We've reached the third round in the quarterfinals, and after our victory against the Rising Sun, we had a talk with them.
"Hey," Tanya, the leader of their team approached us in the waiting room of the colosseum, "You three were super strong! Let's fight again some time!"
She was followed by her two companions, the ones Togeshi and Akane fought.
"Sure," is all I responded with, but Togeshi and Akane seemed to be more excited about all this than I was.
"Yeah, It was a fun fight!" Togeshi, just as in character as always, spoke.
"I'm don't exactly love fighting... but I guess it was entertaining." Akane, however, was quite out of character.
After that, we spoke a bit more. Apparently, they're all ranked around D-rank and have only been a party for about a month or so. Even so, they rose up the ranks pretty quickly. It's pretty impressive, honestly.
Anyway, that was in the past, and now, we're currently entering the battlefield this very moment, our opponent waiting for us. And who is our opponent? A group called 'Truth', who beat their opponents in one spell in the preliminaries. I heard they've still not wakened up from the attack, and I can't even begin to imagine what magic attribute their potential leader has.
However, that's exactly what appraisal is useful for. Since they've now arrived on the other side of the battlefield, I can use it on them.
>Alert. Appraisal blocked. Possibility exists that the opponent is level eighty or above or they have a skill that blocks appraisal.<
... oh, that same message from when we fought the cultist from back then, huh? Wait, that doesn't make sense. If they were eighty level or above, they would be in the middle category, especially considering the size of her team. Then... how are she and her team in the lower category?
Alright, the good news is that her teammates don't show up with the same message, but still, they're all level forty and above... and there's four of them, too. This is slowly looking to be more and more unwinnable, and confusing.
"Welcome back everyone to the third round in the quarterfinals! After so many amazing fights this tournament, I'm sure you're all just as excited to see how this next fight plays out as I am!" Despite his words, the announcer seemed to be becoming more and more stressed, slightly fearful of all the powerful people showing up this year.
"Well, this round we have first, team 'Ohre'! A group who displayed wonderful skill and prowess in the preliminaries against The Rising Sun! And, on the other side of the arena, we have the people who call themselves 'Truth', a team that managed to defeat their opponents without even harming them physically! Quite the intimidating two teams, hm?" The announcer cleared his throat, "without any further delay, begin!"
Okay, deep breaths. There's still a way to win this. Even if we are both outnumbered and beaten in overall strength, if I just come up with a strategy, we'll be able to win. I have more time to think than they do, which means I can come up with a better strategy.
Although, while they're so far away, now would be the time to prepare. Akane has the appraisal skill as I do, so I'm sure she's on guard as well.
"Akane, summon your spirit." In a situation like this, not having her spirit summoned puts her at a huge disadvantage. She nodded in response, hearing my orders.
"Wait, what do I do?' Togeshi asked me as if it wasn't obvious.
"Fight like you always do," I spoke, a wide grin appearing on Togeshi's face.
First, let's use some enhancement type Light magic.
"Light Magic: Holy Power." The same light magic from before, remember? However, since it only affects physical stats, the only ones who are really getting anything out of the spell are Togeshi and me.
Next, both the skills power augmentation defence augmentation will be activated on me, creating an even larger increase to my physical stats.
And finally, I'll tell them the strategy I've come up with.
Even if they're powerful, a good strategy will let us win, surely.
Now that Akane and Togeshi have learned of my plans, we can begin. I cast one more spell on Akane, and Togeshi and I go rushing at them to close the huge distance between us.
Although, something not a part of my plans happens.
"Oh, wow! I think I know who you three are..." The woman in the middle of them all spoke, eyeing both of us up and down, "Which means... Soul Magic: Fainting Spell."
Damn it, a spell right off from the beginning. Although, that's what I was assuming would happen. Soul Magic, though? I've never heard of that kind of magic attribute, so I can only assume it's something rare. And what exactly does she mean by she knows who we are? I mean, that's implying she knows we're not originally from this world...
Right now, we need to focus on dodging the spell. It's the same thing she cast to defeat her team's opponent in the preliminary rounds, so I have an idea of how to dodge it...
I prepare myself for the spell to come hurtling at us, but something different happens.
Instead of aiming at us, she attacked her own teammates, causing all four of her teammates to faint.
"That means, I can have fun with this." With that mysterious comment, she began to jump towards us, small craters appearing beneath her feet.
Okay, hold up, what? Just overall, honestly. I mean, since I can think so fast, I have enough time to process everything, so that's good, I guess.
First off, let's just get a basic idea of what she looks like. She had curly black hair and bangs that hung only slightly above her eyes. Her eyes were a deep black, and she wore a cloak that concealed the rest of her body. I've heard if somebody is wearing robes that cover their entire body, there's a high chance they have a concealed weapon or two, so I might as well keep a lookout for that.
And, seeing how her magic is entirely unknown to me, I should definitely be careful.
Now, the fight is truly going to begin.
>Chapter Y.10, end.<