Bowler and The Man, seeing Jeanny’s determined expression, had no choice but to walk back to the troops. Nova and Queen Magenta did the same. Leaving only Jeanny and Jennifer in between the two large forces.
“This is unexpected,” Jennifer uttered with a smile. “You know you never win against me in the past. I thought you are going to reject my challenge.”
“So you can throw an insult to demoralize us? I’m not going to let you do that,” Jeanny said.
“It will be more demoralizing to have the leader losing in front of them.”
“That won’t happen.”
“You have changed. I always peg you as soft. Perhaps the experience of leading a guild has hardened you. If so, perhaps there are some good out of your temporary time in that upstart guild.”
“Are we going to duel or do you want to chat?” Jeanny asked.
Jennifer chuckled. She also took a ready stance, but then she said, “that’s not the stance of our family spear art. What are you doing?”
“I’ve learned new spear arts from a martial art teacher,” Jeanny replied.
“Hmph! Our family spear art is the best spear art there is! How can a spear art from an unknown teacher be compared to our family’s legacy? You have truly gone off the rails.”
“… my teacher did praise our spear art as exceptional, but I find the new spear arts he taught me to suit me more.”
Bowler and The Man had returned to the frontline. Jeanny and Jennifer were not too far away and the two spoke rather loudly so everyone in the front line could hear their words. Bowler stood beside Domon who uttered, “I never said that.”
Bowler turned to the old man and asked, “Then what do you say about her family spear art?”
“A pitiful waste of a spear art,” Domon answered.
Bowler was silent for a bit before saying, “I can understand why Jeanny didn’t tell the truth.”
Jennifer twirled her spears around, then said, “no game skills! Just our spear art. What say you?”
“Agreed!” Jeanny exclaimed, she then thrust forward.
Jennifer inwardly sneered. ‘She thrusts too early,’ she thought. But just as the thought occurred, Jeanny’s spear seemed to lengthen. In her consternation, Jennifer almost had his face stabbed. Her upper body twisted as she narrowly dodged the spear’s blade. Her own spear swung up and smack Jeanny’s aside as she jumped backward.
After jumping back a safe distance, she looked at her sister with a surprised expression.
“Do not treat me as the sister who used to spar with you,” Jeanny said. “I’m serious now.”
Jennifer felt insulted by Jeanny’s words. “Are you saying that you are not serious when we sparred? Hah! Try to act tough all you want! I will put you down!”
Jennifer lunged forward and twirled her spear around. Her spear twisted at a fast speed. This was their family spear art, Serpentine Swift Spear. It relied on fast movement that created a flow of both real and fake spear attacks. When the opponent was transfixed by this deceptive assault, the spear swerved out as if a serpent for an unexpected thrust.
The degree of ambush by this art was very high. Not few had fallen victim to this sudden strike. Domon did not insult this spear art because it was bad martial art. He simply disliked it because it wasted too much energy to lull the opponent into opening up for an attack. Too much flair, as he would have said.
When he taught Jeanny, he told her that a spear was the king of weapons. There was no need for a king to be deceptive. When a spear thrust, it was meant to penetrate its opponent without a doubt. If it was swung, it was to be done with the smallest movement at one end of the spear to generate large movements on the other ends without wasting too much energy.
After spending much time inside the Time Chamber, Jeanny’s mana-sensing ability had improved rapidly. He could roughly sense when the real attack was incoming. Thus the threat from her family’s deceptive spear art was significantly diminished.
Jeanny jumped back just as the snaking assault came. Jennifer’s thrust missed its target. Her spear instead came into contact with Jeanny’s. It was just a simple touch, at first.
As the two spears touch, Jeanny’s one started to move in a circular motion. The circular motion was as if a whirlpool that sucked in Jennifer’s thrust. Jennifer lost control of her spear and was pulled forward by the force. This was a defensive art Domon taught, Engulfing Vortex. This art not only allowed Jeanny to defend against incoming attack but also gave her control over the opponent’s weapon.
When the energy of Jennifer’s spear had been completely drained, Jeanny’s Engulfing Vortex made a counter twist, resulting in Jennifer’s spear getting thrown aside. While Jennifer lost her balance, Jeanny thrust out with her Seven Spears Assaulting Heaven.
Jeanny’s spear thrust four times rapidly. Despite her imbalance, Jennifer managed to return her spear and blocked the first two thrusts. The third thrust stabbed Jennifer’s hand that was gripping the shaft. Jennifer suffered damage and the pain made her lose her grip. The fourth thrust went to her neck.
When the tip was only an inch from Jennifer’s throat, it stopped. The two women stayed in a still position. Jennifer looked at Jeanny with a stare full of disbelief.
“I am no longer the sister that used to spar with you,” Jeanny said. She then turned around and walked back to her friends.
The players from Everlasting Heavenly Legends erupted into cheer when Jeanny walked back to them. Domon nodded to her when she arrived. “You put too much force when you used the Engulfing Vortex, you should loosen your grip a bit. It is too stiff. A real expert would have been able to break away from your control.”
Jeanny smiled wryly hearing that. Bowler said, “Master Domon, can’t you let her enjoy the glory a bit?”
“What is the use of enjoying glory if it gets you killed the next time?” Domon retorted. “You should pay attention as well. I taught you the same move to be utilized using a long staff, but you still can’t do it even in practice.”
Bowler was downcast, ‘why am I getting scolded as well?’
Nova felt conflicted. She felt depressed that Jennifer had lost and their opponent won, but she also felt a sense of pride seeing her other daughter becoming such an expert.
Jennifer walked back to her mother with her head hung low. Nova put a hand on her. “No need to be somber. She knew all your moves while you are unaware of hers. Trained harder and you can win back your dignity.”
Jennifer looked up. She was grateful for her mother’s supportive words.
Nova lifted her hand as a sign. “Move out!”
Jennifer collected herself and turned back. With the other Wicked Witches members, including Selena and Princess Purple, a total of two hundred players marched out. The others moved back to give these people more space. Nova and Queen Magenta moved back as well, they were not joining the two hundred.
From Everlasting Heavenly Legends’ side. Jeanny and the other core members marched out, accompanied by trusted veteran members to fill up the two hundred slots. Domon stood and the rest moved back further to the edge of their territory, joining the trained soldiers who were on standby there.
The two troops stood opposite one another.
Jennifer who led the Wicked Witches’ group, no longer had the mood to speak. She simply gave the order to begin, “Attack!”
Both groups were already marching in formations. Their melee units were at the front while their ranged and casters were at the back. So no one was flustered.
“Attack!” Jeanny also gave the same command.
Both Jeanny and Jennifer were heavy armor class, so they were right at the frontline with the other melees. After just finishing their fight not long ago, they now met again. This time though, they had support from their friends.
Giant Steve used Share Damage on Jeanny. A female knight from Wicked Witches did the same to Jennifer. Additionally, Jennifer’s spear was coated with fire. It was a spell cast by Selena, Fire Enchantment. As if in agreement, Trinity Dawn cast a similar spell but with the opposite element, Ice Enchantment. Jeanny’s spear was wrapped with cold energy.
The two then clashed again. The spears struck one another for dominance. Suddenly Jennifer was engulfed with white light. Her strength and speed increased. It was another supportive spell, Bless. It was cast by Princess Purple this time. The spell was one gained by Priest upon completing their trial on the first try. It boosted the target’s attributes and damage.
Jennifer was pushed back due to the sudden spike of Jennifer’s attributes. Seeing the opportunity, Jennifer used Hundred Spears. Giant Steve materialized in front of her using Cover. The barrage of spears struck his large shield.
While the two leaders fought at the center. The Man led his rough warriors to storm the right-wing. Their fighting style was as rough as ever.. But ever since going under Domon’s tutelage, their aggressive assaults were much more refined, making them even more fearsome combatants.
