Academy Tournament Part 6

Chapter 79 - Academy Tournament Part 6

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(Audience Seat - 30 minutes before the quarterfinals)

Me, Rina-san, and Aedan were having a fun conversation with Akari and Aoyuki who were quietly listening. Eating lunch with friends sure is the best... Is how it was supposed to be but for some reason...

"Guh..."

""...""

"Awawawawa...!"

Luna, Lily, Seia, Sora, and Astra—who's the competitors in this upcoming quarterfinal in this tournament were having an existential crisis. I had told them to eat their fill so they can draw their full potential this afternoon, but they've been overwhelmed by their own anxiety that I can't help but sigh in exasperation.

I can't blame them though, aside from fighting their own friends, the intense feeling of almost seeing the finish line and the public eye watching you in full expectation wasn't at any least pleasant at all. As for me...

"Mhm!" I moaned in delight. "Goddamn Man, I really miss this taste. Chicken Empanada sure is one of the best...!

I was appreciating the nostalgic taste of Chicken Empanada as we eat. The joy that I felt when I saw a glimpse of it on the food stall was very enthusiastic that everyone started to look at me weirdly. It was intentional thought. As for the reason, the guys who were having an existential crisis were staring daggers at my nonchalant attitude.

"That bastard," Sora stared daggers at me, gritting his teeth in irritation. "How the heck is he so calm even though it's the quarterfinals...! Is he that confident in his skill?"

"Right...?" Lily agreed. "Was there anything he can feel at least?"

"As expected of Master, I guess..." Luna timidly added. "In any case, I wonder how will I beat Davis..."

I was very happy to hear that Luna was very keen in this. It just made me remember that Luna was really eager to anything she does.

I tried to encourage the fight on the remaining time we have. In the end, I manage to ease them even a bit but of course, the nervousness is still there. Until the next match had started.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we would like to announce that the hour of breaktime has come to an end. This afternoon finally starts the anticipated quarterfinals of the 2nd Day tournament!!"

After the announcer's statement and the Centerstage begins to change its shape. The Centerstage that was just a plain square arena had turned into an arena with some rocky landform—an environment change. The crowd unleashed an enthusiastic cheer in response. This situation made the participants, even I, skip a beat caused by a feeling that splits in both excitement and nervousness.

"Ugh...!" Seia groaned, looking pale and sick. "I feel like vomiting..."

"For the first round of the quarterfinals! This competitor demonstrated and demolished her opponents with her quick skills and reflexed, coupled by her weapon that completely overwhelmed her opponents that they don't even stand a chance to respond back!!"

A panel showing Seia's profile was projected from the center. "Seia! at the Centerstage if you may!!"

Oh! I forgot to mention, this tournament also gives a title made by the nobles and the majority once they think you're deemed to have a potential as an amateur. They usually gave you once you've managed to reach the quarterfinals or the semi. They will usually mention it at the end of the tournament.

"And now, this competitor displays a tranquil beauty but overwhelming use of his sword. A gentle guy you should never judge by his harmless display!!"

A panel showing Sora's profile was projected next besides Seia. "Sora! At the centerstage!!"

Seia and Sora rose into their seat and slowly walk away towards the hallway with a pale expression. But before they walk off—

"Seia." I called the orange-haired fox to which she turned in response. "Goodluck."

Seia paused for a moment before she firmly nodded in response. Both of them went down into the Centerstage timidly. For that reason, it took a bit of time before the two went at the center. Damn, they don't look good at all...

Cheers louder than before roars from the audience seat. Both Sora and Seia we're being cheered by the audiences in excitement and high expectation.

"Goodluck you two!!"

"Master, Goodluck!!"

"Goodluck!!"

Of course, even us friends passionately cheered the two. Seeing our full support, the two smiled at us in response. Good, their tensed expression is starting to disappear.

"Look at them cheering us." Sora look at us with serene expression. "I didn't think I will have those trusted friends when I enrolled here in the Academy."

"You could say the same thing about me." Seia gently responded. "I guess I have Sai to thank for that..."

"Yeah..." Sora inhaled deeply, then took his fighting stance—a long point stance using his sword. "No hard feelings."

My eyes widened when Sora revealed his sword in his inventory. Unlike the 『Platinum Sword』 that he's been using in this match, he unleashed his sword that I think is the strongest in his arsenal.

The 『Fractured Incandescence』—a broadsword that's crafted using a four specific weapon—and the weapon that's opposite of my weapon, the 『Imperfect Demon Sword』. With its beautiful golden hilt, the blade of this sword boasts a very beautiful glass like appearance. Similar to mine, it also shoots a light blade projectile when swung. It seems like the crowd also had displayed their surprise when they saw it—thus, loud cheers were shouted by the audiences in response.

"Ohh..." Seia was dumbfounded for a brief second before she firmly nodded and sternly narrowed her posture. "Goodluck to both of us."

"Seia versus Sora, Match Begin!!"

The two immediately made their moves, Seia rains Sora with bullets as she grapples away to distance herself. Sora begins his moves by plunging sideways to dodge, approaching Seia steadily at same speed.

"Using a 『Grappling Hook』 in a fight... That's a very unique way of using it." Sora mentioned in awe. "This is going to be tough...!"

Compared to my 『Imperfect Demon Sword』, The 『Fractured Incandescence』 has more skill that can be used. You see, this weapon has a special function.

Sora who was being stormed with bullets swung his sword which deflected the bullets—a ⟨⟨Parry⟩⟩ skill. After a brief moment and his sword started to light-up and grow in size.

And the moment Sora performed a ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ towards Seia, he accelerated instantly to Seia as if he was propelled.

"So fast—Ugh?!?!"

Seia who was caught surprise was hit in an unbelievable speed and flew away violently as if she was like a ball who was thrown with a huge force, creating an upsurge of smoke on impact.

Vigorous noise continuously erupted from the crowds in excitement. Just the start of the fight and it was already this intense.

"Is it over...?" Sora stood on top of the tall rocky structure as he ponders. "No...! I doubt she will—"

A flying bullet came out to the smoke in surprise which manage to hit Sora on his left shoulder. It's not that he was letting his guard down, the bullet was just faster than before.

The moment the smoke started to dissipate, a figure of Seia holding her 『Musket』 can be seen standing.

『Seia: 628/800』

"Damn it." Seia swipe the debris on her face. "I didn't know you can do those unbelievable speed. Color me surprise."

Without wasting any second, Seia begins to sprint towards Sora's location. Despite the fast and rapid velocity of her 『Uzi』, Seia hasn't managed to hit Sora even once—with the exception of earlier of course.

Then suddenly, someone propelled to herself once again—it was Sora. But compared to earlier, Seia managed to defend herself using the black sphere object on her hand.

"Not gonna fall for the second time."

"Wha?!" Sora widened his eyes in surprise. "How did you—"

"By this...!!" Seia pushed Sora away and retreated, then threw the black sphere object to him. Sora who was staggered by a sudden push finally saw the object that managed to defend his attack.

"A [Bomb]?! You—?!"

Boom! The [Bomb] violently exploded before Sora managed to retreat. He flew away in response to the force of the explosion coupled with the burns that drastically dished out his health in an instant.

But it didn't end there, just when Sora was about to stood-up and his body was suddenly grappled. He was expecting to be pulled but it didn't happen; instead, Seia with unbelievable speed was hastily accelerating towards him.

(She used the Hook to plunge herself towards me...!!)

With quick decision, Sora timed his sword to Seia who was accelerating towards him and swung his sword at the right time. But before it manages to reach her, Seia points a two gun towards Sora—it was the 『Boomstick』 on her left and the 『Uzi』 on the latter.

"Eat this...!" Seia kick the air swiftly and ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ back before the blade manage to reach her.

『Grappling Hook』 + 『Boomstick』 + 『Uzi』 + ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩

Bam! Sora was shot by a shotgun point-blank coupled with the spray of her 『Uzi』.

"Amazing!" Lily's jaw dropped as she voiced out her awe.

"Beautiful." I curtly respond, cheerfully smiling. "I didn't think she could do that."

"M-master...!" Aoyuki shouted, her eyebrows drooped in concern.

The others also had their mouth open in awe to Seia's performance, combined with a thunderous noise coming from the audiences that was left impressed. But...

"You're strong."

Then suddenly, Seia who was backing out was cut all over her body instantly. This leaves both Seia and the audiences eyes widened to what just happened. After the smoke started to dissipate and Sora can be seen making a certain stance. Shit that's...!

『Sora: 136/600』

"Not good...!!" I blurted out in surprise. "I didn't know he could do that...!!"

It seems like everyone recognize that stance. Even Astra and Aoyuki didn't know he can do it just by looking at their reaction. That stance was...!!

⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Multiple⟩⟩

With unbelievable speed, Seia was struck with a consecutive slash. Seia can probably also see it but sadly, Sora was too close on her.

"Guh...!!" Seia gritted her teeth in panic. Before Seia gets staggered, she tried to shoot Sora with her 『Boomstick』 but was ⟨⟨Parried⟩⟩ by Sora on the last second. Once again, Sora's sword begins to light-up and grew bigger.

Sora never manage to use it earlier but the difference between my 『Imperfect Demon Sword』 and his 『Fractured Incandescence』 is that, not only it will strengthen the holder by 1.5 times, but once Sora's sword managed to successfully ⟨⟨Parry⟩⟩ something, this sword will also give its user a certain temporary skill that can only be used when using that sword.

"I'm sorry about this..." Sora said in regret. And then...

⟨⟨Adrenaline⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Battōjutsu⟩⟩ + ⟨⟨Sword Flourish⟩⟩

Sora started to attack with a quickdraw and started swing his sword beautifully and swiftly, as if he was dancing. Not only it was fast, but thanks to the sword's passive 1.5 strengthening coupled with the ⟨⟨Adrenaline⟩⟩ Seia was violently getting slashed all over her body.

Sora was slashing at an unbelievable rate that Seia feels like she was being locked in a cage while being sliced apart—no way of escaping. She tried to grapple away but it was in vain.

"Ugh...!!" Seia gritted her teeth with a frustrated look. "D-damn it..."

The moment Sora saw Seia drop, he immediately stops his attacks and swiftly catches her before she drops into the ground.

『Seia: 1/800』

"I also have my reason for winning this..." Sora mumbled. "I'm sorry..."

"W-winner! Sora!!"

The audience bustled loudly in celebration to the announcement. Cheering vigorously to the epic conclusion of the battle that's entertainingly longer than any of the fights before.

"I'll be going off for a while." I mentioned and rose into my seat.

No one responded back into my statement, as they probably already know where I'm heading. I know that someone has to lose but my feeling doesn't feel like it fully agrees into that statement.

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『Fractured Incandescence』

• 70 Melee Damage

• 4% Critical Damage

• The blade of Justice that's wielded against the evil of this world. Hitting a successful ⟨⟨Parry⟩⟩ will grant the wielder a 1.5 strength increase and will be given the ⟨⟨Sword Flourish⟩⟩ ability which can be used for a certain period of time.

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『Uzi』

• 30 Range Damage

• 4% Critical Damage

• Shoots a rapid and powerful high-velocity bullet.

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⟨⟨Sword Flourish⟩⟩ - A sword skill which spins or twirl the sword around your body as if you are dancing.

⟨⟨Adrenaline⟩⟩ - A skill that multiplies your strength by twice the amount for 5 seconds. After the timer and you Mana will be completely drained which will leave you vulnerable for a short period of time.