Vol.2 Chapter 36 (Patreon)

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.

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 protégé," 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 protégé, 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 protégé'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.