365,000 waves and 83 years of playing Garden of Days...
365,000 fucking waves and I thought I knew it all.
When did I become so arrogant?
Your best friend entrusted his granddaughter to you yet you can't even do a simple fact check. Get your head out of your ass Richard, this is no longer a fucking game! Some rules in Garden of Days don't apply in reality!
"Sir?" Adresin calls out to me.
I'm probably wearing a worrying expression for him to call out to me... He's always the empathic type after all.
"FREYA IS STILL COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND AND LIAM IS COMING IN FOR THE KILL! THERE'S NO RULE AGAINST THIS BUT ISN'T THIS JUST PLAIN CRIMINAL?!"
"Sir? What're we gonna do?" Adresin asks in panic.
"Time..." I reply.
He checks and firmly nods.
[00:03]
[00:02]
[00:01]
*Clang*
Adresin loosed his first arrow and deflects Liam's dagger. The second one is aimed for his head but their new member catches it.
"AND THERE WE HAVE IT! THE FIRST ROUND IS OVER AND THE SECOND PACK MEMBERS JOIN THE FRAY. ADRESIN RESCUED FREYA JUST IN TIME WHILE TAKATO NABS THAT SECOND ARROW LIKE IT'S NOTHING!"
The battlefield shifts with the newcomers. Brock's side sent a guy wearing a hakama, complete with a straw hat, and the katana on his waist makes it clear that he's going for a samurai aesthetic. I swear, what's with people's obsession with Eastern clothing around here? He looks Japanese though so maybe that's just what they wear nowadays? In any case, the other guy is also a problem. Even though his face is fucked up, Liam is still able to fight. So as of this moment, Adresin is fighting 2 vs. 1 with only his bow and magic. Well, the odds may not be so bad after all.
"Good," Nifa smiles at me. "You're looking without bias."
I chuckle sadly, as I look at the unconscious girl covered in vines, "Too bad she got hurt before I realized."
"Even the gods make mistakes," she says. "What's important is that you don't repeat it."
Back in the arena, Liam is propping himself up using the nearby log while Takato is squarely facing Adresin.
"Stand down, Liam," Takato says to his teammate. "With your current state, you'll just be a hindrance."
"Shut up kitty cat! I'll do what I want!" Liam replies.
*Clang*
While they were talking, Adresin already loosed his next shot for Liam. However, Takato instantly deflects it with his sword. Too bad it didn't hit him, but at least that shut him up.
"Tch," Adresin audibly clicks his tongue in frustration.
"You're good," Takato smirks in amusement at Adresin. "Maybe my sword will finally gets a taste of a true battle."
[Crystal Labyrinth]
Adresin chants in Elvish and after a brief moment, crystalline trees erect themselves in the middle of the arena.
"ARE YOU SEEING WHAT I'M SEEING?! THE ENTIRE ARENA BECAME A FOREST! IS THIS ADRESIN'S [TERRITORY] SPELL?"
The crowd clamors with excitement at the new development.
"The Elf is also doing well," Nifa comments. "Instead of using his body like I Freya, he's using his core with his veins to amplify his magic. It's a fitting answer for someone with a naturally large core."
"He's actually Mammon's servant if you can believe it," I snicker.
"It makes sense. That old guy is greedy for talented people," she responds.
"NOW, WHAT WILL TAKATO DO WITH THIS SITUATION?!"
"Hahaha impressive!" Takato says and draws his sword. "As expected of a pure-blooded Elf."
"Tch," Liam voices his disapproval to Takato's remarks and disappears in a puff of smoke.
"Now... what're you gonna-"
*Clang*
Takato barely deflects an arrow aimed for his temple. Then, as he regains his bearings, he sees three more arrows zip towards him from different trajectories.
"Hahahaha! I see!" he shouts with excitement as he deflects and dodges them like an expert acrobat.
"WOAH! MULTIPLE ARROWS ARE COMING OUT OF NOWHERE AND CHASES AFTER TAKATO LIKE HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?"
"That damn Adresin..." I scoff with admiration. "He acts like a coward but he's this fucking strong."
"It makes me wonder why he went under old man Mammon's command..." Nifa muses.
"I intend to ask him that myself."
The fight inside the arena is heating up. Dozens of arrows fly towards Takato as if they have their own will. Even though he's been able to avoid them with his dexterous maneuvers, some arrows eventually manage to graze him.
"So this is what you want huh?!" he shouts loudly to make sure Adresin hears him. "You want to make this into a battle of endurance? Fine! We'll see what runs out first: your mana or my stamina."
While this is happening, Liam, who entered the forest earlier, is also busy dodging the arrows that fly at him. But unlike Takato, he's having a hard time tracking them.
"Ack!" he shouts in pain as an arrow manages to pierce his thigh. "Fucking wind magic! How much control does he have to do this without sacrificing the velocity of the arrows?!"
He jumps once more with the intent of finding Adresin and putting an end to this. However, just as he's gaining some altitude, an arrow zip past the cover of the trees and pierces him.
"Ack!" he shouts again as it hits his shoulder. He then tumbles down the crystal branches and hit the dirt with a loud thud.
"Ugh..." he groans as he slowly recovers himself. "I'm gonna get rid of these fucking trees..."
"THIS IS GETTING EXCITING! ADRESIN'S SHOOTING ONE ARROW AFTER ANOTHER FROM ONE END OF THE ARENA WHILE TAKATO IS GRACEFULLY DODGING THEM ON THE OTHER! BUT WHERE'S LIAM? I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM SINCE-"
*BOOOOM*
The crystal trees rattle as a huge explosion disturbs the heart of the forest.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! WAS THAT LIAM? DID HE USE HIS SIGNATURE MOVE, [SHADOW EXPLOSION] IN AN ATTEMPT TO DESTROY ADRESIN'S FOREST?"
"Liam, you fool!" Takato shouts in rage.
"Stop being so angry!" Liam replies. He's become visible again due to some trees falling. "I'm clearing a path."
Like dominoes, the trees continue to fall one by one. And with each felled tree, Takato's heart thumps even louder.
"Bertha... Ready," he whispers as he takes a sword-draw stance. As he has stopped moving, multiple arrows pierce him. One of the arrows knock his hat off, revealing a pair of cat ears that match his black hair. The pain is immense and he'd rather hide his ears but at this moment, he doesn't care. With pure concentration, he readies himself and train his eyes forward.
"Hahaha you fucking cat!" Liam mocks as he traverses through the collapsing forest. "Thinking you're hot shit. Now you look like a porcupine."
Takato doesn't respond to his tauntings. Instead, he awaits the impending consequences of his teammates actions.
*Rattle*
As more of the trees fall, Takato and Liam can finally see Adresin. He's nocked another arrow and holds it at the drawn position. His eyes are on Takato just as Takato's are on him. Seeing this as an opportunity, Liam jumps and prepares to bring down the final blow.
"I gotcha now!" he shouts triumphantly.
Adresin merely smirks.
*Whoosh*
As soon as he revealed himself, Liam's body turns into a pin cushion as hundreds of crystal shards pierce him from head to toe.
The crowd grimaces at the sight but roars in excitement soon after.
"AND LIAM'S OUT FOR THE COUNT! HE HAS RECEIVED A FATAL INJURY SO THE [SANCTUARY] SPELL HAS ACTIVATED TO SPARE HIS LIFE! MEDICS WILL NOW JUMP IN TO GET HIM OUT. WHAT AN AMAZING DISPLAY OF CONTROL FROM ADRESIN!"
"What a fool..." Takato mutters. Then, a sudden burst of light emanates from his sword. "Give me your best shot Adresin!"
In response, Adresin exhales and gently releases his bowstring.
[Wind Bolt]
With one whisper, a flurry of wind gathers around the arrow and jettisons it towards Takato.
"Bertha... [Sky Piercer]" Takato mutters and with one swift draw, his blade meets the bullet of wind that is hurtling towards him.
*Crackle*
A shockwave of light and wind blasts from the arena and onto the audience.
"AMAAAAAAZING!! ADRESIN AND TAKATO UNLEASHED THEIR ULTIMATE MOVES! THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST FIGHT I'VE EVER SEEEEEN!"
The crowd matches the announcer's energy and produces the most deafening roar.
Then, just as the shockwaves end, the entire arena ebbs into total silence. Many gulp in anticipation for the result of that final show of power.
The dust eventually settles and reveals Adresin and Takato. Both are breathing heavily as they struggle to get up.
"IS THE RESULT A TIE?! THE TWO OF THEM GAVE IT THEIR ALL AND HAVE COLLAPSED! NEITHER OF THEM CAN GET UP."
The two continue to struggle and just as they are about to collapse again, two shadows appear.
"Way to show off, man," I say as I catch Adresin and lay him beside Grace. "Now, leave the rest to me."
"I guess it's just you and me now, human," Brock chuckles as he cracks his knuckles, letting Takato fall to the ground. "Please do last a bit longer than your lackeys."