------------------------------- Evans -------------------------------
"THE BATTLE START NOW!!"
Right after Carl and Hana commenced the battle, Ace and Zyon sprint to the centre of the stage but Quinn wasn't moving from his spot yet. It's okay, that may be just the right strategy. Though it may make him look a little bit spineless. But I believe every action should be considered as battle tactic and none of them should be call as cowardice. That just shows that the strategist is just more cunning and clever.
Ace unsheathes his sword while Zyon already holding his chakram, suddenly perform a great jump before clashing their blades. Both continue striking each other with well display of skill in wielding their own blade.
"Evans, look at Quinn, he starts moving," Elea informed me.
"Maybe he has some plans."
It's possible that he become insecure because of the battle since he doesn't start any moves yet. If the MCs start to say anything about him, he would be embarrassed.
"Shield Skill: Tremor!"
The portion stage where Ace and Zyon is fighting each other are shaking from the activation of Quinn's skill.
"LOOKS LIKE QUICKSILVER HAS ENTER THE BATTLE!!" Carl mentioned.
Ace and Zyon start dashing to Quinn's direction.
"That's it, come at me…" Quinn muttered but still can be recorded by the drones.
Quinn standing in calm manner as if everything is moving as he planned. He was quite nervous before the battle though. He draws his sword from the scabbard. Looks like he will be using his sword skill.
"Sword skill: Sword of Nocturnal!"
Unexpectedly, a magical black dome appeared out of nowhere enveloping area of the stages with Ace, Zyon, and Quinn himself. We can't see what happening on the stage but luckily the drones have a function to see through the magic barrier ability. The lighting in the dome is dark as if it were night-time. There were even view of stars and moon inside it. Such beautiful magic. I think this kind of magic uses quite a considerable amount of magical energy too. We can hear their voices inside the dome since one of the drones was also trapped inside it.
"What the hell? Is it night already?" Zyon said while wondrously looking at his surroundings.
"An illusion-barrier magic, this is beautiful and grand, I wonder what weapon you are actually using, a skill which is not an ultimate skill but able to pull such magnificent magic," Ace said as he is genuinely impressed.
"If you both have something to say, how about we end this quick!" Quinn proposed.
"Agreed, even though I can't see you well, I still can sense you there, Quicksilver!" Zyon said as he confirmed Quinn's location.
"I don't want to team up with Zen but he's true, you are the main obstacle right now." Ace agreeing.
The sound of swords clattering appeared as we see that they are striking each other but…
"I didn't know there were someone this good at using sword other than Ace in this academy!" Zyon praised.
"Your weapon is not a sword huh, Quicksilver? Wait…" Ace realised something in the midst of clashing.
Quinn wasn't visible in the dome. Ace and Zyon were just fighting each other. Ace take a jump backwards. Maybe he figured that the one he is fighting is not Quinn.
"Running now huh! I won't let you!" Zyon rambled while throwing his chakram towards Ace.
"Chakram skill: Water wheel!"
Instantly, the flying chakram produces a longer reach for the blade with an extension of water-blade. The darkness become an advantage to Zyon as the chakram successfully grazes Ace shoulder.
"Argh!"
Ace is hurting from the cut. The chakram returned to Zyon after grazing its target.
"I bet you are hurting now! You can't hide forever in here!!" Zyon said and may as well considered as mocked Ace.
Being mocked by Zyon, Ace stands firm, holding his sword straight. That is the same stance as before when he wants to activate a skill.
"Sword skill: Whirlwind!" Ace finally activated his skill.
"What!!!"
Zyon was shocked by the sudden strong wind force that appeared in from of him. Perhaps he couldn't see it well, so his movement become more sluggish than usual.
"Quicksilver you coward! How dare cast such one-sided skill!"
Looks like Zyon is quite enraged.
"What is he talking about, isn't he one of the contestants that reach last year's final stage? What is wrong with hm, sheesh…" I stated my thoughts to Elea.
When I try to look at Elea's face, she is kind of immersed in the battle. Hm… why though? Maybe I can gently touch her to distract her focus a little… hmm…Let's not.
"Hey Evans," Elea speak to me.
"Y-yes?"
"Are Quinn actually that good at stealth?" She asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Because look at that, he just standing at the same spot from the start but the other two just fighting each other as if they don't even catch his presence," She clarified.
"Eh?"
I tried to look more attentively while focusing to the same spot he was standing from the start and surprisingly, he is there.
"Didn't they realise him yet?" I wondered and surprised at the same time after realising he was there. To think I didn't catch his presence. Elea's attentiveness is on another level.
"I don't think so, Ace and Zyon still clashing their blade without knowing he just right there. They got further from Quinn from time to time," Elea said as she observed the fight.
I've heard that Quinn says that is his new weapon named 'Night's Fall'. I've never actually heard of it, but I've heard several weapons that can produce an area barrier magic which is usually the ultimate skill of a weapon. An area type magic consumes a lot more magical energy than most magic because this kind of spell covers a certain area and changed the properties which benefits to the caster to a certain extend. To cover even one over five of the stage is quite a big deal since this arena stage is exceedingly vast. His sword, which can actually create a dome magic but not as ultimate is kind of unheard of.
Ace hasten to Zyon, trading strikes with their blades creating a continuously rattling sounds of metal clashing with each other.
"Sword skill: Bleeding."
Ace activated another of his sword skills. I've read about his skill when I do my research. 'Bleeding' is skill to make the opponent wound to heal slowly and extremely painful when being cut with that 'Windstorm Dainslef' even if it's just a graze. It's a dreadful skill. Ace movement have become sharper and quicker. He may want to have one opponent down quick. Well, that the basic rule of a battle, reduce the amount of enemy to avoid disadvantageous situation. More foe means more risk, not just because the amount of power, but tactics. In this case, while they are fighting each other, Quinn can perform a sneak attack by piercing one of them quietly. But—
"ARGH!!"
Zyon is screaming out of pain most probably Ace attacks. At this rate, Zyon may be finished off by Ace.
"Man, that's hurt so much… I got to end this with… Aqua Cutter Ultimate—" Zyon tried to activate his ultimate skill while bearing the pain from Ace's attack.
Ace hopped backwards and start to activate his ultimate as well.
"Dainslef Ultimate…"
"Cloudburst!!!" Zyon screamed.
"Sacred Gale Gear!" Ace released his ultimate.
A cumulonimbus cloud starts to take a shape on the top of the dome which continuously expanded to almost the same as the width of the dome. After the cloud stop expanding, numerous drops of water pouring down as if it is raining. It's starts like normal rainfall, until several seconds later it become a torrent of downpour such as the name of the skill, 'Cloudburst'. Suddenly but slowly, the dome starts to disappear from the stage. Right after the dome completely vanish, Quinn with his left knee rested on the stage floor as if he was exhausted. The cumulonimbus cloud continues expanding to larger size and moving upwards until it slightly pass the height of the arena.
"There you are, Quicksilver. Urgh, this wound is hurt as hell. I thought it's yours but actually Ace's skill. You already know about my ultimate skill right, Ace. That's why you cover yourself with your ultimate technique," Zyon mentioned.
Ace just stay standing at the same spot, holding his sword downwards.
"For you Quicksilver, I know that your skill just now, is an area type magic, same as mine but, as you can see, mine is stronger, it is my ultimate after all. My 'Cloudburst' covers a lot wider area than yours and the side effects are, it will reduce your stamina while boosting mine. Not just that, I will show you my first-rate magic since the rain effects does not seem to affect Ace so much because of his synthesis skill. Sword skill: Water Dragon."
From the numerous pours of water, the molecule starts to converge at on spot behind Zyon before fusing into a huge water dragon with long serpentine body.
"Water dragon, CHARGE!!"
The water dragon start charging to Ace with a high speed as Zyon ordered.
"If this dragon is enough to defeat me, I won't even be here," Ace stated while standing gallantly in front of the water dragon.
"Ultimate form Sword Skill: WHIRLWIND!!" Ace activated his skill.
'Ultimate form' huh. That's sounds cool. Maybe I should say that when I have a synthesis skill too. He deliberately named that because he is in his ultimate form, but he could just say the normal line 'sword skill, whirlwind'. But discharging a sword skill in a synthesis skill will definitely increase the output and damage of the skill.
Right after Ace swings his sword, a big whirlwind appeared but it is not as the normal one he usually draws out, this one is tremendously big and fiercer.
"WHAT WITH THAT MAGICAL POWER!! IS ACE ABLE TO PRODUCE THAT STRONG WIND POWER? IT ALMOST AS STRONG AS THE REAL CYCLONE!!" Carl commentated in astonishment.
"That's true, even we at the outside can feel being pulled into it. The wind pressure is just too much!" Hana continued.
Several seconds later when the cyclone has dissipated, the cumulonimbus cloud is no longer there, the water dragon was probably destroyed from the ravaging wind force of the cyclone. Zyon is lying down on the stage floor that has been wreck savagely by all of the clashing forces from the battle.
"Hero Zen is already down! Now we only have Hero Quinn and Hero Ace on the stage! Who will emerge victorious!!" Hana announced.
"You are quite persistent huh, Quicksilver…" Ace gasped.
"Of course, ha… even I, want to win this, whatever it takes…ha" Quinn replied while trying to catch his breath.
"How do you even withstand my whirlwind?"
"I activated 'firm ground' spell right when you unleashed that crazy skill," Quinn explained.
"I see, a skill that ensure you to keep your footing in balance state on any surface. But still, I can defeat you right this second if I want to, you have nothing more to show me, you are breathing harder than me."
"So, you think you can win, I do feel a little bit exhausted, but I haven't even use much of my magical energy. Thanks to you two, I can recharge my weapon magic faster! THE BATTLE STARTS NOW! ACTIVATE: ENHANCE MAGIC AND FORTIFY BODY!!"
"I will make you down to your knee!!"
Ace start charging towards Quinn.
"Night Aegis Ultimate: Dark Aegis Armour!" Quinn activated his skill.
A wind force suddenly released from Quinn, stopping Ace's dash right away concurrently pushing him to the back a little.
"What a force… Is that… a synthesis…" Ace tried to push through the strong wind force.
I couldn't believe my eyes! Quinn is using a synthesis skill! The slim fit black body armour looks makes him like a cool assassin in a series I watched at home. Only his eye part is opened perhaps to allow him to see. The shield is gone from his hand. Maybe that shield has become one with him. That is almost the same as Metamorphosis skill of the sacred blade.
"Yes, it's my first time using it," Quinn replied to Ace.
"I see, then, let's see, my synthesis versus yours! The best will be the last standing!!"
They both charged to each other. The continuous clanging sound of the blade is so intense that it creates a massive force strong enough to destroy the stage floor with every clash of their swords. I see it now. Quinn movement was a little bit sluggish compared to Ace. But every strike that reach on Quinn's armour is unable to injure him because of his shield properties. Night Aegis is a first-rate shield which can withstand various kind of attack from A-rank and all the way to the bottom rank. But I don't think that he can maintain his synthesis for long since he said it that this is his first time. Maintaining a synthesis needs a lot of constant concentration. The hurdle got higher when the caster needs to concentrate on that while duelling with other. Ace and Elea may have been training with it for a long time so they may have mastered theirs.
"If keep cutting you will do nothing, I will end this now with my whirlwind, Quicksilver!!"
"Come at me, Ace!!"
"ULTIMATE FORM SWORD SKILL: GRAND WHIRLWIND!"
Ace produced two of the crazy ravaging cyclones which then combine into one giant typhoon. The wind force even cracked the magical battle wall to protect the audience from the impact.
"What!? Is that a new skill?" I'm genuinely shocked.
"Evans, it's the same concept as your skill, he uses the same skill but, he controls the combination, like how you make your one intense concentrated charged arrow into rain of red arrows. Except he unleashed two at the same time and combined the skill. It's a masterful feat that only a few people with crazy amount of training can do, perhaps talent also one of it requirements…" Elea clarified.
What a crazy power. It's almost unbelievable a student can unleash this much power. It's already as good as a professional skill.
"Then, me too! ULTIMATE FORM PLUS NIGHT'S FALL ULTIMATE…"
Quinn pointing his sword directly to Ace. This is the first time he ever uses this skill too.
"CELESTIAL MOONLIGHT BEAM!!"
From the point of his sword, a numerous amount of magical energy particle is dispersed to the surrounding and converge at the point of his sword, generating an intense ball of white light and a second later discharging an immense beam of light with resounding sound. The beam and the ravaging typhoon collide with each other producing a scintillating flash of light with loud cacophonous sound of wind force and the beam. The middle of the stage already split into two with uncountable damages on it. The cracked magical wall starts to crumble little by little.
"I HAVEN'T FIGHT ANYONE TO THIS POINT BEFORE! YOU ARE THE BEST QUICKSILVER!!" Ace praised Quinn in amazement and excitement while keeping his attack against Quinn's.
"YARGH!!!!!!" Quinn screamed as he also pushed his magical attack against Ace.
They both scream while pouring more and more magical energy into their skill until the one final flash of white light which shines brightest, blinding all audiences sight for a second.
"…"
My sight gradually coming back to me until I can see everything crystal clear.
"Urgh… that's so bright… Elea… are you okay?"
"Y-yeah… that is one hell of a fight…"
"Yeah… couldn't agree more."
I observed the current situation on the stage and looks like Quinn is still standing with his roughly torn outfit, but his synthesis skill has been undone. Same goes for Ace.
"I will win this… ha… ha…." Quinn said while breathing hardly.
Ace was already on one knee to the ground, breathing a lot more heavily than Quinn without his top, showing a new burn mark on his shoulders and hands caused from Quinn's attack.
"That was… intense…" Ace replied with a smile on his face.
But watching from it, he may not be able to walk. Quinn starts to walk to Ace, leaving his sword and shield on the ground. Perhaps he knows Ace won't even be able to lift his sword so he wishes to finish him with his bare hands or perhaps he couldn't move while carrying the swords. Swords are quite heavy actually, without physical training, a first timer may struggle to lift a sword.
"Think you can beat me with your fist?" Ace mocked Quinn action.
"Of course, do you think you can even move like that?" Quinn replied.
Just before Quinn reaches Ace, Quinn falls to the ground with a dagger that just landed behind his back. His back was bleeding.
Ace was surprised.
"I will not, let you win… Quick…silver…"
A slow voice that just heard was Zyon's. He is the one who thrown that dagger to Quinn and a second later, he also collapsed. Ace is the only one who are conscious right this second.
"This can't be… I can't accept this…" Ace uttered in disbelief.
"THE MATCH IS ENDED, TWO OF THE HEROES ARE COLLAPSE LEAVING HERO ACE WITH CONCIOUSNESS ON THE STAGE!! THEREFORE, THE WINNER OF THE FIRST ROUND GOES TO HERO ACE!!!!"
The whole arena standing in awe before start giving a resounding sound of applause with deafening cheers and screams to their favourite hero on the stage.
"I never…" Elea tried to say something but didn't finish the sentenced.
"Hm, what did you say Elea?" I asked her.
"I never think, Quinn was actually that strong…" She stands in awe.
"Hm…"
"I thought this will be an absolute win for Ace but… Quinn is so unexpected," she continued.
"Yeah, that's why he is Quicksilver. He changes unpredictably in a sudden. You'll never know his pattern," I responded with a soft smile. Well, he is always like that.
"Yes, that's true… Quicksilver, he got himself a suitable nickname, right?!"
"Yeah!" I agreed.
But, to know Quinn is actually this strong… so I am the weakest in this group?