------------------------------- Evans -------------------------------
"Bow skill: Charged Arrow!"
My released a charged arrow and successfully make Rigel's attack missed.
"Elea! Are you okay?"
"Sorry, that was careless of me," She replied.
Phew… that's dangerous, she could be sliced and hurt badly from that gravely-look strike. I need to think for a fast solution to win while supporting them. Quinn can handle Reeve with my support, but that girl, Sophie is annoying. The way she keeps unleashing strikes of fireball makes me unable to focus on support. Unlike my 'Scarlet Rain' skill, I need to charge them to make each of it equally powerful enough at least to knock out my target. The normal multiplying arrow I can produce is way weaker I can't keep my aim straight while keeping these fireballs out of my way. The way she keeps firing is probably to prevent me give support and to my team. I've got to do something.
"You need others to cover your back now huh, Princess…" Rigel said after cleared out the dust with a swing from his greatsword.
"I just getting started." Elea replied.
"Maybe that is not the case," Rigel tried to provoke her.
"I will finish this now! Activate Flash Step!"
[Flash Step(A-rank): Move the user to target in a blink. Can be used for 5 minutes.]
Looks like Elea is getting serious. Her body discharged a dim yellow light with flashes of lightning around her body.
"That's what I'm talking about! Activate Grand Power!"
[Grand Power(A-rank): Greatly increased overall ability with improved magical energy by threefold for 10 minutes.]
His body is starting to emit bright blue light with strong wind pressure to surrounding. In just a split second, Elea appear in front of Rigel, striking with her spear with all of her might but Rigel successfully defend against it. The clashing sound of their blade echoing in the gigantic stadium with strong wind pressure from the force of both weapons. The battle doesn't just stop my movement, but Quinn and the member of the enemy team. The reason is pretty much the same with the audience, we can't avert our eyes from the spectacular battle between those two.
"To think you can push me with my ability being tripled is very applaudable, princess!!" Rigel said during the fight.
"And I will keep pushing you until you fall!" Elea replied.
Their fight become wilder when Elea start to attack Rigel from multiple direction. The quick, fierce battle catches the attention of the whole audience in the stadium. Their excitement intensifies with roaring cheers and screams. Every time they Rigel and Elea clash their weapon, the loud clashing sound, wind pressure and a glimpse of friction spark will appear adding the beauty of the raging battle. Not only that, but every step Elea dashing from will also leave a crater on the stage floor. The force from her footing is amazing.
"HANA, LOOK AT THAT, THE RAGING BATTLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DISPLAYED BY THE PRINCESS AND STAR!"
"YES CARL! THIS IS THE MOST INTENSE BATTLE SO FAR BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE ON THE STAGE AND YET WE STILL OF SECOND STAGE!! WILL THIS BE THE BEST BATTLE FOR THE TOURNAMENT!?"
"What are you doing, we also have our scores to be settle," Sophie interrupted.
"Ah, yes… you are right, we can't let them have the show stolen by them, right?" I replied.
Sophie smiled a little and start rising her staff upwards. I have to be ready too. Looks like Quinn also have been continuing his battle for a little while.
"From the wonders of fantasy, I called forth upon the beast of my imagination, Emerge! Great Serpent!"
"What the hell is that spell?" I said curiously to her chant.
Suddenly, the ground start to shake with strong wind pressure with a sign of an entity start to form behind Sophie. Numerous particles of light start to emerge and combine into a large bluish colour entity, with approximately 5 meter tall.
"Is that… a conjuring spell?" I wondered.
All eyes in the stadium are diverting to the creature that was just summoned by Sophie.
"IS THAT A SERPENT AS THE MYTHICAL BEAST? WHAT A SHOCK!" Carl expressed his surprise.
"No Carl, I think that is not as portrayed in the mythical beast, the serpent as mythical beast is specially called Naga which is more immense than that!"
"Oh, I see, thank you Hana! But what with the spell enchanted by Sophie! isn't a conjuring spell of a beast should also use the usual way?!"
Carl's right. There is no way a beast can be summon like that, or… is that a new discovery?
"The serpent is smaller than I expected… but well, it's okay, I guess. This is the first ever conjured beast with such long spell, but it's actually different from the usual beast conjuring spell," Sophie explained.
"What do you mean?"
"This is a new spell conjuring technique, different from 'activate' or 'weapon skill' method which calls upon the magic from the programmed system, this method will dispense the magical energy to conjure a beast from our own imagination. Of course, a deep understanding and extreme details of the imaginary beast are incredibly significant to call it out. This is the result from countless experiment I, Princess and other members of Great Conjurer Club have done! Thank you everyone!!"
"GOOD LUCK SOPHIE!"
"DO YOUR BEST!! PRINCESS TOO!!"
That noticeable scream from a small group of audience is probably their friends that help with the experiments. There are also several people from the Magic Development Companies was standing in awe with the new founding. Yeah, it's certainly a grand feat, coming from a group of students. Azaria Academy student have contributed a lot in the research of the magic throughout the times. Even so, I think this is probably one of the greatest achievements.
"I would love to explain more, but you need to lose first, Arch-Sabre!" Sophie pointed her pointing finger to me.
"That's unfair, hahaha…" I chuckled while getting ready for the assault.
"O' great serpent, attack them!" Sophie commanded her summoned creature.
The bulky and intimidating serpent start to move to my direction. While moving, it summon a spear hence shoved it to me, Elea, and Quinn at once but fortunately, we all succeed to dodge it by hopping backwards, creating a distance between us and their team.
"Damn, that's cool, summoning a serpent with new technique, is that even allowed?" Quinn asked with amazement.
"Well, the rules don't mention anything about new technique will be disqualified and looks like the match will proceed as usual. The judges also can't wait to see the ability of the summoned serpent. What do you say Elea, want to drag the battle a little bit?" I asked to Elea.
"That's how it should be," Elea responded with a calmed face.
Yep. Well, why not? The serpent may have some unknown weakness or power so, I should not take it too lightly. Let's try something.
"Then let's go all out," I declared with full throttle of confidence.
"Roger," Quinn responded.
Elea just nodded her head.
To be leading this team, only a person as cool as me can do, hehehe. I have my bow ready on my arm, targeting the serpent right in the heart.
"Evans wait, scan the serpent rank with your SACRED device," Quinn suggested.
I halted my attack.
"Ah yes! You're right!" I accepted the idea since it may as well make it easier for me to defeat it.
Our SACRED device has been installed with a scanning device to discover the class of a monster that have been registered into the systems. When the attributes or the traits of the monsters are matched as in the system, the result will appear on a blue holographic screen from the SACRED device.
--- [LESSER SERPENT] ---
Name: -Unclassified-
Species: Serpent
Class: D-class
Special Ability: None
Weak point: Head, Middle of Chest, Tail
Weakness: Fire magic
Description: A sea monster type. Lives in a deep sea, most powerful in water, but can fight on the ground as well. Can produce a staff, spear, or a trident as weapon.
----------------------------------
Got it! It's a D-class lesser Serpent and it has no special abilities! I can either strike at its middle of chest, head, or tail to kill it! And it weak against fire magic.
"Let's do this! I will need a fire enchantment then. The moment I release my arrow, I may need several minutes to recharge the magical energy, so I want you both two charges straight for Reeve and Rigel. Elea, your 'flash step' can still be used for how long?"
"About another two minutes and thirty seconds," Elea replied.
"Can you get Sophie?"
"I don't think so, having Rigel right next to her is impossible for me since Rigel have quite a remarkable speed too, I think he will get in the way."
"Then let's make this quick, I want you to push Rigel straight to back, and Quinn, I will need you to push Reeve to another direction. I will handle the serpent."
"Got it," They both replied.
"Activate Fire Enchant," Quinn chanted one of his spells.
[Fire Enchant(D-rank): Enchant weapon or magic attack with the fire element.]
My arrow has been glowing with a brilliant scarlet colour indicating the arrow have been charge at its full power now is being enveloped with blazing fire enchantment. Let's see if my ultimate, can bring that thing down. I named it…
"SCARLET SLAYER PIERCING BOW ULTIMATE: TRIPLE A!! GO!!" I declared my ultimate skill name and release the arrow.
"Eh, Triple A?" Quinn said while making a 'weird' face.
"What?" so is Elea.
"Huh?" and Rigel.
"Triple A?" and Reeve.
"TRIPLE A!!??" and both Carl and Hana shouted in shocked.
"HUH!?" even the audiences.
"It's a short form for 'Amazing Astral Arrow'!! Oh, I should add 'blazing' at front of it since it was enchanted with fire! BLAZING TRIPLE A!!" I declared.
"NOT COOL!!!" The audience screamed in a sync.
"What? I am the one who named my skill, so let it be, but you should not worry about that, look at that," I pointed to the serpent.
How satisfying. Those looks when they are so impressed with my power, heh.
"THE SERPENT HEAD…"
"IT'S GONE!!! WHAT POWER!!" Carl commented with fantastic shocking reaction.
"What are you two doing? Go!" I mentioned to Elea and Quinn.
"U-uh alright!"
Quinn replied with a little bit surprised reaction while Elea just nodded, and both start sprinting to their opponent as I directed beforehand. I haven't shown my ultimate skill to anyone before, maybe that's why, it's a powerful skill but with it, I will need more than one minute to recharge. Tch!
"Rigel! Reeves! They are coming!" Sophie said to her teammates.
"Don't worry Sophie! I got it!" Reeve replied to Sophie.
As directed, Elea and Quinn successfully pushed those two to another direction. Now it's just me and Sophie.
"Is this your plan, Arch-Sabre?"
"Don't call me that. Well yes. I am pretty sure you have lost most of your magical energy from that staff. So, while taking your time to recharge it, how about you just surrender, there's not much you can do after all. I want to end this in a peaceful way too. By the way, the name is Evans," I tried to negotiate.
"Oh, I see. You are kind of sweet, aren't you? If we met outside of the arena, I may as well be accepting your confession," She replied to me cheekily.
"Eh?"
"Now that I have a good look on you, you are a little bit handsome after all,"
"Aw, thanks! Eh? A little—"
"But I guess being sweet is the same as underestimating me."
She must have something under her sleeve.
"Well, not really—"
"Let's see if you can win this one! Activate Magical Energy Surge!"
I see. She is trying to increase her magical energy in the staff from that spell. She probably wants to summon that serpent again. But I can handle that.
"Activate Enhanced Magic!"
Now she upgrades her magic power output. This may lead to something else.
"Now once again! From the wonder of fantasy, I called forth upon the beast of my imagination…"
I can handle this!
"Emerge! Great Serpent!"
Once again, the particle of lights appears and start merging into an entity, but…
"Now, this is what I called great serpent, the one you fought just now, is a weaker version, perhaps because the magic output isn't strong enough! But this time, you'll meet your end. But I may have overdone it too... Well, get him, Great Serpent!"
"Ahh—" I gapped.
Let's try to scan it first.
--- [GREAT SERPENT] ---
Name: Krugnin
Species: Serpent
Class: B-class
Special Ability: Fast dive (Diving faster in water)
Weak point: Head, Middle of Chest, Tail
Weakness: None
Description: A sea monster type. Lives in a deep sea, most powerful in water, but can fight on the ground as well. Can produce a staff, spear, or a trident as weapon.
----------------------------------
Eh, where is that weakness before? Is it just upgraded? The size is larger, the height has increased to 10 meters! I haven't seen any monster this large in my life. I need about one more minute to fully charge the energy and use the bow! What worse, I don't bring my sabre!
"If I defeat you then my team will win!!"
The Serpent is not just bigger, it's move faster, and the look is more intimidating. Can I even dodge its attack?
"EVANS!!"
I heard Quinn screaming my name but I… CAN'T MOVE MY BODY AT ALL!! MY LEG IS NOT MOVI—
"SPLITTING-GROUND THUNDER-GOD ULTIMATE…"
That is… Elea's…
"DIVINE THUNDER GUARDIAN!!"
A loud cracking thunder sound appeared before a display of a lightning striking over Elea's body caused the stage floor to crack with a great damage. After the dusts that spread from the impact is disappearing a little, I can see that her body is enveloped with a yellow and blue colour, grand-looking thunder armour on her body. Within a blink, I am standing on another location on the vast stage, further from the serpent. Elea standing behind me. I guess she is the one who moved me here.
"E-Elea…" I stuttered a little.
"Are you okay?" Elea asked me with a worried look.
"I-I am."
"Don't worry, I will end this at once."
After saying that, she headed straight to the serpent. What happened to Rigel? I tried to search for him on the stage. That can't be… He's already…
"STAR HAVE BEEN TAKEN DOWN BY PRINCESS ULTIMATE SKILL!! WHAT A FRIGHTENING POWER AND SPEED!!"
That speed and power. Under the marvellous display of magical armour, her power right now is sufficient to take everyone down on her own. The power display by Elea right now is called 'Synthesis Skill' which is as good as an A-rank skill or perhaps, S-rank. The user who activated the Synthesis Skill will be granted with multi-fold amount of power with imposing presentation of magical armour wrapped around their body. This skill is derived from the 'Metamorphosis' technique which hold by the sacred blades. Each of the sacred blade has its own form of Metamorphosis and it was said that the power can destroy even a SS-class monster single-handedly. Synthesis is much like inferior version of Metamorphosis but… this much power is already crazy. Ace also used his synthesis power before. Maybe he the only one can match with Elea in terms of power.
"IT'S A WIN FOR TEAM F!!" Carl announced.
The whole stadium filled with boisterous round of screams and applause from the audience. The stage is damaged so badly, there are countless crack and plenty of crater.
"It's already finished and looks like Elea ended all of them by herself, even the Serpent," I mumbled by myself.
"Yes, I did."
"UWAHHH!!" I squeaked a little.
"Hey, hahaha, don't be so surprised!" Elea who suddenly gotten behind me said with a small laugh.
"Well, because you suddenly get behind me."
"Sorry about that, hahaha," she apologised while continuing her small laugh. Cute.
The thunder armour is fading from Elea body. There is time limit to it, I guess. That's logical. But that power is enough to beat a B-class monster and what's more, single-handedly.
"You are very powerful Elea. I am sure you will emerge as victory for this tournament."
"Hehe of course! Thank you by the way, for saving me first." she replied with a smile.
Woah, that's her cutest smile so far… that's like super cute–
"Ah, and um… I guess I owe you one now, for saving me back there, thank you…" I thanked her.
"Of course, don't mind it! Consider we are now 0-0!"
What is this feeling? I am so happy so much I can't describe it!!
"Let's eat somewhere before going back!"
"Yes, Let's go!!!"
-------------------- [Playground nearby Reinhard Residence] --------------------
"The wind blows softly tonight, isn't it a little bit cold… Shadow."
I could feel his presence the moments he appeared behind me. The feel was soft, but I just know, he's there.
"Oh, that's impressive to notice my soft and quiet presence. What are you doing out here, Evans Reinhard?"
"Waiting for your ass to come here."
"You wait for me?"
"Not really, I just get the feeling you will be coming again."
"Hahaha, that's amusing, Evans. Well, you are right. I'm here to—"
"Congratulate me? You don't need to. I've been congratulated plenty by my friends. I don't need yours."
"That's my mission, to watch over you, Evans."
"Why don't you find someone better to be guarded, I don't need it."
"Not now. But you will when the truth has been revealed to you. It's not long. You will surely, obtain the legendary sword."
"Hey, about that—"
Wait, I think I should not talk about the stone, Sir Atlas may be his next target if I talk about it.
"What is it?"
"No, nothing," I cancelled my idea to ask.
"Well, okay then. I guess it is time for me to disappear from your sight. I wish you the best of luck for tomorrow, our saviour."
As usual, he vanishes into the dark of night. Is that some kind of a spell? That could be useful. Saviour? Ridiculous.