Vol. 2 Chapter 29 (Patreon)

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 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 to uphold. 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. 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 reverberating cheers of the crowd 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.

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.