Academy Tournament Part 10

Chapter 83 - Academy Tournament Part 10

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Well, even if I said that its poisonous, it's not like it was enough to make Jett incapacitated in the fight. It's only a debuff that gradually loses the victim's HP for a period of time.

"So Lily," I mused. "What are you going to do?"

Lily started to grapple on the high ground and swing herself into an arc—positioning herself to a place where Jett is targetable. The moment her eyes so a glimpse of Jett hiding, she instantly shot 10 volleys of [Arrows] into him.

"Damn!" Jett was forced to withdraw and change his position into the safety location.

As he finds some good position, Jett hastily dodge the projectiles as he precisely and spectacularly threw his 『Glaives』 to the incoming [Arrows] if he finds it not able to dodge it. Luckily for him, it didn't take long before he finds a good wall spot in which he threw another 『Glaives』 directly to Lily in which Lily dodge it—temporarily stopping her attacks.

Jett didn't let those seconds of opportunity go to waste and went for the offensive. Quickly lunging and propelling himself through the wall to approach Lily who was left surprise into his unbelievable quick speed.

But it doesn't seem like it will be that easy. Lily immediately kept her composure and shoot another volleys of [Arrows] to Jett.

Out of every 『Ranger』 Class Jett had fought with, there is no one that is faster than Lily's [Arrows] that he had ever fought with. Not only he was being stormed with projectiles, but it was also even faster that he could barely react.

But nonetheless, he was able to successfully close his distance to Lily. He threw another 『Glaives』 at her to stop her from shooting momentarily. But as Jett was about to grab Lily's weapon—

"!!"

Jett was solidly stomped into his knee by Lily on a safe distance. Jett gritted his teeth in pain and was staggered in response. Lily took this opportunity and shoot volleys of [Arrows] into him. The 10 [Arrows] hit him directly into his chest—shaving his HP in half.

"Ugh?!" Jett gritted in pain.

Oh, it looks like she dislocated it. No wonder its often illegals to some parts in my old world.

"Alright!" Rina-san shouted in joy, pumping her fist in delight. "Good Job, Lily!"

"Amazing, Lily!" Luna uttered her astonishment. "In any case, that move really is useful for her huh, Master."

That's right. Weeks before the tournament, I taught Lily some CQC self-defense in case someone managed to close the gap between her and the opponent. Any range class is very vulnerable at close distance after all. I'm really glad it came necessary for her. But...

Just as Lily was about to shoot her finishing blow, she was suddenly thrown with a white orb. Lily backed away as quickly as she can, but it looks like she has no idea what it is. Lily carefully looking at the unknown white orb, it—

"Guh?!"

To her surprise, instead of exploding, the unknown orb flashes before her eyes—disorienting her senses in the process. Lily having been disoriented backed away as fast as she can—staggering as she struggles to retreat due to collapsed senses.

But of course, who would let their opponents get away.

Jett who had finally recovered using a [Potion] was on the run and went to follow Lily hastily. Lily already anticipated Jett's movements threw some [Smoke Grenades] on her way.

"Hoh..." Jett stops on his tracks, visibly amazed. "She's fully prepared, isn't she?"

After his remark and he begins to raise his arms, palms aiming into the smoke. He then opens his mouth and uttered a chant—

"⟨⟨Aerial Blast⟩⟩"

A huge wave of air blast into the smoke and exploded violently, blowing away all the existing smoke and revealing Lily's location.

Lily's senses had almost been recovered but it was too late. Jett ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ at her and kicked her weapon, forcefully grabbing her hand and pinning her into the ground.

"Lily Helianthus, Incapable of combat! Winner, Jett Midnight!"

Not going to explain it in full details. Basically, the crowd cheers in delight. In any case, it looks like someone on our side lost once again.

"Alright," I slowly rose into my seat. "I'm taking a piss."

"Bullshit." Sora frankly retorted.

"Nice fight, err... Lily, was it?" Jett stood-up, then followed Lily. "It was a close call. I didn't think I would let my guard down like that, it was a bit embarrassing."

"..."

Jett tried to lighten the mood up, but Lily wasn't having any of it. Without any response, Lily quietly left the centerstage with a blank expression.

Lily walks into the hallway with her face looking conflicted. Her mind is full of but one question: was she really that weak? She really wouldn't mind it if there was no reason. But, as a promise for her father... To the cultist whom she had sworn to take revenge with.

"Father..." Lily's eyes begin to get moist. "I'm sorry..."

"Hey," A voice immediately took Lily's attention to the guy slumped into the wall—it was me. "How do you feel?"

"Worst." Lily directly answered, looking tired. "To be frank, you're the person I don't really like to see the most..."

"Man, that's harsh..." I nonchalantly replied with a strained smile. "May I take the reason?"

"I... don't know..." Lily timidly said. "I just don't want you to see my like this, I guess?"

"Was it because of the fight?" I asked, then shrug. "But you actually almost won though? I think going toe to toe against Jett and almost winning is actually an achievement on itself."

"Was that really the case?" Lily retorted. "I just see myself being toyed with while I was just told to be careful just a while ago."

Yikes, she's very upset. Well, even I would feel dejected if I experienced the same. I expected her to shrug it off, but I didn't think she would be this competitive. for the reason of revenge that is...

I breathe out a sigh and approached Lily. Without any shame, I embraced her and started caressing her head gently.

"Huh...?" Lily expression was split into surprise and bewildered. "Is this supposed to make me feel better?"

"Uh... Yeah?" I gently said. "Did you not like it? Luna and Seia very much liked it, so I thought you'd also like it."

"So this is what you've been doing since earlier." A vein popped out on Lily's forehead, irritated but immediately calmed down and embraced me back fondly. "You know what, I don't care anymore..."

"Hehe, I didn't know you we're this easy to please."

"Shut up! It's not like I'm already over it, you know?" Lily complained, then turned timid all of a sudden. "It's really frustrating to see how weak I am..."

"It's still early to say that though?" I explained. "You still have room to grow, I just told you that—"

"Oh, found you." The two of us immediately turned our face into the man standing before us. "So this is where you've been into."

A black-haired guy that smells a bit of trouble stood before us. But despite his looking arrogant demeanor, his face was too soft that it looks like I'm looking at a kid trying to scare me. And for some reason, he's wearing our Academy's uniform, so his supposed intimidating look had completely disappeared.

"Davis Blackraven," The two of us looked at him in wary. "Is there a reason you're looking for me?"

"Oh, you already know me? Good, that make things faster this way." After his nonchalant attitude came a serious demeanor. "I ask you to forfeit for the next match."

"Huh?" My eyebrow raised in bewilderment. "What do you mean by that?"

"Ah, you didn't know." Davis composedly replied. "Just a while ago, the semifinals had been announced—and It seems like you'll be the one fighting me."

Announced huh... So that means Sora will be fighting Jett tomorrow. I don't know what this guy was thinking but that's a lot of nerve asking someone to forfeit for no reason.

"I also hate to do this, but I have no choice." Davis nonchalantly explained, scratching his head. "But this tournament is important for me. Too important."

Into his word then I had come into a realization. The green-haired girl with a sick sister, the cults, fraud, Davis's loved one dying in the game, tournament's reward...

"Davis, be honest with me," I sternly said. "Is this about Jasmine? And is about the cult suggesting you an expensive antidote?"

"Sai..." Lily worriedly looked at me, bewildered at the same time.

Davis paused at my statement and is looking like he's deeply thinking something. If my statement was the reason, then I can make her an antidote and there would be no need of a forfeit.

"Of course not," Davis candidly replied, but with a conflicted look. "It's for my own gain, alright."

"Right... Is that so?" I breath out a sigh and looked at him sternly. "Then I refuse."

I have no reason to accept something for the sake of such a useless reason. In any case, I hardly know Davis's attitude even the game, but I didn't think he'll stoop this low. Makes me disappointed. Irritatingly so.

"I-I'm eating my pride here to ask you right now. You've probably only participated here for the rewards am I right?"

"Of course, the rewards were also in there. But this tournament's also as important to my ambition."

Davis still wore his conflicted face until now. It seems like he's having a crisis on his own but I'm also losing my patience here. And then...

Davis breathes out an exasperated sigh his conflicted expression has been changed into being irritated.

"You know what?! Fuck it!" Davis finally snapped. "It's not like your shit ambition is worth even doing so. It's probably some shitty reason befitted for an underdog like you. Sigh, I should've had asked."

"You...!" Lily furiously shouted. "You don't have any—"

"Davis, as much as I hate inconvenience, I wouldn't let that pass." I waylaid Lily with my hands as I retort. "My ambition is just as important as my life—and I won't forgive anyone who dared to insult it."

"Is that so?" Davis unconcernedly replied. "Then good luck for tomorrow."

Davis then left the hallways as he waves his hand in gesture of saying goodbye. But before I forget, I used the ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ to Davis before he left the hallways.

『Davis Blackraven』

『HP: 400』

『MP: 400』

『Armor: 32』

『AGI: 950-1900』

『DEX: 625』

『ENDURANCE: 630』

Skills:

⟨⟨Rapid Life Regeneration⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Iaijutsu⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Greater Bloodlust⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Triple Jump⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Godspeed⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Voiding⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Multiple⟩⟩ ⟨⟨6-Cuts Begi⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Riposte⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Parry⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Rage⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Kin-Geri⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Remise⟩⟩ ⟨⟨CQC⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Martial Arts⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Quick speed⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Quick Decision⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Equanimity⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Flick⟩⟩

"Damn it," I clicked my tongue in response. "So this is what Luna means by that."

The two of us looked at Davis in a scornful look as we saw his figure slowly disappeared from our sight. After his disappearance and Lily looked at me in concern.

"Are you going to be okay tomorrow?" Lily asked.

"Of course," I said and caress Lily's head in reassurance. "I'll do something about it."

I had the knowledge of game inside my head. Combine that with my current skill and I guess I'm pretty capable of defeating him tomorrow. Or so I thought...

"Shall we go?" I gently asked.

"Yeah."

And thus, the two of us left the hallways back into our friends.

Little did I know that my fight towards Davis will literally change how I see this world forever.

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(Davis Blackraven)

Damn it, my pride got into myself again. I will have no choice but to fight that guy... Damn it really.

I don't know why but I was surprised that Sai knew about the Cult, and he even said that I was being deceived? Ugh! If only I came honest with him... I wonder if he'll help me... In any case, I just got to do what I got to do...

"I'll do anything to cure you, Jasmine." I muse as promise to myself. "That's why please... Don't get worst."

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『Glaives』

• 45 Rogue Damage

• 8% Critical Strike

• A boomerang that will return to the wielder after thrown.