The next morning, everyone gathered at the roman theatre again. This was the last day before the finals. Whoever won today would go up against the winners from yesterday’s matches to decide the final champions.
Pallas didn’t bother giving any speech before these last matches prior to the finals. As before, he just went directly to calling the first match participants.
*
Knight Section Match 5
Arthur Bagrat, level 46 Avenger (draconian) Vs Drunkteeth, level 46 Dragoon (vampire)
*
Today’s matches were also the first fight for those who had received the lucky free wins. Drunkteeth had never fought in the previous matches, so no one knew his ability.
Arthur as before, assumed his iaido stance once Pallas announced the start of the match. He stayed his ground with his hand on his katana’s hilt as he waited for Drunkteeth to come.
Drunkteeth brandished his spear as he approached slowly. Normally, a spear’s reach which was longer than a sword would put him at an advantage. However, he had seen from the previous match how fast and precise Arthur’s sword was. Arthur’s previous opponent carried a very long greatsword which was only slightly shorter than a spear. So, this reach advantage had been proven to be ineffective against Arthur.
But a Dragoon had long-range skills as well. He used Radiant Javelins. Seven javelins made of light hovered above him. This showed that Drunkteeth had upgraded his skill to at least level 8, as every four levels added one extra javelin.
Without wasting time, he threw all seven javelins at the same time. He positioned it so four out of the seven javelins flew at Arthur’s left and right sides, cutting his escape, while the remaining three targeted three vital points in his body; head, chest, and belly.
Once the javelins shot out, he followed by using Piercing Spear. The spear energy followed after behind the javelins.
As the javelins came into range, Arthur’s katana came out of its sheath. Seven sword lights followed the swing.
“Shadowless Slash!” Jack recognized the move. Arthur’s Shadowless Slash was even more powerful than Warpath’s. When Warpath used this art, he could only produce five sword lights. Furthermore, Jack didn’t think this was the limit of Arthur’s ability. He generated seven sword lights to deal with the incoming seven javelins. Jack had a feeling this swordmaster could generate even more sword lights if he wanted to.
The seven javelins were cut at almost the same time before they came into contact with Arthur. The swordmaster then shifted his position by moving his two feet slightly and turning his body. The Piercing Spear energy shot by beside Arthur, just an inch from touching his shoulder.
Drunkteeth was no longer in his position. After shooting his Piercing spear, He had executed Jump Attack. He teleported directly above Arthur and was now diving towards him.
He didn’t perform a normal stab. He intended to finish this fight fast. He used Hundred Spears. Numerous spear afterimages formed before him as he fell. The countless stabs covered a large area, there was no place for Arthur to escape.
<br/>Yet, Arthur didn’t show any intention of fleeing. He looked up as he had known his opponent’s position from his mana sense. His katana made a large simple swing at the incoming stabs.
It was a simple slash, but it created a wide sword light that formed something that looked like a large crescent moon. All the spear stabs that came near this crescent moon vanished as if morning dew evaporated by sunlight. Drunkteeth’s falling body dropped directly onto this crescent moonlight.
Damage number over damage number appeared rapidly as Drunkteeth touched this crescent moonlight. He felt as if he had fallen onto a giant chainsaw. Before his body fell to the floor, his HP had fallen to zero.
“Winner, Arthur Bagrat of the Draconian race!” Pallas declared.
“That was an incredible amount of mana used in that attack,” Jack remarked.
Domon nodded. “It is. It seemed that old sword maniac has improved again since the last time I met him.”
“This mana manipulation skill is crazy. It is even more powerful than a skill,” Paytowin uttered.
“Mana manipulation is supposed to be the highest attainment possible, it is normal that it is powerful,” Peniel said. “but you people made this technique look so easy.”
“Trust me, lady. It is not easy. Have you not seen me going through all the troubles to learn it?” Jack said.
“Next match!” Pallas announced.
*
Warrior Section Match 5
Surewin, level 46 Blade Dancer (orc) Vs Domon Fei, level 46 Weapon Master (human)
*
“Oh, it’s finally my turn!” Domon exclaimed. He stood from his seat and went down to the arena.
He passed by Arthur who was coming out of the arena. Arthur stopped and greeted him, “Master Domon, it’s a pity that we are not in the same section. I would love to test my skills against yours again.”
“You are welcome to do that some other time. Let us add each other as friends. We can arrange a place to spar or just hang out if you want,” Domon said.
“That will be a splendid idea,” Arthur replied.
The two then exchanged friends requests. Considering both of them were old traditionalists, it took them quite some time to work out the system. The two just stood there doing their things while Pallas and Surewin stared at them from the arena.
Also because they were old traditionalists, after finishing accepting each other’s friend requests, they exchanged pleasantries again instead of just going their own ways immediately. They gave each other a martial palm-fist salute before separating. All the while, people were waiting for them.
When Domon noticed Pallas’ glare, he realized his oversight. He chuckled while saying, “Please forgive me. It’s not every day you meet an old friend. All right, I’m ready now.”
Paytowin turned to Jack and said, “I admire your grandfather. He is not intimidated at all even under Pallas’ glare.”
“I doubt he can be intimidated by anything,” Jack replied.
“Begin!” Pallas’ voice boomed. Almost everyone’s ears hurt from the voice. It was clear that the divine champion was annoyed.
Surewin brandished his two swords.
“Honey! You can do it! Beat that old fogy down. Show him that this battle is for the young, the energetic, and the attractive…!”
“What the f*ck,” Jack uttered as he turned to where the weird cheer came from.
“Ho… Honey…?” Paytowin also turned.
In fact, almost everyone looked over. The person responsible for attracting everyone’s attention was still cheering passionately. That person was Boastful, the berserker who had lost to Surewin in his previous match.
“Go, go, honey! You can do it…!” Boastful continued.
Surewin responded to Boastful’s cheer by making a gesture of blowing a kiss to him.
“F*ck!! I can’t take this! Gramps, finish her in one hit…!!” Jack shouted.
Boastful, who heard it, was immediately agitated. He turned to Jack and shouted, “What are you saying, kid? Do you want a piece of me…?! Don’t make me go there and teach you some manners!”
Jack was not backing down. “Manners? You are yelling weird things like nobody’s business and giving us all goosebumps and you still dare to talk manners with me?! Don’t make me go there and shut your mouth for you!”
“How dare you! You come here and face me if you dare!”
“Why should I be the one who goes there? You come here and face me!”
The two continued throwing insults like nobody’s business. The spectators’ attentions were now on the two instead of the contestants below. Due to the commotion, Domon and Surewin didn’t fight yet because they were unsure if they should start, even when Pallas had already announced for them to start.
“QUUIIEEETTTT…!!!” Pallas yelled as he stomped and caused a tremor again. The resulting crack this time was even larger than the previous.
Both Jack and Boastful abruptly shut their mouths.
“I will throw the two of you out of this mountain if you still dare to utter a sound!” Pallas warned.
Absolutely no voice was heard afterward.
After a few seconds of silence, Pallas turned back to the two contestants and again said, “begin!”
Surewin again brandished her swords. Domon remained standing straight. His glaive was behind him as his left hand extended outward with his palm making a ‘come here’ sign.
“Old man, don’t think I will go easy on you because of your age!” Surewin yelled as she ran forward and activated Phantom Blade. Dark phantom swords followed after her two swords as if the swords were casting shadows in the air.
“I don’t like fighting women, so I will make this match short,” Domon uttered.
“Big talk!” Surewin yelled as she executed Penta Slash.
Two swords slashed five times in rapid succession. Yet, none of the slashes hit. Domon took a step back each slash, keeping himself out of reach of Surewin’s swords. When the fifth slash ended, his body shot forward abruptly. His two legs opened sideways in a low stance as his left hand extended forward with a fist strike.
The fist struck Surewin on her chest which was covered by armor. A loud bang was heard. Too loud for an impact caused by a fist.
*WHAM*
A shockwave radiated out from the impact as Surewin was thrown far away. She hit the protective shield, rebounded, and fell back to the arena floor. She didn’t get up.
“Winner, Domon Fei of the human race!”
Only when Pallas’ voice was heard did the spectators notice that Surewin’s HP was already zero.
