The Usage of Trump Cards Pt. 2

Clang~!

Akiol parried Flowing Sea's attack. Flowing Sea took the opportunity to retreat slightly. He looked at Akiol strangely, "Your movements... who are you?"

Akiol gave a small smile, "You can't ask for people's real information like that."

"Then tell me this, have you entered the realm Controlled Domain?"

"Controlled Domain? Never heard of it."

Frowning Flowing Sea continued to ask, "Then perhaps it goes by another name. Can you feel your surroundings? Can you see the actions I am going to take before I take them?"

Akiol raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise. This world, one lacking in near-death battles, know about the realm of {Hyperfocused Battle Intensity}?

Akiol questioned, "What do you know about this?"

Flowing Sea noticed Akiol's shock. He took it as a positive answer. So he hurriedly responded, "It's a realm that few are able to reach. It is said that the latest breakthrough happened over a thousand years ago! If you truly entered the realm I ask that you explain how!"

Akiol frowned, "Even if I did enter this realm, why should I hand over such information?"

"Forgive me, I was too hasty. I assure you that we can provide something of equal worth for such information."

"I desire nothing."

Flowing Sea got a little frustrated. Something he had been searching for his entire life could be right in front of him! Yet the person was being difficult, "Surely you desire at least one thing!"

Akiol nodded, "Yeah one thing. I want to live this life peacefully."

Flowing Sea grit his teeth, "Then a duel! Whoever wins this match provides what the other wants!"

Akiol chuckled at the offer, "I desire nothing, so if I win... doesn't that mean I get nothing?"

"Then I shall provide you something of equal value, the same offer as before. Except if you win then you get this for free."

Akiol thought it was interesting. The realm of {Hyperfocused Battle Intensity} was not easy to obtain. It required a lot of life threatening battles. Akiol was about to break into this realm during the battle with the demon lord! This is the only reason why he entered the realm in the new world. He wasn't positive if anyone could break into the realm on their own on such a peaceful planet.

However the information to break into this realm was known by all skilled fighters in his previous world. So the information didn't mean much to him. Yet Flowing Sea seemed desperate to obtain this knowledge. So what did he consider equal to this information? Akiol was curious so he replied, "Sure, write a contract."

Flowing Sea was momentarily stunned. It was that easy? However he quickly recovered and called Bart. He wanted to make this contract before Akiol could change his mind.

The two signed the agreement and readied themselves. Flowing Sea warned, "This means a lot to me, so I will be using everything I have."

Akiol nodded, "Very well, I look forward to it."

As they chatted the effect of whatever Flowing Sea used had dissipated, leaving him with full control once again.

Flowing Sea immediately took a stance, his body warped and split. Leaving a clone of himself next to him. He charged towards Akiol, his clone mimicking his movements.

Akiol immediately noticed the clone copying the other's movements. Before he even got attacked he had a speculation on how the clone worked.

The two swung, Akiol moved his body and blocked the attack of one, dodging the other. With this one strike Akiol's speculation had become firm. The clone was 'mirroring' the other's movements. Like a reflection.

Akiol turned and attacked one, his sword passed through like they were made of air. The clone warped and disappeared into the air.

Woosh-!

Two water saws zoomed towards Akiol. He sensed these and immediately dodged. As they passed he saw the water discs spinning in front of him. Flowing Sea used these as a distraction as he struck towards Akiol's back.

Clang~!

Akiol blocked the blow and turned, slashing Flowing Sea's chest. A thin line cut into their armor, but no actual damage appeared. Akiol noticed them stepping back during the attack, so he only managed to scratch their armor with the tip of his blade.

The two water saws spun and zoomed towards Akiol again. He slashed one and dodged the other. To his surprise the water saw he slashed turned into a puddle. He only expected it to be deflected at most.

Flowing Sea swung downwards, a crescent of water slashed towards Akiol. It seemed similar to his latest skill, except it was made of water. Returning the favor Akiol rendered the attack useless with a swing of his sword.

Then Akiol heated a voice, 'Hmm...'

Akiol quickly responded, "Stars, what is it?"

'Oh sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you.'

"Then what was the 'hmmm' for?

'Nothing, I just thought this guy would be a good fit for Bringer of Waves.'

"I feel like you haven't been honest about your abilities whilst absorbed."

'...'

Flowing Sea frowned, even after using some skills he had yet to land a single strike! He applauded, "Well congratulations, you'll be the first player I use this against."

Akiol watched Flowing Sea carefully. They casually swung diagonally in front of them. A thick current of water formed and latched onto their body. What was shown was a knight armor set made of blue water.

'Woah! That looks so cool!'

Akiol had to agree, a nice suit of armor was many men's dream. A magical set? Even better. He felt a little jealous of other people's special skills. The only one he had made him glow a little. Where was his cool armor?

Moreover Flowing Sea's sword turned into one made of water. Adding onto the nice set of armor.

Flowing Sea dashed forward, speed greater than before. Akiol expected this, for it looked like a berserk skill. He responded with his own, no other than [Aura Boost]. He used the boost purely in speed, for he was sure that his ordinary 40% boost would not be enough.

Flowing Sea swung his sword. Akiol dodged and counter attacked. With this one exchange he noticed his speed was a bit better than Flowing Sea's. However his strength...

Clank~!

Flowing Sea blocked the blow. Akiol felt like his sword hit a wall, his blade almost bounced off!

Sliding his foot forward Flowing Sea made a small wave of water. This water encased Akiol's feet and stopped his movements.

Flowing Sea cut horizontally and several crescent blades of water surrounded Akiol. Within a second they all zoomed towards Akiol, ready to slice through.

Akiol twirled his sword around, cutting through the water blades. Rendering them ineffective.

Flowing Sea stabbed the ground with his sword, "[Whirlpool]."

Water gathered around Akiol and began spinning. Unable to move away from the skill Akiol attempted to used [Dimension Skip]. However a notification changed this plan.

<You're affected by [Water Lock]. Unable to use all skills temporarily!>

Akiol saw the water rising and shoot into the sky. He was thrown against the current, his HP dropping fast. Just as the skill seemed to slow, everything froze.

Akiol was encased in ice. The ice looked like a sculpting of a twisted tree, except there was someone inside of course.

Akiol switched his buff to strength. He manipulated his body to shrink and expand rapidly. Slamming against the clear ice. Every time he expanded, small cracks formed in the ice. These only expanded, creating more weak points in the ice. Within only a few seconds... the ice exploded into bits.

Flowing Sea watched this and faintly shook his head. He mumbled to himself, "Not even that contained you, huh?"

Akiol turned to look at Flowing Sea. Their water armor changed, gaining a more edged and solid look. As now it was made of a pale blue ice.

'Oh that is so cool!'

"Heh... you're telling me your water and ice?" Akiol questioned with a tad of humor.

Flowing Sea responded, "A nice combination of elements."

"You don't use this normally? Ah what a waste."

Flowing Sea made no comment to that. Instead he shifted his foot forward, sending ice spikes towards Akiol.

This was dodged with [Leap]. In response Flowing Sea sent a myriad of ice crescent blades. Akiol pushed away many of these with [Tool 3 (Repulser)], he destroyed the rest with his sword as he fell.

He landed on the ground with a roll. Immediately he switched his buff to agility and dashed forward to close the distance.

Flowing Sea took up a stance and immediately struck as soon as Akiol got close. Akiol dodged many of Flowing Sea's strikes. He didn't dare block without a strength buff.

While [Aura Boost]'s buff ability can be switched, it had a cooldown. Preventing Akiol from rapidly switching between the necessary buffs, so he had to time it correctly.

Additionally, ever since Flowing Sea's armor changed to its ice variant. He grew faster and stronger.

Akiol dodged another strike and found his chance. He switched to strength and swung with all his might. However Flowing Sea blocked the blow. His ice sword reflecting the sunlight.

Woosh~!

A blast of cold air expanded from Flowing Sea. Pushing Akiol back a large distance. Flowing Sea raised his sword in a stance, "Here it is! My final trump card! Prepare yourself!"

He swung down with a mighty force, coming from behind him was a tidal wave!