Countless Variations

"Sige, ngayon bubuksan ko ang aking mga mata para makita itong tinatawag na unspecialized character!" sabi ni Chen Gou. Noong nagsimula palang siyang maglaro ng Glory, naubos na ang mga unspecialized characters.

"Gumawa ka ng room, sige, pumili ka ng map, iyan, iyong pinakamaliit" tumayo sa likod ni Tang Rou si Chen Gou habang tumutoro turo. Ang Arena ng Glory ay isang joint server. Matapos sumali sa Arena, ang manlalaro ay maaaring makipaglaban sa iba't ibang tao sa iba't ibang server. Ang character ay magkakaroon ng server number sa tabi ng kanilang pangalan. Sa ganitong paraan, kahit iyong may mga parehas na pangalan ay maibubukod gamit ang kanilang pinanggalingang server.

"Imbitahin mo siya. Lord Grim. Iyang dalawang salitang iyan." Sabi ni Chen Gou. Nagpadala naman si Tang Rou ng Imbitasyon at nagprompt ang system: ang manlalarong inimbitahan ay wala sa Arena

"Anong ginagawa mo, bilisan mo!" sigaw ni Chen Gou.

"Sandali lang, hayaan mo munang gamitin ko ang skill points ko" nag level up si Lord Grim kagabi. Leveling, magclear ng dungeons, quests, nakapagtala na ito ng medyo maraming skill points at hindi pa siya nagkakaroon ng oras para gamitin ito.

"Ang bagal" bulong ni Chen Gou sa kanyang sarili

Kahit na nagaalala siya, si Tang Rou naman sa isang banda, ay kalmado at hindi nagmamadali. Habang tumitingin sa equipment ni Chasing Haze: "Nakakuha ba ka ba bagong magandang equipment?" kahit hindi siya naglalaro, sa pagkakaalam niya ang Chasing Haze ay hindi bababa kaysa sa gamit ni Chen Gou. Tutal, mahal na mahal ni Chen Gou na pagusapan iyon!

"Hindi, paano naman iyon ganoon kadali!" Habang sumasagot si Chen Gou, hindi makapagintay na tingin ang itinoon niya kay Ye Xiu, pero ng makita niyang palihim nitong kiniwayan siya, ito ay senyales na pinapapunta siya nito.

Anong ginagawa nito? Bulong ni Chen Gou habang naglalakad siya papalapit dito.

"Para espesyal mo kaming paglabanin sa isa't isa, wala kang espesyal na rason, hindi ba?" tanong ni Ye Xiu sa mababang boses.

"Ano sa tingin mo?"

"Hindi ko alam, kaya nga ako nagtatanong! Hindi mo kailangang panalunin ko siya hindi ba?" sabi ni Ye Xiu.

"Papanalunin? Sabihin mo iyan kapag natalo mo na siya!" sabi ni Chen Gou.

"Sige sige" tumango naman si Ye Xiu at hinayaang pumasok si Lord Grim sa Arena: "Handa na"

Nagimbita si Tang Rou at tinanggap naman ni Ye Xiu. Tumakbo balik si Chen Gou sa likuran ni Tang Rou. Si Ye xiu naman hindi nagmamadali. Nag stretch muna siya ng leeg at nagtanong: "Maglalaban na lang tayo ng ganito? Bakit hindi tayo mag karoon ng maliit na pustahan?"

"Anong pustahan?" hindi maintindihan ni Chen Gou

"Halimbawa, isang pakete ng sigarilyo." Mungkahe ni Ye Xiu

Halos mamatay na sa galit si Chen Gou. Sakto naman bago siya sumigaw, masayang sinabi ni Tang Rou: "Sige! Kahit hindi ako nagsisigarilyo at wala rin akong sigarilyo. Magpustahan tayo ng 100 yuan, ano sa tingin mo?

"Sige sige!" masayang pagsangayon ni Ye Xiu

"Ako na ang magiging saksi. Ito 100 yuan" naglabas si Tang Rou ng 100 yuan at ibinigay ito kay Chen Gou.

"Parehas kayong nagkasundo?" gulat na gulat si Chen Gou.

"Katuwaan lang!" tumatawang sabi ni Tang Rou

"Sige." Maligayang kinuha ni Chen Gou ang 100 yuan ni Tang Rou. "At ikaw?"

"A…Oh, wala iyon, mayroon akong rare na box ng sigarilyo…"

"Start start."

"Nasiraan ka na ng bait sa kahirapan, hindi ba?" tuwang tuwa naman si Chen Gou at tumatawa pa. Kinuha niya ang 100 yuan at winasiwas sa harapan niya: "Ito, hahayaan ko munang hiramin mo ito. Ikakaltas ko sa sweldo mo."

"Sige sige. Ibabalik ko din ito agad" sabi ni Ye Xiu

"Taas ng kompyansa. Magsisimula na tayo!" sabi ni Tang Rou.

Nagbago ang senaryo at pumasok ang dalawa sa Arena. Ang map ang pinaka maliit na stage. Ang mga kalaban ay nakatayo sa magkabilang tabi. Nagmistulang coach sa labas ng stage si Chen Gou: "Hindi pa siya nagpapalit ng class. Ito ang tinatawag ng unspecialized character. Madami siyang skill variations. Kung titignan mo ang kanyang weapon, malalaman mo kung anong class ang kanyang gagamitin."

"Oh." Sagot ni Tang Rou. Kahit hindi pa siya opisyal na naglalaro ng Glory, sa kalahating taon marami na siya nalarong rounds ng PK para kasy Chen Gou. Alam niya na lahat ng iba't ibang classes.

"Edi, anong tawag sa weapon na hawak niya?" pagturo ni Tang Rou sa screen.

"Ito…Ito…" tumingin si Chen Gou ng matagal peor hindi niya mapagtanto kung ano bai to. Kaya naman direkta siyang nagtanong: "Anong weapon iyong nasa kamay mo?"

"Walang kahihiyan!" sabi ni Ye Xiu "Kailangan mo pang magtanong?"

"Mukha itong payong?" hinayaan ni Tang Rou na maglakad ng ilang hakbang si Chasing Haze at nagzoom-in

"Payong? Walang ganoong klase ng weapon. Dapat walis iyan, hindi ba?" lumiyad naman paharap si Chen Gou para makita.

"Susugod na ako!" habang sinasabi ito ni Ye Xiu, hinayaan niya si Lord Grim na tumakbo paharap ng straight line papunta kay Chasing Haze.

Mabilis namang nagreact si Tang Rou. Noong kumilos si Lord Grim, nagalaw na agad niya ang kanyang mouse ng mabilis at saktong tumira. Pero sa isang iglap, pumitik lang si Lord Grim at naiwasan na nito ang tira. Si Chen Gou naman na nanonood sa tabi, alam na ang ganitong move ay tinatawag na Z shke. Madali lang ang principle nito, pero sobrang mahirap gawin sa mismong laban.

Matapos iwasan ang tira, sinarado ni Lord Grim ang distansya. Binaba niya ang kanyang katawan at nagSlide Kick papunta kay Chasing Haze.

"Tuso talaga!" masyadong nadala si Chen Gou. Kahit na ang Slide Kick ay isang Gunner Skill, ito ay isang Body Skill, at hindi importante ang weapon. Kahit na nagawa na ang ganitong atake hindi parin nito nilabas kung anong gamit ang kanyang hinahawakan.

At iyon na nga, hindi naman binigo ng hand speed ni Tang Rou ang inaasahan ni Chen Gou. Bago tumama ang Slide Kick ay gumulong na si Chasing Haze sa daan. Mabilis siyang tumayo at nagsimula ng maghanda ng body skill para makatama balik. Ang kanyang dodge, move at attacks ay ginawa sa napakabilis na paraan.

Sino ba naman ang magaakalang may magfaflash na puting ilaw sa screen. Naglabas si Lord Grim ng matalas na sword galing sa hindi malamang weapon sa kanyang kaliwa.

Itong makinang na ilaw na ito ay hindi lang kasing simple ng pagbunot ng weapon. Ito ay isang Blade Master Skill: Sword Draw.

Itong atakeng ito ay surpresa para kay Chen Gou. Kahit gusto niyang magpalit ng aksyon, takot lang niya na ang reaction speed niya ay masyadong mabagal. Hindi katulad niya, ang kaliwang kamay ni Tang Rou ay nakatap na sa keybard ng dalawang beses. Ang kanan naman ay tumulak sa mouse. Tumalon naman pabalik at naghanda para magpakawala ng isapang shot si Chasing Haze.

Sa move na ito naiwasan niya nag Sword Draw attack at nakaputok balik. Matapos niyang magpakawala ng shot gamit ang recoil, tumalon siya pabalik para palawakin ang kanilang distansya. Talaga namang killing 3 birds in one stone. Bago pa man makasigaw si Chen Gou ng "Good", hindi niya inakalang matapos gamitin ni Lord Grim ang Sword Draw, nakabalik na agad ang kanyang sword sa sheath nito. At kinuha naman nito ang oportunidad na gamitin ang chain "Sword""Belt""Sheath" at humabol kay Chasing Haze mid-air. At sa mga oras na ito ay malapit na siya.

Ang pagbabagong ito ay mas mabilis. Hindi malaman ni Chen Gou kung sinong Clade Master ang aatake gamit ang sheath para mag-smash. Pero narandaman niyang may kaunting distansya pa si Chasing Haze at Lord Grim. Matapos ay nagbukas ang parang paying na nasa kamay ni Lord Grim. Sa isang iglap, bumaliktad ang payong at ang mga buto ng payong ay bumaliktad. Pinagtuonan nila ng pansin ang dulo ng lance at kung magstab bai to papunta kay Chasing Haze. Madaling sumunod ay ang pagbaliktan ni Lord Grim sa handle. Itong lance ay gumuhit ng kalahating bilog habang sinasama si Chasing Haze dito at binaliktad siya upside down, ulo sa baba at paa sa ibabaw.

Nagulat naman si Chen Gou dahil hindi ito ordinaryong atake. Itong skill na ito ay tinatawag na "Circle Swing", Battle Mage Skill. Hindi ito rare na skill sa mga unspecialized character, pero ang problema ay ginamit ni Lord Grim ito para magawa ang Sword Draw, na dapat ay pang Swordsman Class na weapon. Paano niya itong ginawang Battle Mage Lance sa isang iglap lang?

Mas lalo namang nagulat si Tang Rou sa kanyang mga technique. Matapos nilang maglaban saglit, mas mabagal pala siya ng isang level. Ito ang hindi niya inaasahan.

Nang dahil sa first person perspective game ang Glory, ang ganitong klaseng skill katulad ng Circle Swing ay bahagyang malakas. Ang pagbaliktad ng langut at lupa sa isang iglap at talaga namang nakakawala ng direksyon ng isang tao, dahilan ng pagkayamot ng biktima. Dahil pwede nang masabing beterano na si Chen Gou kaya namang hindi siya darating sa puntong malilito siya. Pero sa katulad ni Tang Rou na paminsan minsan lang naglalaro, kahit na sabihin nating talaga namang mabilis ang hand speed niya yung tipo na bigla na lang mababago ang viewpoint niya ay sobra para sa kanya.

Kaya naman minadali niyang alamin kung nasaang direksyon siya ay ipinulupot niya ang katawan. Pero sa hindi inaasahan, hindi niya mabaliktad ang katawan ni Chasing Haze. Itinaas naman niya ang ulo ng character niya para tumingin. Ang isa sa mga paa ni Lord Grim ay nakatapak sa kanya habang ang isa ay nanatili sa lupa. Ang gamit sa kanyang kamay ay bumalik na sa orihinal nitong hitsura. Ngayon nagmumukha itong close range pose. Nung makita ito sa wakas ni Chen Gou at Tang Rou na isa nga itong payong at ang payong naito'y nakatutok sa ulo ni Chasing Haze.

Ang dalawa ay hindi pa rin nakakamove-on sa gulat na kanilang natamo ng maglabas ang dulo ng payong ng tongue of flame. Peng Peng Peng, sunod sunod na tunog ng patama nito sa nasa babang si Chasing Haze.

Chapter 48: Countless Variations

"Okay, today I'll open my eyes and see this so-called unspecialized character!" Chen Guo said. From when she started playing Glory, unspecialized characters had already become extinct.

"Make a room, okay, pick that map, right, the smallest one." Chen Guo stood behind Tang Rou pointing. Glory's Arena was a joint server. After joining the Arena, a player could duel others from different servers. The character would have the server number next to the name. This way, even the those with the same name could be differentiated by servers.

"Invite him. Lord Grim. Right, those two words." Chen Guo said. Tang Rou sent the invite and the system prompted: the player you have invited is not in the Arena.

"What are you doing, hurry up!" Chen Guo yelled.

"Wait a bit, let me use my skill points." Lord Grim had leveled up last night. Leveling, clearing dungeons, quests, he had accumulated quite a few skill points and hadn't had the time to use them yet.

"So slow." Chen Guo mumbled to herself.

Although she was worried, Tang Rou, on the other hand, was calm and unhurried. Looking at Chasing Haze's equipment: "Have you recently gotten any good equipment?" Although she didn't play, her knowledge of Chasing Haze wasn't lower than Chen Guo's. After all, Chen Guo loved to talk about it!

"No, how could it be so easy!" While Chen Guo replied, she impatiently looked towards Ye Xiu, but saw that guy sneakily waving his hands at her, hinting her to come over.

What are you doing? Chen Guo muttered to herself as she walked over.

"To specially want me and her to battle a round, you don't have any particular reason, do you?" Ye Xiu asked in a low voice.

"What do you think?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you! You don't need me to let her win, right?" Ye Xiu said.

"Let? Say it after you've beaten her!" Chen Guo said.

"Okay okay." Ye Xiu nodded his head and let Lord Grim enter the Arena: "Ready."

Tang Rou invited and Ye Xiu accepted. Chen Guo ran back to behind Tang Rou. Ye Xiu, however, wasn't in a rush. He stretched out his neck and asked: "Just fight like this? Do you want to do a little betting?"

"What betting?" Chen Guo didn't understand.

"For example, a cigarette pack." Ye Xiu suggested.

Chen Guo almost died from anger. Right when she was about to roar, Tang Rou said happily: "Okay! I can't smoke and I don't have any cigarettes either. Let's bet a hundred yuan, what do you think?

"Okay okay!" Ye Xiu gladly agreed.

"Then I'll testify. Here's a hundred yuan." Tang Rou took out a hundred yuan and gave it to Chen Guo.

"Do you both agree?" Chen Guo was flabbergasted.

"It's just for fun!" Tang Rou laughed.

"Okay." Chen Guo delightedly took Tang Rou's one hundred yuan: "And you?"

"I...Oh, that's nothing, I have here a rare cigarette box...."

"You've gone mad from poverty, haven't you?" Chen Guo really was happy and laughed. She took out a hundred yuan and waved it in front of him: "I'll let you borrow this. I'll deduct it from your salary."

"Okay okay. I'll return it right away." Ye Xiu said.

"How confident. We're starting!" Tang Rou said.

"Start start."

The scene changed and the two entered the Arena. The map was the smallest stage. The opponents stood on opposite sides. Chen Go served as the coach outside of the stage: "He still hasn't changed classes. This is called an unspecialized character. He'll have many skill variations. By looking at his weapon, you can figure out which class's skill he's going to use."

"Oh." Tang Rou replied. Although she hadn't officially played Glory, for over a year, she had played many rounds of PK for Chen Guo. She knew of all of the different classes.

"Then what is the weapon in his hand called?" Tang Rou pointed to the screen.

"This... This….." Chen Guo looked for a long time, but couldn't recognize it. She directly asked: "What's the weapon in your hand?"

"Shameless!" Ye Xiu, "You have to ask?"

"It looks like an umbrella?" Tang Rou let Chasing Haze walk forward a few steps and zoomed in.

"Umbrella? There's no such weapon. It's gotta be a broom, right?" Chen Guo also leaned forward to look.

"I'm coming!" While Ye Xiu said this, he let Lord Grim run forward in a straight line towards Chasing Haze.

Tang Rou really did react fast. When Lord Grim moved, she had already moved her mouse in an instant and shot accurately. But in a blur, Lord Grim flickered and avoided the shot. Chen Guo, who was watching on the side, knew that this move was called Z Shake. The principle was simple, but was extremely difficult to pull off in an actual battle.

After dodging the shot, Lord Grim closed the distance. He lowered his body and Slide Kicked towards Chasing Haze.

"How crafty!" Chen Guo was deeply moved. Although Slide Kick was a Gunner skill, it was a body skill, so the weapon didn't matter. This attack still didn't reveal what thing he was holding onto.

Sure enough, Tang Rou's hand speed didn't disappoint Chen Guo's expectations. Before the Slide Kick hit, Chasing Haze had already rolled out of the way. She quickly got up and prepared to use a body skill to hit back. Her dodge, move, and attacks were all performed extremely quickly.

Who knew that the screen would suddenly flash with a shining white light. Lord Grim's right hand took out a sharp sword from that unknown weapon in his left hand.

This shining light wasn't merely as simple as pulling out a weapon. This was the Blade Master Skill: Sword Draw!

This attack surprised Chen Guo. Even if she wanted to switch actions, she was afraid that her reaction speed was too slow. Unlike her, Tang Rou's left hand had already tapped the keyboard twice. Her right hand pushed the mouse. Chasing Haze leaped backwards and prepared to fire another shot.

This move dodged the Sword Draw attack and returned fire. After the shot launched, using the recoil, she flew backwards to increase their distance. This was practically killing three birds with one stone. Right when Chen Guo wanted to yell out "good", she didn't think that after Lord Grim used Sword Draw, his sword had already returned to the sheath. He seized the opportunity to chain "Sword""Belt""Sheath" and chased after the mid-air Chasing Haze. At this moment, he had already closed in.

This change was even quicker. Chen Guo couldn't figure out which Blade Master attack used a sheath to smash. But she felt that there was still a bit of distance between Chasing Haze and Lord Grim. Then, the umbrella-like thing in Lord Grim's hands opened up. In an instant, the umbrella flipped and the umbrella bones turned upside down. They concentrated on the tip as if it were a lance and then stabbed towards Chasing Haze. Immediately following, Lord Grim flipped the handle. This lance drew a semicircle bringing Chasing Haze along with it and flipped her upside down, her head down and feet up.

Chen Guo was shocked because this wasn't any ordinary attack. This was a skill called "Circle Swing", a Battle Mage skill. This wasn't a rare skill among unspecialized characters, but the problem was that Lord Grim had used that thing to execute Sword Draw, so it should be a Swordsman class weapon. How could it suddenly turn into a Battle Mage lance in the blink of an eye?

Tang Rou was more stunned by his technique. After fighting for a bit, she was actually slower by a level. This was something she hadn't expected.

Due to Glory being a first person perspective game, this type of skill like Circle Swing was relatively strong. Having the sky and earth flipping upside down in an instant destroyed people's sense of direction, making the victim feel vexed. Chen Guo could be considered an experienced veteran, so she wouldn't go so far as to become confused. But Tang Rou only played occasionally. Although she had extremely high hand speed to carry her, this type of sudden viewpoint change was too much for her.

She hastily figured out the direction and twisted her body. But unexpectedly, Chasing Haze was unable to turn over her body. Her character raised her head to look. One of Lord Grim's feet had stepped on her, while the other was on the ground. That thing in his hand had returned back to its original shape. This time, it looked like a close-ranged pose. Chen Guo and Tang Rou finally saw that it really was an umbrella and that the umbrella's tip was aimed at Chasing Haze's head.

The two still hadn't recovered from the shock when the umbrella tip unleashed a tongue of flame. Peng Peng Peng, a string of gun sounds hit the downed Chasing Haze.