Chapter 434 - Farley's Spear (Patreon)

“I am Vikaus of Gaul! A knight of-”

Clang!

Farley’s spear was blocked just in time with a shield.

“Is the concept of civility too difficult for you to understand, barbarian woman!” Vikaus shouted angrily. It was common courtesy to introduce yourself before a battle amongst warriors. At least, that was what he was taught.

As one can imagine, Farley was taught differently by her now departed cult family, and she learned by example by seeing Viers conduct his battles. Viers had ended many battles before it began this way.

It was Farley’s interest to defeat her opponent as quickly as possible, as efficiently as possible. With Sakuya’s familiar scouring the earth and eating cockroaches in a wide area, other teams were starting to converge on their position.

Currently, Farley’s team was battling with Vikaus’ team surrounded by a swarm of locusts. If they tarry too long, they might fight several teams simultaneously. Farley and the others were strong and might even win even then, but doing so was simply not ideal.

While in battle with Vikaus, Farley glanced at her teammates. Clarissa dominated her opponent as expected. Paina was using her water Arte to keep her opponent at range. Sakuya’s swift movements had covered her opponent in slashes. All good.

“How much are you going to underestimate me!” Vikaus was angered seeing Farley had the leeway to split her attention despite fighting him.

The knight's movement suddenly sped up, catching Farley off guard. It left a scratch on her mask.

“Next time, I won't miss,” Vikaus said.

Out of them all, Farley’s opponent was the strongest, it seemed. Farley assessed her opponent as a somewhat tough opponent and changed her spear. She traded the lower-quality weapon she had been using with a white spear of higher rank. She didn't use the white spear from the start to avoid unnecessary attention. It was that high-quality of a weapon.

Vikaus looked surprised and shaken.

“How do you get that spear? Answer me!” Vikaus attacked with greater intensity. “I know that spear. It belongs to my friend, Khalai the White Spear!”

Khalai had gone missing for years. There were rumors of his death. Vikaus didn't believe it, but seeing the treasured white spear in the hands of another, Vikaus feared the rumors might be true.

Farley had nothing to do with Khalai’s death. Khalai was one of the people who challenged Tanael and then died. The spear was simply loot. Farley who was in need of a weapon browsed Viers’ inventory and purchased the weapon at a good price since Viers simply left it lying around and didn't use the weapon.

Farley realized her mistake; she should have at least changed the equipment she bought from Viers instead of using them as is. She should let her friend know. Hanged Man or Hermit should be able to help her with this.

Paina can help too with her Fae glamour. At any rate, I should finish this battle first.

Vikaus of Gaul charged forward. In his righteous anger, an opening was created. Farley’s eyes glinted seeing the chance and she too moved forward with a movement Arte.

There was a split-second clash and the two people now had their backs on one another, like two knights changing places after a trade of joust.

“Im…possible…”

Vikaus crumbled down, holes were in the armor. His Unreality Field, defensive measures, and life-saving items were all pierced through. White feathers and locusts were dancing in the air. The former was the effect of Farley’s Arte.

Arte - Feathering Waves.

A series of thrusts unleashed in an instant, crashing on an enemy like waves. Farley’s skill with the spear was no laughing matter. Incidentally, Viers helped her develop this Arte. He insisted on the name and added a formula for the feather visual effect. Farley had no objection.

“Just so you know, I have never met this Khalai person. I bought this spear from a merchant,” Farley said without turning around, Vikaus’ badge in her hand.

I didn't lie. Viers is kind of a merchant of death.

Because Farley avoided landing a hit on his vitals, Vikaus was still alive and the observer from the Church didn't interfere. Farley crushed the badge, after that, the observer stopped Vikaus’ teammates from further fighting. Their team had lost.

The observer brought the team out of the Biome and shot four signals of retirement before exiting the Biome himself. Vikaus needed immediate medical attention.

“Farley, good job,” Paina approached.

“You’re amazing, Farley-san,” Sakuya landed close.

“Girls, it’s still too early to celebrate,” Clarissa interjected.

There was a big hole in the curtain of locusts. It was as if the locusts were afraid of coming too close. Figures approached; men walked in front of a giant snake. The head of the creature was as tall as a grown man. Farley’s eyes focused on the leading figure of the group.

“...Cassian Onyx Latias.”

“These people seem different from the ones we encountered before,” Sakuya said, sensing their caliber.

“One of the favorites of this tournament,” Paina replied, visibly more tense. “The 26th prince.”

The two groups were eyeing each other. The buzz of the bronze locusts was encompassing them. It irked the snake and loudly hissed.

The swarm were disturbed, as if they were hit by a sudden mighty gust. Almost all scattered in the opposite direction. One locust scurried to Sakuya’s clothes, the original Kiki. The locust monster recognized the other as its superior. When the snake moved, Farley’s group saw the snake was actually dragging two round cages with people inside them.

“Farley,” Clarissa said slowly. “That snake… what is it?”

“Devaya Cobra, my friend. The lord of snakes.”

“Is that so?” Clarissa was amused. She smiled behind her mask. “We shall see.”

As a lamia, one with the lineage of snakes, Clarissa felt a personal rivalry toward the monster. The other side too seems to sense Clarissa’s true nature. The large Rank 4 snake spread its neck-flap and stood upright in a threatening display. The magical pressure felt by Farley and the others was immense.

In this tense situation, Cassian began to speak, as if he had been in such a situation multiple times.

“You four, submit to me.”

“Pass,” Farley said.

“No,” Clarissa said.

“I decline,” Sakuya said.

“Not interested,” Paina said.

The four spoke almost at the same time.

“Refusing the prince’s gracious offer, how impertinent of you,” one of the prince’s teammates said.

“Don't get cocky, women,” said another.

“Go,” the prince said unemotionally. “Bring them to me to be chained.”

Like a signal, the three teammates and the Devaya Cobra lunged forward. The chains that connected the snake with the cages voluntarily broke off.

Farley and the others accurately gauged the strength of the opposition and responded accordingly. The prince’s team was a cut above the enemy they fought so far. As expected of a favorite team, the prince’s companions were formidable Pathseekers themselves. Furthermore, they had the Rank 4 deva-class snake.

The battle reached a boiling point from the start. All eight contestants were Level 3 peak Pathseekers. Their cultivation Level was even. The result of the fight would be settled by the depth of their experience.

Clarissa challenged the stronger snake monster without a hint of hesitation; a bit too eager perhaps.

“Give me a second,” Farley said while having both hands on her spear.

“Got it!” Paina replied.

The two had ample experience of fighting together. Their teamwork was high. Paina thought it would be three on three since Cassian himself was staying back. She adjusted in protecting Farley against two people while Sakuya had kept the third person busy.

Paina was good with defensive Arte. While Farley was concentrating without any thought of defense, Paina gave it her all to answer her friend’s trust.

“You think you can take the two of us on your own? You think too highly of yourself!”

A water pillar from beneath the man’s feet sent him upwards. The other person used flash movement to target Farley. A shoal of fish made of water crashed upon her and knocked the opponent back.

“Think again,” Paina said.

Farley opened her eyes. Her technique was ready.

Arte - A Spear Reborn!

With the phantom of the Devawi Swan manifested behind her, proof that she roused her bloodline, Farley dashed toward the prince. Farley was targeting the general. She made an educated guess that the snake obeyed the prince. If he was no longer holding its leash, the Rank 4’s threat would be somewhat diminished.

“I won't let you!” Cassian’s teammate created a series of slashing wind, intending to hit Farley as she was moving in a straight line towards the prince. He thought with Farley being in midair, she wouldn't be able to jump.

“Huh!?”

Farley startled her by changing direction in midair.

Unlike Paina with her Fae body, Farley couldn't yet fly, bloodline or not. But she could kick the air to change directions and that was what she did.

With a blinding white strike, Farley attacked Prince Cassian who was standing with his arms crossed. The prince’s teammates panicked. They sensed the power behind Farley’s spear and worried for their liege.

Farley misliked how calm the prince was even though she was right on top of him.

“Not enough,” he said.

A wing blocked Farley’s spear. With a pushing movement, she was blasted away.

With distance widened Farley could see what was blocking her spear earlier. A black and white feathered creature with a size no less than the snake.

That guy conjured it earlier! Farley thought. Another Rank 4 monster!

“That’s-! Be careful, that’s another Deva! Devaze Vulture!”

Farley heard Paina’s shout but she didn't really put it to mind. Her brain cells were on alert on the hostile Rank 4 in front of her.

“A Devawi Swan bloodline? Perfect.” Cassian finally looked at the masked Farley with interest. “From now on, you are mine. Get her.”

With a squawk, the vulture breathed out a gray fire toward Farley. The range of the attack was wide. Farley was about to be consumed whether she moved left or right.

To the sky she went.

Arte - Moonreacher Jump!

Earlier she used the Arte at low power to raise her precision. This time, she leaped close to thirty meters upwards. But her opponent was winged too. The deva vulture chased her upwards.

Moonreacher Jump Arte allowed Farley to use the very air itself as a jumping platform. Although she could only harden the air for a very short time and so couldn't hover or stand in the air. Nevertheless, the sight of her battling the vulture with the white swan phantom behind her back was incredibly epic. Farley’s enchanting draconic swan phantom moved dynamically as if it were alive. Countless spectators watching the fight in real-time outside of the Biome held their breath.

After evading a shot of feathers as sharp as swords, Farley spied a straight line path at the prince. She maneuvered midair, changed her posture and kicked the air to dive downward like a lightning bolt.

Arte - Dragonswan Dive!

Her second shot at Cassian failed. The vulture shielded the prince with its own body. The deadly explosion from the impact of Farley’s dive made the bird squawk from the pain. Because of the urgency, the house-sized Devaze Vulture crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Farley landed elegantly on the ground as if she was a ballet dancer with wings. Mystifyingly enough, some of her hair became feathers, slightly glowing with magic glow. This transformation tended to happen when she got serious and against a Rank 4 Deva monster, she had to.

The way how gracefully she conducted her fight was almost ridiculous. She already garnered attention from the big shots and the masses. Who was this masked spearwoman? Where did she come from? She was able to fight a Rank 4 monster as a Level 3? Holy shit!

“Come, bird,” Farley pointed her white spear forward. “I’ll make a fried chicken out of you.”

At the plaza outside where people gathered to watch the Grand Prix, there was a loud cheer.

***

“It’s rowdy that way, hm? And the swarm is gone too. Adrina, what do you see?”

“I see Prince Cassian fighting, My Prince. He has his snake and vulture out.”

“Really? His opponent must be pretty good… Shall we crash that party?”

“If that is your wish, Prince Vadym.”

-

-

Vikaus of Gaul: Minor char, probably won't be seen again.

Farley Styra(21): Finally getting her spotlight.

Paina, Clarissa, Sakuya: Fighting in the background.

Prince Cassian(20): 26th prince, tamer-type Pathseeker. Want to dominate people (not for sexual purposes).

Prince Vadym(19): 34th prince. On route.

Viers(21): Where are thou?