has garnered a massive following among both seasoned gamers and newcomers alike. The tournament, slated for a one-week extravaganza starting from October 19th, 2031, will see participants battling through various levels, showcasing their skills, teamwork, and strategic prowess. Teams of young gamers from across the globe are anticipated to converge in Los Angeles, bringing their unique playstyles and tactics to the virtual battlefield. The organizers have promised an electrifying atmosphere, complete with cutting-edge VR equipment, expert commentary, and live streaming of the matches for global audiences. Spectators can anticipate intense showdowns, jaw-dropping maneuvers, and unforgettable moments as these young gamers vie for supremacy in the world of Champions of Andartha as its youngest up-and-coming talents. Moreover, the tournament is not solely about competition; it''s also a platform for fostering a sense of community and providing mentorship opportunities. Seasoned gamers and industry experts will be present to offer guidance, share insights, and inspire the younger generation to pursue their passion for gaming. The significance of hosting such events extends beyond the gaming arena, emphasizing the growing importance of VR gaming as a legitimate competitive platform. Additionally, it underscores Los Angeles'' stature as a focal point for technological innovation and a nurturing ground for the next generation of gaming prodigies. Enthusiasts, gamers, and curious onlookers alike eagerly await the spectacle that the Champions of Andartha Under-Age 20 Tournament promises to be. As Los Angeles prepares to host this monumental event, the gaming world eagerly anticipates witnessing the emergence of new champions and the celebration of youthful gaming talent within the immersive realm of Virtual Reality. Comments: VRMaster92: I can''t wait to see these young talents in action! VR gaming is taking it to the next level! GamingParent365: As a parent, I''m thrilled to see events like this encouraging gaming in a positive way for our younger generation!" TeleportGamer87: Los Angeles is THE place for gaming events! Wish I could teleport there for this tournament! AndarthaFanatic: I¡¯m so hyped for this! Andartha Cup is already amazing, and now with a dedicated under-20 tournament? Count me in! VirtualSpectator: I''ve been following VR gaming for years, and this tournament is proof that the industry is booming. Can''t wait to watch it live! GamingNurturerX: The gaming community needs more events like this. Kudos to the organizers for nurturing young talent! RonRon5: I''m seriously considering a trip to LA just to witness this tournament. The energy and hype from the fans are going to be incredible! DreamingGamer23: I hope this inspires more kids to pursue their dreams in gaming. This is the future! EsportsEnthusiast99: VR esports is on the rise, and this tournament is proof! I''m excited to see what these young gamers bring to the table. ¡°Excuse me, Sir, Your order is here,¡± The waiter politely interrupted my reading while serving the food I ordered. I took my eyes off my phone as the waiter announced his presence. ¡°Thank you for the service,¡± I gave an appreciative nod. I make it a point to treat waiters and other individuals in day-to-day service roles with kindness and respect, just as I would treat anyone else. I recognize the challenges they face in their jobs, which demand patience and hard work. They often have to navigate through various demands and pressures from customers, some of which may be unreasonable. Therefore, I always strive to be polite, patient, and appreciative of their efforts. ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure, if there is anything else you need, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask,¡± he gave me a friendly smile, proving my efforts were reciprocated, before going on his own way to serve other customers. As I started eating, my time alone got me entering my headspace again. The Under Twenty tournament, huh? If I¡¯m not mistaken my apprentice will also be joining it. I¡¯ll check the participants later, but I¡¯m sure he and his teammates passed the qualifiers. They are the prot¨¦g¨¦s of our team after all. I find myself wondering about the progress of my apprentice. It would be beneficial to pay him a visit during the tournament. Perhaps I might even come across a skilled player who could potentially join the team I am assembling. Ideally, I hope to find someone with talent on par with Yuusha or Zetta, although that possibility would be wishful thinking. Finding one-of-a-kind monsters like them in a tournament for teens is nearly impossible. Although, beggars can¡¯t be choosers. I¡¯ll just have to find players with potential and then nurture that talent to form the best team possible. Even Yuusha and Zetta didn''t start as legends in the CoA world; they achieved their status through sheer hard work and dedication to their unique play styles and even set the meta for it. Hopefully, I can find some players who can match their talents there. Side Chapter: Magical Girl Katherine -Liz¡¯s PoV- As I step into my room, anticipation flutters within me. Inside is a floor made up of wood in a bright golden tint. The walls and ceiling of the whole area are sky blue, my favorite color. It gives me a sense of freedom with its hue resembling the unrestricted morning sky. Littered on the walls are many posters and other things I could plaster onto it. Mostly composed of portraits of Team Paragon''s members and a few other CoA-related arts. I walked until the VR pod stood before me, its sleek, futuristic design beckoning. The metallic surface shimmers softly under the ambient lights as I press the panel to open the pod¡¯s door. I entered the pod and then proceeded to log in to the game. ¡°Okay! Time to stream!¡± I hyped myself up. I opened the built-in streaming platform on CoA. What greeted me was beyond my expectations. Notifications, tons of it. I immediately checked the chat and saw the comments moving as fast as the eye could see. Old names along with new ones I did not recognize flood the chat with messages. Mystic49: She''s finally online! Justin55: About time! I¡¯ve been waiting since I saw your match with Magical Atelier, I became a fan after watching the match! NeonNinjaKnight: That was the best match I''ve ever seen! I cried in tears at the outcome! Weabo91: Rin-chan Sugoi! But Beth-chan is more kawaii. I¡¯m now a huge Beth-chan fan! Notice me Senpai Beth-chan! Magical41: that match was awesome! You did great! I was rooting for Blaze but the power of your friendship won in the end! ProGamer32: what a cool match! You were awesome! Simpguy99: Oh no, many guys have found the gem of my life, it hurts a bit but I know my love is too little for you, you deserve the world! Yurilover07: I ship 100 percent Blaze x Lizbeth! im12btwxoxo: Don''t forget me when you''re famous! Or I''ll tell my dad! Holy! There are so many people! My followers went from just above the thousands to more than 10 thousand instantly! It has only been yesterday since we won the qualifiers and word got out of it already. I¡¯m also sure the fight against the ¡®Magic Atelier¡¯ team was part of the massive growth. All of them are famous streamers of the Atelier organization after all with a huge fanbase. Although I have quite a mixed feeling about this. It can get kind of nerve-wracking to play with this many people watching, on the other hand, I feel giddy. I can finally show off my skills to even more players. BillSmith: Where is your partner? I want to see you play with her. Twerker15: That was some good synergy between you two! One of the best I''ve seen in a while! IdolEnthusiast42: Can you do a collab with Blaze? She is online now. Looks like most people are suggesting me to play with Kat and Rin. I opened my friend list. Both Kat and Rissa are online. I think are about to go grinding this time around. Good timing, I can help them grind today. I searched for another new friend I made in yesterday¡¯s match. I saw that Rin is also online, I should invite her to play too as per my viewer¡¯s request, and also to see if she already bounced back from her loss yesterday. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This is bad, incredibly so. This is the worst situation I have been in ever since going back to playing the game I love. A lot is at stake at this, the end of the world even¡­ at least the end of mine. Thinking back, how did I even get into this mess? It all started when Liz so kindly offered to help us level up again. Since Clarissa¡¯s bothersome brother is busy this Sunday with a project, I see no demerit in accepting her offer. In hindsight, it was a bad decision on my front. It would be fine if she was the only one helping me, but today she bought a new friend of hers who is also growing on me with our last fight. I¡¯m outnumbered, 2 to 1, therefore I cannot force them to turn off their streams as I usually do when it is only Liz around. Blaze is also required to stream due to the nature of her job, therefore making it impossible for me to have any say this time.
"Righteousness unleashed, darkness will be ceased, and with justice in sight, I''ll make things right! Lizbeth, taking flight!¡± Liz went after, making a charming, self-righteous pose. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°W-with gentleness, care, and kindness in my h-heart¡­ I will play my part¡± C-clarissa, ready to start!¡± Clarissa made an angelic pose that could kill a grown adult with a cuteness overdose. "How cute!" Liz cooed. "I agree, she is a natural," Blaze nodded approvingly. After Clarissa¡¯s heartwarming pose, the three looked at me expectantly. ¡°Urk!¡± I hesitated. It¡¯s fine Kat, just one cute pose while spouting nonsense, you can do it! Only a couple of thousand people from Liz¡¯s and Blaze¡¯s streams will be able to see it apart from the current players inside the city, staring at us like we were some kind of exotic zoo animals, no biggie! I can¡¯t let that many people down, it might affect Liz¡¯s Stream especially now that she is garnering a lot of audience. I cannot in good conscience call myself her streamer fan and good friend if I didn¡¯t even do this for her. Okay, here we go Kat, you got this! I hyped myself up in preparation for the inevitable. ¡°I-in the abyss I dwell, my power will compel, and from shadows I shall rise, to claim the skies! Novo, eyes on the prize!¡± I declared as I made a cutesy pose. Why did I get the most edgy line in comparison to the two?! I glanced at my three companions, wondering what they thought of my grueling performance. "Cute..." Clarissa murmured something I didn''t quite catch while turning her head away, crimson red with embarrassment. She''s probably ashamed to be around me now... how depressing. Rin placed her fingers in her cheeks, professionally analyzing my amateurish moves like some sort of idol connoisseur. "Hmm, I think you should put more oomph in your act, and move your hands more to better express yourself. I also don¡¯t think cute poses are you¡¯re forte, you¡¯re more like the cool suave type," she critiqued. What is this, an idol audition!? Liz meanwhile is holding her hands in her mouth to stop it from giggling, fighting a losing battle in the process. "Pfftt¡­ he hehe¡± Liz failed to hold her laughter. ¡°S-sorry! Sorry! I just didn¡¯t think you would attempt to do a cute pose, Kat, I was only surprised," she made an excuse. Would someone please put me out of my misery right now?! ¡°U-um I think you were cute, Novo,¡± Clarissa consoled me. Honestly, Clarissa, you¡¯re too kind even if you''re spouting white lies just to alleviate my pain. You¡¯re the hero I need but don¡¯t deserve! ¡°O-oh, by the way, Blaze, my chat is asking. You see the Atelier team every day, right? How do they behave when not in public?¡± Liz helpfully changed the subject to allow me some breathing room. ¡°Not really every day, they¡¯re all busy these past few months training for the AC. But they¡¯re all very kind! Especially senior Aoi! She¡¯s always silent, but deep down, she always cares for us! She¡¯s also good with any type of sword and she even gives me pointers even though I¡¯m a broadsword user. It''s really an honor that the greatest female CoA player even takes some of her time from her busy schedule just to teach me!¡± ¡°Let me stop you there Rin, I cannot let that statement slide,¡± she stated while playfully wagging her finger at Blaze. ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Sure, Murasame is also an idol of mine and the greatest female player currently, but the title of the greatest female player of all time goes to!¡± Liz posed for dramatic effect before the big reveal. ¡°None other than Yuusha!¡± ¡°So you¡¯re a die-hard Yuusha fan like Frostia, huh? I know what you mean, I idolize Yuusha too and respect what she did for the majority of the female fanbase who were once looked down upon for playing CoA by misogynists by proving them wrong. Although, I have to disagree with that! I heard many people saying Murasame is faster than Yuusha,¡± Blaze made a point. ¡°She might be faster, but Yuusha¡¯s ability to outplay her opponents cannot be ignored,¡± Liz countered. ¡°Hmm fair point, but I think Murasame is still stronger, I heard that she even once killed 5 men who challenged her in less than ten seconds¡­ all five of them!¡± ¡°Humph, that¡¯s nothing. I heard that when Yuusha was still a newbie and did not have any weapon yet, 3 guys taunted her in a bar, she got annoyed so she killed all three of them¡­ with a pencil¡­¡± she stated conspiratorially. That was not even remotely true?! How do rumors even escalate to that obviously overblown story? I killed them normally with a dagger, not a pencil! How is it even possible to acquire a pencil in a medieval game setting?! Blaze gasped. ¡°W-what! Just a single pencil!? She¡¯s that good!?¡± ¡°Yes, she is. She is a legend after all. She was so skilled and terrifying in her prime that some Russian veteran players even call her¡­ Baba Yaga!¡± she gestured dramatically for a more intimidating effect. ¡°T-the Boogeyman?¡± Clarissa carefully queried. ¡°No¡­¡± Liz slowly shook her head, creating a solemn atmosphere before following up with an absurd line. ¡°She is the one who you send to PK the Boogeyman!¡± Blaze and Clarissa gasped at the same time. Please stop guys¡­ I can¡¯t listen to this anymore, aren¡¯t you guys¡¯ already content with the humiliation you caused me earlier?! Thankfully someone who recognized Liz and Blaze got us out of our ridiculous topic. ¡°Look it is them! The winner of the qualifiers with the Atelier streamer Blaze!¡± A shrill female voice caught our attention. Murmurs from the people around us increased as they heard those lines. ¡°R-really that¡¯s impossible but¡­ they do look like the one from the qualifiers.¡± ¡°Yeah, and that is Blaze and Lizbeth, right? Right?¡± ¡°Blaze and Lizbeth are together! They were both so good when they fought. They¡¯re also much more beautiful in person!¡± A teen in a mage costume got near us. ¡°Uhm, can we take a picture with you two, please?¡± he said hesitantly. ¡°With us?¡± Liz inquired a bit taken aback. ¡°Yes of course! We saw both of your matches in the qualifiers yesterday! It was an incredible fight! And the way you said at the end, about trusting your teammates, it hit home! I think I became a better person who values my teammates more because of you and I became a huge fan!¡± ¡°Me too! It was an awesome fight! I got chills watching it! Especially when you became hasted and dodged all of Frostia''s numerous icy tentacle attacks by a hair¡¯s breadth! It was fuckin¡¯ amazing!¡± The commotion grew larger, those watching on the sidelines, who became certain that they were the real deal, all came down to take pictures and autographs of them. ¡°Please take a picture with me!¡± ¡°I also saw your fight! Can I get an autograph and a picture?¡± ¡°Me too! I¡¯m asking for a friend!¡± I guess CoA¡¯s promotion team strikes again with this many players already seeing the replay of yesterday¡¯s fight. I won¡¯t be surprised if I see it posted on the main site and other promotions such as freebie in-game items if you watch the matches. This will surely make the replays garner many views, then be suggested by the YouTube algorithm, creating an endless loop of increase in views. I stood at the sidelines while hearing all the praises targeted at Liz. It is a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, I don¡¯t really want to stand out too much, therefore the status quo is fine by me. On the other hand, I kind of want to be appreciated for my efforts too. So this is what being a support player feels like sometimes. I have to commend them for doing their role even with the carries taking most of the glory in their mixed efforts. I acquired a newfound respect for Celeste and others with the same role as her because of this experience. ¡°Ahem!¡± Liz called out. ¡°Guys, all your praises are flattering and all, but the truth is I would not be able to do all those without my trusted support. If there is anyone who deserves your praises, it is my partner here who always enables me to play at my best!¡± she went towards me and pulled me towards her to be part of the picture. I instantly paused, like a deer caught in the headlights not knowing what to do, and let her take the lead. When I looked her in the eye, she gave me a playful wink. I immediately broke eye contact as bashfulness with a mix of giddiness filled my every being. Even if the world doesn¡¯t appreciate my actions, my partner¡¯s gratitude for my efforts alone is worth it. Afterword I remember starting out writing this book mid-COVID. I felt extremely isolated and depressed back then due to the lockdown, and I had a lot of free time on my hands¡ªtime I spent reading tons and tons of novels and books. However, after reading for a while, I found one genre lacking. The competitive eSports book genre. I''ve always been a fan of gaming, so I thought if I cannot read one, why not just create one? That is how this book came to be. Initially, it was merely a pastime for me. However, the desire to share my profound love for this narrative with a wider audience quickly took hold, prompting me to begin sharing the story online. Despite the initial shortcomings in grammar (owing to not being a native English speaker), the audience resonated with my work and the tale I crafted. The positive feedback and appreciation from readers served as a source of immense joy and motivation for me. It fueled my passion for writing, driven by the goal of bringing happiness to others through my storytelling. I took a hiatus following the lifting of the lockdown due to being occupied with other responsibilities, which left me with limited time to dedicate to updating my work. However, a persistent yearning lingered within me¡ªa sense of something missing, a craving to share my story with a wider audience. It wasn''t until nearly a year later that I returned to writing, and I think it is for the best since I''ve improved so much compared to back then. Also, I can confidently say that I will be finishing this story, whatever it takes. Therefore, I hope you guys can accompany me on this journey of mine till the very end, and I eagerly anticipate sharing another tale I''m currently crafting that will greatly complement my first one. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Lastly, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the members of my Patreon for their support: Art White §·§Ú§Þ§Ñ Ahrina Dabwiso Mazumdar Gwendolyn Simmons-LaRose David Brims SmoothBlasting Masi Gommimick Jc Alienmatt Spectre Liam Olarte Patrick Bryant Catamony Alex Unsow Patrick Toms Spark Niklas EvilSmirk R.u.s.t.y Wesley Demalos Emil Chmielewski Arkeus Borderfox Gregory Franklin Liedral Matt Oxylus Kaouenn Johan Blanchard bob50000 broken85 Commander Miggs Exxator Renniuq Rxsi Samuel Ong Vayash Alexander Hayden Ayzhelf Devan Lau Hagen Bishop IdkAMeme Coldiceshards Brennan White Logan Matthew Musquiz Summit Wei Rors399 Nikel Eld Mi BenniBent JustABreeze LH Mike Callista Pressley Eiko 21 MayOrMayNotBeACat Alex Ngo Miyuki Irie (Realtime6) SnowzPhoenix TheLord999 Zapped143 Anthel Domination560 Vol. 2 Chapter 1 Ring* Ring* Ring* I woke up at the sound of my phone alarm ringing. I reach out to the small table beside my bed where I usually put it. It''s still too early. I have one and a half hours before my class. I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. *Minutes later My phone rang again, waking me up from my peaceful nap, albeit with a different tune. A tune I know quite well. I immediately answered the phone, adrenaline coursing through my veins. ¡°M-mom, I¡¯m already awake, no need for sermons this early in the morning please,¡± I pleaded. ¡°Couldn¡¯t fool me, Honey, I¡¯ve been taking care of you ever since you were born. I know an excuse when I see one,¡± she expertly rebutted. ¡°Urk! F-fine, but I¡¯m awake now, I¡¯m going to get ready for school now so¡­ bye! Love, ya!¡± I immediately ended the call before she could respond. After the call, I begrudgingly tried to get off my bed. After a bit of hard work, I managed to accomplish the arduous task¡­ barely. God, I hate Mondays. I proceeded to do my morning stretches and then got into the shower. After drying with a towel, I positioned myself in front of the mirror to get changed into my attire. In front of me is the usual 5''? tall black-haired girl I see every morning. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m growing as much as I want to. Well, I¡¯m already tall enough as it is, but more growth is always welcome. On the contrary, my hair is getting long, I should probably cut it before our trip to LA. After dressing up in my casual wear for school and brushing my longer-than-shoulder-length black hair to look more presentable, I went to the mini kitchen in my apartment and prepared breakfast. Pancakes and bacon were the choice for today, a combination of sweet and salty flavors that are sure to tickle my tastebuds. I placed the meal I cooked in front of the dining table and called out in a moderately audible voice. "T.V. on." The television that was prompted by my voice command turned on. I usually have nothing better to watch so my TV is set to the current news when it opens. After opening, the TV showed a professional-looking female I am familiar with casting the news. "In today¡¯s gaming news, Champions of Andartha, the wildly popular VRMMORPG taking the VR industry by storm has announced its inaugural tournament exclusively for players under the age of 20. Dubbed ''The Champion''s Brawl,'' this thrilling event is set to take place in the vibrant city of LA, California. the decision to host a youth-focused tournament marks a strategic shift by the game developers, aiming to engage and spotlight the younger generation of gamers. Here is a replay of the announcement from the spokesperson for the Champions of Andartha team,¡± the newscaster broadcast. The screen then showed a charismatic professional-looking man with his name and title plastered at the bottom of the screen. "We''re thrilled to provide a platform for the next generation of Champions of Andartha players to showcase their talents and passion for immersive VR gaming," exclaimed the spokesperson. "This tournament is a celebration of youthful ingenuity and skill, and we can''t wait to witness the incredible feats of these young champions in ¡®The Champion''s Brawl''!" he declared as the crowd cheered in favor of the announcement. What the heck! Don¡¯t turn it into an upheaval for youth gaming or something! It is not the first to host a tournament with age restrictions so it''s not that revolutionary! This is bad! They are making such a big deal out of the tournament that it is starting to get on my nerves with how many people have their eyes on the event. This is not what I signed up for when I accepted Liz''s offer to join her! Curse you CoA and your highly capable advertisement team! I turned off the TV before it even spouted more nonsense about the overblown event. If I can¡¯t see it, then it means it¡¯s not real! Out of sight, out of mind; I thought as I attempted to escape reality. I hurriedly finished my meal and then put the plates and utensils in the sink for me to wash later. I then brushed my teeth and did my final preparations before going out the door and pressing the button on the elevator door right in the hallway. After waiting for a while, the elevator opened, revealing only two people riding it. Lucky for me the elevator is not cramped, it is quite rare to see it this spacious on a Monday. It is a busy morning after all where the majority of people go to work or school at this time of the day. "Excuse me," I said politely as I entered the elevator. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. As the elevator door shut, I waited for it to arrive on the ground floor while trying my best not to yawn. After arriving at my destination, I walked briskly to the exit of the high-rise apartment complex, passing by the guard whom I now came to know as Carlos over the past month I was here. ¡°Good Morning Ma¡¯am Katherine,¡± he greeted me with his usual friendly smile. I nodded in response then gave him a polite smile. Having finished my greeting, I sauntered into the underground station just around the corner of the street walking just a couple of meters away from my apartment. After arriving at my destination, I surveyed my surroundings. There are plenty of commuters in the station due to the rush hour, but thankfully, it is offset by the fact that there are more than ten payment terminals. I flashed my phone, and it scanned, instantly prompting a confirmation to deduct money from my account. As I boarded the train, my phone vibrated. I kept it on silent whenever I went to college since it might disturb my classmates if it rang aloud in the middle of a lecture. I picked up my phone and saw Liz calling. I immediately answered it. ¡°Liz, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Nothing, just want to check up on you... oh by the way, did you see the news early this morning?! So many people are anticipating the tournament!¡± she excitedly spoke. ¡°Yes, I did not expect the CoA team to go all out on advertising the under-twenty tournament.¡± I kept the volume of my voice at a minimum to avoid interrupting other passengers on the train. ¡°I even heard the tickets were sold out just earlier! Can you believe that? It¡¯s only been two days since the tickets were available to the public and it¡¯s already gone!¡± ¡°Uhuh¡­ It¡¯s not that uncommon though. Some business-minded people buy tickets in bulk just to sell them to others at an increased price, especially for an event hosted by the most popular VR game of this generation. No self-respecting entrepreneur would pass up the opportunity for a piece of the pie.¡± I helpfully explained. "Good thing we''re qualified, right? That means we won''t have to pay tickets for the tournament entrance, he hehe," she giggled lightheartedly. I smiled at her enthusiasm. "I guess that''s true." We continued to pass the time talking about current news and nonsensical things until I arrived at my destination. She is already waiting at the class we both currently will be having today. It¡¯s no surprise as she is always early to rise compared to me¡­ well, everyone is a morning person compared to me. Entering the school, I glanced at the time. Good, I still have 5 minutes before class. I walked into the gate building among the many students who were also heading in the same direction as me. I was promptly stopped by the scanner wherein I flashed my ID card to gain entry. Inside there are plenty of security officers roaming around who politely greet students as they enter. Upon entering, I immediately sensed something wrong¡­ I was garnering a couple of unwanted stares. Not that many, but enough for me to notice it. This seems suspicious. I vehemently ignored it and walked towards my destination, my first subject this morning. Not long after I stumbled upon the school bulletin board on my way to my class. What I saw was something scarier than any horror movie I ever watched in my whole life. A picture of my face was posted on it for all to see, right next to Liz and Chu. Curious about why our pictures are plastered on the bulletin like some sort of wanted criminal, I read the headline from the school bulletin news. Summit Peak Students Qualified for the ¡®Champion¡¯s Brawl¡¯ We are thrilled to extend our warmest congratulations to Elizabeth Miles, Katherine Katyusha, and Chu Xiaolong on successfully qualifying for the prestigious ''The Champion''s Brawl'' tournament hosted by Champions of Andartha! Their exceptional skills and dedication have secured them a coveted spot among the talented participants competing in this groundbreaking e-sports event. As they prepare to represent our college on this exhilarating stage, know that their accomplishment resonates across our community, inspiring fellow e-sports club gamers and showcasing the caliber of talent nurtured within our institution. We believe that their participation in the event will not only be a thrilling experience for them but also an opportunity to showcase their abilities on an international platform. Their dedication and sportsmanship embody the spirit of Summit Peak College, and we stand proudly behind them as they embark on this exciting journey. We wish them the best of luck as they venture forth into the stage! May their skills shine brightly, and may they relish every moment of this extraordinary opportunity. Warm regards, Summit Peak College Administration That explains the stares from earlier! I''m positive Liz deliberately didn¡¯t warn me about this as some sort of sick degenerate prank! I could imagine the mischievous smile on her charming face as she hid this important information from me as we talked on the phone earlier. I¡¯ll get back on you for this Liz, if it¡¯s the last thing I do! I sighed. It¡¯s not uncommon for colleges to brag about e-sport-related achievements like this. It can also be considered as a form of advertisement for their school. If a college has a renowned e-sports club that has won popular tournaments, it will surely tempt young high school graduates to choose the said school because of its decent e-sports environment specifically, for fresh graduates who plan on dabbling in the professional VR gaming industry which is experiencing a boom as of late. I won¡¯t be surprised if the school calls on us to advertise our school in the tournament. I pulled myself out of my own musings as I recalled that I was going to be late. I hurriedly went to my classroom, not without garnering some onlookers on the way. As I arrived at the classroom door, I hesitated. The entire class still doesn¡¯t know about it already, right? Well, I was never more wrong. As I entered, my glimmer of hope morphed into despair as I saw my classmates staring at me like I was some sort of celebrity. Then, the murmurs came after, I didn¡¯t hear most but I can only assume they were likely talking about me. ¡°Did you see the news about the tournament? Apparently, they were qualified!¡± ¡°I did! It was mentioned in yesterday night''s news.¡± ¡°I saw her play live! She¡¯s the one supporting Elizabeth Miles, the user of the dual caster account!¡± ¡°Did you know they beat our e-sports club?¡± ¡°Yeah, I know, I watched the match live to support our school! It was a one-sided match and I did not know that it was two of my classmates playing at that time!¡± ¡°I was surprised to know that Katyusha plays VRMMO like me! Do you think I have a chance with her If I impress her with my skills?¡± ¡°Dude¡­ you haven¡¯t even spoken a single time to her since the start of the semester¡­¡± The heck! I don¡¯t need this much attention. It¡¯s like a living nightmare for an unsociable introvert like me! Luckily, I mastered the art of making a poker face, which is needed for outplaying my enemies in CoA. I didn¡¯t expect the skill I learned in the Virtual World to be this handy even in real life, but I¡¯m sure as hell not complaining. I amped up my expressionless poker face to the max as I proceeded to walk to the very back of the class where I usually sit. Liz was there beside my usual seat wherein two of my course mates whom I''m not familiar with were sitting while talking to her, probably about the tournament. The two separated from her and went to their own seats when they saw me get near, but not before giving me a polite nod... am I really that unapproachable?! As I got near, she greeted me jovially. ¡°Morning Kat! Did anything noteworthy happen on your way here?¡± she asked mischievously. You know very well what happened! I gave her a light karate chop in the head. Revenge is a dish best served cold, preferably with a chop. ¡°Ouch! Why did you hit me?¡± she pouted. I instantly regretted what I did when I noticed that her dramatic outburst garnered more curious stares and murmurs about how close we were. I must have instinctively done it because I sometimes do it in VR when she does something absurd while I help her train her haste movement. Besides, I am certain that she was just over-reacting. I only did a light chop to make a point. ¡°You know why,¡± I crossed my arms while lowering my voice to dissuade listeners from hearing our conversation. ¡°Okay, fine, I kinda¡¯ deserved it. I only did it cause'' I just wanted you to find out about the surprise on your own.¡± ¡°You know I don¡¯t like surprises. It would be better if you tell me these kinds of things beforehand so I can mentally prepare for it.¡± ¡°Nope! Unpredictability is what makes things fun! I wish I could¡¯ve seen your reaction when you saw your picture posted on the board, he hehe,¡± she giggled. I stared at her, unamused. I was tempted to make another chop, preferably with more force this time. Only the arrival of the instructor dissuaded me from doing so. At least one saving grace from this harrowing experience is that I was not late for class. Vol.2 Chapter 2 The minute hand on the clock stretched closer to freedom, and the hum of eager anticipation began to fill the air. The professor¡¯s voice, once vibrant with discussions and teachings, now softly faded into the background as the class inched towards its inevitable conclusion. With a nod and a smile, the professor signaled the end of our time together, and the room erupted into movement. Laughter and whispers hinted at plans for the lunch break or relief from the academic rigor that had momentarily wrapped everyone in its embrace¡­ that includes me. As I hurriedly tried to leave the room, the inevitable transpired. The reason I was hurrying to leave in the first place was to prevent this from happening, sadly the two boys who approached me could not take a hint. "Hey, you''re the dual caster that supports Elizabeth, right?" Accepting my fate, I prepared for the unavoidable confrontation. I surveyed the boy who approached me. His face is framed by a cascade of long, tousled blond hair. The strands fall effortlessly, caressing his shoulders and occasionally veiling his eyes, adding a carefree touch to his presence. He carries himself with a certain laid-back confidence as if his unruly mane is a testament to his free-spirited nature. Who is this guy again? I think his name is Bonnie or something? ¡°Yes, you are correct,¡± I confirmed his question. "Awesome! I''ll have you know, I''m a good DPS myself. I''m one of the best spear users in the school. My friends even say that my spear thrust is the fastest they have seen. Some could argue my attacks are even faster than Murasame''s. I can even beat Zetta in a 1v1 duel if we have the same gears with my ultimate move! No one could dodge my ultimate spear technique, not even Yuusha could see it coming with how fast it is!" Bonnie bragged. "...I see." I mean, what could I even say to that? This guy has confidence, that¡¯s for sure. "We could play team PvP together if you want so we could raise each other''s ranks. I could carry you and you could support me on the sidelines! We could be the perfect team!" "Uhmm..." his upfront offer made me speechless. As I tried to come up with a diplomatic way to reject his advances, he was immediately chided by his friend. "Don''t you see you''re making her uncomfortable! Sorry about this guy Katherine, he is a bit off in the head." Oh, this one I know! We worked on a group project one time. I''m pretty sure his name is Alexander. If I remember correctly, he''s a pretty chill dude. "Hey! You could at least back me up here, Lex!" Bonnie complained. "It''s fine Alexander, I¡¯m not bothered at all,¡± I lied. ¡°Although, I''m sorry uh... Bonnie, but we are quite busy practicing for the tournament, hence I don¡¯t have much time,¡± I politely declined. ¡°B-bonnie? My name is Ronnie though..." Bonnie, I mean, Ronnie corrected. His friend, for his part, laughed at him... hard. "HAHAHHA... looks like you got rejected, Bonnie.¡± His friend''s face reddened, and I''m pretty sure mine too. I was sure as heck his name was Bonnie, it was not intentional I got his name wrong! God, I''m so bad at remembering names. "U-hmm so, yeah maybe some other time," I said as I awkwardly retreated to salvage what''s left of our dignity, both Bon-Ronnie and mine. I got as far away as I could from the two and exited the room, all the while still hearing Ronnie''s friend laughing mockingly at him. I sighed. This has been happening frequently for the past few days. A lot of students play CoA as it is considered a ''fad'' in the younger generation due to its worldwide popularity. I honestly appreciate them for wanting to get close to me cause they share the same hobby as mine, but it''s getting a bit too much for someone as unsociable as me. Luckily, it''s lunchtime, I could just eat silently at the park while watching cute animal videos on my phone to pass up the time for the next class. On my way to the school park, I was accosted by two well-known thugs of our year in the school hallway. They cornered me, as if a school bully preying on their victims to take their lunch money leaving me no chance to escape. ¡°Oh, look, Liz, what do we have here, seems like we found a stray Kat,¡± thug A teased. "I know right Lenna, what a coincidence! Who would have known she would go in the direction of the school park of all places?¡± thug B joined in. I stared at them, unamused. Coincidence my ass! I already know you two were waiting for a while on that spot for a while. "What is it now?" I said tiredly. It can¡¯t be helped that I feel exhausted this early. My social battery is already running out due to my previous blunder and I still have 3 subjects later¡­ how depressing. "We just want you to join us at the cafeteria, you always eat at the park these past few days." ¡°There are too many people there and it¡¯s too noisy. I can¡¯t relax in an atmosphere like that.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Oh come on, please Kat, just this once? I just want to discuss the tournament with you," Liz pleaded cutely. It might work some other times but not this time, I desperately need my time to recharge my social battery. ¡°Or¡­ you two can just come with me and we can discuss it at the school park,¡± I gave a helpful solution to a nonexistent problem. "I never bring my lunch; You know I need to buy food at the cafeteria. Why do you always want to eat at the park anyway? Don''t you want to spend time with me anymore," she made a sad face. Ack, a critical hit! You can''t just coerce me with a face like that, it''s illegal! I know what you¡¯re trying to do Liz, but as it pains me to admit... it seems to be working pretty well¡­ how devious! "I-its not like that, I just find it more peaceful there, especially now that..." I paused, finding the right words. "That you became famous in the school?" Lenna tried to finish my sentence for me. "...I''m getting bothered a lot is what I would''ve liked to say." Lenna giggled at that. "That''s why you need Liz close, she can redirect all the bothersome people buzzing around you to her." "Hey! Please don''t treat me like some kind of human flytrap!" Lenna ignored her and continued. "And who knows, more people might approach you even when they see you''re eating alone at the park." She makes some good points; it is true that I¡¯ve been bothered a couple of times even when I¡¯m alone at the school park or school library lately. I guess I''ll just have to pick my poison. Hopefully, going with Liz and the gang to the cafeteria is less lethal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On the way to the cafeteria, a couple of students greeted Liz, even more than before due to the news of her upcoming tournament. It also helps that she''s the captain and ace of our team making her the go-to for anyone interested in knowing more about our team. Add her charismatic personality and sociable nature to the table, she is not someone you can simply ignore if you happen to pass by her. This is good though; As Lenna helpfully suggested earlier, she is doing her job well serving as my shade. She could do all the talking from here on out while I do... preferably nothing. We arrived at the cafeteria just in time to hear a commotion. Unsurprisingly, the perpetrator is Rommel. Benny and Raynolds are also with him, although they are only both looking apprehensive at the sidelines, not backing up Rommel in the slightest. Hearing an argument in front of me was bad enough, knowing the cause was an acquaintance of mine makes it even worse. ¡°Why won¡¯t you guys just leave our spot?!¡± Rommel irritably said. ¡°There are no ''spots'' in this place, it''s open to all the students. Anyone can sit anywhere they like,¡± the boy made a valid point that is extremely hard to refute. ¡°Tsk! Do you know who we are? We are friends with the Paradigm team, the one who qualified for the ¡®Champion¡¯s Brawl¡¯ tournament! If you know what''s best for you, you better give up this seat for us now,¡± Rommel countered with an extremely invalid and illogical one. Don''t use our names to perpetrate bullying you dolt! I''m kind of regretting going here now. ¡°Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don¡¯t play VR games, so I don¡¯t care in the slightest,¡± Rommel¡¯s opponent refuted. Rommel was taken aback by the statement, like what he just heard was an impossibility. It is as if he thought that everyone in the world, no matter their circumstances, poor and rich, babies and grandparents, played Champions of Andartha. ¡°Wha-! Y-you¡¯re retarded though!¡± Having lost in a battle of wits, Rommel ended up insulting his foe, fully intent on making this a battle of insults. Well, he¡¯s not entirely wrong. If you can¡¯t beat them at their own game, just play a different one. Preferably one that you are sure to win. Liz sighed. "I''ll just go stop Rommel before things escalate. Please find a good seat for us while I''m at it okay?" Liz went quickly to mediate, leaving me and Lenna behind. ¡°You heard the boss, let¡¯s leave those guys to Liz and find a good spot.¡± Lenna dragged me to finish the quest our captain gave us. We found a relatively large one that has more than enough room for the whole gang. The only caveat is that it is near the entrance. Well, beggars can¡¯t be choosers. It¡¯s hard to find a good spot that can host our entire gang at lunchtime no less. Lenna and I chatted about school-related stuff while waiting for the others. A few minutes later, Liz and the others arrived with their food and I already brought out mine earlier. The boys greeted me when they saw me seated right next to Lenna. Raynolds greeted with his usual antics. I greeted all of them albeit more casually. They had become close friends of mine over the past few weeks so I can go by without acting overly polite around them. ¡°Here¡¯s your usual order Ma¡¯am,¡± Liz teased while giving Lenna her food. ¡°You know me quite well,¡± Lenna responded favorably while receiving the appetizing club sandwich. ¡°Anyway, you boys need to stop being so arrogant! You¡¯ve been bragging about the tournament as if you guys were the ones who were qualified. You might get into a physical fight if this keeps up!¡± Lenna chided the three. ¡°Please let it be known to all those present that I did not condone his actions, Rommel was acting solely on his own volition,¡± Ray defended himself. ¡°M-me too!¡± Benny added. ¡°Hmph, I could take that nerd in a fistfight,¡± Rommel bragged. We all stared at him judgingly, especially us girls who don¡¯t condone that kind of barbaric action. I mean VR world is fine but in the real world where they could potentially hurt themselves or even be fatally injured? That is a big no-no for me. He wilted at our stares and conceded. ¡°F-fine, alright already! It won¡¯t happen again, happy now?¡± ¡°Good enough,¡± Lenna acquiesced. As we proceeded to eat our lunch, the topic went to the Under Twenty tournament. ¡°I heard the whole tournament will be held for a week, right?¡± Lenna inquired. "Yes, an opening ceremony for the first day. Interviews and pictorials for the second day¡­" Liz droned on. ...What? My mind blanked, not hearing the rest of what Liz was saying. Interviews and pictorials!? Nobody told me about those! Although in hindsight, it is to be expected. If they showcase the personalities of the participants, the fans would likely have their pick on who they would want to support, making the marketing of the tournament more successful. ¡°¡­And the championship on the last day,¡± Liz finished just in time for me to return to the present. ¡°But¡­ you can refuse the interviews and such, right?¡± I looked at Liz expectantly, almost pleadingly. ¡°Of course not, we already agreed to their terms when we participated in the qualifiers for the tournament.¡± What the heck?! Who the hell would agree to such despicable terms like those?! My shocked face must have been obvious because Raynolds followed up with an answer before I even asked it. ¡°Oh, you didn''t know Miss Katherine? It was on the terms and agreement¡¯s part on the online form they sent us to fill up when registering for the qualifiers,¡± Ray helpfully added. Nobody reads those! It is just something you check to show that you agree and get on with your life! This is bad, I''ve been had. I was scammed into signing a contract that won''t let me escape interviews. Well, it was my fault for not reading through the contract since if it was really that unreasonable, the whole CoA team would face a huge backlash that could risk their impeccable reputation. Therefore, I instantly thought the contracts I agreed to were reasonable without double-checking. Well, it is sensible for most people, but not for someone like me. ¡°Are you guys going to LA with us?¡± Liz queried the gang, bringing me back to the present. ¡°We are not excused for missing the classes on the week of the tournament like you guys so we can¡¯t. Don''t worry we will watch you guys play and support you with all we have on live stream, so good luck out there!¡± Lenna cheered. "Yeah! And if anyone talks trash on you guys on live chat, I''ll go keyboard warrior mode on them with insults!" Rommel added. The gang continued chatting just as the whole lunch ended with me thinking of how to handle the pressure from the crowd and the interviews from the upcoming tournament. A bright idea popped into my mind. Is it possible to forfeit my place and let another player substitute? No, no, no, I can''t leave Liz alone without proper support just because of my unsociable nature. I have no choice. I have to do this for her. I immediately shut down my ingenious plan. Hopefully, the trip to LA won¡¯t be too much for an introverted person like me. Vol. 2 Chapter 3 - Clarissa I stood in front of our house, feeling a sense of reassurance wash over me after a long day of school as I glanced at our state-of-the-art security door. It was a marvel of modern technology and design, a formidable barrier between our home and the outside world. The door itself was sleek and imposing, made of reinforced steel with a finish that gleamed under the sunlight. Approaching the door, I placed my palm against the biometric scanner. It hummed to life, the sensors quickly recognizing my unique print with a soft beep. ¡°I¡¯m home!¡± I said to no one in particular, just a greeting I always use to let Big Brother or Colin know that I have arrived. As I walked further inside the house, I saw my parents on the sofa, I got excited when I saw them as they were always away because of their work. ¡°Really?!¡± I asked, failing to hide the giddiness in my voice. I had no idea what to expect, but they looked like they were bursting to share their surprise, which in turn made me even happier. Mom handed me a beautifully wrapped package. Inside was a gorgeous scarf, soft as a cloud, in the most delightful shade of blue that reminded me of the ocean. "For those chilly days when you need a little extra warmth," Mom said, her eyes sparkling with joy. It was the perfect gift for the winter season, and the thought she put into choosing it made it even more special. Then, Dad appeared with a big grin, holding out a box that made me curious. Inside was a huge bag filled with local treats from the places they visited. There were exotic candies, unique snacks I''d never seen before, and these amazing little trinkets that had stories attached to them. The gifts were incredible and thoughtful, but what made them truly special was the love behind them, the fact that Mom and Dad picked each item with me in mind, making me feel so incredibly cherished. ¡°He hehe, thanks Mom, Dad,¡± I grinned giddily at their presents. ¡°So, how was your day, Honey?¡± Dad queried. "It was incredible!" I exclaimed, plopping down on the sofa chair next to them.
Dad beamed at me. "That''s amazing, kiddo. I''m proud of you. And what about your classes?" "Oh, classes were good too! Mr. Harris loved my essay on environmental conservation, and Ms. Rodriguez let us have an open discussion in history class. It was like she knew we needed a break after all the studying." As I recounted every detail, I could see the pride and happiness in their eyes. They listened intently, nodding and chiming in at all the right moments. It felt good, to share the joy of my day with them, knowing they were genuinely interested in the little things that made me happy. Stolen story; please report. After a couple of minutes of chatting, my Big Brother and Colin finally came home. Big Brother is the one who always escorts my little brother from home to school and vice versa. It makes me glad to have an incredibly kind and caring Brother like him. ¡°Oh, look, our boys are already back too!¡± ¡°Mom, Dad!¡± Colin shouted as he rushed towards our parents for a hug. ¡°Yo, Mom, Pops, didn¡¯t know you both were coming home today.¡± ¡°Your Mom wanted it to be a surprise, and I had to admit, it was worth it, hahaha!¡± Dad replied with his characteristic jovial laugh. His laugh always reminds me of Santa Claus whom I believed to be real when I was still a kid. I did not know back then that it was my parents who got the gifts, not Santa. It was super devastating back then when I found out, I didn¡¯t talk to my parents for days. It¡¯s quite embarrassing now that I think about it for throwing a tantrum, but I was still a kid back then. Mom and Dad, for their part pampered our youngest brother. They also gave the souvenirs they got for both of them. A toy for Colin and some kind of gadget for Big Brother. They too talked about their day, and it made me happier, more than I was before now that our whole family is here, chatting on the sofa about mundane things. I adore how Dad and Mom always show how much they care for us siblings, it might be the reason why my brothers became as kind as they are too, because they always feel loved by our parents. After a while, the topic went to Brother¡¯s upcoming tournament ¡°Can I really come with Brother?!¡± I said in excitement. It means I will get to see Novo in person! I felt giddy at the prospect of seeing her face-to-face. ¡°Yes, of course, Honey, we already booked a hotel we could stay for the week for your brother¡¯s tournament, your Dad and I want to support him too. It would also be a good bonding experience for our family since we are seldom home. Your Dad and I already made preparations to take time off from our business ventures. And of course, we already informed the school of your absence.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t I be a bother there? What if Brother gets distracted taking care of me, affecting his performance in the game?¡± ¡°I-I wouldn¡¯t worry about that, Honey. Besides, it was your brother who suggested it in the first place.¡± I saw Big Brother nodded animatedly on the sidelines at the statement. ¡°Hahaha! What your mother is trying to say is that you¡¯re usually the one who takes care of your brother, not the other way around,¡± Dad chimed in. ¡°I-it might be true that Clarissa does almost all the housework, but I do take care of some of them too!¡± Big Brother protested. ¡°I agree! Big brother always troubles himself for our sake. And I¡¯m more than grateful for his efforts,¡± I backed him up. "See, even my sister thinks the same!" he exclaimed with genuine pride, making me glad in the process. It is the truth though, I am really glad to have him as my brother. Even if he has his flaws, I wouldn''t trade him for the world. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After the chat, we were left alone by Mom to cook and Dad to fix the washing machine that had been acting up for the past few days. I honestly don¡¯t know if I broke it or not, which makes me more apprehensive that I have become a bother to them again, especially now that they have their much-needed time off their work. Colin was busy playing with the realistic remote-controlled toy car that our parents bought for him. Brother on the other hand asked me a question while we were watching TV. ¡°Hey Clarissa, want to join our guild?¡± ¡°C-can I? I thought your guild only accepted skilled members and max-leveled players,¡± I asked hesitantly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true, especially now that more people are applying for our guild because mainly of Liz becoming popular. But Novo, Liz, and I think your skills are passable enough. Besides, when the other guild members learned that we won the qualifiers, the opposition against us basically diminished overnight! Feels great to prove those stubborn veterans wrong hehe.¡± ¡°B-but, isn''t it unfair for the other people who want to join?¡± ¡°Hmmm, a little bit, but we don''t want you to end up in another weaker guild, besides you have potential. It''s not just me saying it, Liz also agrees with me.¡± ¡°N-none of it is me though, it¡¯s all thanks to Novo for teaching me how to play.¡± ¡°Hmm I see, so she''s a good teacher too huh, I have to thank her for that. But of course, your brother can still beat your friend blindfolded, so if I was the one who taught you how to play, you''d be super strong right now!¡± ¡°R-really! Then please teach my big brother! I want to be strong enough not to be a burden to Novo when we play!¡± He seemed taken aback by my selfish request. He hesitated a bit before replying. ¡°I-I mean I would, but I''m not a mage user like Novo, so it''s better for her to teach you caster stuff.¡± ¡°Oh, I guess you¡¯re right¡­¡± I¡¯m bad at melee combat, so my brother can¡¯t teach me some of his cool moves with the spear. ¡°Also, you¡¯re going to see her when we go to LA. You can just bug her all you want to teach you everything she knows about the game there.¡± ¡°N-no! I can¡¯t bother her too much before the tournament! Although I¡¯ve been wondering, what does Novo look like in real life?¡± ¡°You have never seen a picture of her even once?¡± Big Brother was taken aback by my question. ¡°N-not really¡­¡± I said, my cheeks turning bright red. I was too shy to ask for her pictures whenever we played since I didn''t want her to think I was a weirdo or a creep. Besides, I heard it is common courtesy to separate real life from the game world. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t blame you, I heard from Liz that that girl avoids media and pictures like a plague. She''s not on any social media too and her profile picture on the messenger app we use for communicating is... a picture of a kitten. She also doesn¡¯t want her pictures getting taken so Liz can¡¯t get one on her. However, Liz once told me she looks like a mature beauty in real life.¡± ¡°Mature, beauty huh¡­¡± I tried to envision her appearance. In my mind, I pictured a girl wearing a stunning red flowing dress that draped over her. The dress had a tasteful neckline that hinted at the curve of her collarbones, drawing the gaze upward to her graceful neck. The fabric, a luxurious blend, embraced her figure in all the right places, subtly accentuating her curves without revealing too much, leaving just enough to the imagination. "Clarissa, would you care to dance with me?" Novo asked, her voice carrying a seductive undertone as she approached me, offering up her hand in the process. "Kyaaa!" I exclaimed, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Hmm, are you genuinely that curious about what she looks like? I''m quite certain there must be a picture of her somewhere on Liz''s social media, considering they attend the same school, but I can''t be bothered to search for it. Now that I think about it, that girl is just too mysterious and evasive that she seems kind of borderline shady... be careful around her Clarissa, you never know she might just be hiding her true colors!¡± my brother warned conspiratorially. Vol.2 Chapter 4 Chu My opponent in front of me, a quiver strapped across her back drew her bow, intending to aim and fire at me the first moment possible. I tightened my grip on the butterfly swords in response, feeling the familiar weight and balance in my hands, preparing for the challenge ahead. 3¡­2¡­1¡­ Duel Start! As the signal for battle rang, I launched forward while dodging the wind arrow she let fly, aiming to close the distance between us and disrupt her rhythm. But Zephyr was swift, stepping back just enough to maintain her advantage. Her arrows continued to whistle through "the air, each one a miniature wind arrow seeking its target. After a couple of minutes of back and forth of our usual dance, she finally ran out of mana. It helps that I already have a grasp of her play style and the speed of her arrows, making it easier for me to dodge her wind arrows or parry her normal arrows. Having no mana left, she has to result in using only normal arrows that I can parry. This match is as good as won. As I got near her with a combination of parries and dodges, she frantically used her wooden arrows to dissuade my movements. But by then, the match was already settled. I easily parried all of her attacks while continuing to close the gap between us. I finally succeeded in getting close to her. An archer who is not able to keep their distance is as good as dead against a skilled melee fighter unless they are proficient in hand-to-hand combat, which very few players are gifted at. I did the fastest combo attacks I could to capitalize on the opportunity presented before me. Zephyr HP: 1% You won the duel! Congratulations! The duel ended before she died, it was not set in deathmatch mode to begin with so none of us could possibly die given the settings at hand. ¡°Oww, ow, ouch! You¡¯re too rough, can¡¯t you be gentler?¡± she pleaded. I ignored the innuendo. ¡°We cannot improve ourselves if we don¡¯t give it our all.¡± ¡°Fine¡­ still, can¡¯t a strong man like you go a little bit easy on a frail lady like me?¡± she fluttered her eyes as if to make a point. ¡°There is no such thing as genders on a battlefield,¡± I shut her down. ¡°Hmmm, Fair enough, I don¡¯t like to be underestimated either. Tell you what, how about one last fight, with stakes this time?¡± she smiled slyly at the suggestion. I stared at her, urging her to continue. ¡°You see, the whole Magic Atelier team and I will be having a fan meet and greet event near the ¡®Champion¡¯s Brawl¡¯ tournament venue. It was preset a while ago because we were supposed to be participating in the tournament, but sadly, we got matched into you guys,¡± she stared at me accusatorily. I broke eye contact, feeling a little guilty. I know quite well that I should not feel remorseful because that is just the spirit of competition, but I still do. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t misunderstand, I¡¯m not blaming you guys or anything! You were the better team and deserved that slot. Anyway, what I¡¯m getting at is, the event has been established way back, and a lot of our fans are planning to attend so we cannot cancel it.¡± ¡°¡­What does it have to do with the bet?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s simple, I want you to attend the meet and greet if I win!¡± she flashed a toothy grin. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t like joining those types of events.¡± ¡°I can tell,¡± she said in a monotone voice. ¡°That is why we¡¯re having a bet, if you lose, then you have to go!¡± she continued. ¡°¡­And if I win?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­ then you don¡¯t have to go?¡± There is nothing in it for me then. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a fair bet¡­¡± I voiced out the obvious. ¡°Oh, is Mr. NambaWan backing down? How can you call yourself ¡®the¡¯ number one if you back down from these types of challenges,¡± she goaded. ¡°The name was not my idea in the first place. A friend of mine changed my user name as a prank.¡± ¡°Oh, why haven¡¯t you changed it back yet?¡± she curiously queried. ¡°¡­It kind of grown on me.¡± And also, it costs a lot to change nicknames in this game. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Huh, I see¡­ anyway, about the bet. Are you scared you¡¯re going to lose now? Is that why you don¡¯t want to accept?¡± she continued to taunt. I know very well what she is trying to accomplish with her prodding, but my pride as a duelist cannot decline a request for a battle. ¡°¡­You¡¯re on.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¡°How do you like my shock arrows? It costs a ton to craft a single one of it but it''s worth it!¡± she enthusiastically bragged. What a blunder, she does have a different arrow type prepared to counter me and was saving it for a crucial battle. It backfired when I tried to parry it, thinking that it was just a normal arrow, leaving me in a paralyzed state for a couple of seconds making me an easy target for her. That is why she was that confident in making a bet, I fell right into her goading. Still, it was entirely my fault for not preparing for the possibility of it happening. ¡°¡­Why didn¡¯t you use one of those in the tournament?¡± ¡°Well, to tell you the truth, I underestimated you back then. I didn¡¯t know you would be that good at parrying. I also bought a different special arrow that day, a poisoned one. After all, I didn¡¯t research your play style cause I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get matched up with you in the first place. Although that taught me never to underestimate my opponents and always be on guard even if I¡¯m winning, so thanks for the lesson!¡± she stared at me, her eyes full of gratitude. I looked away, a little abashed by the praise. ¡°So, now that I won, you better keep your promise!¡± she gleefully teased. ¡°¡­Fine, I never go back down on my word.¡± ¡°Teehee, I know. You don¡¯t seem like the type to. Then, I¡¯m off for now! Blaze and Frostia are requesting a dungeon run. That was fun though! Let¡¯s play again sometimes!¡± After saying goodbye, she teleported to another coordinate, leaving me all alone in the vast custom-made arena. We have no range users on our team, hence sparring with her is favorable for my training. Fighting pure ranged opponents is also my greatest weakness therefore it is a bonus. She is good company too and I have no qualms about her being my sparring partner. I must admit, I also had a good time playing with her. I looked at the time, it¡¯s still quite early but I should log out for now. There is something I¡¯ve been putting off for a while. I need to do it right now¡­ or I will never be able to. I have to tell Mother the truth. I logged out of the VR game. Getting out of the VR pod the rowdy noises of other customers greeted me as I returned to reality. A rush of excitement mingled with the hum of electronic devices resounded the building. The air crackled with anticipation, filled with a medley of sounds¡ªthe low thrum of cooling fans, the beeping of the VR pods. Neon lights cast a vibrant glow over the space, painting the walls with hues of electric blue, fiery red, and pulsating greens. Around me, gamers huddled in clusters, discussing strategies or debating the merits of various builds and sets. Here, I feel at home, more than in my real one, the people around me share the love for the virtual realms that transcend age, background, or experience. This was the closest VR gaming shop to our school. It gives the best service for its price. Thinking about it, this is where it all started. I always play here after school, unless I have a tutoring session or a campus part-time job after school to get by as my allowance is not nearly enough for the daily necessities of a prestigious school such as ours. Back then, I just wanted to make more money with the offer June made, an offer to help his team fight against a ranker. I did not expect that the players I fought back then would become my teammates and help me achieve my goal faster. To earn a living through gaming. As I headed over to the counter to pay for my time in the VR caf¨¦, I was greeted by an acquaintance. ¡°Oi Chu, good timing! We have a betting match later, bunch of rich kids who think they¡¯re good! Join us, I promise it¡¯ll be easy money, especially with you around.¡± ¡°¡­Not today Rod, I need to go home early.¡± ¡°What! Come on, you never decline easy wins for free bucks! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re too good enough for us because you passed the qualifiers on the big tourney, you lucky bastard,¡± he jested. I scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ll join you any other day, just not today.¡± ¡°Well, your loss, we¡¯re just gonna bully some kids who think they¡¯re big shots because they have good sets. Tell me next time you want easy money, and I¡¯ll hook you up, y¡¯hear!¡± I nodded at him before proceeding to go on my way. After paying for the VR rental, I quickly made my way towards the exit. Upon leaving the building, I spot the sun dipping towards the horizon, hues of crimson, gold, and tangerine streaking across the sky. ¡°It¡¯s already sundown,¡± I murmured to none in particular. On my walk towards the station, I passed by an ad video in a high-rise building for a tournament I knew quite well. It features clips from the qualifiers from all the different teams who are going to participate in it, Renz and Lizbeth being the only ones featured in our team with Renz using his flashy weapon skill and our captain being hasted and dodging numerous ice attacks from her foes respectively. This honestly is quite odd; I did not expect the corporation behind the game to go all out on advertisements in this tournament. Everywhere I go, I see billboards and the like to hype the tournament and garner more viewers for the event. It is still not comparable to their ads for the AC cup, but strange nonetheless. Almost as if they are expecting an extremely high-profile player to play in the Under Twenty tournament. Last time I checked, pro players were not allowed in the tournament. But I might be overthinking things as the corporation behind the CoA is currently the most successful gaming company and the pioneer of the VR games industry, therefore, it might just be a natural course of action for them to promote the tournament this much. Arriving at the station, I rode the train to my house. It took about 15 minutes for me to arrive at my stop, not without seeing other ads for the tournament we were going to participate in. Exiting the train station and walking for ten or so minutes, I arrived at our suburban house nestled at the end of the street. Its weathered exterior bore the marks of age, paint peeling in patches, revealing the worn wood beneath. The porch, once vibrant, now sagged slightly under the weight of years gone by. A makeshift clothesline stretched from one corner of the house to a crooked pole, bearing laundry that seemed to have weathered countless washes. The yard, though modest, held signs of life¡ªthe bicycle that I often used when I was a child leaned against a wall, its tires deflated, awaiting repair and replacement. My heart pounded as I got close to the door to my house. I opened it, preparing for the upcoming confrontation as I entered. I was immediately greeted by my mother sitting on the small sofa of our lounge using her phone. ¡°You¡¯re quite early today, you don¡¯t have anyone to tutor this time?¡± My heart doubled its beat as I prepared what to say. I cannot hide it anymore, I''ve been putting it long enough because of my apprehension and fear. I have to let my mother know the truth. She has always been a traditionalist and slow to adapt to changes therefore, I do not know what her reaction will be after this conversation. It¡¯s now or never, Chu. I thought to myself as I tried to muster the courage. ¡°Mother, I have something to tell you." ¡°What is it,¡± she replied, matching my seriousness. Sensing my solemnity, she put away her phone, ready to hear me out. ¡°Mother I am going to LA,¡± I stated, my voice quivering. ¡°Why? You know we don''t have money for trips,¡± She queried, confusion evident in her face. ¡°I¡­ I have a gaming tournament to join,¡± I finally let it out, apprehension palpable in my voice. Her look of shock and disbelief at my words tore through me, making me more anxious about what was to come. ¡°Please listen first, If I win the tournament, we could have the cash prize!¡± I immediately added. ¡°No, you listen! All that game nonsense is just temporary. Focus on your studies so you can find a stable source of income after graduating or you will regret it one day! I¡¯m telling this for your sake, for you to be happy!¡± ¡°You don''t know what makes me happy! The thrill of fighting strong opponents. The rivals and friends I make through duels. The feeling of getting better at my play style every single day. Those are the things that make me feel glad to be alive!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°When will you grow up and stop playing those games for kids?! Listen to your mother for once!¡± ¡°The life you want for me is not what I want, Mother! I¡­ I want to be a professional gamer someday¡­¡± I finally let it out. ¡°Tsk! I told you that kind of thing is unreliable! When you get older and are not able to play at your best anymore, where will it take you? Not to mention it would be too hard for you to become one in the first place with all the young kids these days competing for it!¡± ¡°¡­Even if it is hard, I still want to try, at least¡­ I will have no regrets even if I fail.¡± "Tsk! Why won''t you just listen, you ungrateful child!? I don''t work my ass off every day just for you to play around! Study hard, get a stable job, get a wife, and have a family that is how you can live an honest and happy life!" "That is not the life I want! That is what you want! I have my own wishes and dreams too! Just because you raised me does not mean you have the right dictate every aspect of my life!" I raised my voice for the first time in our argument. *Slap I suddenly heard ringing in my head even before I registered what happened. "I did not raise you to be this disrespectful," she warned, her voice filled with a stern tone. "Don''t you dare raise your voice at me!" I was speechless. Is it too much to ask for a chance to prove myself? To have her support in trying to pursue my dreams? Do I really have no choice but to follow the road set by society for me? ¡­No, I will make my own future. I turned around, walked towards the stairs, and went to my room. ¡°Chu Xiaolong! We are not done yet! Get back here!¡± she exclaimed. I ignored her and slammed the door shut. Thankfully she did not follow me up the stairs or I do not know what I would have done. I decided that night that I would do everything I could to win the tournament and prove her wrong. Whatever it takes. Vol. 2 Chapter 5 The air in the classroom buzzes with anticipation as students filter in, the shuffling of feet and the rustling of papers creating a symphony of pre-class activity. There''s an eager energy, a mix of curiosity and apprehension, my classmates settle into their seats. Some students are engaged in quiet conversations, discussing the upcoming material or sharing notes from the previous class. Others are absorbed in their laptops, typing away or scanning through digital textbooks with the use of the school-issued tablet. The rustling of papers and the occasional click of pens add a rhythm to the room, a gentle background noise that accompanies the anticipation of what''s to come. It''s tangible in the way that some students sit up a little straighter, their eyes focused on the front of the room, waiting for the professor to arrive. I¡¯m currently chatting with Liz to pass up the time. No last-minute homework from me as I already did mine yesterday. I¡¯m a perfectly hard-working student who never procrastinates, after all, no hint of laziness could be found here. It¡¯s our 3rd period for today and we happen to have the same class, which is fortunate as I always appreciate her company. It also helps that when we¡¯re together, none of the persistent students bother us whenever we¡¯re chatting, which is honestly a plus. I don¡¯t really want to be bothered too much by the people asking to play CoA with me and supporting them. Capable supports are in demand after all as every team needs one. It doesn¡¯t help that all young students want to play as a DPS carry or a flashy mage, not a boring healer and buffer. It has become a bit mellow these past few days due to the hype of the news dying out, but still occurs sometimes. As Liz and I chat, our topic switches from one to another, a testament to how unpredictable and hyperactive Liz is whenever we talk. Our current topic settled on the trip to LA and how we are going to arrive there. ¡°About the tournament next week, how will you travel to the venue?¡± she asked, curiosity and hopefulness evident in her tone. ¡°I¡¯m going to travel via plane,¡± I stated as a matter of fact. ¡°You don¡¯t have anyone to go with you? Or made any promises to?¡± she asked becoming more hopeful. ¡°Not that I remember, no.¡± I kinda already knew where she was getting at, but I let her continue, just to be sure. ¡°That¡¯s good! I mean not good in a way that you don¡¯t have anyone to go with,¡± she poured salt over the wound in her attempt to not hurt my feelings. Please don¡¯t make it any more painful by reminding me I don¡¯t have any other friends! ¡°I mean, what I¡¯m getting at is, would you like to travel together?¡± she asked hopefully. ¡°Sure, what time will you book your flight?¡± ¡°Uhm, we¡¯re traveling by car,¡± ¡°Why? Won¡¯t it be faster by air?¡± "Well, we can take the plane, but we need someone to take us places there. My cousin has a car to help our team commute and she has lived there for more than a year before so she would be the best tour guide.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± I''m leaning towards yes. I do want to spend more time with Liz, even if it will make the trip longer. ¡°Besides you already know my cousin, right? You both talked to each other a couple of times before in CoA. She also wants to meet you in person.¡± ¡°¡­You mean Dust?¡± ¡°Yeah, you guys spoke a couple of times, right?¡±
"Good morning, everyone," he greeted, his voice carrying a gentle authority that instantly commanded attention. Professor Davis was a distinguished figure in our college, instantly recognizable by his commanding presence, scholarly appearance, and good-natured humor. He carried an air of seasoned expertise and approachability in his appearance. He had a composed demeanor that exuded confidence without a hint of arrogance. He was also tall, more than 6 feet, and had a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard that added an air of wisdom to his face, complementing their sharp, intelligent gaze that seemed to miss nothing. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. His attire was always impeccable, often sporting a tweed blazer paired with a collared shirt and a patterned tie, giving off a scholarly yet approachable vibe. The jacket''s elbow patches hinted at their dedication to their field, a detail that added a touch of old-school academic charm. "Let''s get started by taking attendance," he announced, his tone friendly yet firm. He began calling out names from the roster, each student responding with a "Here" or a nod to signify their presence. Occasionally, a lighthearted comment or joke would accompany the attendance-taking process. After taking all of our attendance, he paused for a second, as if remembering something. ¡°Oh, before I forget, Miss Elizabeth Miles and Miss Katherine Katyusha, please proceed to the dean¡¯s office. The Dean wants to talk to you two about your upcoming tournament next week. Congratulations on qualifying for that by the way. I heard from a student of mine from the e-sports club that both of you did extremely well,¡± he gave a congratulatory smile to both of us. Both Liz and gave each other a knowing look before replying. ¡°Thanks, sir! We¡¯ll do our best to win the entire thing!¡± Liz excitedly declared, proud of her own efforts in the qualifiers. ¡°Thank you,¡± I said plainly. We stood up to exit the classroom as murmurs from the students who were speculating about what the Dean wanted from us. As we walked towards the Dean¡¯s office Liz asked the same thing hovering over our classmate¡¯s minds. ¡°What do you think the Dean wants from us?¡± she asked conspiratorially. ¡°Probably to advertise the school, like wearing matching team clothes or something.¡± I guessed. ¡°Oh, sounds fun, we can help promote our school while having fun at the tournament!¡± Fun?! Your definition of ¡®fun¡¯ varies differently from mine, that¡¯s for sure! ¡°Just to be clear, I won¡¯t do interviews just to promote the school, no matter what.¡± I declared. ¡°What, come on. Don¡¯t you want to help our alma matter?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind helping, of course, just no interviews.¡± I firmly declared. We continued chatting while walking towards the Dean¡¯s office. After arriving at the office door, Liz led the charge, knocking a couple of times before entering. Inside, we saw the Dean¡¯s secretary writing notes about something. ¡°Hi Landy! The Dean called for us!¡± Typical Liz, I won¡¯t be surprised if she knows the entire student body and all its staff by first name basis. ¡°Oh Elizabeth, and also Miss Katyusha, you both are here,¡± The secretary nodded at me in acknowledgment, her friendly demeanor putting me at ease. ¡°Please wait for a second, I¡¯ll just inform Dean Hawthorne of your arrival.¡± The secretary politely urged us to sit in the lounge while she informed the dean of our arrival via call. We obliged and went to the lounge where we saw Chu sitting on the comfortable sofa chair. He looked¡­ troubled. As if he¡¯s brooding about something important. ¡°Yo, watsup Chu?¡± Liz cheerfully greeted. Please read the mood! I swear Liz! You are sorely lacking decorum sometimes! ¡°Oh, you guys are here¡­¡± he replied, his voice sounding weak. Liz for her part finally got the hint. ¡°Hmm, what''s the matter? You look downtrodden, did Renz finally beat you in a duel,¡± Liz attempted to lighten the mood with a joke. ¡°¡­Nothing you should be worried about,¡± he spoke cryptically, before turning his head away from us, hinting that he no longer wishes to talk. Nice job Liz! You handled a seemingly delicate subject pretty well, like a 200,000-pound bulldozer changing the lightbulb. Kudos to you for a job well done! ¡°I-I see,¡± she stated awkwardly. We stayed there silently as we waited for our names to be called. After what seems to be an eternity due to the heavy atmosphere, which I¡¯m sure is just a couple of seconds of real-world time, the secretary finally decided to end our suffering. ¡°The Dean is free to see you three now,¡± the secretary politely informed us. We went ahead with Liz leading the charge. Arriving at the door, we stood outside the dean''s office, my nerves were doing somersaults in my stomach. I¡¯ve never been to the dean¡¯s office before. Thankfully I have Liz beside me, who knocked gently on the door to announce our arrival. "Come in," a voice called from inside. With a deep breath, I stepped in, meeting the gaze of the dean sitting behind a large wooden desk. "Good afternoon, Dean Hawthorne," Liz greeted. I copied her, attempting to sound more confident than I felt while Chu remained silent. "Good afternoon. Please, have a seat," the dean replied warmly, motioning to a chair opposite their desk. ¡°May I ask why you called for us?¡± Liz queried. Thankfully, Liz was leading the conversion, I¡¯m more than content to be on the sidelines while nodding or something. The dean leaned forward, their eyes reflecting a genuine sense of pride. "I called you three here to congratulate you on your achievement. Your hard work and dedication have paid off. Representing our college in the tournament is a fantastic honor. We''ll be cheering for you!" ¡°Is that all?¡± Chu voiced out impatiently. Uhmm, Chu¡­ I don¡¯t think that is how you¡¯re supposed to talk to the Dean of the school. Let me reiterate, THE DEAN of the school. Dean Hawthorne, for his part, took the jab in stride. ¡°Oh, good heavens, no, we would also like to give you all these.¡± He bought out something from below his table and proceeded to give it to us one by one. It was jerseys, high quality at that, comparable to pros. They really are going all out. It has the matching colors of our school and the logo of our academy, but it¡¯s not any larger than what I expected. It''s honestly aesthetically pleasing. The fabric also feels sleek against my skin, a blend of comfort and luxury. ¡°Are we required to wear this?¡± Chu voiced the question weighing on my mind, but was too scared to ask the dean himself. The Dean for his part seems taken aback by the sudden question. ¡°Oh heavens, of course not, nobody is forcing you to. In our academy, we value the autonomy of our students first and foremost, therefore, there is no need to wear it if it does not suit your preference,¡± he spoke diplomatically. Chu scoffed at the banality of his words. Chu, can you tone down the edginess a bit, we''re talking to the dean here! I understand you¡¯re in a bad mood, but still! ¡°Don¡¯t be like that Chu, we could have matching outfits if we all wear them, it would look cool for our team! Wouldn¡¯t that look wonderful?¡± Liz excitedly pointed out. Chu seems to tone down after that, he really does listen to Liz, huh? Maybe even more than the school Dean, which is pretty alarming in its own right. After a couple more pleasantries, praises, and congratulations, the Dean finally sent us on our way with a warm smile. After saying goodbye to the secretary and heading outside the office, Chu uncharacteristically posed a question. ¡°How are you two planning to get to LA?¡± he queried. ¡°Oh! I''m planning to go by car! Kat wants to just ride the plane, but what''s the fun in that, right? I just managed to convince her to join me for the ride! I already asked my cousin to drive us and she agreed. She was planning to go to the tournament to watch anyway so it turned out for the better.¡± "I see..." "Do you also want to come with us? You''ll be riding with three beautiful ladies if you do! How lucky is that, he hehe,¡± Liz jested. Chu kept silent as if he was contemplating if he would accept Liz''s offer which is clearly an attempt of making a light-hearted joke. "W-wait, don''t tell me you really want to come with- Ooof!¡± I elbowed Liz before she could make another blunder. Please read the mood! He clearly needs help in getting to the tournament venue! At least enough for him to consider your gag of an offer. "Ahem, o-of course you''re welcome to join us! You''re an important member of your team, so if there is any way we could help, don''t be afraid to ask!" she said as she lightly rubbed the area where I elbowed her. I was instantly ridden with guilt. I must have used more force than I intended due to the nature of her words. I¡¯ll have to apologize for that later even though I think it¡¯s well deserved for her brazen actions thus far. He stared at Liz for a moment, weighing the solemnity of her offer before replying. ¡°I am grateful. Send me the time and meeting place for the trip later on our messenger group," he nodded appreciatively before going on his own way. After Chu was gone, Liz broke the silence by posing a question. ¡°Well, that was strange. What do you think is up with him today?¡± "It''s rude to gossip and speculate about someone when they''re not here, especially if that someone is a friend of ours," I chided her. "Booo, killjoy. I''m just a little curious," she pouted. "I''d be lying if I said I''m not curious either, but it''s not our place to pry. Everyone has their secrets; he will tell us if he wants to, so no use forcing it out of him." ¡°Fine, fine, I''ll trust your judgment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± I nodded gratefully. I''m speaking from experience after all. Well, looks like this is going to be a long trip this weekend. Vol. 2 Chapter 6 The cobbled streets wind through the heart of the place I''m currently in. The market square is like the heartbeat of the town, pulsating with liveliness where most of the players sell their unwanted wares to players who need them for extra gold. Clarissa and I are currently in the town of Alderford, a quick stop for level 80-85 players to barter, trade, and recuperate their supplies for better grinding. We¡¯ve been having smooth sailing leveling up the past few days. I¡¯m currently level 83, and Clarissa is 80. I would¡¯ve loved to be at max level when the tournament starts, but it seems like a near impossibility considering my current rate of experience growth. On top of not being actively grinding for experience, (since it¡¯s boring grinding alone) we continually do scrims to improve our teamplay, taking most of my online time. Also, always bringing Clarissa to level up together is less efficient than if I were to level up alone. I have no regrets though as playing with her has always been fun and rewarding. That is the main reason why people play games, after all, to have fun or spend quality time with a person close to them, like Clarissa had become to me. ¡°Novo! Look, Isn¡¯t that cute?!¡± Clarissa flashed me an adorable smile while pointing at a cat-themed earring. I would¡¯ve said ¡®Not as cute as your smile¡¯ but I don¡¯t want to come off as a creep. ¡°Hmm, it is aesthetically pleasing, but not worth the gold for its stats, you could find a better quality looking elsewhere. The crafter of the item is also mid-level at most in crafting. I¡¯m confident even Ray could make a better accessory with his eyes closed. It would be a waste of the earing slot if you wear one of those,¡± I expertly deduced. The Merchant gave me a stink eye for taking away a potential sale. Can¡¯t blame me though, I¡¯m only telling the truth. ¡°B-but¡­ okay¡­¡± Clarissa stared at the earrings longingly. ¡°Sir, give me ten- I mean, one pair of those accessories please,¡± I instantly gave in. Well, it''s okay to waste gold sometimes. Dust also gives our team a lot of resources for the qualifiers so we can get the best items for the tournament so it¡¯s perfectly fine. ¡°A perfect choice, Miss!¡± the merchant player happily complied. I traded the gold and gave the earrings to Clarissa after receiving them. ¡°Thanks, Novo!¡± she gave me a grateful smile. I nodded in response. It feels as though I wasted gold but seeing her happy like that? Definitely worth it! As I was basking in the aftermath of making one of the best transactions I¡¯ve ever made in my entire life, a ping ruined the moment for me. The heck! Can¡¯t a girl have her moment? From the sound alone, it was an emergency ping, meaning it must be a matter too important to ignore. Glancing at the offender, it was a message from one of the officers of the Paragon Guild, Vinnie. She is a veteran player and a coordinator who gives tasks to the alliance to further our unity and efficiency as a whole. I¡¯m the representative of our guild after all so she always comes to me first whenever the Paragon guild requires assistance from our guild, and vice versa. Vinnie: Miss Novo, our sources have recently discovered a notorious 4-man party of PK players camping at the abandoned mine close to your present coordinates on the same server with an ETA of 10-15 minutes of traveling time from your current position. They had already killed some members of our low-level allied guilds, effectively garnering our ire. We would¡¯ve liked to send a team to wipe them out immediately, but unfortunately, most of our available strong combatants are either busy or offline. We need a capable player to handle the affair and deem your guild to be able to handle it easily. Therefore, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to wipe out their camp and prevent any more of their misdeeds. You will be rewarded handsomely and any loot you get from the corpse of the enemies will be yours to keep. Please respond immediately if you would like to accept as this is a time-sensitive mission. I sighed. Still a fan of spy movies after all these years huh? You never change, do you, Vinnie? Novo: Understood, I¡¯ll handle it. Vinnie: We are grateful for your assistance. We will leave this matter in your capable hands, Miss Novo. This message will self-destruct in 5¡­ 4¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ The hell it will! I closed the in-game messaging app and glanced at Clarissa who was giddily examining her new item. She could come. She needs the experience anyway. Also, this might hopefully teach her a thing or two about how some players could be dangerous. She is unbelievably na?ve sometimes and I can¡¯t help but worry for this kind-hearted girl. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. I immediately opened the friend list and looking at it, I was overcome with happiness. I have more than 50 on the list now! A great achievement indeed! I never thought that this day would come. It is all thanks to being qualified for the tournament, many players try to add me when they find out I¡¯m one of the participants. But I''m getting sidetracked. I searched for the one person I never thought I would ever contact first. Novo: Dust, please send me a tank and a fighter to the town of Alderford teleportation point on server 19 as soon as possible. I sent it in important texts for her to see it sooner. Dust, for her part, is quick to respond. As it pains me to admit it, she¡¯s extremely reliable. FairyDust: Oh my~ is it another mission from Paragons? How hardworking, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d really take the role seriously. Well, I do owe this much to them at least, being one of their founders and all. And the extra loot and gold we get from killing Red Players is worth the time spent hunting for them. Novo: Are you going to help or not? FairyDust: Fine, fine, so serious. Is two all you need? I can still send more. Novo: Two is enough. Just make sure they''re skilled and max-leveled. I believe we can handle a party of PK players camping in an area for levels 80-85. Their preying on players in this area means they have no confidence in their skills to win against opponents that are not in the same level range as them and I believe we won¡¯t lose to those types of players. Besides, commanding more than one party is a waste of resources better spent elsewhere and bothersome because of its additional social drain on me. I closed the In-game messenger and then focused my attention back on my friend. ¡°Clarissa, we have to do something first before we start leveling today.¡± ¡°Huh? What is it, Novo?¡± she asked innocently, tilting her cute head in the process. ¡°We¡¯re doing a guild quest. You''re now also a member of our guild, so I''m taking you with me.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¡°PK players, also known as ¡®Red Players¡¯, are a bane in the CoA community. Most people hate them due to their predatory nature. Even though CoA is a competitive PvP-based game, there is a limit to the players you can kill without repercussions. A healthy dose of PvP among CoA players is encouraged as it helps players improve their skills, strategies, and reflexes. Facing off against human opponents often requires adapting to various playstyles, which fosters continuous skill development.¡± ¡°Competing against other players also fosters a strong sense of community as players form alliances, rivalries, and social bonds. It can lead to friendships, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging within the game''s community, a huge reason why CoA became the most successful VR game in the world as we know it. It also helps veteran players enjoy the game more as the ever-changing nature of human opponents keeps the gameplay fresh and encourages players to keep coming back for new challenges.¡± ¡°However, as with most things in life, all things taken to an extreme level will surely be destructive. That is why being a Red player is heavily penalized and looked down upon by the community. They can be freely attacked by other players without repercussions and are always hunted by bounty hunters due to them having a hundred percent chance of dropping loot from their set if they die. On top of dropping 10x the gold compared to a normal player, they are also chased by the guard NPCs in towns and cities whenever they are spotted, making their life even harder,¡± I paused for a second, then continued. ¡°Although there are many disadvantages of being a red player, some still continue being Player Killers mostly for fun, the thrill of breaking the norm, and the notoriety that comes with it. Many famous Red players even have their own¡­ are you listening, Clarissa?¡± I glanced at my student who was... not paying attention to my ramblings. ¡°H-huh? S-sorry, I didn''t quite catch the last part...¡± she apologized, looking a little guilty for zoning out. I sighed; she can easily be distracted sometimes. I canceled my teacher mode and spoke normally. ¡°My point is, never trust a player who has a red color mark on their name when you identify them, okay?¡± Clarissa pondered for a bit before replying, ¡°What if they want to make friends?¡± I stared at her blankly. ¡°O-okay no making friends with them, got it, Novo,¡± ¡°Come on Miss Novo, you don¡¯t have to worry too much, both Renoir and I would guard you two with our life!¡± Dorge, our party¡¯s tank, jovially spoke. ¡°Y-yes! You could trust us, Ma¡¯am!¡± Renoir, our temporary fighter, declared with determination. ¡°Oh, I just remembered. Miss Novo, I have a dungeon run later with my wife, we could use a skilled support like you on our team!¡± As I was thinking about how to respectfully decline his offer, Clarissa spoke out. ¡°You have a wife that plays VR games with you?!¡± Clarissa chimed in excitedly. ¡°Of course! We grew up in a generation where games are commonplace! Truth be told, I met my wife playing an MMO game back in my teens! It also serves as our bonding experience. Having the same hobby as your lover and treating them as your best friend is said to be the super glue for a lifelong marriage!¡± ¡°Whoaah!¡± Clarissa exclaimed. I noticed her sneaking a furtive glance at me after hearing his story. When I looked her in the eye wondering why, she instantly glanced away the moment we made eye contact. Hmm, does she want something from me but is too shy to ask? ¡°Oh, I know, you wanna see a picture of her, along with my daughter?¡± ¡°You already have a daughter?! I want to see please!¡± ¡°Haha, slow down, Lass. Hmm, let''s see,¡± he paused for a second, likely searching for his inventory. He materialized a digital copy of a picture. After a quick glance from my spot, I saw the prized treasure. Dorge, along with his lover, a beautiful woman in her late 20¡¯s. Both of their eyes sparkling with affection, as they cradle their child between them. ¡°Oh! You have such a cute baby!¡± ¡°I know right, she''s everything dear to me. She is turning one year old next month and we will have a huge party for her!¡± That''s a death flag you know! Never mention your family¡¯s celebration when going on missions! ¡°Hehe, you three look great together.¡± Clarissa gave a cute grin. ¡°You¡¯re a very kind Lass, aren¡¯t you? I know, after this is over¡­ let¡¯s all go have a celebratory drink for a job well done, what say you guys?¡± Please, for the love of... stop setting death flags everywhere! "Uhm, I''m too young to drink." "It''s fine, you won''t really get drunk, it will just affect your taste receptors. You could also just order juice, my treat!¡± Dorge seems like a nice guy, even if he keeps setting death flags everywhere. He looks to be also in his 30¡¯s, making him seem more mature. Renoir, on the other hand, is close to our age and it seems like he¡¯s completely uncomfortable around me. ¡°What play style do you specialize in?" I tried to break the ice. The cohesion of members in a team is important after all. ¡°O-offensive fighter, Sir! I-I mean, Ma''am, Sir!¡± he tried to correct himself but failed miserably. I sighed, I already have a notorious reputation for that stunt I pulled with Jarde. It doesn¡¯t help that rumors often become exaggerated. I even heard from Liz that someone in our guild had thought that I had an insta-kill weapon skill. Adding our team qualifying for the U20, just made the rumors even worse. Hopefully, this awkwardness does not affect our team play later. But with Dorge setting death flags left and right, I have a bad feeling about this mission. Vol. 2 Chapter 7 After a few minutes of chatting (mostly Clarissa and Dorge) while walking to conserve stamina for the upcoming battle, we finally arrived at the destination. A chilling breeze rustles through the skeletal remains of trees that stand sentinel around the area. At the entrance an eerily silent and despondent atmosphere greeted us. A faded wooden sign, barely clinging to a rusted chain, creaks in the wind, its lettering long worn away by the elements. The wooden beams supporting the entrance have weathered to a dull gray, and some show signs of splintering and decay. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside slowly. Be careful of ambushes. Dorge, please lead the way, and if anyone attacks retreat immediately and guard Clarissa. Renoir, stay close to the two of us and fend off any ambushes that might come.¡± The two were momentarily stunned at my change of attitude but agreed nonetheless. I do have experience in leading parties, you know, so it¡¯s not that shocking! I¡¯m also defaulting to my party leader mode personality from back then when I was playing my sister¡¯s account. Being at a VR game also helps my assertiveness in this role a whole lot since everyone gets a confidence boost online as opposed to real life where I don¡¯t have any leadership capabilities. As we slowly enter the depths of the mine, we encounter a couple of undead monsters and ghouls, which we easily dispatched. This is a leveling spot after all, the main reason why these red players camp in this area is to kill unsuspecting players who just want to level up in peace. Further inside, we heard the sound of battle. I signaled my team to stay still while I sneakily surveyed the area of the battlefield. The Red players were already engaging a 4-man party of level 80-85 players and were winning. They are composed of a mage, an archer, and 2 melee fighters. An aggressive team composition. The players they are fighting don¡¯t seem to be part of our allied guild, therefore we have no obligation to help them. We can use them as a distraction though for an easier fight. Rest assured; I will avenge you guys by killing these players. ¡°Clarissa precast a flame explosion at the center of the enemy party. Dorge please protect me and Clarissa. Renoir, rush at their mage and don¡¯t stop until you kill the guy. On my signal.¡± ¡°B-but Ma¡¯am,¡± Renoir paused, unsure if I was using him as bait or not. ¡°Please trust me,¡± I assured him. He analyzed me for a moment before nodding to my request. ¡°Y-yes ma¡¯am!¡± I watched the battle unfold, finding the moment when the enemy mage cast a big spell. Mages are considered the biggest threat in 4v4 team fights. They might not be as strong in 2v2 scenarios but in 4v4 where AOE skills can determine the outcome of a battle, they are a menace, especially in a closed space area like this abandoned mine. Therefore, eliminating them ASAP is the best course of action here. After a couple more moments of waiting, I saw the enemy ice mage finish channeling. He cast a spell to decide the battle against their opponents. ¡°Blizzard!¡± he exclaimed. The 3 remaining players got hit directly, applying a freezing debuff to them, making them easy pickings for the 2 fighters. ¡°Go!¡± I commanded. Clarissa used her pre-casted spell, to signal our attack. ¡°Flame Explosion!¡± she exclaimed. A pillar of fire rose beneath the center of the enemy formation before exploding, dealing AoE damage and disorienting them. ¡°Bounty hunters!¡± their archer, who was the least affected by Clarissa¡¯s spell shouted to warn his team. ¡°Help! They¡¯re coming after me!¡± their ice mage panicked, noticing Renoir coming after him. ¡°Not on my watch!¡± one of the enemy fighters, a lancer, used his weapon skill to intercept Renoir. ¡°Flaming Javelin,¡± he shouted as he threw his weapon towards Renoir. I quickly analyzed the trajectory of the weapon¡¯s flight. He¡¯s pretty accurate at his throw. It would easily hit Renoir, making him susceptible to follow-up attacks that could easily kill an offensive fighter. Not if I could help it. ¡°Guardian angel.¡± The attack hit Renoir. He flinched a bit at the impact but was shocked when it did not do anything because of a translucent barrier of light protecting him. Renoir HP: 100% He nodded at me appreciatively before rushing again at their mage to eliminate the threat. It would¡¯ve been better if he did not stop his rush and fully trusted that I wouldn''t let him be harmed, but he is not Liz so I can¡¯t complain that much. The fight went on in chaos for the enemy. They tried to regroup, but another explosion occurred. It was Clarissa again with her destructive AoE spell, making the enemy scatter to evade taking more damage. ¡°Borris! Eliminate their mage! We can¡¯t let them cast another AoE skill!¡± The archer, who seems to be their leader gave a good shot call. ¡°On it!¡± he agreed as he rushed at Clarissa, aiming to kill her. ¡°I won''t let you!¡± Dorge, prepared as he was with our last discussion, easily intercepted the enemy. Checkmate, their mage is occupied and getting decimated by Renoir, Clarissa is well guarded by Dorge while she is casting her last spell to end the battle, and their archer is getting chased by the remaining combatant they failed to finish from before because of our interjection. The fight went on according to our favor, and after Clarissa used another huge AoE skill, the enemy was wiped out in the aftermath, with only their archer remaining. ¡°Fucking bounty hunters!¡± he growled. ¡°You bought it onto yourself. You guys made an enemy of the Paragon¡¯s guild Alliance,¡± I stated calmly. He was shocked by my revelation, ¡°W-we didn¡¯t know we garnered the ire of the Paragon guild! We thought the guy was just making an empty threat when he said he was backed by the Paragons! I swear, it was not on purpose! I mean who would believe someone as weak as him to be backed by one of the most powerful guilds in CoA!¡± ¡°On purpose or not, you guys will be hunted by the Alliance whenever they see you for quite some time. You four are already on the blacklist of the Paragons, and it doesn¡¯t help your case that you guys are also Red players,¡± I stated as I gave the signal to Renoir to send the unfortunate guy back to his respawn point. *KACHAKwouldn''t Garou HP: 0% ¡°Ack! I won¡¯t forget this!¡± he made one last threat before he vanished into blue motes of light. ¡°I-isn¡¯t that too cruel? Can¡¯t we just forgive them?¡± Clarissa hesitantly asked. ¡°Yes, I also think it is. But it is a necessary evil. Being too forgiving will allow people to walk all over the guild. You have to find the right balance of compassion and ferocity for a guild to thrive.¡± And Celeste seems to have found the right mix of both, her guild being as strong as it is today is a testament to that. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. While Clarissa was pondering on what I said, Dorge posed a question. ¡°Miss Novo, what will we do with the loot?¡± I glanced at the remaining survivor who helped us in the fight, he seemed to be occupied, likely chatting with his party members who were just slain by the Red players. Aside from giving us his gratitude for the help, he was silent during the whole ordeal. I half expected him to lash out at the one who killed his teammates but he seems reasonable enough to know that it is just part of the game. I identified him. Socratz Hp: 41% Mp: 21% Lvl: 82 Guild: Formidable Fliers Duel wr: 54% Wins: 137 Matches: 254 Team Rank matches wr: Hidden 1v1 Rank matches wr: 50% (Rank 921) Wins: 106 Matches: 212 id#:*********** Introduction: Hello, Nice to meet you. ¡°Split it into two and give the other half to his party,¡± I ordered as I looked pointedly at the guy who helped us. ¡°Are you sure, Miss?¡± ¡°Yes, they also helped us in the fight, therefore it would be uncouth if we took all the loot.¡± Besides, after using their party as bait, this is the best I could do for them. We all proceeded to distribute the loot, with Socratz refusing his share at first, but I managed to convince him nonetheless by pointing out that his teammates needed it after their deaths. ¡°I cannot thank you enough, if there is anything you need, please feel free to ask!¡± Socratz bowed at me gratefully. I nodded back as he said his last goodbyes before disappearing via teleportation. We stayed silent after he left, basking in the success of our mission and helping another player in the process. ¡°You don¡¯t look like it, but you¡¯re a softie, aren¡¯t ya, Miss Novo?¡± Dorge broke the comfortable silence. ¡°I agree, the rumors circulating the guild about you are overblown, Ma¡¯am!¡± Renoir added. ¡°Rumors?¡± I asked curiously. ¡°N-nothing you should worry about, Ma¡¯am!¡± he assured nervously. Hmm, that got me even more curious, I should ask Dust about it if I have the chance. As I was contemplating how to broach the subject with Dust, my intuition flared. I immediately scanned the area, but it was too late to do anything. It happened in an instant, A shadowy figure, swift and elusive, emerges from the darkness, leaving an ethereal trail in its wake. The blade used by the assassin glints with malevolence as it slices through the defenses of Renoir like a knife cutting through butter. Renoir HP: 0% ¡°Huh?¡± was all Renoir could say before he disappeared into blue motes of light. ¡°Dorge! Behind you!¡± I immediately tried to warn our tank but was a second too late. He too fell victim to a dagger aimed at his head. Coupled with a backstab damage multiplier from the assassin¡¯s skillset and his low health from the earlier fight, he died instantly. Dorge HP: 0% ¡°Mr Dorge!¡± Clarissa shouted in panic at the sight of her new friend dying in front of her. ¡°Urk! It looks like I¡¯m done for, Lass. How unlucky, I was looking forward to the drink... I have one final request, please tell my wife¡­ that I love her¡­¡± he intreated before he disappeared into blue motes of light. Tell that to her yourself after you respawn! ¡°Will do, Mr. Dorge¡­ will do¡­¡± Clarissa declared with newfound determination, resolving herself to uphold a sacred promise. I ignored the comedy routine to focus on the assassin. Judging by the frame, he seems to be a man, a little taller than me. He is sporting a stylish rogue set with red color patterns, his face hidden by an ominous mask and cloak. I identified him. CrimsonLotus Hp: 100% Mp: 84% Lvl: 95 Guild: The Order of Damascus Duel wr: Hidden Team Rank matches wr: Hidden 1v1 Rank matches wr: Hidden id#:*********** Introduction: If you want someone dead, you can call me¡­ for a price. I was negligent, I forgot to heal my teammates after the fight letting the assassin dispatch both of them easily. I''m not entirely to blame though. Who would expect there would be an assassin after our party? The enemy is extremely skilled as well, knowing when is the best time to strike and executing it perfectly. He seems to have the same weapon skill as one of Ariadne¡¯s daggers, letting him blend in the shadows for an easier kill. What is his motive for attacking us unprovoked though? I just have to find out myself. Without warning, he went for me. He¡¯s fast! He covered the distance in a short leap, almost catching me off guard. He swiped at me but I easily blocked his twin katar with my staff, it was uncharacteristically slow, different from what I witnessed earlier. It is as if¡­ he was holding back. He made a couple more attacks, I blocked most with my staff and dodged some. The exchange continued until Clarissa finally cast her channeled spell. ¡°Flame Wall!¡± A pillar of flame rose to separate the two of us. A good move by her, If I were a normal spellcaster, I would need to distance myself as fast as possible from my enemy. I¡¯m so proud of you Clarissa, you¡¯re improving exceptionally fast, not only in skills but also in decision-making! As we gained distance from each other, I used the moment of the cease-fire to ask a question. ¡°Who sent you to test me?¡± I calmly spoke. "Hmm? Why do you think I¡¯m here to test you?¡± he inquired in a raspy but jovial voice, befitting his avatar. ¡°I gave you plenty of openings for a fatal strike and you never took one. If you''re not here to kill me, then that can only mean you''re here to test me.¡± Not that I won''t be able to dodge the openings I gave at the last second anyway. He paused shocked at the revelation. ¡°Hehehe¡± he snickered, which turned into a full-blown hearty laugh. ¡°Ahahaha, hah¡­ so he was right, I thought you were just a newbie full of openings, but I was sorely mistaken, hehe. I thought this job was going to be boring, but it seems like I don¡¯t have to hold back anymore!¡± "He?" I asked, not missing the slip of the tongue. ¡±Oops, can''t go revealing my client now or my reputation will take a huge blow. But I''m sure you two would get along well. You both seem like the cunning types after all. A cunning player, huh? Another clue that I''ll gladly take. ¡°I''ll pay you double if you stop your actions and reveal the one who ordered you to gauge my strength.¡± He whistled. "Tempting, but sorry to say I have a reputation to uphold. I always get my job done when I accept it. Forgive me, Girlie, but I don''t go back on my clients. Huh, I didn¡¯t expect that from a sellsword... how admirable. "No worries, it made me respect you for your professionalism. Although I don''t think you have to do this. I don''t have anything to hide for you to try and test me." "We¡¯ll see about that. Fair warning though, I won''t hold back anymore, either you die and lose valuable XP and possibly your prized dual orb, or you reveal the extent of your skills or whatever my client thinks you¡¯re hiding to survive against me, you choose. Also, if you try to log out, I''ll finish you two off before the one-minute grace period of being completely offline.¡± This is bad. Seems like I cannot get away from this diplomatically, he is even resolved to finish us while logging out, a discourteous action for most players. The teleport function is unusable too because we are currently in battle. I''m positive I could escape on my own, but I''ll be damned if I left Clarissa here to fend for herself. Looks like we have no choice but to fight. He lunged at me, intending to make true to his words. I signaled on my back, akin to a baseball player signaling to their teammate, then proceeded to intercept him with my staff. Hopefully, Clarissa saw it, or I would be making a fool out of myself. He intensified his efforts, lunging towards me with swift and precise strikes from his twin katar. I managed to evade his leaping attack and in that moment, I heard the signal from Clarissa, allowing us to seamlessly coordinate our attacks by swiftly tilting my head to the side. A fiery orb whizzed past my cheek, its scorching heat grazing my skin as it narrowly missed me, concealing the impending strike until the last possible moment. The synchronized assault from his blind spot caught the assassin off guard, delivering a powerful blow to his head. ¡°Kha!¡± he exclaimed, a bit disoriented by the mini-explosion. I capitalized on his stunned state by twirling my staff for added momentum and hitting him with it as hard as I could. CrimsonLotus HP: 78% Taking a fireball to the face, along with my full forced blow only took this much health huh? Well, he does have an extreme level and gear advantage against us, so I guess it¡¯s not that too hard to believe. He immediately distanced himself to recover his bearings. ¡°¡­You two have that much synergy, huh? If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve eliminated the mage too.¡± ¡°That is what you get for underestimating your foes,¡± I rebuked. After the fight with the human-like enemy from the abyss dungeon, Clarissa begged me to train her in PvP so that she could be ''useful''. We had been spending most of our time together since the start of our journey leveling up in this world, and I could confidently say that my synergy with her is as good as, or even better than with Liz due to our time spent together playing. Naturally, I taught her signals to use whenever we play with me being the dodge tank and her being the DPS as our combined playstyle. This is just the result of our hard work. It helps that she is also a natural. Who can expect someone to pull off a coordinated play against an opponent of this caliber on their first try? ¡°Heh, I guess you¡¯re right, my mistake for taking this mission lightly,¡± he admitted as he lunged again, ready for round two. I gave Clarissa another signal before readying myself for the bout. We clashed again; my focus was solely on the assassin before me. However, in the midst of my dodges and parries, there was a subtle shift in the assassin''s tactics. With a sudden, calculated move, the assassin used his weapon skill to render himself temporarily invisible while he simultaneously disengaged from our clash, leaving me momentarily off balance. Although he instantly reappeared due to the weapon skill''s restrictions when using it in the proximity of a brawl, I was still a bit too slow to react. I quickly regained my footing, but in that split second, the assassin rushed toward Clarissa with unparalleled swiftness. ¡°Sorry, but I can''t have you interfering with my job, Girlie!¡± he commented at Clarissa''s interference. I smiled, how predictable. Just as he was nearing Clarissa, almost face to face with her, she released her channeled spell. ¡°Self-Destruct!¡± Clarissa exclaimed. *BOOOM An explosion of flame occurred, with Clarissa being in the center of it. Self-Destruct is a high-level Fire magic spell I suggested for her to learn for crucial moments like this in PvP. The spell sacrifices 50% of your max HP and a huge chunk of MP to cast an AoE explosion around yourself, suitable for defensive plays. I already predicted he would go after her that is why I made Clarissa channel the spell. Even if he did not and continued to go after me, I would be able to fend for myself anyway so there is no demerit in executing the play even if it failed. Judging by how close the enemy is in her proximity, he would surely take a fatal blow from that kind of devastating attack. Clarissa HP: 50% CrimsonLotus HP: 11% Still alive huh, If Clarissa¡¯s stats were a little bit higher, I¡¯m sure he would not be able to survive being that near her when the explosion occurred. Well, this outcome suits me just fine. In the aftermath of the explosion, he was lying on the floor, dazed. I immediately dashed towards him and pinned him down before he tried to get up while simultaneously placing my dagger on his neck. ¡°Hehe, no use threatening me with death and loot drops, Lassie. I said it before and I¡¯ll say it again, I won¡¯t expose my employer, no matter what threats you make.¡± ¡°I know, I just want your full surrender and promise that you will not attack us after I release you.¡± He was momentarily shocked by my suggestion. ¡°¡­Are you pulling on my leg now? I tried to kill you both, and you¡¯re just gonna let me go?¡± ¡°No, consider this a favor from me. Give me a huge discount later if I ever need your services.¡± I might be able to use him in the future. All my shady contacts were left in my sister¡¯s account so it doesn¡¯t hurt to make new connections in case I ever need their help. He paused, digesting what I had just implied. ¡°Heh, you drive a good bargain. Even if this job was a flop since you didn¡¯t even show any of your cards, I guess having another potential customer is worth the effort I made for this mission,¡± he said jovially, likely with a grin hidden behind his mask. ¡°So, do you promise to not do anything after I release you?¡± ¡°Of course! You seem like the type I don¡¯t want to mess with, besides, you already signaled for your mage to channel a spell, I¡¯m sure I would die instantly the moment I try to fight you both again,¡± he glanced meaningfully at Clarissa, who is still on high alert after fighting another player in PvP combat. Perceptive too, huh? He also doesn¡¯t seem like the type to go back on his word and attack us, so I think it is safe to release him. Besides, Clarissa is on guard the entire time with her flame wall if anything unsavory happens. After releasing him, we proceeded to exchange contacts. ¡°Just so you know, even if you pay me. I won¡¯t expose whoever sent me after you.¡± ¡°Do not worry about it. Just tell him that I¡¯ll meet him at the tournament. He can ask me whatever he wants to know there so no need for these kinds of unsavory tactics.¡± He froze, his body language revealing his apprehension as he locked eyes with me, his expression concealed behind a mask. It appeared that my guess had struck a chord with him, as the tension in the air became palpable. I responded with a knowing smile, aware that I had hit the mark. Vol. 2 Chapter 8 ????? PoV I move swiftly through the busy city streets of Stormreach, the largest city for max-level players. I seamlessly blend into the crowd of players and NPCs while trying to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. With each step, I meticulously survey my surroundings, remaining vigilant for any potential witnesses. I alter my path, opting for less crowded areas and side streets to evade prying eyes. It was nighttime in the game, therefore the task at hand was easier for me as opposed to daytime. Navigating through the intricate network of alleyways and backstreets, I carefully choose less-traveled routes to minimize the risk of encountering curious onlookers in this huge metropolis. I maintain a steady pace, appearing like an ordinary passerby. I keep a low profile, avoiding direct eye contact with those I pass. My posture and gait are adjusted to exude a casual and nonchalant demeanor, allowing me to seamlessly blend into the bustling crowd so that I can become an anonymous figure that nobody would pay heed to. Finally, I reach the rendezvous point, undetected by prying eyes. Taking a moment to assess the area, I used my weapon skill to blend into the shadows and proceed to enter the mansion that belongs to a high-profile player, the current strategist of the Paragon''s Guild, a guild famous for being founded by the four legendary players who dominated the first AC tournament. *You have entered a Private Zone. *Video Recording disabled *Camera disabled *Audio recording disabled Entering through the window, I was met with a lot of notifications. It¡¯s a feature of private zones of this city, although you have to be extremely wealthy or affluent to even buy one of the establishments that CoA has to offer. Although it costs a lot in-game or in real currency, the advantages it gives are incredibly beneficial to its owners. I advanced quietly, my strides deliberate yet noiseless as I maneuvered through the maze-like hallways. The chilly marble floor under my feet appeared to soak up any hint of sound, assisting my endeavor to stay unnoticed. There are a few NPC guards here and there, but no NPC is a match for an assassin like me. I am the CrimsonLotus after all hehe. I played the part of the assassin that I loved even back in the days of playing stealth games. As I neared the majestic staircase, the faint hum of chatter from the lavish ballroom below reached my ears. NPC guards are able to converse like normal people with the advancement of AI technology giving this game an incredibly realistic feel that I am very grateful for. My target was situated beyond that social assembly, hidden within the private quarters of the mansion, so I moved quietly with my weapon skill activated for better furtiveness. I stealthily navigated the hallways, dodging the sporadic shafts of light that penetrated the dense curtains. The gentle swish of my attire seemed to blend with the muted sighs of the nocturnal wind that slipped in through slightly ajar windows. Arriving at the door to the office of my target, I sneakily walked towards it, extra careful to not make any sound. While mentally praising myself for how good of a stealthy player I am, a sudden noise broke me out of my celebration. Before I could even react, everything became a blur. One moment, I was standing upright, the next, a sudden force propels me off balance. The world spins as I am taken down, the hard ground rushing up to meet me. I made a surprised yelp as I hit the ground, my body pinned beneath an overwhelming weight. There''s a tightness around my wrists, a firm grip that leaves no room for escape. The cold reality of being restrained sinks in, leaving me in a state of shock and disbelief. CrimsonLotus HP: 94% ¡°The fuck!?¡± I exclaimed as I took damage. I identified the culprit of my current predicament. Blitz Hp: 100% Mp: 100% Lvl: 95 Guild: Paragon Duel WR: Hidden Team Rank matches WR: Hidden 1v1 Rank matches WR: 87% (Rank 589) Wins: 3612 Matches: 4152 id#:*********** Introduction: Nice to meet ya! I don¡¯t accept duels, so no invites, okay ;) Shit! Why is this guy here of all people?! I have no chance of escaping now, and if I ever try to fight back, I¡¯ll surely go back to my respawn point. ¡°Who sent you to kill Seer?¡± the guy restraining me aggressively queried. ¡°O-oi chill bro, I''m here to report to him, not assassinate him!¡± I defended myself. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He paused, digesting my words. ¡°Hmm, that guy is up to something shady again huh? Okay, I¡¯ll release you for now. Not that you can assassinate Seer with your skills anyway,¡± his aura shifted to a more carefree one, a huge contrast to his previous state. My pride took a huge blow by his statement. He''s probably right though, my boss is too cunning to kill with my skills alone even if he is not as skilled at combat as this guy. As I was mentally repairing my wounded pride, the door suddenly opened, revealing my employer. ¡°What is this all about?" Seer finally heard the commotion and came to look. As he glanced at both of us, understanding dawned on his face. He then went on to engage in a quick discussion with his teammate. ¡°What are you here for, Blitz?¡± Seer inquired. ¡°I was just here to hang out, but I saw a rat entering the mansion, so I decided to follow it,¡± he jovially replied. What?! How long has he been following me; I did not even notice it. That''s absurd! I was using my weapon skill even before I entered the mansion, granted there were telltale signs to look for. Like the sound I make, my shadow moving, and other little details. Nevertheless, this guy is too perceptive. He is, after all, the protege of the current strongest player in the world, Zetta. I doubt I would last a minute if he fought an assassin like me who thrives in surprise attacks upfront. All CoA players respect skills above all, and this guy is one of the strongest players around. It is even rumored that he beat a pro player one-on-one, but it is not proven yet as he is not the type to brag about his achievements. I surely would not accept an assassination job if ever this guy is involved. ¡°Let''s talk later, I have an important business to attend to,¡± he glanced at me meaningfully. ¡°Oh, I''ll join you guys, I wanna hear what you''re up to this time,¡± he grinned mischievously. Seer pondered for a moment before sighing. ¡°You won''t listen to me anyway, do what you want,¡± he conceded. ¡°Haha, my best friend knows me best!¡± Seer proceeded to lead us both to his office. Inside, the office is illuminated by the gentle radiance of a solitary desk lamp, unveiling itself as a sanctuary of refined aesthetics. Vintage furniture and uncommon artifacts decorated the room, bearing witness to the proprietor''s affluence and clout. He gestured for us to sit on the sofa. Upon heeding his suggestion, I was overwhelmed with a sense of comfort and serenity, I might have shouted foul play on how relaxing the seating apparatus is. Like, holy shit this is one good couch! How much does this even cost!? I was pulled out of my musings as my employer finally addressed me. ¡°Has anyone followed you here?¡± "Who do you think I am? I''m one of the stealthiest assassins around!" I proudly proclaimed. He looked at Blitz. ¡°Didn¡¯t see anyone else around. He¡¯s not exaggerating. He is stealthy, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Receiving praise from someone who discovered me as if my skills were nothing gives me mixed feelings about that. Although my employer is as cautious as ever, borderline paranoid even. Meeting here means I cannot record anything that can be traced back to him nor screenshot any chat backlogs from messengers. How meticulous and untrusting this guy is. ¡°Then, what did you find out?¡± he went straight to the point. I paused for a moment, deciding on how to break the bad news first. ¡°I, uh, I think she knows you''re the one who sent me.¡± His eyes narrowed at that. I gulped. "Really now? How so?" "I might have... given a few hints... unintentionally of course¡­ Boss,¡± I shrunk at every word. Adamant that this would be the last time he would ever hire me, I looked at his reaction. He seems¡­ unfazed. As if he expected it. ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°A-aren¡¯t you, a bit concerned that she found out so easily?¡± I hesitantly asked. He pondered my question for a moment, before answering. ¡°Hmm, if she is indeed as astute as I believe she is, it is not much of a shock. There are only a handful of people who knew their whereabouts at that time while they were on a guild quest. Someone who is acquainted with Vinnie and can acquire critical information regarding our guild''s quests significantly narrows down the possibilities for her to predict accurately. There are also a few who might have a motive. Me for example who might be their opponent for the upcoming tournament, therefore, it is within the expected conclusion if she saw things through,¡± he helpfully explained. ¡°Isn¡¯t that bad for us? Her guild is part of our alliance, right?¡± Blitz chimed in, a hint of worry appearing on his relaxed features. ¡°Not really, no. Regardless of whether she knows or not, all she possesses is circumstantial evidence, all without any concrete proof. Besides, I only sent you to test her skills, not PK her.¡± Oh shit. "I uhmm..." "I doubt she will move that recklessly even if she knows we are the ones behind it. If she ever decides to spread this information, it will be her word against mine, and mine has more weight. Also, based on her actions to date, I don''t believe she has any intention of doing so. My sources indicate that she appears to strongly support the alliance between our guilds. I doubt she would risk jeopardizing it over something of this magnitude." ¡°Still, you¡¯re exploiting her fondness for the alliance we have, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, Seer,¡± Blitz stated disapprovingly. ¡°Perhaps, but it is necessary. All is fair on the battlefield after all.¡± ¡°Humph,¡± Blitz showed his disagreement. ¡°Anything else? Or would you rather say that this investment was a complete loss for me?¡± he redirected the subject. ¡°O-of course not, Boss! I got some good recordings of our fight.¡± ¡°Give it to me,¡± he ordered. I slid the memory fragment to his table, a tradable piece of recording. He picked it up casually before placing it in his inventory. ¡°She excels in melee combat survival, but the coordination between the girl and her teammate is the one that truly caught me off guard.¡± I helpfully summarized the battle. ¡°Oh, and there is one thing you should know too.¡± I continued. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I didn''t land a single blow against her, even while I was giving it my all.¡± His eyes narrowed at my statement. I¡¯m sure he is speculating on the absurdity of that too. I, a highly capable assassin, failed to land a hit against a support? Granted I underestimated her at first but still, that girl¡¯s skill is out of the norm for support players. ¡°Oh, before I forget, she also sent me a message for you,¡± I added. My employer stared at me curiously. ¡°What is it again¡­¡± I tried to recall. ¡°That she will meet you at the qualifiers and you can ask her whatever you want to know there, and no need for this kind of boring tactics, or something,¡± I said what I remembered. Seer''s eyes seem to twitch at my statement. ¡°Heheh¡± Blitz snickered, ¡°I like that girl already. I can see why Ariadne is so fond of her.¡± ¡°Your orders, Boss?¡± I asked after a while. ¡°Nothing for now. I don''t want to escalate things by sending more assassins after her to test the capacity of her skills. Everyone has their boiling point after all. Besides, I already have a grasp of how good she is if even you cannot land a single blow to her. More prodding would just be unnecessary, even a demerit if it affects the alliance as a whole.¡± That''s good. I don''t think I can accept another quest involving that girl. But man, it seems like I''m caught between a rock and a hard place. My boss is incredibly sharp and intimidating, while that girl possesses an air of mystery that is equally unsettling. I hope these two lots find a common ground as I would surely loathe to be in the middle of their cold war. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Seer¡¯s PoV As the man disappeared into the shadows, I pondered the current information I had. If she is that good, why is she hiding her true strength? Why is she in a supporting role? Does she have a main account she can use if she ever needs to take the lead and fight herself? This will not do; I need to prepare a contingency plan for her. I already have another enigma I''m preparing against; this revelation made my work just a whole lot harder. ¡°Is it really necessary to pay heed to a support player this much?¡± my teammate and best friend broke me out of my musings. I calmly stared at him, opting for what to say to convince him. ¡°Let me ask you a question, have you watched any of their team¡¯s recordings?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say I have,¡± he nonchalantly replied. ¡°Well, I have seen it, all of them,¡± I stated, as a matter of fact. He whistled. ¡°Hardworking as ever, huh? And? What did you find that made you this wary of her?¡± ¡°In all of the matches they had throughout the qualifiers, she never once received even a single point of damage,¡± I declared ominously. Blitz froze at my statement. None in our team, who is said to be the favorite to win the tournament was even able to accomplish a feat like that. It is not uncommon for veterans, or even for pro players to let their guard down and tanking a single blow or a combo. But this girl¡¯s focus on the battlefield coupled with her survival skills are extremely unsettling. An unkillable support who can heal her teammates. I loathe to fight someone like her in the tournament. ¡°Maybe¡­ she is just well protected by her team? I think Lucy could do it if Ariadne is always looking out for her, sacrificing offense in favor of defense.¡± I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s the opposite for them, her partner always goes full aggressive, always leaving her on her own to fend for herself.¡± He fell silent, running out of bullets to refute the absurdity of the girl. ¡°What do you plan to do? Ariadne is extremely fond of that girl she would literally kill us in-game if she knew you¡¯re doing this behind her back. I also don¡¯t like you taking drastic measures against them, they are allied to us, after all.¡± ¡°I will set this matter aside for now as I also do not want to cause discord in the alliance nor garner Ariadne¡¯s ire. But if the girl¡¯s words hold truth, we will both encounter each other at the tournament. I will devise a contingency plan based on the results of that meeting.¡± Hopefully, I am just being paranoid. Although, Tactical always reminds me to trust my guts. And my intuition is screaming at me that this girl poses a huge threat. Vol. 2 Chapter 9 *Ring, Ring, Ri- I smashed the off button for my alarm before it even had the chance to wake me up completely. Not today, my arch nemesis... not today. I was mentally delighted with myself for my flawless victory in a hard-fought battle before I returned to Dreamland for a well-earned respite. *Ring~ ring~ ring~ My phone rang again with a melodious tone this time. This tone could only mean someone is calling, who could it be this early in the morning? I glanced at the caller and saw Liz''s name on it. Then, it dawned on me. Like a flashback of a detective deducing the entire evil plot of the antagonist with clues acquired throughout the story. Why did I even make an alarm in the first place on a weekend? Why is my alarm so early (which unfortunately backfired into me turning it off instantly)? And why is Liz calling me at this time of the day? My mind became clear and my adrenaline rushed, making me remember the significance of waking up early today. Today is the day that our trip to LA would transpire. I frantically looked at the time, hoping in my heart that it was still not the time for the departure. Fortunately, my prayer was granted. I still have 20 minutes left to prepare... phew, I dodged a figurative bullet there. I cleared my voice first before even attempting to answer. Who would have thought that my experience with Mom for always calling me to wake me up would help me develop important split-decision-making skills on what to do here? When I deemed myself ready enough, I answered the call. "Liz, what''s up?" I asked as casually as I could, being extra careful to leave out all the grogginess from my voice. ¡°Oh, just checking up on you to see if you''re already awake.¡± Does she know I only had just woken up!? Am I that obvious?! No calm down, she doesn''t have any definitive proof here. ¡°I''ve been awake a while ago. Almost done getting ready," I lied to save face. I''m supposed to be the mature one out of us both, I cannot appear the least bit irresponsible in front of her. ¡°That¡¯s great! Rana and I are about to arrive there in a couple of minutes, wait for us there, okay?¡± ¡°S-sure... I''ll just wait here... almost fully prepared for the trip..." "Yeah, see you later!" she ended the call, oblivious to my current state of unpreparedness. As the call ended, I hurried forth. As fast as I have ever been. I throw the blankets off and scramble out of bed, my heart pounding in my chest with how little time I have left to get ready. I rush to the bathroom to take a quick shower. Hygiene is important after all, no matter how in a rush I am. After a quick clean, I immediately moved to the sink brushing my teeth while simultaneously trying to comb my hair. Now that is done, I moved to get dressed. I hastily pulled my clothes from the drawers, wearing the first clothes I found that vaguely matched. I can hear the tick-tock of the clock in my head, each second slipping away. I packed light, only clothes to wear, and the necessities I needed for the week at the venue. The hotel we will be staying in is fully paid for by the event organizers. I heard rumors from Ray that the whole 5-star hotel was reserved by the management. I doubt they would be going that far, but considering the success of their advertisement team, they might do it to deter the paparazzi from going in and booking rooms just to take interviews or photos of the participants. Our safety is their responsibility after all and having a lot of people in the hotel would be a security hazard. I already have my e-wallet but I still bought paper money just in case. I also did not forget my trusted pillow. A pillow is needed for me to sleep on a long drive after all. It has saved me in a lot of situations especially when I needed to pretend to sleep to avoid awkward conversations. As I was close to getting ready, my doorbell suddenly rang. Wondering who it could be, I checked the camera app on my phone to find out the identity of the intruder. What I observed was my friend, her face lit up with anticipation, prepared for her long-awaited journey. I pondered momentarily how she managed to bypass security, but then I remembered that she was the only one to visit me because I didn¡¯t have any other friends that do¡­ how depressing. The guards must have let her in cause she is the only one who occasionally visits to hang out with me(uninvited I might add) and I''m sure the guards must have known her by her charismatic looks and incredibly sociable aura by now. It doesn''t help that her charming personality and friendliness can easily get people to lower their guard against her. If she ever decided to be a serial killer with her social skills, she might become the most dangerous one in the history of serial killers. Wait, why am I even thinking of serial killers? I sighed to myself. My lack of sleep is making my brain think of weird stuff again. I hastened to finish my arrangements so as not to keep my friend waiting too long. It would be exceedingly rude to do that to a guest, especially Liz. Once I had completed my final preparations, I promptly moved to the door to open it. ¡°You didn''t have to come all the way here to fetch me. You could have simply called, and I would have come down to the ground floor to meet you,¡± I pointed out. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine! I also wanted to say hello to the guards on my way here, also to give Lanny a souvenir I promised to give to her when I dropped by.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Lanny?¡± ¡°You know, the woman next to your room? I met her a while ago when we went up at the same time using the same elevator, don¡¯t tell me you have not met her yet?¡± she briefly explained while looking at me with those judging eyes. What the heck!? She''s even more familiar with my neighbor than I have been in the past month! Just how formidable is this girl''s social prowess?! I can¡¯t let her know I haven¡¯t even talked to my next-room neighbor a single time I¡¯ve been here! ¡°O-oh- you mean Lan? I usually call her Lan to shorten it ''cause we are close.¡± I reasoned. ¡°Makes sense, even you are not unsociable enough to not even know your neighbor¡¯s name, right?¡± she made an innocuous joke, which in fact, turned out to be the truth. ¡°O-of course! Anyways, I¡¯m done preparing. Are we ready to head out?¡± I changed the subject to not get cornered. ¡°Yeah, all good. I¡¯ll help you carry your luggage,¡± she cheerfully suggested. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I got it.¡± I only have two bags anyway that I could easily carry. There is no need for her to help me with such an easy task. ¡°Nope!¡± She playfully took the other bag I left on the floor when I opened the door, the heavier one at that¡­ how chivalrous. ¡°Alright¡­ thanks for the help¡­¡± I made sure to thank her for her efforts. ¡°Of course, anytime! I¡¯m your one and only partner after all!¡± she declared while giving me a jovial wink. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Leaving my condominium, we made our way towards the parking lot located just outside. Liz took the lead, carrying my luggage, as we approached a silver-themed SUV. Looking at the car, its exterior gleams under the sunlight, reflecting a metallic silver hue that catches the eye. The smooth lines and curves of the SUV''s body give it a streamlined and aerodynamic appearance. I do not know of the model or whatever the car is called since I¡¯m no expert, but I could tell it is an electric self-driving car popular nowadays. The window of the car opened, revealing a mature beauty on the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Oh my~, your friend looks more stunning in person, Liz. She might make it big in the modeling industry in the future. Perhaps she could give me her autograph before she becomes famous?¡± This witch! Stop it with the autograph already! And please refrain from making such insinuations! "Stop being weird, Rana. You''re embarrassing me in front of my friend," Liz complained. I didn''t know you were even capable of being embarrassed, Liz. Still, good job reigning your witch of a cousin in, please keep it up! We unceremoniously entered the car with Liz riding shotgun and me in the backseat. ¡°It''s good to finally meet you in person Katherine~¡± Dust greeted me in her usual singsong voice as we settled down. ¡°You know~ I heard much about you from Liz, she keeps talking about you non-stop whenever she has the chance.¡± ¡°Am not,¡± Liz instantly rebutted. ¡°You are though, remember when we were talking about good deodorant products? The topic instantly went to you wanting to have a sniff at Miss Katherine''s armpits." Liz instantly became beat red at that. Meanwhile, I instantly went on a guarded stance with my arms crossed in an attempt to cover my entire body to protect myself from her problematic fetish. I stared at Liz, unamused. I didn''t know I had such a dangerously perverted friend. Liz glanced at my judging eyes with a pleading look. "I-I swear it''s not like that Kat!" she turned back to her cousin, eyes full of indignation. "At least add some context without making me look like a total sicko! We were talking about how someone smells without deodorant at that time! I just happen to use Kat as an example! And I never specifically said that I want a sniff at her armpits!" Liz cried at the injustice of it all. Whew, good thing I''m not on the receiving end of her teasing this time. Good luck surviving this journey, Liz. The drive to our next stop went... not uneventful to say the least. One thing is for sure, Liz probably regretted bringing me along to the ride with her cousin now. Still, it was a positive experience for me. It''s delightful to know that Liz still sleeps with a stuffed toy she named Eggy up to this day. That is honestly too adorable for my mature imagination. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As we arrived at a parking place close to where we were supposed to meet Chu, Liz opened the door of the car. "I''ll just go get our last passenger, want to come with me, Kat?" she queried before she got out of the car. "Sure," I nodded as I got out of the vehicle. Being left alone inside a car with a serial killer inside seems like a better choice than being left alone with this dangerous woman with how she brutally massacred Liz''s dignity a while ago. "You girls can take your time~. We''re still ahead of the schedule, no need to rush. I''ll just wait here for you two~," she waved us both goodbye. "Sorry, you had to hear most of those embarrassing things. She honestly likes to exaggerate things so please don''t get any weird ideas about whatever she says." "I don¡¯t mind. I already knew of her personality way back when we met alone at her office. I don''t really take most of what she says seriously anymore," I reassured her. Thinking about it now, it was an unforgettable experience for me, with her expertly trapping me and deducing that Yuusha, my sister''s account, is somehow related to me. "That''s good. I spent a lot of time with her so I got used to her antics by now. Although, I didn''t expect someone as serious as you to get used to her this fast." That explains a lot of things. I¡¯m sure if I had a cousin like her, I would be as thick-skinned as Liz too. Not that I would ever hope to be related to that fox¡­ never in a million years. Our walk continued, with us chatting at the same time as we headed to our destination. We reached a suburban house tucked away at the end of the street. Its weathered exterior showed signs of age, with patches of peeling paint that exposed the worn wood underneath. The porch, once lively, now sagged slightly under the weight of time. A makeshift clothesline extended from one corner of the house to a slightly tilted pole, displaying laundry that appeared to have endured numerous washes. I¡¯ve never been to this suburban part of the city. Is this his home? I was a bit shocked by the state of the house. It was run down, different from what I imagined a classy guy like to be living in. ¡°I don¡¯t see any door Cam anywhere. Should we knock or shout?¡± Liz caught my attention. ¡°Please don¡¯t disturb the neighbors this early in the morning. Just phone call Chu to notify him that we arrived,¡± I pleaded. ¡°Oh, nice idea,¡± Liz approved as she tried to call our resident Edge lord. Liz held her phone near her ears for a couple of seconds before she spoke. ¡°Hello, Chu¡­ yes¡­ ok, we will wait here,¡± Liz put down her phone before turning to me. ¡°He said that we should wait here.¡± Well, that was a hospitable gesture. Although, it is to be expected from him after all. Liz and I spent the time chatting while waiting for our VIP. A minute or two later, the door opened revealing our last member of this trip. ¡°Morning Chu!¡± Liz cheerfully greeted him. After greeting Liz back, he turned to me with an acknowledging nod. A well-mannered gesture that I politely returned. ¡°Are your parents home? I want to meet them before we go!¡± Liz requested. What?! That doesn''t sound good. His parents strike me as strict. I wouldn''t want to get scolded by befriending him. I got to reign in Liz¡¯s penchant for socializing in this one. ¡°We don''t want to impose, and I''m sure Rana is waiting for us, Liz.¡± ¡°Let her wait, this is payback for earlier. Besides she already said that we''re ahead of schedule,¡± Liz expertly refuted my attempt to lessen our time interacting with others. Thankfully, it was Chu who rejected the suggestion. "She''s not here, perhaps another time. Let''s get going," he quickly dismissed, to the point of almost being apprehensive at the idea of us meeting his parents. Liz quickly bounced back, leading the way back to the SUV. After a couple of minutes of walking, we arrived at the destination where the fox was waiting outside the car in the parking area, e-cigar at hand. She observed Chu with her perceptive eyes as we got close. ¡°So, this is your last member? Oh my~ Liz, you forgot to mention that he is quite the looker.¡± ¡°Please stop with the teasing already,¡± Liz sighed, a bit fed up. ¡°Thank you for letting me join the trip,¡± Chu, for his part, politely showed his gratitude towards the undeserving fox. ¡°Oh~ no need to be so formal around me, just treat me like your big sister, okay?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll try.¡± We all entered the car, ready to go after Chu arranged his luggage at the back of the SUV. "Well then, let''s get the road trip going~" Rana Cheered as she stepped on the pedal. ¡°Yeah!¡± Liz exclaimed. Both Chu and I kept silent, us both situated in the backseat. As much as I like to say I¡¯m on close terms with him¡­ sadly, I¡¯m not. We rarely engage in conversation, even during the scrim matches we play, as both of us are rather quiet individuals. I usually only talk with Liz and occasionally, Renz. On the other hand, he mostly converses with Renz as they both share some sort of rivalry. Renz strives to defeat him, while Chu is determined not to lose and be surpassed. Well, this is kinda awkward. "So, uh, nice weather we have today," I instinctively blurted out to reduce the awkwardness, resulting in a more awkward atmosphere. He looked at me like I had grown a second head before replying, ¡°¡­Yes, it is.¡± After his curt response, he returned to gazing out of the window, the awkwardness hanging on us like a dark cloud, refusing to dissipate. It''s as if time itself has decided to slow down, prolonging the discomfort indefinitely. At least I tried, you know! Note to future self: no talking about the weather as ice breakers. I mentally sighed. This is going to be a long trip. Welp, good thing I brought my trusted pillow to get me out of this situation. And maybe even catch up on my recently interrupted sleep. Vol.2 Chapter 10 -Up... wak-... Kat... time to wake up Kat, we''re here," a soothing voice whispered in my ears. "Huaah?!" I made a weird sound, a bit disoriented from someone abruptly waking me up with such nearby proximity I stood straight returning to reality from the dreamland. I surveyed my surroundings and saw Liz giggling right beside me. "I thought you were a bit harder to wake than that," she teased. Anyone would rouse as easily as I did if you breached their personal space! I rubbed my eyes as a final act to situate myself to the real world. "Where are we?" I curiously asked after I got my bearings. "We''re in a town called Hawkins, Rana suggested we rest here for the night since she is on familiar terms with the owner of this place," she added helpfully. I glanced at my phone for the time, 9:47 p.m. already huh? It seems that it is a bit late. Rana might be too sleepy to continue driving so she suggested taking a rest for the night. Sure, she can just leave it on autopilot while she naps since she has a self-driving car, but that would be unethical and a bit dangerous. Also, it is better to relax in a proper bed since we are not in a rush to arrive at the event. It is still Saturday after all and the opening ceremony takes place on Monday. We have a whole day to settle in after arriving in LA tomorrow. I got out of the car and noticed Chu and Rana entering the hotel, their belongings in tow. The hotel had a contemporary appearance, albeit smaller than what I''m accustomed to. However, given that we''re in a remote town, this was not surprising. Liz and I proceeded inside after collecting our belongings. I decided to leave my larger luggage behind since we were only staying for one night. After all, there was no need to bring an entire week''s worth of clothes. As we entered the hotel lobby, we were immediately greeted by the warm and inviting atmosphere. The soft lighting, elegant decor, and soothing background music created a sense of relaxation and comfort. The guard also welcomed us with a friendly smile, and I reciprocated with a polite nod. Walking further we saw Rana already conversing with the receptionist, besides her was Chu carrying the extra luggage¡­ a chivalrous act that didn¡¯t go unnoticed by me. ¡°Oh my~ that is a reasonable price. Then, I''ll take 4 solo rooms if you don''t mind.¡± The receptionist flashed Rana with a charming smile. "Certainly Ma''am, please wait a second." As she checked the computer, her expression altered slightly, indicating that there might be a minor issue. ¡°Oh~ is there a problem perhaps?" Rana, noticing the change in the receptionist''s countenance, asked what was on my mind. ¡°I apologize, Ma''am, but it appears there''s a minor issue with the booking. Currently, we only have three single rooms available.¡± Hmm, it seems that many people are traveling to LA and choosing this hotel for its high star rating. Additionally, the limited number of hotels in this small town doesn''t help either. It could also be that this hotel is relatively smaller compared to others, but that might just be my subjective perception since I¡¯m used to much larger hotels. "Hmm, that is quite a conundrum," Rana pondered for a solution. "Might I suggest that you take two solo rooms and one double room?" the receptionist helpfully proposed. "What do you guys think," Rana turned to us both, asking for our input on the matter. ¡°That sounds like a good idea! Kat and I could share the room!¡± Hmm, a sleepover with a friend huh? That reminds me, I never had any form of sleepovers whatsoever before... how depressing. "I''m fine with it, you''re the one paying after all," I agreed, a little bit excited to finally experience one with a close friend at that. "Okay~ then that''s settled then, 2 solo rooms and a single double room." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The room we are staying in looks clean and tidy, as a proper hotel should. The double bed looked inviting, adorned with crisp, white linens and plump pillows. The room was well-appointed with modern amenities, including a flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge stocked with refreshments, and a cozy seating area by the window. ¡°Whoah! How nice!¡± Liz cheered. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s passable, I guess,¡± I tried to dampen her over-reaction. ¡°Not everyone is as affluent as you, Kat. Stop floundering about how rich you are,¡± Liz teased. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Wha- that was not my intention, I¡¯m only stating what¡¯s on my mind,¡± I countered. ¡°Yes, yes,¡± she ignored me and continued to unpack her belongings. After a moment she took off her top, which caught me entirely off guard. Wait, why you''re undressing now!? I reflexively turned around, not used to this kind of show. Well, I guess it¡¯s normal for two girls to undress in front of each other, but not for me. Going to a traditionalistic private high school composed of mostly wealthy students made me a little more conservative than I would like to be. Therefore, seeing another person, even of the same sex undressing in front of me is a new experience on its own. It also didn''t help that I never joined any after-school sports club so I had little to no experience seeing another person changing outfit right in front of me. "Want to take the shower first?" Liz queried, oblivious to my inner thoughts. Shower!? How bold, Liz! This was not what I had in mind when I thought we would have a sleepover! "Y-you go first, I want to explore the hotel a little more," I made a quick excuse to get out of my current predicament. "Sure, but don''t go outside the hotel, it might be dangerous outside this time of the night," she worriedly advised. How thoughtful, but I can handle my own. Still, I nodded at her to not make her worry before leaving the room. Taking Liz''s warning into consideration, I decided to keep my exploration of the modest hotel to a minimum. I took a leisurely stroll around the entire floor and then ventured down to the ground floor, where I was pleasantly surprised to find a delightful small pool. I occupied myself as best as I could, hoping that Liz would already finish her shower after I was done with my tour. Arriving on the rooftop, I stumbled upon a charming terrace that offered a mesmerizing view of the town skyline. It appeared to be the ideal place to relax and savor a cup of coffee or, better yet, tea, while immersing myself in the picturesque scenery. Looking around, there were already a few people. It wasn''t surprising, given the stunning nighttime view. However, one person in particular caught my attention. Positioned at the farthest side of the rooftop, leaning against the guardrail looking at the distance, was Chu, our resident Edgelord. He stood there, lost in thought, embodying the essence of edginess. Initially, I thought that he was just being awkward around me. However, after observing him throughout the day, it became apparent that he was lost in his thoughts most of the time. Coupled with his attitude back then at the dean''s office, I could only conclude that he has a problem that keeps wearing him down mentally. At first, I was inclined to believe that time would resolve his issues. However, his current state might have a negative impact on the team''s morale. I need to take action, or at the very least, lend him an ear to alleviate the burden of whatever was weighing on his mind. I silently approached him while thinking of a better icebreaker this time, can''t be talking about the weather when it''s nighttime anyway. "A lovely view isn''t it?" I calmly asked. I settled on what is irrefutably an artistic scenery to catch his attention. All the while situating myself on the edge of the guard rail next to him. He turned his head towards my direction. Realizing it was me, he responded with an airy voice. ¡°¡­It is. The town seems so peaceful¡­ it makes you wonder what life would be like without any problems,¡± he somberly stated all the while staring off far into the distance, wearing the melancholic face of someone who burdens the entire world on his shoulders. Hold up! Let me stop you right there! I can only handle as much edginess as the next person, please tone it down a bit or I will get overloaded with your edginess. Still, this is no time to hesitate. At least I got a better response from what I got earlier today so might as well ask what was bothering him. ¡°You seemed out of it since earlier, what''s on your mind?¡± I queried. He looked at me a bit hesitant before responding. ¡°...It''s... nothing.¡± Judging from the way he acts, it seems more severe, possibly indicating a conflict with someone close to him. Considering that he needed assistance in getting to LA, the most plausible conclusion that comes to mind is that he quarreled with his parents. "Couldn''t fool me. Is it familial problems? Like your parents not wanting you to participate in the tournament?" I pushed him a little. Sometimes, a little force is needed to break someone out of their shell. A charming girl who recently became a cherished friend taught me that firsthand. He stared at me; surprise evident on his face. Seems like I was on point. ¡°...It seems that very few can be hidden easily from you.¡± ¡°You think too highly of me. I do think I am a good listener though. You can tell me what is on your mind if you like. I¡¯m sure it will do you good,¡± I suggested. I heard it helps mentally if you talk about your problems with someone, not that I have much experience to begin with, considering my lack of close friends. He stayed silent... opting whether to say it or not. I also kept my silence to let him gather his thoughts. Being too forceful here could backfire. "...Your guess is right. Mother thinks what I am doing now, joining the tournament, won''t be good for my future, and I fought her over it." ¡°I see...¡± It''s possible that his mother holds traditional views and places a strong emphasis on the importance of education as the key to a successful future. This mindset is not uncommon in certain Asian cultures where academic achievements are highly valued. I cannot completely comprehend their views, but I do get where they are coming from. ¡°Do you think I''m wrong?¡± he queried, looking for validation. ¡°Maybe? Who really knows what is right or wrong with that kind of thing?¡± He tilted his head, a bit confused at what I was getting at. ¡°What I mean is, nobody could predict the future. I don''t know your circumstances, but I think your mother just cares for you too. Parents have plenty of experience in life that we barely know and they want to share it with their kids so that they do not make the same mistakes that they do.¡± However, one could argue that their experience and perspective may be outdated, considering the differences in timelines between generations and how society advances at an exponential rate. Even the YouTubers back then never thought of making videos as a source of income unlike it is now today where many young talents live off making content. But that¡¯s beside the point. ¡°Then, you want me to quit playing CoA, just focus on my studies, and give up on my dreams of being a professional e-sports player?" he challenged; a bit confrontational. It seems that his goal holds significant importance to him, considering the emotional response he''s displaying. It''s quite a departure from the edgy and uncaring persona I''m familiar with. I paused, carefully choosing my words. ¡°¡­What I''m trying to say is that I think you both need to make an effort to understand each other. I can''t be sure, but I think that your mother cares for you too. Talk it out when you both are in the right state of mind. Then make your decisions by then. Your Mother is important to you, right? Then make an effort for it to stay that way,¡± I calmly suggested. He stared at me; a bit astonished. Looks like I hit the mark. Well, it isn''t that hard to see from my perspective. It''s clear that he deeply values his relationship with his mother, as the impact of their fight has affected him so profoundly. If he didn''t treasure her, he could have easily brushed off the disagreement and moved on. However, worrying this much suggests that his mother holds a special place in his heart and that their relationship is important to him. I could kind of relate. Familial bonds are important to every individual, some more than others. My sister was the one I cherished the most, after all. "You''re right," he acknowledged. "My mother has always been strict, but I understand that she does it out of love and concern for my well-being. We have faced many hardships, and she has always worked tirelessly to provide me with the essentials I need to succeed in life,¡± he stated, a hint of nostalgia seeping out of his voice. He paused briefly before continuing, "While I know she cares for me, my dream is also important to me. I''m uncertain about how to persuade her to listen to me and support my aspirations." I pondered for a while on what to do about his conundrum. However, there is really just one solution to his problem that comes to the forefront of my mind. One that can hit two- no, not only two but multiple birds with just a single stone. "It''s simple, really. You can convince her easily by winning the tournament and proving that you could be a successful pro gamer. I''m sure she will support you if she sees both your determination and the results of your actions." His eyes shone at what I said. It seems that he already knows what he needs to do, but just needs some sort of validation that he is doing the right thing. I''m glad I could be the one to give it to him. "Winning the tournament, huh? I know how good most of the participants in the tournament are. We have minimal chance at best with how skilled they are. Do you really think we have a chance?¡± he voiced out, hopeful of a positive response. Seems like this little talk went better than expected. I can finally see the shine in his eyes. The only thing left for me to do now is to assure him. One final push, Kat, you got this. "Please don''t worry too much about it. Just play your best, and I''ll make sure we win the entire thing... I can promise you that," I pledged not just for him, but also for myself. He analyzed me for a moment, looking for any hint of deception. He found none. His lips curved slightly upwards, the very first time I saw him give an honest smile towards me. "I''ll hold on to that promise." Looks like the number person I have sworn to help win the tournament has doubled. I just hope Renz doesn''t need reassurance like Liz and Chu did. Vol. 2 Chapter 11 "You got the goods?" I asked as silently as I could, being extra careful not to let anyone overhear. The hotel room is not soundproof after all. ¡°Do you really have to be this discrete?¡± Rana stared at me, unamused. ¡°Of course. There''s no way I''m taking chances of anyone finding out about this." I was in a bit of high spirits after talking with Chu. I think it made me a lot closer to him after he opened up. Wait, it''s better than that, have I possibly made another friend?! It seems that I''m on a roll lately so much so that I''m making a bunch of friends. Following my conversation with him, I decided to pay a visit to Rana''s room. I intended to bug her a bit as retribution for all the times she had teased me. But mainly just, to collect the reward she had promised me. ¡°Even with your mature act, you seem childish now that I get to know you better,¡± she stared at me, a bit entertained by my actions. ¡°How rude. I am mature for my age. Well, I think I''m more mature than you at least,¡± I rebuked. ¡°Of course~ If you say so.¡± It might be just me, but I can act without being on guard around her. Maybe because she already knows personal things about me that other people don''t... or probably because she is just that good at letting people let their guard around her because of her antics. It also helps that she doesn''t seem like a bad person. Sly, and manipulative sometimes for sure, but not maliciously evil, maybe even a bit kind-hearted if I''m being honest. After shuffling through her belongings, she took something from her purse and gave it to me. ¡°Here you go as promised~ another cute picture of Liz from when we went to a carnival once. But I have to say, it appears that you do have a soft spot for these kinds of things. Initially, I thought I might have been wrong in my assumptions, but it turns out that my guess on your hobbies was on point.¡± ¡°This is simply what good friends do, and I''m just being an exemplary friend to Liz. My only intention in collecting her pictures is to know more about my close friend and the environment she was raised. That''s the sole reason behind my actions, nothing more," I countered as I placed the photo in my pocket, tucked away safely for me to treasure forever. She gave me a solemn look. ¡°...You didn''t have a lot of friends growing up, did you?¡± What are you even implying by that?! And also please stop looking at me with pitying eyes! ¡°Anyway, I''m going back now that I got what I came for,¡± I said as I went for the door. Besides, she seems tired from the trip earlier. I''ll let her rest for now since she still has to drive us tomorrow to the venue. After opening the door and stepping out of the room she finally spoke out. ¡°Alright, good night~ Don''t be too loud though so you won''t disturb the other guests. Also, be gentle with Liz, she''s still inexperienced after all.¡± I looked at her in disbelief and saw her give me her usual playful smile. "Wha- wha---- what are you even implying?!" I exclaimed. ¡°Oh my~ I mean, you both are at that age where you two get... curious, right? So, enjoy the night~!" she teased as she closed the door on me, leaving me standing in the hallway... stunned. My mind was racing thinking of the possibilities of why she said those words. Is she telling me Liz has plans for me tonight?! Is she implying that Liz swings that way?! Cause I sure don''t though... right? Wait, Kat, that is just one of her antics. Don''t let her get through you. She''s just messing with you. Yes, that''s more plausible given her personality so don¡¯t think about it too much. I walked slowly to my... our shared hotel room with my mind going overdrive. I didn''t know how long it took. I was so lost in deep thought about what Rana had said and the potential implications that I found myself completely unaware of the passing time. Eventually, I arrived at my intended destination without even noticing it. I stood in front of the room for a while. After gathering my courage, I hesitantly flashed my hotel key card to unlock the room. After that, I slowly opened the door. Inside, what I saw was a sight for sore eyes. Liz in her nightwear, the novelty of it all has me speechless, and what Rana had said earlier echoed through the depths of my mind. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Oh, you''re finally back! You took so long that I was getting worried. I was about to look for you since you forgot to bring your phone," her words brought me back to reality. ¡°U-uh, S-sorry, my bad..." I replied, unable to form any concrete thoughts while trying my best to hide my embarrassment by not looking at her directly. I walked towards the double bed while simultaneously taking off my high-heeled shoes and then plopped myself in the clean fabric headfirst, extra careful to hide my reddening face in the comfort of the soft pillow. Wait, Kat, you''re overthinking things again. I already know that Rana is just messing with me. She is probably laughing out loud in her room with how effective her words were. Calm down, breathe in... breathe out. ¡°Aren''t you going to take a shower?¡± she queried. What?! So that you can take advantage of me while I''m bathing?! How bold! ¡°I''ll take one tomorrow, I''m kind of tired so I''ll just sleep for now,¡± I reasoned. ¡°Okay... but are you not going to change into your sleeping attire?¡± What?! So that you could take advantage of me while I''m changing?! How bold! ¡°I- no, I want to sleep wearing this. It is more comfortable for me," I lied. ¡°Oh, okay. you do seem pretty exhausted from the trip. I''ll turn off the lights then so you can rest.¡± True to her words, she turned off all the lights in the field of my vision. The ambiance of the dark room adds to the feeling of nervousness that has been growing ever since Rana planted the idea in my head. Liz, after turning all the lights, went to the other side of the double bed... right next to me. As she settled down, I could hear her breathing, indicating that she was facing my side of the bed and was very close to me at that. How can I possibly sleep now with this kind of atmosphere!? ... ... ... ... ... ¡­ I didn''t know for how long I lay there frozen in place. I was extra cautious, making sure to control my breathing and avoid any sudden movements as if hiding from a predator. Time seemed to pass, though I couldn''t be bothered to keep track. It could have been ten minutes or maybe even twenty. However, my attention was immediately captured when I heard Liz murmur next to me. "Kat, you still awake?" she whispered in a low voice, extra careful to not wake me up if I was really asleep. Why is she even asking? Then realization struck as if a lightbulb suddenly brightened up my clouded and weary mind. Don''t tell me... is she waiting for me to fall asleep before she does something... naughty? How bold!? My brain goes overdrive, faster than the fastest supercomputer in the world, to the point of short-circuiting in my attempt to calculate all of the possible cons and pros of ignoring her and just faking my sleep. After a short while, I finally decided to reply. "...Yes, the bed is a bit too hard for me, I can''t fall asleep." And also, you''re too close! Please give me some space here! "I see... can''t sleep either, huh." she paused for a second then as if hesitating, she continued. "Then... want to do something fun?¡± The heck?! We can''t Liz! We''re still too young for this! That is only reserved for someone you will marry in the future!!! Hold on Kat, you''re overthinking things again. This is all that witch''s fault! Calm down, I''m sure I''m just making a huge mistake on your assumptions again. Let¡¯s ask directly from the source. I¡¯m positive she doesn¡¯t mean it that way. "S-something fun?" I asked to clarify what was on her mind. "Uh-huh, you know, something... something to tire ourselves to sleep..." she said in a soft voice. For the love of! That''s not helping at all! Stop being overly vague and spit it out already! "L-like what, exactly?" I gulped, a bit hopeful and nervous at the same time as I waited for her reply. "Something like a pillow fight maybe?" she asked as innocently as possible, leaving me dumbfounded by her words. I immediately turned to face her, the darkness of the room hiding her expression. I then gave her a karate chop in the head. ¡°Ow! What was that for? Don''t you like pillow fights? I know it sounds childish, but it could be fun if you give it a try! My friends and I used to do it when we had sleepovers back then,¡± she defended herself. ¡°Please just go to sleep.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Liz¡¯s PoV As I sit in the passenger seat of the car, the open road stretches out ahead in a never-ending river of asphalt. The sun is shining, casting a warm glow on the landscape as we drive through scenic routes. The music reverberates through the car, filling it with infectious energy. The rhythm and melodies harmonized with the sound of the engine, creating an exhilarating symphony. My cousin Rana hummed along to the tune. It is one of her favorite bands playing after all so I don¡¯t blame her. ¡°I still think Dex builds need a buff,¡± Kat voiced her biased opinion. ¡°Why? It seems strong enough already, especially if the user is proficient at dealing critical strikes,¡± Chu countered. ¡°Not good enough. It doesn¡¯t give extra bonuses like Strength which increases your in-game power or Int which gives skill points for proficiency in casting spells. Low-level players and newbies won¡¯t benefit much from Dex unless they master hitting their opponent¡¯s weak points,¡± Kat debated. My focus shifted to my two friends chatting for a while in the back seat. They seem¡­ different today, more familiar with each other compared to when we usually play together. I''m genuinely curious about how they became close this fast. Just yesterday, they seldom exchanged words with each other for the whole ride. What could have caused this sudden change? It honestly makes me feel a bit left out¡­ Wait Liz what are you thinking? It''s great to see my teammates getting along, especially considering that both of them are usually quiet individuals. As the team captain of Paradigm, I should definitely celebrate this positive development for our squad. Looking far ahead, I caught a glimpse of a gas station in the middle of the road. As we passed by a gas station with a convenience store attached to it, Rana pulled over for a quick stop. ¡°I¡¯ll just go buy something. You kids behave while I''m gone, alright? ~¡± Rana teased, mostly targeted at Kat. After saying her piece, she stepped out of the car and made her way toward the convenience store. ¡°As if we need you to watch over us,¡± Kat murmured to herself in a barely audible voice, probably a bit irritated at being called a kid. The two of them then proceeded to continue their conversation about stat builds and patch predictions about the game after Rana left. ¡°I¡¯m going to stretch my legs for a bit, Kat, want to come with me?¡± I interrupted them. Wait, I shouldn¡¯t have done that, I should have left them alone to bond more, but I just instinctively called to Kat. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll come with,¡± she agreed. ¡°How about you Chu? Wanna come?¡± Kat asked out of nowhere. Chu pondered for a moment before glancing at me for a quick second as if searching for a reaction or something. Is there maybe something on my face? ¡°...I''ll just stay here,¡± he politely declined. Kat nodded at him and then went out of the car. I followed suit. As we walked towards the gas station, I analyzed her. The skin around her eyes looks puffy and a bit swollen as if it''s struggling to hold up the weight of exhaustion. She seemed tired. Could it be that she had trouble sleeping last night? Perhaps she''s not accustomed to the hotel bed. Judging by her usual high-class furniture at her place, it seems that the standard hotel bed wouldn''t meet her expectations. It¡¯s kind of funny how she hides that fact to not appear childish in my eyes. ¡°You seem distracted. What are you thinking of?¡± she curiously asked, bringing me back to the present. ¡°Oh, I was just thinking of you,¡± I teased. ¡°H-huh? Stop being weird or I¡¯ll leave you behind,¡± she countered as she turned her head away while speeding up to get ahead of me towards the convenience store. I smiled at her response. She always does that whenever she wants to hide her embarrassment from me. Being around her is so much fun! I kind of understand now why Rana likes to tease people she wants to be close with. It seems that we are in fact related after all. Patch Notes It has been almost two years since I started working on this novel, and throughout this journey, I¡¯ve improved significantly as an author (and I''ll be sure to continue improving from here on out, day by day). So I''d like to announce the release of my book, which fixes a lot of things! (see patch notes below) You can buy the book ¡®Untouchable (Vol.1) here.¡¯ To celebrate the book release, I''ll be adding a couple of discounted tiers! The e-book is also available on my Patreon. You can join my Patreon (any tier) to get the latest book releases for FREE! The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Also see the Afterword on how it all started. Patch notes: Changed Chu''s in-game name from NambaWan to ZiJi (I don¡¯t want the CCP to go after me). Increased the poignancy of the interactions of the Characters. Fixed grammatical errors. Rewritten some redundant word choices. Added the Privacy System on Guilds where recording is prohibited in certain private areas (this explains a plot point for why the MC¡¯s skill is still hidden after the battle with Jarde). Added Bonus Chapter ¨C Sisters. Made a couple of fight scenes more fluid. Changed the guild war system. Fixed some writing mistakes pointed out by my readers. Vol.2 Chapter 12 As we pull into the LA airport drop-off zone, the hustle and bustle of the place instantly hits me. The air is filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation. I can see a flurry of activity as people rush around, pulling suitcases, hugging loved ones goodbye, and checking their tickets one last time. The scent of jet fuel hangs in the air, mingling with the aroma of coffee from a nearby caf¨¦ and the faint smell of car exhaust. I can hear the distant roar of jet engines, the chatter of travelers, and the occasional announcement over the loudspeaker.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Big sis! Let¡¯s buy that afterward, okay?¡± Colin pointed to a desert from a nearby souvenir shop. ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll just go ask Dad for money so we can buy you one later, alright?¡± Clarissa innocently replied. Now I know why your little brother is like that! You¡¯re spoiling him too much, Clarissa! After a while, Renz finally got fed up with the matchmaking, proposing that we get moving. "We got to go, Mom, Dad. We need to settle down at the hotel reserved for players," he hurriedly suggested. ¡°Alright, we will be at the other hotel close to the venue! Visit us anytime,¡± Mrs. Carter waved goodbye to us. ¡°Take care, son, and good luck with your game,¡± Mr. Carter cheered. Before we left, Clarissa suddenly caught my attention. ¡°U-uhm, K-Kat! I¡¯ll cheer for you, so please do your best!¡± Clarissa exclaimed. I smiled at her. ¡°Thanks, will do.¡± ¡°W-what about your brother?¡± Renz said downcast, as if the world had wronged him somehow. ¡°O-of course, I¡¯ll also cheer for all of you, Brother. So, uhm, do your best!¡± ¡°Of course! Just you watch! Your brother¡¯s team is going to win the whole tournament!¡± Renz declared. Vol.2 Chapter 13 - Ariadne October 25, 2031 Sunday ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous!¡± Lucy exclaimed. ¡°I know, right? Seems like a nice place to relax and take it easy,¡± Blitz voiced out his thoughts. ¡°¡­Good enough,¡± Seer added. ¡°Do not forget that we are not here on a vacation,¡± I chided them. We arrived at the 5-star boutique hotel rented by the CoA staff, Majestic Mirage, found in the Getty Center. Based on my research about the place, it offers a plethora of amenities, including a jacuzzi with water jets that release pressurized water into the tub, a spa that provides various wellness and relaxation services, and an infinity pool with a breathtaking view. These facilities are specifically designed to cater to high-class guests. I must admit, I''m a bit surprised that the CoA staff was able to secure the entire place for a week. However, considering it is a boutique hotel and taking into account the range of CoA''s budget, it now seems plausible upon further reflection. ¡°Come on, Aria, don¡¯t be like that. A good rest is also needed for a good performance!¡± Lucy pointed out. ¡°Yeah, your partner is right. Take it easy for once, will ya?¡± Blitz supported her. Well, she does have a point there. Rest is always important, after all. I sighed. ¡°I guess that¡¯s fair,¡± I conceded. I could try to invite Katherine to swim and relax before the tournament starts. A picturesque scene of Katherine wearing a stylish swimsuit and me bathing together in the pool flashed through the corners of my mind. I immediately shook my head to remove that notion. What am I thinking? I''m here to surpass her, not to play pool parties with her. Well, maybe after the tournament is over, we can hang out, but for now, I have to focus on the tournament. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed inside. I want to rest after driving you guys around the city for the whole morning,¡± Seer urged us to hurry up. ¡°You¡¯re a resident here in LA, so you¡¯re the only one qualified to be our tour guide, Ken!¡± Blitz teased him. ¡°Next time, hire a proper one. You''re too nitpicky on my spots to visit." "Can''t blame me! You suggest a lot of boring places," he countered. The two bantered as we got close to the entrance, a quick walk from the parking lot near the hotel. Arriving at the entrance, we saw the guards dutifully guarding the hotel. After careful analysis, they seem professional and alert. They stand tall, exuding a sense of authority and confidence. Their uniforms are sharp and well-maintained, further emphasizing their role as security enforcers of the premises. They also wear serious expressions, indicating their commitment to their duty. It seems that the CoA team is taking safety and security measures seriously, which is a positive development, although I cannot say the same for my best friend. "Uhm... Aria, should we go in?" Lucy remarked, a bit apprehensive by the imposing guards. "Yeah, they do look like they mean business. It''s a good thing I didn''t bring anything illegal with me, ha ha ha," Blitz laughed nervously, trying to lighten the mood. Seer, for his part, remained silent, waiting for me to take the lead. "Don''t fret over it. We deserve to be here. We''ve worked hard to earn the invite. It is our duty to carry ourselves with confidence and act accordingly," I encouraged them, trying to boost their morale. Acting on my words, I confidently stride toward the entrance of the hotel. My teammates, after seeing me lead the way, followed suit. The security guards, for their part, stood tall, their expressions serious and alert even after they noticed me approaching them. With a calm demeanor, I walked up to the first guard. "We are the Paragons. One of the qualified teams for the U20 ''Champion''s Brawl,''" I confidently stated. "Good afternoon, Ma''am," he gave me a nod coupled with a professional smile. "Forgive us for inquiring, but we need to see your credentials for the safety protocol," the other guard respectfully added. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I reached into my purse, retrieved my identification card, and extended my hand, offering it to the guard for inspection. The guard took the card, carefully examined it, and then glanced up at me, studying my face for a brief moment. After a brief pause, the guard nodded and handed back my ID while giving me a respectful nod. ¡°Please proceed, Miss Aria Reed.¡± Well, that was unexpectedly easy. I guess we were worried about nothing. After successfully clearing the security checks, I entered the hotel, a wave of excitement and curiosity washing over me. I patiently waited for the rest of my team to complete their inspections, observing as the guards diligently repeated the procedure for each member. Despite their need to be vigilant and cautious, they treated us with respect and fairness, which I deeply appreciated. "Here you are Mr. Kenneth Smith," the guard gave Seer a welcoming smile just as he handed back his ID, signaling to all of us that our inspection had been cleared. After the guards let us through, we walked into the elegant lobby of the 5-star hotel. The reception area was beautifully decorated with plush furniture and a sparkling chandelier hanging from the ceiling. As we approached the reception desk, a friendly receptionist greeted us with a warm smile. "Good afternoon! How may I assist you today?" she asked in a professionally practiced manner. Seeing as my teammates preferred to let me take the lead in conversations, I stepped forward, ready to assume the role of spokesperson. "Good afternoon. We are one of the participants in the tournament. We would like to book four rooms, please.¡± "Certainly! We have different room types available. May I know your preference?" "I would like a deluxe room with a city view, if possible,¡± I stared at my team, prompting them for any preference, wherein none seemed to have any. ¡°And three other rooms, no specific preference," I added. ¡°Understood, Ma¡¯am! Let me check our availability for you.¡± The receptionist quickly checked the computer system to find the best available room for my request. ¡°Could you please provide me with all of your names?¡± she inquired politely. We all gave our names, and after a short process, we all got our keycards with varying rooms, all of which were stationed on the 4th floor. We all thanked the receptionist for her assistance. However, before departing, I couldn''t resist satisfying my curiosity about a particular matter. ¡°Excuse me, do you know where the room of another participant going by the name of Katherine Katyusha is?" I asked the receptionist. Good thing I found out about her real name and a picture of her through blackmai- I mean through politely inquiring her about it. It is handy for these types of purposes. "Forgive us, Miss Reed. As much as I would like to help you, I''m afraid we adhere to strict privacy policies and regulations that protect the confidentiality of our guests," she replied apologetically. "I... understand," I conceded. I might be able to persuade her to disclose the information, but it would be too selfish of me to undermine a person who is only doing her job and adhering to the rules. On the contrary, she deserves my utmost respect for doing her tasks properly. It is a bit of a shame, though; I wanted to surprise Katherine by paying an unannounced visit to her room. Considering that she mentioned her team would arrive around this time, it''s likely that she and her team are already here. However, to confirm her exact whereabouts, I suppose I''ll need to send her a private message as usual. My thoughts were instantly shattered as we unexpectedly encountered two familiar competitors of ours walking toward my team. ¡°Look what we have here if it isn¡¯t the wannabe Paragons team,¡± a brawny guy wearing a grey tee taunted. Of all the people that we could have encountered, why this guy? Being part of our rival guild, the Shadow Vanguard, both of our teams have some kind of rivalry. This guy is also infamous for having anger management issues, and I''m pretty sure he has a grudge against Blitz after their fight went viral when he trashed him in one of his streams. ¡°Oh, hey dude, I fancy meeting you here!¡± Blitz casually called out to him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me like we close, faggot,¡± he spat out. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that! Are you still mad I destroyed you last time we got queued in a ranked 1v1 match?¡± Blitz''s taunt seemed to hit a nerve. ¡°¡­Then, want to settle it with our fists? Right here, right now?¡± he threatened Blitz. ¡°Sure, sure, why not? I don¡¯t need my trusted rapier to pummel you through the ground in real life. I could use a little exercise after eating all those tacos earlier,¡± Blitz casually taunted, not backing out from the challenge. ¡°Guys! Are you two serious?!¡± Lucy exclaimed. ¡°If you guys have any arguments online, settle it there. Let''s not bring any conflicts into the real world, especially in this establishment," I interjected, making them aware of the attention we were attracting from the hotel staff. ¡°She¡¯s right. Let¡¯s go, Jin. Settle your score in-game,¡± his teammate, who had been silent till now, dissuaded him. At least he appears to be relatively sensible, unlike his companion, who tends to rely more on physical strength than rationality. It seems this is what steroids and testosterone shots do to people. It makes them unreasonable. ¡°Tsk! I¡¯ll show how weak you are at the main stage,¡± he said his piece before following his teammate towards the cafeteria hall. I heard Lucy sigh. ¡°Does this usually happen in tournaments?¡± she complained. ¡°If Tactical is to be believed, this never happens in pro tournaments,¡± Seer added. ¡°So, Blake and that guy is the problem, huh?¡± Lucy deadpanned. ¡°Come on, guys, don¡¯t blame me! It¡¯s all that guy¡¯s fault. I¡¯m sure you guys are also irritated by him calling us wannabe Paragons,¡± Blitz defended himself. ¡°Yeah, kind of, but it¡¯s no excuse to hurt each other in real life,¡± Lucy countered. ¡°Yes, mom.¡± "Let''s go and pack up our belongings. I''m eager to check out the room I''ve been assigned to,¡± I interrupted their banter. We proceed to make our way across the lobby, taking in the luxurious surroundings. As we approach the elevator bank, we notice the sleek and modern design of the elevators. One of the doors opens just as we reach them, and we step inside. Inside, I noticed that the interior was well-lit and impeccably clean. I press the button for the fourth floor, where all of us are assigned. Just as the door was about to close, I heard someone shout. ¡°WAAAAAIIT!¡± the girl exclaimed, which prompted me to push the hold button of the elevator. ¡°Whew, SAFE! Thank you!¡± as the girl entered the elevator, she expressed her gratitude towards me before pressing the button for the third floor. As the elevator door closed, I studied her. She is wearing traditional-styled clothing. Her porcelain skin glows with a natural radiance, and her almond-shaped eyes, adorned with long, fluttering lashes, exude a sense of innocence and curiosity. Her jet-black long hair frames her delicate face, accentuating her small, button-like nose and soft, rose-tinted lips. If I am not mistaken, this girl is¡­ ¡°You¡¯re Hana Yamamoto, correct?¡± I inquired. ¡°Ohh! You know me! I didn¡¯t know I was that famous! He hehe,¡± she grinned to herself. ¡°Of course! We do! You¡¯re Aoi¡¯s sister, after all, right?¡± Lucy butted in. ¡°Ack! Yeah, of course, people only know me because of Onee-chan¡­¡± she became instantly disheartened. ¡°M-my bad, that was insensitive of me,¡± Lucy quickly apologized. ¡°No biggie! My sister is the greatest after all!" she exclaimed cheerfully, her mood shifting so quickly that we were caught completely off guard and left speechless. ¡°Wait, you look familiar¡­¡± she stared at me as if inspecting every part of my face. "Uhm..." I stood there, not knowing what to do in response to her actions. ¡°Oh, right! I remember! You''re Yuusha¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦ right! I¡¯m a huge fan of hers! I have all her limited-edition collectibles and-.¡± *PING The sound of the elevator interrupted her continuous chatter. ¡°Oh, it seems like this is my stop! Let''s chat again later, okay? I want to know more about Yuusha from the student herself!¡± She waved goodbye to us before exiting the elevator. ¡°What a strange girl,¡± Blitz voiced out after she was completely gone. ¡°Don¡¯t let her carefree attitude fool you. She is one of the strongest players here,¡± Seer pointed out. That got me curious: how strong is she compared to our ace, Blitz? ¡°Ken, who do you think will win in a 1v1 scenario, Blake or her?¡± Lucy inquired what was bugging my mind. Seer seemed to ponder for a second before answering. ¡°In a controlled scenario, I have full confidence that Blake won¡¯t lose to anyone participating in this tourney one-versus-one," he helpfully informed us. ¡°Ha, I know you¡¯re always on my side, Ken!¡± Blitz happily accepted the praise. ¡°I¡¯m just stating facts based on my observation from both of your skills, nothing more.¡± Knowing Seer, I¡¯m positive he is not lying to us to raise our morale; he undoubtedly thinks Blitz is the strongest player in one-versus-one. I''m not even sure I can''t beat Blitz without relying on my new weapon skill if he goes all out. I really do want to agree with his analysis, but I know better since she is also participating in the tournament. Vol.2 Chapter 14 October 25, 2031 Sunday, 1:41 p.m. Tactical¡¯s PoV The scent of fresh flowers from a nearby arrangement mingles with the faint aroma of the coffee, creating a comforting blend that fills the air. The gentle strains of ambient music reach my ears, a soothing soundtrack to the scene unfolding before me. I hear the rhythmic tapping of the receptionist''s fingers on the keyboard, punctuated by the occasional rustle of papers. It sucks to be on her shift. Seems like there are plenty of people booking on the hotel today. That is to be expected though, as this hotel is the most cost-efficient one in terms of service among the other hotels around. This is also one of the closest anyone could get to the venue where the U20 tournament is going to happen. Judging how many guests there are, it seems most of the people staying here have the sole purpose of watching the tournament unfold. Most of the players there are popular streamers after all and have many fans in the CoA community. Good thing I¡¯m in disguise as I would surely cause a commotion of players wanting my autograph. Being a legend, even though retired, still has a lot of sway in the CoA community, especially if you are one of the first champions of the Andartha Cup, the most renowned e-sports tournament. I was lost in my thoughts as I watched the guests come and go, their footsteps echoing softly on the marble floor, the clatter of luggage wheels a testament to the transient nature of this place. Despite the flurry of activity, there''s a sense of calm efficiency that pervades the atmosphere, a testament to the seamless service of the hotel. As my thoughts wander to the participants of the tournament, I contemplate visiting Seer. However, considering the strict security team, it appears that I will have to wait until tomorrow for the opening ceremony for me to be able to meet him. Nevertheless, it is commendable that the higher-ups at CoA are considering the future of these young participants. I appreciate their foresight and dedication to nurturing the potential of these individuals. By providing free booking services to the participants, they encourage the formation of bonds throughout the week. These connections can prove to be highly beneficial in the long run, especially for those aspiring to go pro. The players will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with some of the best players from around the world and what type of personalities they would mesh with. Understanding the full capabilities of potential future teammates and having compatibility with their personalities is crucial when forming a strong team to compete against current professionals after all. This is something I have learned from personal experience, as I formed a team with my former rival. Speaking of forming connections, I don¡¯t have any strong backing like the famous e-sports organizations do. My only chance of recruiting talented players from the tourney is to form connections as early as possible. I sure hope I can scout gems in the rough in my time here. I was brought out of my thoughts when I noticed a kid eyeing me curiously from a distance. He seems to be watching me for a while now, his eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Finally, he mustered up the courage to approach me. "Why do you look so suspicious?" he blurts out, not a hint of hesitation in his curious voice. I''m taken aback by his boldness. I can''t help but feel a bit amused by his straightforwardness, well he is just a kid after all. "Well, we all have our mysterious sides, don''t we?" I reply with a small smile, which is hidden behind my wide-brimmed hat and face mask. Kids love cool and cryptic words like that after all so it seems like the amp response to this little guy. ¡°Hmm, you do look very suspicious. My big brother always reminds me and my sister to be careful around people like you.¡± T-that¡¯s fair, it is good that people still remind their children to be careful around strangers. Still, it is not like I¡¯m in disguise for something nefarious. As I was thinking of how to convince the kid that I was not a bad guy, an extremely adorable girl approached us. This girl exudes cuteness. Not only her looks but also her aura. That kind of reminds me of a past teammate whom I¡¯m sure will fall head over heels with this girl. Even though I¡¯m sure her pride would not let her admit it. "Colin, stop bothering the kind man. S-sorry mister, my brother can be mischievous sometimes,¡± the girl apologized. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I gave them a comforting smile, although I once again forgot that my smile was concealed by my frustrating mask. ¡°T-then, we will be off. Sorry again!¡± she gave one last apology before she pulled her brother hastily away from me. I sighed; I hate this suspicious disguise. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I scanned the huge room before me. The area is bathed in a soft, warm light that accentuates the tasteful decor. My eyes are drawn to the king-sized bed, dressed in crisp white linens and an array of plush pillows. The carpet beneath my feet is thick and plush, a treat for my tired feet. The room even has its own VR pod, most likely why the CoA team chose this hotel as the venue for their participants. I walk over to the window, pulling back the heavy, velvet drapes to reveal a breathtaking view of the city skyline. I can''t help but admire the attention to detail as I notice the minibar stocked with premium drinks, the coffee maker with a selection of gourmet blends, and a fruit basket filled with fresh, ripe fruits. There''s a well-sized desk for work, with a comfortable chair and ample lighting. The large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall promises entertainment at the click of a button. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Now this is what a hotel room is supposed to look like,¡± I murmured to myself. I surveyed the bathroom next. The lavatory is a marvel in itself, with its marble countertops, a large soaking tub, and a separate glass-enclosed shower. High-end toiletries are lined neatly beside the sink, waiting to be used. As I take in the ambiance, there''s a sense of tranquility that permeates the room. It''s clear that every aspect of this room is designed for comfort and luxury, making it a five-star experience indeed. I heard my phone ping, a message from a friend. I only have three people who constantly message me. Liz, Ariadne, and my mom¡­ how depressing. I picked up my phone and curiously looked at it, finding Aria to be the culprit. Aria: My teammates and I just arrived. What room are you in? You: 3rd floor, 308, why? Aria: I want to talk about something in private. You: Sure, I¡¯ll wait for you here. I closed my phone after replying. So, they had just arrived, huh? We almost arrived at the exact time. We were just earlier by a couple of minutes or so. We could have arrived earlier but Rana had to stop by her old condo since she would be staying there. Still, it¡¯s good that the participants for the tournament are the only ones allowed here, so none of her shenanigans for the rest of the time we are staying here. As I was thinking about what to do next, a knock resounded inside the hotel room where I was staying. Is it perhaps Aria? That was fast, I just messaged her a second ago. I checked the door peephole, finding Liz waiting patiently outside. I immediately opened the door, letting her inside. ¡°Liz?¡± I asked her curiously. ¡°Hey Kat, I¡¯m here to hang out! Let¡¯s explore the hotel together!¡± she cheerfully exclaimed. ¡°Hmm, sure. After I talk to Aria about something,¡± I explained. ¡°Ohh, you mean Ariadne? Can I listen in?¡± she asked apprehensively. ¡°¡­I think she wants to talk to me about something privately.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t mind me being here,¡± she brushed my concerns off. I think she will, but I don¡¯t think I can convince Liz when she¡¯s already made up her mind like that. I¡¯m bad at persuasion after all. As if on cue, another knock pulled our attention to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll get!¡± Liz quickly took off and opened the door before I could say anything. Aria looked surprised when she saw Liz opening the door instead of me. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked Liz. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m here to hang out with Kat.¡± Aria stared at Liz for a moment before turning her attention to me. ¡°Did you inform her that I have something to discuss with you?¡± Aria asked me. ¡°¡­I did. But she wants to hear what we are going to talk about¡­¡± I said weakly. Well, it''s not like I¡¯m against it or anything. She is fun to have around, after all. Aria analyzed me a bit before she turned her head towards Liz. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you are invading Katherine¡¯s private space, I¡¯m pretty sure she likes to have some time alone in her room without you disrupting it,¡± she chided Liz. ¡°Oh, it''s fine! Kat would shoo me away she didn¡¯t want me to be here. Besides, we always hang out together like this! I¡¯ve already slept with her last night so this much is nothing new,¡± Liz innocently replied. I saw Aria''s eyes twitch. It was quick, so sudden that it was nearly unnoticeable, but not for my observative eyes which are trained to notice minute details. Liz, I think someone might misunderstand if you phrase it that way. However, I suppose it''s not a problem since we''re both girls. I''m confident that no one will misinterpret the situation, even if she says it like that. ¡°I see¡­ then Miss Elizabeth, can you please leave the room? I want to talk to Katherine privately,¡± she spoke in a clear professional manner. ¡°What are guys going to talk about?¡± Liz inquired. ¡°I believe it is none of your business,¡± she bluntly said, borderline close to being rude. Hmm, something seems off. Ariadne is usually not this impolite, especially towards someone she doesn''t dislike. Liz did not seem to take the statement lightly. The confrontational tone of Aria¡¯s voice also did not help in the slightest. ¡°It is my business though. I''m Katherine''s partner after all.¡± Aria''s eyebrows twitched again at Liz''s rebuke. "And I''m sure you''re driving me away just to try and recruit Kat again," Liz continued. Okay, I must have lied to Liz back then and told her that Ariadne tried to recruit me when she proposed to speak to me alone. Well, it is not a complete lie, but I left some important details... like me being Yuusha for example, and Aria having a betting match with me. Liz did not like the mellowed-down news I told her though so I cannot blame her for not wanting to leave me alone with Aria. Still, she had never been this overprotective up until now¡­ what changed? Are they on bad terms perhaps? ¡°I believe it is up to Katherine if she would like you to leave or not,¡± Aria made a point. ¡°I agree. Tell her Kat, you would not want me to leave right?¡± she begged, using her tried and true charm mode. Liz must really not want me to get recruited by Aria, even though I''m sure that is not Aria¡¯s intention. She probably only wants to talk to me privately as Yuusha¡¯s user. ¡°Katherine, please explain to your teammate that we have something important to discuss¡­ privately. She is getting in the way,¡± Aria exclaimed, her tone of voice a tad lower than I¡¯m used to. Stop! Wait a minute you two! I''m bad at this kind of stuff! I''m usually the last one to get chosen for a team when playing dodgeball back in my elementary years! I have no experience being the one to choose a friend over another! Well, I guess it''s time to use my specialty. The art of dodging. Now what excuse should I use to get away from here... Wait no Kat! That would be bad if I ran away from this. These two''s relationship might sour if left unsupervised. They are both high-ranking members of the guild after all, with Liz being our leader and Aria the future leader of Paragon. They need to have a friendly relationship with each other for the sake of the alliance. And most of all, both of them are my cherished friends. I sincerely want them to be on good terms with each other since I have very few close friends¡­ how depressing. Let''s reason with them for now, They''re both intelligent individuals after all. Liz is extremely sociable while Aria is very straightforward. It''s honestly a huge surprise for me that they are not getting along considering their personalities mesh well together. They must have just gotten on the wrong foot so I''m sure I can talk some sense into both of them somehow. "Will both of you please calm down¡­" I leveled my voice in a calmer tone to help de-escalate the situation. "You are both Leaders of the alliance, right? What will our members say if you both quarrel like kids over something so trivial?" I hit them with a cold hard truth while trying to be the mature person in the room. Ariadne, after I point out their childish behavior, seems to feel ashamed of her actions. Well, she was always reasonable. She might just be irritated now because she is tired from her travels to get here. ¡°I¡­ forgive me, Elizabeth. It was rude of me to kick you out when you both were in the middle of a conversation just so I could talk privately to Katherine.¡± Liz was taken aback by Aria''s change of attitude. Well, she has always been quick to own up to her mistakes, therefore it''s not a surprise to me. ¡°U-uhm no it''s fine! I was being unreasonable too; I should have let you two have some time alone. I can go for now.¡± Liz, for her part, is extremely socially adept so there is no way she cannot get along with Aria if she tries. ¡°There is no need, it''s not that important. I can just speak with Katherine some other time when she is available. She proceeded to stand up to leave but Liz stopped her by grabbing her hand.¡± ¡°Wait, we were just talking about surveying the hotel. If you have nothing to do, I would love it if you could join us for the tour,¡± Liz suggested. Aria was a bit shocked by Liz¡¯s proposal. She quickly glanced at me before replying. "I am also quite curious about the architecture of this place. I''ll take you on that offer.¡± "He hehe, then, Let go, Ari!" Liz stood up as she pulled her hand towards the exit. "A-ari?" ¡°I like to give my friends nicknames; Ari suits you well¡­ can I not?¡± she made a pitiful face, most certainly using her irresistible charm toward Aria. Right now, I¡¯m pretty sure that she is doing that on purpose. She is Dust¡¯s cousin after all. "...It''s fine," Aria conceded, having not leveled up her charm resistance against the innocently cute facade that Liz wore. Liz held Aria¡¯s hand as they merrily took off into the figurative sunset. It''s good that two of my closest friends are getting along now but there is one tiny little problem here. Aren''t you guys forgetting something? What about me?! As if on cue, they both turned to me at the same time. "Aren''t you coming Kat?" "Katherine, don''t keep us waiting." They said in unison. Phew, that''s good. I thought for a second there that they were isolating me. I tried to play it as if I was hesitant. I would not want them to think I was so eager to explore this place after all. It would make me look childish in front of them. "¡­It seems like I have no choice. Someone has to look after you two after all," I took a page out of Chu¡¯s edginess. Vol.2 Chapter 15 Seer¡¯s PoV As I glanced around, my eyes took in the capacious and tastefully adorned room. The sheets gleamed in bright white, and the plush pillows beckoned me to luxuriate in their softness as I delved into my book. The walls are adorned with tasteful artwork, and the floor is carpeted with a luxurious rug that cushions my steps. The lighting is soft and warm, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance. The large windows offer a breathtaking view of the cityscape, adding to the room''s allure. A state-of-the-art television is mounted on the wall, and a sleek writing desk is situated by the window, complete with a comfortable chair. The mini-bar is well-stocked, and the coffee maker is ready for use. All in all, the room is not that bad, except for a minor inconvenience. ¡°It sure is a nice room, right Ken?¡± Blake broke me out of my reading, proving my point. ¡°Why are you here again?¡± I irritably replied while turning the page of my book. Hard print copies of books are now uncommon because of the popularity of e-books. Still, the vintage feeling it gives and the smell of the pages gives off a whole different vibe than just an e-book. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, dude! We¡¯re in a 5-star hotel, the least you can do is explore the building, not stay in your room and read all day.¡± I took a moment to consider the advantages and disadvantages of exploring the area today. The staff informed me that some of the other participants had not yet arrived. Additionally, I received information from my sources that the other teams will not be staying in this hotel and have arranged their own accommodations. Based on my estimation, only six out of the eight participant teams will be staying here. The first team is of course our team, which many expect to win the tournament due to the nature of our predecessors. Next is our rival team, the Shadow Vanguards. We had a run-in with them earlier and I do not want a repeat of what happened, making my decision leaning to not exploring the hotel. The third team is Hana Yamamoto¡¯s team. All of them are Japanese players from the guild ¡®Sword Saint¡¯ who are somewhat fluent in English, except for their Japanese-tinted accent of course. In recent years, many countries have embraced the mandate of English proficiency. Numerous studies and research have emphasized the advantages of speaking English in an ever-globalizing world, highlighting its significance in job satisfaction and career advancement. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that countries like Japan and China have placed greater importance on learning this global language Fourth is the team led by the Guild leader of the Round Table guild, Arthur. A selfless individual whom I respect the most out of all the players here. That guy has helped thousands, if not millions of players from the release of the CoA up till now, increasing the favorability of the CoA community as a whole. The Fifth team is none other than Mind Matrix, the team of Gilligan, the son of the CEO of Mind Matrix Inc., a renowned company in the Artificial Intelligence space. Gilligan has always been one of the strongest non-pro players and due to his background, probably has the strongest gear in this tournament. Still what bothers me the most is that his team is relatively unknown. His team is composed of three new players very few have even heard in the CoA community. All of which are from different countries all brought together by their captain. They might be veterans creating new accounts but I somehow doubt that possibility. I did a background check on all of his members; one is Antonio Dalisay, the winner of the Philippines National Escrima Tournament, a traditional martial art of the Philippines that emphasizes weapon-based fighting using only two wooden sticks. Another one of their members is Haeun Lee, an extremely skilled Tae Kwando practitioner who participated in the Olympics and won a golden medal at such a young age. Their final member is Lua Yang, and unfortunately, I don''t have much detailed information about her. She doesn''t have any social media presence or digital records that are commonly found these days. However, I do know that she is visually impaired but possesses exceptional skills in Wing Chun. Her choice of weapon is an armguard bracer, probably to enhance her movements when using fist-based moves. The scary part about their team is that despite not actively participating in the qualifiers, Lua Yang''s three teammates managed to handle all the opposing teams in a 3v4 situation while she watched from the sidelines. This is quite a remarkable feat on its own, thus putting their team at the top of my list to prepare for. As much as I hate to admit it. Gilligan, as strong as he is, might even be the weakest out of all of them. They are all geniuses and prodigies in their respective chosen arts at such a young age, with Lua Yang being an unknown factor. Speaking of unknowns. The last team residing in this hotel, our Allied guild, also has a mysterious member. She is currently only at level 89, which means she hasn''t reached the maximum level yet. This poses a significant disadvantage since she won''t be able to equip the strongest type of gear available, the max leveled gears. While I doubt that she is as formidable as the aces from each team, she remains an unknown factor that I need to prepare for. As for her teammates, while they may be strong enough, I don''t anticipate them making as much of an impact compared to the other participants here. Although, she might be- The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Hey, Kennet!¡± Blitz shouted, pulling me out of my thoughts. ¡°What is it? You don¡¯t need to shout,¡± I reprimanded him. ¡°Are you frigging serious dude?! I called you so many times and you still won''t answer. I only raised my voice to get your attention. You¡¯re trapped in your headspace again.¡± ¡°¡­I suppose it was my fault. What is it again?¡± I queried. ¡°As I was saying, Ariadne messaged in the group chat that one of our allied members. Katherine, was it? Wants to talk to us about something,¡± ¡°¡­¡± I remained silent, pondering what the girl would like to discuss. One thing instantly came to mind. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s about your attempt to assassinate her? Had she really found out you¡¯re the one behind it?¡± Blitz carefully addressed the elephant in the room. I narrowed my eyes at him. ¡°I only intend to gauge her skills. Lotus was the one who attempted to PK her without my consent,¡± I reasoned. ¡°Still, your problem. You fix it,¡± he gave me an annoying shit-eating grin, wallowing in schadenfreude at my current predicament. I sighed. ¡°¡­Fine, ask Aria where she would like us to meet with them. That girl seems reasonable enough. I¡¯m sure I can negotiate this peacefully.¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As I enter the room, I am greeted by two new faces. One is a mature-looking, beautiful girl with sharp and discerning eyes. She observes my every move, giving off an intense aura as if she''s sizing me up. From her demeanor, I can infer that she is the user of Novo, who also serves as the representative of their guild for coordinating public relations with ours. Despite her appearance differing from her avatar, her presence commands attention. She stared at me without a word, her unsettling gaze analyzing my very being. The other person, equally charming but completely opposite in terms of approachableness from her teammate, exudes an air of friendliness and trustworthiness. Her persona aligns closely with her avatar, leading me to easily conclude that she is Lizbeth, the guild leader of the Concord of Heroes guild. She cheerfully waved at us both after we went inside, giving her an air of sociability. They decided to use one of the private meeting rooms here in the hotel for customer¡¯s use to keep the conversation sequestered. The room is incredibly spacious giving five of us plenty of ample room to sit comfortably. Five of us being me, Miss Katherine, (whom I presume to be their tactician) Miss Elizabeth (Their Captain and guild leader) Aria, and Blitz (who insisted on coming to see how our ¡®talk¡¯ plays out). The meeting room is spacious, with ample seating for attendees around a large, polished conference table. The chairs are comfortable and ergonomic, allowing for long hours of discussions without sacrificing comfort. Each seat is equipped with a notepad, pen, and a glass of water, ensuring that participants have everything they need for a productive meeting. The walls of the meeting room are adorned with tasteful artwork in subtle, neutral colors, creating an atmosphere that is both professional and calming. Large windows allow natural light to stream in, providing a sense of openness and a connection to the outside world. At the same time, the room is equipped with adjustable blinds or curtains to ensure privacy and control over the lighting conditions. The room is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, including a large high-definition screen projector for presentations. There are also multiple power outlets and charging stations strategically placed around the room, ensuring that devices remain powered throughout the meeting. Still, I do not think it will be used since ours is not for business, but you can never know. All of them were already seated, being the first ones to arrive first. Blitz and I made ourselves comfortably seated after Aria gestured for us to settle in. She proceeded to start the meeting, her being the bridge since she was already familiar with the two of them. After a short introduction (which I am quite sure was unnecessary) we proceeded with the agenda. ¡°Ahem, now that the introductions are over, let us start on why I called you here, Ken,¡± she glanced at Blitz as if an afterthought before continuing. ¡°And Blake, I suppose.¡± ¡°Yeah, I want to know why you called us here. Did Ken do something¡­ bad perhaps?¡± Blake playfully commented. Honestly, this guy can be a pain sometimes. We¡¯re already in the backfoot of this negotiation, don¡¯t make this much worse you idiot! This is especially so if they want concessions from us. Attacking an officer of a guild could be considered a proclamation of a guild war by some, therefore, I would not be surprised if they want repercussions from us. ¡°First of all, I want you to work with Katherine here, Ken,¡± Aria gestured to the mysterious girl. ¡°¡­Work, with what?¡± I asked, a bit surprised by the direction of the conversation. The command from our captain came from nowhere, leaving me a bit dumbfounded. I was expecting the topic of the attack to be brought up, not this. ¡°Work with perusing our opponent¡¯s skills and strategies of course. I¡¯m sure both of our teams will benefit greatly if you two happen to form contingency plans against our opponents and also analyze their weaknesses and strategies to further our advantage. Katherine here is extremely knowledgeable in tactics and stratagems; I¡¯m sure her knowledge could even be on par with yours,¡± Aria stated as a matter of fact. ¡°¡­I see,¡± I stated dumbly, my pride a bit wounded. Still, this is Aria we are talking about, considering how blunt she is, she must have said those words because she truly feels that way. It does sting my pride a bit as Tactical''s prot¨¦g¨¦ to be compared to someone so casually, but I suppose I''ll have to overlook it for the time being. On the bright side, this can only imply that our captain has full confidence in this girl''s abilities, which speaks volumes about her skills. After all, Aria holds very few individuals in that much of a high regard. ¡°Fine, I will try to work with her¡­ is that all on the agenda?¡± I asked, wondering if the subject of the assassin I hired would be brought up. ¡°There is also something the Paradigm team wants to suggest. I already agreed beforehand, but I want your input on the matter,¡± Aria gestured for them to be the one to bring it up, whatever their suggestion is. Their captain, Elizabeth, seems content to let her tactician handle the conversation, highlighting her trust in her teammate. ¡°I want us to be sparring partners,¡± the unsettling girl stated briefly. ¡°¡­You want both of our teams to fight scrim matches together?¡± I asked, a bit taken aback by her suggestion. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure we both can benefit from practicing with each other. And you do owe me a ¡®favor¡¯, Mr. Kenneth. I''m sure that you won''t have any objections to my suggestion,¡± she stated in a calm, friendly manner. Aria looked at me with suspicion, indicating that Miss Katherine hadn''t informed her of my actions yet. It appears that she''s keeping it as leverage for future negotiations if the need arises. This girl truly knows how to keep me on my toes. Nevertheless, her suggestion could be advantageous for both of us. It would allow me to further analyze their skills and team play, especially hers, while also providing a skilled training partner for our team throughout the entire tournament week. They are one of the weaker teams in this tournament, so it should be fine if they see part of our gameplay. Besides, I specifically advised Aria to not use her new weapon unless we are against a strong team. It also should be a good practice for the main event so there is no demerit in accepting her offer. Still, I have one concern about her proposal. ¡°¡­Not to be rude, but are you sure your team won¡¯t be discouraged after they fight us.¡± I¡¯m saying this because I¡¯m quite worried about their team, not just plain hubris. If they take a huge beating from us, it could hurt their morale for the whole tourney, making her idea counterproductive for their team. She closed her eyes pondering for a bit before opening it again, her eyes brimming with determination. ¡°¡­We won¡¯t. We are here to win, after all. Beating the strongest team in the tournament is just a part of it.¡± The air of the room shifted instantly at her words. She declared it with such determination and certainty that everyone in the room instinctively held their breath. She is right of course. Everyone here is determined to win the entire thing. It would be disrespectful if we held back because we were worried for them. ¡°...I apologize for questioning your resolve. I accept your proposal. But do not expect us to hold back,¡± I declared with newfound respect for this girl. ¡°I would not have it any other way,¡± she smiled. I''ve analyzed her gameplay countless times, more than I''d like to admit. That smile¡­ is the same habitual smile she always wears whenever she outplays her opponents. Vol.2 Chapter 16 ¡°And so, that¡¯s why we will have a practice match against the Paragons today!¡± Liz informed the team. The four of us are currently inside Chu¡¯s room after Liz inquired for a quick group meeting. The room is quite spacious even for four people inside. Good thing Renz was already here when we arrived, saving us the trouble of finding him. In the meeting earlier with the Paragons, I arranged for scheduled practice matches between Aria''s team and ours. Fortunately, they agreed to be our sparring partners for the entire week. Everything went smoothly, I must say. Not only did we secure the strongest possible training partner for this tournament, but we also established a mutual assistance agreement with Seer. I admit, I''m somewhat biased in wanting Aria''s team to also win the tournament. However, I¡¯ve already made a promise to my teammates to do all I can to help them win. I''ve already steeled myself to compete against them without holding back when the time comes. But, if possible, I want to assist them as much as I can in their preparation. After all, they are former comrades of mine, especially Aria, who I consider a close friend. ¡°¡­I see¡± Chu took the news in stride, his usual calm and uninterested demeanor showing. ¡°Hell yeah, let¡¯s show the top team here who is the boss!¡± Renz, for his part, is hyped up, excited to prove himself as usual. While I suspect his enthusiasm might wane after sparring with such a skilled opponent since we''ve never faced a team as proficient in coordination, strategy, and skills as Aria''s team. Nevertheless, it would be beneficial to gauge our full capabilities against them this early in the game, allowing me ample time to prepare for the worst-case scenario. ¡°Then, if no one has objections, let''s go prepare the lobby now since the scheduled match is about to start. We each have a VR pod in our respective rooms so we can log in to the game easily,¡± Liz suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry to not keep them waiting. It was our idea in the first place, the best we could do is show up in time,¡± I backed her up since it would be rude if we were late. -------------------- The familiar PVP team lobby is adorned with intricate stone arches and towering pillars, showcasing the architectural marvels of the medieval period. The air is filled with a sense of history and the faint scent of burning candles. The walls are decorated with tapestries depicting epic battles, noble knights, and majestic castles. The vibrant colors and detailed craftsmanship bring the stories of the past to life. Soft, flickering torchlight casts a warm glow, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. On the other side are our soon-to-be opponents, the entirety of the new generation of team Paragons. Looking at them, Aria appears to be brimming with determination, while her partner Lucy exudes a friendly smile. Standing beside them is Seer, who, much like myself, is observing our body language and analyzing our every move. And then there''s Blitz, who seems as carefree and unfazed as ever. After we all settled in, Liz walked towards them. Aria did the same. ¡°Looking forward to a great match today!¡± Liz jovially greeted her new friend. ¡°We are too,¡± Aria paused for a second before continuing. ¡°To tell you the truth, I¡¯ve always wanted to fight your team the most in this tournament.¡± Liz seemed a bit shocked by the admission before switching back to her bright self. ¡°He hehe, I¡¯m glad that you feel that way. It''s always an honor to compete against the new generation prot¨¦g¨¦s of the team that I''ve idolized the most,¡± Liz amicably retorted. Aria glanced at me meaningfully for a split second before turning back her attention to our captain. ¡°Then, if all of you are ready, let us begin.¡± ------------------- We were teleported into the map, a ruins type of terrain. The once-grand structures now stand as weathered remnants of a forgotten era. The air is thick with a musty scent, carrying the weight of history. Sunlight filters through the cracks and crevices, casting intriguing patterns on the moss-covered stones. Vines and foliage have claimed their territory, intertwining with ancient architecture. "So, what''s the play, Kat?" Liz inquired, prompting the other two to look at me expectantly. Liz was usually the one to make the shot call, so her asking me for the play put me on the spot. Still, I analyzed the current Paragon''s gameplay and rotation. They have a similar gameplay to ours that they got from their predecessor. They rely on a powerful 2-player composition to secure the middle orb and then back up whatever lane needs more help(either the top or the bottom) after securing the middle part. Aria and Lucy will surely go secure the middle orb unless they plan to execute some sort of unorthodox cheese tactic, which I doubt they will show in a scrim match. That serves the purpose of this match quite well. We all lack experience in fighting strong opponents. The last one we fought was the Atelier team, but even that did not push us to the limit. If these scrim matches go according to plan, our team will come out of it stronger gradually throughout the week of fighting against opponents as strong as them. The best thing to do here is to face them head-on and clash with our skills without relying on any tactics so that we can benefit from these matches the most. I''m quite sure that is what Seer is also thinking of doing, therefore, the best possible formation for this match is... This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Chu, please go to the top orb. Renz, capture the bottom orb. Liz and I will handle the middle,¡± I gave our usual team rotation for the others to follow. No one complained at my call. After a short affirmation from my teammates, we all proceeded to go to our respective destinations. Liz led the way while I followed behind. She seems more focused than usual, her silent demeanor showing. It is to be expected considering who we are up against. She holds the previous Paragon¡¯s team in high regard after all, which she always reminds me of when we chat about pro players. Considering I was part of the first Paragons, it gives me a conflicted feeling whenever they became a topic of ours so I always try my best to change the subject as discretely as possible. After a couple of minutes of silently walking towards our destination, Liz and I arrived at the middle orb where as expected, Aria and Lucy were waiting for us. Lucy was equipped with a stylish yet easy-to-move robe that matched the color scheme of her blue hair. She is equipped with an orb pendant necklace that resembles common aristocratic British fashion back in the day. It is an orb attached to a pendant which she uses for spell casting, a similar orb used by Celeste to free up her hand for a more versatile playstyle. It has its downside of not providing as many stats as a normal staff weapon for an orb holder, but it doesn''t matter since her playstyle does not need a magic staff. Aria on the other hand seems like she is using the regular weapon she often used on the tournament qualifiers. I find it quite odd since I am certain that the weapon skill she got from the Abyss dungeon would suit her playstyle greatly. Well, she might be saving it for the tournament so I won''t be able to adapt to it in contrast if she used it now. It would be hypocritical of me to complain though as I am also hiding some of my cards. Aria stared at me determinedly, before speaking out loud. "Lucy, if you will," she asked for a buff from her partner. "One haste coming right up!" Lucy exclaimed as she cast the movement buff on Aria. "Kat, shall we?" Liz glanced at me expectantly, wanting to do a haste play too. I nodded in confirmation at her. Listening to the whims of the carry is also part of being a good support player. In any game, mutual trust between a carry and support is crucial. It is essential to build and strengthen that trust in order to succeed and thrive as both individuals and a team. Besides, it was my plan from the start to cast haste on Liz since I''m sure they already know I have a dual orb so there is no use hiding it. "...Greater haste," I murmured. My orb changed color to a pure white, instead of the customary yellow, signifying a chronomancy spell is used. After receiving their respective buffs, they both run towards each other without any hint of slowing down. Then, as if having some sort of split-second understanding, they passed by each other, both of them clearly targeting their opponent''s support. Hello, guys?! That''s not how it''s supposed to work! You both can''t just attack the support without going through the carry! I can''t say I didn''t expect this though. Our playstyle includes Liz going full-on aggressive without the need to protect me since I can survive on my own with my dodges. The same can be said for our opponent''s playstyle. Lucy is not someone that can be called ''defenseless'' either. As if to prove my point, the moment Liz lunges forward with a quick thrust, Lucy swiftly sidesteps, using her agility and footwork to evade the attack with practiced efficiency. With precise timing, Lucy seizes the split-second window of opportunity, moving in close at contact distance. Using her grappling skills, Lucy swiftly grabs hold of Liz¡¯s arm, applying a joint lock technique to restrict her movement. With Liz momentarily immobilized, Lucy uses her superior body positioning and leverage to execute a takedown. Using a combination of sweep and a throw, she brought Liz to the ground with a slamming sound, ensuring she was unable to effectively use her weapon. *Thump Lizbeth HP: 81% "Wha-!" was all Liz could say before she was effectively subdued by her opponent with alarming ease, pinning her to the ground with Lucy on top of her with good positional control, ensuring that Liz remained restricted. Well, that''s what she gets for being too reckless and letting her guard down just because she is up against a support player. I cannot fault her for it since experiencing it firsthand is different from just watching it happen from a viewer''s perspective. That''s why our duo was incredibly difficult to defeat in the past. Celeste had the ability to restrain one opponent while I swiftly eliminated the other with my enhanced speed. From the information I''ve gathered, this strategy became the dominant tactic in the meta some time ago. Many players attempted to emulate our gameplay, but only a few possessed the skills to execute it flawlessly, as not many could match Celeste''s expertise in utilizing jiu-jitsu takedowns. She is a national jiu-jitsu gold medalist in her prime, after all. And considering her well-built frame up till now, I honestly won¡¯t be surprised if she still hasn¡¯t lost her touch. Even if someone is versed in jiu-jitsu, they cannot easily replicate Celeste''s moves. Her unique style is specifically tailored to take down opponents armed with weapons, rather than unarmed adversaries. This specialization is a result of the countless hours she dedicated to practicing and perfecting her gameplay. It''s a bittersweet feeling. I''m glad Lucy was able to learn this much from Celeste. Being able to easily lock down a hasted Liz is an incredible feat on its own, a testament to her natural talent. At the same time, I''m quite terrified of how good Lucy has become since we will be fighting her in the main tournament. Sensing my partner needed my help... yet again. I tried to chant ''Recall'', but before I could even do that, I suddenly sensed danger. I tried to dodge at the last second, partially evading an extremely quick and precise stab from a hasted Aria that exceeded my predictions. Regrettably, my lack of focus resulted in a glancing hit from a dagger attack directly at my shoulder blades. It seems that Lucy is not the only one who has made improvements. Aria¡¯s ability to instantly shift her speed while hasted has also improved, catching me off guard. Novo Hp: 78% The heck! her damage is too high! That was not even a direct hit, only a shallow attack! It doesn¡¯t help that I¡¯m just that squishy due to my build. Sensing I was distracted, Aria scolded me for my carelessness. "You don''t have any time to look away. Pay attention to me or you will regret it," she warned coldly. W-wait, why do I feel that retort was personal?! Still, she is right though. I don''t have time to worry about Liz, not when a hasted Aria is after me. "Ow, ow, ow! I give! I give!" Liz called for a release while her face was planted on the ground with Lucy on top of her. "Sorry, Miss Lizbeth. I can''t release you until your partner is defeated by Aria." Lucy retorted, while expertly restricting Liz''s movements. "K-kat! A little help here!" my partner pleaded. Aria did not let me have a breathing room to even pay attention to Liz''s call for help. She swiftly thrust her dagger at my head with an extremely quick motion, noticing my momentary distraction. *Whoosh I ducked, barely dodging the attack that was sure to kill me if it hit. I''m the one who needs help here! I''m not used to splitting my focus between helping my carry and surviving! This is bad. Even just a tiny slip up and I would die instantly with how good Aria is while hasted. I also don''t think Liz can easily get out of Lucy''s grip with her strength stat. The only way she could get away from her grasp was if she had a better technique, which is impossible for someone not well-trained in grappling moves. If not, she has to have at least double the strength to compensate for Lucy''s technique. Considering Lucy has hybrid strength-int stats, as opposed to my dexterity-int, she cannot easily be overpowered by Liz, who has a Dex build character. She also cannot use her weapon skill to blink out since she dropped it during Lucy''s takedown, presumably part of Lucy''s plan from the start. Our only chance for us to reverse the situation is for me to survive Aria''s onslaught while hasted. She cannot leave me on my own to finish Liz since I will just recall Liz if she does, rendering their advantage useless. This means that the outcome of the match would be determined if I can survive long enough for Liz to break free from Lucy''s grasp on her own after fatigue sets in for Lucy. Luckily, bones cannot be broken in VR games even if how many joint locks Lucy does, so there is no way for her to deal damage while restricting Liz. So, a battle of attrition, huh? My dodges are getting a bit rusty without any pro-level opponents to practice with, so a hasted Aria is the next best thing comparable to a pro-level opponent. I smiled. This is the kind of challenge I was hoping for when I proposed this scrim match. Vol. 2 Chapter 17 Seer''s PoV ¡°I heard you guys are the best team in this tournament. Show me what you got!¡± Renz, the username of the opponent in front of me challenged while posturing menacingly in an attempt to intimidate me. Is he deliberately taunting me to put me into a disadvantageous emotional state? ...No, he seems to just be naturally obnoxious, a talent on its own. Nevertheless, his taunts won''t work on someone like me who has a clear grasp of my emotions. Seeing him here, the enemy team appears to be sticking to their usual rotation without making any drastic changes. It seems that their tactician shares a similar mindset to mine, which is to take this opportunity to enhance the skills of both teams and not rely solely on favorable matchups to secure victory. It''s shaping up to be a head-on clash of skills, so to speak. Something I appreciate and am pleased with. He has a huge disadvantage against me though, I have a reach advantage due to the nature of my long-ranged weapon, and my close-quarter combat skill is nothing to scoff at either. Is their tactician deliberately giving her own team hard matchups? I guess it is none of my concern nor does it matter. He would either need to fight me or Blitz in a 1v1, and nobody here can beat Blitz. ¡°What now? I don¡¯t have all day. Is your weapon for decoration? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know how to use that?¡± he taunted. He seems to be waiting for me to make the first move, how prideful, almost to the point of borderline arrogant. In a battle, giving your opponent even an inch of an advantage could cost you the game. ¡°Enough talk, let us get started,¡± I curtly responded as I aimed my cannon at him. *BOOM The loud bang signals the start of our match. Being too far away for me to hit him, he easily sidestepped the cannonball. He began to sprint, assuming I would take too long to reload my next attack. I must admit, he is one of the fastest sprinters I have ever seen with him already closing this much distance between us. Still, it doesn¡¯t perturb me. ¡°Rearm!¡± I exclaimed. Tactical taught me how he got his weapon skill, which is a huge secret in the community. Few only have acquired this type of weapon skill, and all of them are thankfully tight-lipped. He slowed down a bit, noticing my Rearm weapon skill. He probably wants to dodge my cannonball again, too bad for him I already predicted his move. Instead of aiming for him, I quickly aimed my cannon attack towards my back and then fired. *BOOM The ground beneath me shakes, and I feel the powerful force of the blast propelling me forward. I went with the flow, consequently timing my leap in coordination with the shockwave of the blast with practiced ease. As I did, the world blurs around me, the rush of the wind against my face. Time seems to slow down, and for a moment, it''s just me and my target. I grip my weapon tighter, my resolve steeling myself for the imminent clash. As I near my opponent, I see the shock in his eyes, his realization coming a moment too late. With a grunt, I swung my weapon, using the momentum of my flight to add force to my attack to bash him as hard as I could. Renz HP: 74% Weapons in the game are designed to be indestructible, a mechanic implemented to prevent players from easily losing their weapons. While weapons do lose durability gradually, it is not enough for them to be destroyed in a single match. Tactical took advantage of this mechanic and developed a play style that revolves around using a cannon both as a shield and a melee weapon to strike his opponents. Although he may be rusty in close-quarters combat due to age and lack of practice, his teachings continue to resonate with me. I dare say that I am currently at the peak of my abilities under his guidance. He was propelled backward by the force of my strike and the weight of my weapon. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly utilized Rearm to deliver a finishing cannonball shot while he was disoriented and off balance. *BOOM The cannonball flew towards him with immense speed. Unfortunately, he manages to regain his composure just in time. As the cannonball hurtles towards him, his instincts kick in. He musters every ounce of strength and agility, evading the deadly projectile by a hair''s breadth. With a swift sidestep, he narrowly avoids the devastating impact aimed at his head. The rush of air from the projectile tousles his hair, a testament to how close it was to hitting as the cannonball sails past him. He does appear to possess a natural talent and instinct; I''ll acknowledge that much. However, it''s unfortunate that talent alone won''t get him far without proper guidance. I decided to conserve my mana and reloaded my cannonball normally. While doing so I tried to provoke him. "Is that all you can do? How disappointing. You really are as weak as I expected," I tried to taunt him in an attempt to make him misplay. "Tsk! Don¡¯t underestimate me, you bastard!" he shouted, preparing a stance. Looks like he is resorting to his trump card, how easily provokable. It seems that this fight is going to end without me even losing a bit of my HP, how disappointing. I knew for a fact that he was their team''s weak link from my research, but I didn''t think it would be to this extent. Time to end this. As he assumed a posturing stance, preparing for his weapon skill, I quickly recalled what I had learned about his technique from watching his replays. His weapon has the weakness of having a long fatigue state after casting, and it also suffers from being too straightforward. He is unable to feign with this skill, which means that once he casts it, he is compelled to charge directly at his opponent. This predictability puts him at a significant disadvantage, much like a raging bull being toyed with by a matador. Typically, only uninformed players or those who are unable to move due to circumstances such as suffering from a movement-impairing debuff or channeling are susceptible to these types of attacks. The best course of action here would be to dodge his attack and take advantage of his fatigued state immediately after using his powerful weapon skill to defeat him. ¡°Sovereign¡¯s Charge!¡± he exclaimed. He became clad in white flames, doubling his sprinting speed. It seems like I had also underestimated his sprint, it would be too hard for someone holding a heavy canon like me to dodge an attack this fast. I could also try to shoot him with my cannon, but given his current speed, it would be challenging. If I miss, it could spell my doom, especially with my pure damage build, should he manage to land a hit on me. The best course of action with the most minimal risk is to dodge the attack. Thankfully, I have a contingency prepared just for this moment. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it As he closed the distance between us, I used my cannon attack to propel me to the side, easily dodging his trump card. ¡°Wha!¡± his weapon attack slowly dissipated without a target to hit, leaving him in a fatigued state, just as I predicted. From here on out, it is child¡¯s play for me to finish this. ¡°Rearm,¡± I used my weapon skill again to reload while he could not move properly. Hopefully for the last time against him. I need to conserve my mana just in case. *BOOM The cannonball hurtles toward its target with deadly precision. It connects with a thunderous impact, striking my opponent square in the head. The force of the blow sends him sprawling to the ground, his body crumpling under the weight of the attack. Renz HP: 0% ¡°Shit!¡± he cursed, before disappearing into motes of blue light. ------------------------ Lucy''s PoV How is this possible?! I questioned the absurdity of the situation while staring at the source. Novo Hp: 41% Ariadne Hp:100% Even a hasted Ariadne... cannot kill her. After the haste buff on Aria ran out, she could not do any more damage to Miss Novo. How insane is this girl''s survival skills? No matter what Aria does, be it feints, misdirection, tempo changes, or combination attacks, none of it seems to work against her. This girl is honestly scary! How can such a skilled player get past the tournament radar? With her skills, she could be just as famous as Arthur, Hana, or other high-profile players here! No wonder Aria holds her in high regard with how good she is. Their dance continued for what seemed like an eternity. How long had it been? Ten minutes? Fifteen? Twenty? I lost track of time, captivated by the elegant and precise movements of both Aria and Miss Novo. It was as if they had rehearsed a theatrical performance, with Aria taking the offensive and Miss Novo flawlessly evading every attack, leaving the spectators in awe. I couldn''t help but find myself momentarily rooting for the girl, but I quickly dismissed that thought. We might actually lose here if this keeps up. I can feel my grip gradually weakening as fatigue sets in from the constant effort of containing Miss Lizbeth. She demonstrates a keen sense of when to attempt to break free, never giving me a moment''s respite and forcing me to expend more stamina than I would prefer, all while conserving her own. Did she plan this strategy from the beginning? If so, her trust in her teammate to withstand a hasted Aria is truly commendable. The worst part is that whenever she senses even the slightest loosening of my grip, she seizes the opportunity to break free, effectively conserving her stamina while keeping me constantly on edge, resulting in wasting my own. I became complacent when I successfully restrained her. I exerted too much stamina in keeping Miss Lizbeth in place, assuming that it wouldn''t matter as I was confident Aria could defeat Miss Novo before I even began to feel the signs of fatigue. However, it appears I was mistaken. We are currently at a stalemate; no, on the contrary, we''re actually at a disadvantage. If this continues, Miss Lizbeth will eventually break free. Once that happens, she could easily overpower me while I''m in a state of fatigue. We cannot lose here. We cannot tarnish the reputation of the Paragons now that we decided to take on their mantle, even if it¡¯s just a mere practice match. ¡°Hy-up!¡± As I was thinking that, Miss Lizbeth, sensing my grip weakening, suddenly tried to escape my hold. I instantly tried to resecure my grip on Miss Lizbeth. She squirms and twists, trying to break free from my hold. Her muscles strain against me, but I hold firm, the training I received from my master kicking in. I can hear her grunts of effort, and feel the tension in her body as she attempts to escape. But I''ve been in this situation countless times before, and I know how to maintain control. I adjust my grip, applying just enough pressure to keep her in check. Still, I can feel my stamina bar slowly diminishing, I can only keep this up for so long. I can only trust my partner to defeat Miss Novo before that happens. Seer warned us about her, but seeing it happen before my very eyes was truly shocking. I''ve never seen Aria struggle this much in eliminating solo support. I''ve been partnered with Ariadne for a long time to know that she is not holding back. That girl truly is dodging all of her attacks. A truly aberrant scene unfolding right before my very eyes. Aria doesn¡¯t seem fazed by the abnormality either. It is as if¡­ she was expecting this outcome. Their back and forth continued for a while, with Miss Novo flawlessly dodging everything Ariadne threw at her. I was mesmerized by their display, a distraction I soon came to regret when Miss Lizbeth tried to break free again. I adjust my grip, trying to keep her in place, but Miss Lizbeth is relentless. With a swift and powerful move, she manages to twist her body, using her strength and leverage to her advantage. In a split second, I feel my hold loosen due to the telltale signs of fatigue. Miss Lizbeth seizes the opportunity, breaking free from my grip with a swift, fluid movement. I stumble slightly, caught off guard by her sudden escape. I quickly regain my footing while quickly distancing myself from her, my heart beating fast at what just happened. I can''t help but feel a surge of admiration for my opponent. Despite her lack of training, she managed to break free from my grasp by relying solely on her instincts. She really has a good gaming sense. I was also surprised when she almost got me earlier using tempo change with her haste buff, an advanced technique not easily learned just by anyone. Luckily, Aria and I have been training together for a very long time. The only reason I was able to subdue her earlier was through my experience fighting a hasted Aria, an I doubt I can replicate it again while I am slowed by fatigue. While I am impressed by her resourcefulness, now is not the time to be amazed, as I find myself in a pickle. ¡°He hehe, looks like I finally got free!¡± she flashed me a predatory grin that, I must admit, appeared rather charming, thanks to her picturesque looks. I gulped, dreading the fact that I was now helpless against her. ¡°Now it''s time for a comeba-¡± she didn¡¯t get to finish her sentence before a cannonball hit her in the side of her head, the force of the impact sent her flying. Lizbeth HP: 0% ¡°Wha- that¡¯s unfair!¡± Miss Lizbeth complained before she disappeared into blue motes of light. ¡°¡­¡± I was left speechless, Seer did tell us from the team chat that he was on his way to back us up, but I forgot about him due to the current circumstances and distractions. I¡¯m sure he was just waiting for the opportune moment to eliminate the enemy carry once she had distanced herself from me to avoid friendly fire. It also worked to our advantage that Miss Lizbeth became complacent, sensing her imminent victory and letting her guard down. As a result, she failed to notice the trap that Seer had carefully set for her. Still, there is one more problem we have to face. I focused my attention on the last remaining enemy. The two combatants separated themselves from their dance after the commotion. In response, Miss Novo stared at each of us with cold, calculating eyes while remaining unperturbed, giving me the chills. Has she predicted this outcome would happen somehow? No that is impossible. She might just be naturally good at keeping an unreadable expression, the same as Seer. Her demeanor even through all this is concerning. Still, it is only a matter of time before she becomes fatigued. Even if she is this good, she cannot possibly win against us three without a proper carry. ------------------------ Chu¡¯s PoV NambaWan HP: 52% Blitz HP: 74% My opponent lunges forward, the rapier slicing through the air with precision. I respond with lightning-fast footwork, my butterfly swords weaving a mesmerizing pattern of defense. The clash of metal reverberates through the arena, each strike a testament to our skill. With every parry and counter, I feel the rhythm of the battle intensify. His movements are calculated and precise, but I match their every step, my twin blades. The clash of our weapons creates a symphony of steel, a testament to our expertise in the art of combat. During the exchange, he exposed an opening that I couldn''t resist exploiting. However, as I made my move, he swiftly countered with a riposte, skillfully redirecting the force of my attack and causing the butterfly sword to nearly slip out of my grasp. It became apparent that the opening was nothing more than a feint, designed to lure me into an offensive maneuver that he was well-prepared to counter. Sensing the need for some breathing room, I disengaged, and as usual, he chose not to pursue his advantage. I couldn''t determine the exact duration of this ongoing back-and-forth. However, what I can say for certain is that whenever I found myself at a disadvantage during the exchange, he consistently chose to withdraw, granting me some much-needed breathing room. He is incredibly good. It became evident that he was toying with me, but I sensed no malice behind his actions. It appeared that his sole intention was to train me through this practice session. Nevertheless, I must admit that it became rather irritating to be constantly being on the mercy of my opponent. ¡°¡­When are you going to take this match seriously?¡± I asked sullenly. ¡°We¡¯re just having a practice match though. It¡¯s been so long since I fought someone this skilled in a one-on-one match, I want to enjoy it a bit longer,¡± he answered with a carefree attitude, giving me a friendly smile in the process. Is he admitting that he is not taking this match seriously just to prolong it? I don¡¯t like it, but my only choice is to get him to expose his true skills by putting him on the back foot during our exchange. My thoughts became a blur when I noticed a notification that I never expected to see. Teammate (Novo) has been defeated. I was taken aback when I saw the notification that the girl, whom I had always considered to be unkillable, was defeated by this guy¡¯s teammates. Throughout all the matches we''ve played together, this is the first time I''ve witnessed her being taken out. It left me feeling unsettled and distracted, as my thoughts wandered. He sighed. ¡°Looks like time for us to wrap things up,¡± he muttered in a regretful voice. It seems that he also got the memo from his teammates that I was the only one left on my team. I shook my head to regain my composure. There is no time to have second thoughts. From what I learned, they have no healer, meaning that I still have a chance no matter how slim if my teammates succeeded in chipping their HP. But first, I have to beat this monster before all that, which is a tall task on its own. His demeanor shifted, a sign of him getting serious. He rushed towards me, His speed leagues different from before, catching me off guard. *Clang I parried his initial strike, but it did not stop there. He threw a barrage of thrust and combo attacks that left my posture and balance distorted. This is bad, I will surely lose if this keeps up. I need to regain my tempo if we are to win this match. I cannot fall short here. I made a promise to myself, after all, that I would do whatever it takes to win this tournament in order to grasp my own future! With newfound determination to carry my team, I muster the last of my energy for a comeback. I focus on my footwork and parry, trying my best to regain control of the fight. But my opponent is relentless, his strikes coming faster and more accurately, a clear sign that he was holding back earlier in our exchange. I find myself on the defensive, desperately trying to parry and evade his attacks. Is this what it feels like to fight the strongest duelist in our generation? Despite my best efforts, I can feel the tide of the battle turning against me. His skill and precision are overpowering, leaving me struggling to keep up. The weight of each strike takes its toll, and I can feel my balance waning. In a final, decisive strike, he disarms me, sending one of my butterfly swords spinning out of reach. I stumble backward, my defenses shattered, right before he made a fatal blow towards my unguarded head. *KACHACK NambaWan HP: 0% ¡°It was a good fight! You¡¯re pretty skilled,¡± he praised my efforts before continuing. ¡°I also didn¡¯t expect your team to last this long against Aria. I¡¯m honestly quite surprised,¡± he commended our team before the death screen enveloped my vision. Vol.2 Chapter 18 Blitz¡¯s PoV Stone arches tower above me, and the bright flickering torchlight casts long shadows across the room. To my left is a large wooden table with different parchments containing information about our opponents for the tournament. Nearby, a rack of weapons gleams in the torchlight, everything from swords to crossbows to maces, a design specifically made to compliment the room''s theme. To my right, a cozy fireplace crackles, its warm glow inviting. A few comfortable chairs are scattered around it, providing a space for strategy discussion or quiet contemplation. There''s more than enough space for us four to move around comfortably without feeling crowded. It sure is nice being high-level members of one of the top guilds. Having a room specifically made for us for post-battle contemplations is part of those perks. We are gathered here in this private room for our reflection meeting. Whether we win or lose, it doesn''t matter, as we always conduct a post-match analysis after every fight to gain insights into our mistakes and areas for improvement as a team. This is a regular practice that Seer believed was necessary to enhance our overall performance. Although looking at the solemn atmosphere radiating off my teammates, you would think we had gone through a loss even though we had just won our practice match. It seems to me that they are contemplating something I am not privy to. Lucy broke the silence, cautiously expressing her thoughts. ¡°That girl¡­ is not normal...¡± she stated conspiratorially. "Uh-huh..." Ken responded absentmindedly, evidently lost in his own thoughts as always. Meanwhile, Aria just kept silent. Not receiving her desired response, Lucy expressed her frustration. "Don''t just ''Uh huh'' me!" she exclaimed. ¡°The three of us working together couldn''t even touch her once she got a grasp on our playstyle! We have to resort to waiting for fatigue to set in and slow her down before we can even land some hits! That girl is seriously not normal!" she continued. Lucy has always been calm and pleasing, but if she gets too caught up in something... this happens. Well, it''s best to calm her down. ¡°It''s fine! We still won right?¡± I said jovially, trying to lighten up the mood. ¡°Don''t give me that! You weren''t there, Blake! You haven''t fought against her firsthand! You won''t understand how scary that girl is, and she is not even max-leveled! I even haste Aria for the second time and we still had a hard time against her. The only thing that probably saved us is that she has no means of dealing damage to us, or else I don''t know what the outcome would be!¡± I find that hard to believe, honestly. I''m inclined to think that Aria was holding back because of her friendship with the girl. Seer might have also struggled to aim his cannon due to the risk of causing friendly fire. But it¡¯s better not to dismiss her concerns and provoke her further though. She only genuinely cares about the team''s well-being, and her dedication to upholding the Paragon''s mantle of being unbeatable is unmatched. I can¡¯t say I blame her. She is the protege of the current guild leader, Ma''am Celeste, and looks up to the previous Paragon team more than anyone here, after all. "Lucy, just calm down for a bit, okay? Our team won¡¯t lose to anyone in the tournament¡­ I can promise you that," I made another attempt to ease her worries. She seemed to regain her senses. "I- sorry. I was just too caught up in what happened earlier.¡± "Let us save the post-match self-reflection meeting for another time. This is not the last time we will be training against them. Besides, we have the opening ceremony ahead of us tomorrow, let us rest for now. I¡¯m sure everyone is tired from the trip," Aria, who had been silent up till now, suggested. We all agreed to her suggestion and logged out one by one, aiming to rest and recuperate for the long day ahead. ------------------------- The air is heavy, filled with a quiet stillness that seems to muffle all sounds. The usual luxurious PvP lobby furnished with a few chairs arranged in a circle in the center doesn¡¯t help dispel the solemnity of our PvP lobby I proposed that we hold a meeting to reflect on our performance in the earlier battle with the Paragons. While it''s not something we typically do, I believe it is necessary for what I have planned. Taking the time to analyze our mistakes and identify areas for improvement is crucial for the growth of our team. The four of us sat still, waiting for a break in the monotonous stillness, which Liz thankfully interrupted. "Come on, cheer up, guys! It was just a practice match. Plus, we were facing the prot¨¦g¨¦s of the legendary team. There''s no shame in losing to opponents as strong as them. Besides, I¡¯m sure that we can beat the other teams, except for them," Liz said cheerfully. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°¡­Are you saying you¡¯re giving up on winning the tournament? Are you content with that? You¡¯re the last one I expect to give up this easily,¡± Chu spoke up for the very first time in this meeting, his dissatisfaction showing. Among all of us, he is the one who desires the trophy the most. It''s no wonder he can''t accept Liz''s statement, even if she was just trying to lighten the mood. Moreover, they are all on edge after our devastating loss in the last match. The realization of how strong the competition is in this tournament is sinking in, and it''s significantly impacting their mood. I anticipated that our morale would be affected, but not to this extent. However, it''s crucial to make them aware of the strength of the team we need to surpass in order to be crowned champions. Now, it all depends on how much they truly want to win. If their determination isn''t enough, then our morale may not recover from this defeat. ¡°That¡¯s not what meant. It¡¯s just¡­ we can bounce back from the loss. Let¡¯s not get too discouraged now, shall we?¡± Liz explained her reasoning. As positive as always. Good thing she is not too affected by the loss. It''s valuable to have a captain who can reinforce positivity in the team, especially after a loss like that. I¡¯m really glad to have her as my teammate. Time to back her up in this, we can¡¯t stay depressed forever after all. ¡°Liz is right, don¡¯t get too discouraged by the loss. To be honest, we fought against the strongest team in this tournament in terms of skills so I didn¡¯t expect us to win from the get-go. But that doesn¡¯t mean we have to brush off the fight earlier. And that leaves us to why I called for this meeting, we need to analyze what we could do better to improve our performance,¡± I spoke in a collected, informative, and meticulous manner to calm my teammates down. A certain teammate of mine once told me not to view a loss as a failure, but rather as a failed experiment from which we can learn valuable lessons. So, the next time we fight again, we can do the right procedure to win. ¡°¡­Are you implying we can beat them at the tournament?¡± Chu inquired curiously, to the point of being hopeful. ¡°That all depends on our drive to win, but before we delve into that, we need to address an issue we have," I say, directing my gaze towards Renz, who has remained silent thus far. ¡°W-what is it?¡± sensing my gaze, he reacted defensively. ¡°You saw it from our perspective, right? We had the advantage after Liz broke free. If you held on for much longer, we might have the chance. A minor misplay like that could cost us the game at the tournament,¡± I explained my reasoning on why we lost the match. ¡°Everyone makes mistakes! I just got unlucky, is what it is!¡± he reasoned in an attempt to save face. ¡°I agree, everyone makes mistakes, but not learning from them is what makes it unacceptable. How many times have you played aggressively and have it backfired, risking our entire team¡¯s victory for it? We always managed to beat our opponent even if you made a blunder, but facing extremely strong opponents as we did earlier, your carelessness could resulted in our loss,¡± I chided him. ¡°B-but¡­ I,¡± he paused, likely knowing that I was right in my assumptions. ¡°Or do you plan to rely on us all the time while not minding the consequences of your actions? To me, that sounds just as equally irresponsible,¡± I upped the guilt train, forcing him to acknowledge his mistake. ¡°I¡­ I know... I know I''m the weak link in our team. But... It''s just hard to admit. That¡¯s why I try my best to win against whoever I am up against! I want to prove that I am not a burden! I want to at least be useful and not always rely on you guys to carry me!¡± he exclaimed, pouring all of his hidden grievances and inner thoughts with an emotional outburst. His outburst silenced everyone in the room, as he is not someone who we expect to reveal his vulnerable side. Typically, he conceals his weaknesses behind a facade of fake bravado. The earlier match must have made him realize the significant impact that a small mishap can have, leading to a butterfly effect that could ultimately result in a team loss. That¡¯s good. He needs to understand that his mistakes don''t just affect him individually, but can also have repercussions for the entire team. This newfound awareness would be valuable for him in the long run, as it emphasizes the importance of accountability and the need to strive for excellence in every aspect of the game, not just playing for yourself, but for your team. Although, I might have gone too far with how much I backed him into a corner. My competitiveness is showing again because of the tournament. Still, this is the perfect opportunity for coercion. I¡¯ve already gone this far, it¡¯s a huge loss if I backed out now that I got this far. ¡°¡­So, what do you propose we do? You have something in mind, right?¡± Chu asked, wanting to take the heat off of Renz and give him a little breathing room. I paused, deliberating what to say. ¡°¡­I have a strategy to improve our team, but its success will depend on each of our determination to improve," I regained my composure, preparing myself for the final phase of my plan. ¡°I¡¯m all ears! If it can help our team get stronger, I don¡¯t see why not?¡± Liz cheerfully exclaimed, desperate to alleviate the room¡¯s heavy atmosphere. I nodded at Liz¡¯s support before continuing. "For now, we will postpone team matches with the Paragons and focus on training until we feel prepared. Chu, I want you to engage in sparring sessions with Blitz as frequently as possible. I need you to become accustomed to facing opponents who possess the same level of speed and skill as him. This will greatly benefit you, not only during the tournament but also in pursuit of your personal goals," I said, looking at him with a meaningful gaze. He already told me after all that he wanted to become a pro player. Fighting strong players Like Blitz would be the best preparation he could do to achieve his goals. "Liz, I want you to seek additional guidance on movement-increasing buffs from Aria while also requesting sparring sessions where both of you receive haste buffs from Lucy. I¡¯m sure Aria can help you a lot in utilizing haste while also getting pointers from her,¡± I continued. Aria might even be a better instructor than I am currently, given the wealth of experience she has gained during my absence. Having a sparring partner who can match her speed would also be beneficial for her, creating a win-win situation for both our teams. ¡°¡­Will they even accept? It seems to me that we are the ones benefiting the most from this,¡± Chu raised a valid point. "You don''t need to worry about that. They are our allied guild, after all. They also need skilled training partners, and we are the most trustworthy ones who are certain not to leak replays and recordings of them, especially since every other team is watching them closely," I stated with confidence. Furthermore, if necessary, I can always call in the favor Seer owes me for keeping his assassination act under wraps. I''m also well-acquainted with the personalities of my former guildmates. I''m confident that Aria wouldn''t object if I asked her for a favor. Lucy, on the other hand, always follows Aria''s lead. As for Blitz, he''s the most laid-back and easygoing person I know. He would happily agree to a practice session if Chu asked him to spar... as long as it''s not a serious duel. ¡°Then¡­ what about me? How can I improve and not be a burden on our team?¡± He stared at me determinedly. He seems open to suggestions now that he admitted his faults. Acceptance is the first step to change, after all. Accepting that you are wrong about something and wanting to change for the better is a hard thing to do. My respect for him leveled up with his attitude. ¡°We will both train together. I have something in mind that can help you improve,¡± I stared at him, looking for any signs of complaint but found none. I honestly didn¡¯t expect him to listen to me this easily, not that I¡¯m complaining of course. ¡°¡­Fine, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to get strong¡­¡± he clenched his fist, his resolve palpable. Well, more like I would try to train him. When I first joined the AC, I dedicated several sleepless nights to memorizing the attack patterns of a player named Vlad, who has the moniker of ''The Impaler'' due to his exceptional spear skills. He was considered one of the most formidable opponents in the AC at that time, so I studied him extensively for days. Understanding an opponent''s movements, patterns, habits, strengths, and weaknesses is the best way to effectively dodge their attacks. Although my own skills may be lacking at the moment, I have always believed that my ability to analyze my adversaries is my greatest strength. I recall having a collection of replays featuring Vlad from that time on my laptop, which I thankfully brought with me so I could refresh my memories. It''s fortunate that Renz already has a solid foundation with spear-type weapons and possesses excellent battle instincts. While he may lack the proper technique to fully utilize his skills, if he can adjust his mindset and play style a bit, he will come to understand why spear users can be a nightmare to fight against. I just hope that he is as quick a learner as his sister. I mentally sighed. Looks like I''ll be staying up late again tonight. Vol. 2 Chapter 19 Xeno¡¯s PoV October 26, 2031 Monday, Morning To my right, a long buffet table stretches across the room, laden with a world-class selection of breakfast dishes. The display is a food lover''s dream, with everything from classic pastries and cereals to gourmet cheeses and charcuterie. The bakery section boasts an array of freshly baked bread, croissants, and muffins, their enticing aroma wafting through the room. There''s a live cooking station where chefs prepare made-to-order omelets and pancakes, their skilled hands moving swiftly to cater to each of the tournament guest team¡¯s needs. Further along, a colorful array of fresh fruits and juices beckons, offering a refreshing start to the day. The cold section houses an assortment of yogurts, granola, and chilled seafood, beautifully presented on ice. To the left, a barista stands ready at a gleaming espresso machine, brewing fresh coffee and specialty drinks. The rich scent of freshly ground coffee beans fills the air, a perfect accompaniment to the delightful breakfast spread. The atmosphere is relaxed and luxurious, with attentive staff moving quietly among the guests, ensuring everyone''s needs are met. But considering that there are only a few of us guests, this seems like overkill. Not that I¡¯m complaining though. My hard work in practicing night and day with Art paid off with this. Looking around, some of the teams are already eating, and most of them are in groups of three or four. A bit in contrast to ours since only Art and I are currently sitting at this table in the middle of the dining room, both of our two teammates for the tournament are not around to join us for breakfast even though I tried to invite them. A shame since both of them are extremely cute after all. I want to get closer to the two of them, but one seems to despise me for no reason at all. Based on the information I received from Art, it seems that the teams currently present are the Shadow Vanguard, a formidable guild in the world of CoA, Sakura, a Japanese E-sports organization-sponsored team, Dragon Dynasty Gaming, a renowned Chinese organization that enjoys great popularity in China, and Unfiltered, a team formed by a notorious streamer whom Art advised me to steer clear of. And, of course, our team, Round Table, led by Art''s character, Arthur, is also among those present here. Each team is sizing each other while talking animatedly with their own teammates, creating a half-jovial, half-solemn atmosphere. I can sense some stares directed at us when I¡¯m not looking. This feeling of being outnumbered prompted me to complain to my best friend. ¡°Tell me again why are we the only ones here? Where are Astrid and Gwyn?¡± I complained as I took a bite off of the omelet. ¡°Astrid doesn¡¯t like crowded places, and Gwyn is still asleep. They both would probably eat later at their own pace; the Opening Ceremony won''t be held until 10:30 so it''s fine,¡± he stated while taking a bite off his own breakfast. ¡°I see, but what is up with Astrid? Lately, she seems like she is staring daggers at me. Did I do something wrong, perhaps?¡± ¡°Dude, are you seriously asking that? You flirted with her the moment you two met in person!¡± ¡°That- it was just a joke, an icebreaker to be exact because she always seems to be silent when we play our matches! I said almost the same thing to Gwyn, but she didn''t mind," I explained myself. I noticed the room became silent. Following the gaze of the participants, I saw three individuals entering through the dining hall entrance. It was evident that all eyes were fixed on them. From my recollection, they were members of the Paragon team. However, I couldn''t help but notice that they were one member short, as there were only three of them. Still, that doesn¡¯t explain the sudden shift in atmosphere though. My curiosity won, and I decided to ask my best friend. "Who are those individuals exactly? And why does the atmosphere in the room seem to...change?" I asked, gesturing towards the newcomers, whom Art had only just noticed. He took a moment to contemplate before answering my question. "They are the Paragons. They are considered the favorites to win this tournament," he explained. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "I see, so that''s why the other teams are sizing them up. However, the girl in the middle is quite attractive. She certainly has...impressive assets, if you catch my drift," I said, winking at Art, knowing he understood what I meant. Art stared at me with exasperation before issuing a warning. "I''m telling you this for your own sake, but do not mess with Aria. She is the vice-captain of the Paragons, one of the largest guilds in CoA, and also the protege of Yuusha. If you provoke her, you''ll likely receive death threats from Yuusha fanatics," he stated solemnly. "Yuusha? Who is that?" I asked, curious about the unfamiliar term. He looked at me as if I were some kind of exotic creature before responding, "...Just don''t mess with her. Die-hard Yuusha fans would literally murder you if you did. You''re representing us too...as bad as it sounds. So, don''t humiliate our guild." ¡°Hmm, this seems like a plot from an anime I just watched a week ago. In a scenario where the protagonist angers the strongest girl in the magic academy, she challenges him to a duel to restore her honor, and the MC emerges victorious against all odds and expectations, leading to the girl falling in love with the male lead,¡± I smugly explained the plot of the common harem anime trope. He facepalmed. "Please don''t think about it. Besides, you can''t win against her." I smirked, thinking about how the protagonist is always underestimated. But in the end, they always come through. Noticing my expression, Art immediately chided me. ¡°Tristan¡­ don¡¯t even think about it. I¡¯m serious this time!¡± he warned, worry evident in his face. ¡°Tsk! Fine, you win,¡± I crossed my arms, aggrieved at my perfectly designed plot being thwarted so easily. The Paragon team already settled in and was served by the staff by the time we finished our banter. The atmosphere of the large room seems to shift back to earlier after that, with the occasional stares at the Paragon group. The moment of calm didn¡¯t last, as another group emerged from the entrance a minute or two after the last. There are also three of them with one missing member. This team doesn¡¯t seem as famous as the other teams merely shrugged them off. For me though it''s quite different. What I saw in the middle was the most beautiful girl I had ever met in this lifetime. Her golden locks cascade down in soft waves, shimmering in the sunlight like spun silk. The color of her hair is a perfect blend of honey and sunshine, and her fair complexion is flawless like porcelain delicately kissed by the sun. Her skin glows with a natural radiance, accentuating her features and lending an ethereal quality to her beauty. Her sparkling brown eyes are captivating, making me unable to turn my head away. Her bust is also perfect, a bit on the larger side, which is a huge plus for me. ¡°I desperately need an answer. Please tell me, who is that gorgeous lady over there?¡± I asked, unable to contain my curiosity. "Novo huh? sounds familiar..." I murmured, trying to remember the name. However, I quickly caught myself, realizing that there were more pressing matters at hand. "But, right now, what I really want to know is about that girl! What is her name? What are her hobbies? Is she single? And what type of guys is she into?" My curiosity bubbled over as I eagerly inquired, wanting to learn more about the girl who had captured my heart. ¡°Please don¡¯t ask me questions to answers I¡¯m not privy to. What got you acting so weird though? Weirder than usual, I mean,¡± he stared at me curiously. "Are you blind, man? Can''t you see how beautiful that girl is? Or are you secretly gay all this time!?" I exclaimed, slightly taken aback by his lack of appreciation for the girl¡¯s natural beauty. "I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear that," he pondered for a bit, analyzing the girl. "She does indeed look stunning. I believe her name is Elizabeth Miles. She serves as their team''s ace and also leads an allied guild of the Paragons if I''m not mistaken," he responded, stating the information matter-of-factly. "I see, Elizabeth Miles, huh? I think I''m falling in love..." I pondered, feeling captivated by her presence. He stared at me, unamused. "So, just your usual antics, huh?" "No, it''s different this time. Looking at her feels like my heart is soaring. It''s like...it feels like I''m flying!" I exclaimed, trying to convey the intensity of my emotions. "Well, falling from a high place also feels like flying...until you hit the ground, that is." I stared daggers at him. This prick is ruining the moment! Before I could even chide him for his lack of support for his friend, the Paradigm team, led by Elizabeth approached the Paragons, probably with the intent to eat together at the same table. This act is quite surprising as everyone else seems to view each other as competitors. But for me, seeing Elizabeth being friendly toward their future opponent only enhances her charm. Sociable, kind, and friendly. Beautiful inside and out! As they were near our table, I focused my attention on their conversation. "Good morning, everyone! Did you all have a good rest?" Elizabeth greeted cheerfully. "A pleasant morning to you too, Liz," the girl serious-looking girl, Aria, responded with a smile. Aria looked around for a moment as if searching for someone, before continuing the conversation. "Is Katherine not with you?" she inquired curiously. "Oh, she''s still asleep. I think she stayed up late last night watching replays, so I didn''t want to disturb her," Elizabeth explained, showing concern for her supposed friend. "Seer also stayed up late for the same reason," Aria remarked, drawing a comparison. "Yeah, it looks like they both have a similar personality, I¡¯m sure they would get along in when they help each other with the preparation for the tournament," Elizabeth joked, adding a playful tone to the conversation. "Hmph! So now you''re teaming up? And you dare to call yourselves the new generation of Paragons, how disappointing," a man from the Shadow Vanguard team exclaimed, his voice resonating throughout the dining hall and attracting the attention of the other guests and staff. "Why are those guys being so confrontational?" I whispered to Art, perplexed by their behavior. "Let''s just say that the Paragons guild and Shadow Vanguard have a bit of a history between their members," he replied, offering a vague explanation. The other teams seemed content to observe the situation unfold, their curious gazes fixed on the unfolding drama. "What''s wrong with teaming up? Jealous because no one wants to help you, Jinny boy?" the member from the Paragons taunted, exuding a carefree and jovial attitude. Art had mentioned that this individual was the strongest duelist in the tournament. "I agree. There are no rules prohibiting participants from assisting each other," the emo-looking member from the Paradigm calmly dismantled the rude guy''s argument with precision. The rude guy scoffed in response. "They''re just using you because they know you don''t stand a chance against them. You guys are such fools for not realizing it," he mocked. ¡°Huh? What? Are you picking a fight or something?!¡± the other guy from the Paradigm team exclaimed. ¡°Uhm, Renz. Please calm down,¡± Elizabeth tried to reason with her teammate. Beautiful, cool, calm, collected, rational, and non-confrontational! What a combination! It seems like I¡¯m falling more and more! Feeling the need to showcase my own good side and earn some brownie points with Elizabeth, I prepared to step in. However, Art beat me to it, stealing my thunder. "Let''s leave it at that. This is a place to eat and relax, after all. Let''s not cause a commotion, shall we?" Art calmly attempted to diffuse the situation. The rude guy from the Shadow Vanguard scoffed but didn''t argue further. I overheard snippets of information that Art was highly respected within the CoA community, but I didn''t expect his words to hold such influence. I¡¯m so jealous he got to show his good side to Elizabeth! I¡¯ll make you pay later for this, Art! Vol.2 Chapter 20 Clarissa¡¯s PoV "Are you sure you''re okay with us leaving you to explore on your own?" Mom asked, her voice filled with a hint of concern for my safety. I nodded eagerly, my excitement barely contained. "Yes, Mom! I''ll be fine. I''ve got my phone, and I know where the meeting point is. Plus, I want to cheer for my brother and my friend as soon as I see them!" Dad chuckled, ruffling my hair affectionately. "We know you have, kiddo. Just remember to stay safe, okay? Don''t wander off with strangers, and if you need anything, call us immediately." I nodded in understanding. "I know, Dad. I''ll be careful, I promise. And it will only be for a short while." My parents shared a look, then Mom enveloped me in a warm hug. "We''ll be back in a few minutes to join you in cheering for Clarence, after we purchase the toy Colin has been pestering us about for a while, okay? Have fun, sweetheart." "Mom! Dad! Let''s go already!" my younger brother Colin demanded impatiently while tugging at my father''s sleeve. "Haha, take it easy there, champ!" my father chuckled while letting Colin drag him away. My mother followed them not before giving me one last goodbye. After I bid them farewell, I took a moment to take in the sight of Virtual Arena, the name of the stadium where my brother and Novo would be competing. The venue was a magnificent dome-shaped building, surrounded by bustling stalls that added to the vibrant atmosphere for gaming enthusiasts. As I walk through the event grounds towards the dome-shaped building where the event is supposed to take place, I am greeted by vibrant and creatively designed stalls, each one showcasing something unique and enticing. One of the stalls catches my eye with its colorful display of gaming merchandise. It is adorned with shelves filled with video games, gaming consoles, controllers, and accessories of all kinds. The stall attendants seem knowledgeable and passionate about gaming, eagerly assisting customers in finding the perfect game or accessory to enhance their gaming experience. All of them also look kind so much so that it makes me less uneasy about exploring the stalls. "There are so many people," I silently pondered, taking in the sheer number of individuals present. I never thought I would see such a large crowd gathered here just to watch Big Brother and Novo play. They really are amazing! And I''m only now realizing the extent of how truly remarkable they both are. I scanned the area, seeing another stall dedicated to showcasing the latest gaming technology. Large screens and interactive displays demonstrate cutting-edge virtual reality pod systems and futuristic gaming peripherals. Moving along, I came across a stall that specializes in gaming apparel and merchandise. T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and other accessories adorned with logos I am not familiar with. Some look incredibly cute, which makes me want to buy it. As I approach the entrance, I am greeted by a massive archway adorned with vibrant LED lights, displaying the logos and graphics of the tournament sponsors and participating teams. The archway stands tall and imposing, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement. "Woah," I mumbled to myself in amazement, completely awestruck by the spectacle I was witnessing for the first time. So, this is what a gaming event looks like. The entrance is flanked by towering video screens that pulsate with vivid colors and dynamic animations, capturing the attention of passersby and drawing them toward the entrance. As I got near, I was greeted by the energetic sound of music pumping through the speakers, creating a lively and immersive atmosphere. The entrance area is spacious and well-lit, with sleek and modern design elements that reflect the cutting-edge nature of the gaming industry. I also saw a red carpet lead the way into another entrance of what I assumed to be for VIPs. Along the sides of the carpet, there are strategically placed banners and posters featuring the logos and branding of the participating teams and sponsors. There are also a lot of guards stationed next to the stanchions and velvet ropes separating the players from the crowd. The vibrant colors and eye-catching designs add a sense of excitement and anticipation to the overall ambiance, making me feel giddy inside. The entrance area is staffed by friendly and enthusiastic event personnel, dressed in matching uniforms, who welcome attendees with warm smiles and assist with any inquiries or directions. They look like they are handing out event programs and wristbands. Probably to ensure that everyone is well-informed and ready to make the most of their experience in the event. "Look! The teams have arrived!" one enthusiastic audience member exclaimed, capturing the attention of those around them. Others followed suit, and in a short while the whole crowd gathered at the edge of the red carpet for VIP entrance to see the commotion. The spectacle caught my attention. A line of luxurious cars pulled up at the VIP entrance. The first car came to a halt at the unloading area, and one by one, a group of four individuals emerged and made their way towards the red carpet entrance dressed in matching jerseys adorned with their team logos. They exuded an air of determination and confidence, their faces focused yet filled with anticipation. The crowd erupted in excitement, chanting "Paragons". So, this is what Novo meant by ''hyping'' the crowd. I found myself swept up in their enthusiasm, joining in the shouts, even though I didn''t recognize the team currently striding towards the VIP entrance. "I heard they''re they are the favorites to win the tournament, is that true?" one of the guys next to me asked. "Yes, and that girl in the middle is the sole prot¨¦g¨¦ of Yuusha!" his friend right next to him answered. "Prot¨¦g¨¦?" the guy queried. "Oh right, you haven''t reached the max level yet so you don''t know about the Mentor System. Basically, it''s a feature that gives tons of perks to both the mentor and their chosen prot¨¦g¨¦. It became a tradition to give importance to the system given how hard the game is for new players and their need for someone to teach them. Many players hold the mentorship system in high regard, even considering it sacred in a sense, as it creates a special bond between individuals who are essentially stuck with each other unless one participant goes offline for an extended period of more than six months, which is the only way for a player to switch their mentor or protege," his friend helpfully explained. "Really? And you''re telling me that girl is Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦? That''s insane! I''ve only heard bits and pieces about how formidable Yuusha was. If she''s her student, then she must be incredibly skilled!" the guy exclaimed. "That''s not all. I heard from the CoA forums that the guy on the far right, Zetta''s prot¨¦g¨¦, even defeated a professional player once! A pro player, can you believe it?!" the friend excitedly added. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Wow, they''re sure to win the whole thing easily since no professional players are allowed to join this tournament!" I tuned into the conversation between the two guys right next to me. They seemed well-informed, so I continued to listen, hoping to learn more about the identities of those teams that my brother was up against. Next, the second team made their grand entrance. They stepped out of the car with a swagger, their stylish outfits and trendy accessories catching everyone''s attention. The fans erupted into cheers once again, their admiration for this team evident. The players acknowledged the crowd with smiles and waves, their charisma captivating the audience. ¡°Oh, it''s the Shadow Vanguards, right?¡± the two next to me continued their conversation. ¡°Yeah, they are pretty strong, especially in turtling and stalling plays especially their ace, the strongest Defender in the tournament. There are many replays of him stalling two or even three players while the rest of his team finishes the opponents.¡± As the third team emerged from the car, the atmosphere shifted. Instead of only cheers, a mix of boos and cheers erupted from a section of the fans. The atmosphere instantly shifted, and a sense of tension filled the air. It was clear that most of the crowd didn¡¯t like this particular team. But despite the boos, the players remained composed, as if used to this kind of reception. I became curious about the reason behind the intense reaction. Thankfully the two next to me filled the gaps in my knowledge. "Is that guy Draven? The streamer known for his trash-talking?" one of them questioned. "Yeah, that''s him. He takes pleasure in humiliating his opponents before defeating them. It''s quite disturbing. He gained fame and wealth through his streams, thanks to this kind of unethical behavior," the other guy explained. "I don''t understand why people even watch him. He should be banned!" he added, expressing his disapproval. ¡°I know right? Sadly, many people watch that. There is no shortage of negative people watching those kinds of streams. That is why he doubles down on it for content and embraces his persona.¡± As the fourth team stepped out of the car, the cheers from the crowd grew even louder. The fans erupted into a frenzy of excitement, their voices harmonizing into a symphony of support. Among the players, there was an incredibly adorable girl with distinctly Japanese features. She basked in the adoration, waving to the crowd and exchanging high-fives with her devoted fans from the safety of the stanchion and velvet ropes separating the players from the crowd. ¡°Wow! I know that girl, she¡¯s Hana, Murasame¡¯s sister!¡± ¡°I guess I don¡¯t have to explain how good she is.¡± ¡°Of course not. What do you take me for? Everybody knows Murasame, you¡¯d be stupid not to.¡± As the fifth team emerged from their car, a wave of anticipation rippled through the crowd. The players exuded a blend of confidence and humility, their youthful energy captivating the audience. The chant of "Arthur" echoed throughout, indicating the popularity of this individual. The shrieks of some girls were so loud that it even caused discomfort in my ears. It seems like I¡¯m not the only one as the two next to me also shouted to make their voice heard to each other. ¡°Holy Shit, my eardrums hurt! That Arthur really is a Casanova. Just look at how many girls are shrieking their hearts out!" ¡°There are many female fans of Arthur after all, it does make sense. Kindness, chivalry, and good looks. It''s like he hit the jackpot in the genetic lottery. I have to admit, I also admire how he actively contributes to the community." As the sixth team made their grand entrance the crowd''s cheers reached a deafening roar. I kind of agree with this team¡¯s reception. The players themselves exuded an aura of greatness, their every move commanding attention. The energy in the air was electric as they made their way toward the red carpet, their determination evident in their stride. What stood out to me was a girl with a cane. She seems to be blind but is able to walk on her own without any help. I turned my focus to the two guys right beside me who had been anything but helpful up to this point, curious about their take on this team. ¡°That¡¯s Gilligan, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, they are considered the second-strongest contender in this tournament. I heard he traveled all over Asia for a year in search of prodigies to build his team in e-sports. Each of his members is extremely skilled in their respective forms of martial arts.¡± ¡°But¡­ look at that. Isn¡¯t one of their member blind?¡± he exclaimed while pointing at a beautiful girl. ¡°Yes, I heard she is. It¡¯s no big deal though. In VR games, even blind people can see since the VR pod directly sends signals to your brain, not affected by impairments or lack of other senses.¡± ¡°I see¡­ still, it must be nice, to be the only child of a famous AI company CEO and have a shit ton of money to do anything you want. That Gilligan guy must be spoiled to the bone.¡± ¡°Dude, your jealousy is showing. Tone it down a bit.¡± ¡°Humph! Fuck off!¡± Following that, the seventh team made their grand entrance. I couldn''t help but notice that all of them had distinct Chinese features. Unlike the previous teams, there was no immediate eruption of cheers or applause. The crowd seemed to be taking a moment to evaluate this team. There were some cheers here and there, but not as strong as the previous ones. ¡°Those guys are the Chinese team, they are pretty strong, especially, HiddenDemon, their ace.¡± ¡°Oh, I think I heard about him. Still, I won¡¯t root for them.¡± ¡°What a racist.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of preference, don¡¯t attribute everything to race. That makes you the racist one, stupid.¡± Finally, the last team that I had been waiting for made their grand entrance. My brother, who is smugly walking with confidence. Novo, with her usual calm and expressionless face. Miss Lizbeth, smiling broadly while waving to the cheers. And another teammate whom I am not familiar with. They all have matching uniforms, showing off their camaraderie. However, it seemed that their team was not well received by the fans. Even though there were cheers here and there from the crowd, it was evident that the overall enthusiasm was subdued compared to the previous teams. "Brother! Novo! Miss Lizbeth!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, determined to cheer for them and compensate for the lack of enthusiasm from the crowd. My efforts were rewarded instantly when my brother glanced at me and gave me a thumbs-up, while Miss Lizbeth waved to me and the others who were cheering for her. Novo, for her part, responded with a serene smile of acknowledgment towards me. I knew I should refer to her by her real name, but I had become so accustomed to calling her by her in-game name that calling her anything other than Novo seemed¡­ strange somehow. Curious about the opinions of the others regarding Novo''s team, I eavesdropped on the conversations next to me. To my surprise, the comments were not what I had anticipated. "Who are those guys?" "I believe they''re the Paradigm team." "What kind of name is that? It sounds like a cheap imitation of the Paragons." "Yeah, I heard they gained some recognition for defeating the Magic Atelier in the qualifiers." "But are they actually strong?" "Not really. I watched a YouTube video that ranked the teams participating here, and their team was placed in the lowest tier." ¡°Really? A shame, since those two girls in the middle look gorgeous. I kind of want to root for them.¡± ¡°Save your energy dude. You¡¯ll only be disappointed since they will be eliminated on their first game anyway.¡± Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions for belittling my brother¡¯s team, I couldn''t help but interject in their conversation. "You... you guys have it all wrong!" I blurted out, unable to contain myself. Their startled gazes met mine, prompting me to provide an explanation. They stared at me, shocked by my outburst. Feeling the need to explain myself, I continued. "My brother''s team, Paradigm, is the strongest! And I¡¯m sure they will win the tournament!" I exclaimed with conviction. "Huh? What are you saying, girlie?" The man, who appeared to be in his thirties and wore a hoodie, confronted me. He had been the more knowledgeable of the two, providing information about the teams. "They were simply lucky to face weaker girl streamers in their bracket. They are nowhere near the caliber of the participants in this event. They should be grateful for the chance to compete. I guarantee they will be eliminated in the very first match," he continued, his tone filled with skepticism. ¡°Y-you¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re wrong! I know how strong Novo is. She won''t lose to anyone!¡± I exclaimed passionately, trying to convey how serious I was. The two guys exchanged glances for a moment, ¡°Who is Novo?¡± the other guy queried. "I believe Novo is their support player. I remember her because she''s only at level 90, not even at the maximum level," the first guy explained, seemingly amused by the fact. They exchanged a brief moment of understanding before bursting into laughter simultaneously. ¡°HAHAHA!¡± They both chuckled as if it was the funniest joke, they heard all day. "A level 90 support that won¡¯t lose to anyone in the tournament? Hahaha, that was the funniest joke I''ve heard all day! Thanks for giving us a good laugh, girlie. Word of advice, don''t let your personal connection with them cloud your judgment. Facts don¡¯t care about your feelings. They are weak compared to the other teams, and that''s the harsh reality. They would be considered lucky if they can even win a single match here," he said in a condescending tone. Their statement made my blood boil. How could I make them understand that they are wrong? I''ve never been skilled at persuading others, but I can''t allow them to believe that Novo is anything but strong. She... she is the most formidable person I''ve ever known! And deep in my heart, I know it to be true and whatever they say won¡¯t change that! Before I even made a rebuttal, someone interjected in our conversation. ¡°I think that is enough. All of you clearly have a strong passion for the teams you like to win. However, I believe it''s important to remember that your support for a particular team should never lead to division or conflict. It¡¯s a bit shameful to mock someone for supporting a team they love; don¡¯t you guys agree? After all, in the end, all of you are playing the same game, aren''t you?¡± I surveyed the man. He was wearing a face mask, dressed in a long, dark undercoat, and had a hat that partially concealed his upper face. As I pondered for a moment, trying to recall where I had seen him before, it suddenly clicked in my memory. He was the same person Colin had bothered the other day, accusing him of appearing suspicious and shady. The two guys appeared to be intimidated by the peculiar attire of the mysterious man as they observed him. "I-I suppose you''re right," one of the guys reluctantly agreed. "Yeah... you have a point. Let''s go, Aron. We don''t want to miss out on getting our hands on the limited merchandise and figurines," his informative friend conceded. After the two left following the crowd that dispersed after the spectacle, the man suddenly spoke up. "They''re simply die-hard fans. Don''t dwell on it too much. They''re just incredibly passionate about the team they''re rooting for," He paused for a second, as if pondering, then continued. "I think It is best to keep your opinions to yourself and simply cheer for the team you support. People can be extremely passionate about the team they love, and you will only end up in arguments if you challenge their opinions.¡± "¡­Why did you help me?" I asked, genuinely curious about his intentions. ¡°You seem like a newcomer to these kinds of events. I simply want new players to also enjoy the game I am passionate about,¡± he proclaimed as he stared at me warmly, giving credit to his motive. His explanation resonated with me, and I realized that I had misjudged him based on his attire. It made me question the validity of other things my brother had told me about spotting bad strangers. Perhaps there were other misconceptions I had been holding onto. "Well, thank you for your help," I said gratefully as he prepared to leave. "And I will definitely keep in mind what you said earlier." He gave me a nod, turned around casually, and started walking towards the entrance. As he made his way, he gave me a wave, even though his back was turned, showing that he was aware I was still watching him. I couldn''t help but be captivated by how effortlessly cool he looked in that moment. It was only then after he was gone that I remembered something grave. I forgot to ask for his name. Vol.2 Chapter 21 Clarissa¡¯s PoV After the encounter I found myself in earlier, I eagerly began to check out what each stall had to offer since there was a lot of time left before the start of the program. The first stall I approached was adorned with colorful banners and filled with an array of virtual reality accessories. Virtual reality headsets, motion controllers, and even haptic feedback gloves were on display, tempting me with their cutting-edge technology. I couldn''t help but imagine how these devices would enhance my virtual adventures, immersing me even deeper into the digital realms. After that, I came across a stall that showcased an assortment of futuristic clothing and accessories. Shimmering holographic jackets, sleek cyberpunk goggles, and glowing LED sneakers caught my attention. I couldn''t resist trying on a pair of sneakers, feeling like I was entering a world where fashion merged seamlessly with technology. Then, I stumbled upon a stall dedicated to virtual reality art. Beautifully crafted paintings and sculptures adorned the walls, each one capturing the essence of virtual worlds in stunning detail. The artist behind the stall spoke passionately about the inspiration behind their creations, and I found myself getting lost in the intricate brushstrokes and vibrant colors. Currently, I found myself drawn to a stall adorned with a collection of figurines with other accessories of the same theme and color scheme as the figurine. The stall was manned by a group of three individuals who appeared to be close friends. Two of them were female and there was a lone male among them. However, it was the charismatic woman who immediately caught my attention. As she noticed my keen interest in the collectibles, she greeted me with a warm smile and an inviting presence that instantly made me feel at ease. "Hello, are you here to buy Yuusha figurines?" she asked in a calm and composed manner, exuding the grace of a true lady. "Yuusha? I''ve heard that name before, quite a lot actually, but I don''t really know who that is," I curiously replied. Whenever I ask Novo, who is the most knowledgeable person I know, about the name Yuusha, she always seems to either change the subject or evade my question. "Oh, so you''re a new player, perhaps?" I noticed a sparkle in her eyes as I admitted my curiosity. "Well then, let me enlighten you, please!" she exclaimed with unfiltered enthusiasm as if her calm demeanor earlier was just a facade. "Whoa, whoa. Hold on a second, Faye. You might scare off another potential customer," a seemingly bubbly and cheerful woman interjected, her voice filled with laughter. "Oh, right," the woman''s face reddened slightly as if she was embarrassed by her actions. "Ahem, sorry about that. Then, let me tell you who Yuusha is," she returned to her usual calm voice, containing her earlier enthusiasm. "That is, if you''d like, I mean," she added as an afterthought. "Yeah! I would love to! I''ve heard that name a couple of times, too many to count, so I''m quite curious,¡± I answered truthfully. ¡°Well, it¡¯s no surprise you heard about her because she is the greatest player of CoA who ever lived!¡± she exclaimed, her enthusiasm returning. ¡°Here we go again,¡± I heard one of her female friends mumbled to herself in a defeated tone. The girl in front of me, Faye, seemed to ignore her, continuing with a history lesson. ¡°You see, Yuusha was one of the first players to win the Andartha Cup, the most prestigious tournament in all of CoA.¡± ¡°Ohh, so that is why she is so renowned?¡± ¡°Yes, but it did not start that way. You see¡­ when their team first entered the AC, they were immediately mocked by the players,¡± she said with disgust. ¡°Why?¡± I asked curiously. "First, you should know that the current meta back then was not as diverse as it is now. In those days, having a standard tank DPS in every team was a necessity. However, Yuusha''s team, the old Paragon''s team, had an extremely unorthodox composition. People generally dislike those who don''t conform to the norm, so their team is looked down upon. Adding to that, Yuusha was the only female in not only their team but also the entire tournament, which made her the target of hurtful jokes and mockery,¡± as if remembering something, she hurriedly continued. "Aside from our lady Celeste of course, who is undoubtedly also female. "But everyone was astonished as their team consistently emerged victorious, all thanks to her extraordinary plays that outshined every other team. It was as if she was possessed, fueled by an indomitable force that rendered her incapable of losing. The tournament seemed to hold a life-or-death significance for her, with victory being the sole acceptable outcome!" "Even the haters couldn''t help but become fans over time. And after her legendary 3v1 performance in the finals, all the doubters were silenced!¡± she exclaimed with vigor. "That''s why she holds such significance for many people. She embodies the limitless potential of VR games, demonstrating that players should not be restricted by the conventions of RPG gaming. That¡­ it''s one''s own skill that truly matters above all else. This outcome gradually shaped the culture of the CoA community, where strength and skill are respected above all else. Regardless of gender, nationality, or social status, when you log into the game, all that matters is proving your skills,¡± she ended on a solemn note. ¡°Whoaah,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but admire Yuusha. So that is why she is so well respected by everyone I know. I immediately became a fan just hearing of her exploits. ¡°That is why I established the guild, Yuusha¡¯s Apostles! She showed us the way, now it''s time for us, her apostles, to show the truth to others!¡± she continued. ¡°Oh boy, here we go again,¡± I heard another one of her friends sigh but was again ignored. ¡°She is a martyr, after all, she quit the game for our sins! That is why we established this guild, to ensure that her words are not forgotten, because someday, we know she will return to us once again!¡± she exclaimed with such passion that it made me remember the preachers I sometimes saw on Television programs. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Wow, so cool,¡± I said in astonishment. ¡°That is why we members of her fan club exist and formed this guild! To spread the word of our savior. To not let it be forgotten in the ebbs of time... so would you like to hear the word of our lord and savior Yuusha and join our guild?¡± I got excited immediately at her words. I almost accepted her offer to join her guild but I remembered I already had one. Miss Lizbeth would be heartbroken if I left her guild, at least I think she will be. "I''m sorry, I already have a guild," I said with a tinge of sadness. She smiled, showing her understanding. "That''s alright. It doesn''t matter which guild you belong to, as long as you hold her virtues close to your heart. Then, would you like to buy one of her figurines? This is her set when she was only level 60 and was starting to become notorious at that time. It is said to bring luck to your dungeon runs!¡± "I''ll definitely buy one!" I exclaimed with excitement. "We also have a promotion going on. If you purchase two of these figurines, you''ll receive a ten percent discount. It''s a great opportunity to share the luck in dungeon drops with a friend!" she informed me about a special offer, how kind. I paused for a moment, considering the offer. "That sounds like an amazing deal. I could also get one for Novo," I whispered to myself. Turning my attention back to the friendly woman, I made up my mind. "Sure! I''ll purchase two figurines!" We made our transaction. After sending her the money via my e-wallet, she handed me the figurines, which looked really cool. Her gray hair and black-themed cloak exude a certain mystery that draws me in. "Thank you for your purchase. Please do come back again! And don''t forget to bring a friend next time, so we can spread the word of Yuusha together!" "Sure thing!" I waved goodbye before leaving. They seemed like genuinely nice people, and I am certain that Novo would be thrilled to meet them! --------------------- "A-Achoo!" I sneezed; a bit more forcefully than I would have preferred. "What''s the matter? Are you feeling cold?" Liz asked, concern evident on her pretty face. "You can borrow my jacket if you''d like. It would go well with our jersey." ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ probably,¡± I replied vaguely, unsure of what made me sneeze in the first place. We are currently backstage at the venue, having received a brief explanation from the staff about what we would be doing once called on stage. All the participants are now waiting in the lobby, each player seemingly content to keep to themselves and engage in conversations within their respective teams. We are all prepared to face what appears to be the most challenging part of the tournament, at least for me. The only thing left is for the Emcee to announce our team''s names. At this moment, I find myself longing to go home and leave all of this behind, consequences be damned. All these enthusiastic people are getting on my nerves. It would be better if they made it an online tournament like the first AC, a much simpler tournament. I get that a Lan tournament garners more attention and a better overall experience for the fans, but still! ¡°Team Paragon!¡± an enthusiastic and boisterous deep voice called out. The announcement was followed by a thunderous roar of applause from the hundreds of audience at the stadium. They sure are popular, huh? Good for them¡­ I guess. "As I suspected, they''re going first again. I bet we''ll be called last when all the excitement has died down, this is fucking unfair," Renz grumbled with a hint of disappointment. Personally, I didn''t mind that at all. The less attention, the better, I thought to myself. "Don''t be like that. You know what they say, ''Save the best for last!''" Liz chimed in, trying to maintain a positive outlook. ¡°¡­It¡¯s no surprise. We are considered the weakest and least popular here, after all,¡± Chu uncharacteristically butted in the conversation. The crowd must be getting on his nerves too for him to join I like this. "Hah?! I thought you wanted to win. Why are you being negative now and calling our team weak? Did the defeat you experienced yesterday humble you this much?" Renz confronted, his tone filled with surprise and a hint of frustration. "¡­Being perceived as weak by the audience isn''t the same as actually being weak. They will all be silenced when we become the champions of this tournament," Chu responded with unwavering determination. Renz was caught off guard for a second before regaining his composure. "Heh, looks like I can agree with you for once," he replied, giving Chu a smirk. "You two really are close, huh?" I chimed in, trying to lighten the mood by making a jest of my own. "As if." "Who in their right mind would be close with this Edgelord!" They said in unison, firmly rejecting any idea of closeness between them, which brought a smile to my face as I observed their shared mindset. We continued our light banter for a while until it was our turn to be called. "Team Paradigm!" the announcer exclaimed with the same enthusiasm as when he called the first team. "Looks like it''s our time to shine!" Liz cheered, leading the way towards the arena. We followed our captain, and I must admit, her demeanor was truly inspiring, helping me calm my nerves even for just a little. Stepping into the grand arena, my heart raced, and my social anxiety heightened. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as the opening ceremony of the e-sports tournament was about to begin. The venue was packed with fans from all over the world, their cheers echoing through the halls. While their cheers may not have been as thunderous as those of the previous contestants, they still sent shivers down my spine and intensified my nervousness. Taking in the sight of the stage, I was in awe. It was a spectacle to behold, adorned with massive LED screens that illuminated the entire arena. The vibrant graphics and dynamic animations created an immersive atmosphere, setting the stage for the intense battles that awaited us. The lights dimmed, and the screens came alive, captivating the audience with a visual extravaganza. As we made our long walk towards the center stage, where all the participants were lined up, the announcer''s voice boomed through the speakers, giving us short introductions one by one. "First, let''s give a round of applause for their Captain, Elizabeth Miles, also known as ''Lizbeth'' in the CoA world. With her infectious smile and undeniable charm, she brings a unique energy to the gaming arena. However, don''t let her cheerful demeanor fool you, because when it comes to the game, she transforms into a fierce competitor with unwavering determination to succeed. Her impeccable synergy and unwavering trust in her support make her a formidable force to be reckoned with!" The screens surrounding the stage showcase highlights of Elizabeth''s gameplay, showcasing her skills and strategic prowess. It is a sight to behold how they captured her most flashing moments. On top of her being extremely beautiful, it feels as if I¡¯m watching a movie with a gorgeous actor in it. The crowd went wild upon seeing her graceful plays. ¡°And their team¡¯s duo complete without her trusted support, Katherine Katyusha!¡± the announcer hyped. As my name was called, shivers ran down my spine, and I couldn''t help but gulp nervously. A fleeting thought crossed my mind - was it too late to turn back and walk away? I¡¯m really tempted, but going back now would be more embarrassing than just letting things play out. ¡°in-game-name, Novo. She is the only one not yet max-leveled among all the participants. But don¡¯t let her under-leveled account fool you, on top of being an extremely skilled survivalist and a calm and collected beauty prepared for any adversaries, she is also a dual caster!¡± the emcee exclaimed. As if on cue, the screens played a couple of clips of me casting haste and heal at Liz. The spectacle seemed to awe the audience, who increased the intensity of their cheers. "And that''s not all," the announcer continued, "she not only supports her teammates in the game but also provides emotional support to them!" Dread immediately washed over me as a clip of me saying embarrassing things surfaced on the screen. It was a moment from our first match against RuG and his team, where I had tried to motivate Liz by saying cheesy lines that I would never repeat again in my lifetime. I mean, what the hell!? Play another clip, please! Anything but that! My mind went blank after that and I went on autopilot with a full-on poker face, an escape mechanism of mine when the embarrassment was no longer bearable. I couldn''t recall what happened then. It was as if I had been transported to another world. When I finally came to, I realized that our introductions had finished, and I was now standing at the center stage alongside all the other participants. "Before we kick off the start of the opening ceremony, let''s take a moment to hear a message from none other than Harper Stone, the Marketing Director of our game!" the announcer''s voice boomed through the speakers, eliciting cheers from the crowd. As Harper Stone was called onto the stage, I couldn''t help but notice his professional and polished appearance. He exuded confidence and sophistication, dressed in a well-tailored and modern business suit, with his hair styled in a sleek updo. There was something about him that felt familiar, but I couldn''t quite put my finger on it. Where had I seen him before? I racked my brain, trying to recall things related to the name Harper Stone. Perhaps he had made appearances in promotional videos or interviews related to the game that I watched, but I cannot be sure. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and fellow gaming enthusiasts welcome to the grand opening of this spectacular event! Tonight, we come together not only as mere spectators but as witnesses to the remarkable talent and limitless creativity of the young individuals who will grace the center stage in this epic battle. Get ready to witness the clash of the Titans, where virtual worlds collide and heroes emerge!" The crowd went wild upon hearing his bold statements. If anything, he does know how to hype up the crowd. "But let''s not forget the heart and soul of this tournament: the youth under 20. These remarkable individuals possess an insatiable hunger for adventure, a thirst for competition, and a boundless imagination that knows no limits. They are the embodiment of the future, and tonight, they will captivate us with their brilliance!" he exclaimed with utmost passion. As if on cue, the camera focuses on us participants. Eliciting another roar from the crowd. "Therefore, my fellow gamers, buckle up and get ready for an exhilarating adventure. Brace yourselves for awe-inspiring maneuvers, mind-bending strategies, and pulse-pounding moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The Champion''s Brawl is about to commence, and I guarantee you, it will be a rollercoaster ride like no other!" "And who knows, there might be a surprise guest appearance that none of us are prepared for," he added as an afterthought, his gaze scanning the participants. And in that fleeting moment, it felt as if his eyes locked onto mine. Vol.2 Chapter 22 Following the speech, the opening ceremony continued. The staff presented us with a choice: to either join the crowd and mingle or take advantage of the Player Lounge, where each team had its own private room. Naturally, we opted for the latter, relishing the opportunity to have our team''s personal space. The participant¡¯s room provided an ideal vantage point, as each room was positioned in the topmost corner of the arena, separated only by transparent glass. The chamber also has two wide-screen TVs to not only feature the event but also to see the battles in the tournament. This arrangement allowed for an unobstructed view of the entire match, ensuring that we didn''t miss a single moment of the action. The best part was the spaciousness of our team''s room, as we had it all to ourselves, creating a sense of exclusivity. Having our own dedicated space within the Player¡¯s Lounge added to the overall experience, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the event while enjoying the comfort and convenience of a private setting. It was a welcome respite from the bustling atmosphere of the venue, providing a moment of tranquility before the intense battles that awaited us in the days to come. I''m also certain that the event planner intended for the privacy lounge to help us acclimate to the crowd, allowing us to relax and enjoy ourselves while still being fully immersed in the electrifying atmosphere of the event. It provided us with a valuable opportunity to recharge and mentally prepare for the challenges that lay ahead, for which I am truly grateful. First is a breathtaking dance performance that took center stage, combining elements of traditional and modern dance styles. The dancers moved in perfect synchronization, their movements reflecting the agility, precision, and coordination required in the world of e-sports. The audience was captivated by their graceful yet powerful performance, a testament to the artistry within competitive gaming. Liz found it the best part of the opening ceremony since she did not stop talking about it for a while. The highlight of the ceremony, for me at least, was the mesmerizing musical performance that brought the in-game soundtracks to life. Talented musicians graced the stage and delivered a captivating rendition that left me in awe. As the lights dimmed, a gentle piano melody filled the stadium, instantly creating an atmosphere of solemnity that sent shivers down my spine with the unforgettable performance that unfolded. Gradually, the piano was accompanied by a symphony of strings, as violins, violas, and cellos joined in, adding depth and emotion to the music. The skilled musicians played with a combination of passion and precision, their melodies evoking a sense of mystery. The audience was completely captivated by the delicate yet powerful sound of the instruments, their harmonies resonating throughout the venue. After that, there was a part that I personally found quite boring. A well-known e-sports YouTuber named ''Axion'', whom I believe the speaker from the opening ceremony earlier was referring to, made a special guest appearance that garnered a lot of excitement among the crowd. I wasn''t familiar with this particular YouTuber since I don''t usually watch content creators on YouTube. I find that most of their information about the game is not only unhelpful and heavily biased but also created solely for the purpose of gaining views, making their videos unreliable when it comes to forming strategies. However, judging by the audience''s reaction, it seemed like Axion was well-received, so perhaps he isn''t as bad as I initially thought. Currently, we are in the middle of watching a team match featuring various streamers. As a dedicated fan of Liz, I am not familiar with any of the other players involved since I don¡¯t watch any stream other than hers besides passing curiosity. My loyalty to Liz is unwavering, after all, and I have no interest in watching anything other than her content. It''s safe to say that I really am a great friend to Liz, prioritizing her stream above all else. Fortunately, Liz, being a seasoned veteran in the streaming industry, is now helpfully providing me with valuable insights to fill in the gaps in my knowledge. "And that guy who uses the spear is Camat; he is the most skilled member of their group. Unlike his teammates who prioritize entertainment, he emphasizes skilled gameplay. You know, he even leads his own semi-professional team that plays in minor tournaments. They even won a couple of times! How impressive is that!" my friend shared her take on the game with great enthusiasm, showcasing her passion for the game and streaming. "Uh-huh..." I responded with disinterest, sensing the lack of skill among the other participants. As she was elaborating on the happenings of the match, (which the participants didn¡¯t seem that skilled except for two players on a semi-pro level that were currently fighting for the bottom orb) a sudden knock echoed through our room, abruptly interrupting our once sided-conversation. Clarence, who was seated closest to the door, stood up and opened it. He was greeted by a staff member who politely greeted him in return before speaking words that were barely audible over the noise of the crowd. Clarence appeared momentarily confused before turning towards us and raising his voice to ensure he could be heard over the background noise "Katherine, she wants to speak with you," Clarence informed me. I have a bad feeling about this. I stood up and approached the staff members, while Liz followed closely behind, her curiosity piqued. She was dressed in a crisp black suit, a walkie-talkie clipped to her belt, and an official badge hanging around her neck. Her face was professional, yet friendly, and she held herself with an air of urgency that immediately caught our attention. "Excuse me," she began as I approached, her voice clear and respectful. "I apologize for the interruption, but my boss would like to speak with you," she said while turning her attention to me. Her words hung in the air, sparking a wave of curiosity among us. Both Clarence and Liz glanced at me with curiosity before redirecting their attention to the guest. "What does your boss want with Kat?" Liz voiced her thoughts. "I apologize, but he did not inform me of his exact intentions," the woman replied respectfully to Liz''s question. "The only instruction I received was to escort the participant named Katherine Katyusha to the VIP room of my boss. I believe he wishes to speak with Ms. Katyusha there." "May I accompany her?" Liz asked, her tone tinged with worry, which I couldn''t help but notice. The staff member shook her head. "I''m afraid our boss specifically instructed us not to allow anyone else," she explained. "And why is that?" Liz questioned, her tone becoming increasingly confrontational as her suspicion grew. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "I myself am not aware. I apologize, but I am simply following orders," the woman replied. "Can we refuse, then?" Liz pressed further. "Yes, my boss instructed me to treat Ms. Katherine as I would treat him. Therefore, you have the option to refuse if you wish," the staff member clarified while respectfully informing me of my right to refuse. The woman''s statement clearly shocked Liz and Clarence, and I could see the increasing inquisitiveness in their eyes as they looked at me. "Is this boss person she''s referring to one of your dad''s business partners or something?" Clarence joked, trying to lighten the mood while also prying for information. "I think it''s a bit shady," Liz expressed her opinion, her voice filled with apprehension. "It''s alright, Liz. She is one of the event staff, so I''m sure there''s nothing to worry about. It''s probably just a misunderstanding or a form I forgot to sign," I reassured her, trying to calm her down. "But..." Liz hesitated, still reluctant, but it seemed like she was starting to believe my words. "If you say so..." she finally conceded. I then turned towards the woman, who was more than respectful since earlier. "Please lead the way," I complied. The staff member gave a nod of acknowledgment, her expression remaining professional. She stepped aside, gesturing for me to follow her. As I excused myself from the group and followed the staff member out of the lounge, a surge of emotions washed over me. I had an inkling of why this ''Boss'' wanted to speak with me, and it stirred a mix of apprehension and curiosity within me. While I could choose to ignore it, doing so might create more problems and raise more suspicions. It seemed wiser to address the situation head-on and clear any misunderstandings they might have. The hallway outside was bustling with activity, a stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere of the VIP lounge. Staff members rushed past us, their faces focused and determined. The excitement of the event was palpable, even away from the main stage. As we approached the destination, a well-decorated VIP door, I noticed two male staff members standing guard. They nodded in acknowledgment and respect towards me as we approached, then proceeded to open the door, indicating for us to enter. Upon entering, I was met with a spacious room filled with screens displaying live feeds from the tournament. The ¡®Boss¡¯ stood by a large window overlooking the stadium with his back turned, his silhouette outlined against the bright lights of the stage. ¡°Please leave us alone for a bit Seana, and close the door while you¡¯re at it. Make sure no one interrupts us until we are done talking,¡± he voiced in an authoritative tone. As he spoke, I recognized his voice from the earlier speech. It was the same person, the CoA Marketing Manager from earlier, Harper Stone. "It''s a pleasure to meet you again, Ms. Katherine, or should I call you Yuusha?" he greeted me, turning to face me with a charismatic smile. Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised by his agenda. At least this room appears to provide a high level of privacy with its soundproof walls, ensuring that no one would be able to eavesdrop on our conversation. "...I would prefer if you called me by my real name," I replied respectfully while defaulting to my tried-and-true poker face. ¡°Oh, forgive me. I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind,¡± he responded, his smile still toned to perfection. "Please take a seat," he gestured towards a chair, where a beautifully arranged tea set awaited on a polished wooden table, accompanied by an assortment of delicate tea cups. As I sank into the comfortable plush chair, he carefully poured a cup of steaming tea. The aroma gracefully drifted through the air, enveloping the room with its enticing and aromatic fragrance. It was evident that this was not your average tea; it appeared to be a blend of the most exquisite and opulent leaves. As someone who is not entirely unfamiliar with tea, I could appreciate the quality and craftsmanship that went into this blend. "I hope you enjoy it. This tea is sourced from a remote plantation located high in the misty mountains of a distant land. The region''s distinctive climate, fertile soil, and careful cultivation techniques have all contributed to the exceptional quality of this tea," he explained. ¡°¡­I¡¯m more of a coffee person,¡± I replied nonchalantly, trying to convey a sense of disinterest. If my assumption of his agenda was correct, having an advantage in negotiations would prove to be quite useful. Not showing any signs of favorability would help me greatly. "I believe that anyone with refined taste, coffee lovers or not, can appreciate a good tea," he responded amiably. ¡°What did you call me here for?¡± I went straight to the point. ¡°As curt as always, just as the rumors say,¡± he remarked. "However, I must say, you appear to be more relaxed now than when I first approached you to join our team at CoA as our star. You¡¯re not driving me out immediately at least," he spoke in a jovial tone, as if remembering a funny story. Suddenly, everything fell into place. I recalled why this individual seemed so familiar. He was the one who visited my home shortly after I won the AC, aiming to meet me and persuade me to become the "face" of CoA. Back then, I remember rudely declining his attempts and forcefully shutting the door on him. I wasn''t in the mood for¡­ anything, really, after what had happened. "Well, let''s get straight to business then, as I don''t want to take up too much of your time away from your friends. I would like you to collaborate with us. Please use your main account in the upcoming matches of the tournament," he proposed. ¡°¡­And why is that?¡± I asked a bit warily. "You''re incredibly intelligent, Ms. Katherine. You know how the fans you gained even during your absence would go wild for your return. That''s why we''ve put so much effort into making this event a success. We spared no expense in ensuring that the comeback of someone as high profile as you in the CoA world would be as unforgettable as possible," he paused, allowing me to absorb his words. I see, so that explains the all-out advertising for this event. The grand entrance with the luxurious cars further emphasizes that they really aren¡¯t cutting any corners in the spending department. "All the pieces are in place. This will be the grand return of a legend! People will be talking about this event on social media for months, even years! It will be a monumental revelation! The legendary player returning after such a long time to win the tournament, and her true identity will be known to all!" he exclaimed, gesturing enthusiastically as if conducting a grand symphony. "You certainly have a flair for the dramatic, don''t you?" I deadpanned. "Let''s just say I''m passionate," he retorted, flashing his practiced charismatic smile. I understand that my presence here may have given him the impression that I intended to participate in the tournament using my sister''s account to secure a victory. He went to great lengths, even opting for a face-to-face conversation instead of a phone call, in an attempt to increase the likelihood of me accepting his proposal. However, I have already made up my mind from the start. This tournament is a one-time event for me. And it will never happen again in this lifetime. "Forgive me, but I have no intention of using my sister''s account for publicity," I firmly stated. He paused, the perfect expression he was showing till now showing signs of cracks. ¡°Of course, you will have everything you¡¯ve ever wanted in return: money, fame, glory? Name your price, and I''m confident we can reach an agreement. All you have to do is dedicate your time and dedication to promoting the game,¡± he hurriedly replied. "I believe that money is merely a means to buy time, not the other way around," I responded casually. After all, time is the most valuable resource for every individual. Once it slips away, no amount of money can bring it back. He let out a sigh, clearly frustrated by my stubbornness. "Don''t you realize how fortunate you are to be in this position?" he exclaimed. "You''re young, so perhaps you don''t fully grasp that there are countless people who would do anything to be in your shoes. To be the face of the most popular game in the world. You could make history just by simply using that account again!" He emphasized his point with animated gestures. "...I''ll have to decline," I replied firmly. Every decision we make always comes with a price, no matter how sound it may be. As tempting as his offer of a life filled with fame and luxury may be, I would have to sacrifice my freedom and peace, something which I value more. All I ever wanted was to live a normal life, free from any constraints. Having everyone¡¯s eyes on me, following me wherever I go, pestering me for every little thing, and creating assumptions about every little thing I do seems to defeat that purpose. Feels like a nightmare if I were to be perfectly honest. "I don''t understand," he said, confusion evident on his face. "Why would you participate in this tournament if you''re not planning to make your return to the pro scene?" "¡­I played because I genuinely love the game," I explained. "And I also¡­ I owe someone a huge favor. I simply wanted to fill in for the team she created." However, that doesn''t mean I won''t take the matches seriously. Initially, I went with the flow as I usually do, given my personality, but witnessing the passion my teammates have for the game ignited a desire within me to support them in achieving their dreams. Liz has always expressed her dream of becoming a professional streamer and performing well in this tournament would greatly enhance her prospects. Chu sees this event as a stepping stone towards his goal of becoming a professional esports player. As for Clarence, he undoubtedly has his own reasons for wanting to win. Witnessing their dedication, seeing them give their all in our practice matches, diligently practicing every day, and gradually improving compels me to support them with everything I have. That is the primary reason why I am fully committed to this endeavor as well and taking the limelight from their debut tournament would undoubtedly be counterproductive to what I am aiming at. "...Fine, I''ll respect your decision," he finally acquiesced. "Even if I could, forcing you to do something wouldn''t be profitable if you lack the will and drive to do it." It was a subtle power play, insinuating that he could persuade me if he wanted to. And considering his influence, he might actually have the means to change my life simply by revealing my identity. Even if it meant breaking some privacy laws. I am certain that a corporation as affluent as theirs could easily afford teams of lawyers to mitigate any potential repercussions. "Nevertheless, my offer still stands," he added. "I hope that someday we can find common ground." With our agenda concluded, I stood up, preparing to leave but not before having a last say. "I wouldn''t count on that. This will be the last tournament I participate in, after all." After we win this tournament, my teammates won''t need me ever again. They will have the push they need to accomplish their goal, even without me. Having said my piece, I went for the door and left. Vol.2 Chapter 23 Seer¡¯s PoV As the audience made their way towards the exits, they were greeted by a festive atmosphere outside the stadium. Food stalls and merchandise booths lined the walkways, offering a variety of snacks, drinks, and souvenirs for the fans to enjoy. Music played in the background, creating a lively ambiance and keeping the energy high even as the opening ceremony came to a close. Transportation arrangements were also made to facilitate the audience''s departure. Shuttle buses and taxis were available near the exits, ready to transport the spectators to their respective destinations. The organizers seemed to have coordinated with local transportation authorities to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and minimize any inconvenience for the attendees. This event is clearly well prepared, leaving me without complaints. My team and I, along with other participants, are making our way towards the designated exit for players. The opening ceremony concluded early, granting us some free time. While it is not mandatory for us to return to the hotel immediately, most participants seem to be heading in that direction. Among them is our allied team, Paradigm, whose strategist, Katherine, is currently engaged in a conversation with Lucy and Aria about the ceremony, accompanied by their captain, Elizabeth. Katherine proposes the idea of collaborating on practice matches, which offers numerous benefits for both of our teams and a few drawbacks. Given the favorable terms, I see no reason to decline her suggestion. On our way to the exit, I saw a familiar figure staring at me. When he saw me looking at him, he waved casually, providing a subtle clue to his identity. Despite his face being concealed, I could easily recognize him, as I had encountered that very same figure countless times within the game. Abruptly, I stopped in my tracks, prompting my friend Blake to cast a curious glance in my direction. "You guys go ahead," I informed him. "I have something I need to take care of first." ¡°What is it?¡± he asked, his curiosity winning over him again. "No need for you to know," I replied bluntly. "Tsk, alright, have it your way," he responded, slightly exasperated. "But are you sure you''ll be okay on your own?" "Yes, I''ll be fine," I assured him. "I know my way around." He shrugged, continuing on his path toward the exit with the others, leaving me behind. I approached the shady figure close to the exit of the venue but far away from any eventgoers to interrupt our conversation. "It''s good to see you again, Seer. How have you been?" he casually greeted as I got near, all the while lifting his face mask, allowing me to see his face. ¡°¡­I¡¯m perfectly fine, Master,¡± I replied respectfully. He let out a sigh. "You''re always so formal. I''ve already told you so many times to just speak to me casually." "I apologize, but I hold you in such high regard that I find it difficult to speak to you in a casual manner." He gave me a defeated look. ¡°Alright, alright. So, how do you find your first grand tournament so far?¡± We conversed for a while as we engaged in casual topics, but the majority of our discussion revolved around him checking up on me and my team, which I genuinely appreciated. "Forgive me for asking, but what brings you here? I assume it''s not solely to watch us play," I inquired during a lull in our conversation. "I did come here to show my support for all of you, but you''re right. I do have another purpose. Can you speculate on what it might be?" he inquired, employing the customary tone that he often used when challenging my critical thinking skills. I pondered the question carefully, considering if there was any specific reason for him to be present. Suddenly, it struck me ¨C I remembered that he was in the process of forming a team. It became clear to me that this was the underlying reason for his presence here. ¡°Do you plan to recruit members here for the team you plan to make?¡± ¡°Bingo,¡± he gave me a proud smile that made me feel¡­ quite satisfied. "You could always consider recruiting us. I''m confident that the others would be interested in joining if we approach them together," I suggested. Upon hearing my proposal, his smile faded and transformed into a frown. ¡°Nah, your team would be flooded by sponsors after this tournament, especially since the CoA team has gone all out in advertising. I don¡¯t have that much of a budget, and my facilities are not up to par compared to famous gaming organizations. I am confident that you and your teammates will have a wide range of options when it comes to recruitment, as any organization that brings you on board will benefit from the added publicity of being the prot¨¦g¨¦s of the most iconic team in CoA history. Besides, I already have found one member on my team. She¡¯s still currently a diamond in the rough but has a high potential for improvement. I would loathe to have to kick her if you four joined because of your team¡¯s cohesion.¡± ¡°¡­I see,¡± I replied, unable to hide the disappointment in my tone. I understand that he is making this decision for our benefit, to protect our promising future as e-sports players from the uncertainty of the team he is planning to make. However, I have always harbored a dream of teaming up with him, even before he took me under his wing as his apprentice. Even though he will only coach now, it doesn''t matter to me as long as I have the opportunity to be a part of his team. ¡°Anyone you could recommend from the participants that you think has potential?¡± sensing my mood, he casually changed the subject. At his query, one person instantly came to the forefront of my mind. An aberrant in the tournament. Someone who is not only strategically competent but also skilled enough to stall a hasted Ariadne for an absurd amount of time. ¡°Novo,¡± I murmured. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Katherine Katyusha, in-game name Novo, a member of team Paradigm. The support player and strategist for their team. She survived a hasted Ariadne and with me giving support fire until she entered a fatigued state due to her lack of stats. This feat was accomplished without any assistance from her fellow teammates. "Hoh?" he exclaimed, clearly impressed by the information. "Are you certain that Ariadne didn''t go easy on her?" "That''s what I initially suspected as well, but upon analyzing the replay of the practice match, it doesn''t appear to be the case," I explained. "Hmm, could it be that Ariadne is losing her edge? Her mentor wouldn''t be pleased to hear that," he joked, his expression turning sentimental as he reminisced about his former teammate. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I paused, allowing him a moment to reflect before continuing. "On the contrary, she is in peak condition. She''s the strongest I''ve ever seen her. She''s truly determined to win this tournament." "Now that''s intriguing. I believe I''ll have to conduct further research on this girl you''ve mentioned. I didn''t bother researching the qualifiers because most of the opponents there didn''t present much of a challenge. It''s difficult to gauge a player''s true potential when facing weak opponents. However, if you claim that a support player was able to hold off Ariadne for such a significant amount of time, then I think it''s definitely worth investigating." -------------------------------- "Alright, pay attention. Mastering the art of wielding a spear requires precision and timing. You must be calculated and strategic, precise and lethal," I attempted to channel my inner drill sergeant to teach my troublesome student. Following the conclusion of the opening ceremony, we wasted no time and proceeded straight to our training regimen. Currently, Clarence and I found ourselves in a sprawling player-made dueling arena, specifically designed for players to refine their skills and engage in friendly battles. The ground beneath us is smooth and polished, providing an ideal surface for swift movements and nimble footwork. This private PvP lobby ensures uninterrupted training sessions for us. I''m currently equipped with a newbie training spear with low stats requirements for me to teach him better. "Since when did you become an expert in spears?" Clarence stared at me, unamused. "I believe I have a stronger foundation than you do, at the very least, considering you are clearly self-taught," I rebuked. "And what''s wrong with that? After all, many geniuses are self-taught," he countered. "That¡¯s not entirely accurate. The majority of individuals acquire experience by emulating the techniques of others. It is only after mastering these techniques that they can develop their unique style. Disregarding the centuries of refinement by countless spear masters just to create a new style from scratch, especially as a novice in the craft, is impractical. Success in a craft often involves integrating various styles and enhancing them through practice and adaptation. And when you¡¯re good enough, that is when you can teach yourself your own style and become what you call ¡®self-taught¡¯," I explained as I defaulted to the teacher mode I mostly show towards his sister. "Spare me the history lesson," he murmured, expressing his discontent. ¡°You, on the other hand, are not good enough to begin with, so your style is so unpolished that it has many glaring weaknesses,¡± I ignored his complaint and continued. It is only his natural skills and instincts that got him this far. It''s enough to beat average and skilled players, but for the players of this tournament¡¯s caliber, let alone professional players, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance without proper technique. ¡°Tsk! Alright, fine! If it could help me get stronger,¡± he exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯m glad we could see eye to eye,¡± I deadpanned. ¡°Then let''s start by mastering two moves.¡± The good thing about him is that I don¡¯t have to hold back in talking to him and teaching him. I can be blunt whenever I want and I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll just take it in stride. "Only two?" he complained as if I had just scammed him of his money. "Well, mastering these two techniques alone will give you a solid foundation to build upon. Have you heard of the saying that you should not fear someone who has practiced 10,000 kicks once but fear someone who has practiced one kick 10,000 times?¡± ¡°I¡­think I have,¡± he replied, a tint of uncertainty in his voice. I nodded approvingly. ¡°It greatly applies to the technique I¡¯m about to teach you. These two techniques are the most efficient and quickest spear styles I''ve ever seen. If you master them, I''m confident they will be sufficient against opponents who are unfamiliar with their speed and rhythm, except for professional players who would likely have counterplays prepared for you if you solely rely on only two moves, no matter how effective they may be,¡± I helpfully explained. ¡°Seen? So, you¡¯re only copying the techniques?¡± "I also made some minor adjustments to better tailor it to your needs. And as I mentioned earlier, mastery often comes through adaptation. I have full confidence in my analytical and observational abilities to accurately replicate the move set," I reassured him. "And from whom did you acquire these techniques you''re going to teach me?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice. "... From a passing spear master,¡± I answered vaguely. I can¡¯t tell him that I had made some modifications to Vlad''s stance in order to better align it with his play style. It took extensive research on both of their stances and countless hours of trial and error throughout the entire night, leaving me with only a few hours of sleep. Fortunately, there are no matches scheduled for today and tomorrow, allowing me to catch up on rest. Otherwise, I would have been competing with one eye closed due to exhaustion. He stared at me with a look of defeat before acquiescing. ¡°Fine, keep your secrets. I don¡¯t really care anyway either way. I just want to get stronger so I don¡¯t have to lose again.¡± It seems like he gave up on prying, knowing that I can be stubborn in maintaining my silence and keeping my secrets to myself. That¡¯s better for me, though since I don¡¯t have to lie to him straight. "Alright, let''s start with the first stance," I said, gesturing for him to stand in front of me. "This is the move that I would like to call ¡®The Guardian¡¯s Pose¡¯. It''s all about protecting yourself while maintaining an advantageous position." I approached him and began explaining the first stance. I demonstrated the ¡®Guardian''s Pose,¡¯ a defensive stance that emphasized stability and protection. I explained how to hold the spear with a firm grip, positioning it diagonally across the body to create a barrier against incoming attacks. I emphasized the importance of balance and footwork, showing him how to pivot and move seamlessly while maintaining the defensive position. "Now, try it yourself," I encouraged him. ¡°Seems simple enough,¡± he replied confidently. He mimicked my stance, adjusting his position until he felt comfortable, while I pointed out the minor errors I noticed in his stance. I observed as he focused on his form, ensuring that he grasped the fundamentals. He was a quick learner, almost as good as his sister. I guess the apple does fall from the same tree. It also helps that he is indeed experienced in using spears. "Good enough. Now, let''s move on to the second stance," I continued, a small smile forming on my face at how fast he learns. "This one is called the Offensive Stance. It''s all about unleashing your power and striking with precision." I moved on to exhibit the "Striker''s Stance," a more aggressive and dynamic position. I explained how to hold the spear with a looser grip, allowing for swift and fluid movements. I demonstrated the proper alignment of the body, with one foot forward and the other slightly back, ready to launch into an attack. I showed him how to thrust and lunge with precision and power, utilizing the length of the spear to his advantage. We did it a couple of times until he got it correctly. ¡°Is that all? Are you sure it will make me stronger?¡± he asked after successfully replicating both stances. ¡°Probably,¡± I shrugged. He gave me a stern look in response to the unsatisfactory answer. "Allow me to explain first," I quickly interrupted him before he had a chance to voice his complaint. "Before you can make significant improvements and progress, I believe it is crucial for us to address your greatest weakness, which is your mindset." ¡°¡­What do you mean,¡± he queried, his interest clearly sparked. "What I¡¯m getting at is that it doesn''t matter how good your stance is if you can''t effectively apply it to your advantage during matches. Do you know what the greatest strength of a spear is?" I inquired. ¡°How cool it looks?¡± he answered immediately without even giving a second thought to his words. It¡¯s my turn to stare daggers at him. "Don''t tell me you chose the spear as your main weapon solely because you thought it looked cool," I judgingly asked. "N-not entirely," he stammered, attempting to reason out of my arbitrary glare. "I also have experience with javelin throws from my high school days, so I do possess some knowledge of how to throw spears... if the situation calls for it." "You do realize that if you throw your weapon at the enemy, you essentially render yourself unarmed and probably already lost the fight, right?" I pointed out. ¡°Hey! I outplayed you back then when we first fought by throwing my spear at you though!¡± The memory of the time when he desperately clung to me, as if his life depended on it, while unknowingly sacrificing himself as Chu''s suicide bomber resurfaced in my mind. "...Please don''t remind me," I involuntarily shivered at the memory. "Hmph, it''s your fault in the first place. Don''t blame me for bringing up the past to emphasize my point," he retorted, turning his head away in embarrassment. We remained in an uncomfortable silence for some time until I made a deliberate effort to shift the conversation back to the main topic. "Ahem, getting back to the matter at hand. The greatest advantage of a spear is its extended reach compared to other weapons. It is essential to constantly be aware of your distance from your opponent," I emphasized. "I already do that though," he confidently replied. "No, you don''t," I firmly disputed. "You often find yourself getting swept up in your opponent''s pace. As the one who has the reach advantage, it is your role to establish and control the pace of the fight." He paused, lost in thought, perhaps reflecting on the times he had lost his matches. "I¡­ I suppose that''s true," he admits. "But I feel like it would be seen as cowardly to refuse a close-up melee fight against an opponent who wishes for it." ¡°There is a thin line between bravery and stupidity, and giving your opponent the advantage in pace and distance is extremely stupid,¡± I immediately countered. "Ack!" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by my straightforward and blunt response. ¡°Why do you want to look good in a fight anyway? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s necessary to win?¡± I pried. "Hmph, you won''t understand because you''re a girl. A real man doesn''t back down from a challenge,¡± he unhelpfully explained. ¡°¡­. You¡¯re right, I really don¡¯t¡­¡± As someone like me who is willing to do whatever it takes to win, I genuinely don''t understand why he is so preoccupied with appearances and the notion of looking "manly." I took some time to contemplate my next words, hoping to find a way to persuade him to at least consider his perspective. ¡°But I do think that someone who doesn¡¯t care what other thinks too much of how they look, someone who is unaffected by others¡¯ perception of them and only strives to win while doing their very best and achieving victory in the process, looks a whole lot cooler compared to those who are hindered by trying to keep up appearances," I expressed my honest opinion. He gave me a perplexing look, his expression difficult to decipher. There was a prolonged silence before he finally spoke up again. "You certainly have a way with words," he murmured, taking a moment to reconsider my earlier statement. It took a while before he came to a definite conclusion. "Alright, I''ll give it a shot,¡± he sighed defeatedly. ¡°But if I end up looking uncool and still lose, I''ll hold you accountable, understood?!" he exclaimed. I gave him a grateful smile. ¡°That is all I ask, and I¡¯m sure it will greatly increase the chance for our team to win our matches,¡± I approvingly replied, causing him to turn his head in embarrassment. "Now that we''ve addressed your problematic mindset, let''s proceed to the practice. Repeat both stances I taught you earlier a thousand times until they become ingrained in your muscle memory," I unceremoniously ordered. ¡°Are you insane?!¡± he shouted. Hmm¡­ It does seem overwhelming for him. However, for me, practicing intensely every day for more than two months before the AC cup was a normal routine. Reflecting on it now, I kind of realize how absurd it was that I was able to maintain such dedication. I can''t imagine going through that level of practice again in my current state. Looking back, my drive to win during that time was incredibly intense, to the point where it could be described as borderline suicidal. But I guess that anything is possible when you have the drive and determination to achieve something. "I''ll give you a choice then. Either perform both ¡®The Guardian¡¯s Pose¡¯ and ¡°The Striker¡¯s Stance¡¯ a thousand times or simply land a hit on me while transitioning from one stance to another," I proposed. This seems better to motivate him to practice instead of just repeatedly practicing the stance. It also provides him with a proper training partner for him to learn faster and more efficiently. It also helps me practice my dodges, even just a little. He smiled savagely, ¡°You¡¯re on! Don¡¯t you dare regret it!¡± I smiled in response. I get the feeling he is the one who will regret that decision later. Vol.2 Chapter 24 ¡°I don¡¯t feel like I improved at all,¡± Clarence murmured a complaint while taking a bite out of his plate. ¡°Trust me, your attacks were getting faster and more precise,¡± I reassured him. We are currently eating in the dining hall for the hotel guests. There are currently only 5 people here, excluding the staff and us. At one table, a team of three individuals sat together, their animated conversation filling the air with laughter and excitement. I remember them to be the Chinese-sponsored team Dragon Dynasty Gaming from my research about the participants. Their table was adorned with empty plates and glasses, evidence of a satisfying meal shared among friends. Across the dining hall, at a smaller table, sat a lone individual. She seemed content in her solitude, engrossed in a book. The table before her was neatly arranged, with a single plate and a glass of water placed in front of her. Despite being alone, there was a sense of tranquility surrounding this person. "You say that, but I couldn''t even land a scratch on you! How did you become so skilled at dodging? It''s almost superhuman," my teammate''s question snapped me back to the present. "Perhaps it''s just luck?" I shrugged, taking a bite of my steak. It was juicy and tender, practically melting in my mouth. He looked at me with a serious expression. "No, I''m not letting you off the hook this time with your half-assed excuses. You have to tell me, or I won''t be training with you anymore," he said with a hint of bitterness. I pondered for a bit before giving up. I guess it doesn¡¯t hurt to talk about my past a little. I let out a sigh. "Fine. I think it''s because I''ve been playing a lot of games that involve dodging for as long as I can remember. These are games where you have to analyze the enemy''s attack patterns and dodge at the right moment, or else you''ll be defeated almost instantly. I''m quite certain that it has greatly contributed to my reflexes and prediction skills when it comes to dodging." ¡°Oh, those types of games that became popular way back then? I tried one of those but when I died to the first boss more than twenty times. I never touched those games again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun though. Sure, it might take you a couple of tries but all you need to do is analyze their attack patterns and you can eventually dodge all their attacks. It gives you a sense of accomplishment once all your hard work is rewarded¡± ¡°I think we have different definitions of fun. Feels like you¡¯re a complete masochist, to be completely honest.¡± I glared at him. He immediately wilted under my glare. "T-that doesn''t fully explain why you became so skilled in VR as well, though. I mean, there might be some similarities, but VR is a whole different ballgame," he quickly changed the subject. I paused a bit, thinking of the cause. ¡°Probably because my mother used to always take me to gymnast lessons back when I was young. It probably helped a lot in my flexibility. Also, I completely disagree that VR is completely different. It has a lot of similarities, especially with the attack patterns of most weapons in the games I used to play. Their swing time, reach, their strengths and weaknesses, and many other aspects. Also, I was one of the early testers of the VR before it even became public. My father has connections so it was easy for him to get the prototypes. So had had more than two years of advantage in playing VR games compared to the general public,¡± I explained. I couldn''t reveal to him that I had also played the beta test for CoA, which gave me a significant advantage in the game. Even though I had stopped playing CoA, I still engage in other challenging VR games that demand exceptional dodging abilities. So, my skills haven''t completely deteriorated yet¡­ probably. ¡°It sure as hell good to be rich, huh? But at least you don''t come across as spoiled and mock me for being of humble origins," he said with a touch of bitterness. ¡°That¡¯s just a false notion you get from watching too many movies, most rich people don¡¯t act like that. And my family is not that well off either, just above average in income,¡± I deadpanned. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say, princess," he mocked but sensing my irritation, he quickly backed off. ¡°Still, I never thought you would be a hardcore gamer. You don¡¯t look the type,¡± he quickly added. "Well, I suppose I wouldn''t be a gamer either if it weren''t for my sister. Gaming was our only form of bonding since she could not do any strenuous activities due to her weak constitution,¡± I instinctively blurted out before I could even regret it. "Oh, you have a sister?" he asked curiously, attempting to delve deeper into my personal life. A wave of discomfort washed over me as the topic arose. This is why I didn¡¯t like talking about my past. "...Had," I managed to utter weakly. It took a moment for him to grasp the meaning behind my words. His eyes widened in realization before uttering a response. "Oh, I... sorry," he said apologetically. I just shrugged, unable to make out any comprehensible thoughts as I tried to reign in emotions that began to well up inside me. Sensing the shift in my mood, he quickly changed the subject, for which I was grateful. Despite his often rude and obnoxious demeanor, there seemed to be a hint of compassion within him. It made me wonder if his negative traits were intentionally exaggerated as if he were putting on an act to appear tough. "Ahem. Still, I¡¯m glad that they still serve dinner to guests this late. We almost missed dinner cause of your spartan training," he said in a cheerful tone, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The shift in conversation was a relief, as I didn''t want to dwell on somber thoughts. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing? The place is less crowded now,¡± I responded, playing along with his attempt to change the subject. "And please don''t try to shift the blame onto me for your own shortcomings," countered. "What do you mean it''s not your fault? Our practice session lasted for hours simply because you wouldn''t let me land a single hit on you!" he bantered. "If I were to let you win our bet, I''m certain you would never let me hear the end of it, so there''s no chance of that happening. Besides, you won''t improve if I take it easy on you during our training sessions," I replied. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re goddamn right, I will,¡± he responded with a smirk. In the midst of our chat, a boisterous group of three individuals entered the dining hall. If my memory serves me right, these are the members of the Renegades team. The person in the center appears to be Draven. Liz mentioned that he is a renowned streamer who gained fame for his penchant for trash-talking his defeated opponents. Judging from the camera equipment he bought, he seems to be streaming right now. "See? I told you it''s still open," one of Draven''s teammates remarked in a triumphant tone. "Haha, you''re absolutely right! It feels great to be treated like a VIP," Draven boasted. Their loud laughter and boisterous conversations echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of the few guests who were present. As they took their seats at a nearby table, the waitstaff hurriedly attended to them, trying to maintain a sense of order amidst the chaos that the trio brought with them. Looking at them, they seem¡­ intoxicated. They probably had too much wine from the room service. While there may be no rules explicitly prohibiting drinking, especially for those of legal age, it does seem impolite and impractical for them to consume alcohol while participating in a tournament. I suppose the fact that they have no matches tomorrow may have influenced their decision to drink. ¡°Alright, folks! We''ve got a special treat for you today. For every donation I receive, my friends here will do something extra to entertain you guys!" he loudly exclaimed while holding up his phone.
¡°They''re making quite a ruckus,¡± Clarence ranted. I nodded in agreement. "Indeed, they are quite rude. Let''s just hope they don''t cause any trouble." It didn''t take long for me to regret my previous words. Their leader, Draven, stood up from his seat and made his way towards us, seemingly after receiving a donation from his viewers. He stopped at our table and attempted to engage me in conversation. "You''re one of the participants in the tournament, aren''t you?" he said, adopting a Casanova-like tone. Knowing that engaging with him would likely lead to no good, I decided to completely ignore him and focused on enjoying my meal. ¡°One of those silent types, huh? Still, I have to ask, what¡¯s a beautiful girl like you with a guy like him?" he said, his tone dripping with insincerity. Just ignore him and he will eventually go away, Kat. One effective way to deal with attention seekers like him is just to ignore them completely. ¡°What the heck is your problem?!¡± Clarence exclaimed. I sighed; I forgot my hotheaded teammate with anger management issues was with me. "Don''t let him get to you. He''s just trying to provoke you for content for his videos. Consider this as a lesson in self-restraint, or else you''ll always be baited into making mistakes in the game. Remember the breathing technique I taught you earlier? Now would be a good time to put it into practice," I advised, instinctively slipping into mentor mode. Furthermore, if this situation were to escalate into a physical fight, I have serious doubts that Clarence would be able to handle all three of them by himself. Additionally, I really don''t want to witness him getting involved in any kind of altercation. "Whoa, both intelligent and attractive! I like you even more! How about leaving your boyfriend here and spending some time with a real man?" he proposed as he leaned in closer, his face inches away from mine. Doesn''t this guy understand the concept of personal boundaries?! It''s clear that he''s invading our personal space and making us uncomfortable. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Clarence clenching his fist while gritting his teeth. I could see that he was making an effort to control himself, which is good. However, I was still uncertain about how to handle the situation. "Please leave us alone. Your cumbersome presence is spoiling our meal," I responded bluntly, hoping to deter him. "Whoa, spicy! I like that attitude!" he grinned, resembling a predator eyeing its prey. Tsk! This guy was incredibly persistent. Typically, ignoring individuals like him would eventually lead to them giving up when they don''t get the desired reaction. However, it seemed that this guy was on a whole new level. Should I call the security staff to intervene? Just as I was about to take action, a girl approached us, prompting me to adopt a wait-and-see tactic. Looking at her, she had strikingly handsome features with a face showing little to no emotions, making it hard for me to get a good read of her. She was also quite tall, approximately the same height as me, and had a strong and lean physique that was only partially concealed by her clothing and strawberry hair that caught my attention. If my memory serves me right from my research on the tournament participants, she must be Astrid, in-game name Meridia. She''s a member of Arthur''s team, Round Table. I mentally categorized her as a proficient combatant in close hand-to-hand combat, blending Aikido techniques with mid to close-range ice magic using an ice orb with her mixed intelligence-strength stats distribution. ¡°Are you incapable of basic human comprehension? She said to leave her alone,¡± Astrid uttered in a menacing yet barely audible tone. Draven instinctively turned around and stared at her for a second before a hint of realization struck. ¡°Aren¡¯t you from the team of hypocrites, the round something? Ah, the Round Table, right? Indulging in your false sense of justice once more by meddling in other¡¯s affairs? Or perhaps you lot can only derive pleasure from feeling morally superior to others? How pathetic," he taunted. ¡°... You really are quite annoying,¡± Astrid said in a low tone that I almost didn¡¯t hear. Looking at her up closely, she shows little expression and change in body language. I can''t seem to get a grasp on her emotions. Her tone of voice suggests she is really annoyed though. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re jealous? Wanna have some fun too? Hmm, you''re not half bad-looking yourself,¡± he said as he tried to touch her face. As Draven reaches out with his hand, Astrid swiftly steps to the side, using his momentum against him. With a fluid motion, she grabs his arm and effortlessly redirects his energy, using her body''s leverage to throw him off balance, a perfect execution of an Aikido technique. Draven is caught off guard as he is swiftly thrown to the ground, landing with a thud, causing his cell phone to fly into the air. "ACK!" he exclaimed in a mixture of pain and shock, his face planted firmly in the ground. I watched in awe as the phone he used in streaming our interaction soared through the air, its descent accompanied by a dramatic impact as it collided with the ground. *Thump Oof, not the phone. I couldn''t help but cringe instinctively at the force of the impact, hoping deep in my heart for the phone to be unharmed since it didn¡¯t do wrong to deserve such abuse. I also couldn''t help but find it morbidly amusing that I was more concerned about the phone¡¯s well-being than the actual owner himself. Nevertheless, I couldn''t bring myself to feel any sympathy for him because of his actions thus far. ¡°This is why I hate men. especially trashy men like you,¡± Astrid expressed with a tone filled with intense disgust as if he saw Draven no more than a piece of garbage on the street. A sudden shout caused us all to momentarily pause. "Hey! What are you kids up to over there!" a loud, authoritative voice echoed. What a bad timing. The disturbance probably drew the attention of one of the security staff members. He immediately rushed over to our small group. Upon noticing Draven on the ground, he attempted to help him up. The guard halted as he got a clear view of Draven''s face. "You again? What have you done this time?" he asked apprehensively. He came to a halt as he noticed Draven lying on the ground. "You again? What did you do this time?" Seems like this is not his first offense. That is good to know since this would be a whole lot easier to explain if it comes to his words against ours. "I''m the victim here!" Draven complained. The security personnel let out a sigh. "I''m sure you instigated another participant, leading to this situation. Am I correct?" He glanced around, seeking confirmation from all of us, to which we all nodded in agreement. "I''ve already warned you before. Your pranks may appear harmless to you, but they can have a negative impact on others," he scolded Draven. Draven clicked his tongue, clearly irritated by the outcome. "I''ll accompany you back to your room. The well-being of our guests is our top priority, so I strongly advise against repeating such behavior, or there will be consequences," the security warned as he assisted Draven in standing up and walking. ¡°I can walk on my own!¡± he shrugged off the man¡¯s attempt to help him. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back at the tournament for this tenfold,¡± Draven shouted at Astrid before taking his (unfortunately cracked) phone and storming out of the dining hall while his teammates followed suit, trying to catch up to him. I turned to express my gratitude to the girl who had helped us, but to my surprise, she simply nodded in acknowledgment. Without uttering a single word, she returned to her table, picked up her book, and swiftly departed from the dining hall. I guess she is not much into social interactions or is just incredibly shy. All I know is that It seems like Chu now has a contender for his title. Vol.2 Chapter 25 After the dining hall incident, I decided to take a stroll to clear my mind and to better metabolize the food I had just eaten. Clarence returned to his room, claiming he was quite tired. I, too, wanted to rest, but my sleep schedule had been disrupted over the past few days due to my late-night habits. Despite the late hour, I didn''t feel tired at all. So, I decided to take a stroll, hoping it would help me tire myself to sleep. My stroll of the large 5-star hotel took me towards one of the more peaceful areas, the rooftop. The area was beautifully designed with lush greenery, creating a natural and soothing ambiance. Tall palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows on the comfortable lounge chairs and plush sofas that were scattered around the rooftop. The soft sound of a nearby waterfall added a gentle melody to the air, creating a serene atmosphere. But it was not the highlight of the night for me. From the rooftop balcony, a soft melody wafted down, a beautiful voice that seemed to blend seamlessly with the night. Intrigued, I decided to investigate. As I made my towards the source, the voice grew louder, its melody more enchanting. On the balcony, I stumbled upon one of the participants. With her eyes closed, she appeared to be in a peaceful slumber, completely immersed in her own music. She sang in what I presumed to be Cantonese, a traditional Chinese language, based on my limited knowledge of foreign languages. Although I couldn''t fully grasp the precise meaning of the lyrics, the emotions she conveyed through her singing more than made up for it. It reinforced the notion that music has the power to transcend language barriers. Her voice was pure and melodious, evoking the image of water flowing freely and seamlessly. It was a stark contrast to the earlier chaos in the dining hall. This moment of tranquility was something I hadn''t realized I needed. I found myself drawn to her melody, yearning to hear more of her voice. As she kept singing, I mentally tried to recall her name, which was not that hard considering she was the only participant with visual impairment in the tournament. Lua Yin, a mysterious presence in the tournament, stood out as an enigmatic figure. Despite her team participating in numerous matches, she consistently remained on the sidelines, making it incredibly obvious that she was the hidden trump card that their team was desperate to conceal. Suddenly, her singing ceased, and she spoke loud enough for me to hear, snapping me out of my thoughts. "How long are you going to stand there for?" The night breeze carried her voice, indicating that she had noticed my presence. I was slightly taken aback that she had noticed me, considering I had been doing my best to remain silent. She was quite perceptive. Perhaps relying solely on her hearing and touch instead of her eyesight had heightened her senses in those areas. This realization, coupled with her ability to utilize her eyesight in the VR game, made me realize that she was potentially more formidable than I had initially given her credit for. "Forgive me. I was simply captivated by your voice and forgot to announce my presence," I told the truth to justify my actions while being as respectful as possible. ¡°It is fine,¡± she gave me a serenely beautiful smile that, after hearing her beautiful singing performance, almost made my heart skip a beat. "I am Lua Yin. May I know the name of the person I am speaking with?" she asked, reciprocating my politeness. Even though she has a bit of an accent in her way of speaking, her English seems fluent enough. It suddenly dawned on me that she wouldn''t know who I was unless I introduced myself because of her blindness. It was rather impolite of me not to introduce myself earlier. ¡°Katherine Katyusha. I¡¯m also a participant in the tournament like you.¡± ¡°What a beautiful name,¡± she praised. ¡°Will you please come closer so I can familiarize your face?¡± she said in a pleading voice. ¡°O-oh, sure,¡± I stuttered, caught off guard by her request. It seemed to me that she solely relies on her sense of touch and hearing to identify people due to her unfortunate circumstances, so it¡¯s probably not that big of a deal. As I moved closer in her range, both of her hands moved swiftly to identify me. Squish squish ¡°Uhmm... That''s not my face...¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Squish Squish *Squish ¡°Please stop feeling up my breast!¡± I exclaimed while taking a step back, adopting a full-on guard stance to protect myself from the sexual deviant in front of me. "Oh, I apologize. I didn''t realize. You''re just so tall that I accidentally placed my hands in the wrong place," she said repentantly. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Keep it cool, Kat. Remember, she is blind, so it might just be an honest mistake. At least she apologized. ¡°I think I¡¯m at the average height. You¡¯re just a bit short,¡± I rebuked. Well, I suppose the difference in height could be attributed to our racial backgrounds. Upon closer observation, I noticed that she was indeed shorter and more petite compared to others her age, which I knew from seeing her profile. She stood about half a head shorter than me, with a physique that would result in a smaller hitbox effect in-game. It suddenly occurred to me that she and I had nearly identical body proportions when I participated in the AC three years ago, which proved to be a significant advantage over other competitors in the tournament. Given her similar physique, she would certainly be a formidable opponent to face, especially if she possesses exceptional skills like I suspect she does. ¡°I would prefer it if you called me cute instead,¡± she gave me a teasing smile. ¡°Sorry, but no,¡± I instantly shot down her request. "Boo, you''re no fun," she pouted before moving closer to touch my face, thankfully getting it right this time. ¡°Wow, your skin is so smooth. It feels soft to the touch, supple¡­ and well-nourished. You have well-defined features as well, with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a balanced symmetry. I''m certain that many people are captivated by your appearance,¡± she commended. "T-thanks," I stuttered, unsure of how to respond to the unexpected praise, feeling her hands gently explore my face. She continued to meticulously examine me, her fingers gliding over my eyebrows, nose, and even my lips. Her touch was gentle and practiced, instilling a sense of comfort. It was clear that she had performed this routine countless times, as she appeared entirely accustomed to it. This eased my hesitation to interrupt her systematic assessment of my facial features. Having nothing better to do as she familiarized herself with my face, I also did my own survey of hers to make it even. The girl in front of me had well-arched eyebrows that felt thick and well-groomed. Her lashes were long and enchanting, and her eyelids felt smooth and had a slight crease, adding depth and dimension to her incredibly beautiful milky-white face. As my gaze shifted downwards, I observed her sculpted nose. It had a defined shape that felt proportionate to her face, creating a harmonious balance. The nose had a slight curve, adding a touch of uniqueness to her facial structure. Moving further down, I noticed her lips. They felt soft and smooth, with a natural plumpness that added a hint of sensuality to her face. The lips had a defined shape, perfectly complementing the rest of her features. A touch of color adorned them, adding a subtle pop that caught the eye. I couldn''t help but wonder what it would feel like to... wait, Kat! What are you thinking?! I scolded myself internally, causing me to instinctively jolt in the process. My sudden movement did not go unnoticed by Lua. "Oh, sorry! I hope I didn''t apply too much pressure with my touch. I apologize for any discomfort caused. I usually try my best to be as gentle as possible to not make it uncomfortable,¡± she sincerely apologized with a sorrowful tone, withdrawing her hands in the process. I felt a bit guilty because she had done nothing wrong in the first place. "I... It''s not your fault. I was just feeling a bit ticklish," I told a small white lie. "Oh, I see. That''s good to hear," she expressed with a sense of relief. "Can I continue then?" "¡­Fine, go ahead," I reluctantly agreed. Upon receiving my approval, she suddenly leaned closer to my neck and took a sniff. "What are you doing!?" I exclaimed in shock, taking a step back in the process. "Oh, I''m just getting acquainted with your scent so that I don''t mistake you for someone else in the future," she innocently replied, as if it were completely normal to sniff someone out of the blue. What are you, a canine or something?! Sensing my doubts, she reassured me. "Don''t worry too much about it. This is just how people like us with visual impairments usually familiarize themselves with new people.¡± I couldn''t determine whether she was telling the truth or not, but I remained skeptical. I chose not to argue further since I lacked expertise in the matter, especially considering she was the first blind girl I had ever met in person. "You smell nice, though, with a subtle fragrance. It''s like a gentle breeze carrying the essence of blooming flowers. I can detect floral notes, with hints of jasmine and rose, intertwined with a touch of sweetness. It''s such a pleasant scent that I wouldn''t mind smelling it every day," she remarked. Heck no! There is no way I would allow her to smell me whenever she pleases every day! Still, I was taken aback by her ability to accurately identify all the sanitary products I was using solely through her sense of smell. Considering that I rarely wear perfume unless it''s for a special occasion, the scent should be subtle enough not to be easily detectable. This discovery further supports my theory that she does indeed possess heightened senses compared to your average person. She giggled, pulling me out of my thoughts. Confused by her sudden behavior, I curiously asked, "What¡¯s so funny?" "Oh, I apologize. It''s nothing. I just find it amusing how you can easily control the rhythm of your heart," she reasoned. "...What do you mean?" I asked, still puzzled. ¡°Just as I said. From being emotional, with your heart thumping so fast, to suddenly slowing it down to contemplate rationally, I believe you have a remarkable ability to control your emotions. You seem to have a greater level of emotional control than most people I know. You''re quite intriguing, you know. Now I understand why Gilligan warned us about you," she voiced out her thoughts. This girl is quite perceptive. Does she already know I could enter the zone at will? Still, I couldn¡¯t help but drop my guard around her because of her beautifully petite looks and unfortunate disability. I must remind myself to always be on guard around her, considering that she is one of the most enigmatic participants in the tournament. ¡°I think you are mistaken. I don¡¯t know why your team should be wary of me since I¡¯m only a support player for our team.¡± "Oh, I haven''t actually witnessed you play," she gestured to her eyes, her implication not lost on me. "But based on what I''ve heard from Gilligan, through his AI gizmo or something, your movements are incredibly refined and can only be attributed to a seasoned player. He suspects that you have another account that you''ll use as a trump card if necessary." I paused at her statement; this Gilligan guy is someone I should be wary of. "Why are you sharing this information with me? I don''t see how this benefits you or your team," I asked, skepticism evident in my voice. I don''t understand why she would share what she knows about us. It seems to undermine their advantage in the strategic part of the battle. Just hearing this piece of crucial information from her, I could already prepare a counterplay and adjust our formation when up against them. She shrugged, sporting a carefree attitude. "It doesn''t matter in the end. No one can defeat me, after all," she said with a touch of melancholy evident in her tone. Her statement didn''t come across as arrogant but rather as a reflection of solitude. It hinted at someone who understands the loneliness that comes with being at the top and having no one to compete against wholeheartedly. I took a moment to contemplate her words, allowing the chilly night breeze to envelop us before responding, "The world is vast. Even if you feel that way, there are plenty of talented individuals out there. I''m confident that you''ll eventually find someone who can match your skills." She gave me an unreadable expression, which then transitioned to a pleasantly beautiful smile when she realized I was trying to reassure her, ¡°I appreciate it. It seems my initial impression of you was not mistaken. You really are lovely, both inside¡­ and out.¡± I was speechless again, taken aback by the compliment. I can feel a slight heat on my face with her statement. Caught off guard, I decided to rely on my dodging skills once again. "I-it''s getting late, and I should get some rest to prepare for tomorrow," I stammered, trying to find an excuse to leave. "Oh, I understand," she responded with a hint of sadness in her tone. "Would you mind accompanying me here again tomorrow night? I would love to hear your soothing voice once more," she curiously asked. I paused for a moment. She is honestly good company to have despite her peculiarities, which could be attributed to her blindness. "Only if you allow me to hear you sing again," I replied, giving her a playful smile, indicating that I was starting to let my guard down around her yet again. Then, I suddenly and embarrassingly remembered that she couldn''t see my expression at all, so there was no point in doing so. Nevertheless, she responded positively. ¡°It¡¯s a promise.¡± Vol.2 Chapter 26 October 27, 2031 Tuesday, Morning Chu¡¯s Pov Breathing heavily, I surveyed the virtual arena, my disarmed butterfly sword lying just a few feet away. The battle with Blitz had been intense, pushing me to my limits and testing my skills. But despite the series of defeats ever since yesterday, I refused to let it dampen my spirit since I could see myself improving with how strong my opponent was. With determination in my eyes, I approached one of the butterfly swords he disarmed during our spar, my hand reaching out to grasp its hilt. Lifting the sword, I felt its weight in my hand, the balance perfect as if it were an extension of my own arm. ¡°Again,¡± I requested a rematch after reacquiring my weapon. He took a moment to consider before responding, "Let''s take a break for now since we have a lot of time to practice for today. Rest is just as important for us to assimilate what we''ve learned from a fight." Then, as if recalling something, he added, "At least, that''s what my mentor always says." ¡°¡­Alright,¡± I begrudgingly agreed. Sitting on the arena floor, I took a moment to reflect on the fight. I analyzed my mistakes, the moments where I had faltered, and the areas where I could improve. It was not a time for self-pity or dwelling on the loss, but rather an opportunity for growth and learning. After a few moments of silence, Blitz finally interrupted my contemplation. He has a talkative and carefree nature, always pestering me whenever I take time to reflect or want silence. However, I owe my training to him, so the least I can do is indulge him and engage in conversation. ¡°You¡¯re Paradigm¡¯s representative for the 1v1 tournament tomorrow, right?¡± he asked amicably. The one-versus-one tournament, huh? It may not be as significant as the main event, but it still holds importance as it determines the bracket for the main tournament. Winning matches in the one-versus-one tournament ensures a spot in the upper bracket, providing an extra life in case of a loss, which is highly valuable. ¡°¡­ Either me or our captain,¡± I replied curtly. ¡°Your captain? I heard from Seer she is quite good, but her potential lies in their duo, right?¡± "You shouldn''t underestimate her in a one-on-one. She is incredibly strong. In fact, she likely has a greater chance of defeating you than me," I said, irritation evident in my tone. After all, I haven''t managed to defeat him in any of our numerous practice matches since yesterday. Sensing my annoyance, he replied jovially "Don''t let the losses get you down! You''re quite skilled on your own. I''m certain I would have a tough time battling against you if you could also enter the flow state." I pondered for a moment on his revelation. Regarding the flow state, I heard rumors about it enhancing your capabilities, but not to this extent. "¡­Is that why you sometimes suddenly become faster and more precise in your attacks?" I inquired. "Yes, one of the things my mentor taught me is how to tap on its psychological advantage whenever I fight strong opponents," he replied, sounding somewhat melancholic. I had heard of that state before, but being able to enter it at will during a battle was news to me. "¡­How do you enter that state in the midst of a fight?" I inquired curiously. "It''s all about mindset. Not everyone can enter it whenever they want. It varies from person to person, but the common factor is finding enjoyment in the battle. That''s why I can only enter it when I face formidable opponents like you. So, you''re actually helping me practice a great deal," he explained, his trademark lighthearted smile plastered on his face. "¡­Enjoying the battle, huh?" I mused. "Yeah, I''m pretty sure Zetta only took me on as an apprentice because he knows how much I enjoy a good fight," he admitted before quickly realizing our competitive relationship. "Oops, I don''t want to give away too much. We''re still going to face each other, and I''m certain Seer would scold me if I helped you more than I should. He said to benefit from you guys as much as you benefit from us, like a symbiotic relationship. But, he also emphasized that we should remember we are still competitors in the end, so I think it''s crucial not to reveal all of our strategies or hidden advantages." He paused, allowing me to absorb what he said. He is right though, our team''s goal is to become the champion, and while we are currently helping each other, we will become adversaries once the tournament begins. ¡°That reminds me, our teammates are also currently practicing with each other, right?¡± he continued. I nodded in response. If I remember correctly, our captain is training with theirs. Meanwhile, Novo is helping Renz overcome his weakness. I just hope they are gaining as much from their respective training as I am. -------------------------------- Ariadne¡¯s PoV Liz moved, as quickly as possible with her hasted avatar, lunging forward with her rapier. It was a swift thrust aimed at my torso. I sidestepped with my agility and dodging prowess coming into play as I dodged her attack. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I retaliated swiftly, my daggers gleaming in the virtual sunlight as I launched a dual strike at Liz. She parried, her rapier moving with lightning-fast speed to deflect my attack. Our weapons clashed, the sound reverberating around the arena. On the corner of my eye, there was a single onlooker who was observing our every move, present to assist us in our practice with haste buff, Lucy. The fight was a dance, a game of cat and mouse as we each tried to outmaneuver the other. Liz''s fencing skills with her rapier were formidable, her attacks precise and calculated. But I countered with the unpredictability of my daggers, using their shorter length to my advantage to get in close and strike. It helps that she is not as accustomed to being hasted as I was, giving me a huge advantage in this spar. At one point, Liz managed to score a hit, her rapier grazing my arm. But I quickly retaliated, spinning and landing a hit with one of my daggers. The match was evenly matched, both of us giving as good as we got even though it was just practice. As the fight continued, I could see Liz adapting and improving bit by bit. She was starting to anticipate my moves. But I was also improving with a skilled opponent such as her. In the end, the match was decided by a single, decisive strike. I feinted to the left after a quick dodge, drawing Liz''s attention, then struck with my right-hand dagger. It was a direct hit to the head, and Liz''s avatar staggered back. ¡°Ack!¡± she exclaimed. Lizbeth HP: 1% Luckily, we have practice mode on so no amount of damage could be fatal in this custom-made arena, allowing us to spar a consecutive number of times with just little to no rest. ¡°Ugh! I lost again. I¡¯m really not a match for you,¡± she complained while giving me a defeated look. ¡°That is not true, you are quite good at high-speed battles. Did Katherine help you train haste, Liz?¡± She was insistent on being called by that nickname, and to my surprise, I found myself naturally using it. Perhaps it was due to her approachable and amiable demeanor. Over time, it became the norm for me to address her by that name. ¡°Uh-huh! How did you know!?¡± she asked, a hint of curiosity showing. Oh, shoot, what a blunder. I almost forgot she still doesn¡¯t know Katherine was my mentor. However, I can''t be the one to reveal this information to her, even if I wanted to. It should come directly from Katherine herself. It''s quite ironic, really. She often asks me questions about the previous Paragon members, particularly about Yuusha, not realizing that Yuusha is right beside her as her current teammate. ¡°¡­Just a guess. She seemed capable enough when I saw her solo kill the boss,¡± I told a white lie. ¡°Yeah, I know right? Kat is really incredibly skilled! She also has plenty of experience playing different VR games! Did you know she played a couple of extremely hard VR games before playing CoA? Those kinds of games where enemies can one-shot you when you make just a tiny bit of a mistake. Moreover, she also told me back then that she had been playing VR games for over a year before they even became publicly accessible. Primarily when VR was used for therapeutic rehabilitation for individuals confined to hospitals, long before it was integrated for entertainment purposes,¡± she rambled on about Katherine¡¯s past, which made me a bit jealous she got to know her better. I ponder to myself that Liz seems to have a close relationship with Yuusha. Back then, Katherine rarely spoke about herself, but I suppose it could be attributed to her being more open and expressive now compared to before. I should be grateful that I can now grow closer to her, more so than in the past, at least. ¡°Hmm, I didn¡¯t know that. If that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t think I can teach you more than she can. She let out a giggle, piquing my curiosity as to the reason behind it. Before I could even inquire, she beat me to the punch. "Funnily enough, Kat said the exact same thing! She mentioned that you would be a better sparring partner to help me improve more than she could ever be.¡± As if struck by a sudden realization, she promptly continued. "Wait... don''t tell me both of you just want to pass me back and forth to each other like an unwanted toy because I''m bothersome?" she said, her expression instantly turning sad and betrayed. Taken aback by her completely unfounded statement, I quickly attempted to refute her claim. ¡°Wha- of course not! I¡¯m also benefitting from sparring with you. You are a fun company to begin with so hanging out with you is fun!¡± I tried to explain myself but when I saw her gloomy look morph into a mischievous one, I instantly knew she was just messing with me. I shot her an annoyed look as I gently reprimanded her. "I didn''t expect you to be so mischievous. Please refrain from doing it again," I said firmly. ¡°Whaaaat, it¡¯s fun to see your embarrassed reaction though, so I can''t make any promises," she replied with a playful smile, causing me to sigh at the quirkiness of this girl. It appears that having someone with this particular personality is what it takes for Katherine to open up, which can be seen as an achievement in itself... I suppose. As we were in the lull of our conversation, Lucy, who was probably surfing the net, rushed towards us both with an alarmed look on her face. Her eyes were wide with excitement and concern, and I could tell she had something important to share. "Guys, you won''t believe what I just saw on social media!" Lucy exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency. We both turned our attention to her, curious and eager to hear the news. "What is it that has got you so excited?" I asked, filled with curiosity. "Take a look at this!" she replied, her excitement evident in her voice. Then, as if remembering that we couldn''t see what was on her in-game browser, she quickly appeared sheepish. "Um, just give me a moment, I''ll send the link to both of you," she said with a hint of shyness in her blunder. She swiftly maneuvered through her in-game browser, her fingers tapping rapidly on the invisible screen. As she scrolled through the posts and notifications, the anticipation in the air became palpable. After a moment, Lucy finished sending the link. I opened it with my in-game browser and was immediately greeted by a shocking headline, accompanied by a viral clip that had been causing a stir on the internet, accumulating an impressive number of views within the past 12 hours throughout the CoA community. ¡°Streamer Got Trashed by a Girl in the Middle of His Stream?¡± I mumbled the headline before clicking on the video. In the clip, I witnessed one of the participants, named Draven, attempting to flirt with someone I am quite familiar with. "Whoa, both intelligent and attractive! I like you even more! How about leaving your boyfriend here and spending some time with a real man?" Draven proposed as he leaned his smug face toward the girl in the clip. That guy, I am going to kill him! Witnessing such repulsive behavior, I couldn''t help but curse the piece of trash in my mind. "Please leave us alone. Your cumbersome presence is spoiling our meal," Katherine responded with her usual calm and composed demeanor, as she often does. She appeared completely unfazed by the pathetic attempt of the sorry excuse for a human being to flirt with her, which was a relief to see. "Whoa, spicy! I like that attitude!" the contemptible dingus persisted, causing me to almost puke at his revolting actions. As I was adding another insult to associate the retard in the depths of my mind, a girl thankfully butted in to help Katherine. ¡°Are you incapable of basic human comprehension? She said to leave her alone,¡± came in a voice from out of nowhere. The camera Draven held then turned around to focus on the newcomer, revealing a girl with vibrant red-dyed hair. In that instant, I recognized her as one of the participants. If my memory serves me right, she is part of Arthur''s team. ¡°Aren¡¯t you from the team of hypocrites, the round something? Ah, the Round Table, right? Indulging in your false sense of justice once more by meddling in other¡¯s affairs? Or perhaps you lot can only derive pleasure from feeling morally superior to others? How pathetic," the insufferable oaf taunted. ¡°... You really are quite annoying,¡± the girl muttered in a low but threatening voice. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re jealous? Wanna have some fun too? Hmm, you''re not half bad-looking yourself,¡± the piece of trash streamer taunted. As the fool extended his hand, the girl swiftly sidestepped, capitalizing on his momentum. With a seamless motion, she seized his arm and effortlessly redirected his force, leveraging her body to unbalance him¡ªa flawless execution of throwing technique. Caught off guard, the camera was thrown into the air and suddenly blurred. "ACK!" the repugnant streamer''s shout was all I could hear before the camera giving me the spinning view of the entire hall connected to the ground. *Thump The clip abruptly ended, leaving me with a glimmer of hope that his phone had been destroyed upon impact. Even if that small punishment is extremely insufficient in comparison to his heinous transgressional crime¡ªhis sin of being born into this world. Realizing that my emotions were spiraling out of control, I instinctively resorted to the breathing technique that Katherine had taught me back then. This technique proved to be remarkably effective in helping me maintain composure during intense situations like this, especially in the heat of the battle. It thankfully prevented me from uttering insults that I knew I would later regret saying in front of my friends. "What an infuriating guy," a menacing voice escaped from my sparring partner, causing a shiver to run down my spine. She wore an annoyed smile, a blend of frustration and anger that she struggled to conceal. It was surprising to see her make such a face, given her typically carefree and cheerful nature. However, I couldn''t blame her, considering that it was her team members whom Draven had disrespected. As a captain of my own team myself, I could understand where she was coming from. ¡°Let¡¯s continue the practice, Aria. I want to improve so I can completely trash that guy in the tournament,¡± she quickly suggested, her expression now resolute, a far cry from her usual lighthearted demeanor. ¡°A-Alright, let us proceed.¡± taken aback by her change of attitude, I could do nothing but comply with her request. Vol.2 Chapter 27 Draven¡¯s PoV As I scrolled through my social media feed, a particular video caught my attention. Many of my irritating viewers were bugging me to see it. It was marked as ''viral'' in the CoA community, with thousands of views and comments. Intrigued, I clicked on it, not knowing what to expect. Upon seeing the title, I immediately had a terrible feeling about this. Moreso, as the video started to play, my curiosity quickly turned into disbelief and then anger. ¡°Fucking piece of shit!¡± I cursed out loud. As the video ended, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth. The anger was palpable, a burning fire in my chest that refused to be extinguished as I was reminded of the events that transpired last night. In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I found myself unable to contain my emotions any longer. ¡°Why does that hypocrite have to butt in!? It is all her fault!¡± Without thinking, I grabbed hold of a nearby hotel lamp and hurled it across the room, my rage fueling the force behind my throw. *THUD The object soared through the air, propelled by my pent-up emotions, before crashing against the wall of my hotel room with a resounding thud. Looking at the mess I made, I tried to calm myself down. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and focused on slowing down my racing heart and calming my mind. I guess just make some excuse later so I don¡¯t have to pay for that since it is all that motherfucker¡¯s fault after all. As I sat there to regain my composure, a familiar sound broke the silence. A notification pinged on my phone, drawing my attention away from my thoughts. Curiosity piqued, I reached for my phone and unlocked it to see what It was. To my delight, I discovered a message from my teammate, informing me that the bracket for the 1v1 tournament had been posted on the official website. A surge of excitement coursed through me, momentarily overshadowing the remnants of my earlier frustration. I quickly navigated to the website and eagerly scanned the page for my name. As I scrolled through the list, my heart raced with anticipation. Finally, I found it¡ªour team¡¯s name, neatly placed within the bracket. Seeing the opponent I would be facing for my first match, I cannot help but smile. ¡°I¡¯m up against, the Round Table for our first match in the placement battles,¡± I muttered, excitement bubbling inside me. If I remember correctly, the match is a single elimination. So that means if I beat their representative of that hypocritical team, they will go immediately to the lower bracket for the main tournament. ¡°Hehe¡­ Hahaha,¡± I laughed manically at the God-given opportunity to destroy their tournament run. ¡°How fun, looks like I will get my revenge sooner than expected,¡± I murmured to myself. A savage grin crept across my face. Revenge, huh? I couldn''t help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of destroying their representative for the 1v1 and leaving them in a state of utter humiliation. I¡¯m sure it will feel¡­ extremely cathartic. ----------------------- Arthur¡¯s PoV Looking around, the room we are currently in was spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that allowed natural light to flood in, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The walls were adorned with tasteful artwork, adding a touch of sophistication to the surroundings. The plush carpeting under our feet made each step feel like a gentle embrace. Even if this is just a room for one person, it can accommodate the rest of my team quite well. I called for a team meeting in my hotel room, making sure that all of my team members were present. As I glanced at every one of them, I could see a range of expressions in their eyes. Tristan and Gwyn appeared curious, while Astrid maintained a stoic and emotionless demeanor. "Why did you call us here, dude? Don''t tell me you want a team bonding experience or something. Some of us are quite busy with our own preparations, you know," my best friend Tristan attempted to lighten the meeting''s mood with a joke. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Yeah, I was in the middle of sleeping," Gwyn chimed in, supporting Tristan''s statement. "I don''t think sleeping can be considered as being busy," I deadpanned. ¡°It is though. Rest is extremely important, especially before a match,¡± she immediately replied with such certainty that I almost doubted myself. "Alright, let''s get straight to the point," I remarked, clearing my throat. "I convened this meeting to discuss the incident involving Astrid and a Team Unfiltered member, as showcased in the viral clip which I''m sure all of you already watched," I explained. I glanced at the perpetrator and I couldn''t help but notice Astrid''s unchanging expression, although there was a subtle hint of guilt on her face that she failed to hide. "I''m not here to scold you, but I hope you could''ve resolved it much more peacefully, rather than resorting to violence instantly. Like calling out the authorities or something," I explained my piece. ¡°Hmph, I think that guy deserves it. He can¡¯t respect ladies like I do,¡± Tristan butted in at my sermon. ¡°I think you¡¯re not much different from him though,¡± Gwyn pointed out an obvious statement, which I have to agree to. ¡°What?! I¡¯m not as discourteous as that guy. To me, no means no!¡± Tristan replied with indignation. As if remembering something he immediately asked. ¡°¡­Speaking of consent, Astrid, you want to eat dinner with- ¡° ¡°No,¡± Astrid interrupted him before he even finished his sentence. ¡°I¡¯m not even finished! Fine have it your way, I¡¯m gunning for Elizabeth anyway, she is far more friendly than you! Better not regret this in the future.¡± ¡°¡­Good riddance,¡± she replied without care. I let out a sigh. Tristan was clearly downplaying the seriousness of Astrid''s actions, making our conversation less grave. However, I had to take a firm stance since our reputation was on the line. Even though the video clip showed that Astrid was not the one who instigated the incident, her response had been too excessive. I softened my voice, adopting a gentle tone before continuing. "I don''t really have an issue with what you were trying to achieve at that time. It¡¯s commendable even, to assist another participant, even if they could be our future competitor. It''s the way you went about it that concerns me. Please promise me that you''ll refrain from resorting to violence right away and try to resolve conflicts without anyone getting hurt," I attempted to resolve the situation with her agreement. Astrid stared at me with her usual expressionless face before giving me a nod of confirmation. ¡°¡­Understood,¡± she replied curtly. ¡°Thanks, that is all I ask for,¡± I responded with the warmest smile I could muster. ¡°Hey, Art! Please stop showing your protagonist halo in front of me, it''s honestly sickening to watch,¡± Tristan interrupted with his usual antics which made my eye twitch in irritation. ¡°Is that all for the meeting? I want to go back to sleep¡­¡± Gwyn thankfully reminded me of the other agenda I wanted to discuss. ¡°Not quite. We still have to decide on who to participate in the 1v1 tournament tomorrow. And unfortunately, we are up against Draven¡¯s team in our first match. I¡¯m sure they will send Draven since he is the strongest of them all,¡± I mused. Tristan gave us a smug look before saying his piece. ¡°I think the answer is obvious. No need to decide on who to match against that prick. I¡¯m sure there is no one here better to represent the team other than me- ¡° ¡°I vote Art.¡± ¡°¡­Art.¡± Gwyn and Astrid said in unison. "Damn you, lady killer. If it weren''t for your protagonist halo, I''m sure they would choose me to represent the team over you," Tristan retorted with a strong sense of outrage, expressing his deep resentment towards me. "Just make sure to defeat that Draven guy, or I won''t forgive you, all right?!" he added. I sighed for the umpteenth time. I guess I¡¯ll just have to do my best at the 1v1 tournament to not let my teammates down. -------------------- Hana¡¯s PoV "Um, hello, Onee-chan," I nervously greeted my sister over the phone. "Hana, what''s wrong?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to check up on you." "Is that all?" she responded skeptically. It seems like my sister truly knows me well. "Hehe, it seems like I can''t keep anything from you," I paused before asking what I truly intended to do. "Actually, I will be representing our team in the 1v1 tournament tomorrow, so I wanted to know if you would be coming to watch me play tomorrow?" I inquired, feeling a bit of anticipation for her response. She paused for a while, already hinting that she would give a negative response. ¡°¡­ Forgive me, Hana, we are really quite busy. I can only attend the venue on the weekend for the main tournament.¡± "No worries, just check out the news the following day, and you''ll witness my triumph as the 1v1 champion!" I exclaimed, masking my disappointment with feigned enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯ll also watch it live to cheer you on. So do your best,¡± she replied in an attempt to comfort me. We engaged in some casual conversation about mundane topics after that, until I overheard someone on the phone calling for my sister to resume practice. "I have to go. We have an upcoming scrim match," she stated in a regretful tone. "All right, take care out there, Nee-chan!" "You too. Take care and good luck with your match," she replied. As the phone call ended, I let out a big sigh. As the disappointment settled in, I couldn''t help but feel a pang of sadness. My sister, who had always been my biggest supporter, wasn''t able to attend the important match. It was a blow to my morale, and I could feel my spirits sinking. Kaito, a close friend and teammate, must have sensed my disappointment. ¡°Seems like it¡¯s a no?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°She won¡¯t be attending until the main tournament,¡± I told the truth. ¡°A shame I have to wait for a couple of days. It¡¯s fine though the longer the wait, the better!¡± He paused, seemingly realizing that this situation was not solely about him missing out on his long-awaited autograph. "O-of course, I''ll cheer you on to the best of my ability to make up for your sister not being able to watch in person!" he stammered, attempting to lift my spirits. Sensing that my mood had not yet improved, he swiftly changed the topic. "A-anyway, have you seen the recent update? The bracket for the 1v1 placement match has already been posted on their official website!" "Oh? Who are we facing?" I inquired, unable to contain my curiosity. He grinned at me before answering my question. "Take a look at this! We have the best possible first opponent! Ta-da!" he exclaimed while handing me his phone. I searched for our team, Sakura e-sports, and discovered which team we were up against tomorrow. "Paradigm? Aren''t they considered one of the weakest teams in the competition?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "I know, right?! How lucky are we with the draw!" he exclaimed excitedly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t really care who we''re up against. I aim to beat everyone in the 1v1 after all,¡± I declared with determination. Disappointing my sister with a poor performance on my tournament debut is the last thing I would like to do. I don¡¯t want others, especially her fans, to mock her for having a weak sibling. I joined this tournament to prove myself and not merely exist in my sister''s shadow in the first place. And perhaps one day, I can stand alongside her in the same team as her equal. Therefore, I cannot afford to lose. Vol.2 Chapter 28 Clarissa¡¯s PoV As I was currently waiting for the event to officially start, I surveyed my entire surroundings. The venue was a hive of activity, buzzing with the energy and excitement of hundreds of participants and spectators. Despite the crowd, the space never felt cramped or confined, thanks to the thoughtful design and layout of the venue. High ceilings towered overhead, adding to the sense of spaciousness. Many aesthetic lights with proper ventilation and airflow keep the whole place comfortable even for so many people. The venue was a perfect blend of modern architecture and cutting-edge technology, designed to provide an immersive e-sports experience. In the center of the venue, a massive stage was set up, complete with state-of-the-art VR gaming equipment and large screens for spectators to watch the action. The stage was surrounded by rows of comfortable seating, providing ample space for spectators to settle in and enjoy the matches. Around the perimeter of the venue, various booths and stations were set up, offering everything from gaming merchandise to food and beverages. Despite the number of people, movement around the venue was easy, with wide aisles and clear signage directing the flow of traffic. Even though it is already my second day here, I can¡¯t seem to get used to the novelty of the place. "Hello folks, good morning! Raze here! I''m with my co-panelist Landslide to bring you the best analysis of the games we have in store for you today!" An energetic voice resounded throughout the venue, bringing me out of my survey of the large place. On the large screen in the middle of the entire stadium, one of the panel members who introduced himself as Raze was featured on display along with his partner. I¡¯m not alone as most of the audience also seemed to notice the official start of the event. An instant cheer with a deafening roar coupled with a round of applause rang out through the venue at the panelist¡¯s voice which sent a shiver down my spine, causing my skin hair to stand out. I¡¯ve already experienced this contagious excitement on the first day, but seeing as my brother¡¯s team is the one who will play today, I¡¯m excited more than ever. "That is right guys! On top of that, we also have a special guest here as our expert panelist! Please give it up for Mr. Bogdan C?lug?ru, better known in-game as Vlad with the moniker of ¡®The Impaler¡¯!" one of the panelists, Mr. Landslide exclaimed. Another round of applause filled the air as the moderator introduced the e-sports expert coupled with a more deafening roar from the audience this time. The expert panelist, Mr. Bogdan, a tall, athletic man with an imposing presence, gave the audience a polite wave and a small smile, before taking his seat next to the other panelists on the raised dais. "It is an honor for one of the strongest players in the first Andartha Cup to join us here, no? And we have him all for ourselves, right guys!!" the panelist named Mr. Raze said excitedly. "It is good to be here," Mr. Bogdan replied calmly, giving both his co-panelist a serene smile. "Indeed! And without further ado, let us get the show on the road, shall we?" the panelist, Mr. Landslide, said before the crowd cheered once again, eager for the games to begin. With that, the lights dimmed, and the screens around the venue lit up with the first game on the schedule. The bracket of the game was featured in the match. Seeing Novo and my brother¡¯s team name in the bracket for all to see made me even more excited with a hint of nervousness for the upcoming matches. ¡°As you can see folks, the first match for the day will be Paradigm vs Sakura e-sports! Keep in mind that the arrangement was random for the 1v1 tournament. However, the standings for the 1v1 matches will determine the main tournament''s progression and who will fall into the lower bracket. Therefore, winning the matches in the 1v1 stage remains crucial. Also, the winner of the one-versus-one tournament will also receive a cash prize of a whopping 50,000$!¡± Mr. Raze exclaimed excitedly. ¡°That is right Raze. Therefore, I highly doubt the participants will not take the matches seriously with that much money on the line! Regarding the first match, what are your thoughts on this, Mr. Bogdan?¡± Mr. Landslide queried their guest guest. Mr. Bogdan pondered for a bit before answering, "While the team Paradigm may seem like an underdog in this match, I think they stand a chance against Sakura.¡± Hearing his words instantly brought me much joy and hope. I knew someone would see how great a team my brother has. All the more coming from an expert such as Mr. Bogdan. ¡°Oh, might you explain why this is so? I want to hear firsthand your thoughts on this,¡± Mr. Landslide expressed his genuine curiosity, asking for an explanation of the reasoning behind the advantage Paradigm holds in the matchup. "I''m also interested in understanding the reason, especially since the odds for the match are 87%-13%, according to both the fans and the AI algorithm combined. This overwhelmingly favors the Sakura e-sports team," Mr. Raze added, echoing the sentiment. Mr. Bogdan seemed to compose himself before responding ¡°¡­While team Sakura will surely send their ace, Hana as a representative for the fight, the Paradigm has three talented players to choose from that they could send in one-on-one. The Paradigm team holds an advantage in terms of a favorable matchup due to their unpredictability and the wider range of options they possess. The outcome of the match will now hinge on whether Paradigm can effectively utilize this advantage or not.¡± "I see, that could indeed be an advantage. Well articulated, Mr. Bogdan! An expert''s perspective is truly enlightening. We can only anticipate how events will unfold. But speaking of team Sakura, their star player has arrived!" The attention of the crowd shifted towards the entrance, where a stunning lady of unmistakable Asian heritage made her appearance. As she approached their side of the VR pod, the audience erupted into a thunderous cheer. It was evident that she was highly regarded and well-liked by the people in attendance, as favorable comments filled the air around me. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Murasame¡¯s sister?!¡± ¡°Yes, she is! I heard that she learned specifically from her sister how to play the game.¡± ¡°So that is why the odds of the bets are extremely skewed towards them! There is no way Murasame¡¯s sister will lose to some random nobodies!¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Even though I¡¯m sure they didn¡¯t mean it, my heart still sank at their unintended insults. As I was thinking if I should say something to them, another applause, much more subdued this time compared to the last, resounded in the venue. Looking at the large opening on the other side opposite the enemy team, I saw a very familiar face come out, making me forget what I was doing and instantly stand up to cheer as loud as I possibly could. It was my brother, walking towards the main stage with his usual confident attitude as he made his way towards the VR pod. This can only mean that my brother was the Paradigm team¡¯s representative. ¡°Brother! You can do it! DO YOUR BEST!¡± I screamed at the top of my lungs which was lost alongside the other cheers from the large crowd. ------------------------- Tactical¡¯s PoV From where I stood, I had a clear view of the expansive main stage of the e-sports stadium. It stood as a radiant symbol of light and energy, standing out amidst the sea of spectators. Despite the distance, I could sense the electrifying atmosphere emanating from the main stage. The anticipation in the air was tangible, and the energy was contagious, fueled by the passionate CoA fans in attendance. It was a captivating spectacle, a testament to the grandeur and importance of the event, even though it is not a pro tournament. My eyes were instantly drawn to the representative of Paradigm¡¯s team as he made his appearance, which received moderate applause from the fans. It can¡¯t be helped though, from my little research of the participants, I found out that their team has the fewest fanbase of all the teams. The representative, whom I had just learned was named Clarence, exuded confidence in his stride and wore a determined expression, clearly aware of the significance of his role in the upcoming match. "Looks like we now have the confirmation on Paradigm''s representative, ladies and gentlemen! They have chosen Mr. Clarence, their spear user! What are your thoughts on this, Mr. Bogdan?" Raze asked. "It appears to me that their team is relying on the inherent advantage of spears over katanas," Bogdan replied succinctly. "Oh, ho! We all know that you are the expert when it comes to spears. Could you please elaborate on that thought, Mr. Bogdan?" Raze inquired, eager to hear more. ¡°What I meant by it is that spear users have three major advantages when it comes to pure melee weapons like katanas and the like. First of all, spears, with their long shafts and extended reach, provided a significant advantage over katanas. The extra length allows spear users to keep their opponents at a distance, effectively neutralizing the katana''s close-quarters advantage. This is particularly advantageous in open-field battles or when facing multiple opponents,¡± Bogdan paused for a couple of seconds, gathering his thoughts before continuing his explanation. ¡°Their second advantage is that spears offered a greater range of attack options compared to katanas. They could be thrust, swung, or used for sweeping attacks, providing a wider range of offensive techniques. This versatility allowed spear users to adapt to different combat scenarios and engage opponents from various angles. And lastly, the length of spears also provided a defensive advantage. By keeping opponents at a distance, spear users had more time to react and defend against incoming attacks. They could parry or deflect strikes with the shaft of the spear, minimizing the risk of being disarmed or injured, especially if the user has a good stance and technique,¡± Bogdan meticulously explained his insightful perspective of the match. ¡°Oh, did you hear that, folks? Spear users rejoice! Looks like you guys are lucky in choosing your weapons!¡± Upon hearing Landslide''s statement, the entire crowd erupted in cheers. It seems that many in the audience were either already using spears or contemplating a shift in their specialization based on the information they had just received. The impact of Bogdan''s words resonated strongly with the spectators, making me fear how well respected and persuasive he really is up till today. "Ahem," Bogdan interjected, capturing the attention of the jubilant fans. "Despite my previous statement, I must admit that I have a somewhat biased opinion, being a spear user myself. Katanas are still exceptional weapons. In the hands of a skilled individual, a katana can be highly effective due to its speed, precision, and DPS. It also remains a formidable weapon in one-on-one combat or in confined spaces where the reach of a spear is limited. Ultimately, the effectiveness of a weapon depends on the skill, training, and tactics employed by the wielder, and I highly doubt Ms. Hana is anything but a seasoned katana user, probably even the best there is in this entire stadium full of CoA players,¡± Bogdan quickly countered his previous statement, ensuring that his words would not shift the meta or create any misconceptions. Honestly, I am reminded of how glad I am that he retired after just the first AC. I would surely loathe to fight him again if he were still active with his game knowledge and insane skills. ¡°Oh! It seems like the final preparations are complete and both the participants are already in the in-game lobby, ready for the game to start!¡± ¡°That is right, Raze, but I¡¯m sure that the participants are not the only ones ready for some action, isn¡¯t that right, guys!?¡± Landslide raised his voice, igniting the crowd with his enthusiasm. ¡°YEAAAAHHH!!!¡± a deafening roar erupted from the audience, proving that his efforts weren¡¯t for naught. ¡°Let us now go to our casters for the game! DJ Riot and ParaTrooper for in-game commentary of the match!¡± The screen then quickly shifted towards two people I¡¯m very familiar with who even interviewed me a couple of times. "That''s right, Raze! We''re back with your favorite casters, DJ Riot," Riot exclaimed with his trademark exuberant personality. "And I''m ParaTrooper, here to provide you with live commentary of this thrilling match!" ParaTrooper seamlessly continued, showcasing his well-practiced delivery. "You have a wealth of expertise compared to the two of us, and I consider myself a lower-tier player. With that in mind, I''d like to hear your thoughts, ParaTrooper. What do you make of this situation?" "Well, without any bias, I believe Hana holds a significant advantage in terms of skills for this match. Among all the participants in this 1v1 tournament, she is the clear fan favorite, even receiving more votes than Blitz!" "Why do you think that is?" "The reason behind her popularity is twofold. Firstly, she has received training directly from her sister, who is highly skilled and respected in the game. Secondly, Hana wields the same weapon as her sister, which means she has the potential to execute the renowned "Falling Rain Blossom¡± weapon skill that Murasame is famous for. This gives her a substantial and almost insurmountable advantage, particularly in a 1v1 match where she only needs to face a single opponent and utilize her weapon skill effectively!" ¡°Oh, that does seem too scary to fight against,¡± he shivered enunciating his words with the appropriate action. Hmm, I highly doubt it is as straightforward as it seems. Seer is not easily impressed by the tactics of other strategists. From what Seer has shared with me and based on what little I have gathered; I believe this Novo has another reason behind this particular matchup. Assuming she is the one making the decisions for their team, that is. Still, it is too early to say. I have not yet seen Murasame¡¯s sister play, and if all the talks about her hold even a semblance of truth, then she is indeed unbeatable in this 1v1 tournament. ¡°We almost forgot to mention that the whole stadium¡¯s cheers will be heard by the participants in our new tournament feature that will be implemented in the one-on-one tournament! Of course, it only applies to the cheers, not the caster¡¯s analysis, as it would be too unfair. Therefore, LA fans, make some noise!¡± Another eruption of cheers resounded in the arena, making my ears hurt. These guys sure are good at their jobs, huh? ¡°Now that everything is ready. Let the first match begin!¡± Both of them declared in unison. As the casters said the word, the screen turned to the VR arena where the participants would battle. It resembles a Roman colosseum, making the ambiance much more spartan. Surrounding the arena, rows upon rows of virtual spectators filled the stands, their cheers and applause echoing through the virtual space. The crowd''s excitement was palpable, their energy fueling the atmosphere and adding to the intensity of the battles. The lighting within the arena was carefully crafted to enhance the dramatic effect. Soft beams of sunlight streamed through the openings in the stone walls, casting long shadows across the arena floor. The interplay of light and shadow added depth and dimension to the virtual environment, creating a visually stunning spectacle. The view before me left me pleasantly surprised. It was evident that no expenses were spared in the creation and construction of the custom arena. The attention to detail and craftsmanship was remarkable, showcasing the dedication and commitment put into making it a truly exceptional venue for the matches. On both sides, the participants teleported inside the arena. They locked eyes, each displaying a look of both cautiousness and determination. The staring contest continued, drawing out the anticipation that filled the entire stadium. The atmosphere was thick with excitement, as the crowd eagerly awaited the moment when the countdown finally began. Then it finally happened at last. 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Match Start! Renz HP: 100% Yatsufusa HP: 100% As the timer signaled the start of the match, Murasame''s sister wasted no time and swiftly made her first move to close in the gap. Her quick dash was undeniably impressive. However, what truly stood out was the immediate change in stance by the boy. The transition was incredibly smooth, highlighting the immense dedication and hard work he had put into his practice. It was a testament to his commitment and the countless hours he had invested in honing his skills. His stance was familiar, and it was also quite deadly as he countered Murasame¡¯s sister with a quick, precise attack that should have been almost impossible in his skill bracket. The attack landed successfully, striking the girl''s body and forcing her to recoil and abandon her charge. Instantly, she backed off, while the boy wisely chose not to pursue. It was a smart move on his part, as he should always leverage the advantage of his superior reach in the battle. Yatsufusa HP: 81% The entire stadium went silent. No one expected that the first one to land the hit was the boy. "Wow! It appears that Renz is the one who drew first blood against Yatsufusa, ladies and gentlemen! Who could have anticipated this outcome?! It seems like we have a nail-biter fight here!" The crowd''s cheers reached a crescendo, and it was no surprise. After all, nobody wants to witness a one-sided match where the outcome is already predetermined. Based on all the information available, it seemed that everyone believed Murasame''s sister would emerge as the clear victor. However, the unpredictability of the outcome added an extra layer of excitement and made the match even more enticing to watch. Not only that, it seems that the pressure is now on the girl. It''s understandable considering the influence of her sibling and the expectations from the crowd. I can only imagine the immense pressure she must be feeling. On the other hand, the boy, being the underdog, has nothing left to lose and can play without restraint. Making the psychological advantage so much skewed in favor of the boy even though he might be outmatched in terms of skills. Vol.2 Chapter 29 Renz¡¯s PoV Since I was young, I have faced constant ridicule for my appearance, with people frequently mistaking me for a girl due to my feminine looks. This led to bullying during my early teenage years from other boys, which eventually became unbearable. In response, I started going to the gym every day, striving to develop a more masculine physique. I also made a conscious effort to behave in a stereotypically masculine manner, hoping to deter others from looking down on me. This preoccupation with my image stems from my desire to project an image of a strong and masculine man. It was effective back then when the bullying stopped and kids my age started respecting me. But lately, thinking about it, am I really focusing too much on how others perceive me due to my past? I wonder if what she said is true after all. Am I sacrificing important aspects of my life just to maintain a tough guy image? I''m uncertain about the answer myself. However, one thing I am certain of is that my current friends and teammates accept me for who I am and would never mock me. Unlike the immature friends I had in my youth, who would mock others based on their appearance, my current companions are understanding. I am sure they appreciate me for who I am beyond superficial judgments. Therefore, I am doing this not only for me but also for them. I have already decided that am going to win this important match for us, for our team, image be dammed. Besides, I had already promised her to do whatever it took and entrusted the match to her judgment. Even if things don''t go as planned, the responsibility does not solely rest on my shoulders. This fact brings me a great sense of relief, as I know that the immense pressure of the situation would likely overwhelm me. Knowing that I have the support and guidance of someone I trust alleviates some of that burden and allows me to focus on giving my best effort without succumbing to the weight of expectations. That is probably the only reason I can even match this monster in front of me. Ting* The clash of our weapons urged me to focus on the fight in front of me. I can¡¯t afford to be distracted now with how important this match is for our team. Instinctively, I shifted into a defensive stance, a move I had practiced countless times in recent days. The seamless transition allowed me to parry her attack and quickly create distance between us. She chose not to pursue me, remaining cautious and determined not to let her guard down again, which is good for me. It seems that Katherine''s strategy paid off, as my opponent is now playing it safe due to her earlier mistake. If she knew that I only knew two stances, she probably wouldn''t hesitate as much. Nevertheless, my opponent''s passive approach stems from fear. She has a lot at stake, and her sister¡¯s reputation needs to be upheld. Therefore, she cannot afford to play aggressively, which ironically works in my favor. Her style, known for aggressive attacks like her sister¡¯s, would have been a challenge for me to match in terms of speed. However, her current passive playstyle gives me a significant advantage. It seems like everything is going exactly how Katherine explained to me. I involuntarily shivered at how things had been going according to her plan from the start of the game. Seriously, that girl is too scary. It''s a good thing she is on our side, or I would have nightmares if I were to face her on the opposite team. As our fight continued, the clang of metal against metal echoed as my spear clashed with the opponent''s katana, creating a symphony of fierce combat. With each swing of my spear, a shift in my practiced stance was accompanied by a satisfying thud as it struck against Hana''s katana. The clash of our weapons reverberated, the metallic reverberation filling the arena, mixing with the cheers from the fans. The monster in front of me moved with the grace of a dancer. Her katana sliced through the air, producing a sharp swishing sound as she executed precise strikes. The clash of our weapons intensified, creating a rhythmic melody of clashing steel and determined grunts, which were swallowed by the crowd''s reverberating cheers due to the new feature implemented in this tournament. Transitioning into an offensive stance I had practiced a thousand times, I executed a swift spin, propelling myself forward and thrusting my spear toward Hana. The sound of the spear slicing through the air was accompanied by a resounding whoosh, and I felt a sense of satisfaction as it made contact with her guard. This prompted her to disengage once again, reverting to her passive playstyle. Renz HP: 87% Yatsufusa HP: 68% This is extremely bad for me, though. My opponent is clearly adjusting to my limited repertoire of two stances. If she manages to fully anticipate both of my stances, I won''t have any chance against her. The only reason I am able to hold my ground against this monster is because I have grown accustomed to her speed, thanks to Katherine''s ability to match her pace with my current opponent during our practice yesterday. Seriously, is there nothing that girl can¡¯t do? If she didn''t choose to support our team, she could undoubtedly pursue a professional career with her exceptional abilities. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Aside from that, the real problem is that Katherine specifically instructed me to not let my HP go below 80 percent. It seems that I have no choice but to rely on her suggested tactic, even though I have reservations about doing so. But, I already made a choice, it was too late to back down now this late in the game. In the lull of our fight, I opened my mouth to try to bring out the most obnoxious and irritating voice I could muster. "Is that the best you can do? It appears that Murasame''s sister is nothing special after all," I taunted, aiming to provoke a reaction. Caught off guard by my unexpected taunt, she hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "That''s quite rude..." she replied, her confusion evident in her tone. "I''m simply stating the truth. If you''re this weak, I''m confident that I could even defeat your sister blindfolded," I remarked, continuing to provoke her. Upon mentioning her sister, my opponent instantly became furious, and the crowd responded with a chorus of boos directed at me. It appears that I struck a sensitive nerve, considering the significant number of Murasame fans in the venue. While I feel uneasy about assuming the role of a villain, if it means fulfilling my responsibilities to my teammates and not letting them down, I am willing to embrace this role. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good. I¡¯ve already decided I wanted to look cool in front of those that mattered to me, and winning this match would achieve that. "Take that back," she seethed, her anger palpable and uncontrolled. ¡°Then make me,¡± I gave her a condescending sneer just to add salt to the wound. She gave me a death stare, adjusting her stance to something that my teammate instructed me to be wary of at all times. She is planning to use her weapon skill. She sheathed her blade, her expression becoming more focused and concentrated than ever before. "Falling Rain Blossom,¡± she murmured in a menacing tone. With a sudden burst of speed, she swiftly drew her katana from its sheath in a fluid motion, creating a distinct metallic sound that echoed through the virtual arena while seemingly vanishing right in front of me. Shick* Before I could react, Hana''s blade sliced through the air with astonishing speed, producing a sharp and piercing sound as it cut through the virtual space. The sound of her Iai slash was like a sudden gust of wind, catching me by surprise and leaving me momentarily stunned. The unexpected sound of her katana, combined with the sheer swiftness of her attack, created a momentary disorientation, as if time had slowed down for just a fraction of a second. The sound of her blade passing through the air resonated with a sense of precision and power, leaving a lasting impression. In an instant, she appeared behind me, almost as if she had passed through me like a ghost. As the sound of Hana''s Iai slash subsided, I swiftly regained my focus, although the pain from the slash lingered as a reminder. Witnessing her move firsthand, it became clear that evading it was indeed impossible, just as everyone had claimed. Good thing I did not intend to dodge it in the first place. Renz HP: 5% ¡°Wha- how are you still alive?!¡± Recognizing that I still had a minuscule amount of HP remaining, my opponent immediately panicked and attempted to move. However, as Katherine had informed me, there was a brief moment before she could fully regain her motor functions due to the taxing nature of her weapon skill. Seizing this opportunity, I swiftly aimed for her head, intending to deliver a decisive finishing blow. Kachack* Yatsufusa HP: 2% Shit! In my haste to take advantage of her fatigue state and the time constraints, I failed to put enough power into my strike. My fear of the limited window of opportunity caused me to attack quickly but with insufficient force. What a costly mistake. This situation is dire now, as we are both just one attack away from determining the winner. Surviving my blow, she leaped away from me to regain composure. I have no choice. Katherine warned me not to do this, but I have to bet everything on this! In a moment of desperation, I made a split-second decision to throw my spear at Hana, hoping to catch her off guard. Relying on my javelin-throwing expertise, I threw the spear with a forceful throw. The spear hurtled through the air, accompanied by a whooshing sound as it sliced through the arena. As the spear hurtled through the air towards Hana, a momentary shock flashed across her face. Time seemed to slow down as she assessed the trajectory of the oncoming weapon. With lightning-fast reflexes, she mustered all her agility and evaded the spear in the very last second. The sound of her evasive maneuver was a combination of a sharp exhale and the swift swishing of air as she moved. I¡­ lost. Yatsufusa HP: 0% No! it connected! The spear grazed her shoulder, causing her a minuscule amount of damage, which was thankfully enough to bring her health to zero. My opponent was speechless, her expression full of shock and disbelief as she turned into blue motes of light, cementing my win in our match. ------------------- Tactical¡¯s PoV As the final moments of the match unfolded, a hush fell over the stadium, enveloping the audience in a palpable silence. The spectators, on the edge of their seats, held their breath in anticipation of the outcome. The air was thick with tension, as the fate of the battle hung in the balance. The silence in the stadium was deafening, broken only by the faint echoes of our heavy breathing and the distant hum of the virtual arena. Time seemed to stand still as the result of the match was determined in favor of the underdog. "What an incredible battle! It is my pleasure to announce that the winners of this match are none other than team Paradigm!" the caster exclaimed, lifting the silence spell that had enveloped the entire stadium. A cacophony of cheers and disappointed boos reverberated throughout the arena in response to the announcement. It''s understandable that the crowd would have mixed reactions to the stunt the young contestant pulled. Insulting Murasame in order to provoke her sister took a great deal of courage and audacity. It takes a lot of guts to do that, and he has my respect. Although I¡¯m sure the crowd has another say in his act. Still, that last moment was¡­ intriguing to say the least. I hope they show what actually happened in the last part so the others know what the boy did to survive. As if on cue, a slow-motion replay of the deciding last play was featured on the large screen. "Ladies and gentlemen, take a look at this incredible moment! It appears that Renz utilized a defensive weapon skill just before receiving the strikes!" The screen zooms in, providing a clear view as Murasame''s sister swiftly delivers two consecutive slashes to her opponent. While not as impressive as her sister''s ability to unleash four slashes, it is still a commendable feat as it was too fast for me to even see clearly. During this crucial moment, the boy''s body briefly emanates a radiant glow, indicating the activation of a defensive weapon skill buff known as the Iron Body skill. This particular skill is rarely seen in the CoA community due to its short duration of only 5 seconds and its ability to provide a 20% damage reduction during that time. Additionally, it has a lengthy cooldown period, making it less favorable for continuous skirmishes. However, its instant activation without the need to utter the skill''s name is its notable advantage. To calculate that he could withstand two slashes from Murasame''s sister demonstrates the remarkable strategic capabilities of this team. It is no wonder that Seer holds such caution towards this girl. A smile spreads across my face, fueled by the growing desire to meet her in person now more than ever. Vol.2 Chapter 30 The location was teeming with activity, profoundly vibrating with the cheers and boos of countless onlookers from the previous upset match. Despite the sizeable crowd, the place never felt overcrowded or restrictive because of the considerate design and organization of the venue. Overhead, high ceilings contributed to a sense of openness. The venue was well-illuminated by tasteful lights and well-ventilated, ensuring comfort for the large gathering. It was a harmonious fusion of contemporary architecture and state-of-the-art technology, purpose-built to offer a captivating e-sports experience. At the heart of the venue, a grand stage was positioned, fully equipped with top-tier VR gaming gear and expansive screens for audience members to follow the matches. The stage was encircled by rows of cozy seats, offering plenty of room for spectators to relax and take pleasure in the games. Encircling the venue, a variety of stalls and outlets were established, providing an array of gaming merchandise and refreshments. Despite the crowd, navigating the venue was straightforward, with broad walkways and clear signs directing the pedestrian flow. My team and I are currently in the special room prepared just for the participants of the tournament. I have somewhat mixed feelings about the outcome of the match, but a win is a win¡­ I guess. Liz instantly broke the silence and solemnity from the room with her usual cheerful demeanor. ¡°He won! Renz actually won against Murasame¡¯s sister!¡± she exclaimed exuberantly. ¡°¡­He did good. I doubt I would have survived that last attack if it were me,¡± Chu expressed candidly. I agree, he played that match pretty well. But there is just one teensy bitsy tiny problem. ¡°He did not have to insult her sister though¡­¡± I voiced out my apprehension from his last match. While I had instructed him to provoke her into using her weapon skill if he found himself in a tight spot, I never anticipated that he would go that far! I fear our team would have death threats from the results of his actions considering the fanbase of Murasame! "W-well, you know Renz, he can be impulsively like that..." Liz attempted to defend her teammate''s actions, albeit with decreasing confidence. "What a thrilling battle it was! I don¡¯t think anyone would have expected this result! Now, let''s head over to the winner''s interview, where our very own Jessica will be speaking with our victorious spearman, who emerged triumphant from this intense battle. Take it away, Jessica!" the caster''s enthusiastic announcement drew us out of our discussion. A winner''s interview, huh? That seems fair as interviewing the defeated would be uncomfortable and rather tactless. Defaulting to interviewing only the victor seems like a more suitable approach. I also think Hana needs some time alone after that match. I feel bad for her and can¡¯t hope to fathom what she is feeling right now. However, that is the inherent nature of competition. Only one individual or team can ultimately claim victory in a tournament, which means most participants will inevitably face defeat. With the interview about to begin, Renz made his appearance on the screen, joined by a middle-aged woman who stood beside him holding a microphone. It was evident that she would be conducting the interview and asking questions about the recent match. The crowd reacted with a mix of emotions to Renz''s presence on screen. However, the prevailing mood among the audience was one of excitement, fueled by the intense nature of the first match and its unexpected outcome. ¡°Thank you, Riot! I am here with the victor of the match, Renz from team Paradigm!¡± a cacophony of sounds resounded at the announcement. Even here in the isolated reserved for a participating team, I could feel the intensity of jeers mixed with boos. ¡°Congratulations on your well-deserved victory, Mr. Clarence! How are you feeling right now?" the interviewer expertly inquired. "Thank you, Jessica! I''m feeling emotional after winning a hard fight right now. It was a tough battle, but I''m overjoyed to come out on top. All the hard work and training for the past few days have really paid off!" Renz basked in the limelight, he is clearly in his element right now with how proud he looks. "You demonstrated exceptional technique and control throughout the fight. What do you credit your success to?" the interviewer asked curiously. ¡°It was a combination of meticulous training and strategies only possible due to my capable teammate helping me analyze our opponent''s plays. So, I probably should be thanking her for helping me in the past few days. Still, it is only possible because of my hard work in preparing for this fight!¡± he exclaimed, eager to bast in the glory of his win. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It was a well-deserved gloat though so I¡¯ll give him that. Clarence exceeded my expectations and executed flawlessly, showcasing an exceptional performance. "It truly paid off, and your victory was well-deserved. Looking forward, how do you and your team plan to carry this momentum into the next stages of the tournament?" ¡°I, uhm¡­ haven¡¯t really thought about it that far,¡± Clarence answered truthfully, well he is not one for planning anyways. ¡°Fair enough. Not wanting to divulge important information is a benchmark of good team cohesion,¡± the interviewer gave Clarence a meaningful wink, completely misunderstanding Clarence¡¯s reluctance to answer the interviewer¡¯s question. ¡°O-of course! Can¡¯t let our opponents know what we are thinking after all,¡± Clarence for his part played along to save face. ¡°Lastly, is there anyone you want to say to all the people watching, especially to those who did not expect such a huge upset against the favored to win the one-on-one tournament?¡± ¡°Of course I do! To all the haters out there, I don''t care if you lose all your money betting against us you fuckers! Just know that if you know what''s good for you guys, bet on us ''cause we will be the champions of this tournament!¡± Clarence exclaimed, eliciting an uproar from the audience. I instinctively facepalmed after hearing his bold declarations Don¡¯t make it worse than it already is! Let''s avoid drawing unwanted attention to our team, please! It would be preferable to maintain anonymity. What if the other participants become cautious of us and start preparing specifically to counter our strategies? "Hahaha, what a statement to make! Best of luck in the rest of the tournament. Now back to the panel!" The interview concludes as the screen seamlessly transitions back to the panel members who are eager to talk about the match, therefore wrapping up the winner''s interview. ----------------------- ¡°Are you stupid? Why would you taunt the all audience and intentionally put a target on our backs!?" I exclaimed, annoyed at his actions. ¡°Urk! T-that was¡­ I was just caught up in the moment¡­¡± Clarence, on his part, appears to be expressing regret, which causes me to withhold the sermon I had initially intended to deliver. "Don''t be too hard on him, Kat. Ren performed admirably, except perhaps in the interview..." Liz made a very good point. ¡°¡­Good job out there. You finally pulled your own weight for once,¡± Chu followed up, praising his teammate in his usual edge-lord style. "Huh?! What do you mean ''for once''?" Clarence retorted, defending himself. I let out a sigh. "There''s no point in dwelling on what has already happened. Let''s redirect our focus to the upcoming matches instead," I murmured, acknowledging the need to move forward and focus on the future. ¡°Speaking of, what will we do with our next opponent?¡± Liz queried while the two boys were busy with their own banter. I pondered a bit on how to answer Liz¡¯s query. ¡°It will all depend on who would win the next match.¡± As if on cue, the panel¡¯s voice came back from the commercial break, prompting us to look at the screen in our room. "Wow, that first match was absolutely incredible! The energy in the stadium is simply electric. With such a thrilling start, I can''t help but eagerly anticipate the remaining matches. And let me tell you, we have an absolutely amazing lineup ahead of us. Are you all ready for the next battle, ladies and gentlemen?" The audience erupts into cheers and applause at his words. "That''s what I like to hear! We''ve seen an intense previous match, and there''s no doubt that the next match will be just as intense, if not more!" The anticipation builds as the crowd waits in anticipation. These guys sure know how to excite the crowd. "Our next match is a clash of two teams that are at odds! A showdown that promises to leave us all on the edge of our seats! The next match will be Round Table vs Unfiltered!¡± ¡°And it looks like we already got news of their representatives. It seems that it will be a fight between Draven and Arthur, both of their respective team captains!¡± The screens showcase images of the upcoming participants, accompanied by their names and the weapons they have chosen. Judging from the statistics they have accumulated during the qualifier matches, it appears that Draven has achieved more kills and outperformed Arthur in terms of overall DPS. However, I believe these discrepancies in performance can be attributed to the composition of their respective teams. It is possible that Arthur''s team has a more balanced distribution of roles and can rely on multiple members to contribute to the damage output, therefore his stats are lower compared to his opponent. On the other hand, Draven may have intentionally structured his team in a way that positions him as the primary damage dealer, with the intention of securing the title of MVP in the matches just to stroke his own ego. This is merely a possibility based on my analysis of his personality and tactics so far. As the participants prepare for the upcoming match, the panelists engage in a discussion and provide an analysis of the predictions for the match. While the panel consists of three individuals, it is evident that Vlad takes the spotlight with his extensive knowledge and expertise, as always. I''ve heard that Vlad retired from the professional scene after only a year but his immense in-game knowledge has made him a sought-after guest on panel discussions for tournaments like this. I¡¯m sure he already noticed Clarence¡¯s modified technique is based on his own but he ought not to point it out anyway since his techniques had many varieties when it became the meta a while back. ¡°And now folks, please give a warm welcome to Arthur from the Round Table team and Draven from the Unfiltered team!" the lead panelist exclaimed. The crowd erupts into cheers and applause, an outpouring of excitement for the upcoming match. ¡°Arthur, a force to be reckoned with, joins us today as the backbone of the Round Table team. Known for his strategic brilliance and lightning-fast reflexes, he has proved time and again why he''s considered one of the best in his age bracket. Get ready for a display of skill like no other!" The audience went wild as Arthur went on his side of the VR pod, evident in how much influence he had with the CoA community. He certainly has the charisma of a leader, that¡¯s for sure. "On the opposing side, we have Draven, the powerhouse leader of the Unfiltered team. His raw aggression and unmatched mechanical prowess have earned him a spot among the elite. With strong and precise attacks, he''s ready to take on any challenge that comes his way!" As Draven walked with an air of confidence towards his assigned VR pod, the reception from the crowd was a mixture of disapproving boos and jeers, occasionally punctuated by sporadic cheers. It was apparent that Draven''s presence did not resonate well with the audience, reflecting their distinctive dislike towards him. No surprise there, given his uncouth personality, which I experienced first-hand. ¡°Now that both participants have settled in, Let¡¯s now head towards the casters DJ Riot and ParaTrooper for the match commentaries!¡± ¡°Thank you Raze, here we are again guys, your favorite caster duo here to give you insights on the match! Who do you think will win, ParaTrooper?¡± ¡°I guess I¡¯m leaning on Arthur winning this match because of his advantage in his weapon skill, besides that, I think they are pretty talented players skill-wise,¡± the caster voiced out his unbiased thoughts. ¡°That¡¯s is a good point but don¡¯t count out Draven as his talk is backed up by his skills- hold that thought as I just received news that the game is about to begin! Give it up folks for the second round of the 1v1 tournament, Team Round Table vs Unfiltered!¡± Vol.2 Chapter 31 As the casters announced the start of the match, the screen immediately switched to the virtual reality arena designed to replicate the Roman Colosseum. The VR technology brilliantly recreates the grandeur and the imposing presence of this iconic structure, making the experience incredibly immersive and realistic. The arena, much like the original Colosseum, is a vast, oval-shaped sandpit, providing a flexible battleground for the competitors. The sand, despite being a digital creation, appears incredibly lifelike, with each grain seeming to glisten under the virtual sunlight. Towering around the arena are the tiers of seating, rising high and mirroring the grandeur of the Roman amphitheater where rows and rows of the crowd are cheering for the participants, which completely replicates the sound of the real-world stadium¡¯s noise. A truly mind-blowing use of advanced technology. The atmosphere in the VR Colosseum is electric, with the cheers, jeers, and roars of the virtual crowd echoing off the digital stone walls. The sound design is so realistic, so much so that it''s easy to forget that I am only watching a virtual world. At both ends of the arena, the grand entrance is brilliantly recreated, allowing competitors to make a dramatic entrance into the battleground, just like the gladiators of old. The cheers redoubled when both participants stepped into the arena coming from both sides of the grand entrance. Arthur HP: 100% Draven HP: 100% ¡°Who do you think would win?¡± Liz, who was seated next to me, asked with interest. "Skill-wise, both players are probably on an even match, but Arthur might have a minor edge," I responded succinctly. "Why is that?" "It''s largely due to their choice of weapons. Arthur wields a sword, which tends to be quicker and generally performs better in one-on-one combat. As opposed to Draven''s choice of a great sword which deals a greater amount of damage and is beneficial for crowd control, but it comes with the trade-off of slower attack speed," I explained as I helpfully could. ¡°I see¡­ I hope Arthur wins.¡± I share her hopes as well. My interaction with Draven was far from pleasant, making it challenging for me to support him. ¡°Yeah, I hope that guy gets the beating of his life!¡± Clarence shared both of our sentiments, obviously due to his previous run-in with the guy. 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Match Start! The in-game announcement made the call, signaling the start of the battle. However, both participants did not immediately charge at each other. ¡°Oh, what is this?! It seems both participants are eying each other, looking for a weakness or gap to target,¡± the caster voiced out his thoughts to the crowd. Hmm, it doesn¡¯t seem like it though, both of them probably just want to say something to each other. As if on cue, Draven started a conversation. ¡°How about we fight with the ¡®honor and fairness¡¯ you guys love to preach about? No weapon skills, and let us settle this with our own skill instead,¡± Draven made an absurd suggestion. I understand the logic behind Draven¡¯s actions. Arthur¡¯s weapon skill, especially when wielded by him, becomes extraordinarily lethal. But surely Arthur is aware of Draven''s intent and will not let his advantage in terms of weapon skill slip away... will he? "Fine by me, I accept your challenge," Arthur responded confidently, showing his trust in his own skills. I sighed. I guess not. ¡°Oh, looks like we have a gentleman¡¯s agreement over here!¡± the caster hollered, hyping up the crowd even more. ¡°Hehe, I guess you¡¯re not a coward after all. To tell you the truth, I was hoping to fight your teammate to get back at her, but I guess beating you to a pulp is also fine,¡± Draven made a condescending sneer which elicited an even louder reaction from the crowd. I tuned out all the extraneous noise, limiting my focus to the actions of the two players in the match and to my internal analysis. This included filtering out the commentary of the match casters. While their insights may be of value to new or average players, they can become a distraction when I''m attempting to scrutinize the movements and gameplay of my prospective opponents. The victor of the match playing out between these two will be our team''s next adversary. Therefore, I must gather as much information and insight as possible about their movement patterns to help our team win our next match. "I understand. I must admit that my teammate displayed an excessive use of force, and for that, I apologize. I had hoped that both of you could have found a way to resolve the situation peacefully through communication. Nevertheless, I want to make it clear that I do not appreciate you targeting one of my teammates and I believe that your unrestrained actions have brought this upon yourself," Arthur replied in response. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Hmph! I would not have paid attention to that bitch if she didn''t meddle with the affairs of another.¡± ¡°I think my teammate''s actions were justified. Intervening to prevent your erratic behavior, particularly when influenced by alcohol, was the appropriate course of action. However, I hoped she would have just notified the staff first before taking drastic measures to resolve the matter peacefully,¡± Arthur continued with his respectful attitude, making his opponent even more peeved. ¡°Again with your hypocritical attitude! Goody two shoes like you guys trying to ¡®help others¡¯ really piss me off!¡± Growing increasingly agitated, Draven finally launched an attack. He swiftly charged towards Arthur, wielding his massive great sword with the skill and proficiency of an experienced heavy weapon user. Arthur, in an attempt to defend himself, tried to block the incoming strike. However, the sheer force behind Draven''s blow caught him off guard, shattering his stance and leaving him vulnerable. Seizing the opportunity, Draven skillfully utilized the momentum from his swing to launch another attack, effectively landing a hit on his opponent and sending Arthur flying by the sheer impact alone. ¡°Guh!¡± Arthur let out a cry. Arthur HP: 68% Ooof! He took a strong blow there. A great sword¡¯s damage is really nothing to scoff at, huh? Draven also seems like a strength-oriented build with how far Arthur flew with just a single attack. ¡°Hypocrite, you say? You might think of us that way, but I disagree. I truly believe that it is our responsibility to help others and make the world a better place.¡± "Make that world a better place?" Draven scoffed at Arthur¡¯s words. "Do you even hear how ridiculous you sound!? Our society is already fucked up. We live in an era where greed is commonplace, the rich take advantage of the poor to get richer, and the norm is to use each other for their own benefit! Why would anyone care about making the world a ¡®better place¡¯ if society doesn''t even care about anyone but their own selfish interests?! How on earth can you possibly even make a world this fucked up a ¡®better place¡¯?!¡± Using his anger as fuel, Draven rushed towards his opponent and unleashed a powerful overhead strike. Arthur managed to evade the direct impact. However, probably because of the distraction caused by Draven¡¯s words, the force of the swing resulted in a glancing blow, grazing Arthur''s side. The sound of the sword grazing against Arthur''s armor echoed through the arena with a distinct scraping noise, capturing the attention of spectators. Ting* ¡°Urk!¡± Arthur HP: 41% Seeking some breathing room, Arthur distanced himself from Draven, creating a slight gap between them. Surprisingly, Draven chose not to capitalize on his advantage, seemingly opting to prolong the match and possibly revel in his dominance. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is that all you got? How pathetic,¡± Draven taunted. While his personality is indeed uncivilized, I must admit he has the skills to back it up. Arthur ignored the taunt, focusing on Draven¡¯s earlier words. ¡°...I disagree with your shortsighted views. You blame everything else but yourself without even acknowledging your own shortcomings. Even though you don''t have the power to change the world, you have control over yourself and your own actions. And if enough people change themselves for the better and help each other, then the world will inevitably change for the better too... that is what I truly think.¡± Draven paused as if caught off guard by the rebuttal. ¡°Helping each other? Do you think everyone has the luxury of doing so?! Sure, some help others, but that is just because they have the means to do so! A person dying of hunger will never give their food away to someone just for the heck of it! Everyone prioritizes their selves first and foremost! You''re an entitled piece of shit to think everyone has the means to help others like you have!?¡± I see. So that is his perspective in life. After the incident at the dining hall, I took the initiative to delve into his background. It appears that Draven grew up as an orphan due to the loss of his parents. It is possible that his upbringing and the environment he was raised in have shaped his beliefs and led him to make such statements. Even if his skewed views do not necessarily apply to all walks of life. Draven rushed towards Arthur again with an overhead swing but was countered by Arthur with a perfectly timed block, negating the strength of the blow with pure tenacity and willpower. The clash of their weapons sent a resounding echo reverberating throughout the virtual arena, causing a temporary pause in their intense battle. Both participants exerted their strength, pushing against each other with their swords in an attempt to gain the upper hand. It was during this momentary lull that Arthur seized the opportunity to convey his thoughts. ¡°That is where you¡¯re wrong!¡± Arthur exclaimed. ¡°There are parents who dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their children. Children who give their all to help their parents. Lovers who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their partners. Close friends who offer unwavering support in times of desperate need, even if it means having little left for themselves. Some people are still willing to give their all for the sake of those they hold dear. The act of helping someone and devoting oneself to their well-being for me, brings the greatest joy anyone could ever experience. And, knowing that the person you have assisted will also spread kindness and positivity to others makes all your efforts and actions truly feel worthwhile!¡± With fierce determination, Arthur pressed against Draven''s sword, forcing him off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Arthur swiftly delivered two precise slashes that landed with absolute accuracy. ¡°Ack! Bastard!¡± Draven exclaimed while distancing himself from his opponent. Draven HP: 56% ¡­Is it just me, or does the one winning the debate also seem like the one doing damage to their opponent¡¯s HP? It''s as if they have some sort of psychological boost or advantage after delivering their arguments or something. Still, it seems they are both DPS-oriented builds since both lack survivability evidenced by their low HP. I can make a strategy suited for both of them with this info. ¡°That''s a load of bullshit! Do you know why I became famous as a streamer? It''s because people love negativity! That''s the true nature of people! People hate each other in their core! Even though people say they hate what I do, they still watch my streams nevertheless because they cannot change their nature! People love chaos and negativity! They want to see others get hurt or humiliated, aside from themselves! A true mark of human selfishness!¡± Draven, overwhelmed by anger, directed his emotions towards his opponent, launching a charged attack with all his emotions fueling his aggression. As Draven swung his massive great sword, Arthur anticipated the trajectory of the swing, using his agility to dodge and weave past the powerful strike. He waited for the perfect moment, a split-second opening, and with a swift movement, he lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air, hitting Draven in his chest. Draven HP: 38% ¡°You''re just one side of the spectrum! Not everyone is like you! There are others who live for the sake of helping people and are rewarded for their selfless efforts. Even if their actions may not bring them immediate personal gain, they find fulfillment in what they do, which holds greater value than any materialistic desires could ever hope to achieve!¡± Arthur proclaimed while distancing himself from his opponent before continuing. ¡°Let me ask you this. Do you find satisfaction in deliberately tarnishing your reputation through your actions? Is it your desire to be remembered as a troublesome individual? Is this truly the path you wish to follow with your life?¡± "Shut up, you piece of shit! You just irritate me to no end! You''re preaching to the wrong audience! I don''t give a damn about what you or anyone else thinks of me! I do whatever the hell I want because I''m not weak like you, desperate to impress others with false kindness!" Draven retorted in anger. "Is that really true, though? From where I stand, it seems like you''re simply running away! It''s human nature to seek validation from others. I firmly believe that you''re closing yourself off and refusing to open your heart to others out of fear of getting hurt. In doing so, you''re adopting the role of an unfeeling villain that you portray yourself to be," Arthur countered. ¡°I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP!¡± Fueled by his anger, Draven again launched an aggressive attack on his opponent. It appears that Arthur struck a nerve with his words, evoking a strong reaction from Draven. Lacking any tactical sense, Draven''s attack was easily blocked by Arthur, resulting in their swords colliding once again. This created a momentary pause in the battle as both fighters sought to overpower each other. "You called me weak earlier, but aren''t you the weaker one here?" Arthur suddenly questioned just as their swords clashed. Draven reacted with disbelief, "What bullshit are you spouting now?!" ¡°You said it yourself: the world is full of negative things, but that... there is no reason to give up on changing it! Knowing that something is not right but still gathering the courage to change it for the better takes much more strength and bravery than just accepting and ignoring the injustice! You''re just making excuses for yourself, justifying your behavior towards others because you lack the resolve to do better! You''re the weaker one between us two!¡± With that statement, Arthur distanced himself slightly, preparing for a precise stab towards his opponent. Distracted by Arthur¡¯s use of the forbidden moral talk technique, Draven failed to dodge the attack aimed at his head. Kachack* Draven Hp: 0% ¡°Look, I''m here for you if you ever need someone to talk to with differing views. Being stuck in one single perspective in life, an echo chamber of your own values, cannot be good for anyone. And perhaps, one day, we could find common ground and even become good friends¡­ if you are open to it." What the heck!? He''s acting like some kind of Shounen anime protagonist trying to befriend the antagonist he just defeated! Without another word, Draven dissipated into shimmering blue motes of light, signifying the conclusion of the battle. Vol.2 Chapter 32 Ariadne¡¯s PoV ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Seer asked worriedly. ¡°Yes, forgive me if it affects any plans you had,¡± I replied, expressing my concern. Seer looked at me with his usual analyzing gaze. ¡°¡­It''s fine. I think it''s probably for the better. Everyone would have expected Blitz to be our representative and would have prepared for it. They won¡¯t expect it to be you, adding to our advantage. Winning this 1v1 tournament also gives us a huge advantage in choosing our opponent for the main tournament,¡± Seer paused for a second before continuing. ¡°¡­And I¡¯m sure you have your reasons.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, albeit a selfish one,¡± I confessed, acknowledging my decision was driven, at least in part, by self-interest. Seer gave me a shocked look. ¡°That¡¯s rare. If that¡¯s the case¡­ then it must be important to you.¡± I nodded. ¡°It is.¡± She is watching right now. I want to show her how strong I¡¯ve become and prove that her time spent teaching me wasn¡¯t for naught. ¡°Then, good luck,¡± Seer cheered me on. I nodded in gratitude and proceeded to inform the staff that I would be assuming the role of our team''s representative in the upcoming fight. -------------------------- Tactical¡¯s PoV "That was indeed an exhilarating match! It was truly eye-opening to witness the clash of contrasting personalities and their steadfast beliefs on the line. But please hold on to your seats as we have yet another highly anticipated battle coming up next!" the speaker hyped up the crowd. Exhilarating and eye-opening, huh? Kids these days sure are vocal with their thoughts. They may tend to think that their beliefs are inflexible and unwavering. However, as they mature and accumulate life experiences, their perspectives will likely undergo transformations, becoming more encompassing and adaptable to their lifestyles. Even someone like me, at my current stage of life, constantly engages in a process of learning and reevaluating my opinions on a wide range of subjects. But I guess that is just how life is, a never-ending series of lessons to help us grow as a person. I sighed, I¡¯m getting sentimental now¡­ and did I really just admit to myself of being old? Being in my late 20¡¯s is still young¡­ right? "And now, ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for the moment we''ve all been waiting for," booms the lead panel''s voice, filling the e-sports stadium with a palpable sense of anticipation. "Here in the world of CoA, rivalries run deeper than just friendly competition. And nothing exemplifies that more than the upcoming clash between two of the fiercest guilds in the realm!" The crowd roars with excitement, the atmosphere saturated with electricity. "Rumors have swirled, challenges have been thrown, and now it''s time to put their skills to the test. This isn''t just any fight ¡ª this showdown could change the power dynamics within the game!" An image of the guilds lights up the massive screens overhead, the anticipation reaching a fever pitch as the crowd roared even louder. They sure like to make things dramatic. "Let''s start with the first team, a guild all of you know: The Paragons, one of the most famous guilds whose popularity rose on top of their founders winning the very first AC tournament!¡± Observing the enthusiastic roar of the crowd for our guild''s banners, and the glow sticks waving in support of their favorites, I can''t help but feel a sense of pride. It''s apparent that our guild has maintained its fame over the years, which is quite impressive. Although I must admit, I haven''t contributed much in that regard since I handed over key responsibilities to Celeste ever since I turned pro. "That''s an enthusiastic cheer for the crowd favorites for sure! However, don''t underestimate their challengers just yet. Please welcome the second team: The Shadow Vanguard. Famous for their formidable defense and relentless assault strategy, their popularity is nearly on the same level as the Paragons. That is a significant achievement in itself!" Another wave of cheers resounds as the Shadow Vanguard fans vocalize their support. I almost miss the times I was one of the participating teams in a private room instead of being one of the audience given how noisy the crowd is. ¡°It¡¯s just in, we have confirmation of the participants. It will be Ariadne vs Watcher! What do you think of this matchup, Mr. Bogdan?¡± ¡°Hmm, the Shadow Vanguard¡¯s representative is to be expected since their ace, Sentinel, is a pure defensive stalling specialist. If they send him, he has little chance to win against a proper DPS in a 1v1 without a support DPS on his own. What intrigues me is the choice of the representative from the Paragons. I initially thought that Blitz would be their chosen fighter given how good he is in 1v1. But, it appears that the Paragons have the advantage in this matchup. The Shadow Vanguard''s expectation of Blitz as the representative led them to send Watcher, a ranged specialist, to engage in a battle of attrition and gradually chip away at Blitz''s health in a ranged duel. Ariadne being the paragon¡¯s representative sure puts a large dent in their plans.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Astute as always. Along with her innate dodging skills she had honed through her training with her mentor, Ariadne is also quick enough to catch up to Watcher, making it near impossible for a ranged DPS to win against her. Unless there is a large discrepancy in skills of course. ¡°Do you think Ariadne would win the fight?¡± the other panelist asked Bogdan. ¡°I hate to be biased, but I would be lying if I said no. I wouldn¡¯t bet against Yuusha¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦, after all.¡± he gave a sentimental wan, smile after that statement. ¡°I completely agree. For the newer players watching this, what Mr. Bogdan referred to as a "prot¨¦g¨¦," he was actually referring to the CoA Mentor system. This system offers numerous benefits to players who team up with a prot¨¦g¨¦ and guide them through the intricacies of CoA, which is known for its challenging gameplay. Mentors typically follow a customary practice of imparting their knowledge and skills to their prot¨¦g¨¦, establishing a special bond between the two players. And for those of you who don¡¯t know, Ariadne¡¯s mentor was the MVP of the first AC cup, Yuusha!¡± The crowd became elated, making even more noise at the mention of Yuusha. That girl is as popular as always, even after all these years of inactivity. Call me biased, but our run in the 1st AC tournament was legendary if I do say so myself. ¡°Speaking of Yuusha, you have fought against her in the first AC right? Could you tell us more about it?¡± Bogdan paused for a second, reminiscing before answering the question. ¡°That girl is impossible to beat back then. I¡¯m pretty sure she is the strongest opponent I¡¯ve fought in my entire time playing CoA. That is why I was quite disheartened when I heard the news that she stopped playing. I wanted to see her win a couple more AC tournaments.¡± So, we both share the same sentiment, huh? I also do sometimes wonder what that girl is up to now. I hope she is doing alright, wherever she may be. ¡°I¡¯m sure our fans are eager to see how her prot¨¦g¨¦ would fare. Will this be the start of a new legend? And now here are our favorite casters for the match commentary!¡± As the screen transitioned to the casters, signaling the imminent start of the battle, excitement filled the air. "That''s a great question, and I''m certain our viewers are eager to find out if that''s the case, right, folks?!" Riot exclaimed, fueling the anticipation for the forthcoming clash. ¡°YEAAHHH!¡± the crowd responded with a resounding cheer, brimming with excitement for the battle that awaited between these two formidable powerhouses. ¡°What do you think of the matchup ParaTrooper?¡± Riot queried his partner. ¡°I do think the panel made some valid points, but let¡¯s not forget that Watcher is still an incredibly skilled archer. There are even rumors that he never misses against his opponents. The game would be decided if Ariadne can dodge while closing the gap between her opponent, which is admittedly a hard feat to do,¡± ParaTrooper aired his thoughts. ¡°Well, you¡¯re certainly right about that. It seems the participants are ready, let¡¯s see what will happen in this match, Paragons vs Shadow Vanguard!¡± The view then switched towards the match, where a familiar red-haired girl stood on the opposite side of her opponent with a determined look. Ariadne HP: 100% Watcher HP: 100% The starting distance is quite far, but I think she can manage to close the distance between them eventually, no matter how skilled her opponent is at poking tactics. She is her prot¨¦g¨¦, after all. 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Match Start! As the battle begins, two things happen at once. Ariadne quickly rushed towards her opponent while Watcher, relying on the accuracy and range of his bow, unleashed a flurry of arrows towards Ariadne. That was some fast shooting, I can see how he would be effective in a one-on-one by spamming fast arrows against his opponents, making them unable to move easily. For her part, Ariadne executed a series of agile maneuvers. She gracefully sidestepped, ducked, and weaved, seamlessly evading the incoming arrows. Her body moved with fluidity and precision, allowing her to close the gap bit by bit. ¡°What a move! Ariadne''s lightning-fast reflexes kick in as she gracefully dodges each arrow with incredible precision! Her calculated movements allowed her to evade the arrows flawlessly!¡± the caster hollered as if it was the best move, he had ever seen, effectively hyping up the crowd. That was some fluid dodges, but nothing to write home about. I guess casters just hype everything they see nowadays. Nevertheless, what truly stands out is the precise execution of her dodges, efficiently minimizing any extraneous movements. This enables her to effortlessly close the distance and pursue her opponent. The only person I know who does that kind of dodge is Yuusha, and it seems that her prot¨¦g¨¦ demonstrates it too. ¡°Tsk! Multi-Shot!¡± Watcher exclaimed. Seeing no way to distance himself from his opponent¡¯s skillful dodges, Watcher showcased his weapon skill, unleashing a barrage of five arrows in a single shot, aiming to overwhelm Ariadne with sheer firepower and slow down her movements. The arrows soar through the air, a deadly volley hurtling toward Ariadne. However, in a display of insane athleticism and agility, Ariadne leaps into the air, twisting her body mid-flight with remarkable precision finding the gap between all five arrows in an attempt to dodge the weapon skill without slowing down the slightest. As the arrows close in on her, Ariadne''s body twists, her movements seemingly defying gravity as she is mid-air. The crowd watches in awe evident by their sudden silence as she dodges the arrows with incredible finesse. ¡°Holy shit! I apologize for the language, but that was an absolutely fucking incredible play!" exclaimed the caster, bursting with genuine excitement. Hoh? I must admit, that was an incredible move. She effortlessly evaded all the arrows without even the slightest pause in her pursuit of her opponent. The decision-making thought process, and trust in her own ability to even attempt that kind of maneuver in a high-stakes match such as this is admirable as it can backfire badly if she misplayed. It''s clear that she has reached a whole new level compared to what I remember from her past performances. One can only imagine the amount of dedication and hard work she must have put into her practice to achieve such a drastic improvement. The audience witnessing the play erupts in cheers and applause, recognizing the sheer skill and athleticism required to dodge all five arrows flawlessly as she did. ¡°What the fuck?! Did you see that move?!¡± ¡°I know right how skilled can you be to dodge that well!?¡± ¡°So that is Yuusha¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦¡­¡± ¡°I think I became a fan!¡± ¡°I want to dodge like her!¡± The comments from the audience range from disbelief to awe. To be fair, it was a move you would only expect from a pro, so I guess the hype is warranted. Seizing the perfect opportunity with her outplay, Ariadne closed in on Watcher, her daggers poised for a critical strike. With a swift and precise movement, she struck her opponent, landing a fatal blow that dealt a ton of damage. Kachack* The resounding sound of the daggers cutting through the air and piercing their target reverberated throughout the arena, marking the beginning of a relentless onslaught. An archer who cannot keep their range from their opponent always faces a grim fate. ¡°Urk!¡± Watcher HP: 68% Not letting her opponent regain some distance even for a moment, it didn¡¯t take long before Ariadne fully depleted her opponent¡¯s HP with her constant aggressive attacks. Watcher HP: 0% As Watcher turned into blue motes of light, the caster finally signaled the end of the one-sided match. ¡°A-and there you have it, folks! The winner of the battle is Ariadne from team Paragons!¡± That was quick. I already anticipated this outcome, but I didn¡¯t expect her to win the match this fast and without even taking a single point of damage by flawlessly dodging all her opponent¡¯s arrows. On top of it all, she did not need to use her weapon skill at all, which leads me to suspect that she is hiding something. It was a result of both a disadvantageous matchup and a significant difference in skill level. The combination of these factors ultimately led to the conclusion of the match in her overwhelming favor. I¡¯m kind of regretting I turned down Seer¡¯s suggestion to recruit them with that kind of performance. She kind of reminds me of her, with how determined and driven she looks coming into this tournament. It seems like your prot¨¦g¨¦ does resemble you a lot, Yuusha. Vol.2 Chapter 33 – Gilligan From the seclusion of the special room for players, the crowd noise is a constant, distant hum. It''s a muffled symphony of cheers, gasps, and applause, punctuated by occasional peaks of excitement that reverberate through the walls. Though the sounds are muted, the energy and anticipation are palpable. Every cheer, gasp, and roar of approval or disapproval tells a story about the battle unfolding in the arena. The noise is a constant reminder of the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of spectators watching every move, reacting to every strike, and living every moment of the battle. ¡°A-and there you have it, folks! The winner of the battle is Ariadne from team Paragons!¡± I didn¡¯t expect their representative to be their captain, and I certainly didn''t anticipate the match being so one-sided. It''s clear that this girl has made significant improvements from my current data gathered on her. It seems she has undergone rigorous training, presumably hidden from the public eye, to achieve such a remarkable level of skill in such a short time. ¡°Hearing how the commentators praise her too much, that girl looks strong. I want to fight her¡­¡± Lua said longingly. ¡°Patience, you''ll get your turn in the main tourney. All we need is a single win here to move to the upper bracket. Therefore, let me take care of this.¡± "But I haven''t even fought anyone strong ever since the qualifiers! I''ll throw a tantrum here if you don''t let me fight," she whined. I sighed... What are you, a kid? "Please wait a bit longer. You can go all out in the main tournament. I assure you,¡± I replied placatingly. ¡°You also said that in the qualifiers! Now we¡¯re in the tournament, so you have to let me play,¡± she countered. It seems that she is determined and not easily swayed this time. I can understand her perspective since I have intentionally kept her skills hidden from public knowledge since the beginning of the tournament. Now, the pressing matter is how to approach and address this situation. Convincing Lua when she has set her mind on something is a challenging task, and I am uncertain about handling it alone without any assistance. "Um, Miss Lua, I believe it would be best for Sir Gilligan to handle this," a soft, childlike voice chimed in from one of my teammates. I breathed a sigh of relief as Haeun Lee came to my support. She is always excessively formal, but that is to be expected, considering the importance Koreans place on formality. She also deeply respects strength, and I''m certain she holds Lua in even higher regard than me, her own captain, since Lua is the strongest player on our team. ¡°I agree. It won''t be fun if you go there. The battles would be too one-sided, and the champion would already be decided. Let Gil handle this so it would be more interesting that way!¡± Antonio, our last team member, said cheerfully. Again, with his happy-go-lucky attitude. But I suppose it helps if he is backing me up on this. Sensing she was outnumbered, Lua gave us a pout. ¡°Alright, fine. I¡¯ll agree¡­ but on one condition.¡± I looked at her exasperatedly despite knowing she could not see my current facial expression. ¡°What is it this time?¡± I queried, having a bit of a clue what would happen next. ¡°I¡¯ll concede if Haeun gives me a hug~,¡± she said with a playful smile. ¡°W-wha Miss Lua! B-but t-that t-that''s improper," Haeun exclaimed as her mind went overdrive. I could clearly see the metaphorical steam coming right out of her head. ¡°I told you for the hundredth time, drop the ¡®Miss.¡¯ Just call me Lua. Now, now, don¡¯t keep me waiting~,¡± she said while opening her arms, gesturing for a hug. ¡°Wha-eomeo!¡± Haeun exclaimed something in an unintelligible mix of Korean and English, likely a reflection of her shyness and distress. Feeling sympathetic towards her, I stepped in to lend a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t tease her too much, Lua,¡± I admonished my mischievous teammate. ¡°Boo, what a spoilsport. Fine, I¡¯ll concede the representative slot, but you owe me on this, Gil. And don''t you ever lose on the first match, or I will never let you hear the end of it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The probability of me losing this match is less than one percent.¡± As if on cue, there came a knock on the door of our room. The door opened, revealing one of the staff for the tournament. ¡°Uhmm... Excuse me. Team Variable, might I know who your representative for the 1v1 will be?" the staff asked. I stood up from the comfortable sofa seat dedicated to the participants of the tournament. ¡°It will be me.¡± ------------------- The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Here we are again, folks! Your favorite caster duo, DJ Riot and Paratrooper, for your match commentary!¡± the caster hollered, signaling the near start of the match. The hum of the crowd grew louder with each step, a symphony of anticipation that filled the air. It was a sound that fueled the adrenaline coursing through my veins, as I made my way towards the center of the stadium. With each step towards the stage, the noise of the crowd became more distinct. The cheers, the applause, and the anticipation, all merged into a powerful, pulsating rhythm that matched the beat of my heart. ¡°The crowd sure is lively¡­¡± I murmured to no one in particular. As I ascended the steps to the stage, the noise of the crowd reached a crescendo, a wave of sound that washed over me. It was a sound that echoed the magnitude of the moment, the significance of the match, and the expectations of the spectators. Standing on the stage, the noise of the crowd was an exhilarating symphony of anticipation and excitement. I stopped at the destination, the center stage. In front of me is a room encased in transparent, high-tech glass, it provides a clear view for the spectators. From the outside, the room appears as a gleaming transparent cube suspended in the middle of the stadium. Upon entering the designated transparent room for the VR pod that I would use, the ambient sounds seemed to fade into the background. A tournament staff member already inside acknowledged my presence with a professional nod and proceeded to assist me through the necessary preparations for the upcoming match. He also reiterated a few important points regarding fair play and other guidelines, which I already read in the rules and guidelines as I settled on the VR pod. ¡°¡­This includes not exploiting any game glitches, not using any unauthorized software or hardware, and treating all opponents with respect. Any other questions,¡± the staff queried. ¡°None,¡± I curtly replied as I closed the pod. ¡°Then, good luck,¡± The staff member''s voice echoes in my ears, his final words of instruction and encouragement resonating as I prepare to enter the virtual battlefield. Luck? I don¡¯t believe in something as unreliable and unpredictable as luck. It is best to keep a clear grasp on my future with my own hands through hard work and preparation instead of relying on something superficial. As I logged into the game, the familiar Guild room from my previous session appeared before me. Almost immediately, an invitation for a custom match popped up, capturing my attention. "Accept," I murmured under my breath. In an instant, I found myself transported to a lobby room, where I took a moment to assess my surroundings. On the other side of the room, I noticed my opponent, HiddenDemon, radiating a strong sense of determination along with the room master. So, they are already sending their ace. I smiled in self-satisfaction. Just as predicted. This is the best outcome for me since his gameplay is the one I studied the most. "Now that both participants are present. Are you both ready for the match?" queried a Game Master whom I recognized from the qualifiers. "Ready," I promptly replied. My opponent responded to the question with a simple nod, indicating his readiness without speaking a word. It seemed that he was one of those quiet, reserved types. Nevertheless, I already knew that in this match, we would simply let our skills do the talking. The GM types something on his field of vision, possibly to inform the match organizers that we are ready to start. A short while later, he seemed to receive a response. ¡°Then, Team Variable vs Dragon Dynasty, Match Start!¡± he declared. As I was teleported onto the surface of the stage for the match, my grip tightened around the hilt of my trusty rapier. The weight and balance of the weapon felt comforting in my hand as if it were an extension of my own arm. I narrowed my focus, shutting out the distractions around me, and honed in on my opponent¡ª HiddenDemon, a skilled Bo staff user¡ªstanding before me on the opposite side of the gladiator-styled arena. HiddenDemon HP: 100% 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Match Start! At that moment, my mind became a whirlwind of calculations and predictions. As I analyzed my opponent''s movements, my brain worked overtime, assigning probabilities to each potential action. An estimated 84% chance that he will rush in and a 16% chance he will adopt a wait-and-see tactic due to his nerves getting the best of him. A prediction I instinctively came up with in my constant analysis of his battles and fighting an AI model of his gameplay for my preparation. Considering the higher likelihood of a rush attack from my opponent, I mentally prepared myself for the onslaught. Right on cue, my opponent wasted no time and swiftly charged towards me as soon as the match commenced. It was evident that his strategy was to overpower me with a barrage of aggressive strikes, which aligned with his typical gameplay style. I meticulously calculated the chances of my opponent striking at specific targets¡ªthe head, the torso, or the legs¡ªand adjusted my defense accordingly. An estimate of 90 percent probability that my opponent will strike at my head with a sweeping strike, his usual go-to play when probing his opponent. The surge of confidence within me stemmed from hours spent dissecting his gameplay patterns. Considering the high stakes of the match, I highly doubted he would deviate from his usual strategy at this critical moment. With that percentage etched in my mind, I subtly shifted my stance, angling my rapier to defend against the expected attack. My muscles tensed, primed to react with lightning speed as the bo staff arced towards my head. As the attack came, time seemed to slow down. My training and intuition took over. I parried the blow with a swift and precise movement, exerting just enough force to redirect the trajectory of the strike. In a seamless motion, I countered with a swift riposte, using the opening created to launch my own attack with all my strength for maximum damage. Kachack* HiddenDemon HP: 73% ¡°Ack!¡± he exclaimed in shock at how easily I countered his move. I took a glance at his expression, noticing his clear disbelief at how easily I had managed to handle his initial attack. Based on my assessment, there was a 72 percent likelihood that he would switch to a defensive stance. No, scratch that. Considering his surprised reaction and the crucial importance of this first match for his team, the probability of him adopting a defensive strategy may increase significantly. At that moment, my mind was a flurry of calculations and adjustments. I recalibrated my predictions and reassessed the probabilities. More than a 90 percent chance that he will switch to a more passive stance to get a good read on my movements. Recognizing this opportunity, I decided to unleash a full-on aggressive assault and capitalize on his indecisiveness. It was time to seize control of the match. The clash of steel against staff and the rhythmic sound of our movements filled the virtual arena. Despite the intensity of my blows, my focus was still unwavering. Each decision I made was informed by the meticulous analysis happening within my mind, as I sought to outmaneuver my opponent''s every move. As the match intensified, my ability to predict and counter my opponent''s actions became second nature. The percentages shifted, adjusted, and guided my strategies. I fought with precision and finesse, exploiting every advantage offered by my statistical calculations. Gille HP: 52% HiddenDemon HP: 24% Observing his HP, I noted that it fell within the threshold where he typically resorts to using his weapon skill to turn the tide in his favor when faced with a challenging situation. Based on this observation, there was an 82 percent probability that he would employ his weapon skill in our next exchange. As predicted, my opponent''s bo staff transformed, enveloped in swirling, blood-colored flames. His weapon skill ¡®Counterflow Qi Surge¡¯ allows the user to channel the damage taken in the past 5 minutes into one single attack, a strong weapon to turn things around. The spectacle was impressive, but it only confirmed what I had already anticipated. I knew this would be his last attempt for a counter play. ¡°Hraaahhhhgg!¡± he shouted with all his might. As he lunged forward, bringing down the flaming bo staff upon me, I remained calm, my instincts finely tuned. I had calculated the probabilities, estimated his strategy, and predicted this very moment. Sensing an opportunity to secure victory, I resolved to bring this match to a decisive end. In response to his charge, I unleashed the weapon skill I specifically prepared for this match. Channeling my skill and focus, I attempted a masterful parry. ¡°Reversal,¡± I murmured. In that fleeting moment, our weapons clashed with intensity. With expert precision, I skillfully diverted the force of his attack, effortlessly redirecting it back toward him. This maneuver was made possible by the weapon skill I specifically used for this fight known as ''Reversal,'' which enabled me to reflect the damage of his attack onto him by making a successful parry. Ting* As my well-executed parry redirected the force and damage of my opponent''s attack, a gasp of disbelief swept through the virtual arena. ¡°Argh!¡± HiddenDemon HP: 0% "Good game," I uttered, acknowledging my opponent''s display of skill. In response, he lay on the ground, speechless and clearly consumed by the anguish brought about by the outcome of the battle. The crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers and applause, witnessing the conclusive turn of events brought about by my calculated parry just as my opponent turned into blue motes of light. Vol.2 Chapter 34 Tactical¡¯s PoV "Hold onto your seats, ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer''s voice boomed. "We''ll be pausing for a brief intermission, but don''t go away. We''ve got more thrilling matches lined up for you right after the break!" The caster announced after the match. From my analysis of the match, that boy, Gilligan, he seems to have his opponent under the palm of his hands the whole time. If given the opportunity, I would love to recruit him to my team. However, considering his evident talent and famous background, it will likely result in a high demand from professional teams to poach him. I couldn''t help but feel that my chances of successfully recruiting him were slim given my circumstances. The competition for his contract would undoubtedly be fierce if he wants to ever go pro. As the crowd settled, he continued, "In the meantime, let us take this moment to appreciate and acknowledge the sponsors that helped make this tournament possible." His voice filled with a dramatic flair, he announced, "First up, we have CyberLyte, the leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art VR gaming systems that allow players like our competitors to experience the game as if they were truly in it. Remember, with CyberLyte, you aren''t just playing a game, you''re living it!" The screen displayed a swirl of lights and colors, forming the logo of CyberLyte. "Our next sponsor is Aero Energy," the announcer continued, "The premier brand in providing clean, efficient, and high-powered energy solutions. There''s a reason why Aero Energy powers all our equipment here. They¡¯re reliable, have unmatched service, and most importantly they believe in a greener future." The emblem of Aero Energy illuminated the screen. "Not forgetting our official apparel sponsor, ¨¦ternelle. Whether you''re a gamer or a spectator, you''ll undoubtedly love ¨¦ternelle''s innovative blend of comfort, style, and design. ¨¦ternelle ¡ª wear elegance!" The screen shifted to display a mesmerizing image of ¨¦terneller''s apparel, captivating the attention of the viewers. This transition continued, featuring various other sponsors showcasing their products and services. "They certainly have a tremendous amount of sponsors," I murmured to myself, noting the extensive support for the event. How many sponsors does this tournament have?! Being in the position of a spectator was quite unfamiliar to me, as I was typically the one actively participating in these types of events. This new perspective felt somewhat foreign and not particularly enjoyable to be quite honest. Well, I don¡¯t blame them though for filling up the time. They still have a break after the first round of preliminaries to accommodate the participants In preparation for the second round where only four players remain. Feeling a bit hungry, I decided it was a good time to grab something to eat. As I got up from my seat and made my way towards the exit of the stadium, a staff member looking about a bit younger than me approached. His position and timing indicated that he had been waiting for this opportunity for a while. I couldn''t help but wonder if he was about to lecture me about my discreet appearance. While I didn''t want to completely hide my face, I also wanted to avoid any potential distractions or requests for autographs while I was analyzing the matches as a spectator. "Excuse me, sir. May I have a moment of your time?" the staff asked in a friendly tone, opposed to what I expected. ¡°What is it?¡± I ask, wondering what he wants from me. ¡°Are you perhaps Mr. Miller?¡± I was taken aback by the staff''s sudden question, wondering how he knew my identity. The thought occurred to me that the event organizers might have discovered it through the ticket, which was registered under my name. They might have been monitoring me throughout the tournament, keeping an eye on my movements. For what purpose, though? Good thing we are far away from most of the spectators, probably why he chose this opportunity to finally speak to me. I responded cautiously, skepticism evident in my tone, "That depends on the reason you''re asking. What is it that you need?" Seeing my guarded response, the staff quickly attempted to reassure me. "O-oh, please don''t be too wary. I am simply here to inquire if you would like to be accommodated in a special room reserved for high-profile guests, so you can continue watching the tournament in comfort." "A special room?" I echoed, curious about the offer. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The staff nodded animatedly, evidently happy that I was even considering his offer. ¡°Yes, sir! In the special room, you would have exclusive access to a comfortable seating area with a perfect view of the tournament. There will be complimentary refreshments and snacks provided, along with dedicated staff to cater to your needs." I considered his explanation, imagining the comfort and convenience of enjoying the tournament in such a setting. The allure of a prime viewing spot and the idea of being pampered certainly appealed to me. Not gonna lie though, considering how I want to eat something right now, he mostly got me at the complementary refreshments and snacks part. "What''s the catch?" I inquired, cautiously questioning the staff''s offer. I¡¯m sure they want me to do something for them in return if they want to appeal to me this much. The staff seemed flustered and quickly replied, "Oh, I''m not privy to the intentions of the higher-ups. They simply tasked me with informing you about the offer. I apologize if I can''t provide further details." ¡°¡­I see, lead the way then,¡± after thinking for a bit, I accepted the offer. I believe their goal is to have me appear as a special guest, and since there is no contract or obligation involved, it''s unlikely they can force me to do anything if I refuse outright. Therefore, I don''t see any disadvantages in accepting their offer. As I accepted the offer, I followed the staff who led the way toward the special room. There was a sense of anticipation as we made our way through the corridors of the stadium, wondering what awaited me in this exclusive space. During our walk, I couldn''t help but notice the staff''s sheepish expression and his attempts to discreetly catch my attention. Eventually, he gathered the courage to make a request, his voice filled with excitement and admiration. "Um, excuse me," he began somewhat nervously, "I hope this isn''t too forward, but I am a huge fan of yours. Would it be possible to get your autograph?" I hesitated for a moment, uncertain of whether I wanted to give away my autograph. Being in the public eye came with its challenges, and I preferred to enjoy the event without any distractions or interruptions. However, looking at him, he seems genuinely excited at the thought of getting my autograph. I don''t have it in me to refuse such expecting eyes. I sighed softly and replied, "All right, I suppose I can give you an autograph." His face lit up instantly with excitement as he handed me a pen and a photograph featuring the first-generation Paragons. The picture depicted the in-game characters that our team used during our tournament run. All four of us were captured in a pose, displaying smiles and a genuine sense of joy while raising the trophy, Andartha¡¯s Cup, proudly. While it''s true that we didn''t specifically strike the pose with our in-game characters, as Yuusha, in particular, would never engage in such flashy poses due to her introverted nature, the picture was skillfully edited to incorporate our avatars, creating a memorable and stylistic group image. As I looked at the photograph carefully, a wave of nostalgia washed over me, transporting me back to the past. Those were truly enjoyable times, filled with fond memories. It was a period that I will always cherish, for it held some of the most remarkable moments of my gaming experience. During that time, our team trained relentlessly, united by a common goal: to become the best in the world. The camaraderie we built, the shared determination, and the countless hours spent honing our skills created a bond that went beyond the virtual realm. It was a journey filled with challenges, but the sense of achievement we felt when we finally reached our goal and raised the trophy was immeasurable. Remembering those times brought a smile to my face as I reflected on the camaraderie, the shared victories, and the moments of pure joy we experienced together. With a mixture of melancholy and longing, I signed my name on the photograph, attempting to conceal any trace of my hesitation. ¡°There you go, remember to take good care of it¡­¡± I handed back the photo. "O-of course! I''ll cherish it like a precious family heirloom!" he exclaimed with genuine giddiness. Hearing that, I couldn''t help but interject, "You don''t have to go that far! It''s just a simple autograph." He paused for a moment, sheepishly realizing his overzealous response. With a slight chuckle, he replied, "You''re right, I may have gotten a bit carried away. But thank you so much for this. It means a lot to me¡­" His genuine happiness made me pause. I guess it''s not bad to give autographs from time to time. After our conversation, he continued to lead me to the special room with an excited demeanor. Arriving at the door, he stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter. "Here we are! This would be the special room for high-profile guests," he said, his voice filled with anticipation. Thanking him for his guidance, I stepped into the room, immediately struck by its luxurious ambiance. Comfortable seating, exquisite decorations, and a captivating atmosphere greeted me at a glance. Above all, there was a person already inside the room that captured my undivided attention. The individual in question had the physique of a bodybuilder, radiating confidence and positivity with an infectious smile. The person¡¯s presence created an uplifting and welcoming atmosphere, especially since I had known this individual for a very long time. My former teammate, Celeste. "Why are you even here, Caleb?" I said, my tone unamused. "Is that the proper way to greet your former teammate?" he¡­ she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. "And FYI, it''s Calah now. The name change was successful! And to answer your question, when I entered the venue earlier, I caused quite a commotion, so the staff decided to place me here!" "Of course, you would cause a commotion," I retorted, my voice tinged with sarcasm. "You didn''t even try to hide your face!" She let out a laugh, her voice filled with confidence. "Why would I be ashamed of who I am? I want the world to see the real me!" "I''m not talking about your sexual identity," I clarified, frustration evident in my voice. "I''m talking about how famous you are, especially in a CoA tournament. Your face was even on the news when we first won the AC." She let out a dismissive snort. ¡°Hmph! It''s all solved now, and I even have a special room so the commotion earlier was for the better!¡± ¡°You have a good time arriving here. I was getting lonely in this huge place. Good thing you are here, now I have company!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here for your amusement..." I murmured to myself. " Although, I didn¡¯t expect you to watch the tournament in person,¡± I asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯m here to support our prot¨¦g¨¦s of course! But also for one other thing, which I¡¯m keeping a secret.¡± She gave me a condescending look as if she knew something I didn¡¯t. It''s honestly quite annoying how smug she looks right now. "Fine, I don''t really care about your secrets. Just let me watch the whole tournament in peace," I responded, a hint of annoyance creeping into my voice. She chuckled and replied, "Ah, so I heard you''re trying to recruit members for the team you''re coaching, right? Seer told me all about it!" I frowned, slightly frustrated that Seer had shared our plans without my consent. "I''ll remember to reprimand that boy when I see him," I muttered under my breath, mentally noting to address this matter later. "Don¡¯t blame the kid too much, I pestered him to tell me. Also, I''m sure you will find someone to recruit here, someone as gifted as Yuusha even," she said, accompanied by that irritating ''I know something you don''t'' look. I couldn''t help but feel a tinge of annoyance at her haughty smile. "I doubt it," I replied casually, disregarding her condescension. "However, I''m confident that I can discover some hidden talents, individuals who may have the potential to be trained and improved." Keeping my expectations realistic was crucial. While the tournament attracted many skilled players, expecting to find another Yuusha would only lead to potential disappointments. Instead, I opt to remain open-minded, to seek out those rough diamonds with potential, ready to invest time and effort into nurturing their skills. As the conversation concluded, I refocused my attention on the tournament panelist announcing the upcoming matches, eager to witness the emerging talents and perhaps find hidden gems among the participants. Vol.2 Chapter 35 ¡°And we''re back, ladies and gentlemen, with the highly anticipated continuation of the one-versus-one tournament match!¡± the lead panelist exclaimed, his voice infused with excitement. ¡°That is right Raze! And for you guys who just tuned in, take a look at the bracket for the remaining participants!¡± the other panelist, whose name I forgot, chimed in with practiced ease and professionalism. "As you can see, the next fight is about to begin between the representatives of both Team Paradigm and Team Round Table," the panelist announced, his voice filled with excitement, capturing the attention of the crowd. "This match features two players who have truly proven their skill and determination. In their previous matches, they showcased unwavering resilience and a refusal to back down, with them winning with a mere sliver of health remaining." The atmosphere in the crowd grew electric, anticipation mounting as everyone eagerly awaited the clash between these formidable opponents. The panelist''s words only served to enhance the excitement, setting the stage for what promised to be a thrilling encounter. "You''re right, Raze, those two matches were incredibly close and intense. The determination and skill showcased by the players have truly impressed us all," the panelist acknowledged, affirming the excitement that filled the air. "Now, turning to Mr. Bogdan, what are your thoughts on the upcoming fight?" The other panelists finally included Vlad, giving him the opportunity to share his professional insights and analysis. As the camera turned towards him, Vlad adjusted his position in his seat, preparing to provide his expert commentary. "Hmm, I must say, this upcoming fight has the potential to be a real showdown," Vlad began, his voice tinted with the usual deep and calm tone. "Both of these players have proven their mettle and have displayed remarkable resilience in their previous matches. It''s clear that they are determined to secure victory for their teams. I¡¯m pretty sure this would be a close fight like their previous ones.¡± That was¡­ such a safe answer, I guess. Maybe he already knows the clear advantage of Arthur in this battle and just doesn¡¯t want to spoil the match for the spectators. I could be wrong and he truly thinks the upcoming fight will be a close one¡­ although I¡¯m not getting my hopes up for our team since I know we are clearly on the backfoot on this matchup. "Hey, you still haven''t told me what I should do for the upcoming fight?" Clarence interrupted, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Hmm¡­ I¡¯m not quite sure," I admitted with a shrug. "W-what?!" he exclaimed, bewildered by my response. "What do you mean you don''t know? Don''t you have some convoluted plan or strategy to help me turn the tide and secure victory from what seems like an inevitable defeat?" ¡°¡­Please don¡¯t make me into some kind of omniscient being. I haven''t thought that far ahead, and even if I did, we don''t have enough time to fully prepare and practice the plan like we did when you faced Hana. The best I can do is offer encouragement for you to give it your all." Clarence''s expression turned more deflated. "That''s not reassuring at all! I at least want to win a game after talking bid in that interview earlier. Otherwise, I''ll look really bad!" he exclaimed. ¡°You bought it on yourself, so you take the fall,¡± I deadpanned. ¡°Urk! T-true, but can you at least make a plan to increase even a bit of the chance for me to win?¡± he pleaded. "Want to hear my honest thoughts?" I locked eyes with him, my expression serious, causing him to gulp nervously. "G-go on..." he replied adamantly. "He outclasses you in every aspect. In skills, weapon skill, stats," I explained, emphasizing the noticeable advantages held by our opponent. "I''m also pretty sure he has analyzed your gameplay from your first match, so the surprise factor is absent. Moreover, I¡¯m sure he is already aware that you can only execute two stances within your current play style if he so much as watched your first fight at least once and analyzed it thoroughly. And most of all, his resolve will not crumble under pressure, unlike your previous opponent. His confidence seems unwavering, and his sense of self is infallible, making it unlikely that he will be susceptible to your taunts," I explained my unfiltered thoughts. "Hey! Whose side are you really on!?" he exclaimed, shocked by my analysis. "I''m only being realistic. It''s fine if you lose now since we are already guaranteed a place in the upper brackets of the main tournament. There''s no need to worry too much," I reassured him, trying to alleviate his concerns. While my words may not be what he expected, I wanted to offer support in a more realistic sense. Understanding the difficult circumstances he faced, it was important to manage expectations and focus on the bigger picture. Regardless of the outcome, our team had already secured a favorable position in the main tournament due to his efforts, and this match could serve as a valuable learning experience for him¡­ if he is planning to continue going pro that is. It would be very bad if he became too reliant on me as I couldn''t always be by his side to provide constant guidance and strategies¡­ especially since this would be my last tournament run. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "Uhm, Kat, does that mean we have no chance of winning against their team?" Liz, who was listening for a while butted in, her voice filled with concern. I paused for a moment. It wouldn''t be bad for our morale if I dwell on the negativity too much, "Well, we can exploit his straightforwardness and honesty." Clarence perked up at the statement. "You have a plan, then?!" he asked excitedly, eager for more information. I took a deep breath, contemplating the best way to explain my thoughts. "Sort of," I eventually replied. "While our opponent may have the clear advantage in many aspects, including skills and stats, there''s always a weakness we can exploit. In his case, his straightforwardness and honesty may make him predictable,¡± I continued. Examining my surroundings, I could see the undivided attention of my teammates, ready to hear my thoughts, Chu included who was secretly listening from the beginning. Now that I think about it, these guys really do seem to trust me a lot recently. Had I genuinely reached a point where they could rely on me and place their utmost faith in my abilities without question? Well, friends do need to trust each other¡­ they consider me as their friend, right? Directing my gaze towards Clarence, I singled him out to share my plan. ¡°So here is what you should do.¡± --------------------------- Renz¡¯s PoV As I step into the arena, the grandeur of the surroundings overwhelms my senses. The atmosphere is electric, the air charged with anticipation and the echoes of the crowd''s excitement. Beneath my feet, the sand of the arena feels firm and steady, too realistic even for a VR one. I take a moment to refocus myself and calm my nerves. As I shift my gaze to the other side of the arena, I find my opponent staring back at me with a resolute and unwavering determination. Arthur¡¯s eyes lock onto mine, piercing through the distance that separates us. In his unwavering gaze, I sense the intensity of their focus and commitment to victory. It is clear that he is prepared to give his all in this battle, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation. His sheer determination shines through, adding to the arena¡¯s energy as we both waited for the countdown that inevitably came. 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Match Start! Sensing the right moment I decided to initiate the plan my teammate concocted. ¡°Hey, you have one of the strongest weapon skills in-game, right?¡± I immediately queried after the start of the match. While he was clearly taken aback that I started talking, he instantly composed himself to answer my question "I wouldn''t claim it to be one of the strongest, but this sword holds great significance to me," he remarked, his gaze transfixed on the intricate details of his cherished weapon. There was a fondness in his eyes that revealed a deep connection. "Ever since I started playing this game, it has symbolized the unwavering resolve I have carried within me,¡± he continued. I see, so that weapon does have a sentimental value to him, much like my current weapon that Clarissa gave me, the very first in-game gift I received from her in this game. A weapon I will use to win this match with all my might. ¡°¡­Then, let us see whose weapon is stronger, your or mine.¡± He paused, seemingly contemplating the implication of my innuendo. ¡°¡­If you¡¯re asking me for a showdown of weapon skills, then I shall accept!¡± ¡°Huh? You¡¯re going to accept my challenge just like that?¡± I said skeptically. Katherine did say that this guy is honest and straightforward to a fault, but I had not expected that he would agree so readily. It seemed almost too easy, which is extremely suspicious. "I truly believe that when you triumph over your opponent''s strongest efforts, it is an acknowledgment of the arduous journey they have undertaken to reach that point," he explained passionately. "It is a recognition of the sacrifices, the sweat, and the relentless pursuit of perfection they have poured into their craft. As my opponent, you deserve to have that opportunity. If you want to fight with what you are truly strong at, then I want to challenge and defeat you at your very best." Holy shit! I don¡¯t really get what he''s saying since I¡¯m not entirely paying attention, but he sounded so cool! Maybe it¡¯s how he said it with such conviction while spouting some self-righteous words that got me. Either way, I need to step up my game and match his ostentatiousness. Let''s also say something cool to set up the stage for the hundreds of thousands of viewers watching. ¡°I¡¯m also glad to be the one facing you at this stage. It''s an honor to face you in this match and witness your strength and skill!¡± I said while adopting a striking stance in preparation to use my weapon skill. ¡°Likewise,¡± he replied eagerly giving me an appreciative smile, a sense of camaraderie that can only be felt between two men, giving their all in a fight with both their pride at stake. "Then, let''s go... All or nothing! I¡¯ll give it my all in this one single strike!" I proclaimed with a determined voice. Whoah! That sounded really cool, like something straight out of an action movie that Clarissa and I usually watch! I always wanted to say something like that. With the distance between us and the start of the match, I can ramp up the damage of my weapon skill to the maximum. I¡¯m certain that my sprinting speed is one of the fastest, making this next attack a sure one-hit K.O. if he receives it head-on. With the weapon that Clarissa gave me, this will be my win! As I charged towards my opponent to unleash my weapon skill, he took his stance. Time seemed to slow down as I observed his every move, noting the way he lifted his sword with a sense of purpose as if drawing energy from the very sun. His poised position, perfectly balanced and symmetrical, commanded a sense of admiration. The intensity of his focus was evident in his unwavering gaze. I couldn''t help but be captivated by the sight of his sword, illuminated with a striking golden glow, in stark contrast to the burning blue hue of my own weapon. As my charge was nearing its end, our energies surged, and in perfect synchrony, we unleashed our attacks simultaneously. "Sovereign''s Charge!" I shouted with conviction. "Golden Sanctity!" he exclaimed with unwavering determination. With our battle cries harmonizing in the air, I thrust forward with my trusted spear, channeling all my strength and skill into the precise movement. At the same time, my opponent brought his extravagant sword down in a powerful overhead swing, showcasing his own mastery of the art. The clash of our weapons resonated, creating a thunderous impact that echoed throughout the arena. My senses were immediately overwhelmed by the exchange, and then almost instantly, everything went blank. ------------------------ Seeing the clash of blue and gold was a sight to behold. The impact of the colliding attacks reverberated through the arena, creating a radiant explosion of blue and gold, a breathtaking clash of opposing forces. Each player clearly poured their all into both their respective attacks. The intensity of their clash sent shockwaves rippling across the arena, a testament to the immense DPS of both their weapon skills. The blue and gold energies battled fiercely, intertwining in mid-air, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of colors that captivated the audience as I heard a couple of exclamations from the crowd even in this room. ¡°Oh shit! What an intense display of weapon skills and mastery! These two really know how to liven things up!¡± the caster explained doing his best to hype up the crowd even more. For a brief moment, time stood still as the sounds of their clash echoed through the air, drowning out all other noise. In the aftermath of the climactic clash, Clarence found himself staggered, the damage output of his opponent''s weapon skill overwhelming his own. The force of the impact sent him stumbling backward, his body succumbing to the strength of the blow. Renz HP: 0% When two opposing powerful weapon skills clash as perfectly as theirs did, it is programmed that the one with the higher damage output wins and does damage to the opponent. Well, I can''t say I''m not disappointed, but at least we tried. Now I know that his weapon skill is more powerful than Renz''s. I''ve seen him one-shot tanky opponents in the qualifiers with one hit using his weapon skill, but I had thought Renz''s weapon skill, with the help of his insanely fast sprinting speed, could surpass the opponent''s damage output. But I guess I was wrong. What a truly broken skill that guy has. I heard that Arthur was the only user of that weapon since it¡¯s a milestone type of equipment, something that the first player who achieves a certain task could acquire, meaning there are no other weapon users like it. He might have gotten it through helping a lot of players or NPC or something given his personality, what a lucky guy. Well, he is a player from day one so I guess it''s fair. ¡°A-and there you have it folks! The match was over in an instant! It looks like we have our very first finalist for the 1v1 tournament! Please give it up for Arthur!¡± the caster hollered. I sighed. In my observations of Clarence, I have come to realize that behind his tough exterior and crafted persona lies a gentle heart. I guess I¡¯ll just have to console him later as I¡¯m sure he would be too beaten up and blame himself for this loss. It is partly my fault for suggesting the strategy after all so it''s the least I can do. Vol.2 Chapter 36 Clarissa¡¯s PoV ¡°A-and there you have it folks! The match was over in an instant! It looks like we have our very first finalist for the 1v1 tournament! Please give it up for Arthur!¡± the caster shouted, signaling the end of the fight. ¡°B-brother¡­¡± I murmured weakly. ¡°Hmph! I knew he just got lucky in his first fight.¡± ¡°Yeah, dude! Good thing I won my bet! I knew that his first win was just a fluke. Their team is trash after all! The weakest in this tournament. I don¡¯t even know any of their members.¡± "I agree, it''s better to bet on a team that has better odds." Almost everyone in the crowd near us says almost the same things, attacking my brother with unkind words. I was immediately dejected by what they were saying. I can feel the weight of my emotions reflected in my gloomy expression, an expression that did not escape Dad¡¯s notice. Only Dad is with me watching the game since Colin and Mom are touring in a different spot in LA as they both don¡¯t like very crowded places. "Are you okay, Clarissa?" my Dad asked, his voice laced with concern. "I think so, Dad. It''s just that what they''re saying feels so wrong," I replied, frustration evident in my voice. My dad looked at me with a kind and understanding expression, imbued with wisdom earned through experiences and reflection. "Now, now, Clarissa," he said gently. "Everyone has their own opinions, and it''s important to remember that each individual is entitled to their own perspective. What truly matters most is what you believe in." "...What I believe in?" I questioned, not quite understanding what he was saying. "I may not have the full knowledge of your brother''s abilities, but based on what I can gather, the participants gathered there are considered the best in the world, aren''t they?" my dad offered, his voice gentle yet full of wisdom. "Yes," I replied, understanding the significance of the high-level competition. "Then, isn''t it remarkable that your brother is among them? He''s fighting against some of the world''s finest players and even won once from what you said earlier! Regardless of whether he loses once or twice, or how many times, isn''t it incredible that he''s made it this far and still doing his best?" my dad continued. I paused, considering his words and the perspective he shared. "I guess you''re right," I admitted, a glimmer of pride replacing my dejected expression. "Of course, I am!" my dad affirmed with a smile. "Now, let''s turn that frown upside down and show your brother our support. He''s doing his best, and that''s what really matters." A genuine smile spread across my face as I realized once again that my father knew exactly what to say to lift my spirits. As both participants made their way off the stage, I spotted my brother, his expression downcast. Without a moment''s hesitation, I let out a resounding shout, "Brother! Good job!" My voice rang through the air, catching the attention of the nearby audience. But I paid no mind to their gaze. I had no shame in proudly proclaiming that he was my brother, and to me, he was not just an amazing sibling, but also the strongest player. Dad is right. I want to convey my unwavering support and belief in him regardless of the outcome of the match. This was what I genuinely believed in, and I wanted him to know it. For a brief moment, our eyes met, and I witnessed a glimmer of a smile on his face before he continued to make his way off the center stage. In that fleeting exchange, I understood that my words had reached him, providing a small but meaningful moment of encouragement and appreciation. As he walked away to the exit, my heart swelled with pride. While contemplating how proud I am of my brother, the panelist resumed their analysis of the match. "That was one of the most rapid fights I''ve witnessed thus far in this tournament," remarked Raze, one of the panelists, directing his question to a participant named Mr. Bogdan. "What are your thoughts on the outcome of that battle?" "I believe the representative from team Paradigm issued the challenge with confidence in his weapon skill. However, it seems he underestimated the damage output of Arthur''s weapon skill," Mr. Bogdan responded, shedding light on the situation, "Indeed," interjected Raze, eager to share information with the audience. "For those who may not be aware, when two burst-type weapon skills collide, the one with the higher damage output will emerge victorious and inflict damage upon the opponent." ¡°I didn¡¯t know that¡­ so that¡¯s why Brother lost,¡± I murmured. As the panelist continued to delve into the intricacies of the discussion, I found myself lost amidst the jargon and unfamiliar terms they used to calculate the hypothetical damage output of both players'' weapon skills so I didn¡¯t get to pay attention too much in their talk. As the analysis continued at length, I used the time to share some of my knowledge of the game that Novo taught me with Dad. Even though I¡¯m not as knowledgeable as Novo, I also wanted to ensure that he could fully enjoy watching the remaining matches alongside me by telling him what I know. With enthusiasm, I explained various aspects of the gameplay, doing my best to provide context and insights into what was unfolding on the replay screen. After a while, the panelists announced that the next fight was about to commence and the scene shifted to the usual casters. A short while later, The crowd erupted in waves of thunderous applause, and the arena''s atmosphere crackled with excitement and anticipation just as Ms. Ariadne stepped gracefully toward the center stage, exuding an air of confidence and grace that captivated the audience. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Radiating confidence and determination, Ms. Ariadne donned her esports attire adorned with sponsors whose names were unfamiliar to me. Every step she took reverberated with a resolute purpose, capturing the attention of all who laid eyes upon her commanding presence. The cheers of the audience reached a crescendo, reflecting their admiration for her. The arena vibrated with energy, as spectators cheered, waved banners, and called out her name, showing their support and voicing their excitement for the upcoming battle. ¡°Whoa, I didn¡¯t know Ms. Ariadne was this famous,¡± I murmured to myself. In a manner reminiscent of Ms. Ariadne''s entrance, her opponent, Mr. Gille, also made his way into the arena. Despite following a similar fashion, he did not receive the same resounding reception as Ariadne. "It seems we have a clear crowd favorite on our hands here, folks!" Mr. Riot commented, acknowledging the contrasting responses from the audience. "Well, that''s hardly surprising, considering her commanding performance in her previous match, coupled with her association as Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦," Mr. Paratrooper chimed in, providing additional context. "I''m certain she has already garnered a significant fan base through those facts alone." As the participants prepared themselves, the casters took the opportunity to provide their own analysis of the upcoming match. Their insights into the strategies and potential outcomes added to the anticipation building in the arena. Then, after a short while, the screen transitioned to the virtual reality arena, showcasing both participants in their respective avatars. Ariadne HP: 100% Gille HP: 100% ¡°Looks like Ariadne is using her tried and tested twin daggers. But what¡¯s this?! It seems that Gilligan¡¯s choice of weapon is a shield on his left and a short sword on his right!¡± Mr. Riot exclaimed, his characteristic shocked look evident once again. I¡¯m kind of wondering why he is easily surprised by almost anything. "That''s hardly surprising, Riot," Mr. Paratrooper chimed in, providing some context. "Gille is renowned for his mastery of multiple weapons, employing them strategically to counter his opponents. His versatility is one of the key factors that sets him apart in this tournament. It is well known that a shield is strong against extremely close-range weapons like daggers. I¡¯m sure many have already expected this kind of outcome considering how gifted at counterplay Gille is," the other caster, Mr. Paratrooper, commented helpfully. 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Match Start! As the System signaled the start of the match, Ms. Ariadne suddenly moved. Without wasting a moment, she swiftly charged towards her opponent, catching everyone off guard. In contrast, Mr. Gille assumed a defensive stance, raising his shield to prepare for the incoming attack. The sudden shift in Ms. Ariadne''s approach sparked intrigue and anticipation among the spectators, garnering shouts of excitement. "Ohh, it appears that Ariadne is taking an aggressive stance while Gille is opting for a defensive approach!" Riot exclaimed, noting the dynamic shift in the battle''s momentum. "Indeed, Riot. Take a look at the positioning of Gille''s shield. It seems he is prioritizing defending his head to prevent any critical hits," Mr. Paratrooper observed with his expertise. "Why do you think Gille is focusing on that?" Riot inquired. "I can only speculate, but it''s mostly because Ariadne built her character with a Dex-heavy stats distribution which amplifies the potency of her critical hits. Gille seems determined to prevent her from capitalizing on that advantage," Mr. Paratrooper explained, offering his insights into the match. As both fighters arrived on melee range, Mr. Gille did a quick sword thrust, which was easily dodged by Ms. Ariadne. The dodge was so perfect and graceful, with no wasted movement that it instantly reminded me of how Novo moves and dodges. Sensing the opportunity after dodging the quick sword thrust, Ms. Ariadne immediately did a counterattack, a quick dagger strike that was too quick for me to follow, aimed at her opponent¡¯s head. ¡°Sheild Bash!¡± Mr. Gille exclaimed. Mr. Gillie¡¯s shield immediately glowed, followed instantly by a resounding thud that canceled Ms. Ariadne¡¯s attack. Aided by the weapon skill the shield connected with Ms. Ariadne, stunning her momentarily. The attack was too fast for me to even see and the force of the impact reverberated through the arena, giving the spectators a glimpse of the attack. Mr. Gille did not waste a moment, dealing with a quick follow-up attack that connected to Ms. Ariadne¡¯s head. ¡°Urgh!¡± Ariadne HP: 64% "Oh-oh, ladies and gentlemen! It seems that Ariadne was unable to dodge the powerful shield strike from Gille! He utilized the stun effect of the ''Shield Bash'' weapon skill to inflict even more damage onto her!" the caster exclaimed, narrating the intense moment. "That was a smart choice of weapon skill by Gille. Not only does ¡®Shield Bash¡¯ have an instantaneous casting time, but it also possesses a one-second stunning effect that he seamlessly transitioned into his next attack. If he had opted for a slower yet more potent weapon skill, being Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦, Ariadne may have easily evaded it!" Mr. Paratrooper offered his expertise again. "Well said, Paratrooper! What a brilliant analysis. It appears that Ariadne is now at a disadvantage, contrary to Mr. Bogdan''s earlier assessment. Additionally, just look at the significant amount of HP lost from a single hit!" Mr. Riot continued, highlighting the consequences of the devastating strike. "That''s correct. Ariadne''s stat distribution appears to prioritize DPS, which leaves her lacking in survivability heavily. Gilligan simply needs to wait for his weapon skill cooldown to complete and execute the combo once more, rinse and repeat until he systematically depletes his opponent¡¯s HP.¡± Perhaps sensing that she was on the back foot, Ms. Ariadne continued her aggressive attacks. Novo always said that in PvP, I need to watch out for the opponent¡¯s weapon skill cooldown so I think Ms. Ariadne is right to capitalize on her opponent¡¯s weapon skill CD. But the problem is, Mr. Gille kept guarding his front head. The short range of Ms. Ariadne¡¯s dagger was unable to bypass the shield that her opponent was using to keep a safe distance from her. She only managed to hit him on different parts of his body but not on the head even with her aggressive attacks. Gille HP: 81% "Oh, it appears that Gilligan is taking a defensive approach! He''s focusing solely on guarding and not launching any attacks!" the caster exclaimed, observing the cautious strategy. "That''s right, as I mentioned earlier, playing safe and waiting for his weapon skill cooldown to reset before unleashing a powerful combo is a legitimate tactic. Why take unnecessary risks when he has a guaranteed method to secure victory, even if it may take longer?" Mr. Paratrooper explained, analyzing Gilligan''s calculated approach. "You''re absolutely right. Oh-oh, things are not looking promising for all the Yuusha fans out there. Could this be the end of her prot¨¦g¨¦''s successful run in this one-on-one tournament?" the caster speculatively remarked, fueling my growing apprehension. "Ms. Ariadne, please don''t let this be the end," I fervently wished, my thoughts turning to prayer. As I considered Ariadne a friend of Novo and me, I couldn''t bear the thought of her experiencing defeat similar to my brother''s. Just as Ms. Ariadne¡¯s aggressive strikes seemed to do little against her opponent, the mood of the match suddenly shifted. I was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. It was reminiscent of our encounter with the dungeon abyss boss that Novo beat. It happened in a blink of an eye, her daggers transformed into a scythe, catching her opponent off guard. With the elongated and sharp edge of the scythe, she strategically targeted her opponent from the side, bypassing the shield that guarded his front. KACHAK* The strike landed with precision, delivering a very heavy critical blow to his head. The move left not only her opponent but also the audience astonished by the effectiveness of her weapon transformation. ¡°Wha-!¡± Mr. Gille exclaimed in shock Gille HP: 42% ¡°Huh?! Did you see that?!¡± ¡°I did! Her weapon turned into a scythe?!¡± ¡°What kind of weapon skill is that?! I''ve never even heard of something like that!¡± ¡°That¡¯s broken, yo!¡± ¡°Yeah, it''s to OP how fast the transition was!¡± The resounding gasps of the audience indicate just how shocked and amazed they were by the move. The unexpected transformation of her daggers into a scythe, coupled with the devastatingly precise attack, left the spectators in awe. I was no different, all I could think of was how cool Ms. Ariadne was. "H-holy shit! What kind of weapon skill is that?!" the caster exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the astonishing display. Ms. Ariadne did not waste a moment. She continued her attack with her scythe aiming for another head strike. Her opponent, who was still shocked and out of balance from the previous attack and the turn of events, failed to guard against her follow-up attack, slicing him squarely in the neck. ¡°Ack!¡± Gille HP: 8% Ms. Ariadne¡¯s opponent seems to have finally regained his composure. He tried to distance himself from his adversary, but it seemed it was too late. The scythe then transformed into a long spear, which Ms. Ariadne used to reach her fleeing opponent and reduce his HP to zero with a quick body thrust. Gille HP: 0% It was complete silence. Only the shout of the caster brought back the audience from their disbelief. ¡°W-what an instant turnaround! Not only can her weapon shift into a scythe, but it can also turn into a spear! What kind of weapon skill does she possess and just how many weapons can she switch to?!¡± As her opponent vanished, dissipating into shimmering blue motes of light, the caster finally declared the outcome. "There you have it, ladies and gentlemen! We have our last finalist for the one-on-one tournament: Ariadne, representing team Paragons!" The words resounded throughout the arena, accompanied by a wave of applause and cheering from the audience. ¡°Woah, she¡¯s so cool¡­ just like Novo¡­¡± It was all I could mutter as the screen shifted, signaling the end of the fight. Vol.2 Chapter 37 ¡°W-what an instant turnaround! Not only can her weapon shift into a scythe, but it can also turn into a spear! What kind of weapon skill does she possess and just how many weapons can she switch to?!¡± As I sat there, hearing their thunderous applause even from this isolated room, my heart swelled with a mix of emotions. At that moment, I realized that this overwhelming feeling coursing through my veins was undeniably pride. Pride, like a warm embrace, wrapped around me, bringing with it a sense of fulfillment. Is this what it feels like to be proud of someone¡¯s accomplishment? You¡¯ve really improved a lot, Aria. I think even I can¡¯t move as fluently as you did with your weapon skill and how well you choose the perfect weapon for the given circumstances to suit your needs. The split decision-making skills to do what you did was nothing short of phenomenal. Above all, you found your own way of playing the game by accumulating all the things you learned and refining them to suit your own. Yet, beneath the surface of my pride, I felt a twinge of sadness. It was that fleeting pang of realization that my role as her mentor already ended. I guess I have nothing to teach you anymore since you¡¯re already this strong¡­ ¡°We will be having a short break, but stay tuned for the finals to know who will be crowned as the strongest player in the U-20 league!¡± the caster¡¯s voice brought me back from my melancholic thoughts. It seems they have to prepare for the finals. I¡¯m a bit disappointed since I¡¯m quite eager to watch the finals, but I guess it can¡¯t be helped. They need to set up the stage for the finale after all. ¡°You were really into it huh?¡± Liz, who was sitting next to me suddenly caught my attention. ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± I asked not sure what she was getting at. ¡°What I meant was that I see you making some interesting faces, I''ve never seen you this expressive. You really are rooting for Ria, huh? I''m getting quite jealous now." Liz teased. ¡°T-that''s only natural. If you were fighting there, I''d also root for you. Also, don''t tell me you''re looking at my face instead of watching the match." I nonchalantly said as I tried to hide my embarrassment. What kind of faces was I even making?! ¡°Hehe, looking at your ever-changing expression gives me as much satisfaction as watching the match itself," Liz gave me a playful wink that made my heart skip a beat. "There you go again with your lame jokes," she''s been saying things like that recently and I''m sure she''s just messing with me. "It was a good match. You should''ve paid attention to it." I changed the subject as I tried to calm myself. "Hmm... Maybe, but I already know who will win," she with certainty. "I''ve had the chance to experience Ria''s strength firsthand during our practice matches. I think the current her is impossible for her to lose to anyone in one versus one." "I see... I hope you learned a lot from your practice sessions with Aria and Lucy." "Oh, for sure! But what I''m really glad about is getting to know more about my idol straight from her prot¨¦g¨¦! You know what I heard from Ria? Turns out Yuusha may seem all distant and stuff, but deep down, she actually really cares about her guild a lot!" she gushed, showing her fangirling side. "O-oh really? That''s interesting," I replied noncommittally, not quite liking where this was going. For her part, Liz seemed excited to share more about what she learned about her idol, which is bad for me. "Ria told me that Yuusha never parties with anyone to complete the guild quests, but she specifically chooses the ones that are challenging for newbie guild members to handle on their own!" she exclaimed. "Well, maybe she just wants to take on the harder quests for better rewards?" I immediately tried to downplay her overblown thoughts of my character. Liz shook her head, disagreeing with my assessment. "No, I don''t think that''s the reason. Ria later found out from Celeste that Yuusha actually donates all the quest materials and resources she obtains towards improving the guild when it was just starting out!" ¡°W-whoah that¡¯s great¡­¡± I tried to fake enthusiasm. I mean, what else am I supposed to do? Hearing yourself getting praised by your friend even though she doesn¡¯t know she was praising you kinda feels.. odd? I need to change the subject or something. When Liz gets talking about my old avatar, she usually never lets up with how enthusiastic she is. ¡°I know right!?¡± she exclaimed, happy to hear converging opinions about her idol. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it In an attempt to divert the conversation from Liz''s fangirling, I shifted my attention around the room, searching for an opportunity to change the topic. As I glanced around, I noticed Clarence engaged in a conversation with Chu, his demeanor void of any signs of sadness. It was surprising to see him seemingly unaffected by his recent defeat. I had initially expected him to be more heartbroken by the loss, but it appeared that he had managed to bounce back and regain his spirits. I felt relieved knowing that he had already found a way to cheer himself up. ¡°Hey Kat, are you listening?¡± sensing I was getting lost in my own thoughts again, Liz asked to confirm her audience¡¯s attention. ¡°H-huh, y-yeah of course! It¡¯s just, uhm, nature calls so¡­ I''ll be right back!¡± I quickly responded, expertly fabricating a lie to excuse myself from the unavoidable topic. "Want me to come with?" Liz offered to accompany me. I shook my head and replied, "No, it''s alright. Just stay here and enjoy the post-match analysis. You know how I''m not a fan of going in the bathroom together." ¡°Alright¡­ be careful¡­¡± she said as I successfully made my escape. --------------------- As I made my way towards the hallway outside, I caught sight of one of the rooms designated for the participants. Glancing at the door, I noticed a label affixed to it that read ¡®Paragons.¡¯ ¡°So, this is their room, huh?¡± I murmured to myself. Having used the excuse of needing to go to the comfort room to escape the conversation with Liz, I realized that I didn''t actually have the need to use it. Instead of wasting time walking around without purpose, might as well take this moment to congratulate Aria on her impressive performance since I¡¯m already here. I also want to wish her the best of luck for the upcoming finals since I sincerely hope she wins the whole thing. With that in mind, I veered away from the comfort room and made my way toward their room, ready to extend my heartfelt congratulations and offer my support to my friend. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± I stood at the door for a while, hesitating. Now that I''m here... What should I say to her even? While Aria herself may not mind my presence, her teammates might view it differently, especially since our collaboration had already ended and we would be facing each other in the main tournament the following day. Hmm¡­ Should I just go back? No, Liz would get suspicious since I wasn¡¯t away for that very long. Contemplating what to do next when a sudden familiar voice caught me out of my musings. "Oh! Are you here to congratulate Aria too? She did amazing, didn''t she?" the lively voice exclaimed enthusiastically. As I turned around, I recognized an acquaintance, a muscular individual with a cheerful smile. His¡­ no¡­ her eyes were filled with genuine happiness, almost as if she was encountering a dear friend¡ªwhich, in a way, we probably were. Seeing another person with her, my attention shifted to the other figure standing beside Celeste. Clad in enigmatic attire, he seemed to be in his mid-20s dressed in a large coat with his face mask on along with a complementary wide-brimmed hat to further hide his face. Sensing that my attention was on him he took off his mask to reveal a familiar face, a face I¡¯ve seen a couple of times in the interviews on the pro scene. "You know her, Calah?" the person in Celeste''s company asked, curious about our connection. "Hehehe... Hahahaha. Of course, I do," Celeste responded suspiciously, a mischievous tone in her voice. "Not only is she an important friend to Aria, but she''s also quite recently become a close friend of mine, hehe." Stop it, please! You''re making it worse with the way you act! Tactical sighed and Celeste¡¯s display of immaturity. "Please excuse her¡­ quirkiness¡­ for a lack of a better word.¡± "It''s... it''s alright," I responded in a barely audible voice. I¡¯m already used to her antics so her acting like this doesn¡¯t surprise me one bit. ¡°Hey, don''t go calling me weird! Also, Novo here is one of the most hardworking players in our alliance so we are pretty close.¡± She gave me a knowing wink before continuing. She has been a tremendous help to our guild. More than you ever have." Tactical''s response contained a hint of defensiveness. "Sorry for being occupied with my preparations for professional matches." "But you''re not a pro anymore, so why not contribute more to the guild?" Celeste challenged him. "I... I''ll think about it," Tactical replied, his focus shifting towards me. He then directed his question at me. "If I''m not mistaken, you''re Katherine, right?" ¡°You know me?¡± I said warily while glancing at Celeste. Did she already tell him about me? No, if that¡¯s the case, this conversation would go a separate route from what is happening now. "Yeah, there''s been something I''ve been wanting to discuss with you," Tactical replied. Curiosity piqued, I asked him. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?" "I''m sure you''re already aware of who I am, considering you''re playing CoA as well," he confidently stated. "I''ll explain what I need your help with later. As a token of appreciation for your time, I''ll even offer you an autograph." I almost scoffed at him but thankfully held it back just in the nick of time. It seems that his tendency to be boastful remains unchanged. It¡¯s quite nostalgic, really. It brings back a lot of memories of how self-assured he always is which brought a smile to my face. "But before we dive into that, let''s head inside first. I assume you''re here to congratulate your friend for her win, right?" he continued, his gaze filled with understanding. I nodded. Might as well use this opportunity to go with them. It might be a bit weird, but I do feel a lot more relaxed when I''m with these two. Especially since the rest of the new Paragons know them so they can take the brunt of the attention. Celeste casually swung the door open without bothering to knock, much to Tactical''s apparent exasperation. Despite his frustration, Tactical reluctantly followed her into the room. The carefree behavior displayed by Celeste starkly contrasted with the more reserved and cautious attitude of Tactical, brings back a whole lot of memories. Without allowing myself to be distracted by nostalgic thoughts, I promptly followed Celeste and Tactical into the room where four individuals stared at us. "Hello, everyone! How have you all been?" Celeste greeted cheerfully, bringing an air of positivity into the room. Lucy, surprised by Celeste''s unexpected arrival, expressed her excitement. "Celeste! You didn''t mention that you were coming to watch the matches today! I thought I had to wait another day to see you!" Moving swiftly towards Celeste, Lucy embraced her in a warm and friendly hug, which Celeste returned. Their shared practice of jiu-jitsu made such close physical contact feel natural for them. "I was wondering who I heard talking by the door. So, it was the two of you," Seer remarked, directing a nod towards Tactical. Blitz, always quick to lighten the mood, added a playful remark. "And it seems you''ve brought one of our future opponents along." "We happened to run into her by the door and noticed that she seemed hesitant to come inside. It seemed to me that she wanted to congratulate her friend on her win so I suggested that we enter together since she appeared a bit shy," Tactical explained, providing context for my presence. The heck, Tactical! You never fail to amaze me with your perceptive nature, accurately picking up on what I was going through internally. But please don''t share it with them in such a straightforward manner¡ªit''s a tad embarrassing for me! ¡°Katherine? You¡¯re here for me?¡± Aria said with an unreadable expression. ¡°¡­Yeah, good job on your last fight. I never knew you were already this strong¡­¡± I gave my honest opinion, giving her a genuine smile in the process. "N-naturally, I am Yuusha''s one and only prot¨¦g¨¦ after all, so it''s to be expected," she responded, her gaze slightly averted. There was a hint of embarrassment in her tone, likely due to the context of our shared understanding that only she and I were privy to¡­ and Celeste included, I guess. We chatted for a little while longer (mostly Celeste and Tactical with the other Paragon members) until one of the staff came to remind Aria that the tournament would continue and she was needed on the stage. Vol.2 Chapter 38 "And those are all of our sponsors for this tournament!" announced the panelist as the commercial break came to an end. About time! Those are a lot of sponsors! I would¡¯ve surely fallen asleep watching the sponsors if it weren¡¯t for Liz chatting me up while commenting on every single one of the brands, which I know nothing about. I personally don''t place much importance on wearing or using products from well-known brands. For me, what matters most is that the functionality of the product is reliable and meets my needs. As long as it serves its purpose effectively, I am satisfied, regardless of the brand name attached to it. "And now, the fight you¡¯ve all been waiting for! The grand finale of the one-on-one tournament is imminent!" the panelist hyped, preparing the audience for the climax of the one-on-one competition. ¡°That¡¯s right, Raze, on top of receiving the cash prize for their team, they will receive the most coveted prize of the tournament, the glory of being crowned as the strongest player under 20!¡± his co-panelist followed suit, eliciting more cheers from the crowd. ¡°What do you think of the matchup this time around, Mr. Bogdan?¡± the lead panelist asked the special guest, Vlad, for his predictions. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Vlad pondered a little longer than usual before replying. ¡°In terms of flexibility and skills, Ariadne has the advantage from what she has shown thus far. But I can¡¯t underestimate Arthur¡¯s threat of being able to one-shot Ariadne with his weapon skill if it connects. Therefore, I think this fight would be decided whether Ariadne can dodge Arthur¡¯s weapon skill or not,¡± he shared his honest thoughts, which I agree with completely. From Aria¡¯s performance throughout the matches, I could clearly see she is in her top form. She has a clear advantage here versus Arthur. However, I cannot underestimate her opponent either. In a skill-focused game like CoA, even the slightest error can shift the outcome of a match. Despite Aria''s skill advantage, a minor mistake could lead to her being outplayed and losing the game, especially against a weapon skill that can one-shot you. I shook my head to banish all negative thoughts. No, Aria will win this match. I just have to believe in her. She never loses her composure, even in tough battles, even from back then when I was her mentor. That is one of her strongest points, after all. Noticing that I was lost in my own thoughts, Liz, who was sitting beside me, expressed her concern. "Are you alright, Kat?" "I''m fine¡­" I reassured her. After a brief pause, almost as if anticipating my thoughts, she eventually spoke, "Don''t worry too much. Ria got this." I looked at her for a second, then smiled. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± I nodded in agreement. When I returned my focus to the game, I found myself slightly more at ease. Soon after the panel members'' discussions, the lead panelist shifted the focus to the casters. ¡°And now that our insights and analysis of the match are over. Let¡¯s all head on to your favorite casters, DJ Riot and Paratrooper, for the in-game match commentaries!¡± With his familiar and well-practiced introduction, the lead panelist smoothly transitioned the attention toward the casters, signaling the start of the match. "Absolutely, Raze! Now that we have reached the finals, I have a question for our audience... ARE YOU ALL READY FOR AN EPIC SHOWDOWN?!!" the caster exclaimed at the top of his lungs, exuding an infectious energy. The response was overwhelmingly loud, with the resounding cheers and shouts reverberating even within the confines of our isolated room. It was evident that the caster''s passionate efforts had not been in vain, as the audience reciprocated his enthusiasm wholeheartedly. ¡°That is what I¡¯d like to hear! How about you, Paratrooper, who do you think has the advantage in this match?¡± Riot asked his co-caster. "¡­It''s truly difficult to say," Paratrooper voiced his honest opinion. "While Ariadne may be the more skilled player amongst the two, as the panelists mentioned, one wrong move against Arthur and it could be all over. Arthur''s expertise in utilizing his overpowered weapon skill is well-known. Considering Ariadne''s lower survivability, a single hit from Arthur''s weapon skill could potentially decide the outcome. It would be unwise to underestimate him." "That''s assuming Arthur can even land a hit on her. Let''s not forget that we''re talking about Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦ here," DJ Riot countered, After a moment of contemplation, Paratrooper conceded, "Well, you do have a point." With the stage set, the anticipation growing, the lead caster resolutely exclaimed, "Well, we shall soon find out for ourselves in the upcoming match! Who will emerge victorious? Who will be crowned as the game''s strongest player under 20? Will it be Ariadne, the successor of Yuusha and the Captain of the new generation of Paragons? Or will it be Arthur, the esteemed leader of the renowned Round Table Guild and the wielder of one of the strongest Unique Weapon skills in the game? Ladies and gentlemen, the moment has arrived as we finally shift our focus to the thrilling match ahead!" As the caster delivered his commentary, the screen smoothly transitioned to the familiar Colosseum-themed arena, setting the stage for the ultimate one-on-one tournament match. The virtual arena shimmered with digital grandeur, and its intricate details and imposing architecture created a dramatic backdrop for the impending showdown between the competitors. Amidst the anticipation and excitement, my eyes instantly focused on Aria. Aria''s presence commanded attention, a silent promise of a fierce battle about to unfold. Her demeanor seemed to exude a sense of seriousness and determination¡ªwell, more serious than what she usually looks. As both contestants prepare for the upcoming battle, the digital display flashes, signaling the imminent start of Aria and Arthur''s final match. 3¡­ 2¡­ Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. 1¡­ Match Start! Just as the system announced the start of the battle, both Aria and Arthur stood their ground, their respective stance in tow, while warily looking at each other in complete silence. ¡°O-oh, what is this? Why is nobody making a move?¡± DJ Riot asked his co-caster. ¡°That is to be expected, Riot. It¡¯s the finals, after all, so they have to be extra wary in dealing with their opponents since they also made it to the finals. Both players also seem to hold each other¡¯s skills in high regard, resulting in a staring contest. This could be over in an instant if they are not careful,¡± Paratrooper answered his partner and most likely the audience¡¯s unvoiced question. Arthur was the first one to speak. ¡°Before we begin, I would like to say that I really respect you.¡± A bit caught off guard by the sudden praise, Ariadne stayed silent. ¡°On top of being the strongest player in the tournament, you also lead one of the largest and strongest guilds in CoA. Above all, you are also one of the strongest CoA player¡¯s successors,¡± Arthur continued. ¡°Please get to the point¡­¡± Aria said curtly. I let out a sigh at the exchange. Honestly, that girl''s personality is quite straightforward and direct, as always. She doesn''t beat around the bush and gets straight to the point. She needs to lighten up a little sometimes. Arthur, for his part, took it in stride, giving her a humored smile. ¡°As harsh as the rumors say, I see,¡± he gave Aria a lighthearted chuckle before continuing. ¡°My point is that I also bear the same expectations from my friends, guildmates, and everyone dear to me. I won¡¯t hold back. I will give it my all to win this match, not only for me but also for those who believe in me¡­ cause I know you would also do the same. So may the stronger player win,¡± Arthur declared with unwavering determination. His words carried such conviction that the atmosphere around him seemed to shift, filled with a renewed sense of intensity. ¡°¡­That is what I like to hear,¡± Aria replied, taking his declaration positively. She seemed to appreciate his fighting spirit and took his words as a welcome challenge. Following their brief exchange, both fighters dashed forward simultaneously, their movements synchronized in a display of fierce determination. ¡°Oh! Both players are suddenly going on the offensive! It looks like this battle will be intense, folks! Just as they were both near each other, Aria¡¯s weapon shifted into a spear, catching Arthur off guard with the extended reach far surpassing his own and managing to land a hit on his square chest. ¡°Urgh!¡± Arthur HP: 88% ¡°Oh! Her weapon shifted into a spear! It looks like Ariadne won¡¯t be holding back in using her weapon skill this time!¡± the caster stated the obvious. Arthur retaliated by doing a quick vertical slash, an attack so fast that I doubted if Aria would be able to dodge it. In response, Aria¡¯s weapon suddenly shifted into two daggers with serrated edges and long cross guards on its sides¡ªa weapon primarily for parrying swords and other blades. She used her dominant right hand to parry the slash, then quickly countered with her left, a critical hit right through her opponent¡¯s head. TING* KACHACK* Arthur HP: 63% The simultaneous sound of both her parry and dagger strike resonated throughout the arena, eliciting more cheers from the audience. "An incredible move by Ariadne!" the caster exclaimed with excitement. "Her weapon transformed into a main gauche, allowing her to expertly parry Arthur''s fast swing and deliver a quick counterattack in response! On top of being extremely skilled at dodging, she could parry perfectly, too! Is there nothing this player can¡¯t do?!¡± Arthur, noticing his disadvantage, distances himself to create a breathing room. Seeing that her opponent has no means of dealing damage long-range, Ariadne let her opponent go without pursuing, opting for a safer option by turning her weapon into a whip, barraging Arthur with whip strikes, and slowly dwindling his HP little by little. Arthur HP: 50% "Now her weapon has transformed into a long-ranged whip!" the caster exclaimed, observing the shift in Ariadne''s arsenal. "While it may lack the raw damage of a conventional weapon, the continuous strikes from the whip will gradually wear down Arthur. This poses a significant challenge for him, especially considering his lack of means to heal himself." That¡¯s right. If Arthur let this drag on for a while, his HP would drop to zero. He has no choice but to go aggressive again and risk fighting Aria¡¯s ever-changing weapon skill at close range. It looks like Aria is trapping him little by little with her on-point tactics and skilled plays. It won¡¯t be long before she eventually wins this fight¡­ I hope. The status quo dragged on for a while, with Arthur receiving more and more hits due to Aria¡¯s unrelenting whip strikes. Arthur HP: 31% ¡°Oh Hoh! Looks like Ariadne is just too strong for Arthur to fight against! What a dominant showing for the Paragon¡¯s Captain!¡± the caster commented. The match is more one-sided than I thought it would be. It''s not that I''m complaining. Aria''s level in her current state is just too strong for anyone in this tournament to defeat right now. Not having any other option, Arthur finally rushed towards his opponent. Arthur lunged forward, his blade aimed directly at Aria. With lightning speed and precision, he executed a ferocious strike, but to his astonishment, Aria effortlessly evaded it. In a display of agility and grace, Aria''s movements flowed seamlessly, her body becoming an extension of her instincts. Time seemed to slow as Arthur¡¯s strike passed through thin air, missing its target by a hair''s breadth. Having dodged the strike, Aria¡¯s weapon then shifted into a dagger. Determined to finish the match once and for all, Ariadne did a two-hit critical attack aimed at Arthur¡¯s head. Arthur cannot possibly survive two critical hits. That is what was supposed to happen, but the hits didn''t connect as I thought it would. Arthur managed to grab hold of Aria''s dominant hand, preventing one of the strikes from connecting. Moreover, he narrowly evaded her other dagger strike, dodging it with mere inches to spare. What is with that sudden burst of speed?! Is it adrenaline or pure determination to not lose, perhaps?! Humans often display exceptional athletic abilities whenever faced with extreme challenges. Nevertheless, Aria let her guard down, perhaps knowing that her victory was almost secure. Unbeknownst to her, Arthur had been biding his time, waiting for this opportune moment to turn the tides and deliver a decisive blow. Arthur took a significant gamble that ultimately paid off, leading to this situation. The safe bet was to play it safe and get away from Arthur''s grasp as soon as possible, but unfortunately, Aria did not. She executed another dagger strike with her unused hand, disregarding defense entirely in favor of an attack to finish the match swiftly. This is bad; she''s too impatient! She could just bet her time and would win eventually. She did not need to take such a risk! Ariadne''s dagger became a blur of motion as she launched her attack towards Arthur¡¯s unprotected head. The blade gleamed in the light of the arena; its edge honed to a deadly sharpness as it sliced through her opponent with precision. As the dagger made contact with Arthur''s avatar, it took a chunk of his hp. Unfortunately, it was not enough to deal the fatal blow. Arthur HP: 7% I don''t blame her for being a bit greedy and rushing her attack. When we are nearing the end of the tunnel, we often get careless and head as fast as we can towards the light. It is only normal human emotions that lead us to try to rush things when we believe victory is within reach. Sadly, Aria¡¯s gamble did not pay off. However, Arthur did not let this momentary mistake pass by. Now that Aria wasted her opportunity and was not able to deal a decisive blow, Arthur¡¯s strike is about to hit her. His sword glowed with its customary golden hue, signifying the oncoming onslaught. My heart plummeted as a wave of adverse emotions washed over me due to the unforeseen twist of events. Is Aria about to lose? I silently prayed for Aria to evade the impending counterattack. Regrettably, my hopes were dashed. As Arthur''s sword gleamed with radiance, he scraped the weapon against the ground, imbuing it with an otherworldly energy. With a firm hold on Aria''s hand, he executed an upward strike towards her with unwavering resolve. ¡°I got you now! Golden Sanctity!" Arthur declared with overflowing emotions. BOOM* The golden light burst through the air, flinging Aria upwards with a knock up the impact of the hit. No... she can''t possibly survive taking an attack like that head-on. It can only mean that she... lost? "What an incredible comeback! Against all expectations, Arthur executed a decisive outplay to secure the victory!" the caster exclaimed with excitement, shattering any lingering hope that Aria might have survived a direct hit. The camera angle then focused on Aria as she was flung in the air due to the strong impact of the hit. Ariadne HP: 52% What?! She still has 52% hp left... but how?! Focusing on this angle, the viewers can clearly see that she is currently holding a shield. She blocked the weapon skill and survived the attack in the last second! "O-oh! what is this!? I spoke too soon, folks! It looks like Ariadne shifted to a shield in the last second, mitigating the damage of Arthur''s weapon skill and surviving the attack!" From the camera''s viewpoint, Aria''s weapon transformed yet again, this time into a bow. Though still suspended in mid-air, upside down from the force of Arthur''s strike, she skillfully aimed the arrow directly at him before releasing it. Arthur''s weapon skill came with its drawbacks, such as how strong it is, and one such drawback was his temporary immobility immediately after its usage. As a result, he had no means of evading the arrow hurtling towards him. With uncanny precision, the arrow struck Arthur square in his body, leading to a moment of stunned silence as the crowd processed the unexpected turn of events. "W-what an expert display of marksmanship! Is there nothing this girl can do?!" the caster shouted, a tone of amazement evident in his tone. Arthur Hp: 0% The arrow embedded in his heart disappeared just as Ariadne switched her weapon back to its normal dagger form. The surprise was evident on Arthur¡¯s face as his hp dropped to zero. ¡°I lost... That was a good match...¡± He made a bittersweet smile at his opponent before disappearing into blue motes of light. "T-there you have it folks, the strongest player of the new generation of CoA, Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦ and the captain of Paragons, Armsmaster Ariadne!" The caster shouted Aria''s victory and a self-made moniker at the top of his lungs, resulting in the crowd''s boisterous cheers. Vol.2 Chapter 39 ¡°Oof¡± I made an uncharacteristic sound as I propelled myself toward the luxurious hotel bed. Well, considering the events that happened earlier, I think I deserve this much at least. After a long and exhilarating day at the tournament, I finally found a moment to unwind and reflect on the events that had transpired. Being in an extremely good mood and also eager to catch up with the current news in the CoA community, I pulled out my phone and opened my social media apps, craving the connection and updates that awaited me. Looking at my phone screen, I switched to a sitting position to better read the comments. As I scrolled through my feed, a wave of excitement washed over me as I saw numerous posts and photos from fans and audience who had attended the tournament. Most of them uttered words of congratulations for a job well done. Ray Meisterdem: That was one of the best tournament runs I¡¯ve seen so far. Julia Cruz: What an absolutely thrilling final match it was! I leaped out of my seat multiple times while watching the last fight! Loyd Sky: Congratulations on the win! Crystelle Clear: Armsmaster Ariadne, that sounds like a good moniker. Bonnie Ackerman: She really is Yuusha¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦ huh? ¡°Hehe,¡± a giggle escaped my lips from reading the last comment. I did well to meet your expectations, right Katherine? Still, the battle has just begun, the main tournament is what really matters. And I hope we can both fight without reservations in the grand stage that lies ahead. As I continued scrolling through my social media feed, a particular post caught my eye for having insanely high views, likes, and shares. It was an interview snippet of me from earlier in the day right after the finals. Intrigued, I clicked on the video, eager to relive the moments captured on camera from a viewer''s perspective. Taping on the video, I was greeted by the presence of the familiar tournament interviewer who had previously introduced me to the audience. In the clip, he was in the process of introducing me to the spectators and viewers. ¡°Her journey to this moment has been nothing short of extraordinary. Throughout the tournament, she showcased an unparalleled level of skill, leaving everyone in awe! Most of all, in the final match where she truly shone, delivering a performance that I¡¯m sure will be etched in the minds of everyone who witnessed it firsthand! With her lightning-fast reflexes and incredible dodging skills, she dominated all competitors, outmaneuvering her adversaries with precision and finesse. Her decision-making in high-pressure situations was nothing short of masterful, allowing her to thrive when the stakes were at their highest,¡± the interviewer exaggeratedly hyped, leading to the introduction. Relieving the grand introduction almost made me cringe for the second time. They sure do like to overhype their audience. ¡°Now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you''ve been waiting for. Let us welcome The undisputed champion of the Champion''s Brawl one vs one tournament, Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦ and Captain of the Paragons team, Ariadne!" the interviewer continued. As the video played, capturing my own presence on the screen, I saw myself walking confidently towards the stage, greeted by a resounding cheer from the crowd. However, I couldn''t help but notice a hint of daze and distraction in my expression. It seemed that the overwhelming surge of emotions from the victory had momentarily left me stunned and unfocused. The exhilaration of the last match¡¯s outcome undoubtedly contributed to the ¡®winner''s high¡¯ I was experiencing at that very moment. ¡°Congratulations on your incredible victory in the Champion''s Brawl 1v1 tournament! How does it feel to be crowned the champion of the one vs one under 20 competition?¡± the interviewer, whose name I came to know as Joshua, finally started to do his job. ¡°Thank you. It feels wonderful,¡± the ¡®me¡¯ from earlier replied curtly. Looking back, I realized that I may have appeared slightly aloof, like an honor student you would typically see in class. It¡¯s probably because I was simply overwhelmed by a sense of euphoria because of my almost near loss. Reflecting on the last match, my desire to end the game faster could have potentially cost me the game. If it hadn''t been for my instinctive decision to shift my weapon into a shield, I would have likely lost due to my own greed to swiftly end the match. I¡¯m sure it was because of the countless hours of practice and honing my skills that I was able to use my weapon skill as an extension of myself. Without this level of mastery, I am certain that I would not have emerged victorious in the finals. It seems that I still have a lot more to improve. I just hope this victory does not go to my head. In hindsight, my opponent honestly deserves my respect. He took a beating to catch me off guard at the very last moment. He played to win for his teammates and guild and did not cut any corners. Even though he lost, his determination is praiseworthy at the very least. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "I see, I see. You demonstrated exceptional skill and strategic prowess throughout the tournament. Could you share some insights into your preparation leading up to the competition?" inquired the interviewer. "Maintaining high levels of mechanical skill requires constant practice and unwavering dedication," I responded instinctively, taking notes from my countess speech as the Paragon¡¯s Vice Guild Leader. "In the weeks leading up to the tournament, I dedicated countless hours to honing my reflexes and mastering the intricate mechanics of the game. I engaged in regular training sessions, diligently worked on movement drills, and carefully analyzed my own gameplay to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, sparring with strong teammates from Team Paradigm proved invaluable in sharpening my skills." "Oh, so you have a good relationship with Team Paradigm?" the interviewer inquired with a little more interest this time. "Yes, absolutely. We share a strong camaraderie, and I have no doubt that they will also deliver an impressive performance in the main tournament," I replied confidently. "Well, that''s something to look forward to. I''m certain the viewers are eagerly anticipating their matches as well," the interviewer concluded, echoing the excitement held by the audience. ¡°Lastly, after this great showing of your skills, I¡¯m sure you gained many fans. What message do you have for aspiring players who look up to you?¡± the interviewer asked curiously. ¡°Believe in yourself and don¡¯t lose sight of what you strive for," I replied, delivering the familiar words in a practiced manner. "Reaching the skill level of the participants in this tournament requires hard work, resilience, and a deep passion for the game. Embrace the challenges, view them as opportunities for growth, and constantly strive for development. With dedication to hone your skills and unwavering determination, I¡¯m sure any of you can surpass me.¡± As I spoke, I realized that these encouraging words had become somewhat automatic, as I often shared similar messages with my guild mates being their Vice-Leader to encourage their growth. While I may have recited them instinctively, the sentiment behind those words remained sincere and genuine. "What an inspiring message! Thank you, Ariadne, for your time, and once again, congratulations on your extraordinary victory. Any last thing you want to say to your fans and those who supported you?" the interviewer finally asked. ¡°I want to give my gratitude to them for their support. Also... if you are watching right now¡­ I hope you know that I reached this far, all because of you¡­ so thanks for everything you taught me,¡± I saw my past self¡¯s cheeks reddening as she said those words before the clip ended. As I listened to those same words being spoken once more, I felt a tingling warmth in my cheeks, causing them to redden once again. However, I reassured myself that there was no need for embarrassment. I spoke from the heart, expressing what was genuinely on my mind during the interview. I have no regrets about my words, as they reflected my true feelings and appreciation for her. Suddenly, a knock on my door brought me to the present. Startled by the unexpected sound, I quickly composed myself, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. Steadying my breathing, I approached the door with the intent to check on the identity of the visitor. Opening the door, I saw Lucy and Seer, their friendly smiles greeting me warmly. ¡°Sorry, did we disturb your rest?¡± Seer politely asked. ¡°No, it''s fine, come on in,¡± a genuine smile spread across my face as I welcomed them inside. Closing the door behind them, I gestured to the inviting seating area, inviting them to make themselves comfortable. "Hehe, if you''re in need of rest, don''t worry about us. Take your time and recharge. You absolutely deserve it after delivering such an outstanding performance! And remember, even when you achieve great success as a pro, don''t forget about your best friend here, okay?" Lucy said with a lighthearted tone. ¡°What are you talking about, you''re joining me in tackling the pro scene. We are a team, after all,¡± I stated, giving her a smirk. ¡°Ehhh? I don''t think I''m good enough to be teammates with ''The Armsmaster¡¯,¡± Lucy teased. I let out a heavy sigh, realizing the effect that monikers can have and how they tend to stick within a community. Based on my previous experiences on social media, I observed that the CoA community has a tendency to continually repeat and reinforce the moniker they have assigned to me. This repetition serves to solidify the association between the moniker and my identity, making it more likely to endure and become firmly established in people''s perceptions. I must admit, I had hoped for a moniker that would highlight my own dodging skills, much like the one Katherine possesses¡­ but I guess beggars can¡¯t be choosers. It¡¯s just a moniker anyway so it won¡¯t affect my gameplay, not one bit. ¡°Why are you both here though? Is there anything you guys need?¡± I asked, intent on changing the subject. ¡°Yes, the staff has informed us that they require our decision on choosing our opponent for the main tournament. They need our input promptly in order to finalize the bracket today and make the official announcement tomorrow,¡± Seer revealed their agenda. ¡°¡­I see, what are the options again?¡± I inquired Seer. I was so focused on the fights earlier that I almost forgot that was part of the reward for the one-on-one tournament. That reminds me, I want to split the cash prize evenly for the whole team since I also owe it to their help that I won the competition. ¡°For the upcoming upper bracket match, we have two options to consider: either facing off against the Paradigm team or the Variables team. Unfortunately, the Round Table team is not included in our choices since Arthur has made it to the finals. His team, the Round Table, will battle against the team that we do not select from the other two upper-bracket participants,¡± Seer explained helpfully. ¡°Yeah, all of us already decided to go up against Paradigm since Gilligan¡¯s team seems to be the stronger of the two with some of their players established national achievements in their respective martial arts. We also have a grasp on their gameplay since we already faced them in our scrims. We wanted to ask for your opinion before we make a decision, so that is why we are here,¡± Lucy added. ¡°No, do not choose Paradigm as our first opponent,¡± I said firmly. My statement made both of them look at me with curiosity. Seer, probably getting the wrong idea of why I did not want to fight Katherine¡¯s team, tried to convince me otherwise. ¡°I know you are close to them¡­ but this is a competition, we will face them sooner or later. The best bet we have is to face them now since Gilligan¡¯s team would be a lot more troublesome than theirs and we are betting on Arthur¡¯s team to send them to the lower bracket¡­ if they get lucky. And even if they do not win, we at least will be letting the top two strongest teams in the tournament have a go at each other¡¯s throats and eliminate a future potential problem for us. I hope you won''t let your closeness to Paradigm¡¯s team members and your emotions cloud your judgment,¡± Seer admonished. He has a point. But considering he doesn¡¯t have the same information as I do, it would be unfair to fault him for arriving at that particular conclusion. ¡°¡­You misunderstand. I want to choose Gilligan¡¯s team because they would be the easier option to fight against compared to Katherine¡¯s team,¡± I stated as a matter of fact. My reply clearly shocked both of my teammates. ¡°¡­Is it because of that girl? Novo?¡± Lucy inquired carefully. I pondered for a while, thinking of what little I could reveal while not compromising my promise to keep her identity to myself. ¡°¡­Yes. I¡¯m positive she will be our greatest adversary coming to the main tournament. Trust me when I say that she was holding back in their scrim match against our team.¡± A sense of solemnity filled the room, casting a somber atmosphere over the discussion. Time seemed to pass slowly before Seer finally broke the silence. "I understand you hold her in high regard, but rest assured, I have taken preemptive measures to counter her abilities, no matter how skilled she may be," Seer reassured, attempting to alleviate any concerns. ¡°¡­Please trust me on this, she has more than enough countermeasures against us than we have on her,¡± I countered. She was once our guildmate after all and a member of the original Paragons, a team that our movements and strategies are based on. If there is anyone that can counter us, it is the one who had a hand in making them in the first place. He fixed his gaze upon me, searching for any indication of falsehood. After a moment of scrutiny, he sighed and finally relented. "...Alright, I will place my trust in your judgment." "But¡­ assuming we both win our matches, we will eventually face each other in the upper bracket finals¡­ you can beat her¡­ right?¡± Lucy asked hopefully. I stayed silent. Contemplating what to say. Can I really? Do I have a chance against her as I am now? ¡°A-aria¡­?¡± Lucy said, becoming more nervous by the second due to my lack of response. ¡°I hope so.¡± Vol.2 Chapter 40 Ariadne, Yuusha¡¯s Protege, Triumph in the u-20 Champion''s Brawl 1v1 Tournament Following in the Footsteps of the Legend and Leading the Way in Champions of Andartha In the enthralling world of the virtual reality e-sports game Champions of Andartha, a new star has emerged. Aria Reed, known in-game as Ariadne, has made her mark on the competitive scene, showcasing unparalleled skill and unwavering determination. As the protege of Yuusha, the celebrated winner of the first inaugural Andartha Cup (AC) tournament, Aria continues to forge her path, establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with. Leading the next generation of Paragon, she recently clinched victory in the prestigious Champion''s Brawl 1v1 tournament, solidifying her role as a rising star in CoA. Aria Reed''s path in CoA was not paved with ease. It began alongside her retired mentor, Yuusha, the revered winner of the first AC tournament. Under her guidance, Aria honed her skills and nurtured a passion for virtual battlegrounds. Learning from the best, she absorbed valuable insights into the intricacies of the game, elevating her gameplay and strategic thinking. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and dedication in the face of challenges. Aria''s ascent reached an awe-inspiring peak in the recently concluded Champion''s Brawl 1v1 tournament. Competing against some of the most skilled players in CoA, Aria showcased her exceptional talent by maneuvering through the ranks with unwavering determination. Her strategic acumen, adaptability, lightning-fast reflexes, and dodging skills, coupled with her unique weapon skill that can shift her weapon to suit her needs, set her apart from the competition, delivering a series of thrilling victories that left the audience in awe. In the grand finale, Aria faced off against the renowned player Arthur, leader of a famous guild known as ¡®The Round Table, with a dominating performance. Her strategic approach and ability to read her opponents'' moves allowed her to seize crucial opportunities in a nail-biting finish. With a display of unprecedented skill, she emerged victorious, claiming the prestigious title in the Champion''s Brawl 1v1 tournament. This triumph, a testament to her rising star status in the CoA e-sports scene, is a moment of pride and excitement for all her fans. Aria''s meteoric rise has had a profound impact on the CoA community. Her talent, dedication, and leadership have not only inspired her teammates and rivals but have also captured the hearts of fans worldwide, especially enthusiasts of the retired player Yuusha. She serves as a beacon of hope and a symbol of perseverance for aspiring players and enthusiasts. Ariadne''s journey reminds us that determination, hard work, and perseverance are the cornerstones of success. With each victory, she continues to carve her path in the virtual realm, leaving a lasting impression on the CoA world. You can see more of her in action in the main team tournament this upcoming weekend. Comments: SarahH89: Wow, I¡¯ve been a fan of hers since I learned she is Yuusha¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦! I¡¯m glad to be one of her first followers! GamingGeek21: Ariadne¡¯s victory in the Champion''s Brawl tournament has me absolutely thrilled. That was an absolutely intense final match. Rosa4Life: I''ve been following her progress for a while now, and I couldn''t be prouder of her triumph in the Champion''s Brawl. BenAddict23: There''s something special about her gameplay that captivates me every time I watch her in action. TeamParagonForever: That is to be expected. She is Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦ after all! Eduardo141: Congrats on your well-deserved win! SimpGamingxoxo: I have so much respect for her after that dominating run, so much so that I became a simp for her! I wish her luck in the main tournament! It''s evident that they''re emphasizing the fact that she is Yuusha''s prot¨¦g¨¦. I can understand their drive to attract more clicks and views, considering Yuusha''s status as one of the renowned figures in the CoA community. This attention can work to their advantage, as it is likely only a matter of time before this news goes viral. This increased visibility will undoubtedly attract more future offers for her and her team, partly thanks to the added influence of the previous Paragon members, especially Zetta and Yuusha. Yuusha, huh? I do not know why she suddenly left us, but would she return to the game if that girl knew she was this well-received even more now? Hmm... My guess is that considering how introverted she is, she would at least make another account if she decided to play the game again. Well, if she did, I''m sure I would be the one she adds to her friend list first. I''m the one she¡¯s closest to our team, after all, since we used to theory craft all day when we were still practicing for the AC tournament. I smiled in nostalgia. Those were some good times. Back then, almost everybody was lost and still didn''t have a good grasp of how to play CoA, which was only garnering popularity. For people like us, theory crafting was like finding an island in the middle of the sea of endless possibilities. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Ting* The ringing of the bell in the door captured my attention, signaling the arrival of a newcomer to the coffee shop. The individual I was scheduled to meet has just arrived. I set aside my phone, saving it for browsing later. At this moment, my priority lies in making a strong initial impression if I am to successfully recruit the newly arrived girl. As she carefully surveyed her surroundings, our eyes met at that moment. What¡¯s odd is that I saw a hint of a smile lurking beneath her expression, although I couldn''t be sure if it was just my imagination since she was a bit far away. Upon spotting me, she made her way towards my table. "I apologize for the slight delay in coming here. I encountered some unexpected delays," she expressed a bit of remorse. ¡°No worries, please have a seat, Ms. Katherine,¡± I reassured while giving her a friendly smile. "Why did you choose this location for our meeting? Couldn''t we have a regular conversation about it?" she inquired further. "While that is an option, I prefer to make it a bit more formal as I have a proposal that I would like to put forth," I replied smoothly. She looked at me with a curious gaze. ¡°¡­Fine,¡± I gestured for a waiter to come over. "Order anything you like; it''s my treat." "No, it''s alright. I can pay for it myself,¡± she replied firmly, She seems to possess a strong sense of pride and is not inclined to accept favors or debts easily. Individuals with this kind of personality often strive for fairness and justice and are driven to repay their benefactors. It was precisely this type of character that I admired and wished to collaborate with. "...Alright," I conceded, acknowledging her wish. As the waiter I called arrived, he greeted us with a warm smile. "Good afternoon! May I both take your order?¡± Returning the smile, we exchanged pleasantries. The waiter graciously handed us the menus, ensuring we had ample time to peruse the array of tantalizing options. After a few moments of browsing, we signaled to the waiter, ready to share our choices. I ordered my preferred espresso blend while she ordered a cappuccino with a slice of chocolate cake. She seems to have a sweet tooth, which is common among girls her age. "Doesn''t it get hot wearing that outfit?" she asked after the waiter left to prepare our orders. I understand why she would raise that question, given that I''m currently in my usual disguise. Honestly, I''ve grown accustomed to wearing these types of clothes when attending major esports events. "Let me share a little insight with you, especially since I think you will make it big in the professional scene someday. Being as famous as myself can be quite challenging, particularly with numerous fans constantly seeking autographs. It can be a bit too much sometimes, so this is necessary," I said with a conspiratorial tone. E-sports have been a growing phenomenon for quite some time now, particularly with the advent of VR technology, which allows players to immerse themselves in fantastical virtual realities. VR games have become immensely popular in a world where everyone seeks an escape from their mundane lives. Furthermore, CoA has emerged as the dominant force in the world of esports. Therefore, achieving fame within this game inevitably results in being bombarded with relentless attention from fans. Her intense gaze fell upon me as she questioned, "Isn''t it your responsibility, at the very least, to engage with your fans who support and cheer for your games?" "Y-yes, I suppose so," I replied, feeling somewhat taken aback by her unfiltered response. Why do I feel like I¡¯m getting judged by this girl? As we continued our conversation, we delved into various topics, primarily focusing on the recent 1v1 tournament. Strangely enough, I couldn''t quite put my finger on it, but an undeniable sense of ease surrounded me whenever I was in her presence. This feeling of calmness had been present since our very first meeting, like talking to an old friend. With our orders served, we began enjoying our drinks, with her taking a bite of her cake every now and then. It was a sight to behold since she seemed to enjoy it more than I would expect judging by her image, which unexpectedly made me pleasantly content watching her eat. After some time, I felt that the moment was right to shift the conversation back to the main reason for our meeting. "Ahem, let''s return to the topic at hand," I paused briefly, creating a dramatic atmosphere for what I was about to say. "The reason I contacted you today was to offer you a position on the team I am in the process of assembling." "...I see," she responded, appearing somewhat uncertain about how to react to my proposal. As I observed her reaction, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of surprise. Upon receiving such an offer, I had anticipated her to display more enthusiasm or excitement. It is not uncommon for any player to eagerly embrace an opportunity like this. Am I missing something? She is pretty hard to read, and I can''t get a good grasp of her emotions at all. "Besides that, your survivability is also nothing to scoff at. I''ve analyzed your games, and even though your team is battling players below your level of skills, you still easily survived any attempts at you without even taking a single point of damage. It is rare for support to have that much survivability," I continued, wanting to get more reaction from her. A pause filled the air, and the silence seemed to grow a bit unsettling as I awaited her response. She took a sip of her coffee before finally speaking up. "I... actually have no interest in pursuing a professional esports career," she admitted. Her revelation left me in shock. Considering her exceptional skills and in-depth knowledge of the game, I believe that she has the potential to achieve great success in the industry. However, it became apparent that everyone has their own preferences and aspirations. Curiosity got the better of me, and I inquired, "May I ask why you decided to participate in the tournament?" She took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, her tone solemn, "Initially, it was more of a spontaneous decision... to repay a debt owed to a friend. But as time went on, it evolved into something more. It became a driving force for me to witness the growth of my teammates. I wanted to support them and see how far they could take their skills and reach new heights." Her selfless response left me in awe, and I couldn''t help but express my admiration. "I must say, you are remarkably mature for your age," I praised her genuinely. Her smile in response to my praise was a welcomed sight. It was the most noticeable reaction I had received from her since we began discussing the esports agenda. "Thanks," she replied modestly. "I always strive to be," she added. "Let me tell you now that I anticipate numerous offers coming your way after this tournament. If, by any chance, you reconsider your stance on going pro, I would be grateful if you allowed me to present the first offer for the contract," I said shamelessly, eager to poach the person before me before anyone could have the chance to. "Don''t worry. Your team is at the top of the list of those I would consider joining," she reassured. I smiled warmly in response and replied, "I''ll be counting on that." "If that''s all, I should be on my way now," she said as she savored the last bite of her cake. "What''s the rush? We could chat a bit longer about the tournament and the game," I said, not wanting to part ways yet. "I need to practice with my team for the main tournament. Not everyone has as much free time as you," she admonished. Taken aback by her straightforwardness, I stammered, "Y-you''re quite blunt, aren''t you?" "Only with people like you," she replied, her tone carrying a touch of amusement. Her remark made me pause, and I pondered its deeper meaning. What did she mean by "people like me"? My intuition told me there was more to it, but I couldn''t grasp the whole picture. Returning her smile, I said sincerely, "...Alright, I look forward to witnessing your performance on the main stage." She nodded appreciatively, leaving a bill to pay for her own order and a generous tip on the table before standing up from her chair and making her exit. Vol.2 Chapter 41 Hana¡¯s PoV I sat alone in the dark corner of the luxurious hotel room meant for participants, scrolling through my social media feeds after my recent disappointing performance in the 1v1 tournament earlier. What I read there brought tears to my eyes, a torrent of hurtful words that pierced my heart. It felt like a relentless assault on my spirit, chipping away at the passion that had fueled me for so long. JakesFin: What a joke. Is this girl really Murasame¡¯s sibling? Empress717: She can¡¯t even make it trhough the first round. Maverick007: Lost to a nobody, KEKW. Starlet99: The guy who beat her was part of the weakest team in the tournament, right? I heard Arthur defeated him in one hit. It¡¯s embarrassing to admit that I once rooted for her because of how disappointing her performance is. DylanDreamer: What a trash player! She can¡¯t even come close to her sister. Each hateful comment I read was like a dagger to my soul, tearing at my self-worth and shattering my confidence, especially the reminder that I was disgracing the name of my sister. The negativity laced in those words seeped into the depths of my being, clouding my mind with self-doubt and overwhelming sadness. Unable to hold back the flood of emotions, tears streamed down my face, and my heart ached with the weight of it all. At that moment, I questioned everything. Should I quit now to avoid any further tarnish on my dear sister¡¯s name? Was it worth it? Was pursuing my dreams to be by my sister¡¯s side truly worth enduring such cruelty? Can I even make it with how weak I am? KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* A sudden noise emanated from the door, disrupting my cycle of self-loathing and drawing my attention away from my negative thoughts. Startled by the sudden knock on my door, I quickly wiped away the remnants of my tears and took a deep breath. I had to regain control of my emotions, so I composed myself and ensured my voice remained steady as I spoke. "W-who is it?" I called out, my voice carefully concealing any traces of shakiness from the crying I had just moments before. "It''s Kaito. All of us are worried, so the twins sent me to ask if you¡¯re okay," said Kaito, one of my tournament teammates. His presence both comforted and unsettled me. While I valued his support, I wasn''t ready to reveal my vulnerability to anyone just yet. I have to act tough since I am our team¡¯s captain. If I show any weakness, it might affect our whole team¡¯s morale. Putting on my usual carefree facade, I mustered up the strength to respond, "I''m fine, no biggie! I¡¯m just tired, so I want to get some rest first. Can we chat later?¡± I hoped my words would dissuade him from further inquiry, but I knew Kaito well enough to understand that he could see through my act. Still, I desperately wanted to maintain my fa?ade of strength, not wanting anyone to see this vulnerable side of me. "I understand," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "If you ever need someone to talk to, remember that we are all here for you. Take care of yourself, okay?" "I don¡¯t deserve you guys¡­" I murmured to myself as I heard my teammate''s footsteps disappear into the hallway. As the weight of my disappointment settled upon me, I couldn''t help but blame myself for not winning the match for my teammates. The defeat earlier felt like a personal failure, and the burden of responsibility weighed heavily on my shoulders. Thoughts swirled in my mind, and I found myself questioning every decision I had made during the match. Doubt consumed me as I pondered whether I could have done more. If only I had played better, I might have secured victory for my team, and we wouldn''t be facing the pressure of an elimination match in the main tournament. The weight of responsibility weighed heavily on my shoulders, and I couldn''t help but blame myself for breaking my teammates'' trust. I let them all down¡­ This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "I wish I could have done better..." I murmured, speaking to no one in particular as my words hung in the air, swallowed up by the surrounding silence. Time passed as I sat alone, contemplating my recent loss and dwelling on my own self-blame. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. Surprised by the interruption, I glanced at the screen and saw that it was my sister calling. I pondered whether or not to accept the call, but I knew she would be even more worried if I didn¡¯t respond. I didn¡¯t want to trouble her any more than I already did with my recent disappointing performance, so I had no choice but to take the call. Feeling a mix of apprehension and guilt, I hesitantly swiped the answer button and brought the phone to my ear, preparing to hear the voice on the other end. "H-hey, sis!" I greeted, trying my best to sound upbeat despite the disappointment weighing on my heart. "¡­Hana, are you okay?" my sister''s voice filled the line, carrying genuine concern evident through her usually calm voice. A wave of emotion welled up within me as her words reached me. She had always been there for me, supporting me in anything I did. She is the most important person to me, after all. The lump in my throat threatened to break my composure, but I swallowed it down, determined not to let my disappointment from letting her down slip through my voice. "Of course I am! " I replied, knowing that hiding my genuine emotions from my sister would be a challenge. But I didn''t want to burden her with my self-doubt and negativity right now. There was a brief pause on the other end of the line as if my sister could sense the turmoil beneath my attempt at reassurance. She always saw through my fa?ade, understanding me like no one else does since we have been together since we were kids. "...You''re lying. Don¡¯t hold back¡­ you know you can always show your vulnerable side to me," my sister asserted firmly. Her response hit me hard, leaving me unable to muster a response. As I expected, she saw through me and my front. Tears welled down my face as I began to cry again. She¡¯s right. It¡¯s no use to hide anything from her. I might as well let it all out. She let me cry my heart out without interrupting me, which I appreciate very much. After some time, my sobs began to subside, and I felt a sense of relief washing over me. With my emotions somewhat settled, I gathered the courage to address something that had been weighing heavily on my mind. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re disappointed in me with how my first match went, right?¡± I asked hesitantly. ¡°¡­Hana, I have never once been, nor will I ever be disappointed in you,¡± she said genuinely. A mixture of relief and gratitude washed over me as her words sank in and thawed the icy grip of self-blame that had enveloped me. Still, even though I already know she won¡¯t lie to me, there''s a persistent nagging feeling in my heart that doubts whether she truly means what she says. ¡°Liar..." I pouted reflexively, even though I knew she couldn''t see my expression. She sighed in response. "I''m not just saying this to cheer you up. I genuinely meant what I said. Your defeat in the first match was largely a result of terrible luck. Your opponent had specifically prepared strategies to counter you, while you didn''t have adequate countermeasures against him." I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Really?" "Yes, really," she confirmed. "It''s a situation that occurs more frequently than I''d like to admit, even in professional games. Sometimes, the outcome of a battle is predetermined even before it begins. There are exceptionally skilled tacticians who can exploit such advantages." ¡°You just had a terrible matchup, which resulted in your loss. So, cheer up and don''t allow things that are beyond your control to affect you. Instead, focus on proving everyone wrong by claiming the main tournament title for yourself and your team," she cheered. I smiled. She always knows what to say to me. She always seems curt and doesn''t talk too much, but that is because she analyzes what to say best. That''s my sister for you. What am I doing, making her worry like this? I have to pull myself together and come back stronger than ever because I know that is what my sister would do if she were in my shoes. "You''re right. It''s just one setback, and I''ll use it as motivation to come back stronger than ever!" I replied, my voice tinged with a newfound sense of hope. "¡­That''s the Hana I know," she said warmly, even though I couldn''t see her expression through the call. I could feel her genuine smile radiating through her words. "Yes, sis! I promise to restore my honor. Just watch me!" I exclaimed with newfound determination. ¡°¡­I''ll be cheering you on personally in the main tournament, so do your best,¡± she encouraged. I giggled. ¡°Of course! You can count on me!¡± ----------------- Aoi¡¯s PoV As I locked my phone and slipped it back into my pocket after the call, I looked up and surveyed my surroundings. The familiar sights and sounds of the airport greeted me as if I had momentarily been transported into a realm of bustling activity. Passengers hurriedly maneuvered through the concourse, dragging their suitcases and bags behind them. The echoing announcements of departing and arriving flights resonated through the terminal, providing a sense of urgency and purpose to the air. Gazing upon the large windows that adorned the walls, I caught a glimpse of planes taxiing on the runway, their sleek bodies glinting under the sunlight. The sight served as a poignant reminder of the journeys that awaited both myself and other travelers alike. The familiar scent of coffee and pastries floated through the air, emanating from nearby cafes and shops. The distinct blend of aromas mingled with the sound of conversations in different languages, creating an ambiance that showcased the diversity and interconnectedness of our global community. Approaching the boarding gate with an air of efficiency, I addressed the flight attendant in a curt, businesslike manner. "¡­Status of the flight?" I asked, without displaying much emotion or attempting to engage in small talk. The flight attendant was unfazed by my blunt demeanor. She swiftly checked the information on her tablet in a professional manner, befitting years of experience. "The flight to LA is on schedule for an on-time departure,¡± she replied with a friendly, well-practiced smile. "¡­Thank you," I nodded in appreciation before proceeding to check-in and go through all the security screenings. It appears that I will be arriving ahead of schedule. The thought of Hana''s expression when she sees me cheering her on her match there brings a smile to my face. ¡°¡­Wait for me, Hana.¡± Vol.2 Chapter 42 Arthur¡¯s PoV I sat in the strategy room of our guild, which I had reserved in advance, to prepare for a meeting with my team members for the upcoming main tournament. The room is spacious and grand, with high vaulted ceilings supported by sturdy stone pillars. The walls are adorned with intricate tapestries depicting battles. The vibrant colors of the art pieces add a touch of majesty to the surroundings. Soft, warm lighting bathes the room, creating an inviting and immersive atmosphere. At the center of the room is a long, ornate table crafted from polished wood. It stretches along the room''s length, providing ample space for the team to gather and strategize. The table is adorned with maps, scrolls, and miniature figurines representing various battle scenarios and strategies, though I doubt we will need to use them for this meeting. I observed my teammates as they arrived one by one, each giving me a quick greeting that I reciprocated in turn. ¡°So, why did you suddenly call for us?¡± my best friend Tristan voiced out, eager to start the agenda. ¡°I want us to prepare for our upcoming match in the main tournament. But before that, let me ask you guys: Have any of you seen the bracket already?¡± I replied. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°¡­I saw it earlier.¡± My teammates responded in unison. It seems like Astrid is the only one who is up to date on important matters. Why am I not surprised, though? As tempted as I was to scold these two for their carefree attitude, I decided to restrain myself and opted to ask Astrid instead. ¡°What do you think of it, Astrid?¡± She paused for a second, gathering her thoughts. ¡°¡­It seems strange that Team Paragon would choose to fight Gilligan¡¯s team,¡± she said curtly. I noted her brief comment, appreciating the progress she had made in voicing her opinions. While I had hoped for more detailed input, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It was a significant improvement from the past when she would simply nod or avoid expressing her thoughts. I should be glad she trusts us more now that she can speak her mind more freely. "Yes, that''s exactly what I''ve been contemplating too. Could it be that they made some kind of agreement? Or did the Paradigm team manage to persuade them into a truce?" I pondered aloud, considering the possible motivations behind the unexpected turn of events. Tristan, who had been silent up until now, interrupted with slight confusion. "Hey, what are you guys talking about? I''m not following," he admitted, "I suppose I''ll have to bring you up to speed then. What do you know of Team Paradigm?" I inquired. "Besides the fact that Elizabeth is a part of their team, I don''t know much," he admitted. Shifting my attention to Gwyn, who appeared sleepy despite the meeting having just begun, I posed the question, "And what about you, Gwyn? What do you know about Team Paradigm?" She shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t really care.¡± ¡°I-I, see,¡± was all I could manage to say. I tried to brush it off as her usual demeanor and continued my explanation. "Allow me to provide some clarification. From what I heard and noticed, Team Paragon and Team Paradigm have formed something of an alliance for the tournament since they seem to practice together more often. This speculation is also based on the close relationship between their respective captains, who have established guild alliances with each other." ¡°So, what¡¯s strange about that?¡± Tristan inquired. ¡°The strange thing is that Paragons chose Gilligan¡¯s team, Variables, which is favored to win by many, rather than selecting Elizabeth''s team, Paradigm, which is widely regarded as the weakest team in the tournament.¡± ¡°Huh... So they used their chance to choose an opponent, and those the stronger of the two¡­ That is strange. Maybe they want to drop the stronger team first?¡± he pondered. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work that way; generally, if you have a good seed for a tournament, more often than not, it¡¯s better to choose the weaker opponent first so, the stronger one might have a chance to lose in their game, so you don¡¯t have to deal with them if you get lucky.¡± ¡°I see¡­ Wait, if they choose to fight against Gilligan¡¯s team, that means we''re up against-!¡± he paused in realization. I nodded. ¡°We are to fight against team Paradigm in our first match for the main tournament.¡± ¡°Hell yeah!? Jackpot!¡± he made a fist pump before continuing. ¡°Hey, Art, I need a favor.¡± ¡°Let me guess. You want me to match you against their captain, Elizabeth?¡± I said, already knowing what he wanted to ask. "Heh, you know me too well! So, is it possible?" he asked eagerly, hoping for a positive response. ¡°Even assuming I could predict their team formation, it¡¯s a no. You¡¯ll just get distracted and lose on purpose if you fought her.¡± I firmly denied his request. ¡°Wha-! O-of course not! W-why would I?¡± he started to sweat profusely. I was only joking at first, but his suspicious attitude tells me otherwise. We all stared at him judgingly, which made him flinch. "W-what do you guys take me for? I would never throw our match for a girl, no matter how enchantingly beautiful and captivating she may be! I can¡¯t believe you guys don¡¯t have any trust in me!" he exclaimed, wanting to garner sympathy from us. "...You''re right. I don''t trust you," Astrid responded cautiously. "Uh-huh. I agree with Astrid. You''re just too much of a simp," Gwyn chimed in, voicing her agreement with Astrid''s sentiment. "S-simp!?" Tristan exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his voice. I meditated before the topic got out of hand. ¡°Ahem! Whether Tristan would really throw the match is unsure, but we should first focus on our strategy in fighting their team,¡± I said, returning the topic to its original course. ¡°N-not you too! And I thought you were my friend¡­¡± he said in indignance. I ignored him and continued the strategy meeting. ¡°First, let¡¯s compile what we know about their team. Do you guys have any thoughts about their gameplay?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t got a clue,¡± Gwyn shrugged as if without a care in the world. I sighed. Well, at least I¡¯m used to her carefree attitude, so it doesn¡¯t surprise me as much. Not wasting a single moment, Tristan butted in to share his input. "I don''t know much about them except for a rumor I heard that Elizabeth is a streamer. I watched one of her streams, and she was absolutely mesmerizing and incredibly skilled. I became a subscriber right away! I''m excited to watch her live once she resumes streaming after the tournament!" This isn''t good, so this is why teams are said to need proper strategists and coaches. We are not a sponsored team, so that is a luxury lost on us. The absence of these things feels like a significant setback, leaving us at a disadvantage compared to teams with dedicated strategists. However, dwelling on what we lacked would only hinder our progress and feed into negativity. Instead, I should try to focus on what we could control. ¡°¡­How about you, Astrid?¡± I finally shifted the spotlight to someone capable, hoping to learn something useful at least. After gathering her thoughts, Astrid responded, "...Not much, except that they are considered the underdogs and are the least favored to win the tournament. Their first fight was also quite surprising. I never anticipated them to defeat Murasame''s sister with such a well-executed strategic counterplay by exploiting her weakness, so they probably have a capable strategist." Astrid paused momentarily, seemingly hesitant, but with my encouraging nod, she decided to speak her mind openly. "Honestly, there''s something about their support that gives me an unsettling feeling after watching some of their matches," she shared, her words carrying a sense of caution and unease. ¡°You, too, huh? To tell you guys the truth, I¡¯ve played with their support once in a dungeon run.¡± I added. Having caught their undivided attention with my statement, I continued, ¡°It was pure happenstance; she was extremely skilled in close-quarter combat, and we finished the dungeon with ease with her almost soloing the Kraken.¡± ¡°Oh! I remember now! She¡¯s the skilled girl back in the giant octopus dungeon boss,¡± he paused as if remembering something important. ¡°I also remembered that you even tried to recruit her back then to replace me so you would get a harem team full of girls!¡± Tristan voiced the impartiality. ¡°I tried to recruit her because I think she is incredibly skilled...¡± I said in exasperation. ¡°Of course, I get you,¡± Tristan gave me a conspiratorial wink, not believing in the slightest what I said. Why do I even bother¡­ ¡°As you all know, the most dangerous supports are those who are self-sufficient and don¡¯t need protection from their carriers. A perfect example of this is Luciel from the Paragons team. She is a prot¨¦g¨¦ of the famous leader of the Paragon¡¯s guild, Celeste, who specializes in Jiu-Jitsu to lock down their opponent¡¯s carry. The point is, if you face her, you guys should not underestimate what she could do in close combat,¡± I explained. I received a couple of nods of affirmation from my team members. "Luciel, huh? I wouldn''t mind being wrestled by her to the ground..." Tristan murmured in a voice that I barely heard. I ignored his statement completely, as I was already used to his antics, and proceeded to continue the strategy meeting. ¡°Moving on, what formation should we prioritize?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with supporting either you or Astrid,¡± Gwyn nonchalantly responded. ¡°Why do I feel left out?" Tristan voiced in a sad tone that we all ignored. ¡°What about you, Astrid?¡± I asked, hoping to have better input from her. ¡°¡­I want to contest for the Top orb. I want to challenge the one who defeated Murasame''s sister in a one-on-one match," she responded with determination. "I''m not necessarily opposed to it, but what I''ve observed about their team is their ability to adapt their rotations fluidly. Unlike many other teams that rely on a fixed formation, they have the flexibility to change their strategies easily. The only exception might be their support player, Novo, who consistently partners with their captain, Lizbeth," I explained. Gwyn, with a hint of drowsiness in her voice, queried, "So, what''s our plan?" ¡°¡­I think we stick with our usual formation. Let¡¯s prioritize securing the middle orb. After that, we respond to the top or bottom, depending on the situation.¡± ¡°¡­Our usual 1-2-1 formation then?¡± Astrid asked for confirmation. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to diverge from what already works best for our team. The enemy may be the underdogs, but underestimating them might cost us the game. We proceeded to brainstorm throughout the meeting. I encouraged open dialogue and active participation, ensuring that every teammate¡¯s voice was heard¡­ even when only one voice, Astrid¡¯s, was really the only thing to consider. We created a strategy that leveraged our individual strengths and what to do with different matchups to maximize our chances of success in the upcoming match. I know that the general consensus and predictions label Team Paradigm as a weaker opponent and expect them to have a lower placement in the main tournament. However, my intuition tells me otherwise. They already showed incredible performance in the 1v1 tournament, surpassing many expectations, so we cannot be too complacent. I can''t help but hope that the preparations we''ve made thus far will be sufficient to face them. _____________________________________ Tournament Brackets: Upper Bracket Lower Bracket Vol.2 Chapter 43 October 28, 2031 Friday Morning Today, we face the most significant challenge we have ever faced¡ªa trial so bleak that even grown men and women cower in fear and find themselves trembling with trepidation at just the slight mention of it. Alas, this is the moment we must summon our inner strength to overcome the formidable obstacle that lies before us. As the weight of the impending challenge hangs in the air, I take a moment to let the gravity of the situation sink in¡ªwe are about to experience the hardest part of this god-forsaken tournament¡­ interviews. I find myself desperately seeking an escape route, a way to bypass this seemingly unbearable ordeal. I turn to Liz, pleading with her to offer a glimmer of hope, a potential reprieve from this unimaginable torment. My plea is driven by a longing for even the slightest respite, a ray of light to alleviate the anguish I feel. ¡°Uhm¡­ can¡¯t we just skip this part?¡± I begged. ¡°I already told you it is part of the contract you signed to participate in the tournament. So, we have no choice but to oblige since the video clips of our interviews will be used by the production staff for the main tournament tomorrow,¡± Liz harshly stated. This is bad. Why don¡¯t we have the tournament now without these kinds of unnecessary things¡­ Well, I get that they would want the tournament to be on weekends to rack up more views. Moreover, having a rest day after the intense 1v1 tournament yesterday is important for the players¡¯ physical well-being and emotional and psychological recovery. It would be unfair to expect them to continue performing at their best without allowing time to rest and recharge for at least a day, so I can¡¯t really complain. But that does not make me the slightest bit happy we have to go through all this. ¡°I don¡¯t get what the problem is with it. We¡¯re just going to answer some questions about how strong our team is! Right, Chu?¡± hearing my conundrum, Clarence butted in. ¡°I don¡¯t really care,¡± our resident edge lord gave his opinion. A sigh escaped my lips, reflecting a sense of disappointment and feeling betrayed by my teammates'' lack of support on this issue. Walking towards the assigned lounge for the interviews, my mind became overwhelmed with various anxiety-inducing thoughts related to the social aspect of the upcoming encounter. Upon our arrival at the lounge, Liz politely knocked on the door before opening it without much ceremony, and the rest of us followed suit. As we stepped into the expansive lounge, a serene atmosphere enveloped us. The sight of the plush, inviting chairs tempted us to take a seat and indulge in their luxurious comfort. The overall ambiance exuded a remarkable sense of tranquility and elegance, creating an incredibly pleasant environment. We were greeted by two people. One seems to be the technical operator (the way he handles and tinkers the camera gives it away), while the other appears to be the interviewer. "Hello there, you must be Team Paradigm," the person who seemed to be the interviewer greeted us politely. "I¡¯m John, and this guy here is the technical operator, Robby.¡± The guy who was busy tinkering with the equipment gave us a wave and proceeded to his job. ¡°Please make yourselves comfortable and wait here for a little while until the other team arrives, and if you need anything, feel free to ask me," he continued. Liz engaged in small talk, discussing what would happen next and what we could anticipate during the interview. I paid close attention, not wanting to embarrass myself by being uninformed about what was expected of us. After some time, another group arrived, and it came as no surprise to us. We had been informed beforehand that we would be sharing the interview session with another team. This arrangement was made to minimize time constraints and enhance the content by incorporating games and interactions between the teams as well, which would be featured in the video clips. As the newly arrived team entered, it was immediately evident that they were from Sakura Esports. The team was led by Hana, a charming girl with a Japanese appearance. Accompanying her was a boy who appeared to be the oldest member of their team, along with two unmistakably identical twins. Upon entering the lounge, the polite interviewer also welcomed the Sakura Esports team, and they received the same introduction as we did. After introducing himself and the technician, the interviewer proceeded to explain the agenda for the interview. "Please feel free to get comfortable and take this time to familiarize yourselves with each other while we complete the final calibration of the recording equipment," the interviewer apologized. After seeing us, however, Hana expressed her discontent with the situation, "What?! Why do we have to be paired with them?!" "The pairings are intentionally structured in a consistent manner, with one team from the upper bracket and another from the lower bracket," the interviewer calmly and reasonably explained. "Through our data analysis, we have determined that this pairing is most likely to generate the highest viewership and is the most compatible in terms of dynamics and audience appeal,¡± he continued. ¡°I still hate it¡­¡± She pouted cutely, like a little child disappointed for not getting her toy. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that! Let''s try to get along¡­ Wait, don¡¯t tell me you''re still mad about losing yesterday?¡± Clarence tried to reason with her. Clarence, I understand that you''re attempting to reconcile with her, but you¡¯re only making it worse with how you are acting! She gave him an extremely menacing glare like he just badmouthed her parents and insulted her sister. ¡°You guys insulted my sister¡¯s honor!¡± Hana exclaimed. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Wait¡­ he did insult her sister to provoke her during their 1v1 fight if I recall correctly. It was only Clarence, though! Don¡¯t lump us all with him! ¡°I-It was in the heat of the moment!¡± Clarence tried to explain himself, to no avail. ¡°It¡¯s also your fault for having a weak mind and falling easily into provocations! Just be like me, always calm and collected during matches.¡± If I remember correctly, you, too, had the same problem until a couple of days ago, just before we managed to overcome your unstable emotions during matches. Talk about ironic¡­ ¡°Hmph! I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m not talking to you guys!¡± Hana turned her head away, proceeding to find a seat. After she made herself comfortable in a sitting position, she began to bring out her phone, intent on making good on her threat to ignore us completely. As she retrieved her phone, my eyes caught sight of a familiar keychain attached to it. Curiosity piqued, I found myself pondering where I might have previously seen that keychain before. Liz, for her part, noticed it, and her eyes shone immediately. ¡°Whoa! Is that Yuusha¡¯s themed limited-edition keychain?!¡± Liz exclaimed. ¡°¡­You know what this is?¡± Hana asked, still a bit wary. ¡°Of course! It''s an exact replica of one of the weapons Yuusha used against Roderick when she outplayed him during their match! I have always wanted to buy that specific one, but it was sold out before I even got the chance! You must be a dedicated fan!¡± Liz praised. So that¡¯s why it seems familiar, huh? ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m her number-one fan, after all! I¡¯ve been a fan ever since the first time I saw her in the tournament!¡± Hana bragged proudly. "Oh, really?" Liz retorted challengingly, unwilling to relinquish her self-proclaimed title of being the number one fan. "Then tell me, do you know what this is?" she questioned as she bought out her own phone, eager to test Hana''s knowledge. Hana gasped out loud as she saw the keychain, almost exaggeratedly loud, if I might add. ¡°I-is that! The limited-edition replica keychain can only be acquired by going to last year¡¯s AC cup event live! I¡¯ve always wanted that but was not able to attend the event due to it being in a different country than mine!¡± ¡°Hehe, and that¡¯s not all! I also have a complete Yuusha figurine set, including the limited-edition ones, back in my place!¡± Liz bragged. ¡°That¡¯s nothing. I also have all of her figurines in my room!¡± Hana countered. ¡°Oh? How many do you have?¡± Liz, not wanting to lose, queried. ¡°How about you?¡± Hana didn''t shy away from the challenge. As if having a mutual understanding, they both proudly revealed useless information, revealing a number that was too much for me to even comprehend how they could produce that many. ¡°Mine¡¯s 58!¡± ¡°I have 58!¡± They said in unison. The heck! That¡¯s a blatant rip-off! Making that many different types of figurines over a single in-game character feels like outright exploitation. It doesn¡¯t help that I have a somewhat strange relationship with the character those figurines are based on, adding significantly to my discomfort. Unaware of the inner turmoil I was experiencing, Hana and Liz clasped hands and shrieked in joy, exuding an exuberance as if they had discovered a newfound friendship. Their genuine excitement was palpable, as if they were relishing the thrill of finding a kindred spirit for the very first time. ¡°Whoa! I can¡¯t believe it! I finally have someone to talk to about my idol! Kat is not really a fan, so I¡¯m glad I could talk to you about them!¡± ¡°I know, right? My team started late in playing CoA, so they were not as enthusiastic as us veteran players who knew the first-generation Paragons best! Especially Yuusha!¡± Hey! What happened to not talking to our team? I guess Liz worked with her magic again, so it¡¯s not really that surprising. I stared fondly at the two having a conversation while Clarence tried every now and then to butt in the conversation but was adamantly ignored. After a while, I noticed two people approaching me in my peripheral vision. My attention shifted to them. They shared a striking resemblance, with features so similar that it took a moment of observation to discern the subtle differences. Yet, when it came to their eyes and clothes, their distinct colors set them apart in a mesmerizing way. The boy was dressed in a casual t-shirt and pants, and his striking red eyes seemed to radiate with a captivating intensity. In contrast, his sister wore a t-shirt and skirt, and her enchanting blue eyes sparkled like brilliant sapphires, casting a mesmerizing allure. ¡°Behind the veil of lies,¡± ¡°One¡¯s own mask emerges from within.¡± They spoke in a nearly uncanny manner, seamlessly finishing each other''s sentences as if it were completely ordinary for them. "W-what do you two mean by that..." I stammered, feeling a sense of unease creeping in. ¡°There is no use in hiding it,¡± ¡°We know who you really are,¡± They responded in a synchronized manner. My heart sank in response to their words. Do they know of my main account? But how!? As I was contemplating how to respond to them, a guy who seemed to be the oldest among all of us in the room, excluding the staff, swiftly delivered a karate chop to both of them simultaneously, striking them on the head. ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± They both exclaimed in complete sync. ¡°Ren! Rei! Stop bothering her! Your usual shenanigans are clearly making her uncomfortable," the man sternly reprimanded the twins. Suddenly, I was so dumbfounded by the happenings that I failed to utter a proper response. ¡°Sorry about these two. They have a severe case of 3rd grader syndrome, so they often like to roleplay as some mysterious twins¡­¡± he helpfully explained. If I remember correctly, his name is Kaito. While Hana is their team leader, Kaito seems to be the most mature and responsible member of their group. ¡°I-I see¡­¡± I said in response. Is the color of their eyes also due to contact lenses, which they use to make their eyes add to their mystique? Well, based on what I¡¯ve gathered from Kaito, it seems that it is. ¡°We¡¯re not playing this time,¡± ¡°This girl really has a strange atmosphere surrounding her.¡± ¡°So, we could only assume,¡± ¡°That she is hiding a huge secret!¡± They reasoned in perfect concord, complimenting each other¡¯s words. The man sighed, ¡°You guys tell that to every introverted, loner-looking person you see.¡± I can hear you; you know! Does my demeanor truly give off the impression of someone who prefers solitude, making it easy for others to instantly discern that I¡¯m a loner? Why not approach Chu instead, looking all edgy with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall in his lonesome, too?! Hmm, now that I think about it, I guess he does look unapproachable to those who don''t know him any better. As if realizing something, he then turned his attention to me. ¡°N-not that I think you¡¯re a loner or anything. I¡¯m not judging you! I get that people sometimes like to be on their own, so it''s perfectly fine!¡± he tried to make an excuse. Please stop. You¡¯re making it worse. You should¡¯ve let it slide and moved on¡­ Fortunately, the interviewer called out to us, providing a perfect opportunity for me to escape from the awkward atmosphere. "We are all set! We can start now. Let''s begin by interviewing Team Paradigm!" he announced. As he made that statement, it became apparent that my worst nightmare was about to become a reality. As the interviewer received affirmative words and nods of agreement from both teams, and no one voiced any objections, he proceeded to move forward with his plan. "Shall we go with the ladies first?" the interviewer declared. Those words sent a shiver down my spine as I desperately hoped that I wouldn''t be the first one interviewed. Please, I silently begged, let Liz go before me. ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± Liz energetically chimed in. Phew, I almost breathe a sigh of relief hearing her say those words. Wait, did she intentionally want to go first just for me to catch my bearings since she knows I¡¯m bad at these kinds of stuff? How considerate. The interview progressed with a series of personal and easy questions, such as how she got started in competitive gaming and what inspired her to pursue a career in esports. Liz answered these queries honestly, drawing from her experiences and motivations. As someone accustomed to streaming and answering questions, she navigated the interview with ease, contributing to its smooth and seamless flow. The best part is that I am going second! It means that I already prepared for the questions that I will be getting! I owe you one for this, Liz! As her interview ended, the spotlight now shines on me. My palms felt clammy despite my best efforts to control my nerves, and I discreetly wiped them against the fabric of my skirt. Walking towards the couch, I took a deep breath, attempting to steady my thoughts and calm the fluttering in my stomach. My mind raced with both excitement and anxiety, which I hid by making my usual expression blank. As I finally sat down, all eyes turned towards me. The interviewer maintained a poised and observant demeanor, exuding politeness and a sense of calm, which provided me with a slight sense of ease. After exchanging pleasantries, the interviewer glanced at his phone, likely to review the notes prepared specifically for this interview. However, this action sparked a sense of unease within me, as it signaled that the questions directed to Liz and myself might not be the same. It meant that all the preparation I had done might be of no use. This is bad. A couple of seconds later, he began, and I tried my best to calm down and keep my usual poker face. ¡°Is this your first time playing in a tournament?¡± he asked casually. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Oh! Then what are your thoughts on your first tournament?¡± he said enthusiastically. ¡°¡­It¡¯s okay.¡± He paused several more seconds as if expecting me to say more¡­ but I didn¡¯t. Don''t blame me! This is normal for gamers. I¡¯ve also seen a couple of interviews that turn out like this because we gamers are all introverted at our core! ¡°I-I see. Who do you think is the team you guys would have a hard time fighting in the tournament? ¡°¡­The Paragons.¡± ¡°¡­May I ask why you think that way?¡± ¡°¡­Because they are strong.¡± ¡°O-okay. Moving on¡­¡± The interview continued in a similar vein, with me giving one-liner responses and safe answers. Although I didn''t perform as well as Liz, I think I managed to get through the interview smoothly¡­ probably. Following everyone''s interview, we engaged in some friendly games like charades and other tabletop games. All of these were recorded, showcasing our interactions with Hana''s team. Overall, the experience was positive and fulfilling since playing with a group like this is honestly quite fun. Vol.2 Chapter 44 After the content-gathering activities in the lounge were finally over, both my team and Hana''s team decided to leave and venture toward our respective destinations. During this time of reflection, I couldn''t help but acknowledge that the earlier events had been surprisingly enjoyable (disregarding the interview, of course), particularly the charade portion where the twins had excelled due to their inherent advantage. However, as we made our way out of the lounge area, we unexpectedly encountered Draven and his team, who were presumably present for their own interview. Since we had finished our activities later than anticipated, it was now their turn for their allotted time. As I glanced at them, I caught sight of Draven''s eyes fixed upon our team with an air of arrogance. His gaze carried a smug confidence tinged with a hint of superiority. It was clear that he viewed us as someone who was not a threat, and his demeanor exuded a sense of underestimation. "What do we have here? It appears that losers really do prefer to stick together," Draven taunted, his words laced with contempt. "What does that even mean?" Hana questioned, clearly unfamiliar with Draven''s abrasive attitude. "Allow me to clarify for you," Draven retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Both of you guys are weak. One is a useless team who just got lucky that they fought you, while the other will be eliminated tomorrow, and I¡¯ll personally ensure that.¡± I see what his intentions are. If I recall correctly, Hana¡¯s team will be the one facing him for the qualifiers. But, judging by his demeanor, it seems to me that his taunts are just an attempt to compensate for his dwindling confidence after his defeat at the hands of Arthur. Therefore, he resorted to taunting and provoking our team to undermine our abilities in order to bolster his own self-assurance. "Looks like we''ve got an easy victory here," one of them sneered, reinforcing Draven''s taunting remarks. "We''ll make quick work of you and show everyone who the real contenders are." Another teammate chimed in, their tone dripping with condescension. "You may as well surrender now. We all know you''re no match for us." His two teammates backed him up in his attempt as if they were some sort of henchman. Who are those three again? I forgot their names since they were not a threat, so I¡¯ll just call them Henchman A, B, and C. As I pondered how to handle these troublesome individuals, Clarence took it upon himself to confront them head-on and engage in a war of words. ¡°You talk big for someone who also lost your first match,¡± he bit back. "We agree, you have no.¡± ¡°Right to criticize us." The twins retorted simultaneously, speaking in their customary synchronized manner in support of Clarence. Draven responded with a disdainful snort. "You''re only lucky that you faced a weak opponent like her. If it were me, I would have effortlessly crushed you." Clarence, not one to back down, taunted back, "Oh, is that so? Care to prove it now?" "Fine by me!" Draven retorted, matching Clarence''s challenge with equal fervor. They both eyed each other, both refusing to back down. It appears that Draven is still carrying the weight of his loss from yesterday, which could be fueling his desire to find an outlet for his pent-up frustration. Perhaps he sees us as one of the underdogs in this tournament and as an easy target upon which to release his frustrations. ¡°Ren, he is not worth it. Don¡¯t stoop to his level,¡± Liz stopped Clarence before it escalated even further. "C-come on, guys! Can you please refrain from fighting?" Kaito intervened, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension. What¡¯s going on here?!¡± came a loud voice. It was the interviewer from before. It seemed he had heard the altercation and stepped in to mediate, effectively silencing the individuals involved. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. As everyone froze in response to his authoritative presence, the interviewer issued his instructions. "I will not tolerate any form of violence here. Team Unfiltered, get inside and prepare for the interview." With a final begrudging click of his tongue, Draven finally composed himself and headed inside, wherein his team immediately followed. "What''s his problem? He''s really getting on my nerves," Clarence mumbled audibly, expressing his frustration. Hana, in a reassuring tone, responded, "Don''t let it bother you. The best way to respond to his taunting remarks is to prove ourselves through our actions. You don''t need to worry about us; we won''t be defeated by the likes of him.¡± Clarence looked at her for a moment, contemplating his words before offering a friendly grin. "Then, we won''t lose either. Let''s meet each other again in the finals and give it our all!¡± Following the chaotic incident, our teams went their separate ways, dispersing to our respective rooms to seek much-needed rest and rejuvenation for the upcoming tournament. ----------------------------- Murasame¡¯s PoV As I step into the taxi, the driver greets me with a warm smile and a polite nod. His friendly demeanor immediately puts me at ease. I return the smile and provide him with my destination. "Good day, madam," he says in a courteous tone. "Where can I take you today?" I provide him with the address, and he acknowledges it with a nod of understanding. As he starts the engine, the car hums to life, and we smoothly merge into the flow of traffic. The driver''s skillful handling of the vehicle is evident as he navigates through the busy streets with confidence and ease. As I sit in the taxi, my attention is drawn to the view of the bustling Los Angeles streets outside the window. The cityscape unfolds before me, a vibrant tapestry of sights and sounds that captivates my senses. Tall buildings reach towards the sky, their glass facades reflecting the warm sunlight. The architecture varies from sleek and modern to historic and ornate, each structure telling a story of the city''s rich history and ever-evolving character. The streets below are alive with activity as cars weave through lanes and pedestrians navigate the sidewalks. The rhythm of the city pulses through the veins of the streets, a constant ebb and flow of movement and energy. The palm trees that line the sidewalks sway gently in the breeze, their slender trunks and lush fronds adding a touch of natural beauty to the urban landscape. They stand tall and proud, a symbol of the iconic Californian scenery. Colorful billboards and signs adorn the sides of buildings, advertising a variety of products and events. They contribute to the vibrant visual tapestry of the city, adding splashes of brightness and creativity to the surroundings. The sounds of the city seep into the taxi, blending together in a symphony of urban life. The honking of car horns, the chatter of pedestrians, and snippets of conversations create a cacophony of noise that somehow harmonizes with the city''s energy. "Are you visiting from another place? I hope you''re enjoying your time here," the driver posed a question, breaking me out of my musings. ¡°¡­Yes,¡± I said curtly. I wasn''t particularly interested in engaging in casual conversation, so I hoped my brief response conveyed that to him. Fortunately, he didn''t pry any further, allowing me to relish in the tranquility and reflect on my thoughts undisturbed. A while later, my attention is momentarily diverted by the ringing of my phone. I quickly reached into my pocket and saw that it was my manager on the other line. "¡­Jean?" I said, slightly raising my voice to be heard over the taxi''s ambient noise. "Aoi," my manager says in a businesslike tone. I wanted to inform you that Sakura e-sports management has approved your request to substitute as a coach.¡± ¡°I see¡­ thanks¡­¡± With a sigh that indicated a hint of exhaustion, she responded to my seemingly spontaneous request. "It wasn''t a straightforward task, but I utilized my connections to fulfill your request. I also criticized their current coach for his lack of preparation, which led to Hana¡¯s loss. They gave in to the pressure and acknowledged that you would be the most suitable candidate to help their organization achieve victory in the championship, which is why they readily accepted your involvement." ¡°¡­That is good to know.¡± I¡¯m glad my self-centered request didn''t cause her much trouble. It''s fortunate that my abilities are well recognized, which made it easier for her to smoothen things out. I¡¯m also glad for Jean¡¯s help, so I probably owe her a big one. ¡°Moreover, Eun is quite angry with you for suddenly departing on a three-day vacation without informing her, especially considering the AC is nearing. Please make an effort to communicate with her," she advised. "Understood, I''ll reach out to her later," I responded, my voice tinged with reluctance. I chose not to inform Eun about my plans, aware that she would only nag me if I did. Although I feel a slight pang of guilt, I believe it is ultimately for the best. I will be sure to call her later and apologize for my abrupt absence from our practice matches. "It just occurred to me; do you even have any plans for their strategy?" she queried. "I have been diligently reviewing the contestants'' replays since yesterday during my travels. I''ve already devised some countermeasures for their opponents, particularly for the crucial first elimination match they will face tomorrow," I responded confidently. "Oh? So, have you come across anything noteworthy in your research?" she said in an amused tone. "Yes, there are¡­ many intriguing players in the tournament..." She chuckled lightly, "Hmm, they must be quite impressive if they managed to catch your attention." "Perhaps." She paused, seemingly pondering something, before continuing, "You truly care for your sister, don''t you? You went as far as rearranging your busy schedule and turning down sponsor advertisement just to assist her in the tournament." "Yes¡­ she means the world to me," I voiced my honest thoughts. After a moment of silence, she responded, "I see¡­ Then, best of luck to you, and take care.¡± After bidding farewell to my manager, I ended the call and returned my phone to my pocket. I took a moment to gather my thoughts. A couple of minutes later, we arrived at my destination: a hotel near the venue of Hana¡¯s tournament. As we arrived at my destination, I expressed my gratitude to the driver. In return, he responded with a polite smile and a simple "You''re welcome," acknowledging my appreciation. Ensuring that I had gathered all my belongings, I carefully checked for any forgotten items before confidently stepping out of the taxi. Choosing not to engage in further conversation or exchange pleasantries, I swiftly left the taxi behind and headed towards the hotel to book a room. Since this particular hotel had a VR pod available, I planned to arrange a meeting for Hana''s team within the virtual world. I hoped I would be able to meet them in person, but it seems that the hotel they are staying in is exclusively reserved for participants and does not allow any other guests. Therefore, I will have to settle for meeting them online, at least for now. However, I am certain that Hana will be quite surprised to see me in person tomorrow. I believe that my presence there will provide her with the encouragement she needs to perform at her best. Vol.2 Chapter 45 Elizabeth¡¯s PoV The bedsheets, even though they were high-end, felt uncomfortable against my skin, no matter how much I shifted and tossed. My mind was a whirlwind of anxieties, each one more insistent than the last. I''d never been in a tournament this big before, and the pressure was a little bit suffocating. "I can''t sleep," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. The room was silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner. I rolled over, trying to find a comfortable position, but nothing felt right. I opened my eyes, squinting at the unfamiliar surroundings. The room was bathed in soft, golden light filtering through the sheer curtains. Right, I almost forgot I''m not in my own room. Even with the luxurious bedding and mattress, it''s just not the same as my cozy space. And with tomorrow''s tournament making me more and more nervous, falling asleep is becoming a challenge. I let out a defeated sigh. I know we have a big day ahead, but I can''t seem to calm my nerves. It''s not entirely my fault, though. This is my very first tournament. I''m sure if it weren''t for Kat by my side, offering moral and emotional support, I would have succumbed to my nerves long ago. I''m so thankful I recruited her for our team; it was one of the best decisions I''ve ever made. Speaking of, I wonder if Kat''s already asleep. She''s been working so hard for the team, analyzing replays, creating counter-plays, and staying up late. Even though she told me not to worry because she''s used to it, I can''t help but worry that she might get sick during the tournament if she keeps pushing herself like this. Wait, did I just jinx it? I really hope not because I don''t know what our team would do without her. We all rely on her so much that she seems more like our captain than I do to my teammates. Renz and Chu also seem to hold her in high regard in the way they interact with her. Of course, me included, since I owe it to her that we even made it this far. She''s incredibly dependable, and having her as my partner is the best possible situation I could hope for in my first tournament. It''s almost as if this isn''t her first tournament, the way she''s handling the pressure. Her skills are no surprise; while this is her first time playing CoA, I''m sure many have recruited her in the past games she''s played with how composed and meticulous she is as our strategist. Well, I guess I should do my best to act like a dependable captain, so I don''t add any extra burdens to her. ------------------------------------ Lua¡¯s PoV Before me, the sounds, scents, and textures paint a vivid picture of the vibrant urban landscape. I hear the distant hum of traffic, the rhythmic footsteps of pedestrians, and the occasional siren wailing in the distance. The cacophony of voices blends together, a chorus of conversations and laughter that reverberates through the night. While the world is veiled in darkness, my other senses come alive. I can almost feel the coolness of the moonbeams on my skin and hear the hushed murmur of people returning home. The city takes on a different character at night, with a slower pace and a more intimate feel. As I reach out, my hands brush against the cool metal railing of the rooftop, grounding me in the physical space. I can feel the gentle breeze against my skin, its touch whispering secrets of the city. Though I cannot see the city lights, I imagine their brilliance and vibrancy. I envision the buildings illuminated in a myriad of colors, casting a glow that paints the night sky. The twinkling lights of street lamps and neon signs create a sense of energy and movement. In my mind''s eye, I visualize the cityscape stretching out before me, a tapestry of architectural marvels and bustling streets. I imagine the towering skyscrapers reaching toward the heavens, their shapes and silhouettes etched against the night sky. Still, it does not deter me from the truth that I cannot see any of these sights. Darkness... It was all I could see for as long as I could remember. It was always like this, even back when I was young. VR games have always been my means of escape. It started out as a therapeutic means of regaining my eyesight. Owing to my family background, I was one of the very first testers of the technology even before it became accessible to the public. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. This gives me a distinct advantage over ordinary players since I can utilize my VR avatar. I''m also blessed with incredible talent and a natural prodigy-like aptitude for VR fighting games that focus on hand-to-hand combat. My enhanced perception, a result of my blindness, further amplifies my skills, making me virtually unbeatable in any game I play. However, this exceptional talent has a downside ¨C I''ve yet to encounter a worthy competitor or rival in all the games I''ve played. I usually don¡¯t play these types of adventure games that rely on builds, item sets, and such, but what Gil told me back then stuck with me and convinced me to try CoA. ¡®You are merely a big fish in a small pond. If you try the largest, most popular game in the world, CoA, I¡¯m sure you will meet your match someday.¡¯ At first, I scoffed at him. Me merely a big fish? Someone who won the world championship title at the most prominent online tournament of ¡®Boulevard Fighter 11¡¯, which is considered to be the largest tournament in the VR fighting game genre. If I had used my actual username in my Fighting Games account in this game, I¡¯m sure a lot would have recognized me and begged me on their knees just for me to add them to my friend list. Though I''m not sure if Gil is being truthful or simply spouting nonsense to try to recruit me to his team, it doesn''t matter. I''m determined to prove him wrong. I plan to test my skills in a weapon-based game by relying solely on hand-to-hand combat so it checks out. I could only hope he was telling the truth and that I would find a worthy opponent in this game, or my time spent leveling up in this game and joining this tournament would be for naught. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted my contemplation. Being blind, my heightened sense of hearing allows me to analyze and interpret the sounds of footsteps with a level of detail that has become second nature to me. Each footfall carries a wealth of information that I instinctively process, providing insights into the person''s presence, demeanor, and even their surroundings. The sound of footsteps reveals much about the individual''s gait and pace. I can discern whether the steps are light and quick, indicating a sense of urgency or excitement, or slow and deliberate, suggesting a more relaxed or cautious approach. The rhythm and cadence of the footsteps provide clues to the person''s confidence and purpose. The current intruder¡¯s footsteps were like the gentle sway of bamboo, bending but unbroken by the passing breeze. The sound was familiar and endearing, so I instantly knew who it belonged to. ¡°You''ve been coming here every night, huh? Am I really that irresistible to you?¡± I teased. ¡°I''m just enjoying the ambiance. I''ll still be here if you''re not around,¡± the girl, Katherine, responded in kind. I couldn''t help but smile as I took in her reaction. "So, you''re one of those ''Tsundere'' types that Haeun often talks about, huh?" I teased playfully. She responded with a dismissive huff, opting to remain silent. I respected her silence, finding solace in the tranquil atmosphere it brought, and we both embraced the serene ambiance of the night. However, after a while, she unexpectedly sneezed. It made me wonder if she was feeling cold. Reacting swiftly, I removed the jacket I was wearing and offered it to her. "It''s particularly chilly tonight, so wear this," I suggested, extending my jacket to her. ¡°What about you?¡± she queried, a bit hesitant to accept my gesture. ¡°I have a more active body than you, so the cold won''t bother me as much. From what I can tell, you seem to lack even an ounce of exercise,¡± I said knowingly. ¡°H-how can you even know that?¡± she responded, seemingly a bit flustered. ¡°You let me touch and examine your hands and arms yesterday night, remember? It¡¯s pretty soft, with no ounce of muscle whatsoever, so it''s pretty obvious that you lack proper exercise whatsoever. You should at least do some light exercises for your health. Moving in VR is not a replacement for moving your own body,¡± I explained. ¡°I do some light stretching whenever I wake up, though¡­¡± she tried to make an excuse. I sighed, recognizing that her effort was minimal. "That''s not quite the same. Nevertheless, it''s better to be safe than sorry. Wear the jacket for now. You wouldn''t want to catch a cold right before tomorrow''s tournament, would you?" I gently urged, moving the jacket closer to her. Relentingly, she accepted the jacket from my hands, its rustling indicating that she had put it on. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she finally responded with a soft murmur that was not lost on me due to my heightened senses. "Thanks..." she replied softly. ¡°That¡¯s not for free, though,¡± I rebuked her gratitude. ¡°And what do you even hope in return?¡± she said, seemingly exasperated. "Hmm... How about a hug to keep me warm?" I playfully teased, knowing well how she would react. "W-what?! Not a chance!" she exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the suggestion. I couldn''t help but smile, finding joy in teasing her. "Boo, what a spoilsport," I pouted in response. She scoffed and retorted, "Hmph, just don''t propose something so outrageous out of nowhere." Our lighthearted banter continued, creating a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere on the rooftop. Once again, silence enveloped us as we basked in the tranquil ambiance of the rooftop under the moonlight. However, something I had heard from Gil came to mind after a while, resulting in me breaking the comfortable silence. "...I heard that your team and our opponents for tomorrow, the Paragons, have a friendly relationship," I inquired, seeking confirmation. "If you''re trying to gather information, I''m afraid I''ll have to disappoint you. I prefer to keep such matters to myself," she replied, maintaining her guarded stance. "It''s not about that," I reassured her. "Besides, if I wanted to learn more about them, I would turn to Gil for information." A hint of curiosity crept into her voice as she asked, "Then why are you asking?" I paused for a moment before responding with a playful tone, "I simply wanted to know, in this upcoming match, who would you be cheering for, me or them?" "...Them, of course. Why would I even cheer for you?" she replied bluntly. "You¡¯re so mean,¡± I sniffed, feigning a cry. "As if. You won''t fool me with that kind of acting," she retorted, seemingly familiar with my playful antics. "Well, I guess acting is not my strong suit¡­ But I guess in the end, it doesn''t really matter. Regardless of which team you cheer for, the fact remains that they don''t stand a chance against us," I gave my honest thoughts. "And what makes you so sure of that?" she tried to probe further. "Because I never lose," I confidently stated. ¡°...One player on their team, Aria, is incredibly skilled, though. She is even the 1v1 champion. She might be stronger than you think.¡± I couldn''t help but feel a sense of joy upon hearing her words¡ªthat there might finally be someone capable of matching me, a rival who could aid in my personal growth and push me to my limits. "If she is as strong as everyone says she is, then I¡¯m looking forward to fighting her more and more," I responded, conveying my anticipation for what lay ahead. I hope that Aria girl doesn¡¯t fall short of my expectations. Vol.2 Chapter 46 Hana''s PoV The air crackles with anticipation. A low murmur washes over the crowd, punctuated by the occasional shout as fans greet their friends. Stage crews bark orders over the thrumming of bass music. A rhythmic hammering echoes from somewhere unseen. The organized chaos throbs with barely contained energy, a live wire waiting to be sparked as my teammates and I walk through the hallway toward our destination, the room for the participating player. "Feeling nervous?" Kaito inquired out of the blue. "A bit..." I responded softly, admitting my apprehension. ''Kind of'' is an understatement. My stomach churns like a washing machine on a spin cycle. I try to focus on the warm-up exercises flashing on the screen, but all I hear is the muffled roar of the crowd, a constant reminder of the anticipation building outside these isolated hallways for the players to prepare for their matches. "Don''t be nervous cause," "We won''t lose this time," Ren and Rei reassured me. I smiled at their attempt to encourage me. Even when I made a huge blunder on my first match, they still did not blame me in the slightest. I''m glad to have a teammate like them. It is also the reason why I''m doubly nervous today. What if I fucked up again? What if my mistake cost us all to be eliminated? I don''t want to drag my teammates down again. As we made our way to the room designated for our team to ready ourselves for the imminent match, I made a conscious effort to rein in the overwhelming emotions bubbling within me. Upon reaching the specially arranged room, we all entered. Even within the enclosed booths, the vibrant energy of the stadium seeped through. Distant cheers and chants merged into a continuous roar, occasionally interjected by heightened bursts of excitement. While the panelists'' voices hummed faintly, their words remained indiscernible, yet their infectious enthusiasm lingered in the background. The subdued thrum of bass and the rhythmic echoes from the stage preparations reverberated in the air, serving as a constant reminder of the invigorating ambiance just beyond the soundproof walls. As I surveyed the room, my gaze settled on our manager seated in the middle, entirely focused on his laptop. Upon our arrival, he promptly stood up and greeted us with enthusiasm. "Oh, you''re all here at last!" he exclaimed cheerfully. Without delay, my teammates and I approached him, exchanging warm greetings and smiles to acknowledge his presence. "Mr. Takahashi, you seem particularly joyous today," Kaito observed. "Ah, is it that evident? Well, it''s because I have an exciting announcement to share about a new coach," he shared joyfully. "A new coach?" I inquired, seeking clarification. "Indeed! Oh, I assumed you were already aware of Hana," he responded, slightly surprised, then muttered, "So I suppose she intended to surprise you..." Before I could inquire further about his cryptic statement, the door to our room swung open, unveiling a figure draped in layers of clothing, sporting a face mask and sunglasses that obscured their identity. From the physique, it appeared to be a woman, although her features were difficult to discern. Yet, one aspect stood out - a sense of familiarity lingered about her presence. "OH! You''re already here!" our manager exclaimed. ¡°Good morning. I will be in charge of your strategies from here on out,¡± the woman said curtly as she removed her disguise. Seeing her face as she removed her accessories, the woman standing before us exudes unmistakable Japanese heritage, emanating a powerful and resolute aura. Her confident demeanor and exquisite beauty demand attention, showcasing a harmonious fusion of grace, vigor, and refinement that captivates all who behold her. With sharp features that convey determination and focus, her facial expressions are intense yet alluring. Her eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, are captivating and expressive, revealing a depth of intelligence and resilience. But the most surprising fact is that she is someone I¡¯m extremely familiar with since I¡¯ve been with her ever since I can remember. The person before us is my one and only sister. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°No way¡­¡± ¡°Is that¡­¡± "Why is THE legendary Murasame here?!" The twins murmured in disbelief while Kaito exclaimed in shock. He had always been her most devoted fan among us. While I acknowledge my sister''s exceptional talent and stature in the CoA community, having seen her almost every day back then while being aware of both her good and bad points, I don''t hold the same level of admiration as Kaito. Still, her presence instantly filled me with much relief. My hand, which had been shaking since earlier due to nervousness, suddenly stopped. "Your former coach lacked competence, so I aim to remedy his lack of knowledge and capability," my sister responded to Kaito¡¯s question in her customary straightforward manner - perhaps a bit too direct, to be frank. "I''m glad to have you on board, Ms. Yamamoto! I''m pleased to have you as our coach, especially since I didn''t have a good rapport with our previous one. I look forward to working together!" our manager gushed like a fanboy. I gave him a skeptical look. If I remember correctly, weren''t you just praising your close friendship with our previous coach the other day? Seems like you''ve changed allegiances rather swiftly, Mr. Takahashi. "Likewise. I''ve been eager to meet the teammate my sister often boasts about," my sister remarked calmly. "I don''t boast about them!" I interjected, refuting her claim. Their names just sometimes come up in my conversations with my sister about the game since they are also admirers of hers and play CoA a lot, but I don¡¯t brag about them at all. "Could we have," "Your autograph?" The twins inquired simultaneously. "I-I''d love one too! Please!" Kaito chimed in enthusiastically, seizing the chance to request an autograph. ¡°Let us save that for later. For now, let us focus on the upcoming match,¡± she reminded us. A minute ago, the mood was lighthearted, but it suddenly became serious. The calmness of the mood might be attributed to how much we trust in my sister¡¯s capabilities, so I don¡¯t blame them for being caught off guard. We still have a lot of time before our match starts, so I¡¯m also feeling quite relaxed, especially in her presence. ¡°Let''s begin by zeroing in on the primary threat - their ace, Draven," she stated with a shift in demeanor, embodying the familiar determination I often witnessed during her kendo matches. ¡°From my analysis, the enemy team''s formation hugely relies on their ace, Draven, who is also their strategist from what I gathered, to create a favorable matchup for them. He will most likely secure the middle orb, the most important spot, in their favor,¡± she continued. ¡°Uhm- what if they change tactics?" Kaito asks valid questions. "They do not seem to have a capable strategist, so their tactics are unlikely to shift, I''m quite certain of it. Their captain, who seems to call the shots in their team, exudes overconfidence and arrogance. I''ve crossed paths with numerous players of that ilk - excessively assured in their abilities, unwilling to alter their strategies, and driven by an insatiable craving to assert dominance, especially after his prior defeat in the one-on-one tournament. And in the offset that their tactic do change, I have a contingency plan in place," my sister declared with unwavering confidence. Her description does seem to match the arrogant punk¡¯s behavior when we encountered him yesterday while we were with the team Paradigm. ¡°I see, so what do we do?" our manager inquired, fully engaged in the strategic deliberation. ¡°It is simple: we match him with an ace of our own,¡± my sister stated as if it was an obvious solution. She looked at me as if to prove a point, and everyone followed suit. ¡°Uhm... I''m not sure if I could beat him alone. Why don''t we send two people to face him?¡± I hesitated. What if I commit another mistake? What if my defeat jeopardizes my team''s standing? The thought of bearing that weight once more is daunting... "No, that''s not an option. Devoting excessive resources to counter him would jeopardize our chances of securing the other orbs, as he excels in combatting multiple adversaries. Furthermore, your strengths lie in one-on-one engagements," she argued, countering my concerns. "But..." I began to protest, though my anxiety lingered visibly. ¡°Don''t worry, Hana. I''m confident you won''t lose to him,¡± she gazed at me earnestly, instilling confidence with her unwavering gaze. My sister stared at me as she said those words; her eyes conveyed her absolute trust in my skills. How unfair of her to do so¡­ It looks like I won¡¯t be able to run away from this anymore. Thinking back to the events of the one-on-one tournament, it was like this back then. All the eyes and expectations made me extremely nervous that I couldn''t play at my best. But the biggest difference is now that I have my sister with me. I completely trust her strategy, so I''ll do my best to accomplish it and follow it as best as possible. I will not fail this time! I gathered all my courage to finally show my resolve. I met her gaze with determination and nodded emphatically. "Leave it to me, Sis!" ------------------------------ Tactical''s PoV "And now, the moment you''ve all been waiting for, the commencement of the main event!" declared the main panelist, Raze. "Finally, it''s about to begin!" Celeste, my previous teammate, exclaimed eagerly. Her excitement mirrored my own. Both of us are currently positioned in the distinguished room allocated for honored guests to observe the match on the large screen. Despite the sound-dampening walls, the vivacious energy of the crowd resonates through the room, immersing us in the vibrant atmosphere of the event. ¡°First up in the line of matches we have in store for you guys today. It is a match between two strong contenders who I''m sure many of you are not expecting to be in the lower bracket: team Unfiltered vs. Sakura eSports!" the panelist exclaimed. ¡°What do you think of the match, Mr. Bogdan?¡± the lead panelist queried. ¡°Hmm¡­ I anticipate a closely contested match, making it challenging to predict the outcome. However, I think Murasame''s sister, Yatsufusa, and Team Unfiltered¡¯s ace, Draven, are going to play pivotal roles in this matchup,¡± Vlad expertly stated. I share the same viewpoint as him. Although, considering the girl from the Sakura team¡¯s subpar performance in her previous match, I don¡¯t expect too much from her. But perhaps I¡¯m setting the bar too high, comparing her to that prodigious sister of hers. ¡°That''s a fair point, Mr. Bogdan. Let''s see what our statistics and analysis say about the match!¡± Just as the panelist said, the screen shifted to a graph that showcased a bunch of statistics, all resulting in the match probability win rate of both teams. Sakura eSports has a 51.8% win probability, while the team Unfiltered has 48.2%. According to these statistics, the match is not going to be one-sided. However, you can never be too sure since a lot of factors can affect the outcome of the match, especially for something this close of a probability. "Oh! It looks like the statistics favor the Sakura eSports a little more! Keep in mind, folks, that these results are taken from our state-of-the-art AI input, along with the viewer votes, so please take it with a grain of salt!¡± ¡°I agree, Raze. These stats are only a probability, not the results themselves. And now, without further ado, let''s give a warm welcome to both teams!" the co-panelist announced, prompting a thunderous applause from the audience. The two teams emerged from opposite entrances of the stadium, igniting the crowd''s excitement to a fever pitch. As they proceeded to their respective booths, the spectators'' cheers grew even louder, fueling the teams'' determination for the impending battle. Team Sakura eSports, led by their captain, Hana, donned matching jerseys adorned with a Sakura tree logo, exuding a sense of unity and purpose. Their focused expressions and confident demeanor hinted that they seemed to have a good strategy in mind, evident in their assured presence. Each team member shared nods and words of encouragement, silently reaffirming their collective objective. On the opposing side, Team Unfiltered proceeded to the VR pod booth with their captain, Draven, leading the charge. They entered with a distinct aura of self-assuredness and a hint of arrogance, reflected in their unique jerseys. They emanated a quiet confidence, punctuated by shared glances and boisterous laughter, signaling a belief in their capabilities. ¡°Now, let us head onto the casters for the match commentary!¡± Vol. 2 Chapter 47 As the game commenced, my team and I were transported to the designated map. The moonlight cascaded through the stage setting, casting a soft glow on the dust particles dancing around me as I regained my bearings. A stage resembling a faerie forest theme. It appears that the management has introduced new maps for this tournament, adding a refreshing element to the competition. I must admit, I appreciate the ambiance of this map. The only drawback is the potential for ambushes, particularly in this semi-dark setting. However, since neither our team nor the opponents have ambush-oriented players, the playing field remains level. "Let us stick to the battle plan. Everyone, good luck," I quickly commanded ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± They all gave me a positive response before we all swiftly proceeded to our respective orb capture targets. The jog was brief, and I reached my destination without delay. Just as I arrived at the middle orb, I received confirmation from all of my teammates that the expected rotation of the enemy was true. My sister is really incredible at predicting the opponent''s rotation to this extent. Therefore, the opponent before me... is Draven. I locked eyes with him as he took his stance across from me, raising his broadsword high. The dual-edged blade, reflecting the moonlight from the faerie forest with a mocking glint, appeared to contrast with the graceful curve of my katana. "Oh, the famous Murasame''s sister is my opponent, huh? But then again, I shouldn''t address you that way, should I? It would be disrespectful to her to even draw any connection between you and that name, especially considering you¡¯re so weak," he taunted, aiming to provoke my insecurities. Just as Sis said, he is going to use my diffidence against me. It won¡¯t work, though, because now I know what my sister truly feels: that she will never be disappointed in me! "Enough talk, let your blade speak for yourself," I declared. He sneered in response and assumed his stance. From what my sister said, he is a skilled fighter in his own right. His broadsword offers a reach advantage I had to overcome. But the katana in my hands and our Yamamoto technique is an extension of myself, lighter and faster compared to his movements. We circled each other, the tension crackling in the air. I have a feeling this fight would end quickly since we''re both offense-type-oriented in both stats and play style. The good thing is that it seems I''m not as nervous now as I was in my first fight. I guess my sister''s reassuring presence is what''s to blame. It is as if she is here, fighting together with me in this battle. Just as I was planning to make the first move, he lunged in an instant and swung full force with his broadsword. It was so fast that it caught me off guard. I only had a split-second chance to parry it. I was successful, but it seems that trying to block his full-force attack was a bad move. TING* His huge swing instantly broke my posture as I parried it. He almost flung away my sword, which would be a death sentence for a swordswoman like me. It''s a good thing I barely held on to my weapon, but I sacrificed my mobility in the process and failed to dodge his next attack. KACHACK* I was slashed across my shoulders. "Guh!" Yatsufusa Hp:62% Holy shit! That was a lot of damage! He really is built full-on attack. I swiftly maneuvered to create distance between us. Fortunately, he opted not to pursue me but instead regarded me with a sneer. Despite his arrogant demeanor, I remained unruffled, concentrating on maintaining my composure for the match ahead. Observing that his taunts failed to elicit a reaction, he launched another attack. This time, I was prepared. By sensing his impending strike through subtle cues like the shift in his weight and the tension in his shoulders, I anticipated his movements. As he lunged forward, I deftly raised my katana in a circular block, the guard meeting the flat of his blade with a resounding clang. Stolen novel; please report. TING* The force of the blow sent a tremor up my arm, but I held firm this time, careful not to get caught up again by his raw power. My opponent didn''t relent. He twisted his wrist, attempting to use the momentum of his attack to yank the katana from my grasp. I countered by letting go with my left hand, the sudden slack in the blade causing his broadsword to overshoot its mark. As it scraped harmlessly past my shoulder, I brought my left hand back up, snapping it onto the handle below the tsuba for a two-handed grip. This was my moment. With a burst of adrenaline, I lunged forward, aiming for the space between his elbow and chest ¨C a vulnerability exposed by his wide stance. He reacted with surprising speed, bringing his left forearm up in a desperate block. The katana bit into the leather of his vambrace but barely pierced the metal beneath. Still, the attack did some chip damage, which is beneficial for me in reducing his HP to a suitable kill zone with my weapon skills. Draven Hp: 94% I have to commend him for his quick thinking. Even if his personality is trash, his skills are quite top-notch. It was a good move to take the hit with his arm, or the damage would''ve been a lot more than it is now. We were chest-to-chest now, locked in a struggle for strength, which he has a lot of stats put into, considering the pressure I''m experiencing right now. I need to create space, or I would be at a disadvantage if this continues. "I like that feisty look of yours! It would be pure ecstasy to trample over your determination after I beat you senseless," he taunted as he looked manically at my face. Good thing Sis already alarmed me of this kind of possibility. Don''t fall for his provocations, Hana. I reminded myself. With a grunt, I dipped my center of gravity low, knees almost brushing the floor. Draven, caught off guard by the sudden maneuver, stumbled back a step. Seizing the opportunity, I unleashed a series of fast strikes ¨C techniques designed for drawing and striking in one fluid motion. My katana became a blur, singing through the air with a high-pitched whine. The first strike, a horizontal slash aimed at his throat, he barely managed to deflect with the cross guard of his broadsword. The second is a diagonal cut aimed at his knee. It connected, bringing him to an even lower HP. Draven Hp: 72% Tsk!" He exclaimed as he tried to take a distance to regain his momentum. I won''t let you get away! I won''t play safe like I did in my last match! High risk, high reward. The offense is the best defense, just as our Yamamoto''s swordsmanship teaches! Hit them with all I got so they cannot hit back! I went all out on the attack, close to depleting my stamina. With my constant barrage of extremely fast slashes, he finally made a mistake. He was caught off balance in his attempt to dodge my last slash, an opportunity I was waiting for. This is it! It''s now or never! Time to finish this! From what my sister said, it seems he uses an offensive weapon skill, unlike my previous opponent, who has a defensive skill. In that case, I need to use mine first to finish him before he has a chance to use his. In a battle of offensive weapon skills, the one who successfully uses theirs wins! And I see no better opportunity to use it than now! ¡°Falling Rain Blossom!¡± I exclaimed. In a heartbeat, I erupt into motion. My body coils and lunges, a whirlwind of controlled fury. The first slash explodes from my core, aimed at his broadsword hand¨C a maneuver to disrupt my opponent''s grip and damage him in the process while preventing blocks. The second follows like a viper''s strike, a lightning-fast cut toward his exposed chest. Sensing instinctively, I honed through thousands of hours of practice that the effect time of my weapon skill was still not up; I made a move that I can usually accomplish only when practicing solo and not able to do in real matches, even moreso in a tournament match. I made the third and final slash of my combo. The culmination of the entire sequence. I aimed it at his head - a split-second strike meant to end the fight before it truly began in Yamamoto-style fashion. WOOOSH* The final slash creates a near-silent vacuum, the sound of displaced air blending into the deafening ring of my own heartbeat in my ears. Draven Hp: 0% "Im... impossible... H-how?" "I hope that this defeat will teach you a lesson to temper your attitude in the future," I chided. He was speechless before he turned into blue notes of light. "Whew," I heaved a huge sigh. I closed my eyes to regain my bearings and exhaled before slowly sheathing my katana, savoring the victory I had rightfully earned. It made a satisfying clink as it was fully sheathed. I sat back and absorbed my victory for a bit, taking in the fact that I had finally regained my honor before informing my team of my victory. ------------------------------------------------------------- Kaito''s PoV I twisted my hand as I made my mace slam into the side of the oncoming axe. The impact sent a jolt through my arms, but the blow glanced off, deflected. Not a moment later, I parried a fireball from the robed figure behind the axe wielder with my shield as it arched toward my chest. The axe wielder did not let the opportunity go to waste and launched a downward swing with his weapon. With a desperate lunge, I dove to the side, the blade of the axe nicking me in my shoulder as I failed to completely dodge it. The resulting glancing attack damaged my HP even though it barely hit. Susanno HP: 28% The flat land scraped against my armored shoulder as I rolled, the world spinning for an instant. Coming up on one knee, I locked eyes with my opponents. Ragar Hp: 100% Endo Hp: 100% "Isn''t it about time to give up? You haven''t even done any damage to us," the axe user taunted. I scoffed. "I could do this all day." "Hahah, I like your determination, but you are-" he paused, seemingly shocked at something. Just as I wondered why both of them looked suddenly shocked, I received a voice chat from Hana. ''Already beat their ace. I''m going to back you up now after I acquire the middle orb.'' That explains their astonishment. Just as I was reveling in the positive development, another announcement disrupted my celebration. ''We also beat their.'' ''Bottom orb player too.'' The twins also voiced in the team chat interface. I smiled. That is to be expected since the two of them are only up against a single opponent. It looks like my work installing them is done. It''s crazy to think how well everything went according to Ms. Aoi''s plan. I guess that is the mind of a professional player for you. Thousands of hours of experience in high-level play probably made her so good that I cannot even comprehend her line of thought. With three teammates still in action and possessing an orb advantage, victory in this game seems all but assured. " "What''s wrong? Has your confidence wavered?" I retorted, savoring the shift in their expressions. Without warning, their demeanor shifted to full-on aggressive gameplay. They seemed to want to disregard their own well-being to end the fight much more quickly. That reckless approach suited me just fine. The axe wielder growled at me and began to dash towards me for a strike. With a growl that mirrored his own, I flung my shield aside. It clattered against the flat land as I two-handedly wielded my mace for better striking power. Gripping my mace tighter with both hands, I launched myself toward him. The air whooshed past my ears as I closed the distance, sacrificing defense for a single, devastating blow. As the rush of air enveloped me, I closed the gap between us, opting to forego defense for a single, decisive strike. My focus narrowed solely on him, his axe descending in a fierce arc. Without flinching, I eschewed any attempt to evade or parry his attack, opting instead to launch a counterattack towards his exposed head. KACHACK* BAM* We both simultaneously hit each other with both of our respective weapons. Susanno Hp:0% Ragar Hp: 78% The enemy team doesn''t have a dedicated healer, so every damage counts. Therefore, even in my defeat, I found solace in having weakened him slightly to aid my teammates in their battle. A sense of satisfaction washed over me for a job executed well before I dissipated into azure particles of light. Vol.2 Chapter 48 ¡°And there you have it, folks! Sakura eSports will move to the next round, and Unfiltered will be the first to be eliminated from the Champions Brawl tournament!¡± the caster hollered. The cheers were deafening from the announcement as Team Sakura eSports defeated the last remaining person on the opposing team, Unfiltered, signaling their victory. Hana pumped her fist in the air, a grin splitting her face as her opponent transformed into blue motes of light. Well, the moment she beat Draven was the turning point of the game, so I''m not surprised by the outcome. Her teammates'' exceptional performance, coupled with flawlessly executed strategies, undoubtedly contributed to their win. Their adept gameplay and ability to anticipate their opponents'' moves with precision and execute flawless counterplays exceeded all expectations. It seems I must elevate my caution level when facing them, considering their outstanding performance. The good thing is that we won''t be battling them anytime soon since we are in the upper bracket... and I''d like it to stay that way by winning our upper-bracket matches. "Yes! Hana''s team won!" Liz, who was sitting beside me, cheered. It is to be expected that she would be this happy. She has easily become close to Hana since yesterday when they both found their common ground¡ªmy old account. She even has her number, and from what I can tell, she often chats with Hana on their social media accounts about probably anything related to the original Paragons. "That''s what you call Karma. Talking big and losing like that! Serves him right!" Clarence also celebrated, albeit in a different way. This guy has had a beef with Draven ever since the dining hall incident, so I guess that is only natural for him to be this petty. Focusing back on the screen, which displayed the participants slowly getting out of their respective VR pods, a notable contrast in the ambiance of both booths was evident. One exuded vibrancy and elation, a picture of jubilation, while the other appeared somber and dejected, their defeat visibly weighing heavily on their expressions. A couple of seconds later, both teams eventually meet at the center stage to shake hands as a sign of sportsmanship, except for one person. The screen''s focus shifted to Draven, who sat motionless in the VR pod with his helmet intact. Tension filled the air, amplified by the onlookers'' escalating murmurs. Eventually, Hana entered his booth and approached him, offering a hand in a gesture of sportsmanship. Yet, Draven remained obstinately unresponsive. After a few awkward moments, Hana awkwardly retracted her hand. A hush fell over the crowd. Disappointed murmurs rippled through the stands because of his unsportsmanlike behavior. Draven eventually removed the VR helmet he was wearing, left the VR pod with his face stormy, exited the booth, and stalked off the center stage without a word. Can''t blame him for his attitude, really. Even though I don''t personally like his personality, losing both the 1v1 tournament and the main tournament got to be heartbreaking for anyone. I extend my condolences to him in this trying moment. However, in the realm of competition, setbacks like these are par for the course. It''s a juncture where one must decide to rise from the fall or relinquish the pursuit entirely. The trajectory of his journey moving forward hinges on his fortitude and resilience. Given his fiercely competitive nature, I am confident that this setback will not mark the end of his journey, and we can anticipate hearing from him again in the future. "Such a sore loser," Clarence remarked. "Don''t be like that, Ren. It has got to be hard for him to face back-to-back defeats like this. Also, I''m sure he will learn his lesson on being too overconfident because of this outcome and become a better person in the future," Liz placated. "Hmph, you''re too naive, Liz. Some people just don''t change," Clarence rebuked. Their clash of opinions was interrupted by a sudden announcement of the lead panelist of a winner''s interview. "And now, we have a winner''s interview with the MVP of the match, Yatsufusa!" the announcer hyped. The screen focused on the stadium, its lights dimmed, casting the stage in a spotlight. Hana stood tall, a wide smile beaming beneath the cheers of the crowd. Beside her stood an interviewer, mic pointed, eager to capture her post-match thoughts. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "Ms. Yamamoto, what an incredible win!" the interviewer boomed. "Take us through your emotions right now." Hana took a deep breath, letting the roar of the crowd wash over her. "It feels... surreal," she admitted, her voice tinged with exhilaration. "I''m sure it does, with your amazing performance. What has changed with your clearly amazing performance?" I''m sure the interviewer is just tiptoeing on her previous match since she had a lot of backlash from her loss in the 1v1 tournament, where she was favored to win. How considerate of the interviewer. All the while, Hana seemed to take it in stride. "Hmm..." She pondered. "I think it''s all thanks to the new coach we have! Our morale rose, and our strategies broadened because of her!" I don''t think you should divulge that kind of information. You normally say just pleasantries, like we trained hard or something. Well, she does seem carefree, so I''m sure she''s not thinking about what she says too much. Still, a new coach, huh? That''s good to know. No wonder their movements and rotations suddenly became more refined compared to their qualifier matches. I''d have to take mental notes of this if we ever have to face their team. I hope not, though, since that would only happen if we dropped to the lower bracket. "Oh, a new coach, huh? It seems your organization treats you guys well," the interviewer said jovially to lighten the mood. His gaze then flicked briefly towards the dejected figures of Team Unfiltered on the other side of the stage. "Follow-up question on what happened earlier: There was a bit of a tense moment at the end. Your opponent, Draven, well, he didn''t seem too keen on sportsmanship." Hana''s smile faltered for a bit, but she quickly recovered. "Competition can be fierce," she said diplomatically. "Sometimes, emotions run high, so I don¡¯t really mind that he acted that way. I prefer to focus on celebrating our victory, so I don¡¯t think I should focus on that." "She''s as naive as you, Liz. No wonder you two became such good friends," Clarence teased playfully. "Let it go, Ren," Liz sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "How can I? I haven''t even had the chance to challenge him yet. He boasted confidently yet was swiftly defeated. Quite pitiful," Ren remarked disdainfully. As they continued their banter, Chu observed quietly from the periphery. Meanwhile, I rose from my seat and made my way towards the exit. "K-Kat, where are you headed?" Liz inquired, taken aback by my sudden departure. "...I¡¯ll go take a walk for a bit.¡± It wasn''t entirely a falsehood, as my intention was to seek solitude and gather my thoughts before our impending match. Despite appreciating their presence, I needed some personal time to reflect and center myself. "Okay, take care," Liz expressed with a tinge of concern. Acknowledging her words, I nodded before opening the door. Stepping out, the vibrant atmosphere of the stadium enveloped me. The thunderous cheers of the crowd resonated in my core as I navigated through the bustling stadium corridors. Amidst the jubilant commotion, I yearned for a moment of tranquility. As I scanned the area, a glint of metal caught my eye¡ªthe exit sign leading to the rarely used topmost floor access. After a while of deliberating, I took the narrow concrete staircase since there was no sign that the area was restricted. After a short while of walking up instead of down, the final door creaked open, and the world transformed. The din of the crowd faded into a distant hum, replaced by the gentle whoosh of the wind and the soft cooing of pigeons. A place of solitude bathed in the warm glow of the sun. Relief washed over me like a cool breeze as I leaned against the railing, finally able to hear the quiet symphony of the city in the distance. It was the perfect place for me to meditate and center myself before our important match. After some time, the distant echoes of the crowd grew louder, indicating that the next match was commencing. The next lower bracket match featured Shadow Vanguard against Dragon Dynasty. Based on my analysis of their previous qualifier matches, Shadow Vanguard holds the advantage in this matchup. Their gameplay centers around turtling tactics and adept defensive strategies, aligning well with their opponent''s aggressive style. If they can weather the initial onslaught, regroup with the support of their healer to restore their health, and prolong the battle, they stand a good chance of securing victory in the end. A sudden sound of footsteps broke me out of my thoughts. Turning around, I saw someone familiar. A red-haired teenage girl stands alone, her demeanor exuding an air of introversion and solitude. Her fiery red hair, a stark contrast against the soft hues of the morning sky, falls in loose waves around her shoulders, adding a touch of vibrancy to her otherwise subdued appearance. With a slight slouch to her posture and a gaze that seems to wander into the distance, the girl appears lost in thought, her expression pensive and contemplative. She noticed me and then finally looked my way. There is a quiet intensity in her eyes, a depth of emotion and introspection that hints at a world of thoughts and feelings beneath the surface. If I remember correctly, she is Astrid, in-game name Meridia. She participated in the tournament and will be our next opponent in the upper bracket. She was also the one who made a scene in the dining hall in an attempt to help us, which went viral for a while because she flawlessly took down Draven there. "You''re... Astrid, right? What brings you here?" I inquired cautiously. She regarded me closely before replying, "...I should be asking you that question. Throughout the tournament, I''ve sought solace here when I needed to be alone; I assumed no one else was aware of this spot," she remarked in a calm yet distant voice. "I discovered this spot fairly recently. I wasn''t aware of your visits here. Would you prefer me to leave?" I inquired. She seemed to ponder for a moment before replying. "¡­No, feel free to stay," she responded, settling near the highest peak of the stadium building''s edge and finding solace in observing the lively cityscape below. It seems we share a common trait of being introverted. So, in response, I, too, embraced the quietude, engaging in silent contemplation and mental preparation for the upcoming match. In the tranquil company of her serene presence, I found solace and clarity as I delved into the depths of my thoughts. I didn¡¯t know how long it took as I contemplated my strategies and regained my bearings for the upcoming match, which would be after the current fight expired. I would be lying to myself if I said that I¡¯m not the slightest bit nervous, but I do have some experience joining a tournament, so I guess I¡¯m not bothered as much as I thought I would be. After a long while, a loud cheer erupted from the crowd, whose reverberation can be heard from here. It seems like the match has finally concluded. As the crowd''s resounding cheer reached our ears, signaling the end of the match, I spoke up to alert my prospective adversary, who appeared to snap out of her reverie due to the clamor emanating from the stadium. "It appears the match has concluded," I remarked, prompting a response from her. "Yeah, it looks like it''s our turn to face off," she replied brusquely. "Oh? So you''re aware that I''m also a participant.¡± I assumed she didn¡¯t know I would be her opponent in the next match, which might have explained her earlier silence. But I guess she was just extremely introverted and doesn¡¯t like small talk. "Yes, quite wary of you, indeed," she acknowledged. "¡­I see¡­ I''m uncertain why you''re cautious of me, but I hope for a good match for the both of us," I replied amiably. "¡­Likewise." Vol.2 Chapter 49 Clarissa¡¯s PoV "What an intense match! Who would have thought that Team Shadow Vanguards could endure the relentless aggression of Team Dragon Dynasty!" remarked the panelist, whom I had learned was Mr. Raze. The fans loudly voiced their excitement about the outcome of the match with matching energetic cheers. "I concur. HiddenDemon from the Dragon Dynasty team ran out of steam during the match, paving the way for an effortless victory for the turtling tactics of the Shadow Vanguards," Mr. Bogdan confirmed. ¡°That was a cool fight! Especially when that guy blocked that guy¡¯s super-powered attack!¡± Colin, who was sitting next to me, exclaimed. "I''m concerned this might not be suitable for children to watch. What if Colin imitates those individuals and becomes more aggressive!" My mom expressed her worries. "Now, now, dear, it''s just a game. Think of it like the action movies we allow the kids to watch. Compared to some of those, this is mild. It''s simply kids enjoying mock battles in VR," my dad reassured her. "I suppose..." Mom responded, though still not entirely convinced. I giggled softly as I listened to their conversation. It''s heartwarming to have the whole family gathered here to support my older brother. "It¡¯s called weapon skill, Colin, not super attack. And you haven''t seen anything yet! Big Brother and his team outshine those guys!" I boasted proudly. "Wow, really?!" Colin shouted with excitement. "Yes, especially my friend and teacher, Novo! Her speed and grace are incredible! You''d struggle to keep up with her movements if you so much as blink!" I said with admiration. "That sounds awesome! When is their match?! I want to watch it right away!" Colin exclaimed eagerly. "It looks like they''re up next!" I observed as I checked the bracket match. "Before we delve into the upper bracket showdown between Paradigm and Round Table, let''s take a moment to acknowledge the sponsors of this tournament as we give the participants time to prepare!" the panelist announced, affirming that the upcoming match would feature Big Brother''s team. After a bunch of commercials from their sponsors, plus Colin pestering me about why it takes so long and how hungry he is, the wide stadium screen returns to the three panelists. ¡°Welcome back, folks! Next up is a battle of epic proportions!¡± Mr. Raze once again greeted. ¡°That is right, Raze! This will be like David and Goliath! One of the strongest teams in the tournament vs the underdogs!¡± his co-panelist hyped. ¡°What do you think of it, Mr. Bogdan?¡± Mr. Raze queried. ¡°Hmmm¡­ I think this battle is more evenly matched than everyone anticipates, particularly if Paradigm secures a favorable matchup, a skill they excel at," Mr. Bogdan shared his impartial insights. ¡°Oh, do you think Team Paradigm would be the victor of this match, Mr. Bogdan?¡± Mr. Raze said ¡°Not particularly, No. I just think the viewers severely underestimate their capabilities because they are an unknown team relative to the other participants here,¡± Mr. Bogdan explained. ¡°I see. That seems reasonable enough, but let us see who the statistics think is the victor in this matchup!¡± The screen then displayed a series of numbers and statistics, revealing that Novo''s team did not seem to have the advantage. "As you can observe, the KDA ratio and damage statistics heavily favor Team Round Table. It''s essential to remember that these statistics are based on the qualifiers and may not accurately reflect the players'' current abilities, as mentioned by Mr. Bogdan earlier," Mr. Raze elaborated. ¡°And now, without further ado, let us see the win predictions. Also, please keep in mind that this prediction is gathered from statistics of the qualifier matches, fan predictions, along with AI predictions,¡± The panelist exclaimed. The screen then flashed to the win percentage. Seeing it made my heart sink, and the loud murmurs from the crowd made it even worse. ¡°Holy, 81% to 19%?¡± ¡°Whew, good thing I bet on the right team!¡± ¡°This would be too one-sided.¡± ¡°What a boring match¡­¡± ¡°Whoah, nice! This is the easiest money ever!¡± ¡°Hahaha, I know, right?! What a free bet win!¡± ¡°It seems that the matchup heavily favors Team Round Table by a huge margin! What are your thoughts on this, Mr. Bogdan?" the panelist asked. "Hmm, I believe there are numerous factors in a match that go beyond what statistics can predict. Nevertheless, I concur that Team Round Table seems to possess a substantial advantage. I would welcome being proven wrong, as it would lead to an exciting viewing experience for us all," Mr. Bogdan remarked. ¡°Whooah! You¡¯re right, Sis! Big Brother¡¯s team is so strong! They have such a high chance of winning!¡± "Uhm, Colin. Big Brother''s team is actually the other one, not Round Table..." I gently corrected him. ¡°W-what!? I thought you said Brother¡¯s team is strong!¡± Colin protested. ¡°O-of course, they must have made a mistake or something¡­¡± I tried to reason. ¡°Really?¡± Colin looked at me suspiciously. I¡¯m not sure if I convinced Colin, but before I could even respond, the screen then switched to the casters, signaling the imminent start of the match. ¡°Hello, folks! Here are your favorite casters, DJ Riot and ParaTrooper, to commentate on what is happening in the match!¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°That is right, Riot. Who do you think would win this battle? ¡°Well, I ain¡¯t gonna bet against Round Table, that¡¯s for sure. And with how Paradigm¡¯s representative beat Murasame¡¯s sister, I don¡¯t want to bet against them, too!¡± Mr. Riot exclaimed. ¡°Fair, but most viewers are saying Paradigm¡¯s win in the 1v1 is just a fluke. Do you think that¡¯s true?¡± Mr. ParaTrooper queried. Mr. Riot put up his hands in a gesture of exaggerated surrender. ¡°I don¡¯t want any part of that! I want to be as impartial as possible when casting, so don¡¯t put words in my mouth, Dude!¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s true. But what¡¯s also true is that we have one heck of a match in store for us, right?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more! Now, it seems that the participants already finished their preparations. Here we go! First match of the upper bracket, Team Round Table vs Team paradigm, begin!¡± As Mr. Riot made the announcement, the screens swiftly displayed the teams taking part in the event. "Mom, Mom, Mom! That''s Brother!" Colin excitedly grasped onto Mom, pointing enthusiastically at the screen where Big Brother''s team was showcased. "Yes, yes, I see him, sweetheart," Mom responded with a warm smile, amused by Colin''s excitement. For my part, I was looking at someone else instead. ¡°You can do it, Novo!¡± I murmured a wholehearted cheer for my friend. --------------------------------- Arthur¡¯s PoV As the match commenced, we found ourselves in a magical forest setting. A multitude of shimmering lights resembling tiny stars greeted us as they danced and twinkled around. These faerie lights floated and fluttered among the trees and leaves, casting a captivating glow over the forest with their soft, ethereal radiance. While I was tempted to explore this unique map created specifically for the tournament more closely, there are more urgent tasks at hand than sightseeing. ¡°Let us go with the formation we discussed earlier, and if you run into an unusual matchup like 2v1, retreat immediately,¡± I commanded my team. The enemy team is usually good at having favorable matchups and unorthodox rotation. If they face one, it is best to retreat instead of defending a forgone orb and getting defeated needlessly. ¡°Also, be careful of ambushes. The setting of the stage seems suitable for one,¡± I added. ¡°No problem! I¡¯m as alert as I could be!¡± ¡°Okaaaay¡­¡± Tristan eagerly responded, while Gwyn responded unenthusiastically. Astrid, for her part, only nodded in affirmation. After receiving confirmation from my teammates, we all proceeded as planned. Astrid and I went to the middle orb, while Tristan and Gwyn went to the top and bottom orbs, respectively. The journey transpired in silence, with Astrid and I both immersed in preparations for the impending skirmish. Being naturally reserved, Astrid''s lack of conversation was typical and did not raise any concerns that I should be aware of as the captain of our team. Upon reaching the central orb, we were met by two individuals¡ªtheir usual duo team, Novo and Lizbeth. Simultaneously, I received confirmation from Gwyn and Tristan that the opponents were employing a 1-2-1 rotation similar to ours. This worked in our favor. I had initially anticipated they might alter their rotation strategy, but a direct confrontation was more advantageous for us. "You might not recall, but we previously played together using one of my alternate accounts," I admitted to Novo, unable to contain myself. Novo gazed at me thoughtfully before replying, "...I had a suspicion that the individual boosting your friend was indeed you." ¡°I''m glad to hear you haven''t totally forgotten me," I said in relief. "...I never forget those whom I have a favor to," she responded calmly. That''s very considerate of her to say that. I''m confident she didn''t require my assistance, given her exceptional skills, and her response was likely out of politeness. Additionally, the equipment drop from the boss I gave to her previously would have become obsolete as she progressed to acquire stronger gear. "I''m pleased to hear that. I had a hunch back then that you would excel with your skills, but I never imagined we would cross paths again on this grand stage," I remarked. "Likewise..." she replied curtly. Her brief response brought a smile to my face, reminiscent of her past succinct attitude. "Then, best of luck to both of us. May the stronger team emerge victorious!" I declared as I prepared my trusted sword. She nodded with equal determination as she assumed her stance. Both of our teammates observed us with evident curiosity about our past, choosing not to delve into our exchange. Having let out my piece, I initiated the battle by charging at them. In response, their carry, Lizbeth, mirrored my actions and charged directly at me. As we were about to clash head-on, she suddenly disappeared. "Meridia, watch out!" I warned as fast as I could. Astrid was well-prepared for this situation. We had analyzed their playing style beforehand, so their strategy was not unexpected. Their typical approach involved Lizbeth, their carry, leaving her support to fend for herself while she engaged the opponent''s support. This tactic played to their strengths, particularly Novo''s skill in survivability. Fortunately, this situation worked in our favor. I had no concerns about Astrid''s ability to hold her own in combat despite being a spellcaster. Her proficiency in Aikido compensated for the vulnerabilities of a mage in close combat. Additionally, she excelled in stalling tactics by using ice-based attacks to slow down her foes and disrupt their tempo. The right play here is to also ignore their carry and opt to go for their support, Novo, which I did. Without hesitation, I swiftly advanced towards the vulnerable enemy support, confident in Astrid''s ability to handle herself. Trusting in your teammate''s abilities is crucial in a duo team, and I have full confidence in Astrid''s prowess. My goal was to defeat Novo swiftly, aiming to eliminate her before the enemy could defeat Astrid. Only then would we have the advantage in this matchup after I succeed in doing so. As I neared striking distance, I lunged at her with my longsword. It was a fast and deadly stroke, honed from years of training and practicing my swordsmanship. I aimed the attack straight for her head in an attempt for a critical hit. But she easily dodged it like the attack was nothing. One moment, she was a whirlwind of midnight blue robes, her staff held loosely at her side. The next, she was easily out of my reach as my blade sliced through empty air. I spun, desperate to land a blow, but she was like a phantom as she easily weaved through my attacks. My strikes, which I thought were precise and deadly, felt clumsy and amateurish in front of her. I¡­ cannot believe this... This wasn''t supposed to happen. Spellcasters weren''t supposed to be this adept at dodging! But this girl was an untouchable force that seemed to mock my every attempt to land a hit against her! Is she reading my every move? I didn''t expect her to be this good, and this turn of events puts us in a very tough spot. This is bad. I¡¯m getting agitated by how effortlessly she is dodging my strikes. I need to calm down. I mentally scolded myself for losing my composure. I needed to remind myself that we had prepared for scenarios like this. Fortunately, Astrid and I had devised a contingency plan in case such an unlikely situation arose. It was a wise decision not to underestimate this girl¡¯s abilities. It was time to implement plan B. Meridia HP: 62% Lizbeth HP: 91% Glancing at my teammate''s health, I noticed Astrid''s HP dwindling due to the prolonged battle. In a typical scenario, this would be concerning as she would surely fall before I could even land a blow on my opponent. However, the situation was still manageable. I persisted in launching attacks at Novo without success while maintaining a vigilant eye on my surroundings, awaiting the ideal moment to alter the course of the battle. This helplessness continued; I was not able to land a single hit towards her, no matter how hard I tried while waiting for the right moment; it was as if I was trying to attack the air. I didn¡¯t know how long it took, but then it happened. In the corner of my vision, I saw Astrid bait the opponent. She took damage from the attack as the rapier''s tip had found its mark through a gap in her defenses. ¡°Ack!" Meridia HP: 28% Astrid gritted her teeth as Lizbeth began to retract the blade; Astrid didn''t let go of this opportunity as she saw her chance. With a sharp exhale, she twisted her torso inward. This unexpected movement not only surprised her opponent but also brought Lizbeth slightly off-balance. The momentum of his retraction pulled the rapier further off-center. Astrid, using the strength in her arm, clamped down on the base of the blade, effectively trapping it momentarily. Simultaneously, she slammed her other hand against her opponent''s chest, applying a sharp off-balancing technique she always uses against me whenever we spar. Lizbeth stumbled forward, thrown off guard by the sudden shift in Astrid''s center and the unexpected resistance to her weapon. Astrid didn''t waste a moment. Keeping her grip firm on the rapier''s base, she pivoted on her leg, using the momentum of Lizbeth''s stumble to her advantage. With a powerful hip thrust and a coordinated arm extension, Astrid completed a flowing body turn throw. Her opponent caught completely off guard and, with her weapon momentarily disabled, was sent sprawling over Astrid''s back, landing with a thud on the forest ground. Her perfectly executed throw happened in a span of a second, but I was ready as this was part of our prepared strategies. Before her adversary could recover, she employed her ice spell to impede the enemy''s movement, granting me the crucial time required to charge my weapon skill completely. I''m sorry, but it''s our win! We already planned to go after your carry. If we successfully eliminate her, you don''t have any damage to win against us, no matter how adept at survival you are! Without hesitating, I dashed toward the enemy team''s carry. Once at a mid-range distance, I unleashed my weapon skill, delivering a final strike through a shockwave of radiant golden light. "Golden Sanctity!" This attack encapsulates the hopes and ambitions of our team. Victory is within reach! However, my jubilant celebration of our anticipated triumph was abruptly silenced by the utterance of two words. "Guardian Angel," hearing those words, my heart suddenly sank. As my shockwave was about to hit, a shimmering force field of white light protected our adversary from the impact of my attack, successfully negating any damage she would receive. As I stood there speechless and unable to move due to the short fatigue of using my weapon skill, the opponent¡¯s carry sprang into action. It was as if she knew full well that her teammate had her back, no matter what happened, a show of complete trust in her partner. Taking advantage of the opening created, she delivered a critical strike on Astrid, catching her off guard by the unforeseen turn of events. Meridia HP: 0% ¡°¡­H-how?" Was all she could mutter before her body transformed into countless particles of blue motes of light. I stood there, speechless as my teammate was, with one question in mind. "D-did you know our plan from the start?" I echoed my teammate''s sentiment. "Not entirely. To be honest, it was a solid strategy. Eliminating the carry initially and leaving the support lacking in DPS alone," Novo casually elucidated. "But... You still found out. How..." I said in disbelief. She pondered for a second, as if deciding not to reveal the magic trick, but eventually gave in, mostly for my benefit. "...You were overly focused on your ally¡¯s actions and less on the opponent directly facing you. Additionally, your composure in such a dire situation indicated that you had a plan in motion to turn things around. Putting these pieces together made it rather simple to deduce your intentions," she remarked in a tone that sounded more like guidance to aid my improvement. Did she deduce all that from such subtle cues? Am I truly that transparent?! No, I wouldn''t have reached this far if that were the case. This girl''s ability to read her opponents is just astonishingly exceptional! "¡­I see. We were right to be wary of you. But it seems our preparation wasn''t enough," I gritted my teeth as I prepared for the inevitable two-on-one. The situation appears bleak. My weapon skill is on cooldown, and both opponents are exceptionally skilled, especially Novo, who can read me like an open book. I can only hope that my allies are faring better than I am. Vol.2 Chapter 50 Murasame¡¯s PoV ¡°WHAT AN INSANE SAVE! That was an incredible play coming from team Paradigm¡¯s support, Novo!¡± the caster hollered at the top of his voice. "What!" "S-she blocked it?!" "Whoa!" "Whoa..." The caster''s astonishment and incredulity was echoed by Hana, Kaito, and the twins, who were all present in the special room designated for players where I am currently situated. I comprehend their astonishment. The ¡®Guardian Angel¡¯ skill has diminished in popularity and fallen out of favor due to its stringent limitations and difficulty of usage, making it seldom used or even seen, especially by newer players like these guys. Only veteran players who are nostalgic for the time when the skill, long before it was nerfed in the patches, still utilize it to a certain degree. The underlying reason for this is that the skill consumes a significant amount of mana and has an extended cooldown following the Nerf, allowing for only one use per game. Even seasoned professionals I have encountered rarely employ it in the current patch unless they are absolutely certain of an imminent major attack; otherwise, it would be a waste of scarce skill points, especially for dual caster mages to learn, and also a waste of casting time since only one spell can be precast at a time, preventing the casting of any other spell until it is used. One thing''s for sure. On top of having a high survivability for a mage, she is also adept at outplaying her opponents. I was right in my initial speculations. That girl, Novo, is dangerous. "What an unexpected turn of events, folks! It looks like the middle orb would be hard for Arthur to contest alone now that his duo partner had just been defeated!" the caster remarked, stating the obvious. ¡°You got that right, Riot. And look at the bottom orb. It seems like ZiJi is dominating his opponent, Xeno. While on the top orb, it seems like it is a stalemate for both players,¡± the other caster added. I see what they mean. Renz, the spearman for Paradigm, is adopting an exceedingly defensive approach, merely probing at his adversary, Gwyneth. It''s evident he''s employing a stalling tactic for the team''s benefit. On the opposite end, ZiJi, potentially their most formidable player in one-on-one scenarios, is nearing victory against his opponent, Xeno. ¡°Look! The contest for the bottom orb is extremely one-sided!¡± Hana exclaimed. I focused my attention on the screen featuring the battle for the bottom orb. ZiJi HP: 84% Xeno HP: 49% ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t get why the other guy isn''t using his weapon skill now that he is at a disadvantage?¡± Kaito asked. ¡°He is in a bad matchup," I blurted out. ¡°Bad matchup?¡± ¡°Bad matchup?¡± The twins probed in unison. I pondered for a moment and decided to provide some insight and fulfill my role as their coach. "He is outmatched, and his broadsword¡¯s weapon skill, as far as I''m aware from their qualifiers match, is a single formidable attack that can be parried. It''s a disadvantageous matchup against someone as skilled in parrying as ZiJi. Xeno is likely aware that ZiJi is anticipating his weapon skill. Hence, he is mirroring the tactic by waiting for ZiJi to unleash his ''Reversal,'' a potent defensive weapon skill first, to gain the advantage." ¡°Oh, I see! It has turned into a game in which the first one to use their weapon skill loses!¡± Hana said in understanding. ¡°Precisely,¡± I agreed. As I was explaining things, ZiJi pressed the attack. His movements were graceful, with each thrust and slash a precise extension of his butterfly sword. In contrast, Xeno from the Round Table appeared inexperienced. Despite showing promise, his lack of experience was evident when facing someone of ZiJi''s skill level. Following a swift exchange of swordplay, ZiJi identified the opening. Employing a deceptive move that caught Xeno off guard, he executed a riposte, piercing through the vulnerable gap in Xeno''s armor with the tip of his butterfly sword. A direct strike landed on Xeno''s chest. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. "Guh!" Xeno HP: 39% "Y-you''re pretty good. It looks like I need to take you seriously," he said with such assurance that even I became more vigilant about what he would do to turn things around. Was what he said a fluke, or is he really holding back? If that''s the case, it was a bad move to let his HP dwindle that much, especially when he will be fighting the other members of the Paradigm, who will be in full health due to having a healer. As I was thinking that, ZiJi lunged at him and executed a disarming maneuver. One butterfly sword expertly hooked Xeno''s blade at the base, the other a blur as it shot up Xeno''s arm. With a twist and a yank, the broadsword clattered to the ground, leaving Xeno staring down the points of ZiJi''s twin blades. "W-wait! Time out! I wasn''t ready yet!" he protested. ¡­That¡¯s ...I doubt you can request a pause from your opponent and expect them to comply in the middle of a match. Nonetheless, it appears the battle has concluded. What a masterful disarm maneuver that was from the Paradigm''s player. He certainly improved compared to his gameplay from the qualifiers. Did he hide his skills, perhaps? If not, what kind of drastic training did he undergo the past week to exponentially grow this much in such a short time? And not just him. From what I''ve seen in their gameplay in the qualifiers, all of them drastically improved since back then. Each member of their team appears to have undergone a remarkable training regimen. Additionally, having an exceptionally skilled strategist on their side plays a crucial role. Their meticulous preparation and thorough memorization of backup plans and contingencies give them a notable advantage over their current opponents, who are less prepared. This situation parallels what unfolded in my sister''s match, a reason why she lost to their spearman. I''ll have to look more into their team in preparation when we go up against them. "I didn''t think they were this strong..." Kaito muttered. "...Why is that?" I asked curiously. ¡°Um... Because everybody is saying they are the weakest participant here?¡± he responded. ¡°That is a bad take on things. People often adhere to prevailing opinions and follow them blindly, particularly when a significant number share the same viewpoint, without even questioning or verifying the accuracy of the information. I hope this will be a lesson to you to not rely on what the majority thinks. It is always best to be skeptical and confirm for yourself whether what you hear is really true or not¡­¡± I paused, noticing the expressions of admiration and wonder on everyone''s faces in the room. Hmm... I realize I''m not typically this chatty. It seems like I might have been adopting the role of their coach a bit too earnestly. My abrupt change in demeanor might have caught them off guard, especially considering they appear to be enthusiastic fans of mine, as per Hana''s accounts. ¡°Ahem... Let''s redirect our attention to the match at hand,¡± I redirected the conversation. As I said, it seems that Arthur is the next to be defeated, prompting shock from the announcers and viewers. He didn''t stand a chance two-on-one to begin with, especially when his ace in the hole, his weapon skill, was on cooldown, so it was expected. It seems like the only remaining player from the Round Table team is Gwyneth. Gwyneth HP: 92% Renz HP: 71% Observing their relatively healthy status, it seems that Renz, the player who defeated Hana, is still intent on his stalling tactics, which is quite commendable. Despite holding the upper hand, their team still refrains from underestimating their adversary and opts for strategies where success is most likely. "I give up..." Gwyneth suddenly proclaimed, shocking the audience. "W-what? Why?" Renz exclaimed in disbelief. "All my allies have fallen, and you''re simply buying time until reinforcements arrive," she replied nonchalantly. "That''s true, I guess..." "So adi¨®s... Good game. I''m going to sleep for a while after this..." she stated with a yawn as she logged out, initiating a surrender that left the audience in incredulity at the unexpected turn of events. "...A-and we have a victor! What an unforeseen outcome and an impressive performance from team Paradigm!" the caster hastily announced to redirect attention from the unconventional conclusion of the match. "W-why did she surrender? Isn''t that a poor display for her?" Hana questioned. "I believe she made the right choice," I countered. "What? What about her honor and integrity as a warrior?" Hana contested. "While integrity is significant, strategically retreating to regather and refocus for the upcoming match is a more prudent use of time. Expending all effort in a battle where victory is unachievable against all four opponents may inadvertently disclose details about your strengths and vulnerabilities to future adversaries. Additionally, persisting in a losing battle also has its drawbacks. As the saying goes, it is wiser to lose and retreat in a single battle than to lose the war,¡± I gave my honest opinion. Hana contemplated my response before acknowledging, "That''s true... I suppose." ¡°Well, it ultimately depends on the individual, but if I were in her position... I''d do the same,¡± I added. "But in your case, you can easily defeat them 1v4, right?" Kaito inquired. Glancing at the Team Paradigm''s support player, Novo, I pondered momentarily. "...Who knows," I responded vaguely. --------------------------------- As my VR pod opened, the world around me slowly came back into focus, and the transition from virtual reality to reality felt almost surreal. The crowd''s cheers swept over me with a wave of energy and excitement that filled the air with electrifying enthusiasm but also didn¡¯t help at all in the transition. I take a moment to adjust to the sudden change in atmosphere, the echoes of the previous match still lingering in my mind. The cheers grow louder, a cacophony of voices that blend into a symphony of celebration and support. ¡°PARADIGM! PARADIGM! PARADIGM! PARADIGM!¡± The resounding cheers were overwhelming. It felt somewhat peculiar, considering that moments before the match, the cheers were not in our favor. Our dominant display of strength must have influenced the shift in support. The match unfolded favorably for us, almost too seamlessly for my preference. I am certain that the other team¡¯s attention will now be focused on us, a prospect that I am not particularly keen on, as I¡¯d like to stay the underdogs of this tournament. As I got out of the pod, an immediate whirlwind of blond tackled me from out of nowhere. I almost fell to the ground but held on my center of balance. Not today, Liz, not today! ¡°What a nice save! I thought for a second I was a goner, but I knew I could count on you!¡± she said while gripping me tightly, her overwhelming emotion from the win evident in her actions. I can''t breathe! And stop it with the hugs! We''re live on broadcast! It''s embarrassing! I get that she is overjoyed since this is a big match... But still! In my peripheral vision, I noticed Clarence extending his hand, awaiting Chu''s response for a high-five. "Come on! Don''t leave me hanging!" he exclaimed, holding his hands up in anticipation of Chu reciprocating the gesture. Chu, who is in a good mood because of the win, stared at him for a bit before he reciprocated. The result was a satisfying crisp and sharp high five, like the crack of a whip that echoed throughout the booth. It made me smile. We really did win. It has been so long since I felt this way again. The overwhelming sense of exhilaration that courses through my body, a rush of adrenaline and euphoria that fills every fiber of my being. This is a moment of pure joy and elation, a culmination of hard work, dedication, and determination paying off in the most rewarding way possible. The thing is, despite all these positive circumstances, one major downside is that I find it difficult to breathe! ¡°L-let¡¯s go and shake hands with the other team first,¡± I managed to articulate with the limited oxygen in my lungs. Liz finally released me from her death hug and then flashed me a dazzling smile. ¡°Sure! Let¡¯s go!¡±. Vol.2 Chapter 51 Ariadne''s PoV "...A-and we have a victor! What an unforeseen outcome and an impressive performance from team Paradigm!" the caster announced, disbelief evident in his voice. A weighty silence enveloped the stadium, thick with tension and a tangible undercurrent of nervous anticipation. Team Paradigm, considered the underdog in this entire tournament, orchestrated a remarkable upset by defeating the favored Round Table. As the players emerge from the VR pods, the few supporters of the team Paradigm erupt in a delayed explosion of cheers, a wave of disbelief washing over them before pure joy takes hold. This is followed by a chorus of cheers from the others who want to be part of the celebration to signify the momentous upset that nobody was expecting to happen. The unified chant of "PARADIGM! PARADIGM! PARADIGM!" reverberated through the air, reaching even this secluded spot, courtesy of the resounding volume of the crowd''s cheer. I smiled at the outcome. Katherine¡¯s team deserves better recognition than what they got from the community, and this is exactly what I would like to see from the audience. ¡°I understand your caution against them now,¡± Ken, seated beside me, remarked, drawing my focus. I turned to him gradually, a question forming in my mind. ¡°Do you have any regrets about training with them?¡± Ken reflected for a moment before responding, ¡°¡­No, our skills have also flourished thanks to them, so I have no regrets. Moreover, engaging in continuous battles with them during our training sessions has exposed their vulnerabilities to me." ¡°But so have their strategist, Katherine,¡± I rebuked. My gaze fixed on the girl being embraced by Liz in front of the crowd. Are they not even slightly ashamed of doing such acts in public? I shook my head; they must be simply overwhelmed with happiness on winning a crucial match, particularly Liz, so I shouldn''t dwell on it too much. ¡°...I suppose that''s true. We will just have to beat them in skills and team synergy then," Ken responded. "That¡¯s right...But before that, we have a fight to win..." As our turn to battle approaches, focusing on our upcoming opponent should be our primary concern. The adversaries we are about to face are formidable. Ken also lacks substantial information about their fourth member, Lua. And my instinct also screams that something is off about that girl. As if on cue, someone knocked respectfully on the door before opening it. "Team Paragons, please prepare for the upcoming match. The tournament will resume after a brief break, so ensure you are prepared by then. Once inside the booth, you are not permitted to leave until the match concludes, your team forfeits, or in case of an emergency, as per the regulations," the staff notified us. "Sure! Thanks for the heads up!" Blake expressed his gratitude to the staff. "So... are we sticking to the strategy?" Lucy inquired, her nervousness evident in her tone. "Yes, although reluctantly, considering our limited knowledge of their final member. Therefore, I suggest Blake take charge of facing her," Ken decided. "Absolutely! Count on me; I''ll defeat her, so there is no need to fret. I pride myself on being the most skilled 1v1 player here, except for our champion, the Armsmaster," Blake teased with a playful glance in my direction. I let out a sigh. They are persistent with that joke, aren''t they? "Be careful, though; Katherine mentioned that girl should not be underestimated," I cautioned. "Well, that''s a bonus for me. I love fighting strong opponents," he responded with enthusiasm. "Please take this seriously," Lucy urged nervously. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Lucy seems to be under pressure, judging by her actions. I can understand her apprehension, though; this marks her debut tournament, and the burden is undoubtedly mounting, especially considering she is under the prot¨¦g¨¦ of our current guild leader. "Hehe! You know me! I play best when I enjoy the battle," Blake reassured with a childish yet encouraging grin. -------------------------- Liz''s PoV I led my team in approaching the Round Table team after our victory. As we neared the opposing team, cheers from the stadium reverberated around us, adding to the buzz of the moment. Their leader, Arthur, saw us coming and instantly knew what we were up to. He urged his members to do the same. Looking at their expressions, they all don¡¯t seem too affected by the loss, except maybe for Astrid, their support player that we fought earlier, who seems to be in a pensive mood. One of their members, whose in-game name I remembered to be Xeno, hurriedly approached me first before his teammates even had the chance. I held out my hand to him as a gesture of sportsmanship. ¡°It''s an honor to lose to you, Miss Elizabeth,¡± Xeno said as he grasped my extended hand with his own, which caught me off guard. Isn¡¯t he acting a bit too close? ¡°You are as obnoxious as I remember,¡± said Kat, who was right beside me. He gave Kat a confident smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad to live in the head of a lady as beautiful as you, rent-free,¡± the statement was then followed by a playful wink. Okay, I usually give people I''m not familiar with the benefit of the doubt, but I¡¯m not liking this guy at all. A sudden critical attack extended from Arthur''s hand towards his head, forcing his hold on my hand to be released. ¡°Please don¡¯t embarrass our team any more than you already have,¡± Arthur sighed. ¡°Ouch! What the heck, dude? I¡¯m having my moment here; don¡¯t ruin it!¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s already ruined it from the very beginning, so don''t worsen it any further with your antics,¡± Arthur countered. "Tsk Alright already! You just don''t understand what girls truly appreciate," Xeno finally conceded, but not before throwing a jab at his friend before relenting. After successfully separating Xeno from me, which I greatly appreciate, Arthur began shaking hands and congratulating all of our members. His teammates followed suit, eliciting a cheer from the crowd. As the moment arrived for Ren and Arthur to shake hands, Ren''s loud voice cut through the cheering crowd, making it audible to the rest of us. ¡°I wanted to get my revenge personally, but I guess my teammates did it in my stead!¡± I was confused at first, but I remembered that Ren had lost to Arthur in the 1v1 tournament. I guess his ¡®manly¡¯ pride that he always brags about can¡¯t let it slide. Indeed, boys will be boys. ¡°My bad. I wanted to fight you too, but we needed to stick to our battle plan, a plan that was easily thwarted by your support,¡± he glanced at Kat, admiration evident in his expression. Before Kat could respond, one of Arthur¡¯s teammates suddenly butted in. ¡°Can we go now, guys? I can¡¯t sleep here with this much noise,¡± Gwyneth, his other teammate, said nonchalantly. I don¡¯t think any normal person would consider even sleeping in a stadium, even if it is silent. I thought to myself. ¡°I agree. We also need to prepare for our lower bracket matches and reflect on our loss,¡± Astrid replied, mirroring her teammate¡¯s uneasiness. She also seems uncomfortable staying here because of the large crowd. She does seem like an introverted person, so I¡¯m not that surprised. Noticing his teammate¡¯s apprehension, Arthur responded with a tone tinged with regret. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Wait! Let me at least get your number, Miss Eli- Ow, ow, ow!¡± Xeno didn¡¯t get to finish his request as Astrid pulled him by the ear towards the exit from the other side. Arthur sheepishly smiled at the situation. A smile that seems like he is used to it happening a lot of the time. A second later, he directed his gaze towards us. ¡°You all are strong. Best of luck going forward," his expression transformed into one of genuine hope for our triumph. "You betcha! We won''t lose! Don''t slack off and get eliminated, either. I''m going to wait for you at the finals!" Ren responded enthusiastically. "You got it. Wait for us. We will have our revenge match," Arthur responded with a competitive spirit only shared by those who treat each other as rivals. After hearing his declaration, we proceeded to go our separate ways. As we walked towards the exit of our side of the stadium, the roar of the crowd washed over us like a tidal wave. It was a sensory overload of flashing lights, thundering chants of our team¡¯s name, and the joyous pandemonium of a thousand unexpected victories. Exhilaration courses through me, tingling in my fingertips and making my smile feel impossibly wide. People thought we weren''t supposed to win this. We were the team no one expected to make it past the first round, let alone win against a crowd favorite like the Round Table. But here we are, bathed in the electric glow of the match, cheers echoing in our ears like a victory song. "This feels really good..." I whispered, my words nearly drowned out by the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd. "Did you say something?" Kat, positioned next to me, inquired. Ever observant of her environment, she even caught my faint whisper. She truly is exceptional. ¡°I said I''m glad to have you as my partner," I said wholeheartedly to her. "Hmph, there you go again. Aren''t you embarrassed saying such things?" she retorted, turning her head away. "It''s not embarrassing to say if it''s the truth," I gave her a playful wink. "That''s it. I''m leaving you behind," she declared, quickening her pace as she walked ahead, true to her statement. I chuckled. "Wait for me, Kat!" I called out as I adjusted my speed to keep pace with her. Exiting the main stage after our exhilarating match, we found ourselves face-to-face with Team Paragons, who were there to prepare for the upcoming battle. The members of Team Paragons met our gaze with a mix of camaraderie and competitive spirit. Ria then approached Kat to congratulate her. ¡°That was a great decisive play. I expect no less from you,¡± Ria praised. ¡°I¡¯m glad I was able to live up to ¡®The Armsmaster¡¯s¡¯ expectation,¡± Kat said in a calm yet teasing manner. Ria facepalmed. ¡°Not you too¡­¡± ¡°Do you dislike the moniker?¡± Kat inquired. "Truthfully, yes. I don¡¯t think it sounds good..." Ria confessed. "Don¡¯t worry, you''ll grow accustomed to it eventually," Kat stated nonchalantly. The curt response made Ria smile nostalgically; their exchange gave me a feeling there were some nuances in there that I was missing, but I might be just overthinking things. The bond between them was conspicuous to all present, especially considering Kat''s atypical behavior, as she typically avoids engaging in casual conversations. I also can¡¯t help but note that despite our shared training sessions, it''s apparent that Ria feels more comfortable with Kat, even though she has interacted less frequently with Kat compared to me in the past few days. Following their exchange, the rest of Ria¡¯s teammates congratulated us. In return, we all conveyed our best wishes to them, hoping for their victory as well. Even Chu, who is always reserved, initiated a conversation with Blitz. The bond they forged during their training sessions likely contributed to Chu''s newfound openness. As we parted ways, one wish instantly came to mind: I wholeheartedly hope that they win their match. Important Announcement Now that Volume 2 is finally finished (it took a lot longer than I expected), I''ll be going on a break to plan and prepare the story for the next one! That being said, I probably won''t be able to post anytime soon, so I want to make up to ten chapters available on my Patreon completely free! (no need to create a Patreon account)Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Anyways thanks again for your support and for taking time to read my novel! See ya! Vol.2 Chapter 52 "We are now back, folks! With the match you¡¯ve all been waiting for, Team Paragons vs. Team Variable!¡± the main panelist hyped. I looked up from my phone just as I heard Raze announce the nearing start of the match after a series of advertisements and commercials from the sponsors. It seemed like the participants were finally finished with their preparations. Kat! Kat! It¡¯s starting!¡± Liz, who was sitting right next to me, spoke excitedly. ¡°I have eyes, you know¡­¡± I replied, unamused. Liz and I currently occupy the couch in the elegant room designated for participants to watch the match on the sizable screen. Despite the walls being designed to dampen the sound, the lively energy of the crowd permeates the room, which makes watching the match more enticing. ¡°We have the match between two crowd favorites! It is a match between two strong teams who are ranked one and two, respectively, based on your votes! They are Team Paragons and Team Variables!" the panelist exclaimed. ¡°What are your predictions for the match, Mr. Bogdan?¡± the lead panelist queried. ¡°Hmm¡­ it¡¯s quite challenging to predict the outcome. However, I think team Paragon will most likely show a dominating performance in this match,¡± Vlad stated with confidence. I doubt that it would be that easy for Aria¡¯s team. From what I can see, Vlad appears to have a deep respect for the former Paragons, potentially leading to a biased opinion. He seems to overlook the extensive measures that Team Variables is taking to conceal Lua''s strengths and vulnerabilities. It is like they are banking their all for her to carry them, which is an incredibly bizarre notion since two members of team Variables are nationally accomplished in their respective martial arts. That just shows how confident they are in Lua¡¯s skills. ¡°I agree with you, Mr. Bogdan. But let us also see if our statistics and analysis also agree with us!¡± Following the panelists'' remarks, the screen displayed a graph presenting an array of statistics, culminating in the match probability win rates for both teams. Team Paragons holds a 71.6%-win probability, whereas Team Unfiltered lags behind at 28.4%. While these statistics suggest a one-sided match, uncertainties remain as numerous variables can impact the outcome, especially since they failed to account for one factor: Team Variable always plays without their ace. "It appears that the statistics strongly favor Team Paragons! Remember, viewers. These findings are a combination of advanced AI data and audience votes, so treat them with caution!" the lead panelist emphasized. "I concur, Raze. These statistics reflect probabilities based on the qualifiers and not definitive outcomes!" the co-panelist added, eliciting resounding applause from the crowd. ¡°Wow! Looks like Ria and her teammates got this match in the bag!¡± Liz cheered happily. ¡°We can¡¯t be too sure. The bias is evident as Lua did not even partake in any of their qualifying matches, rendering these statistics entirely unreliable,¡± I cautioned, tempering her excitement. ¡°W-what?! Is Ria¡¯s team is in trouble?¡± Liz expressed her concern. ¡°¡­¡± I remained silent as I really didn¡¯t have the slightest clue about the match''s outcome. ¡°Now, folks, it seems that the participants are ready. Let us head onto the casters for the match commentary!¡± ------------------------------ Blitz¡¯s PoV We arrived via teleportation in the forgotten city ruin stage. It gave the ambiance of something ravaged by time and shrouded in an eerie silence. Crumbled walls, once a testament to a grander structure, reach for the sky like skeletal fingers. Vines snake through the cracks, reclaiming the edifice for nature. It seems like we didn''t get a new map. That''s fine with me since I''m used to this type of map. "Do we stick to our usual rotation?" Aria asked Seer loud enough for the whole team to hear. "...Let''s stick to our standard formation for safety. I anticipate they won''t deviate much in their rotation, given their team composition isn''t tailored for strategic engagements, as they excel individually but lack teamwork cohesion," Seer responded. "Got it. Everyone, be careful!" Our captain''s encouragement spurred us to move towards our designated orb capture points as we each headed for our targets. Along the way, I paced myself as I made my way to the target, preserving my stamina for the impending battle. I took advantage of the remaining minutes before the orb became capturable. As I strolled along the city ruins, a sense of quiet contemplation enveloped me. Sunlight filtered through the cracks and crevices, casting soft rays of light that danced upon the weathered cobblestones. Echoes of the past whispered through the ancient city alleyways as I walked casually, and I couldn¡¯t help but think that I might be taking this match too lightly. Well, it beats overthinking things, or I won¡¯t be able to play properly, as my mentor instructed me. Enjoying the moment has always been his motto, and I intend to do just that in the upcoming battle. Reaching the bottom orb, my opponent, a beautiful girl with white hair wearing a martial arts set, greeted me as soon as it became accessible for capture. ¡°I heard you''re the strongest 1v1 player in our generation. Is that true?¡± the girl facing me inquired, her excitement palpable in her voice. ¡°As much as I''d like to agree, I''d be lying if I said yes. I¡¯m pretty sure Aria recently surpassed all thanks to her motivation to improve,¡± I remarked in a friendly tone akin to conversing with a friend. Well, it wasn¡¯t that hard to talk to her casually as I perceived a kindred spirit in her. It seems we are both alike. ¡°Oh! Is that so? I''d really like to fight her after this~,¡± she said in a melodic voice. "Sorry, that''s not happening as long as I''m here," I rebuked. My response caused her to finally open her closed eyes. I reflexively gazed into a pair of strikingly beautiful green eyes, each one a mesmerizing oasis of color and depth. The irises shimmer with hues of emerald and jade, like lush verdant forests captured within a gaze. Her eyes possess an alluring sparkle reminiscent of sunlight filtering through a canopy of leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow. Hidden deep within those two beautiful orbs, a glint of determination shone¡ªa familiar spark that I recognized all too well. Like my mentor Zetta and me¡­ she can enter the flow state at will. "You have no choice in the matter," she replied with impunity. -------------------------- Seer''s PoV Upon reaching my destination in the desolate heart of this city ruin, a lone orb¡ªthe capture orb ¡ª pulsates with an otherworldly luminescence at its center without anyone in sight. A sense of foreboding crept over me as I surveyed the empty surroundings. Why is none here? With a growing sense of unease, I immediately inquired in the team chat. "Everyone! What''s your status!" "Can''t talk! I''m fighting their ace! Girl is strong, so I''ll have to focus!" replied Blitz in the team chat. "I''m also unable to converse! We''re under an ambush. There are three here!" Aria replied hurriedly. What? Why are there three in the middle orb? Could it be... This is troublesome.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Hold on and prioritize survival for the moment; I''ll come to support the middle orb!" I was taken aback by their decision to dispatch three players to a single location. Typically, they distribute their team members to cover all three orbs, especially considering Lua''s inactivity in the qualifiers. This turn of events caught me completely off guard. Could they be strategizing to eliminate Aria first, their most potent adversary and also our strongest player? I hope I can reach them in time to provide support. --------------------------------- Ariadne PoV I surveyed the battlefield, realizing the challenging situation we were currently facing with their three-man ambush. To compound matters, two of their team members were targeting Lucy, intent on swiftly eliminating her, while another engaged me to buy time. It was a lapse in judgment on my part¡ªI had become overly aggressive in fighting against Fortissimo, who then appeared to be alone to finish the battle as soon as possible. This decision led me to leave Lucy by herself, vulnerable and without protection. HaeYun and Gil capitalized on this misplay by launching an ambush from the concealment of one of the ruined walls of the ancient city. When I realized what they were planning, it was already too late. I was far separated from Lucy to protect her. This is a critical situation; I must defeat at least one of them before my haste buff expires, or we''ll be in a dire predicament. I observed Lucy, who was clearly struggling to stay afloat. Despite her efforts to endure, she made a clever move by casting haste on herself, albeit at the cost of sustaining damage. The haste buff remained her lifeline against her two adversaries. Unlike me, she lacks finesse in evasion, casting doubt on her ability to sustain herself for long. As if to confirm my concerns, HaeYun, a martial artist adept at Tae Kwando, landed a kick to her side, dealing a significant amount of damage. Lucy HP: 62% This is bad. Lucy also can''t use her jiu-jitsu, which is her greatest strength against attackers since they have figured out her weakness. In a two-against-one, it doesn''t matter if she locks down her opponent since the other one will kill her instead. The only silver lining in this situation is that they are not optimized for a three-man team since all of them are strong individually. Therefore, they don''t have proper support or team synergy. This is also the reason why Seer never thought that they would make this kind of move. We''ve been had. Given the urgency of our plight, waiting for Seer to arrive is not feasible. I must swiftly overpower my current adversary before Lucy succumbs to hers, as I cannot withstand a three-on-one assault. Instinctively, I dodged the strike from the rod-like weapon, stepping back to create distance. The attack refocused my attention on my opponent. "Your opponent is me, Ms. 1v1 Champion," my opponent declared in a light-hearted manner. Focus, Aria! I must concentrate on my current adversary and avoid distractions. Apologies, Lucy, but I''ll come to your aid once I finish this fight. I carefully assessed the individual standing before me. Fortissimo, reputed as an escrima champion from the Philippines, wielded crackling escrima sticks infused with energy. He appeared to be unleashing his full power right from the outset, enhancing his attack potency with fiery enhancements enveloping his weapon with the use of his weapon skill. A sense of respect stirred within me¡ªhe presented a formidable challenge. In our brief interaction thus far, his movements exuded precision and discipline. Despite his skills, Fortissimo is at a disadvantage since I am currently under the effects of the haste buff. I launched my attack, initiating our intense duel. I moved aggressively towards him, aiming to swiftly conclude the battle. As I closed in on his striking range, Fortissimo unleashed a rapid succession of strikes with his escrima sticks, creating a whirlwind of movement. However, with a swift motion of my wrist, my daggers transformed into a shimmering buckler, effectively deflecting each blow with a resonant clang. We engaged in a dynamic exchange of strikes, creating a lethal dance of attacks, blocks, and evasions. Each time he thrust forward, my weapons seamlessly shifted from katana to axe, staff to twin sai, maintaining his disorientation and inflicting damage whenever possible. With each encounter, frustration brewed in his eyes as I won every exchange with the help of my speed-increasing buff. Fortissimo HP: 44% He fought valiantly, his skills undeniable. However, my true edge resided in the unpredictability of my weaponry. Swiftly, I transformed my weapon into a wickedly curved khopesh. He took a daring gamble with a desperate slide, narrowly evading the weapon as it swished overhead. Capitalizing on his movement, I shifted the khopesh into a massive spiked shield with my weapon skill. His retaliatory strike collided with the shield, creating a reverberation throughout the battlefield. Leveraging my enhanced speed from the haste buff, I promptly exploited his recoil as my weapon seamlessly reverted to my reliable daggers. I swiftly aimed for his head, delivering twin critical strikes as the blade''s point pierced through his unguarded head. ¡°ACK!¡± Fortissimo HP: 0% ¡°It seems I was not a match for you¡­¡± he muttered with a sense of awe directed at me as he disappeared into blue motes of light. He proved to be a formidable opponent. It would have been a lengthier battle without the haste buff. However, it appears my speed was not sufficient, as a red notification caught my attention at the periphery of my vision. I shifted my gaze to the battlefield, confirming that Lucy had indeed succumbed to her two opponents. Lucy HP: 0% Shit! I didn''t make it in time. Following Lucy''s defeat, their captain, Gil, assumed an offensive stance and directed his gaze towards me. Despite a hint of surprise at my swift victory over their comrade, he managed to calm himself instantly. "I didn''t anticipate your team deploying three players against us. Using such underhanded ambush tactics was unexpected," I stated in a provoking manner. He smiled knowingly. "There are no rules in a battle. Also, it''s funny you say that because aren''t you also using an ¡®underhanded'' tactic by chatting me up and buying time for your backup to arrive?" Tsk! So, he knew my intentions right from the start? As expected of a strategist capable of outplaying Seer. "Let''s go, Haeun. Let''s not let Antonio''s sacrifice be in vain. We must conclude this before her ally intervenes," Gil commanded. "Y-yes!" the girl responded earnestly. HaeYun was the first one to attack. She thrust herself forward with a spinning kick aimed at my chest. But with a flick of my wrist, my weapon shimmered, then was replaced by a large shield with a malevolent glint¡ªthe kick connected with a resounding clang, sending a shockwave through my body. Her attacks are heavy! Gil, ever the opportunist, capitalized on the momentary opening. He lunged; his longsword aimed for my exposed flank. Just before the blade connected, I channeled my weapon skill again, the shield dissolving a jagged dagger. The longsword became entangled by the edges of my weapon. Its momentum halted my parry. HaeYun, seizing the chance, unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches. Her strikes were lightning-fast and precise, each one carrying the weight of a focused mind and honed body. But for every blow aimed at my unguarded body parts, a new weapon materialized to meet it ¨C a glowing gauntlet to deflect a roundhouse kick with my bare arms, a shimmering greave to block a shin strike while dodging an opportune slash coming from Gil. The three of us danced across the arena, a chaotic ballet of steel and spinning limbs. HaeYun''s frustration was palpable, her movements growing more frantic with each thwarted attack. While Gil, ever stoic, remained calm, searching for an opening in my ever-shifting defenses. It seems I¡¯m doing better than I thought I¡¯d fare against these two. It helps that they are a bit cautious since they might hinder each other if they move recklessly. Therefore, Gil cannot attack me as aggressively as HaeYun does with the fear of friendly fire. With an unexpected twist, the tide of the battle began to turn when a sudden notification popped up. I usually don¡¯t pay much attention to it and only give it a momentary glance when in a battle, as I did with Lucy¡¯s death notification, but the message was too shocking to ignore. Teammate (Blitz) has been defeated. ¡°What!¡± I instinctively muttered. Sensing my distracted mind, HaeYun took advantage of my exposed vulnerability with a cunning maneuver. With a feigned kick, she drew my attention to her lower body. But the real attack came from above, a spinning backkick aimed at my head. The attack was complimented by Gil''s follow-up slash aimed at my torso, which I instinctively prioritized dodging. It was too late when I realized it was just Gil''s distraction. The real threat was coming from HaeYun¡¯s attack. "Soaring Dragon!" HaeYun shouted at the top of her voice, intending to exert all her energy in the attack. Is she going to use her weapon skill?! Oh no! I cannot dodge it! With a desperate struggle, I morphed my weapon into a shield, and as soon as her greaves flashed bright yellow. She let out her spinning kick. The attack connected with a bone-jarring thud against my shield. BAM* The force of her attack sent me staggering back. My vision swam for a moment, and my HP diminished with the heavy, full-force spinning kick, which was complimented by her metal greave''s weapon skill. ¡°Urgh!¡± Ariadne HP: 67% What! That much damage, even with a block? I would''ve died right then and there if that weapon skill attack landed on my head! The weapon skill attack also carries a one-second stun debuff, making my situation more dire. Taking advantage of my momentary stunned state after the blow, HaeYun aimed to conclude the battle as she charged towards me. Just when it appeared that all hope was lost, a cannon blast impacted the girl, propelling her away and thwarting her assault on me. ¡°Kya!¡± HaeYun HP: 34% Hope surged within me as I instantly recognized the source of that attack. It was a well-executed snipe from a distance, even though it didn''t result in a critical hit, likely due to Seer''s limited time to aim the cannon accurately in the heat of the moment. As a result, HaeYun was left with only a sliver of HP remaining. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly intervened by delivering a kick to Gil, who was preparing for a follow-up attack, creating space between us. I then transformed my weapon into a bow and, with precision, targeted HaeYun, striking her in the head while she was still recovering from the impact of the cannonball. ¡°Ugh!" HaeYun HP: 0% ¡°S-sorry, Sir Gilligan, I''ll leave the match to you and Ms. Lua,¡± she managed to say before vanishing into blue motes of light as a result of her death. "You! How did you manage to arrive here so swiftly?" Gil exclaimed in astonishment as he acknowledged Seer¡¯s presence. I shared his surprise, as I had not anticipated Seer''s early arrival. A second later, the realization sank in as Gil¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Don''t tell me you didn''t take the orb?!" he exclaimed. I glanced at Seer, seeking confirmation. "¡­That¡¯s right," Seer said with a victorious grin. While I appreciate his quick thinking, I also have reservations about his actions. It was a risky gamble, but the outcome proved favorable, so I can''t criticize too harshly. Initially, leaving the top orb without taking it seemed a stupid thing to do, yet Seer seems to have assessed the situation thoroughly before swiftly choosing to prioritize our safety over securing the orb. If Seer had been even a second late, I might have faced fatal attacks from the opposing duo following HaeYun''s initial strike that could have disrupted my balance and stance, which would have led to them landing combo attacks against me. That''s Seer for you. Making good decisions under pressure. "I see, as expected from Tactical¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦. But don¡¯t celebrate just yet. We also have a backup plan," Gil said, unperturbed. Seer''s demeanor shifted to seriousness as he grasped the implications behind Gil''s statement. I know that he also saw the notification. Blitz losing to anyone in a one-on-one is unheard of. ¡°No matter how strong your ace is, she cannot win against us both if we eliminate you before she arrives to back you up,¡± Seer said. I concur. Allowing him to escape and regroup with their final member would present a significant challenge. The thought of facing both him and someone who defeated Blitz is daunting. Anticipating our apprehensions, he reassured us, "Don''t fret; I have no plans to flee." "Do you honestly expect us to believe that?" I questioned with disbelief. ¡°I don''t really care if you don''t. Besides, even if I were to escape, I doubt she would collaborate with me. That girl prefers to handle her own battles without interference," he remarked nonchalantly. Their ace is that confident, huh? That works just fine. Her overconfidence would be her downfall. Seer and I have trained together a couple of times. Therefore, I''m confident we could take her no matter how strong she is if we work together. "But I''m not giving up just yet! Bring it on, both of you! Never underestimate a cornered fighter," he bellowed a battle cry before charging straight towards me. As he closed in, I transformed my weapon into a katana within its sheath. His surprise at my choice of weapon was evident, yet he pressed on with his charge. In the heat of the moment, within striking range, I drew my katana swiftly for a sheathed slash. While my attack might not match the speed of seasoned katana users like Hana, it posed a significant threat. Just as we were on the brink of collision with our weapons, a cannonball struck his shoulder, shattering his posture and providing me with the opportunity to complete my iaido slash aimed at his neck for a critical strike. ¡°Ack!¡± Gil HP: 0% "..." He vanished into blue motes of light without saying a single word. ¡°I''ll take the orb; the extra weight won''t bother me as much since I won''t be on the frontline,¡± Seer immediately suggested after the fight, not wasting a single second. ¡°Understood,¡± I agreed. Shortly after acquiring the orb, a figure emerged unexpectedly from the ruins'' debris. The timing was impeccable, almost as if she had been waiting for us to finish our orb retrieval before revealing herself. With her striking white hair and pale complexion, she exuded a captivating presence in her martial artist attire. What caught our attention was her closed eyes as she navigated the ruins, unfazed. However, the most startling revelation was her HP bar. Lua HP: 100% Based on our limited knowledge of her play style, it appears she specializes in pure DPS without any healing abilities. My stomach churned at the realization¡­ this means that Blitz didn''t even land a single hit on her. She opened her eyes, revealing a captivating gaze of bright green that met ours. "It''s somewhat disappointing that your comrade failed to put up much of a fight. Although, I trust that both of you can provide me the thrill I''m looking for~.¡± Vol.2 Chapter 53 Aria¡¯s PoV "How did you manage to defeat Blitz," Seer queried our opponent with caution. "How, you say? Hmm... I don''t really know; I just did~," Lua responded with an innocent smile. Noticing our apprehension, she immediately continued. "Oh~ don''t get me wrong. He''s good, probably the strongest opponent I''ve fought so far in this game, but he doesn''t quite meet my expectations," she paused momentarily, then turned her gaze towards me. "But I believe you would." For a moment, an inexplicable fear gripped me, akin to a rabbit ensnared by a snake''s gaze. Pushing the sensation to the depths of my mind, I interpreted it as an opportunity. With determination, I sprinted towards her, aiming to assess her abilities firsthand, signifying the start of the battle. As I approached her, she planted her right foot firmly on the ground with a resounding thud to solidify her posture. Simultaneously, she traced a crescent moon arc with her left foot while positioning her hands into a combat-ready stance. Her self-assurance in her movements was somewhat daunting, but I remained undeterred, knowing that I was not facing this with her alone; I had Seer with me. Closing in at a mid-range striking distance, I utilized a weapon skill to convert my weapon into a spear for a stabbing motion. This choice of weapon provided me with an advantage in reach, countering her close combat hand-to-hand fighting style, which is seemingly reliant on martial arts. As my spear thrust neared her upper body, her hand swiftly moved. With a flick of her wrist, the tip of my spear merely grazed harmlessly against her vambrace. The redirection was seamless, akin to a pebble skimming across a tranquil pool. The momentum of my own strike posed a threat to my stability, but Lua adeptly utilized it to her advantage. Her right arm intercepted the shaft of my spear, deftly guiding it past her with the gentle force of a current. Stumbling backward momentarily, I recovered my stance as she promptly closed the distance. A swift stomp of her right foot in my direction was quickly followed by a rapid palm strike. She''s fast! Her transition from her defensive stance to offense is extremely fluid! She even closed the gap between us instantly! Her ability to close the gap between us with such speed is honestly impressive. As her open palm strike edged closer to me, I had no choice but to swiftly transform my weapon into a shield, realizing it was too late to dodge her incredibly fast attack. Her hand met my shield with force, creating a resounding and loud impact. BOOM* "Wha!?" I exclaimed. Upon blocking her strike with my shield, I experienced a powerful impact that sent me hurtling a few meters away, feeling momentarily weightless. As I planted my foot to regain stability, I slid across the debris-strewn grounds due to the sheer force of her attack. Despite her ability to swiftly pursue me, she refrained from doing so. It seemed she was cautious of Seer, who was likely waiting for the perfect moment to strike her with his cannonball attack. While that explanation made sense, a lingering feeling suggested that she deliberately chose not to capitalize on the opportunity, prolonging the battle intentionally for her own amusement. "Oh~ you blocked that? You really are as good as they say!" she expressed, unable to conceal her delight at my successful defense instead of being disheartened by the thwarted counterattack. "Be careful! She has the majority of her stats allocated in her strength!" Seer warned. It makes sense; the impact was potent enough to propel me away, even though it was just an ordinary palm strike with the majority of her force behind it, not a specialized weapon skill. The worst part is that we still have no information about her weapon skill. "Quite astute of you~ but you''re wrong about one thing. I didn''t put a ''majority'' of my stats in strength," she remarked with a playful smile before elaborating further. "I allocated all my bonus stats into strength~" she disclosed, revealing the extent of her specialization. That sent a chill down my spine. It''s uncommon for anyone to allocate all their stats into a single attribute without considering survivability. She either lacks gaming intuition or possesses unparalleled confidence in her combat prowess to evade hits. But I suspect it''s a mix of both since she doesn''t seem like a gamer type. Reflecting on the recent encounter, I recoiled at the near-fatal outcome of that attack. If I hadn''t blocked it, the consequences would have been dire. Undoubtedly, any direct hit from her would result in instant death, given my lack of defensive capabilities. What¡¯s even worse is that with her strength-focused stats, she doesn''t require a critical strike to secure victory; any part of my body serves as a target for her potent blows.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. "Don''t be alarmed, Aria. As daunting as it sounds, she also has the weakness of dying easily to our attacks," Seer, the voice of reason, reassured, highlighting her weakness. Seer''s observation is accurate; it''s a two-way street. If she focuses solely on offense, then her fragility is akin to glass that would shatter upon sustaining a critical hit from me. "Bingo~ you''re quick on the uptake! Bonus points for you!" she said with a genuine smile, as if happy about the thrill of dying instantly to one of our attacks. "Aria, keep your distance for now; let''s focus on long-range attacks!" Seer suggested. That¡­ that strategy makes perfect sense when facing her. Why subject ourselves to the risk of close combat against her potent but perilous assaults when we can overcome her with a relentless barrage of long-range attacks, exploiting her low HP and frail build? Kudos to Seer for swiftly devising the apt tactic to outmaneuver the adversary. "What~? Boo, that''s no fun," she pouted, displaying a childlike demeanor as if disappointed at having her favorite toy snatched away. I acknowledged Seer''s suggestion with a nod as we proceeded with our strategy. I transformed my weapon into a bow and arrow, each arrow requiring additional MP to materialize with my weapon skill, but I maintained sufficient reserves. I''m sure Seer has plenty of MP to use his weapon skill to rearm instantly, too, since he used it only sparingly from our previous skirmish. As we readied ourselves to aim, Lua shifted her stance once again. She placed her right foot in front of her left to minimize her target area. With her left hand at her back and her right hand gesturing provocatively, she signaled us with a taunting "come hither" motion, daring us to engage. "If that''s how you guys like to play, then so be it~.¡± At the gesture, Seer launched his attack first. The cannonball''s aim was true; it would certainly hit her head. But as I had guessed, it wouldn''t be that easy. She easily sidestepped the cannonball with the grace of a dancer. As if in tacit understanding, Seer and I coordinated our play. He fired his cannonball attack while I simultaneously fired a shot with my arrow, where I predicted her movement would be after the dodge. She dodged the first cannonball easily, and just as my prediction was accurate, the arrow was on point, almost hitting her. But with an extreme burst of speed, she quickly changed her movement to dodge my ranged attack. We weren''t done yet, though. There was one final attack; Seer used his ''Rearm'' weapon skill to fire the shot that would finish this battle once and for all, catching our opponent off guard. Just as the cannonball was about to hit her upper torso without her having any way to dodge it, her hand sprang into a quick burst of speed once more. With lightning reflexes, she throws herself to the side, the movement initiated by a powerful twist of her torso. Her arms shoot up, and her vambraces meet the metal sphere in a resounding clang. TING* I can clearly see the impact shudder through her body, and her enchanted vambrace weapon absorbs most of the blow. The cannonball''s trajectory is deflected ever so slightly, enough for it to miss Lua by a hair''s breadth. It slams into the crumbled ruin wall behind her, sending cracks spider-webbing across the surface. "What!" "Huh!?" Seer and I exclaimed in unison. She redirected the cannonball trajectory with her skills alone at such precision?! How is that possible?! This girl is not normal. ¡°Phew~ that was close! Almost got me there~." I have my doubts about that. Her effortless evasion suggests it was far from mere luck. Our coordinated surprise attack was foiled for the first time, indicating that she now anticipates our tactics. She is also quick to get used to the speed of our projectiles, so the longer this goes, the harder it will be to hit her. Having no alternative strategy, we persisted with our long-range assault, albeit without success. Each dodge and redirection she executed fueled a nagging feeling at the back of my head, reminding me of someone. For the time being, I pushed aside the nagging feeling to focus on devising a solution to our current predicament. The situation was challenging; our long-range attacks proved ineffective, resulting in the unnecessary depletion of our MP. Was this outcome all part of Lua''s plan from the beginning? I needed to disrupt the current stalemate as Seer appeared to be running out of tactics against her. There is only so much a strategy can do against a truly skilled opponent anyway, and I''m pretty sure Seer is currently learning it the hard way. With a plan forming in my mind, I transformed my ineffective bow into a whip, intending to weaken her with lightweight strikes that could gradually deplete her HP. Equipped with my new weapon, I unleashed the whip, aiming for Lua''s throat. The whip sliced through the air but met only vacant space where she had stood moments earlier. A sense of dread gripped my stomach. Where had she vanished to? Then, a hand. Strong, impossibly strong, clamped down on the midsection of the whip. What? My whip is moving at an insane speed. And she casually grabs it, just like that?! What is with this girl¡¯s hand-eye coordination? After easily grabbing my whip, she then pulled... hard. It was like being caught in a current, yanked with a force that threatened to rip the weapon from my grasp and me with it. I almost stumbled forward with her move. I forgot she had incredible strength stats, so it was no use fighting her pull. Yielding to her pull, I allowed myself to be drawn in by her force. Determined to seize this unforeseen chance and bring the battle to a decisive conclusion, I transformed my whip into my trusty dagger. Harnessing the momentum of her pull, I swiftly launched an attack towards her with remarkable speed. Her eyes widened at my unexpected move, the first shocked expression I¡¯d seen her make thus far, but it happened again. In a swift and fluid motion, she intercepted the strike with expert timing by redirecting it ever so slightly to miss her critical point, leading to an unsatisfactory cut on the side of her head. Lua HP: 62% It was a good cut, given how low on vitality she is, only relying on set armor, but not enough for a fatal blow, given how expertly she redirected my attack. But she was not done yet. She put all her weight on her right foot, and then, with her free hand, she released a counterattack toward my unguarded stomach. In response, I shifted my weapon into an armguard while positioning my free arm in front of her attack to hopefully dampen the blow and survive the hit. But my heart sank as I saw a notification on the edge of my vision. Insufficient MP to use the weapon skill. What! I failed to manage my own MP due to the earlier fight with Gilligan and his two teammates. I seldom run out of MP, but using my weapon skill too much in this fight was the last straw. BOOM* The blow landed on my stomach, causing breathlessness and a resonant impact. The sheer force of the strike propelled me away at such velocity that I nearly experienced whiplash from the impact''s strength. Ariadne HP: 0% "Aria!" Seer exclaimed in surprise. "Oh~ that was close! My heart skipped a beat from almost dying!" Lua expressed her satisfaction at the exchange, but I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to give it any heed. Because now... I now know why I got this nagging feeling at the back of my head when fighting this monster. This girl, Lua, she... she reminds me of my days back when I was sparring with her. My mentor at her prime. But unlike my mentor, who seems like I''m trying to hit air. Fighting Lua feels like I''m trying to hit water, ever-changing and flowing, redirecting my every attempt, molding each of my strikes to her will. Those are my final thoughts as I vanished into blue motes of light. _______________________________________ Upper Bracket: Lower Bracket: Vol.2 Chapter 54 A solemn mood hangs heavy in the air, casting a veil of quiet introspection and contemplation over the room. The atmosphere is hushed, with a sense of stillness and reverence that reverberates through every corner, enveloping all within its somber embrace. An atmosphere that Liz desperately tried to change. "Hey, guys, cheer up! You''re all feeling too disheartened," Liz said, trying to lift the spirits of the group. "Of course, we would feel disheartened after watching that match! We can''t possibly win against a team that strong!" Clarence voiced his frustration. "Come on, we can''t give up before we even fight them!" Liz sought to motivate us. "What do you mean fight? That girl is gonna decimate us to the point where it won''t even qualify as a fight! Did you see what she did to Blitz? Are we even watching the same match? It''s best we surrender before we make a shit show out of ourselves!" Clarence exclaimed, his emotions escalating again. I can''t blame him, though. After seeing that match, anyone in their right mind would be discouraged from fighting Lua after that feat. Especially considering how strong the Paragons were from our previous scrim match, wherein they beat us handily. Setting aside our upcoming encounter with them, there is a more pressing matter that requires my attention for now. I suddenly rose from my seat, preparing to head out of the room. "K-kat, where are you going," Liz said, a bit shocked by my sudden movement. "...I need some time alone to think,¡± I made an excuse. "If you''re creating a countermeasure against her, don''t bother. I know you''re good at creating tactics and strategies, but no matter what tactic in the world we use, I don''t think we have a chance against her. She is as strong as or even stronger than a pro. She shouldn''t even be allowed to participate in a tournament like this! That''s clearly illegal!" Clarence expressed his frustration. "You''re letting your emotions overtake you again. Please try to compose yourself, and we can discuss our strategy when I return," I suggested, aiming to pacify him. His eyes widened in recognition. It dawned on him that his susceptibility to emotional outbursts was indeed his primary weakness, a trait I had been emphasizing for him to control during our recent training sessions. ¡°We''re not as weak as we used to be, and I do believe trying is better than surrendering, even if we do not stand a chance. At least we can uphold our dignity and face the challenge with our heads held high," I added. If he wanted to go pro, he would likely face many more challenges, and a defeatist mindset would do him no good. After saying my piece, I left my teammates to contemplate for themselves. Liz is there, so I''m sure she can lighten up the mood so we can have a meaningful discussion on what to do with our next fight. As I exited our room, I traversed the hallway to the location of one of the competing teams, the Paragons. The hallway doesn¡¯t have many people since this area is reserved for the participants and is guarded heavily to deter fans from entering. Upon arriving at my destination, a familiar voice emanated from the other side of the door, although the sound was muffled by the barrier of the room, making it challenging to discern the speaker''s identity. Summoning my courage, I knocked lightly on the door, motivated by the desire to check on their well-being, particularly Aria, whom I presumed would be grappling with self-criticism over the results of the recent confrontation. The door creaked open briefly, revealing a familiar face that welcomed me. "Oh, Katherine! What''s up? Are you here to revel in my guildmates'' defeat and add insult to injury?" Celeste quipped jovially with a friendly smile. I''m not surprised she''s here. She would always be the first one to cheer up our team after a bad performance when we were still practicing for the first CoA. Besides that, I''m sure she also cares for everyone on the new Paragons team. I sighed at her antics. "You know that''s not my intention... Are they... okay?" I inquired tentatively. She smiled, why not take a look for yourself?" She said as she playfully pulled me inside the room. Playfully for her, but I was dragged by her bulging muscles and had no way out, not having any chance to even put up any semblance of resistance. "Look who I brought in, guys!" Celeste said cheerfully. As I entered, I scanned the room and noticed that only three people were there. Aria is nowhere to be found. ¡°Katherine? What brings you here? Are you here to gather info for your next fight?" Seer queried. It''s no shock that he would ask that. We have become a bit close over the past few days because we help each other gather information about the tournament participants and exchange tactics and strategies. He''s actually fun to talk to since he brings a lot of insights to the table. It may just be me finding a kindred spirit to talk to. I shook my head. "I just wanted to check up on you guys." "That''s sweet of you, but we''re fine," Lucy said appreciatively. "Yeah, just the normal stuff. Getting bashed in the social media for tarnishing the Paragons name, getting death threats from diehard fans of the previous Paragons, all that," Blitz said with a carefree tone. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I don''t think you could consider that ¡®normal¡¯ at all... Noticing the disbelief in my expression, Celeste followed up. "It''s mostly my fault they are in this mess. I''m the one who suggested they take on the mantle of the old Paragons team, partly because of my selfishness in wanting to bring back the old glory days..." Celeste admitted, her demeanor shifting to a somber tone, an unusual departure from her usual jovial self. Noticing her mood, Lucy suddenly interjected. "Ms. Calah! You''re not to blame for any of this! We are the ones who wanted this! We looked up to you guys, our mentors, and decided from the start to build a team of our own. Being named the next Paragon team was a dream come true for us!" Her emotions flowed passionately in her words. "That is right! If anyone is to blame, it should be me. I knew right from the start, after a couple of exchanges, that my opponent was far above my league, but my pride got the better of me, so I didn''t retreat," Blitz affirmed. "You guys are mistaken. The primary responsibility falls on me for failing to devise effective counterstrategies against our opponents. I was also too passive in the fight for fear of my cannonball hitting Aria. I should''ve played more aggressively; then, maybe I could''ve landed a lucky shot on Lua,¡± Seer interjected, assuming accountability for the team''s performance. ¡°That''s out of your control, though. They were both moving so fast that I couldn''t even follow them with my eyes! If anyone is to blame, then it would be me for dying too fast," Lucy joined in. "...Yeah, I agree. You did die a little too fast. It kinda distracted me in my fight against Lua seeing your death notification," Blitz teased, trying to lighten up the mood. "W-what do you expect? There I was up against two of their players; we were ambushed!" Lucy retorted. I smiled at their antics. It looks like I have nothing to worry about here, after all. I''m sure they will be back, stronger than ever, from learning from this experience if they can take this loss to heart. "By the way, where is Aria?" I asked the question that had been weighing on my mind the moment I entered the room. "She said she''s just going for a stroll to stretch her muscles, but I''m pretty sure she just wants some time alone after... what happened," Lucy said solemnly. "I see..." I murmured to myself, thinking of what I should do next. Seeing me hesitating, Celeste immediately nudged me. "Why don''t you go look for her? I''m sure she is blaming herself for the team''s loss. That girl is way too straightforward, and I don''t think anything we say will get through to her. But~ if there is anyone who can cheer her up, then it would be you," she gave me a meaningful wink. Locking eyes with her, I nodded in acknowledgment. "I''ll go find her..." I affirmed before exiting the room. As I ventured out, a hunch guided me toward a possible secluded spot where someone seeking solitude might retreat. I directed my gaze toward the fire exit designated for tournament participants. As I ascend the fire exit stairwell, each step echoes with a resolute determination that propels me upward toward the stadium''s rooftop. The sound of my footsteps reverberates against the concrete walls, a steady rhythm that mirrors the beating of my heart as I climb higher and higher. The stairwell is dimly lit, with flickering fluorescent lights casting long shadows that dance along the walls. The air is cool and still, carrying a faint scent of dust and metal, adding to the sense of solitude I feel in this place. With each step, I draw closer to my destination. As I reach the final flight of stairs and push open the door to the rooftop, a rush of fresh air greets me, carrying with it the sounds and sights of the city below. The expanse of the stadium rooftop unfolds before me, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding skyline and the bustling cityscape beyond. Amidst the surroundings, my attention was drawn to a lone figure, the very individual I sought, who turned towards me in response to the sound of the rooftop door being opened. ¡°K-Katherine?¡± she exclaimed, surprise evident on her face as she saw me. I stayed quiet, walking serenely beside her toward the rooftop handrails. ¡°I thought you might appreciate some company,¡± I finally replied as I positioned myself next to her. She turned away from my gaze before replying. ¡°I... I¡¯m fine.¡± I doubt that. I¡¯m sure it was evident to both of us by now that she was merely masking her true emotions with a facade of strength. ¡°Are you really? You know you could always confide in me. I¡¯m always here for you.¡± I reassured her with as much empathy as I could convey in my voice. She met my gaze with an inscrutable expression before tears welled up in her eyes. In a moment, her composure crumbled, the dam suddenly burst, and tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°Wha!- what''s the matter!?¡± I exclaimed in shock as Aria cried in front of me. I had anticipated that the match outcome would deeply affect her, but witnessing her in this much distress was entirely unexpected. ¡°I-I''m sorry! I tarnished the Paragon''s name. I had failed everyone. And I... I let you down!¡± She apologized profusely as she covered her face to hide her tears. I had known the loss from earlier would take a huge toll on her mentally, but I did not expect it to be this severe. It is unusual and wholly unexpected for me to witness her vulnerabilities so starkly revealed before me as she usually is one to put up a brave front. I know I should do something, but I don''t know what to do about things like this! No idea at all! Wait! Calm down, Kat! Just imitate someone you think is good at comforting people and making them happy. As I thought that, Liz immediately came to mind. As a result, I posed a question to myself. What would Liz do in a situation like this? I had an inkling of what she would surely do, but I hesitated. Should I really do that? I glanced at Aria, who was sobbing uncontrollably; her defeated look was incredibly heartbreaking to watch. I gulped. Well, it seems like I have no choice; here goes nothing. Putting all hesitations aside, I enveloped her in a gentle embrace, offering comfort and solace in the warmth of my arms as I pulled her closer to me. "H-huh!? W-what are you-!" she exclaimed in shock. She almost recoiled in surprise, but I pulled her in strongly. I''ve gotten this far; I might as well go all out. After a couple of seconds, she finally got accustomed to it and began to relax, and any semblance of her crying from earlier was completely gone. I hope this helps her in her mental state, even if just a little bit. As she became comfortable, I whispered to her. "You know, it''s inevitable to experience failure. Every individual faces setbacks at some juncture in their life. However, what truly matters is the ability to rise once more after stumbling," I said what was on the forefront of my mind. ¡°B-but! I can''t afford to fail! I''m your prot¨¦g¨¦. You never lose! I just want to be like you! Someone people can rely on to pull through no matter how hard the battle is!¡± she exclaimed. "You''re wrong about that, though," I denied her claims. ¡°H-huh? What do you mean?¡± she replied, a bit confused. "What I''m trying to say is that I''m not as invincible as you perceive me to be. I maintain a facade of reliability to be the ideal mentor when I''m with you, but in reality, I¡¯m not perfect, far from it," I confessed. "Th-that''s..." she faltered, at a loss for words, prompting me to elaborate. "I''ve faced hundreds, even thousands of defeats in my pursuit of growth within the game. I''ve encountered daunting challenges, battling adversaries, monsters, and players far above my level of skills when I was just starting out.¡± I paused for her to digest my words. "I-is that true?" she whispered, seeking confirmation. I gently released her from my embrace, locking eyes with her while firmly grasping both of her hands. "Yes... However, each defeat has been a stepping stone for me to grow stronger and more resilient, enhance my skills, and accumulate valuable experience with each setback. I hope you make this loss a reason to become stronger and not give up on improving yourself. No one should blame you for this setback, and those who do are individuals who lack genuine concern for you and only want to put you down to satisfy their warped sense of ego." As our gazes locked and I studied her expression, I noticed her cheeks tinted a crimson hue, likely from shedding tears. "...I see," she murmured, breaking the eye contact, appearing slightly flustered. It was evident that she felt uncomfortable revealing this vulnerable facet of herself. I couldn''t help but giggle at the sight, finding her reaction endearing. Puzzled by my sudden action, she inquired, "Why are you laughing?" "Oh, nothing. It just seems that I still have a lot to teach you as your mentor,¡± I said, giving her an uncharacteristic smile to try to cheer her up. She retorted, "Hmph, feeling quite confident now, aren''t you?" Noticing my intention to lighten the mood, she relented and mustered a slight smile. "Feeling better now?" I inquired. "Yes... Thank you..." she responded softly. Releasing my hold, I gave her space to collect herself, then turned my attention towards the cityscape. We found solace in a serene moment, gazing at the urban panorama. After a while, she posed a question that probably weighed heavily on her mind. "Can you¡­ defeat her... Lua?" I paused for a moment to ponder on her question. "...To be honest, judging by my skills alone, the current me has no chance against her," I told her the unbiased truth. I noted a sudden shift in her expression to one of despondency. "I... See..." Internally, I sighed, recognizing that I couldn''t afford to be defeated by Lua, especially if she was going to make that kind of face. "But you know, in a fight, a player¡¯s skills are not the only thing that matters. Knowing your opponent''s strengths and weaknesses also plays a big factor in determining the outcome of a battle," I added. "What do you mean?" she inquired. "What I''m getting at is, as a graduation lesson from your mentor, I''ll teach you her weakness," I gave her a confident smile. ¡°Her... weakness..." she expressed her curiosity. I nodded, meeting her gaze with as much determination as I could muster. "So, I want you to watch my fight closely. I promise I won''t lose.¡± Her eyes glinted in response. It made me glad to see those eyes again¡ªthe eyes of my protege who always relied on me in the past. I always thought you didn¡¯t need me anymore, given how much you¡¯ve grown, but it looks like I do have some things I could teach you, after all. Vol.2 Chapter 55 After my conversation with Aria, I made my way back to where my team was gathered. The weight of our discussion lingered in the air, and the echoes of my vow reverberated in my mind as I walked towards our room. It seems I''ll need to exert extra effort after pledging to Aria that I won''t be defeated. Well, it''s easier said than done since I¡¯m facing a true monster in our next match. It is a good thing we have time to prepare since it¡¯s already lunch break, and according to the schedule, the continuation of the lower bracket elimination matches will continue right after. I¡¯m sure Aria¡¯s team won¡¯t lose to their opponent since the only formidable opponent I believe capable of besting them is someone as exceptional as Lua. But let''s hope I''m not tempting fate by thinking so, as I would not know how to feel if they ended up getting eliminated. Emotions run high, especially in elimination matches, so it is indeed possible that the weaker team wins, as many historical upsets in eSports generally come from lower-bracket elimination matches. Arriving at the door to my team¡¯s private room, I knocked twice to be polite, then opened the door. Inside, I was met by Liz, solitary in the room, in the absence of the rest of the other two members of our team. "Kat? Where have you been? I started to get concerned because you were gone for so long. And you left your phone behind, so I couldn''t reach you," she expressed with worry in her tone. Oops, I did leave my handbag here with my phone inside, so I was just getting it. That¡¯s why I came back. Was she perhaps waiting for me? My time with Aria took a lot longer than expected, and I didn¡¯t tell her where I was, so it¡¯s mostly my fault. ¡°¡­Sorry, I got sidetracked,¡± I apologized. She gazed at me momentarily, seemingly verifying the veracity of my statements. "You consoled the Paragons after their loss, didn''t you?" she inquired. "You knew?" ¡°Of course, it¡¯s obvious you were worried about them, and with you leaving abruptly earlier, it¡¯s pretty clear where you were going,¡± she said with a knowing smile. ¡°I see¡­¡± It¡¯s not a surprise she can easily tell; she is quite perceptive after all, even if she acts otherwise. "Regardless, where are the others? Have they gone out for a meal?" I queried. "Well, Ren mentioned he planned to have lunch with his family, and as for Chu... he didn''t specify where he would go. He has likely gone out to eat alone," she explained. No, he is probably needed by the Edge Ville since their Edgelord has been missing in action for too long. ¡°So, where do you want to eat? At the same place yesterday?¡± Liz continued. I shrugged. ¡°Anywhere is fine.¡± I¡¯m not really picky about food, so I really mean it when I say that anywhere is fine. "Let''s head to a Japanese restaurant then. I have a sudden craving for sushi. Oh, but first, let''s meet up with Rana. She mentioned she''d like to join us for the meal," she suggested. I nodded in agreement as I gathered my belongings, ready to depart with Liz. As Liz and I head out to exit the stadium, the lingering energy of the crowd follows us like a gentle breeze, carrying whispers and glances that dance around us as we head toward the exit. Some spectators who notice our presence exchange hushed words and curious looks, their intrigue palpable in the air. Their whispers made me uncomfortable since I don¡¯t really like being the center of attention, but I had already prepared for it somewhat since this is what I signed up for when I accepted Liz¡¯s offer from back then. ¡°Aren¡¯t they the team who beat the round table?¡± ¡°Whoa, they¡¯re both as gorgeous as their in-game avatars.¡± ¡°I became a fan when I saw how good they are!¡± ¡°I know, right? My friend was so confident they would lose, but the look on his face when he realized he lost all his betting money from the upset was priceless!¡± ¡°As a support player myself, I like to see someone turn the tides with good spellcasting. I¡¯ll definitely be watching her more!¡± Even though I typically shy away from recognition, I must admit that receiving praise feels gratifying. I feel a sense of pride and camaraderie walking alongside Liz as we navigate through the crowd. The whispers of some of the eventgoers create a backdrop of admiration and speculation, adding a layer of excitement to our departure from the stadium.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Their reactions vary, ranging from hushed admiration to animated conversations, with their murmurs expressing a blend of acknowledgment and curiosity. Amidst their discussions, I catch snippets of their remarks, feeling a blend of modesty and appreciation for the impact we appear to have on those around us. The thought of someone approaching for an autograph doesn''t seem far-fetched¡ªor am I letting my imagination run too wild? ¡°Miss Novo~ can I get an autograph?¡± a familiar voice called from my blind spot. Wait?! Are you serious? Is this for real? I¡¯m not prepared for this! I didn¡¯t even bring my pen with me! Should I just reject it? I haven¡¯t even done something remotely close to something like giving autographs before! As I turned around to locate the source of the voice, a wave of disappointment washed over me, clouding my senses and dimming the light of anticipation that had flickered within me. Seeing who the culprit was, my disappointment became immeasurable, and my day was instantly ruined. ¡°Oh, Rana! How long have you been there?!¡± Liz asked her cousin. ¡°Not long. I just went here after I received your DM.¡± She turned to look at me. ¡°Oh~ and about the authogra-.¡± ¡°No,¡± I instantly denied. She will probably just sell it to someone and claim it as Yuusha¡¯s autograph or something. I don¡¯t want to be an accessory to the crime of scamming any unsuspecting gullible victims. As Dust, Liz, and I exit the stadium, the energy of the crowd gradually fades into the background as we make our way to the bustling shopping district near the venue. The vibrant atmosphere of the district is a stark contrast to the intensity of the stadium, with colorful storefronts and lively chatter filling the air. Amidst the array of shops and eateries, a Japanese restaurant catches our eye; its traditional facade and inviting ambiance draw us in. At Liz¡¯s insistence, we unanimously agreed to dine there, as I am somewhat intrigued by the prospect of savoring authentic Japanese cuisine in the heart of the city. As we step inside the restaurant, the air is filled with the tantalizing aroma of grilled meats, savory broths, and aromatic spices. The interior is adorned with elegant decor, from paper lanterns casting a soft glow to wooden furnishings that exude a sense of warmth and authenticity. However, just as we were about to find a seat to settle in, an unexpected call caught our attention ¡°Liz! Over here!¡± a cheerful voice exclaimed. Looking at the source, Hana, the epitome of a happy-go-lucky spirit, sat at a secluded table in the Japanese restaurant as she waved at us animatedly. Her bright eyes sparkled with mischief and mirth, reflecting a zest for life and an irrepressible sense of positivity that was impossible to resist. Dressed in their e-sports-themed shirt with patterns that mirrored her cheerful personality, Hana exuded an aura of warmth and friendliness that drew people to her like moths to a flame, similar to Liz. No wonder they got along so well. As I wondered why Hana was seated at the far end of the restaurant, as she didn¡¯t seem like the type to shy away from others, I noticed another individual accompanying her. Situated next to Hana was an enigmatic woman whose aura of mystery piqued my interest. She sported a face mask and a casual, boyish hat that effectively concealed her features. "Hana! I can''t believe it''s you!" Liz exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and affection. "Me either! Come join us here! Let''s dine together! We were just about to place our orders!" Hana welcomed warmly. Hey, you guys! You two are disturbing the other patrons. Please talk a little more subdued. As I thought that, Liz finally neared Hana¡¯s table to continue their conversation. Meanwhile, Dust and I exchanged a knowing look and then followed suit. We are both used to her antics, after all. "Is it alright with your companion? We wouldn''t want to intrude on your time together," Liz inquired as she got near a suitable distance for a conversation. "It''s perfectly fine! And just so you know, she''s not a friend of mine," Hana replied, casting a playful glance at Liz that hinted at a forthcoming revelation of a closely held secret. "She¡¯s my sister!" she whispered conspiratorially, adding a gesture of cupping her hand over her mouth¡­ which did nothing to hide her bubbly voice. Liz gasped at the revelation and then gazed at Hana¡¯s sister in amazement. ¡°Really?! I thought you and your team were busy practicing for the AC.¡± Hana¡¯s sister glanced at Liz for a moment before responding, ¡°¡­I took some time off.¡± ¡°Oh~ what an honor to be able to see the famous Murasame in person!¡± Dust greeted, wherein Aoi just nodded back. She seems to be as curt as the rumors say she is. I also simply nodded as a gesture to the pair. It also got me thinking: Was the sudden shift in Hana''s team strategies influenced by her? Most likely, but I can¡¯t say for sure. After the quick greetings, we changed seating, which accommodated all five of us as a friendly waitstaff guided us and then gave us the menu. Looking at it, each dish tempts me with its promise of culinary delights. The staff also guided us through the selection, offering recommendations and insights into the flavors and ingredients that define Japanese cuisine, wherein Hana recommends some to Liz. As we waited for our orders to arrive, Dust suddenly posed a question. ¡°It seems that the rotations and strategies of team Sakura e-sports suddenly shifted. Did you guys have a new coach, perhaps?¡± she said probingly. So, she also suspects a coaching change from their team. "Absolutely! It''s all thanks to my sister!" Hana proudly declared. "Well~ that explains it! But, having a pro coach for guidance, isn''t that somewhat unfair, do you reckon?" Dust inquired. Hana, caught off guard by the question, paused to consider her response. "I don''t see any issue with it; after all, it''s not violating any rules," Aoi, who was silent up till now, interjected. ¡°While it may not be explicitly prohibited, it could be deemed unethical,¡± Dust rebuked. ¡°¡­Perhaps,¡± Aoi curtly replied. The sudden change in tension surprised Liz and Hana. I understand Dust''s perspective, considering they could potentially be our opponents; hence, she might have reservations about one of the strongest players coaching the opposing team. Dust is supporting our team, after all, so it''s natural for her to view the situation as unfair. Before the situation escalated, I interjected. "I believe it''s acceptable. As long as it doesn¡¯t undermine the dignity of other players or blatantly violate the rules, then it''s fair game," I said, easing the tension. All eyes at the table turned towards me, registering varying degrees of surprise, particularly from Hana and Aoi, as it might have been the first time they heard me speak this much and also took their side of the argument. "Well~ you do make a valid point. You and Miss Aoi do share some similarities in your thought processes, but I suppose that mindset is necessary to reach the top," Dust commented with a teasing wink, eliciting a mild sense of irritation from me for suggesting things. Though I¡¯m sure the others would only think that she is referring to Hana¡¯s sister, so I guess I shouldn¡¯t be too mad about it. Right on cue, the appetizers arrived, diverting our attention from the discussion for the time being. And the conversation shifted to milder topics, mostly about the previous match and how dominating Lua is. Unexpectedly, Aoi suddenly posed a question directed at me. ¡°¡­Do you think your team has a chance against her?¡± she queried, which seemed uncharacteristic of her. But why ask me? Aren¡¯t you supposed to ask our captain here? Still, I don¡¯t want to divulge too much since they are our potential opponents, after all. ¡°Who knows, but I do want to try something out,¡± I said vaguely. Aoi confirmed my statement with her scrutinizing gaze, searching for any hints, but I maintained my stoic poker face. You can never be too careful with individuals skilled in analyzing body language, after all. As the waitstaff came to serve the meal, Aoi finally took off her face mask in preparation to eat. Her unveiling exposed an otherworldly beauty, with features that were exquisitely delicate and refined, akin to a masterpiece. Her porcelain skin emitted a radiant glow, emphasizing her luminous complexion. Defined by high cheekbones that added a sculpted elegance to her face, they complemented the graceful contour of her jawline and the subtle curve of her neck. Personally, I found her appearance to rival, or even surpass, that of her in-game avatar. We all focused on the meal as it arrived one by one. A symphony of colors and textures unfolded before us, each dish a work of art that delights the senses. From sushi and sashimi to steaming bowls of ramen and crispy tempura, we indulged in a feast of flavors that transported us to the heart of Japan. The conversation at the table centered around Hana and Liz, with Dust contributing sporadically, while Aoi and I primarily responded to inquiries. Following the meal, the four of us opted to return to the venue together, with Aoi once again concealing her face. Vol.2 Chapter 56 Tactical¡¯s PoV In a stunning turn of events at the Champions Brawl tournament, Team Variables emerged victorious against the favored contenders, Team Paragon, in a match that will be etched in the annals of Champions of Andartha¡¯s amateur eSports history. The upset was both unexpected and unheard of, as it was made by an unknown player, Lua, the ace of Team Variables. The match between Team Paragon and Team Variables was anticipated to be a clash of titans, with both teams boasting formidable lineups. However, it was Team Variables who defied the odds and clinched a remarkable win, showcasing their resilience, strategy, and skill in the face of adversity, along with an overwhelming showcase of player skills. The pivotal moment of the match came in a 2v1 battle that pitted Lua, Team Variables'' ace player, against Ariadne, Yuusha¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦, and Seer, Tactical¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦, from Team Paragon. The tension in the arena was palpable as the three players squared off, each maneuvering with precision and strategy in a high-stakes showdown that would determine the outcome of the match. In a jaw-dropping display of skill and expertise, Lua of Team Variables delivered a performance at the Champions Brawl tournament that left spectators and fellow gamers alike in awe. With a combination of calculated moves and quick reflexes, Lua turned the tide of the battle in Team Variables'' favor, securing a decisive victory that sent shockwaves through the gaming world that had many of the community speculate as the birth of a new legend that can rival that of the infamous player Yuusha. Team Variables'' win was a testament to their tenacity, teamwork, and individual skill, highlighting the unpredictable and thrilling nature of competitive gaming. The underdog triumphed over the favored team, showcasing the unpredictable and exhilarating nature of esports competition. As the dust settled and the crowd''s cheers reverberated through the arena, Team Variables stood victorious, their triumph a symbol of perseverance and determination in the face of formidable opposition. The match between Team Paragon and Team Variables will be remembered as a defining moment in the Champions Brawl tournament, a testament to the unpredictable and electrifying nature of competitive gaming. Comments: GamingGuruX: I watched it live! That was one of the best 2v1s I¡¯ve ever seen! Techiez: I¡¯ve instantly become a fan of Lua after that match! Knowing that she is blind in real life makes me want to support her more! Sammys: Team Paragon, my ass. They are dragging the legendary team¡¯s name through the ground! AndarthaFan: The move she did when deflecting the cannonball was insane! Adventurer:09: I¡¯d like to see the replay later if everyone in the comment section praises the match this much. MusicMaestro: I thought the Paragons would win, but I guess they¡¯re not as good as the OG Paragons after all. Read More Comments: I let out a defeated sigh as I read the article from the gaming news outlet that I typically follow. It''s remarkable how fast gaming journalists are at reporting. It has only been a little over an hour since the major upset of the tournament, yet they have already churned out articles about it. They truly are like sharks drawn to controversy and drama. I can¡¯t blame them, though; it is their job to be ahead of their competitors, so this should be expected of them. I wonder how they are doing after the loss. I imagine Celeste could provide the comfort they need in my absence. My tendency to nitpick about their mistakes would likely worsen the situation, so it¡¯s better off if they don¡¯t see me there worsening things. However, I trust that Seer is skilled enough to recognize their errors and learn from them in the upcoming matches. With satisfaction after the final bite of the food I ordered, I stretched my legs and pushed my plate back before reaching for the bill and heading to the counter. The restaurant was quieter after the lunch rush, with the only sound being the soft clinking of silverware. It felt appropriate to leave a generous tip; the perfectly cooked salmon surely deserved a little extra appreciation. With a nod to the attentive waiter who had refilled my water numerous times, I placed the bill in the folder, the weight of the tip conveying a silent "thank you" for the enjoyable solitary meal. --------------------------------------------- Arthur''s PoV My team and I gathered early in the special room for players to discuss our next match. The luxurious room in the tournament arena for the players exudes opulence and sophistication, with plush furnishings and casual d¨¦cor making it a good place to rest before the upcoming match, especially after our meal. Soft ambient lighting bathes the room in a warm glow, highlighting the exquisite details and fine craftsmanship of the furnishings. The room is furnished with state-of-the-art technology and amenities, catering to the comfort and convenience of its inhabitants. Notably, there is a large flat-screen TV where we can watch the match; however, it is currently on a commercial break due to the tournament intermission to give players time to unwind after the matches this early morning.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Ahem,¡± I cleared my throat, attempting to grab the attention of my teammates, each engrossed in their own activities. ¡°The lower bracket elimination matches will resume at 1:30 pm, giving us approximately thirty minutes to strategize. How do you all propose we approach the upcoming battle?" I asked. "It doesn''t matter! I''ll take it seriously from the start this time to secure our victory!" Tristan asserted. "...Any other suggestions?" I disregarded his comment. ¡°Let''s rest and sleep for thirty minutes so we will be full of energy for the fight," Gwyn suggested. I sighed. Why do I even bother with these two? Turning to the one teammate I trusted for strategic insights, I sought Astrid''s perspective on the impending match. "What are your thoughts, Astrid?" I inquired. After reflecting for a moment, she responded, "Their ace, Hana, poses a significant threat to us. It''s crucial to eliminate her first to gain a substantial advantage in securing victory." "I concur. I doubt I stand a chance in a one-on-one encounter with her. She''s truly talented," I acknowledged. "What? But you defeated the guy who bested her in the one-on-one tournament, didn''t you? That player Renz from Lizbeth''s team," Tristan interjected. "No doubt, Hana should have been the victor purely based on skill. However, she might have been under immense pressure during the one-on-one tournament, affecting her mindset. It''s evident that she has since overcome any psychological obstacles and is now an even more formidable opponent,¡± I explained. "Hmm... Why don''t you leave her to me?" he made another dumb suggestion. ¡°No, you won''t last against her,¡± I instantly rebuked. ¡°What! I''m not that weak, you know!¡± he protested. "I''m not questioning your capabilities. It''s just that she currently outmatches you, particularly as you still lack the experience despite your talent," I reassured him. "Hmph, fine!" he grumbled. As I contemplated strategies against Team Sakura eSports, Astrid made a suggestion. ¡°Why don''t we send two people against her?¡± ¡°That... seems like a plan, but who would fight their duo, the twins? I don''t think anybody in our team can last against them 2v1. ¡°We should send Xeno to stall them while we eliminate the enemy''s ace. If we manage to trade players, we would have a huge advantage going on the match.¡± "Oh, I see your point! Xeno in place of Hana! That''s a strategic advantage for us!" Gwyn interjected, catching on to Astrid''s idea. ¡°Wait! Are you serious, guys? I haven''t even demonstrated my skills, and you''re already sacrificing me!¡± I placed my hands on his shoulders. "Sorry, Tristan, but give it up. It is for the team''s benefit. You will not be forgotten," I said, conveying as much empathy as possible. "You traitors!" he exclaimed, expressing his discontent with the plan. -------------------------------- Hana''s PoV My entire team, including our coach, who is my sister, is currently engaged in a meeting discussing our forthcoming match. At present, my sister is meticulously analyzing Team Round Table''s strengths and weaknesses. Her voice resonates with analytical precision and strategic acumen as she dissects their tactics with a sharp eye for detail, which I¡¯m sure impresses not only me but all of my friends. Conversely, she points out their tendency towards predictable strategies and potential vulnerabilities that we can exploit during the match. Amidst her analysis, she seamlessly transitions into outlining the do''s and don''ts of the upcoming match, emphasizing the importance of communication, adaptability, and staying focused under pressure. ¡°And that''s why I believe they will prioritize targeting you first, Hana.¡± The mention of my name by my sister instantly grabbed my full attention, like a deer in headlights. ¡°Huh?! Why me?¡± "It''s a typical strategy to pinpoint the adversary''s strongest player and devise countermeasures, which I anticipate they will do. Hence, they will likely concentrate on targeting you and making efforts to eliminate you from the match," she explained. "But... It''s alright if they focus on me, isn''t it? That way, the rest of my teammates will have free rein over the match!" I remarked optimistically. ¡°That mindset is detrimental. You are the ace of our team, and that''s precisely why we must focus on providing you with the assistance and protection necessary to secure victory for the rest of the team,¡± my sister critiqued. "Yes! Hana will lead us to victory!" the twins chimed in simultaneously. "I concur with the plan. Hana can outmatch even Arthur in a fair competition. Our task is to fully support her," Kaito affirmed. My spirits plummeted upon hearing my teammates'' expectations. What if I faltered once more, like in the 1v1 tournament? ¡°I think it''s a bit¡­¡± I whispered in a voice I¡¯m sure nobody heard. "¡­Did you say something, Hana?¡± my sister inquired, tilting her head in confusion. ¡°Well, what I meant was that if I fail, then the whole team will lose... And I don''t want that...¡± I reasoned. My sister regarded me with her usual analytical gaze. Her looks are normally filled with affection, making this stern expression a rare sight to be on the receiving end. "I''ll be direct¡ªyou have to toughen up," she stated bluntly. It left me speechless and a bit hurt. My sister is usually blunt but never with me. I guess she is doing this for my own good. Still, it¡¯s a bit too much to leave it all to me. I don¡¯t think I could handle the pressure, especially if we are up against a team as strong as Arthur¡¯s. "B-but what if I let the team down..." I responded meekly. "Your team is already bound to lose if you don''t rise to the occasion where it matters. As the ace, it falls on your shoulders to carry the hopes and aspirations of your teammates. They have placed their trust in you, so even if you fall short, they won''t fault you for it, as it is their decision to have to gamble their all on you. Every individual must fulfill their role in a match. Your teammate¡¯s duty is to provide you with the best platform to shine, and yours is to give it your all so that their efforts aren¡¯t for naught," my sister conveyed in a solemn tone. That¡­ makes sense. My sister is right. I''ve been deceiving myself because I fear being the cause of our defeat, like what happened last time. But if I don¡¯t step it up, we will lose regardless, especially against a team as strong as the Round Table. I shouldn''t go in the match halfheartedly. I don''t need to think about anything else other than doing my best. And if my best isn''t good enough, I''m sure my friends won''t fault me for it. I nodded at my sister, affirming my determination. She met my gaze with her usual analytical look, and I returned the gaze, expressing my commitment through my eyes. "It appears you have discovered your determination," she remarked, offering me a serene smile. I nodded decisively. "Leave it to me, everyone! I swear, on my honor, I''ll carry us to victory!" Vol.2 Chapter 57 "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Champions Brawl tournament after a well-deserved break! We hope you''re all fueled up and ready for more adrenaline-pumping action," the panelist''s voice boomed through the arena, energizing the crowd. "As we resume the competition, we have an exciting match-up lined up for you next. Get ready to witness the clash of titans as Team Round Table faces off against Team Sakura eSports in a battle of skill, strategy, and determination," the main panelist continued, building anticipation among the spectators. "That is right, Raze. The teams have had time to regroup, strategize, and recharge during the break, so we can expect nothing short of a thrilling showdown as they take to the virtual battlefield once again," the co-panelist joined in, setting the stage for the intense competition ahead. "Without further ado, let''s cheer on our players as they step back into the arena, ready to showcase their talents and compete for glory in the Champions Brawl tournament. Team Sakura eSports versus Team Round Table ¨C who will emerge victorious?" the main panelist concluded, igniting cheers and applause from the audience as the participants entered the main stage and proceeded to their respective VR booths. On the Sakura eSports side, Hana leads her team with a resolute and determined expression, a stark contrast to the cheerful demeanor she displayed while having lunch with us in the restaurant earlier. Conversely, on the Round Table''s side, Xeno steps forward as the frontline, basking himself in the crowd''s applause as their real team leader, Arthur, follows along with his two other teammates to make their way to their designated area. ¡°I¡¯m also curious about which team would win. And to answer that question, let us ask it to an individual well-versed to provide insight, none other than the seasoned player, Mr. Bogdan, also known as Vlad the Impaler!" the co-panelist continued with a polished introduction. Vlad made a nostalgic smile hearing that moniker. ¡°Recalling that nickname stirs memories. Initially, I found it rather a tad bit too harsh. However, over time, I''ve grown accustomed to it, especially since fellow players in the game frequently refer to me by that name.¡± ¡°It is well earned, though. I''ve been a dedicated admirer since the early days. Your mastery of the spear is unparalleled, swiftly overwhelming opponents with precise and unavoidable thrusts, hence the fitting nickname," "Ahem... that''s gratifying to hear, but let''s refocus on the game, which I''m certain the audience is eager to discuss, rather than dwelling on this antiquated player," Vlad remarked in an attempt to redirect the conversation back to the main topic. "Oh, it appears I couldn''t quite suppress my inner fanboy there!" the panelist exclaimed jovially. "Now, what are your thoughts on the match, Mr. Bogdan?" he inquired further. ¡°Hmm¡­ for me, both teams are evenly matched. The match¡¯s outcome will depend on who outplays their opponents better in terms of tactical maneuvers and whose team¡¯s ace shines the most, whether it is Round Table¡¯s Arthur or Sakura¡¯s Yatsafuma who does better,¡± Vlad gave his input. ¡°What do you think about that, Kat?¡± Liz tilted her head in wonder. ¡°¡­Why are you asking me?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s because somehow, I think I could trust your words better than a seasoned veteran and former pro,¡± she gave me a jovial smile. "I don''t believe you should have such high expectations of me. I am prone to making mistakes as well, you know," I objected. ¡°Come on, please tell me what you think about the upcoming fight. I want to hear your thoughts about the match,¡± Liz pleaded. I sighed in defeat. ¡°I mostly agree with all that Vlad said¡­ but there is one thing I think he doesn¡¯t have a clue about.¡± ¡°¡­What is it,¡± Liz asked, extreme curiosity palpable on her face. ¡°It¡¯s mostly my own speculation from many hours of scrutinizing their matches¡­ but I think the Round Table has a hidden ace up their sleeve.¡± -------------------------------------- Hana¡¯s PoV We were transported into an open field, where a vast expanse of tall grasses swaying gently in the breeze stretched before me. The uninterrupted horizon creates a sense of spaciousness, while the subtle variations in green hues across the field add a touch of visual interest. The air is alive with the chirping of insects and the occasional trill of a bird while puffy white clouds drift lazily across the clear blue sky. It was a well-detailed setting, considering this is only a virtual world, but that is what makes CoA unique and miles ahead of any competitors of its genre. It is to be expected, though, that the most popular game globally will deliver such excellence. I shook my head as I saw my teammates waiting for my output on what we should do. This is no time to be distracted. Focus on the important match, Hana! "Ahem," I cleared my throat. "Let us proceed with what my... what our team discussed earlier." Oops, I almost blurted out my sister there. I must respect her wish to remain anonymous for as long as possible, probably for her strategic purpose or something. Well, I''m sure everyone will know eventually since the coaches are identifiable if anyone just looks at the team roster, even if the coach is a substitute like my sister currently is, but I don''t need to be the one to expose it directly. "Sure, let''s do this, guys!" Kaito cheered. "Yeah!" "Yeah!" The twins, Ren and Rei, responded in complete sync as we all headed to our respective orb capture targets. Walking towards my destination, the tall grass swished against my legs as I plunged forward. The expanse seemed endless under the endless blue sky. With every step, the ground stretched out before me, an undulating sea of green. The wind whispered through the blades, carrying the scent of sun-warmed earth. I pushed on, determined to reach the heart of this wild, green expanse. A couple of minutes of huffing and puffing later, I finally broke through the tall grass into a more open arena-like area more suitable for a skirmish. And there it was, the orb, pulsing with an otherworldly light, right in the center of the field. But I wasn''t alone. A man stood a couple of meters in front of me, his posture radiating an air of confidence. It seems that my sister is on point again. She predicted that the enemy team would send someone to stall our duo, Ren and Rei, whom we usually send to secure the strategic middle orb in order to do a 2v1 tactic against me, effectively negating my one-on-one advantage in fights. My sister truly is amazing! I turned my focus to the opponent in front of me. From what I heard from Sis, the enemy I''m facing now is the weakest member of their team. This is good; I should finish this fast so I can back my team up. Suddenly, I heard positive responses from my own team as well. Arthur and his support. Is here with us. The twins, Ren and Rei, voiced in the team chat with their usual finishing-each-other-sentence antics. I''m also engaging their last member in a 1v1. I''ll try to beat her, but no promises, Kaito inputted, the lack of confidence palpable in his tone. "Understood. I''ll finish this as soon as possible, then help take down Arthur. Please stall him as planned until I arrive," I suggested our pre-determined play as I turned off the voice chat to focus solely on the opponent before me. Looking at my opponent from here, I saw the confident expression he was sporting suddenly falter. It seems he and his teammates also chatted with one another and came to the conclusion that their plans backfired and that we had the upper hand in the matchup. There is nothing they can do now, though. It is too late to change rotations since we would get two orbs instantly if they both leave the bottom where the twins are orb and mid-orb. If it comes to that, all we have to do is regroup after taking the orbs and go after the last remaining orb with our entire team; then we would win. Or we could also just stall for time and play safe due to having an orb advantage and set up ambushes.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I focused on the ambiance of our surroundings in preparation for the upcoming duel. Sunlight dappled the tall grass in the virtual reality field. I gripped my katana, its weight reassuringly familiar in my hand. Across from me, my opponent lumbered into view, his tall and decently built avatar wielding a broadsword like a crowbar. I remembered what my sister said about him. His choice of weapon might make him slow, but his raw strength is up there, translating to formidable attack power and heavy attacks. He spoke confidently. "I''ll go all out from the start this time. I won''t hold back just because you''re a girl... even though you¡¯re quite cute... and charming... and sexy to boot... and-" "Let''s just get this over with," I cut him off in exasperation. I don''t know if he is using stalling tactics against me, but enough is enough. You can only say so many compliments until it becomes borderline creepy. "R-right! Then, are you ready?!" he exclaimed more to pump up himself. I nodded back, raising my katana in a salute. Upon seeing my confirmation, he charged, his broadsword swinging in a wide arc. I danced aside, the swoosh of metal echoing as his attack clipped the air. He followed up his momentum with a spinning slash, which I deftly parried. The blow was incredibly heavy, a constant reminder of his hard-hitting style. We repeated this exchange with me, evaluating his speed and technique to better incorporate my moves and find an opening. I need to hurry and finish this to help my teammates, but I can''t be too conceited and underestimate my opponent, or he might land a huge blow, and it might cost us the match. "Y-you''re too quick!" Xeno bellowed, his in-game avatar struggling to turn. "Speed is crucial, especially in one-on-one bouts," I called back, circling him. Every successful dodge I countered by chipping away at his HP. Xeno HP: 71% He swung again, this time slower, telegraphing his move. I saw the opening, a narrow window. With a lightning-fast strike, I sliced through his avatar''s arm. Another chunk of his HP bar vanished. Xeno HP: 57% A surprised grunt escaped Xeno. He fought with surprising resilience, his slow attacks forcing me to stay on my toes. Two more dances, two more dodges, and two more slices of my katana later, Xeno''s HP bar dipped to red. Xeno HP: 18% "Ack! Y-you¡¯re better than I expected,¡± he exclaimed, masking his expression with a facade of confidence. A fa?ade that I¡¯m sure everyone with eyes could see through. "You too. You have good instincts. Focus on honing your speed and reflexes. You''ll become a formidable competitor in the future," I remarked, offering genuine encouragement. "Hearing that from a lady such as yourself is quite reassuring, but the match is not over yet. I still hav-" I lunged at him, pressing my attack to prevent him from doing whatever he wanted to do. Now that I have a good grasp on his tempo, it''s my turn to be aggressive. "Don''t telegraph your next move to the opponent," I lectured. It is clear that he is opting to use his weapon skill from his posturing just now. From what I heard from his sister, it is a revenge-oriented weapon skill, meaning the more damage he takes, the stronger it is. Nevertheless, he won''t have the opportunity to utilize it if he remains constantly on edge, prioritizing his survival over employing his weapon skills. Under my relentless, aggressive assault, he swung his giant broadsword at me in a desperate attempt to create some space between us for him to catch some breathing room. It was a mistake, though; he finally showed the opening I''d been waiting for. With his predictable lunge, Xeno left his side exposed. This was it. With a flourish that was entirely unnecessary (but undeniably satisfying), I unleashed a finishing blow. My katana sang through the air, a blur of deadly intent, and connected with my opponent. KACHACK* Xeno HP: 0% "What! I lost this easily! Art is going to scold me for this!" His HP bar plummeted to zero as he exclaimed in shock at the outcome of our battle. His avatar then dissolved in a shower of blue light, effectively signaling the end of our duel. I sighed in relief as I sheathed my katana with a flourish, the silence deafening after the clash of blades. He shows some potential, but he''s not quite up to par with the stronger players. Or maybe I just improved a lot? I hope so since I felt a newfound sense of liberation in my gameplay ever since my sister assumed the role of our coach and began backing our team. Regardless of the circumstances, my primary objective is to secure this orb and then back up the twins in order to neutralize Arthur, the primary threat on the opposing team. ------------------------------------- Arthur''s PoV We''ve been had. Things are not looking up for us. The enemy read our move like a book and made a perfect counterplay against it. As hard as it is to admit, they completely outplayed us. As our leader, it is all my responsibility to take the blame for failing to prevent this from happening. Still, this is not the time to wallow in regret. I have to focus on the ongoing match in order to turn things around. Our opponents have been giving us a hard time for a while now. They are a really good pair. It is like they know what each other is thinking and act accordingly to support each other. I surveyed their HP from our previous exchanges. They are quite cumbersome to fight, especially the male twin, who never fails to protect his sister with his two-handed shield. RE HP: 73% RE HP: 91% Their confusing name also adds insult to injury since it is possible to have the same name in this game due to having a massive player base, and the only thing that sets players with the same names apart is their player ID. There is no time to get distracted, though; I have to do my best to make up for the tactical blunder I made. I mentally fortified myself as I parried with my trusted sword an incoming shield bash from the enemy shielder. "Flamethrower!" But in complete sync with her partner, the fire mage unleashed a torrent of fire towards me. A wall of orange flame roared towards me, attempting to burn my HP, quite literally. Thankfully, my trusted teammate Astrid reacted instantly, her hands flying in motion to create a counterspell. "Ice shield!" Ice bloomed around me, forming a shimmering shield that deflected the worst of the inferno. But the virtually realistic heat is still pressed in, baking the air and forcing me to take a step back so I don''t get any chip damage in my HP. This wasn''t going to be an easy brawl. These guys fight with terrifying synergy. While the fire mage twin kept me pinned with her fire, the tank twin would shuffle forward, using his shield as a battering ram, attempting to flank me. As the bout continued, I danced back, dodging the fiery blasts and deflecting the occasional swipe of the shield with my sword. It was a frustrating dance, constantly pushed back by the heat and the crushing weight of the male twin¡¯s shield. After a moment of back and forth, I finally found an opportunity! Taking advantage of a momentary lull in the flames, I lunged forward, aiming for the fire mage¡¯s staff. "Shield Fissure!" Just as I was within striking distance, the male shielder used his weapon skill and slammed his shield into the ground, creating a mini-earthquake that threw me off balance. I stumbled, and a wave of reduced minuscule pain from the shot up my leg as I landed hard. Arthur HP: 63% "Fireblast!" In complete sync with her teammate, the fire mage cast an attack, raising her staff for a fire spell. But before the flames could engulf me, a blinding flash of white erupted from Astrid''s hand. It was a quick spell suitable for quick incantations. ¡°Ice shard!¡± A single shard of ice, honed to a razor''s edge, flew towards the mage, smashing into her staff and extinguishing the flames. "Ack!" the fire mage twin exclaimed in shock at the on-point attack, effectively disrupting her aim. With a surge of adrenaline, I rolled away from the fireball that was off the mark due to my partner''s help. A few moments into the casting process, Astrid capitalized on the opportunity by invoking our ultimate attack, unleashing a mana-intensive swirling vortex of ice shards that cascaded upon the shield-bearing opponent. This is a one-time-only move due to the mana cost and cooldown of the skill, so we have to make it count. ¡°Ice Storm!¡± she exclaimed, brimming with emotion. The male shield-user twin was compelled to raise his shield for protection, effectively restricting his movement. This was our chance. We charged forward, our movements both in sync from the hundreds of times we played together as a team. Our only goal is to win, which is fueled by the desperate need to end this fight as soon as possible. Astrid used the opening created by the ice storm that pinned the shielder in place to launch herself toward the fire mage at melee distance while I, too, charged at the fire mage head-on, my sword a blur as I parried her fireball attacks with the blunt of my sword. Realizing she was outnumbered, the opposing fire mage attempted to create distance, but to no avail. Astrid completed the casting of another ice spell, unleashing it at close range, leaving the enemy mage little room to evade. The fire mage was caught unawares by the proximity of Astrid''s spellcasting. ¡°Freeze!¡± Employing a crowd control tactic, Astrid directed a focused ice blast toward the vulnerable mage''s exposed leg, freezing it momentarily and rendering her immobile. As my opponent hurriedly tried to regain her movement, I finished charging up my ultimate move. "Golden Sanctity!" I exclaimed. A shimmering shockwave of golden life engulfed my opponent, successfully depleting her HP in one hit. BOOM* "Ack!" RE HP: 0% "Rei!" the shielder exclaimed in shock as he finally got out of the ice storm, but it was a tad too late as his teammate was already defeated. "Sorry, Ren..." was all the fire mage could say before she disappeared from the field. I mentally gave myself a sigh of relief. We got this now. His DPS is gone, and the remaining enemy, being a support tank, has no means of damage. As I let my guard down, a sudden chill ran down my spine as my player instincts, through honing my situational and battle, screamed at me. "Astrid, be careful!" I exclaimed in a panic. As those words left my lips, a figure emerged from the tall grass, her crimson robes billowing around her like a predatory bloom. With an otherworldly gleam, a katana shone in her grasp as she hastened towards my companion. Before I could intervene to help my teammate, the crimson blur streaked across the field. In a feat of impossible speed, the katana-wielding woman materialized behind Astrid. The sound of a slash resonated as the blade made contact with flesh. It was a critical hit, characteristic of a backstab attack plus a head slash to boot, making it the highest possible damage in a single attack. KACHACK* Due to Astrid¡¯s very low vitality build, she gasped in shock, her eyes widening as her HP bar depleted to zero at the well-executed attack. Meridia HP: 0% She was left speechless at her sudden defeat as she disappeared into blue motes of light. But the enemy was not done yet. Following her assault, she charged towards me without slowing in his momentum, assured of delivering a fatal blow to our mage in a single strike. With unwavering confidence, she uttered her distinctive phrase, sending a shiver down my spine. "Falling Rain Blossom," she muttered. She is using her weapon skill now!? You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! Astrid and I have countermeasures against her overpowered weapon skill, but with Astrid gone, I have no way of counting her attack on my own! As she initiated her weapon skill, the world narrowed¡ªmy tunnel vision focused on the flash of her blade. Her first strike came like a roaring whirlwind, aimed straight for my dominant hand. A tinge of pain flared as I barely managed to twist the sword away, the force sending a shock through my arm. I had no time to dwell on it before the echo of the clang even faded; a second attack whips towards my chest ¨C lightning fast, a viper''s strike aiming for a gap in my defense. Instinct and a thousand hours of training take over as I desperately slam the flat of my blade upwards, deflecting the razor-sharp edge by a hair''s breadth. My heart pounds a frantic rhythm against my ribs. But she was not done just yet. With a roar that seems to tear through the air, a final strike materializes from my opponent ¨C a split-second blur aimed straight at my head. Her precise and deadly lunge against my desperate parry ¨C the world explodes in a cacophony of ringing metal and sparks. Just as my vision swims for a moment due to her insane speed, the slash connects perfectly towards my head. KACHACK* Arthur HP: 0% Did I... just lose? "Forgive me for the stealthy assault; it may appear cowardly, but I must do whatever is necessary to secure victory, not only for myself but for all who have faith in me," she apologized, her remorse evident in her expression. I gazed at her for a moment, comprehension dawning on me. She harbors the same fervent desire for victory as we do, perhaps even more so. "No apologies needed. It was a well-executed surprise attack." To convey my sportsmanship and assure her that there are no hard feelings, I offered her a genuine smile before dissipating into motes of ethereal blue light. Although Astrid and I faced defeat, I found solace in the fact that she used her weapon skill on me and not Gwyn. I am certain I wouldn''t have stood a chance against Hana regardless, so this outcome is acceptable. But the same cannot be said for Gwyn. If anyone on our team could win against Hana, then it would be her. I''m leaving the rest to you, our team''s ace. Vol.2 Chapter 58 Hana''s PoV I sighed in relief as I successfully defeated Arthur. A surprise attack might be considered cowardly, but I have to do whatever it takes to win the game for my team. That is the duty of an ace. "That was an incredible move, Hana!" my teammate Ren praised. ¡°O-oh, thanks,¡± I gave a customary reply. It seems I¡¯m not used to hearing Ren talk alone. He always talks in sync with his sister, and his praise caught me a bit off guard. Or maybe I¡¯m just recovering from the adrenaline surge from my last skirmish. Although we defeated Arthur, it appears that we also suffered. Most of my teammates have already been defeated. Only Ren and I remain. If I had a bit faster, I could¡¯ve saved Rei, too. I instantly shook my head. No use is wallowing in regrets. I did my best, so no use beating myself over it. Looking at the bright side, we do have a player and orb advantage against our only remaining opponent. She would have to come to us to have a chance at winning the match. We could just run and try to stall for time, but it won''t matter in the end, as the available map area shrinks as time goes by. Therefore, we would still have to fight in the end. Besides, it would be too cowardly to run with two players on our side against only a single opponent. I think the best play here is to set up an ambush against our opponent as we wait for her to come to us. Right? How I wish Sis was here to tell me the best possible play Aran and I could make, but I can''t be that hopeful. Besides, it''s against the rules for a coach or any other player to message us in the middle of an ongoing official match. The CoA disables private messages from outside in the middle of the match. ¡°What should we do now?¡± As if reading my mind, Ren queried the question I was currently asking myself. ¡°Hmm, I think¡­¡± I was not able to finish my sentence as I sensed a presence approaching us. On the far end of the open field, our last remaining opponent walks towards us slowly without even trying to conceal herself. Looking at her closely, she seems as if she is forcing herself to walk, her eyelids drooping like half-opened curtains. If I didn''t know better, I''d think she was about to doze off on her feet. But, looking at her closely, there''s a glint in her eye that keeps her from looking truly sleepy. Gwyneth HP: 71% The weapon she is sporting is also a curiosity. It''s not a heavy, brutal sword but a slightly curved one. It looks more suited to someone who fights with finesse than brute strength. It is an interesting choice for someone who seems to would rather stay at home and rest than fight this battle against us. "Ugh... walking after a duel is hard enough as it is. Why does it have to be a 2-on-1? I''m so sleepy, and right now, gravity seems to be winning that it''s so hard to just stand," she groaned. I don''t believe one can experience genuine physical fatigue in a VR game. Mentally? Perhaps. But physically? It seems implausible¡­ unless she is an exception. "...You could just forfeit again?" I suggest jokingly after seeing her last match against the Paradigm, where she forfeited. "Yeah, I agree!" Ran seconded my opinion. My statement evoked a positive reaction from her. "Hmm... that''s a great idea!" Wait! I only suggested it as a gag, but I didn''t expect that she really was going to forfeit! I''m not complaining, but isn''t this a little bit... anticlimactic? A second later, as if remembering something, she suddenly deflated like a balloon. "Ugh, but as tempting as that sounds... Art would never let me live it down if I were to surrender now without even attempting to put on a fight, especially considering this is an elimination round," she sighed wearily before proceeding. "Besides,¡± she continued. ¡°It''s not a four versus one like last time, so I think this is manageable... but it looks like I need to get serious," she said as her droopy gaze sharpened for the very first time. Her aura suddenly changed, and my instincts, honed through hundreds and thousands of battles, were screaming at me that this girl was dangerous. "Uhm, Hana. This girl is giving me some really bad vibes," Ren, my last remaining teammate, commented as he readied his shield in preparation for the bout.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "Be careful, Ran. We don''t know what she is truly capable of," I warned as I also readied my stance in preparation for the upcoming battle. No one made the first move. We were wary of our opponent, while she seemed just too lazy to be bothered. We all stood there in silence for what seemed like forever until our opponent suddenly spoke. "...If you guys aren''t going to attack, then I will." The world turned into a blur. Gwyneth pounced on me like a viper. Her initial attack was a whirlwind of motion ¨C a blur of silver slicing towards me before I could even blink. It was so fast my katana felt sluggish in my hand as I scrambled to raise it in a desperate block. TING* The clang of steel echoed through the field, the impact jarring my arms. She''s fast! Her attack was also calculated. She wants to finish me off first so that our team won''t have any DPS left enough to beat her. Before the shock of the blow subsided, Ran came to back me up, his large shield posing to slam into Gwyneth''s follow-up attack in order to protect me. She evaded the shield bash, but thankfully, she made an error. I saw the perfect opening from her dodge, a sliver of exposed flank. My katana whispered through the air, aimed for the killing blow. Then, the world seemed to stutter. Gwyneth''s hand, empty a moment before, materialized a second sword. Is that her weapon skill!? TING* The clang of metal on metal vibrated up my arms as she effortlessly blocked my strike. The surprise was enough as I wasn''t ready for the sudden shift in momentum. Gwyneth pressed her advantage, her second blade flashing towards me. It connected with a critical strike as a sharp pain ran through my head, forcing me into an adrenaline rush. KACHACK* ¡°Ack!¡± I cried. Yatsufusa HP: 51% I leaped back to create space and reorient myself from the sudden damage I took. Ren tried to capitalize on her attack on me to land a counter hit with a shield bash, but she was elusive. She leaped away from my attack to distance herself and reset. "Be careful. Her weapon skill is quite potent in her hands," I warned. With my limited in-game knowledge, I¡¯m pretty sure this type of weapon skill alleviates the burden of wielding two swords by merely summoning the second sword, enhancing the speed and impact of your attacks. It also has the benefit of not adding too many stats to strength just to dual-wield. Ran acknowledged my warning with a somber nod, having firsthand experience of our opponent''s formidable skills. Her seamless transition from defense to a precise counterattack, with both hands in perfect harmony, showcased her exceptional prowess. The feat she did is only possible if she is someone born naturally ambidextrous. I recall my sister mentioning that less than one percent of the global population is born naturally ambidextrous, which explains the rarity of individuals dual-wielding a single weapon, like swords. Some players may do so for aesthetic purposes but compromise on efficiency, speed, and power just to look good, as they are unable to unleash the full potential of dual-wielding. However, based on our earlier exchange, it''s evident that this opponent before me belongs to that one percent. An ambidextrous dual sword wielder and an extremely skilled opponent at that, my sister is right to warn us to be careful around this girl. She is dangerous. "Ugh, what a drag¡­ You guys are persistent... this is turning out harder than I thought it would be..." she complained. "Of course, there is a great deal at stake for us in this match. I am prepared to go to any lengths for my team to emerge victorious. We will not be defeated!" I declared resolutely. She locked eyes with me, and I returned her gaze with unwavering determination. "You know, you''re similar to Art in some ways. Only the favorable traits, though, as he can be quite vexing most of the time with his relentless work ethic, always pushing me to match his pace," she commented. "A-are you sure you should be saying those things to your captain? He can hear you, you know," I deadpanned. She suddenly paused as if realizing something, which I''m sure she has. "Oh... forgot we are live... I''ll just make it up to him by winning this match..." This girl. I don''t know if she is really sharp or just acting dumb. Maybe it is in her personality to avoid responsibility by faking weakness. She also just probably wants to send her captain a message in a non-confronting way with her earlier comment. However, I had no time to analyze the reasons for her actions as he continued her attack. She surged forward again, a whirlwind of steel with not one but two gleaming swords in her grasp. It was like a magic trick¡ªone moment. She was a deadly dancer with a single blade; the next, a hurricane of ferocious offense. The shift was so unexpected that it threw us both off balance. My katana felt sluggish as I lunged to meet her attack, the clang of our blades echoing through the tense silence. The impact vibrated up my arms, a stark reminder of her strength. But that wasn''t all. Gwyneth wasn''t finished with only parrying my blow. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned another blade from thin air, the metal shimmering like a mirage. Ren, in response, slammed his shield into Gwyneth''s second attack, the screech of metal on metal adding to the chaos. But we were both backpedaling, overwhelmed by the sudden ferocity of her assault. Gwyneth pressed her advantage, her dual blades flashing in a deadly dance, forcing us on the defensive. We needed to regroup and find a way to counter her new dual-wielding threat, or we would be on the backfoot this entire bout. Suddenly, I sensed a shift in momentum from my teammate. It seems all the training we had with each other paid off, as I can tell what he is about to do. I just need to make this one last attack count. "Shield Fissure!" my teammate shouted the name of his weapon skill. Ren saw his opportunity. With a desperate yell, he slammed his shield onto the ground with a force that shook the very earth beneath our feet. A crack snaked its way toward Gwyneth, a fissure threatening to swallow her whole. Gwyneth quickly reoriented herself and jumped gracefully to dodge the ground attack. It was now or never. Seizing the precious opening Ran had created, I knew it was time for a desperate gamble. Disregarding defense, I poured all my remaining energy into a single, decisive strike. My katana blurred as I lunged at Gwyneth, aiming for a critical hit. The world seemed to slow as she did a cross-slash counterattack mid-air with her dual weapon to dissuade me from continuing my attack. I was right. She is also a purely offensive player like me. It is probably due to her wanting to finish her matches as fast as possible, owing to her laziness, thus creating an offensive play style that suits her. Good for me, as it seems like my gamble paid off. Steel met steel and flesh in a blinding flash as we both delivered our deadly critical blows to each other at the exact same time, both unguarded. KACHACK* Yatsufusa HP: 0% Gwyneth HP: 0% "Y-you..." she was left speechless by my actions. "That was a good match; I hope we can have a proper one-on-one next time," I said, glad to have fought someone so skilled. "...Sounds troublesome," was her response before we both vanished into blue motes of light. -------------------------------- Aoi''s PoV ¡°W-what move by team Sakura¡¯s ace, Yatsufusa! With her sacrificial play, her team won due to having one member left!¡± the caster shouted at the top of his lungs to hype up the conclusion of the match more. I breathed a sigh of relief as Hana executed the ideal move for the circumstance. She comprehended her opponent''s core playstyle and courageously sacrificed herself to eliminate the final member of the opposing team, securing victory for her team. You have displayed remarkable progress throughout this tournament. I am immensely proud of you, Hana. Although, it was wholly unexpected that the other team had a hidden player like that. Lua and now this girl, Gwyn. It seems like there will be many promising pro players at the start of the Andartha Cup next season. Observing both teams exchanging handshakes as a gesture of sportsmanship, I also noticed Hana clinging closely to her former adversary, Gwyn, likely aiming to forge a friendship and engage in amicable duels for training purposes. I understand her inclination; She is just like me. The desire to challenge formidable foes and improve in the process runs in our veins, and she has just now discovered a potential rival. However, witnessing Gwyn''s lack of enthusiasm in response to her overtures, my sister may need to exert more effort to persuade her to participate in joint training sessions and duels. Vol.2 Chapter 59 Arthur¡¯s PoV After the elimination match, the walk back to the participants'' room was heavy, with the weight of the loss settling in with every step. The air surrounding my team members thrummed with a strange mix of disappointment and distant cheers from the crowd in favor of the other team, a constant reminder of what could have been. Upon reaching our room, the heaviness of defeat weighed upon me, coinciding with the gradual calming of our adrenaline after the intense match. The room''s stillness and the somber expressions of my teammates became intolerable, prompting me to break the silence. "Guys," I began, my voice thick with disappointment, "I''m sorry." My teammates looked up, having caught my attention with my unexpected apology. Their faces were clearly etched with the same dejection I felt after our team¡¯s lackluster performance. "This one''s on me. I failed you as your captain," I continued. "What are you saying, dude? You''re the reason we got so far, so don¡¯t take all the blame on yourself," Tristan objected, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by seriousness. The previous match appears to have deeply affected him, leading to his current demeanor. It''s understandable; it was an unfavorable matchup where his adversary clearly overpowered him. The plan was for him to impede the enemy twins with his robust vitality build. However, against a swift DPS like Hana, he found himself unable to do anything at all. "...I concur. I was the one who suggested the strategy; you shouldn''t shoulder the blame alone," Astrid reassured. The same goes for Astrid. She seems more open to conversation than usual because of our huge blunder in strategizing. The opponent read our play like a book, turned it against us, and used it to their advantage. "That''s right! We could''ve just gone with our usual rotation, and it would''ve been fine! I got matched with their ace for crying out loud, all because of your strategy," Tristan voiced his frustration. Astrid, ever the fighter, wasn''t about to accept all of Tristan''s accusations without a response. "...You''re in no position to judge," she started. "...If anyone is to blame, it would be you for failing to slow down their ace''s momentum even for a little bit. You should''ve played it safe and focused on surviving instead of trying to win against her," Astrid stated in a cold tone. "A man''s got to show some guts! Sometimes, you just have to risk it to win it! Ever heard of the saying, no risk, no reward?!" Tristan countered. "...And pray so tell, where your risk took you?" Astrid asked sarcastically. "I-it just didn''t go well this time! But the same can''t be said for the future," Tristan replied, a bit unsure of how to rebuke Astrid¡¯s claims. "...Future? We just got eliminated, dimwit! You should have prioritized caution over pride, especially in an elimination match!" Astrid retorted, raising her voice for the first time during the argument. Tristan, shocked by Astrid¡¯s uncharacteristic behavior, was unable to reply. I anticipated them feeling down by the defeat, but their level of frustration caught me off guard. Venting their emotions may be healthier than harboring resentment, though, so I guess this is fine. But I still need to regulate it a bit so it doesn''t turn into an insult match. "G-guys! Remember, we are a team. Let''s avoid pointing fingers for the loss, okay?" I interjected into their standoff. Prompting them to stare guiltily at me. "...Apologies, I acted too harsh," Astrid, showcasing her usual maturity, was the first to apologize. "N-no, I also let my emotions get the best of me..." Tristan added. Suddenly, Gwyn rose from her sofa chair and headed towards the exit door. "Where are you off to, Gwyn?" I inquired. "...To the participants'' relaxation room. I need to catch some sleep after that tiring match," she responded, letting out a yawn after opening the door. Gwyn gave the door a final, casual pull with her hand, the momentum sending it swinging shut with a satisfying whoosh. The latch clicked into place with a definitive snap, punctuating her exit as she headed out of the room. A beat of silence settled in the room after the door closed, punctuated only by the faint echo of Gwyn''s departure. Tristan voiced out to break the silence. "She really doesn''t let anything bother her, does she? Sometimes, I wish I could be as carefree as her. To be this much unaffected even after getting eliminated," Tristan commented wistfully. "...You really are clueless, you dolt..." Astrid remarked.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "W-what? Why insult me again? I thought we had moved past fighting and reconciled already?" Tristan said with an aggrieved tone. I sighed. "I think what Astrid meant is, among us four, Gwyn is likely the most impacted by our loss," I clarified. "Her? Are we really talking about the same person? She seems always unbothered by everything," Tristan asked. "You know, Tristan, individuals often behave in a certain manner as a psychological defense mechanism, primarily to shield themselves from further pain," I expressed enigmatically. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" ¡°It¡¯s not in my place to say. Just know that she cares for us and the team as a whole, even if she doesn¡¯t seem to show it.¡± --------------------------------- Gwendolyn''s PoV Stepping out of the room, I drifted down the hallway, aimlessly following the sterile lights. My mind churned, replaying the events of the recent match on a loop. Regret gnawed at me, a bitter aftertaste of missed opportunities and actions I longed to take back. This sucks. I hate this feeling. Why is nobody blaming me? I''m the one who lost it for our team. I failed as our team''s ace. My mind was a relentless critic of how I could''ve done better¡ªan endless loop of self-loathing. I let down my team. I betrayed their trust. Self-blame gnawed at me, a bitter aftertaste that no amount of reflection could sweeten. I could feel my eyes watering as I thought of my failure. Hot and stinging tears welled up in my eyes. I squeezed my eyelids shut, willing them back, forcing a frustrated breath through clenched teeth. The hallway lights blurred for a moment, the sound of the crowd in the background hammering my feeling of defeat. It would be better if they blamed me instead. Then, hopefully, I wouldn¡¯t feel this shitty inside. As I spiraled deeper into my personal regret. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a voice laced with amusement yanked me back to reality. "Sucks to lose, right?" a male voice echoed my sentiments. Hastily brushing away the tears forming in my eyes, I immediately redirected my gaze toward the figure in question. Dressed in dark clothing that merged effortlessly with the shadows, a facemask obscured his features, heightening the sense of mystery and apprehension surrounding his presence as he stood calmly in the hallway. ¡°...What do you know?" I said with a bit of a confrontational tone. A tone that I instantly regretted. Confronting a random stranger and letting out all my frustrations this guy is just not right, even if he seems to be here to mock me for our loss. "I may have a lot of experience regarding that,¡± the tone of his voice shifted to solemnity, a voice speaking out of experience. ¡°From my extensive knowledge of dealing with losses, I can confidently say that not everyone can achieve their desired outcome. In a competition, our opponents desire the prize just as much, if not more, than we do. Thus, there is no need to blame yourself, or anyone else for that matter, for the loss. It simply wasn''t your moment," he comforted. Well, maybe he isn''t here to mock me after all. He does seem to offer good insights, but I''m too emotionally drained to give it much thought. "...Makes sense," I said in an uninterested tone. "...But what do you want? You''re not here just to console the loser of the last match, right? Despite wearing a face mask, his voice and physique indicate that I am not personally familiar with this individual. Therefore, he bears no responsibility to offer me any form of consolation as we are not acquainted. Furthermore, his presence in a restricted area of the stadium reserved for participants indicates that he is not merely a normal spectator from the stadium. He gazed at me as if scrutinizing my very being. "It appears my intuition was spot on. You possess a greater level of self-awareness and intelligence than you let on." "¡­You''re reading too much into it,¡± I shrugged. He fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "Gwendolyn Ashford, right?" Why does this shady guy know my full name? Is he a stalker or something? How creepy. ¡°You have the wrong person,¡± I instantly denied it. I don¡¯t think getting involved in this shady guy could possibly benefit me at all. ¡°I''m pretty sure I do; I recently saw you on the stage, after all.¡± ¡°I have a boyfriend,¡± I lied. I read on the net that it was a phrase used by the women of the 2020s to dissuade people like him. I¡¯m really not interested in men, nor do I currently have any romantic relationships, for that matter, but he doesn¡¯t know that, so it should be fine to use it as an excuse. "...I believe disclosing that detail is unnecessary for our discussion. I have no intention of having any romantic involvement with you. I am already in my mid-twenties while you are what? 17? I don¡¯t want to go to jail. Besides, you¡¯re not my type,¡± he said dismissively. What? How Rude! ¡°...What do you want then? I''m busy,¡± I responded, conveying my utmost annoyance in my tone. "Busy with what, precisely?" he inquired, confusion evident in his voice. "Busy trying to find a good place to sleep," I casually remarked. ¡°...I want to offer you something.¡± Did he just ignore my previous statement? The nerve! "...That seems dubious. My mother raised me to always be careful around strangers, particularly those who appear as suspicious as you,¡± I rebuked. As if finally realizing something, he took off his face mask and hat that covers his head, letting me see his facial features clearly for the very first time in our conversation. ¡°Oh, my bad. I apologize if my attire looked shady to you. As you can see, I had a reason to conceal myself from the public eye,¡± he expressed while highlighting his face as if expecting me to know who he was. Looking at him closely, he does look familiar¡­ wait, I recognize him! How could I not, since he always receives a lot of interviews post-matches? The leader of the legendary team that took the whole CoA community by storm in their glory days. Tactical, in the flesh, is the one talking to me! Seeing me unable to talk due to shock, he continued. ¡°I don''t want to take up too much of your time, so I¡¯ll get to the point. I want to recruit you to a team I am building.¡± ¡°T-team?¡± I let out, intrigued by an offer from the OG Paragon¡¯s captain. ¡°Yes, you have aspirations of becoming a professional player, right? That is why you¡¯re here.¡± He is right on the money. I have always dreamed of becoming a pro, even when I was still young. I envy their lifestyle, playing games all day and doing what they want as their job. It suits someone as lazy and unmotivated as me. That is also the reason why I know his facial features in real life from watching all the post-match interviews of professional players. It also helps that I''m naturally talented at VR games, even if I seldom practice, which also favors my prospects a lot in my goal. But facing Hana earlier and seeing firsthand how motivated she is to improve and how desperately she wants to win in our match has been an eye-opener. It seems like the road to becoming a pro is not all fun and games as I thought it would be. ¡°¡­I did back then, but now... I''m not so sure...¡± I tried to muster up a reply. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he inquired. ¡°I don''t think I''m not cut out to be a pro,¡± I confessed. "I''m not asking about your capability. I''m asking about your desire. Is it something you aspire to? Do you, or do you not wish to go pro?" ¡°Of course I do! But-¡° ¡°Then that is your answer,¡± he gave me a meaningful smile. I stared at him, both bewildered and amazed by his train of thought and actions thus far. ¡°But what if I fail...¡± I express my self-doubt. ¡°Failing at something is not something to be ashamed of. What is shameful is not even trying in the first place. Moreover," he flashed me a sincere, unwavering smile. "I am determined to create a team that will become the strongest in the history of CoA! And I need your strength and skill for that to happen.¡± I could discern from the conviction in his eyes that he genuinely believed his words and that achieving this feat was the purpose of his entire being. That type of resolve really draws me into believing in him, especially since I have no aspirations of my own. "...But why choose me?" I asked hesitantly. "You possess talent. Your only shortcoming is the lack of drive. However, I am confident you will discover that motivation in due time," he responded. "¡­We lost two of our previous matches and got eliminated, though," I countered. "While I agree that most recruiters tend to prioritize results over performance, however, I diverge from that approach. I see an unrivaled talent in you, akin to an undiscovered gem, and if you join my team, I guarantee that I can nurture that potential and bring it to fruition for the world to see!" he asserted with conviction. Being this charismatic, I can see now why he became the first paragon¡¯s team leader. Nonetheless, let''s not get overly enthusiastic. His statements could be a ploy to entice me; I lack sufficient insight into his character to trust him entirely. He doesn''t resemble Art or Hana, who are both excessively straightforward. Yet, I am inclined to believe his aspiration of forming the most formidable team is genuine. ¡°¡­Please give me time to think about it." He regarded me with a hint of disappointment at my hesitance to accept his proposal. ¡°That''s fair; I won¡¯t force you to answer now, but please think about it more.¡± He handed me a slip of paper with his contact information before nodding and walking away with a wave, his form disappearing into the shadows of the hallway. The paper felt cool and smooth in my trembling hand, a tangible link to the figure who had left an indelible impression on me. As I watched him fade into the distance, a feeling welled up deep inside me. ¡°The strongest team in the history of CoA, huh?¡± I murmured to myself. That does sound like something that could motivate me to try harder. Vol.2 Chapter 60 Tactical¡¯s PoV As I made my way back to the room reserved for special guests like myself, I mentally revisited the discussion with Gwendolyn. I was convinced that she was an ideal candidate for the team I was constructing. Her natural athletic abilities and rare talent of being born ambidextrous were exactly what I needed for the team I was creating. An ambidextrous combatant like her possesses the ability to seamlessly transition between attacking with either hand, making it challenging for adversaries to anticipate her movements and respond effectively, especially in higher-level matches where pros are used to fighting opponents who only have one dominant hand. Additionally, her proficiency in effectively using both hands for defensive maneuvers such as blocking or parrying can enhance her overall defensive capabilities, even if she is an offensive-oriented player. Coordinating offensive and defensive maneuvers with dual weapons present a higher level of complexity compared to using a single weapon. Even for ambidextrous individuals, mastering this skill demands rigorous training. However, she demonstrates a natural aptitude for it, which is evident in her fluidity despite the absence of formal training. I can only see potential growth in her, making her an extremely ideal recruit for the team I¡¯m creating. Although she didn''t immediately accept my offer, that was understandable; a tactful individual like Gwendolyn will recognize the value of this opportunity and likely reconsider in due time. I sense in her a yearning for a sense of purpose, a quest to discover her strengths and potential, which I¡¯m sure she knows I can provide to her. Hopefully, with the help of my background in unearthing talented monsters like Yuusha and Zetta, she would be more favorable to accept my offer. After I arrived at my room, I put my thoughts of my recruitment attempt aside for some other time and entered. Inside, I was met with Caleb¡ªI mean Calah''s greeting. She looked up with a curious expression. "Where have you been? The match is about to start." As I made my way to my cozy chair, I eased into it and responded to her query. "I was stuck in a bit of a long conversation. Kids these days do say some weird things every now and then," I replied, expressing my exhasperation. Calah, perched on the plush armchair, eyebrow raised in amusement. "You sound like an old man. Who did you talk with?¡± "You know the player, Gwyneth, right?¡± I queried. ¡°Oh, the dual wielder from the previous match?¡± she guessed. I nodded at her response. ¡°I offered her a spot on the team I am planning to build." Calah''s smile widened in amusement. "Ah, the one you said would be the one to surpass our legendary team. Well? How''d it go?" "Not a yes yet," I said, sighing dramatically. "But I''m confident. She''s smart, and she''ll see the potential benefits of my offer." Calah chuckled. "Always the optimist, aren''t you? Though, knowing you, you probably made a compelling case. That is how you recruited us, after all." "I did my best," I admitted, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips. "Though, maybe I should have laid out the details a bit more clearly. Back to the topic at hand, though ¨C the match is about to start, right?" ¡°Yep, we have to show our support to our prot¨¦g¨¦s. The best we could do for now is watch their match live and cheer for them.¡± ----------------------------------------- Ariadne''s PoV A ghost of a smile flits across my lips as I replay the scene in my head¡ªmy time with Katherine. A flutter erupts in my chest again, a sensation so new and unfamiliar it takes my breath away. Butterflies? Is that what they call this? My stomach does a nervous flip as I relive in my head what exactly happened earlier. The hug. I could feel my cheeks redden as I tried to relive the exact moment in my head. And I certainly remember it, oh so vividly, even up till now. My heart raced against my ribs as she drew me into her embrace. Her touch was delicate, akin to a soft caress, igniting a blush that crept up my neck. Instinctively, my arms, which had been unconsciously extended, enfolded her, her warmth sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. Every sensation felt intensified during that hug. Her hair lightly brushed against my cheek in a strangely delightful manner. Our bodies pressed together, her gentle touch creating a tingling sensation within me. The aroma of jasmine and rose enveloped me, adding to the allure of her sweet scent. Above all, it was her tranquil and reassuring presence that resonated with me. I felt the calming comfort of her being by my side, of knowing I could depend on her. She is not just my mentor but also my friend. However, deep within me, a yearning starts to stir a desire for our relationship to evolve into something... more... Wait! What am I thinking?! Warning mental fluctuations detected. Heart rate is going above average standards. The player is advised to take a break. Oh crap! I can''t be forcibly logged out now! We are currently in the middle of an elimination match! I steadied my breathing and tried to vanish all distractions. Calm down, Aria. Breathe in, breathe out. Let''s focus on the match. It would do no good if we got eliminated here because of me. I certainly wouldn''t be able to face her if that happens. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Aria, are you alright?" a sudden question from my best friend pulled me out of my headspace. It was a much-needed respite. "H-huh?! O-of course I am! And what about you?" I reflexively turned the question back to her. She stared at me curiously. "...I''m pretty sure I''m fine, but you... You appear preoccupied for some reason," she observed, peering at me with suspicion evident in her gleaming eyes. I involuntarily gulped under her discerning gaze. After a brief moment, she relented, easing my apprehension. " Well, I guess it''s fine since you don''t seem disheartened anymore. But I¡¯m quite curious: What are you thinking of just now that got you smiling like a fool just now?" My cheeks flushed with her unexpected query. There was no way in hell I could tell her what my thoughts were! "I-it¡¯s none of your business!" I exclaimed defensively. "Alright, sheesh. I won¡¯t ask if you don''t want to say anything. There''s no need to be so aggressive," she replied in a slightly exasperated tone. "R-right, sorry¡­ let''s just focus on the match," I forcefully changed the topic, receiving a determined nod from her. I surveyed my surroundings again, and I was void of any distractions this time. Towering trees with lush green leaves stretch towards the sky, forming a dense canopy that filters the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. Shafts of golden light pierce through the foliage, creating a mesmerizing play of shadows and illumination. The air is alive with nature''s symphony¡ªthe melodious chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, and the soothing murmur of a nearby stream. Each breath I take is infused with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, the earthy scent of moist soil, and the freshness of the rainforest air that fills my lungs. As we proceeded to walk towards the middle orb, our destination, we passed by exotic plants that dot the landscape. Butterflies flutter gracefully from one flower to another, their delicate wings painting the air with hues of red, yellow, and orange, creating a whimsical dance of nature before my eyes. A couple of minutes of walking later, we arrived at the middle orb, where two players greeted us. One is a large armored man sporting a tower shield, while the other is a bow user in a roguish medieval cloak. We are up against these two, huh? It means that Blitz is up against their captain. It seems like Seer¡¯s prediction is on point this time. ¡°I thought you guys would quit the tournament altogether after that shameful showing earlier,¡± the loudmouth, who almost had an altercation with Blitz when we first arrived at the hotel, mocked. Hearing no response from us, he then turned his attention towards me. ¡°Getting soloed by a single player? And you call yourselves the ''new team Paragons.'' How laughable," he taunted. ¡°Aria, don¡¯t listen to him. He''s just trying to rile you up. He is their tank, after all, so he wants you to focus your attention on him.¡± Lucy reminded. ¡°I know, Lucy, no need to worry,¡± I replied, showing disinterest. But I think it''s probably a bit of bad blood, too though, stemming from the longstanding discord between our guilds ever since the start of CoA. It''s understandable; considering the enemy is our rival guild, a bit of trash-talking is probably inevitable in such circumstances. Seeing that we seem unaffected by his provocations, he continued. ¡°Yuusha can easily 1v2, but I guess her prot¨¦g¨¦ can just as easily lose in a 2v1 scenario. How pathetic, hahaha," he let out a boisterously irritating laugh that grated on my nerves. "Lucy, please cast haste on me," I said in a cold tone. "U-understood!" my partner affirmed, casting her haste buff on me. Having received the haste buff, I began to move. The humid air of the realistic VR stage hung heavy as I walked towards the enemy duo, my trusted daggers in hand. The irritating brute stood guard before the archer, a cloaked figure with a drawn bow. The boisterous brute was the undeniable tanky, but the archer he was protecting is a complete glass cannon. And from what Seer told us, the archer''s weapon skill is strong but takes time to charge up. He won¡¯t be getting that chance, though. "Looks like I have to remind you guys where you stand," I said in the most intimidating tone I could muster. As expected, the hooded figure flinched, his aim wavering by my unbridled show of confidence. That was all the opening I needed. In a blur of motion, I darted towards the archer as fast as possible with my hasted movement. Seeing my movement, the tank positioned itself in front of me to halt my charge, but it didn''t matter. I dodged his pitiful attempt of a shield bash as I weaved around the lumbering brute. He was so slow compared to my hasted state, laughably so. Seeing me pass by him so easily, he bellowed in outrage, his massive shield slamming into the ground in an attempt to trigger his weapon skill ¨C a repositioning skill that teleports the owner of the weapon skill near the player the user wishes to protect. ¡°Quick Guard!¡± the brute exclaimed. The air shimmered, and for a fleeting moment, the brute vanished, appearing right beside the archer with his shield towering in front of me¨C a valiant attempt to act as a human shield. I scoffed. With a flick of my wrist, my daggers transformed into a shimmering chain whip. The maneuver was so swift the brute didn''t even have time to react. The chain snaked around his ankle, yanking him off balance with a surprised yelp. He crashed to the ground in a heap of metal and confusion, his valiant shield now uselessly pointed at the sky. The hooded archer, momentarily stunned by the turn of events, finally loosed his arrow. But his aim was shaky, fueled by panic due to how fast I closed the gap and easily handled his tank. With a disdainful flick of my wrist, the chain whip morphed into the khopesh. The curved blade sang through the air as I deflected the arrow with a resounding clang. The archer''s eyes widened in terror as the deflected arrow skittered harmlessly across the grassy ground. There was no time for theatrics. The khopesh blurred once more, this time turning into a gleaming spear for a longer range. I danced around the still-distraught brute, focusing my sights on the DPS archer. A swift thrust on his dominant shoulder arm forced him to release his bow. His health bar started to blink ominously at the attack. Xanix HP: 68% With a choked gasp, the archer finally fumbled for his dagger ¨C a last-ditch attempt at close-quarters defense¡ªa pitiful one at that. I closed the distance in a blink, the spear transforming back into twin daggers of my own. The archer''s dagger clattered to the ground as I disarmed it with a practiced ease. A single, precise slash across his arm sent him sprawling, his own weapon clattering beside him. Then, a stab at his now defenseless head. Xanix HP: 0% His health bar winked out of existence, his form then turning into blue motes of light. After defeating the only source of DPS in a matter of seconds, too fast for even his defender to react, I turned to the remaining survivor¡ªthe loudmouthed brute. "This outcome should make it clear to you by now. You and your teammates are nothing but cannon fodders in this tournament," I stated with a hint of contempt. ------------------------------------ "W-what a commanding display by Team Paragons! They have clearly surpassed their rival guild in this match! Demonstrating that they are still very much in the competition!" exclaimed the caster as the bout concluded. I smiled at the result. It was a dominating win, with Aria''s team emerging victorious in every orb skirmish. Notably, none of their team members died at all, highlighting the formidable strength of their team. Given the gap in skills, I already expected the outcome, but I''m still relieved that their performance was not greatly affected by their earlier loss from their fight. In fact, it seems their team bounced back, stronger than ever, after learning from their loss and moving forward as a team. Undoubtedly, Celeste played a significant role in this positive development. Nevertheless, isn''t Aria displaying a more brutal demeanor than usual? She can be rather intimidating at times, but she was completely merciless in this fight. I need to constantly remind myself that I better not get on her bad side at all. Still, after that outstanding performance she showed on stage, it looks like it''s my turn to keep my promise to her. A sudden, courteous knock on our door drew my teammates'' and my own attention, prompting us to pay attention to the room''s entrance. Moments later, the door swung open, unveiling a familiar staff member. ¡°Excuse me, team Paradigm. Please prepare for the final match of the day,¡± the staff politely reminded us. ¡°Yes, we will be right there in a short while,¡± our captain, Liz, responded to the team. After nodding amicably, the staff left us to our own devices. As the door closed, a hush settled over the room, enveloping our team in quiet contemplation of the insurmountable challenge that lay ahead. I empathize with my teammates'' sentiments. It seems as though we are at a huge disadvantage. The situation appears dire, with us going up against the strongest opponent we have ever faced so far. Lua¡¯s team is undoubtedly formidable and intimidating. Going up against them feels as though we are embroiled in a futile struggle, with victory seeming out of reach. ¡°I really don¡¯t think we have a chance at winning this battle, guys¡­¡± Clarence broke the silence. A moment later, a cheerful voice came from none other than our captain, Liz. "Yeah, but let''s not lose hope just yet. Let us at least give our all and hope for a favorable outcome, alright guys?" she encouraged. Another silence. The brief pause that followed was filled with the weight of anticipation and the echoes of conflicting emotions. The contrast between Clarence''s initial doubt and Liz''s unwavering belief created a juxtaposition of perspectives within the team. This time, I was the one to break it. ¡°Guys, I have a suggestion to make,¡± I raised my voice. That caught the undivided attention of my teammates. ¡°This might sound crazy, but please hear me out," I continued. "Sure, go ahead! I completely support your idea," Liz encouraged. "I''m open to it," Clarence chimed in. Meanwhile, Chu acknowledged my words with a nod. "You guys haven''t heard the details of my plan yet..." I deadpanned. "I believe that whatever you have in mind will benefit the team. I have complete trust in you, Kat," Liz said encouragingly, expressing her honest thoughts about me, which is actually quite sweet of her. "Liz is right. Without doing something unexpected, we have little to no chance of winning against their ace, Lua," Clarence remarked. "¡­So, what do you propose?" Chu inquired, curiosity evident in his tone. Taking a moment to compose myself, I focused my thoughts on the strategy. ¡°Regarding Lua¡­ let me have a one-on-one duel with her,¡± I finally proposed. Silence again... It stayed a lot shorter this time before Clarence broke it. ¡°I agree with what you said earlier. You do sound completely crazy.¡± Vol.2 Chapter 61 Tactical¡¯s PoV "Welcome back, folks, for the final match of the day! And boy, do we have a treat for you viewers who are watching right now!" the lead panelist, Raze, hyped. "That''s right, Raze! I''m sure many of our viewers are looking forward to this match! However, I hope this match will be more competitive than the last one. The Paragons went all out and displayed complete dominance in the previous match!" his co-panelist enthusiastically added. "I certainly hope so, as the victor of this bout will become our first finalist competing for tomorrow''s championship! Surely, the players will give their all! to have a shot at the trophy! For now, though, let¡¯s see what our guest panelist has to say about the upcoming match,¡± the lead panelist transitioned in a well-rehearsed manner. Vlad, as usual, pondered for a moment before giving his well-thought-out reply. "Hmmm... I believe Team Variable will secure this victory. Don¡¯t get me wrong, Team Paradigm has demonstrated its resilience with unconventional plays and counterstrategies, but facing off against a formidable player like Lua presents a significant challenge. There is a limit to what impeccable tactics can do in a match if the execution isn¡¯t quite there. Additionally, Team Variable''s strategist is equally formidable, so this will be an uphill battle for Team Paradigm," Vlad shared his impartial and insightful analysis. ¡°What do you think about his take on the fight?¡± Calah, who shares the same room as me, inquired. ¡°I completely agree with him,¡± I answered without hesitation. ¡°Facing off against Lua is akin to challenging a professional. She far surpasses the skill level expected in this tournament, even with all these hidden talents sprouting from out of nowhere. Her exceptional skills make me eager to recruit her, but I anticipate fierce competition from other scouts, particularly from reputable eSports organizations. While this won''t deter me from making an attempt, I doubt I would be successful in acquiring her for my team. Her eyes shifted to Team Paradigm, who had just come onto the center stage with an unreadable look. ¡°You know what I think? I think Team Paradigm would find another way to surpass our expectations.¡± I have reservations about that. Calah typically leads with her emotions, so it wouldn''t be unexpected if she roots for Paradigm to emerge victorious, even if they stood no chance whatsoever. I won''t dispute her on that matter, as I recognize her intentions are sincere since she cares for the team that became close to Seer and the rest of his teammates over the last few days. My gaze shifted on the screen as I focused my attention on Team Paradigm¡¯s tactician. Still, I do know that this match would be entertaining with that girl on the back foot. What kind of surprising strategies would you employ this time to get out of this conundrum? -------------------------------------- Lua¡¯s PoV Darkness, as always. While vision is dispensable for the conversation, its absence is tolerable. Though devoid of visual prompts or facial reactions guiding their discourse, I leaned on the subtleties of their speech and the richness of their expressions to craft a mental image of the unfolding scene. ¡°Let us stick to the plan, alright?¡± Gilligan''s confident tone boomed through the background, followed by the affirmation of my teammates. I maintained silence to convey my displeasure. "Lua?" Gilligan prodded upon noticing my lack of affirmation. ¡°I''m unsure why we need to depend on ambush tactics instead of confronting them directly," I complained. He paused, taking a moment to choose his words carefully. "Even if we hold the upper hand in a direct confrontation, it''s wise to be vigilant of the other team''s abilities," he responded cautiously. "T-that''s correct, Miss Lua. Sir Gil''s strategies are consistently effective, so I believe we should follow his lead for now," Haeun¡¯s soft, wavering voice chimed in. "Hmph, alright, fine," I finally relented, though not without a slight pout to express my discontent. It may seem childish, but I still find joy in doing so. ¡°Then, if there are no more questions, let¡¯s proceed to the plan.¡± At Gil¡¯s final words, we all proceeded to our respective capture orb targets. I kept my eyes closed as I walked toward the direction of the orb, reconstructing the feeling of being in the real world without eyesight. My time walking without vision made me exceptional at directions by now, so I guess there are some benefits to being born blind. As I traversed the terrain, I could sense that the air was cool and damp, with the promise of rain. I could smell it, a sharp tang in the night. The ground beneath my feet was soft, yielding slightly with each step. We are probably on a rainforest sort of stage. I can feel the grass in my foot¡ªwet grass. I also hear the gentle lapping of water, rhythmic and soothing. The moon must be full on this map; its light is softer and more intimate than usual. I can sense its calming light even with my eyes closed. I extend my honed senses, which are better than non-blind people''s, to feel my way forward. The air is thick with the scent of earth and water, a heady mix that fills my nostrils. There''s a subtle shift in the temperature, a coolness that tells me I''m closer. The sound of the water grows louder and more insistent. The scent of the lake also grows stronger, a mix of earth and water that is both familiar and invigorating. As I continued my journey, the ground beneath me changed, becoming firmer and more even. I can tell I am on the path towards the orb. It stretches out before me like a dark ribbon in the moonlight. The sound of the lake is now a constant hum, a backdrop to the symphony of the night. I can almost taste the saltiness on my lips. The air is filled with the scent of water and grass, a heady mix that sharpens my senses. I spread my arms, feeling for any obstructions. I can feel the path open up into a clearing, a vast expanse of soft, wet grass. This feeling¡­ the orb is nearby. Arriving at the destination, I could sense a single person from the sound of their footsteps closing towards me. Is it their 1v1 ace, perhaps? What did Gil say his name was again? Chan? I honestly wanted to fight Kat and her partner in a 2v1, but a one-on-one against a strong opponent is also welcome. As I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a breathtaking sight that transcended the limitations of reality. Before me lay a mesmerizing display of colors that danced and shimmered in the moonlit night, creating a scene of ethereal beauty that captivated my senses. Above me, the moon hung in the sky like a luminous pearl, casting a soft, silvery glow over the landscape. The night sky was a canvas of deep indigo, adorned with a tapestry of stars that sparkled like diamonds strewn across velvet. Beside me, a tranquil lake reflected the celestial display above, its surface rippling with the gentle caress of the moonlight. The water glistened with a magical radiance, mirroring the beauty of the night sky in a shimmering dance of light and shadow. The surroundings appeared to awaken with vibrant colors, transforming the world into shades that transcended imagination. The sheer delight of perceiving this spectacle spontaneously put me into the flow state. Stolen story; please report. However, another sight unfolded before me, one that was unexpected but undeniably not unwelcome. "I didn''t expect you to be the one going up against me," I expressed with delight. ------------------------------- "I didn''t expect you to be the one going up against me," Lua remarked, revealing a hint of something in her gaze. That glint in her eyes that expression evokes memories of someone I know all too well¡ªan old teammate whose enthusiasm for fighting strong opponents propels him effortlessly into the flow state¡ªZetta. ¡°I told you before the world can be full of surprises,¡± I said calmly. She smiled genuinely at my words. ¡°Oh my~ it feels like we''re on another session of our nightly rendezvous," she said teasingly, an innuendo not lost on me. I sighed, as shameless as ever. "Please don''t say something that could easily be misunderstood," I deadpanned. "What?! Were the nights we spent together of no significance to you? Oh~ how you wound me so!" she exclaimed, mockingly simulating the dismay of someone feeling betrayed. Seriously! We are being observed by a multitude of viewers! Please refrain from your frivolous antics for the time being. Perhaps you can behave uninhibitedly even with this many onlookers, but I, for the love of, cannot. I glared at her to express my annoyance, which she brushed off completely with an innocent smile. No effect, huh? Honestly, she can be quite a handful sometimes. "Are you planning to buy time for your teammates? A little chat could help you with that," she gave her speculation. ¡°¡­¡± I stayed silent. I guess it might look that way to her. I''m only a support player with a penchant for survivability, so she might think I''m only stalling for time to prevent her from decimating my entire team. "I''m here to have a proper duel, so please don''t hold back on my account," I finally responded. I said it outright. Sure, I could''ve lied and played in on the role of defenseless support to give myself a better advantage in our fight, but I don''t want to do that to her, considering from the past few nights we spent together, I already consider her a friend. Moreover, she is not the lone individual desiring an engaging battle. Observing her prowess in the prior match reignited a sense of competitiveness within me, reminiscent of my former self. Hence, I suppose I am doing this for my own sake as well. "Oh~ hearing you express yourself with such a resolute gaze gives me the impression that you are not merely jesting," she teased with a smile. Suddenly, she stopped as if distracted by something. If my guess is correct, it must have been a voice command from their captain prompting her to back them up. ¡°Hmm~ it also seems that you knew of Gil''s plans. He told me you wouldn¡¯t expect a repeat of what he pulled off against the Paragons, but I guess he is not always right. Serves him right!¡± she exclaimed joyfully, confirming the success of our team''s counter-ambush. Why are you even glad your teammate¡¯s plan was thwarted?! Are you on our side or what?! However, it must remain a puzzle to her why their strategist is so determined to eliminate Liz and me that they are prepared to put in three players solely for us. "Lua, have you ever wondered why your captain wanted to eliminate Liz and me from the match first?" "Now that you bring it up, it does appear rather peculiar... Any thoughts on why?" she responded. "It''s because he is wary of haste casters,¡± I revealed. ¡°He plans to ambush me, as he did with Lucy, to eliminate me, someone who can cast haste buff, a major threat to you." "Oh~ haste users, you say? I''ve battled a couple of those people. They were pretty straightforward and easy to read, in my opinion, because they''re too reliant on borrowed speed movement they have.¡± If that is her perspective on movement speed enhancements, she must have encountered average or above-average users of haste. While it can disrupt the user''s rhythm if they are not accustomed to it, making them more predictable, in my view, haste is as effective as any weapon. The key factor is how skillfully the user employs it. And I have countless experiences using it as my weapon. After all, I had countless battles using it. At this point, it is almost an extension of my mind and body. "Then... allow me to show to you what a true battle of speed is," I declared with confidence. Hearing those words, her expression suddenly shifted to delight. "I''m looking forward to it," she responded with excitement. I made sure to gain some distance from her before engaging to avoid getting interrupted during my buffing phase¡­ not that I expected her to do so, given her personality. Sensing the fight was about to begin, I initiated the first move. With a swift movement, I retrieved the unique staff weapon from its place on my back, feeling the weight of its presence in my hands. The staff''s head bore an ominous design ¨C a skull that glinted in the dim light, radiating an aura of foreboding that seemed to unnerve even my Lua. ¡°Blood Curse,¡± I murmured. With resolute determination, I unleashed my ace skills, Blood Curse, and sacrificed 95% of my HP. I need to risk it all to have even a chance of winning here. It¡¯s all or nothing. Novo HP: 5% A surge of power coursed through me, imbuing the weapon with a dark potency that crackled in the air. The ominous skull at the staff''s head seemed to pulse with otherworldly energy, its hollow eye sockets seeming to gaze into the depths of my opponent''s soul. ¡°Oh~ what a scary staff you have there. Did it just deplete your health? That exchange must have given you a huge momentary power boost by now,¡± she guessed correctly. She is truly perceptive and a real prodigy in all aspects. The best play here for her would be to stall for time until my buffs run out, and then I would truly have no chance against her. Luckily, she¡¯s not the type of person to shrink from challenges. I then used the normal chronomancy orb on my unique weapon to cast haste onto myself after pre-casting it for some time. With both the haste buff and the Unique weapon buff on me, I¡¯m fully prepared for the fight. "If your weapon skill includes buffs, now is the time to use it. This fight will be over in an instant,¡± I advised. She hasn''t even used her weapon skill yet, so I do not know what it does. Somehow, I can see that it is a unique weapon she is using, so it still remains a mystery what she could do with it. And with both our skewed stats built without regard for survivability and my Blood Curse buff, this might very well end in a second. She gave me a solemn look, utterly devoid of falsehood. ¡°It¡¯s not that I''m underestimating you. It''s just against my principles to use it. Moreover, it''s only fair to balance out the stat gap, don''t you think? Especially considering you¡¯re not even at max level, plus you¡¯re a support player at that," she remarked. She is right, though; I¡¯m still five levels shy of becoming level 90. This does indeed pose a significant disadvantage since the finest equipment can only be worn by those who are level 90. Nevertheless, I acknowledge and respect her choice. Over time, I have come to understand that not everyone shares my intense drive for victory. Everyone has their own priorities. Although I may not fully comprehend her thoughts and motivations, I hold no complaints. If she opts to provide me with a handicap of her own volition, I accept it willingly. I would probably need it anyway since I know that I am currently at a skill disadvantage due to my extended break playing CoA and my lack of one-on-one fights against skilled opponents. However, my advantage lies in experience. I have also observed and analyzed her past match against Aria, adding to my knowledge. In a contest of speed, predicting your opponent''s actions is a significant edge. I can only hope that it will be sufficient enough to win against her. With nothing left to be spoken, I initiated my approach by walking toward her while purposefully concealing my enhanced speed to fabricate a false impression. Detecting my intense determination, she adjusted her posture, fixing her gaze upon me, prepared to parry and retaliate against my forthcoming actions. Meeting her eyes and locking gazes, it felt as though I was peering into twin pools of serenity like the stillness of water. Approaching within striking distance, I unveiled my concealed twin daggers, kept hidden beneath my mage''s attire. She remained completely unaware of my playstyle, making each of my actions completely novel to her, adding to her confusion. The time she would take to assess my every move, even if just for a fraction of a nanosecond, would prove pivotal in this match. Recognizing an opening amidst her slight hesitation when I unveiled my weapon, I executed a deceptive maneuver to the left¡ªa rapid flick of my wrist, a decoy aimed in her direction. Reacting swiftly, she blurred into motion, seeking to deflect my assault. Yet, it was merely a feint, an illusory strike intended to distract her focus. Meanwhile, I had already pivoted, transferring my weight to the right. My right dagger gleamed, delivering a strike aimed at her heart. Surprised by my sudden feint, she moved as fast as she could to redirect the strike into missing. If my opponent were anyone else, I doubt they would be able to pull that off, but she is not a mere player. Nevertheless, I foresaw that her speed would eventually match mine despite my utilization of the haste buff. Predicting her next move, I let her redirect my right-hand blow, missing her with my attack. It doesn¡¯t matter. The effectiveness of that strike would have been minimal since my body weight had already shifted, lacking the necessary force behind it. After all, my aim was directed at her head with my free hand. As my left-hand dagger approached her head, her eyes widened in shock. At this exact moment, she knew she was outplayed. Her momentary shock, however, was instantly replaced with determination as she prepared to receive the blow. Upon my dagger''s impact, her reaction was unforeseen yet typical of her. Employing a defensive technique akin to that of seasoned boxers, she lessened the impact by slipping, a maneuver involving subtle movements of the waist and head to diminish the force of impacts. She adeptly utilized this technique to mitigate the effect of my dagger strike, resulting in her surviving my attack. This is bad. I banked on everything in that play, and it failed to deal a fatal blow. She now has a chance to counter with her free hand. One attack would instantly end me. As expected, Lua countered with blinding speed, her palm a meteor aimed at my heart. She really is talented. Her intuition is on point. She knew she could survive a single attack from me, so she prepared a counter beforehand. She was true to her words earlier. She is not holding back in the slightest. If it weren''t for the haste buff enhancement, I would''ve lost to her speed and skill in a normal fight. However, I am hasted right now. So, for the first time in this match, I utilized the full extent of my haste buff to dodge her strike. Even this minor adjustment can disrupt the opponent''s tempo, particularly for someone like Lua, who appears unfamiliar with facing adversaries skilled in manipulating speed and tempo changes¡ª which is my forte. This change in my pace completely caught her off guard, a technique I perfected over countless hours of rigorous training. In that moment, the world around us compressed into a heartbeat. I sidestepped, my body a fleeting shadow, causing her strike to pass by harmlessly. In that split-second exchange, I saw my chance. My right dagger found its mark¡ªa precise strike, a critical stab at the side of her head. Her eyes widened in disbelief as my attack connected. KACHACK* Lua HP:0% The match was over in just a few seconds. In a battle of speed, the most important part is anticipating your opponent''s moves, along with battle experience. Having observed her previous bout gave me the upper hand in deciphering her attack strategies, movement tendencies, habits, and idiosyncrasies while she was completely in the dark about mine. I have a lot of ammo against her, while she has none on me. She went into this battle, unarmed... literally and figuratively. "So, this is what defeat feels like... What a strange yet novel feeling," she remarked, her cheeks flushed, her expression exuding profound satisfaction. Are you a masochist or something?! After saying her piece, Lua finally disappeared into blue motes of light that blended perfectly with the serene ambiance of the moonlit lake. Vol.2 Chapter 62 Clarissa''s PoV The stadium buzzes with electric energy, and a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement hangs heavy in the air as the participants are transported to the arena stage. The moonlight filters through the canopy of trees, casting a silvery sheen over the water''s surface and illuminating the surrounding landscape with a soft, ethereal glow. It was an alluring stage, a tranquil forest lake that seemed more suitable for relaxing rather than a battle. My little brother, Colin, and I cheered at the top of our lungs as Big Brother, Novo, and the rest of their teammates were featured on the big screen. The match started as usual, but something caught the caster''s attention as it progressed. Novo was facing off against the enemy team¡¯s super-scary player, Ms. Lua¡ªsomeone who even beat Ms. Ariadne, the tournament''s 1v1 champion. "Folks, it looks like Paradigm plans to stall for time," Mr. Riot surmised as the two faced off against each other. Following the caster''s analysis, the audience vocalized their sentiments, resonating with his observations. "It does seem that way. None of their team members stand a chance against that player, after all." ¡°Indeed, that seems to be their best course of action..." ¡°I can''t blame them; Variable''s ace is extremely strong.¡± ¡°Poor girl, she became the sacrifice of their team.¡± ¡°It would be a miracle if she even lasted a minute alone against Variable''s ace player.¡± Hearing the crowd''s input about the upcoming fight made my heart sink. Does Novo really have no chance against her current opponent? No, I believe in her. Novo always has a plan for what she does, and she never loses! I''m sure she will somehow emerge from this victorious. "Novo, I trust in you..." I whispered as I closed my eyes, offering a silent prayer for her well-being and victory. As the two faced off, it was evident they were friends with each other. It doesn¡¯t bother me in the slightest that they seem very close, but what caught me off guard was that Ms. Lua commented something really concerning. ¡°Oh my~ it feels like we''re on another session of our nightly rendezvous," Ms. Lua said flirtatiously. ¡°Mom? What does she mean by that?¡± Colin asked innocently. "T-that''s not something you need to worry about, Colin," Mom attempted to deflect his question. ¡°Hohoho! Kids these days really are getting more and more vivacious, huh?¡± Dad made a teasing comment, which made me blush further. "N-novo is not like that! I''m sure there is some sort of misunderstanding!" I tried to defend my friend. As if on cue, Novo rebuked Ms. Lua''s earlier statement. "Please don''t say something that could easily be misunderstood," Novo said calmly, almost dismissively. I sighed in relief as Novo confirmed my assumption. Ms. Lua was probably just messing around with her since they both seemed so close. Their chat continued for a while, delving into aspects of the game, namely about haste buffs, that I didn¡¯t quite understand just yet, and moments later, it finally began with Novo casting her usual haste to herself along with a spell I only saw her cast once when we were up against a strong monster that would¡¯ve taken us ages to beat: her unique skill, ¡®Blood Curse.¡¯ From what Novo told me, it sacrifices her HP for a momentary damage boost. It was evident that she was truly set on emerging victorious, which made me cheer for her even louder. Having cast all her self-buffs, Novo approached her opponent with calm and collected steps, as she usually does. The first strike came without warning as Novo got in striking distance. Novo¡¯s daggers flickered as her hands darted, and Ms. Lua moved with inhuman grace and speed to counter Novo. I couldn''t follow their movements at all! It was as if the world had slowed down for everyone but them. Their bodies were a blur of motion. Then, as suddenly as it began, it was over, with Novo seemingly landing a critical blow too fast for me to follow with my naked eyes. Lua HP:0% ¡°W-what¡­ happened,¡± I murmured in disbelief. It was apparent that the entire audience mirrored my astonishment. I swear I could hear a pin drop amidst the bustling stadium if someone did happen to drop one. Shortly after, a hushed murmur cascaded through the audience, almost as if they sought confirmation that they were experiencing reality and not observing an illusion in the slightest. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. "What just happened?" "She perished... just like that..." ¡°O-oi, did she exploit a bug or something? That''s cheating!¡± ¡°No, I don''t think anyone would blatantly cheat in this tournament. And I''m pretty sure there are no exploits on CoA, and the developers crack down on those things hard.¡± ¡°It feels like I just saw two pros fight; they both moved so fast¡­¡± One thing is for certain, though: Novo once again surpassed expectations. I let out a sigh of relief, a breath I didn''t know I was holding for this long. She did it again. She won. As if the silence spell on the caster had worn out, he finally spoke. ¡°W-what did I just see, folks?! Please tell me I¡¯m not dreaming! The fight ended so fast, with both contestants moving at insane speeds, that I¡¯m sure we are going to need an instant reply to know exactly what just happened!¡± Mr. Raze said in awe. I''d like to see the replay of what happened, too, since it was too fast for me to follow with my eyes. But for now, I''m just glad my prayer was answered. Novo won. ------------------------------------------ Murasame''s PoV ¡°W-what did I just see, folks?! Please tell me I¡¯m not dreaming! The fight ended so fast, with both contestants moving at insane speeds, that I¡¯m sure we are going to need an instant reply to know exactly what just happened!¡± ¡°What the heck? She suddenly moved so fast! Does haste really give that much speed?! Was that a bug or something?¡± Hana said in astonishment, which was mirrored by every one of her teammates, as evident by their curious eyes that were seeking an explanation from me. "No, it is not a bug. It''s an advanced technique used by the best professional players who dabble in speed-enhancing buffs. She strategically refrained from utilizing the full extent of the haste and then abruptly altered her pace to surprise her opponent. This is what created the impression of a sudden acceleration. Based on your responses, it seems you guys were also caught under her spell," I elucidated. ¡°Team Paradigm hiding a monster like that?! How come no one ever heard of her before?!¡± Kaito exclaimed in shock. "...That is a question that piques my curiosity as well," I remarked contemplatively. Executing countermoves with such precision demands an extraordinary level of focus. Every action she took was calculated and purposeful, to the point where I believe she possesses the ability to effortlessly enter the zone, much like myself. It''s a deception within a deception, a stratagem of multiple layers. Such a maneuver is nearly impossible to execute when fighting against a seasoned pro-level player like Lua. Is her current account a Smurf? With her still not being on a max-level account and already this knowledgeable in the game, it would make perfect sense. A professional player in disguise, perhaps? No, the tournament organizers run a thorough background check on the participants. There is no way a pro player could join this tournament unannounced. Although, with her in-game knowledge, I''m sure she has a main account, at the very least. However, why does she not use it? My assumption is that she has refined this style of gameplay based on her previous experience with her first character. That means her current character is a culmination of her past experience, a character she made to tailor her current style. Alternatively, she may be reserving it as her ultimate trump card, a prospect that raises significant concerns for us if we were to battle against her. I have so many uncertainties about this girl, but what I am sure of is that I do want to fight her at least once. "L-Let''s save the replay for later, allowing the panelists to dissect the gameplay as I''m certain they will relish the opportunity to explain to us what unfolded! But for now, there is a 3v3 battle in progress over the middle orb!" the caster quickly regained his composure to continue casting for the remainder of the match. One can''t fault him; witnessing such an extraordinary display must have left his mind reeling. Following the caster¡¯s prompt, the screen shifted to the ongoing 3v3. It was an ambush against an ambush, and the paradigm completely predicted their opponents'' move. The engagement commenced with Paradigm''s tactical edge, launching a surprise assault with Lizbeth as the decoy. Team Variable found themselves momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected counter-ambush, but a swift and strategic move by their captain averted a definitive loss. The battle remained balanced until the moment when news of their ace''s defeat likely reached them through a notification. Subsequently, their morale clearly plummeted upon learning the unexpected news, resulting in their defeat in the three-versus-three encounter against Paradigm. ---------------------------------------------------- Tactical''s PoV ¡°A-and there you have it! Against all odds, the team everyone thought to be the weakest has proven to us time and time again that they are indeed a top contender in this tournament! Their efforts definitely paid off, as they would be the first team eligible to fight for the championship! Folks, please give it up for team Paradigm!¡± the caster hyped, resulting in a resounding cheer for the unexpected underdogs. However, I tuned it all out and focused my thoughts on the player who wildly surpassed my expectations, the girl Katherine. Those moves, those deliberate shifts in momentum to shake off the opponent''s rhythm, her refined playstyle, her purposeful sleight of hand to mislead her opponents¡ªshe reminded me of someone I know all too well. ¡°Hehe, I told you so! I knew she would win in the end!" Calah¡¯s celebratory brag caught my attention. I observed her expression attentively, keenly searching for any subtle cues or telltale signs of her emotions. "W-why are you staring at me like that?" she inquired, taken aback by my scrutiny. ¡°Is there something you''re not telling me?¡± I asked suspiciously. "W-what do you mean?" she responded, looking uneasy. "...You know, I''ve been pondering why you have such unwavering faith in the girl''s abilities, considering you likely haven''t had ample time to evaluate her true potential," I remarked. ¡°Call it a woman¡¯s intuition,¡± she rebuked playfully. It is evident that she intends the subject, but I¡¯m not letting her. "You also appear to have a soft spot for that girl," I inquired further. ¡°Of course! She is a good kid, after all. It helps that Aria is also extremely fond of her,¡± she retorted. ¡°That does pique my curiosity as well. According to what Seer shared with me, Aria has never shown such fondness for anyone, especially for a relatively unknown player she only met for a few weeks. Seer also conveyed his astonishment when he witnessed Aria hold someone in such high esteem, even more than you and I,¡± I gave her a knowing smile. ¡°W-what are you implying?¡± she said nervously. ¡°That can mean a lot of things, but from all the conjectures I''ve gathered and how you and Aria act around her, I can summarize that both of you already know of this girl, Katherine, and were close to her beforehand,¡± I pressed further. She swallowed nervously; from her body language, it seemed like I was edging closer to the truth. It was time for the decisive move. ¡°She is Yuusha, right?¡± I threw a sudden curveball to gauge her reaction. My intense gaze fixed on her. I was vigilant for any subtle shifts in her body language. ¡°T-thats! Of course not!¡± she denied immediately. I can feel that she knew she made a mistake, as well as she tried to recompose herself after her sudden burst of emotions. This is too easy. I was already aware of this fact, but she truly does exhibit her emotions openly. It''s somewhat miraculous that our guild has not fallen apart under her leadership yet. ¡°I can tell you''re lying,¡± I said bluntly. ¡°Yuusha is not the only one on our team who is good at reading body language.¡± ¡°Huh? What makes you say that?¡± She said innocently, or should I say tried to act innocently. ¡°For starters, I know your habits. You always twiddle your left thumb when you try to lie.¡± ¡°Ack!¡± she recoiled after hearing the truth. ¡°You were also too evasive. You tried to change the subject too fast, making me more suspicious of you. You''re also too uncomfortable throughout our exchange. You could''ve-¡° ¡°Alright, already, no need to rub it in! It¡¯s a failed attempt to lie to you anyway if you already suspect this much about her.¡± As if finally accepting the outcome, she let out a defeated sigh. ¡°Do not worry. If it''s someone else, I''m sure they would not easily find out like I did. However, I analyzed her plays countless times to improve our team synergy. I also helped her perfect her playstyle, so I doubt anyone else could decipher Yuusha¡¯s real identity with just a short exchange of moves with Lua.¡± Feeling a bit bad about my actions thus far, I reassured her. ¡°I see. That¡¯s good to hear,¡± she smiled in relief. ¡°Oh, but don''t tell Kat you found it through me! She would massacre our guildmates one by one as payback!¡± she exclaimed, panic evident in her voice. "I believe you may be over-dramatizing things. As far as I''m aware, she''s not that unhinged... I think," I responded hesitantly. "You think?! Where''s your usual confidence? The ''Mr. Know-It-All''?" she countered. ¡°D-don''t give me that! It''s been almost three years, and I can''t say for certain if her personality has changed," I admitted. She sighed again in defeat. "So, what do you plan to do now with this knowledge?" "Do you even need to inquire? Naturally, I intend to recruit her," I declared confidently. "If I recall correctly, she turned down your offer before," she reminded me. ¡°Back then, I was unaware of her true identity. I''m confident my chances are better now." "You''re as unwaveringly persistent as ever..." she sighed. "Absolutely. Perseverance is crucial, especially as I strive to leave a mark in the world of CoA by creating the strongest team. And Yuusha would play a pivotal role in realizing that aspiration," I sincerely affirmed. She let out another exasperated sigh, "Knowing you, I doubt anything I say can sway your determination... Just remember that you didn''t hear anything from me, and don''t push too hard in your recruitment efforts, or it could backfire." "Understood, I''ll keep that in mind," I acquiesced. My heart races with anticipation at this newfound insight. Now more than ever, securing her presence on my team is imperative, regardless of the sacrifices required. She is Yuusha, the Untouchable, after all. The strongest player I know. Upper Bracket: Lower Bracket: