The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the announcer likened our encounter to the legendary David and Goliath battle. The distance between us was marked, a mere 15 meters, but the weight of expectations hung thick in the air.
In those crucial moments, nervousness gripped me. Jasper's imposing figure loomed larger than life, and thoughts of facing such a formidable opponent overwhelmed my senses. I reminded myself that this was not just a personal challenge; it was a quest, a task to be fulfilled. I suppressed my fear, focusing on the quest's objective rather than my own survival.
3
2
1
GO
Across the arena stood Jasper closing the distance with ground-shaking steps. His longsword, a gleaming menace, poised for the impending battle. Recognizing my disadvantage in reach, I swiftly drew my bow, unleashing a precise volley of arrows. Jasper, surprisingly agile for his size, evaded with ease, setting the tone for an unconventional match.
Closing to just 5 meters away, his sword's aura extended, making it challenging to evade. Slash after slash, I maneuvered with grace using Clockwork of Time, avoiding each curved arc.
In the slowed time, I shot steel arrows with my ability piercing and quick shot, attempting to break through his mana armament defence. Despite my efforts, the arrows bounced harmlessly. Taking steps back, Jasper closed the distance within 3 seconds.
With slowed time now resuming to normal I took a few steps back but it was no use Jasper could close the distances within 3 seconds of me getting away.
RAH
A powerful slash barely missed my foot, triggering my Vulnerability Reader, revealing no weaknesses.
Feeling the weight of the situation, desperation fueled my decision to attempt something I hadn't dared before — infusing mana into my bow.
As I channeled mana into the bow, a transformation occurred. Streaks of arrows ignited with flames, creating a mesmerizing display. The first arrow pierced the air, colliding with Jasper's barrier in a burst of energy, a sight that not only shattered his defense but marked the first time I successfully executed such a maneuver.
"Shadow Writer has turned the tide! What an unexpected move, catching Jasper off guard!" The announcer exclaimed.
Yet, Jasper's formidable skill allowed him to dodge the rest of my arrows seeing what they were capable of, showcasing an agility that defied his massive frame.
I kept shooting and shooting endlessly with the ignited arrows, but they wouldn't seem to work. They weren't particularly fast or strong; they were just arrows being shot precisely, as he could deflect them with his sword or avoid them altogether.
But a sudden idea came to my head: What if I used aura concealment to seal the bow attribute in the arrow?
As I activated my aura concealment ability, I created illusions of attribute-less arrows. The deceptive projectiles found their mark, causing minimal yet significant damage.
"What just happened?" Jasper suddenly muttered to himself. He looked towards his now heavily bruised shoulder, bleeding from the aftereffects of the arrow. The arena witnessed such a scene as the crowd began cheering even louder.
Then it was a game of cat and mouse. While Jasper chased me relentlessly to stop me from releasing arrows, I was stuck running and attempting to shoot precisely at Jasper, but my aim was shaken mid-battle due to his ground-shaking running, throwing my aim off.
Jasper, unwavering, initiated aura slashes with killing intent. I used my ability Projectile Disarm and parried the initial strikes, but the third blow landed with brutal force, ripping through my attire and creating a line down the right side of my inner shoulder down to my waist as it bled and stung.
Critical Hit!
[HP: 28/68]
[Warning! If you are struck with a weapon 2 more times you will be knocked out.]
Seeing the notification on my screen, I realized that this situation was far worse than facing Bazz.
"I'll kill you for hurting me like that, brat. I was planning on taking it easy on you, but now there was no way I'll let you continue to evade me."
I quickly began tracking backward as I used Clockwork of Time once again. I could feel my stamina depleting. I conjured a streak of arrows imbued with my flame attribute and fired all that I could as soon as Clockwork of Time ran out.
Jasper was quick enough to reinforce the extent of that attack with his mana shield, but luckily for me, a few of the arrows found their mark, impairing his vision.
The tournament atmosphere intensified as I saw Jasper in a fit of rage, screaming, and suddenly he activated his amplification ability, a dark aura surrounding him.
A powerful sword strike sent me into the air, but I countered with a barrage of arrows, some decoys, others flaming streaks.
As the ground welcomed me back, stamina waned, and Jasper's vision deteriorated. Fueled by anger, his blind charge and shouts echoed in the arena. Throwing every type of slash he could as I evaded his unbridled swings, I retaliated with precisely timed streaks of ignited arrows.
"The tension in the arena is clear! Jasper's Vision is now impaired!" The announcer declared.
With the crowd in awe, they were standing on their feet, witnessing the spectacle as I saw Jasper still swinging within arm's reach of me.
Then I saw the Quest special condition.
[Special Condition: Your finishing move against your final opponent must come from your fists.]
Dropping my bow, I approached Jasper, transitioning to hand-to-hand combat.
"Shadow Writer shifts tactics! A daring move into close-quarters combat!" The announcer's voice echoed.
Despite the lack of force behind my strikes, I activated the Vulnerability Reader. Sparks of light emanated from Jasper's body, guiding my blows with precision as I exploited the weaknesses revealed to me. In his blindness, Jasper swung wildly, unable to discern my movements. A rapid succession of strikes unfolded—10, 20, 30, 40 times— I had punched him.
Deceiving his senses with my bow, I threw it at him. Without hesitation, he swung and smiled, believing he had secured his triumph.
Jasper stood motionless, wearing a triumphant smile. "Heh, It's a shame that you're only a puny little archer," he chuckled, the laughter following suit. "Finally! It's over."
Maintaining complete silence as the crowd hushed, and as his laughter subsided, I spoke out loud right behind him, "Not yet, pal."
Clenching my fist, I felt a surge of energy, a burst of black sparks and lightning. The impact created a shockwave that echoed through the arena. Jasper, caught off guard, was sent sprawling to the ground, unconscious.
[Luck has hit the mark.]
[Critical Hit!]
The announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeaker, "And there it is, folks! What a turn of events! Shadow Writer has landed a stunning blow, and Jasper is down for the count!"
The tournament crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, the arena vibrating with the intensity of the moment. The announcer continued, "In an incredible display of skill and determination, Shadow Writer has emerged victorious, overcoming the seemingly insurmountable odds in this tournament. This is a moment to remember, folks!"
The camera panned to Shadow Writer, standing tall amidst the cheers, his breath visible in the tournament's charged air. The victory was hard-fought, every move calculated, every arrow shot with precision. In the annals of the tournament's history, Shadow Writer's name would be remembered for toppling the giant and achieving triumph against formidable odds.