Chapter 120 - Sparring & Rematch
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"...W-What's going on here."
Eyebrows narrowed; completely bewildered. Seymore, was looking at us, unable to comprehend the situation. His face looks like a mess. Did he just wake-up perhaps? Looking at the time, it's still pretty early after all.
"Shall we start then?" I ignored Mr. Seymore and turned to everyone, sporting an ambassador pose. I hope I don't look stupid... "Right now, we're going to plan and organize who will take what. In other words, it's a debate."
Right now, on a living room placed on the center was a large wooden table, sitting with all the loots we gained. Encompassing, a number of sofas, settled by everyone, emitting with solemn tension.
Even Lara and Mikael, who weren't part of the official tie were looking unsmiling likewise. It's for the reason that they've helped us so it's a given that they got one here as well.
"You guys ready?" I announced, to which everyone nodded sternly. Alright. "Okay, then, Akari."
"Yes, Aruji-sama." Akari nodded, no expression whatsoever.
Ting! High-pitched sound rang as Akari's hand made its contact to the nine Monster Bag, unlocking the sack, thus, releasing the goods in unison. I didn't know you can open it with a single touch, how magical.
"Oh—!!" Their mouth, curved into a grin as the goods sported themselves—a Sword, a Bow, a Gun, and a Magic Staff. Weapons. More than tenths of them, were in front of us.
"Y-You're kidding...!" Seymore questioned, in state of disbelief. "This is the first time I saw that many Monster Bag in a single table."
"So, it wasn't your first time seeing a Monster Bag, huh." I remarked. Well, thinking about it, Seymore and his companions, were already using a weapon already in the post-chaos mode category.
Albeit with a response, no wonder Lara and Mikael didn't react much within expectations. Sure, they're surprise, but that's all there is.
"Don't underestimate us, kid. We're a veteran adventurer—of course we get to see it. Moreover, you can already guess it with our weapon, right? I had a feeling you're quite adept in this kind of field."
"Good insight." No wonder their confidence in trekking the North. "Anyhow, we seem to have gotten some lucky drop this time. Giving you your cherry-picked weapon is a given. However, we'll have to get some thorough consideration with this. You guys okay with that?"
As I have said, due to the lucky drop, we have a bunch of different weapons, a variety of them, lying on the table. We also have to consider all the loot we found inside the Frozen Palace yesterday...
This will take a while...
* * *
After a whole hour of thinking, we finally get to distribute all the loots. The information will come for later. For now,
"You ready?" I informed, holding the strongest sword at my arsenal—the Serpent's Tide.
"All fired up and ready to go." Astra remarked—both on her hands had a pair of blue-colored blade with different appearance. Blades both pointed at me—an aggressive stance. "Ah, if you think about it, this can be considered a rematch, isn't it?"
"I guess so?" I replied. "But well, if you're into it, I guess I'll take this one a little serious."
"Big words," Astra retorted. "I'll win this time."
"Alright! Ready... Go—!"
At Seia's immediate signal, Astra dashed her way towards me in lightning speed, swinging her right blade towards me in coming.
She's fast.
Immediately. With precise timing, I swung my blade in a swift motion, aiming at her blade. I plan to use ⟨⟨Parry⟩⟩ for a counter.
However,
⟨⟨Parry⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Riposte⟩⟩
Our blades clashed, but the impact from the parry slightly knocked Astra's blade. However, her left hand, holding another blade, were coming quick at me to my right. Once again, with precise timing, I aimed to her swing with another counter.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Our clash came in repetition—with Astra swinging her pair of blades at me left and right, whilst I just went and aim for her blades, unable to perform a counter.
I was counting how many times her blade on her right have clashed against mine, and the moment she swung her blade the 5th time...
Kuh! ⟨⟨Voiding⟩⟩
⟨⟨Sword Skill: Glacial Shockwave⟩⟩
Boom! Shockwave of cold was violently released, creating a trail of freezing shards that walk past its direction.
"—?!" Everyone's faces who were watching the spar stiffened in surprise. No one would expect that such weapon who can create such destructive power existed.
"I have fought with them before; I had always thought that they're fast." Mikael remarked, sporting a face of disbelief. "But now that I've seen them clearly, I didn't think they were this fast. They..."
"They're probably on par with the Frontliners...No, they might be stronger than them. They're likely as strong as the Royal Guards." Seymore claimed, arms crossed.
I, who dodged the shockwave of ice were now far from my position just a few seconds ago. It seems that I panicked a little. Heck, I even started sweating...
S-So close...! It's more devastating than in the game. I wouldn't have got out of there unscathed if it were to hit me...I think.
This is the first time I've actually have seen it but, dual wielding, huh. There was never a class like that in the game. Color me surprise.
"Hehe~! I'm not done yet." Astra was coming at me whilst looking at her sword, sporting a lopsided grin. "This sword—the 『Coollision』, was it? Hm, hm, how badass."
Coollision, an Ice-themed sword that's exhibiting an axe-head quillons with its blade that's similarly looking like a spider's fang. This sword is one of the weapons that's dropped from the Monster Bag.
"As for this one... Oh yeah, I haven't used this baby yet." Flaunting her other sword, Astra turned to me. "This one also had skills, right? You ready, Sai?"
Kneeling, I rose out the floor and brandished my sword towards her. "Anytime."
"I really love your guts." Laying a stance, Astra put her sword behind as if going for a thrust, pointing the tip of her blade towards me. Shortly, Astra bent a little and took a concentrated breath.
"—?!" The moment I realized; the tip of her sword was already in between my eyes...
⟨⟨Sword Skill: Lightning Plunge⟩⟩
Instinctively, I weaved my sword in front of me. "Ugh—!"
Luckily, I managed to block it a millisecond early. The force, however, wasn't something that can be stopped with my current strength.
"Uwah—!" I can see myself getting knocked away quite the long distance. I tried to get back to my feet by doing an acrobat. It was hard but I manage to land safely, rolling until the impact.
"Get-up! I'm not done yet." Astra quickly charged towards me for a follow-up. I'm seeing spiral but judging by her stance that's blurry to my vision, I can see that she's going for another thrust. "Don't tell me, that's all you got?"
⟨⟨Sword Skill: Lightning Plunge⟩⟩
"You never learn, do you..." I took the weapon I haven't used in a while, the Spore Staff and cast it in my front, then rolled sideways to dodge her upcoming thrust attack.
"You damn...!" Unable to cancel her thrust attack, Astra collided against the hovering spores. Since the Spore Staff was a beginner weapon, it doesn't have the power to damage Astra anymore.
"Moreover, that guy. Sai, was it?" Seymore asked.
"Yeah, what of him?" Lara replied.
However, the purpose I used the Spore Staff was its knockback power that can send someone flying away just from a single spore—and just as I expected, Astra who collided against the spores, losing her balance. Taking advantage. After I rolled then I spin myself and slide kick Astra's foot. Ultimately falling-off her foot.
"This is not an exaggeration, but that guy after some time, will definitely surpass that guy." Seymore added. "What's his name again? Ah, I remember now. It's Ajax."
"Eh?! You mean that Ajax?!" Mikael exclaimed. His eyes were still focused on the fight, however.
Just as Astra was about to fall, she tried to resist by doing a flip. I, who anticipated her next move, channeled mana into my hands as I pointed my palm towards Astra. Finally, I uttered the words...
"⟨⟨Glistening Dark⟩⟩"
"Wha—?!" Astra was engulfed with a chain of shining darkness, binding her fully into the ground. She was left surprise from the skill, but so is everyone.
"Keh~! That bastard's just bragging at this point." Seymore remarked with a lopsided grin. "Look at him go. I thought it was just a sparring match? Cocky bastard."
"He can even use that girl's skill..." Lara exclaimed. "Unbelievable..."
"My win." I said as I pointed my sword to her neck.
"Winner: Sai!" Everyone approached us as Seia informed of the winner. Nyehehe~!
"I forgot you could also use Akari's magic." Astra remarked, waiting before the black chain diminish, rosing out of the ground after. "Dang it! Your wide variety of arsenal is really the problem!"
"You forgot you're fighting Sai, Astra." Lily interjected, then turned to me. "Congrats, Sai. Although, I think you should've gone easy on her."
"I doubt Astra would be happy about it." I replied as I shot a look at Astra. She shot me a thumbs-up. As carefree as ever.
"Still, I didn't think you could also use Akari's Glistening Dark." Lily added. "That's kind of busted, is it not?"
"It's Aruji-sama after all. Of course, it's a given." Akari interjected. Her face was still deadpan, but right now, she was emanating a smug atmosphere, kind of like a proud parent.
"Well, aren't you popular." After Akari spoke Lara who was looking at me with narrowed eyes. "Must be nice being surrounded by these beautiful girls."
"Heh!" With the biggest grin I could, I gave Lara a thumbs-up. "You bet it was!"
"Hmph, Pervert!" Lara walked away after she utter those words. Moreover, I can feel something dangerous emanating somewhere... Ah, it was pointed at Mikael.
"Well, that's how it is." I pondered. "So, who's going to spar next?"
I'll have these girls try their weapons for now. Later then, we'll left this place and head back to the city. Well, I have more reason for this sparring, though. Anyways, enjoy the experience girls!
* * *
Night...
Lights-out, and only you can hear are the sound of the breeze, totally silent. I, who was awake the whole time, left the bed when I felt that everyone was already asleep.
Even though its night, it was still 10:00PM. Not really that late.
I left the place as quiet as possible. Before I leave, I took a peek if everyone came awake. None. I'm good. Well, then... "I'll be back..."
* * *
"...Sai?"