Chapter 30 You aren't a gladiator... YOU ARE THE ENTIRE COLISEUM

While Daniel and Thalassa had a frantic fight, a stark contrast played out with James, who was running 'cowardly' evading any kind of interaction with his opponent. James wasn't at his peak, and the matchup didn't favor him.

Being a kind of mage against a barbarian should give him the advantage. The problem is that James isn't your typical mage. At this moment, he is more like a "support" because he spent all his mana reserve twice this day.

The battlefield resonated with the thunderous footsteps of a towering woman. The strong woman of 2.2 meters carried some weird crimson red gauntlet claws with small intricate turquoise lines. Violently roared at James for his actions, "COME HERE AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN!"

In response, James, maintaining an air of refined composure, adjusted his clothes with a gentlemanly grace. "I'm sorry but how could I lower myself to such an extent by hitting a lady?" he quipped, carrying a playful mockery tone that seemed to infuriate the barbarian even more.

As James gracefully ran through the battlefield, the musical background drastically shifted once again, swapping for a very lively and spirited piece called 'Italian Polka.' This 'Italian polka' sounded more... 'playful' than it should normally sound, amplifying his mockery.

James is literally a living orchestra. He must have a good grasp of music to play these pieces, but something about his ability is that it isn't necessarily a weapon. The option of just playing the music without any effects is always there. Normally, he would only do that to create an ambiance, and right now, it was to mock off the enemy.

Bewildered by his enemy's actions, the barbarian exclaimed angrily, "Do you think I'm a clown?" by the look of her remarked vein in her head, at any moment, she will burst into a frenzy fueled by pure rage.

James gave her a little smile, letting a slight chuckle escape. "No! of course not... Lady, you are the whole circus."

Suddenly, the symphony changed, and the unmistakable tunes of 'Entry of the Gladiators' filled the air, blaring loudly in the arena.

The female barbarian didn't take this joke lightly. Enraged by James's jest, yelling, "DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY I'M GONNA GET THERE AND CUT YOUR DI-"

The intensifying music abruptly cut off her words. James bowed like a gentleman as if taking center stage, and somehow, his voice miraculously echoed crystal clear over the orchestrated chaos, "My mistake, Lady Zyra, you are the entire entertainment industry!"

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT! MONADO ART: SPEED " Zyra's legs propelled her forward. The red Claws she had emanated a faint blue aura accentuating the danger they represented.

The second she got closer, she used another ability. "MONADO ART: BUSTER!" just as Zyra yelled this word, The faint aura changed to purple. The once-threatening claws now felt even more dangerous than before.

As the girl rushed to his position, James, undeterred, with all the calm of the world, uttered, "Sinfonia, Melting Waltz."

The tranquil, serene notes of the Melting Waltz replaced the prior piece. Zyra knew something was wrong with her body. Attuned to her body's nuances as a seasoned fighter, she felt a slow rise in her body temperature. The gradual rise in her body temperature triggered an internal alarm.

In response, Zyra hastily shouted, "MONADO ART: SHIELD," in an attempt to suppress the effects. Realizing it wasn't enough, she used a more potent technique in herself. "MONADO ART: PURGE." The combined efforts finally dispelled James's spell.

Some pieces of James can be interpreted differently, depending on his knowledge, thoughts and emotions. James decided to take Melting Waltz literally, a "Melting waltz."

Despite his stoic facade, a subtle "Tsk..." betrayed his concern by escaping from his lips. The musician was quite worried, but he had to keep his masquerade. 'Appear weak when you are strong and strong when you are weak.' He has to keep this charade until either the mana sickness passes or someone comes to this place. The Pegasi friends should be strong. After all, the Pegasi's strength was terrifying.

Unless... no, it can be. How silly of me. The entry of the gladiators probably affected me.

Momentarily lost in his thoughts, James refocused as Zyra charged once again. With an overly serious expression, he incanted, "Debussy, Clair de lune." 

As the ethereal notes filled the air, he was about to make a joke about it. Zyra counteracted whatever he was doing with a strong push, "Monado Art: Cyclone."

Quickly canceling his spell to conserve energy, James maintained his mask, humorously asking, "Lady, do you like tango?" 

Disdainfully, she angrily replied, "The only thing I like right now is bashing your skull to the ground."

The music in the background changed to L'amour est un oiseau rebelle, better known as Carmen Habanera.

James extended his hand theatrically, inviting Zyra to dance. "Why such aggression? I'm just cordially inviting you to dance tango." he gave a small sigh before continuing, "The things a man has to do today for just a dance."

Seething with anger, Zyra retorted, "I haven't been pissed off since a while..." Her turbulent emotions were evident as she struggled to contain herself.

James nonchalantly suggested, "Lady, it was nice to meet you but look behind you."

The symphony changed, becoming more dramatic and active. Bewildered, Zyra quickly turned around, just to find... nothing. When she faced James again, he found him pointing at her.

James laughed out loud, almost crying out of joy. He wiped a tear that came from laughing so hard. "Lady if I wanted you death you would be already, I'm just toying with you."

Trying to mock his lack of imagination, she replied angrily, "Really? such a cliche phrase? Like, couldn't you think anything better?"

James, still laughing, answered, "Sorry lady, but we are short in the department of imagination like my 8 ball said once: "Try again later."

As James kept dodging and using all kinds of pieces to buy time, he got an idea, Should I say I'm a young master? What would be my overly-excessive title?

The user of the unmatched Ancient sword since the beginning of the creation of the primordial terrors of chaos that annihilates eternal deities by piercing the heavens without equal."

Perfect! Oh, right, I must do that first.

He grinned and teased, "Also, lady, you should look behind you. My friend actually came this time."

With Her anger escalating, Zyra snapped, yelling even angrier than before, "DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID"!"

James casually stated, "Of course not, In fact I know you are stupid! which is quite different, if you want I can explain you the differences."

"MONADO ART: SPEED-" Attempting another Monado Art, Zyra's voice was abruptly silenced. A cold, metallic object pierced her chest. Looking down, she saw a sword covered in a blue aura impaling her heart.

Even with her heart pierced, Zyra summoned her dwindling strength to strike back, barely musing enough strength to swing her claws against the perpetrator.

Daniel swiftly parried the weak attack. Slowly, the female barbarian walked to James' position, sluggishly raising her claws. Gradually, her steps slowed until they ceased entirely. The battle concluded, drawing the end of Zyra's furious pursuit.

Seeing the fight was finally over, James thanked Daniel with a gesture and asked something, "Thank you and have the other finished-"

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" A thunderous battle cry rumbled, shattering the brief calm. The deafening scream reverberated in their ears, signaling Zyra's unexpected survival after having her heart pierced.

The piercing scream shocked them. The barbarian somehow managed to live after getting her heart pierced

Inexplicable tattoos emerged across Zyra's body, adorned with all kinds of symbols that James and Daniel couldn't decipher. The unforeseen turn of events prompted James to prepare for another fight.

James warned Daniel, "Get ready to fight 'cause she want to give us a free ticket to the other side so we can accompany her."

The musician, without any hurry, began his incantation, "Sinfonia: The Creatures of Prometheus."

Extending his hand in courtesy, he struggled with a mispronounced word, "I'm flabbe-weugh." 

Trying to say the word correctly because he bit his tongue, he kept trying "flabbe- flawbe..."

After three tries, he decided to slowly say the word "Fla-bber-gas-ted... Who invented that word? Like flattered is enough. We don't need more words for the same thing."

The floor below the barbarian broke out of the brute force her relentless rush down carried. James estimated that one hit would be enough to take him out.

Barely managing to dodge her attack, the musician kept speaking with his tauntful tone, "AH! You finally decided to accept dancing with me."

Daniel frowned, confused. What was he doing?

James' gaze turned to Daniel, "Don't worry, look at her tattoos, probably a last breath technique to take their opponents with them."

With his gaze back to the problem, The ballet started. James started to move swiftly with elegance, dodging the frantic barbarian barrage of attacks.

No matter what she threw, everything was useless. The contrast between James' graceful waltz that could end at any moment and the mindless brute frenzy created a bizarre dance on the battlefield.

This was amplified by him changing the music to harmonize with his moves. The original piece didn't feel the same. The tempo and notes constantly changed a bit, and slowly but steadily, the classical piece changed until it became unrecognizable.

As he danced, James told Daniel, "I recommend you to go and help the others I can dance with this lady for a while, right now she is too angry to die."

"Thanks..."

As Daniel walked to the exit, he could hear the faint voice of James chanting, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

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Authors note:

Um, happy 1.8K word chapter?

I wanted to write something here but I forgot... probably nothing important.

I got sick... Sorry. (My brother got sick, and now I got sick because you know... We live in the same house.)

I'll try to upload another chapter tomorrow.

(I also procrastinated a lot this week, I'm feeling more and more lazy, is weird.)