With my victory, I was sent into a different room. It still had sweaty people in it though.
("Guess I'll wait here.") [Solace]
I watched as the room slowly filled with the victors of previous matches. After a very VERY long time, the same uniformed man entered the room.
"Congratulations. You all have passed the elimination stage." [Uniformed Man]
("This many people passed?") [Solace]
The room contained around thirty or fourty people. Well, I suppose it's much smaller compared to before.
"Today's events have ended. Thank you for your participation. You may take your leave now, or after I inform you of tomorrow's events." [Uniformed Man]
No one left the room.
"Tomorrow will be composed of consecutive duels. Killing is, of course, forbidden. The teachers of the school will be sanctioning the duels and will step in if necessary. That is all. Thank you for listening and may the gods bless you." [Uniformed Man]
With that, everyone started shuffling out a somewhat narrow exit. I only say "somewhat" since it's actually pretty big. It just felt narrow due to the amount of people trying to push through.
("This is… anticlimactic.") [Solace]
It took me a while to squeeze my way out. By the time I had stepped outside, it was already dark.
("Damn. I feel like I waited longer than I fought.") [Solace]
I think my "behind" agreed considering how sore it was down there. I simply sat for too long.
"Hey, Alt!" [???]
I turned to see Leyhna running at me. Naturally, Fina was being pulled along.
"Hey. What did you think of my fight?" [Solace]
"You did pretty good. Where did you learn that last move?" [Leyhna]
"What move?" [Solace]
"The spinning one." [Fina]
"Oh." [Solace]
I wasn't too sure of how to explain it.
"Luck, I guess." [Solace]
"...Luck?" [Leyhna]
I shrugged.
"I literally have no clue as to how I did that." [Solace]
"Huh… Is that so?" [Leyhna]
"What do you think of the other participants?" [Fina]
"I never got to see them." [Solace]
The two girls looked surprised.
"Then-" [Fina]
I quickly put up my hand.
"No spoilers. I want to fight them without prior information." [Solace]
I figured that this would be a good opportunity for growth.
"...If you say so." [Leyhna]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The next day came quickly.
("Another day of mostly sitting in the waiting room.") [Solace]
That's what I assumed. I also wasn't wrong since I was back in the underground.
("Sometimes I wish I wasn't right…") [Solace]
I idled there for about thirty minutes before my name was called with another.
"Sir Alt Account! Sir Dilyan Mills! Please come forward." [Uniformed Man]
Some orange haired guy and I stepped up.
"Very good. Follow me." [Uniformed Man]
Without a word, we trailed behind him back onto the colosseum arena. There, we waited for the teachers to speak.
"Well done making it past the eliminations. You two must be very skilled." [Wilharrow]
Wilharrow gave us a friendly smile.
"As you may have heard, you two are to duel. Please face your opponent." [Urth]
Dilyan, the guy with orange hair, turned towards me. His outfit was similar to mine, which was the school uniform. I forgot to mention that I did go buy a new one after Leon shredded my previous one. The only difference between my clothes and Dilyan's uniform was that his tie was colored yellow instead of blue.
"You may now give your respects." [Vincent]
("Give your respects?") [Solace]
I was confused for a sec. Unlike me, Dilyan knew what was up and did some kind of hand sign before nodding. I then copied him.
("I hope I'm doing it right.") [Solace]
Just as I finished "honor"-ing him, Dilyan summoned a sword and shield.
("Oh okay.") [Solace]
He had the generic steel setup of weapon choice. One hand on a… short sword? And the other one was a relatively large shield. I mean, for his stature.
("I'm estimating five foot seven?") [Solace]
"You may begin." [Ross]
For once, I made the first move.
"|Piercing Blow|!" [Solace]
As expected Dilyan raised his shield.
"|Bulwark|!" [Dilyan]
He hardened his stance and a dim light surrounded his shield. Sadly, it was all for naught as an invisible force hit him in the gut.
"Urgh!" [Dilyan]
He flinched from pain, but stood his ground.
("Wow. I can see why he passed the elimination round.") [Solace]
Dilyan tried to put out a counterattack by thrusting forward. What I did next was to be expected.
"|Revolving Shell Arts|." [Solace]
I had to do it to him. With just a flick of the wrist, I redirected the sword to the side. Surprisingly, his composure didn't fall.
"|Shield Bash|!" [Dilyan]
His next move was so fast that I realized I got hit when I was a few centimeters off the ground.
"Ow." [Solace]
I righted myself mid-air and landed on my feet.
"...You're still fine?" [Dilyan]
My nose had a throbbing pain from him slamming his shield in my face.
"I'm not fine. That hurt." [Solace]
It was then that I noticed my nose was bleeding.
"Huh. Now ain't that a kicker." [Solace]
I honestly don't know why I said that. The confusion Dilyan's face was the same as mine.
"...You're student is incredibly durable, Vincent." [Grotto]
"Shouldn't he have at least a broken nose?" [Urth]
Master nodded.
"That would indeed be the case; for the average person that is. Unfortunately for his opponent, my student is far more durable than the mere average." [Vincent]
I felt pride in hearing my Master's praise. Maybe all that hellish training wasn't for nothing.
"Do you think this match is settled then?" [Grotto]
"Don't be so quick to judge. Neither of them have summoned their spirits yet." [Wilharrow]
As if on cue, Dilyan's spirit appeared. It appeared to be one evolution lower than me, which was a ball of orange light.
"Support me, Fitch!" [Dilyan]
Various light colors flashed around Dilyan before several gemstones were launched at me.
"Ayo?!" [Solace]
I started running to avoid the projectiles, but was cut off as Dilyan rushed me.
"Bro, chill!" [Solace]
I took a shield bash to the arm and ducked under a sword slash. Not only that, but I was struck by a few gemstones in the process.
"Get off me!" [Solace]
I tried kicking him away in hopes of getting some distance. Unfortunately for me, he parried it with the shield and hit me with the pommel of the sword.
"Oof!" [Solace]
Oh yeah, more gemstones hit me again.
"You have gained |Experience|. |Experience| limit reached. |Pain Resistance| has gained a level." [Spirit Guide]
Things were starting to hurt a little less. Either way, I was still getting jumped. I had no other choice than to find some sort of cover.
"|Explosion Arts|!" [Solace]
I punched the ground, causing a good portion of the arena to blow up into dust.
("Perfect.") [Solace]
I activated |Mana Detection| thinking that it would give me my opponent's location. Turns out, it did.
("Let's follow this trail.") [Solace]
I walked along one of two blue trails. As I went further and further, a sinister smile crept its way onto my face as I found myself behind Dilyan's spirit.
("Not who I was looking for; however… this. This is much better.") [Solace]
I snatched the little bastard out of the air and put a tight grip on it.
("You better not shoot another damn crystal at me.") [Solace]
I saw another gemstone appear.
("Bruh.") [Solace]
I squeezed a bit harder. I heard a little squeak come from the spirit and the gemstone crumbled.
("That's better.") [Solace]
With the spirit in hand, I stepped out the dust and waited until Dilyan could see me.
"My spirit…!" [Dilyan]
He looked quite worried.
"Surrender. Or the little guy gets it." [Solace]
"Alert: The |True Title| |Promising Seedling| has been activated." [Spirit Guide]
I felt a bit stronger as I heard that.
("...I forgot about that.") [Solace]
If I remember correctly, being mischievous or something like that increases my strength.
"You're a coward!" [Dilyan]
Dilyan was fuming. He probably really wanted to pass.
"Am I?" [Solace]
I did my best to taunt him by playfully shaking the spirit.
"You…!" [Dilyan]
He gripped his sword in frustration.
"...Did you teach your student to take hostages, Vincent?" [Ross]
"I did not. Nevertheless, it is a very effective tactic." [Vincent]
Dilyan and I were at a standoff for a while. At this point, I commanded him to forfeit.
"Surrender. Now." [Solace]
"..." [Dilyan]
He made a complicated face and went silent. Within moments, he dropped his weapons.
"I surrender." [Dilyan]