Final - Hero Vs High Paladin
This chapter starts from Kajikawa's POV
Oh my, don't mind, Reina.
It's a shame that you lost but landing that strike was plenty already. Good job~.
"Phew~, he snatched that victory from the jaws of defeat~. Would've been a let down if Neora-kun lost too."
"Could have easily turned out differently there."
"It's quite a shame really. She did great up until that stab on the chest, but then, she lost her cool when her dagger got taken away."
"Ah, that power up sure came out of nowhere. Was that 'Direct Control'?"
"Yes."
"Boosting your Stats on par with Hero is tremendous even if only temporarily."
That buffing comes from Energy Control though.
I only told Lolimast about Mana Control but I'm not gonna correct her here, it's a pain.
"I trust you get it already. Don't ever try to make knowledge about that technique public okay. Can't even imagine the ensuing chaos from the collapsing power balance between nations."
"It could work nicely against demons, but we're done for if by some chances they learned how to use it as well."
"I know, I know. I don't plan on teaching it to anybody beside my companions."
Thank goodness, these two have a conservative view on Direct Control.
I was ready to flee if they were in the camp of making it public.
"Next up is Hero and Almatina in the final huh. I won't be surprised whichever win, let's see how it goes."
"Just hoping there won't be another accident. The bloodlust next seat was palpable when Prodigy-kun coped a feel on Alma-chan's tits..."
"Ahaha. Well, Alma got back at him right away. All is well."
I'm not one to talk though. (An offender already)
I'm terrified of that kick myself....
"Also, I thought my heart was gonna jump out of my mouth when you yelled so loud all of a sudden."
"Kajikawa-kun, are you actually a passionate man? I really didn't expect that~."
"I'm sorry, please forget about it, forgive me, give me a break."
Please stop bringing up that new entry on my dark history book!
I'm gonna die! From embarrassment!
Hmm, that aside, I think it's about time those folk show up. Just a hunch though.
I should get mentally ready to deal with it whenever.
~~~~~~~Hero's POV~~~~~~~~
"Intermediate Division Final Match, master of all kinds of weapons, Skills and Magic, Hero Neo Raifu! Versus the harmonic wielder of sword and magic, High Paladin Almatina! Both have shown strength on par with Advanced Job!! Their match will definitely leave a prominent mark in years to come!!"
The MC propped up the match three times louder than usual, but my mind isn't quite here.
He said something about our match leaving a mark but sorry to say, that's probably not happening.
The result of my discussion with Menu: I'm inferior to Alma in both close quarter melee combat and long-range magic combat.
Her [Magic Swords] Skill is way too strong, I don't think I can match up to it in melee.
Gushing flames, swinging stupidly fast, how'd that even work.
While in long range combat, Alma possesses the Master Skill [Double Tongue] that allows her to cast multiple spells at once.
I bet she can buff her spell power too. She's got the upper hands in both power and number. No way I can match that.
...Aren't I checkmated already? Can't Alma just be the Hero instead. I mean she's got black hair and all.
My trump card is my only chance of winning, by swiftly ending it in one strike.
I shouldn't have used [Dimensional Blade] in my match earlier, kinda regretting it now.
But it's not like you can dodge or block Dimensional Blade anyway.
Winning isn't a pipe dream if I make good use of it.
"Let's do our best, Neora."
"Y-yeah. Let's do this, Alma."
She bowed first while I was in deep thought, to which I responded in kind.
...She's really cute. Would have gotten her join my party if only she weren't in one already...
"Final match, begiiiiiiin!!!"
The umpire announced loudly. Sheesh, pipe down.
Just as planned, I went straight for Alma's neck using Dimensional Blade.
...I'm acting like a villain going for a beautiful girl's neck like this.
I swung before she did.
This is my, win--
CLANK! A metallic sound.
"...Straight for the neck. Close one."
Alma blocked my Dimensional Blade with her sword.
A-are you for real...! How'd she figure I was aiming there...!?
Oh crap, she stopped my first strike. How about a barrage of Dimensional Blade slashes then!
Dimensional Blade may be strong but the Master Skill consumes 5% of my mana with every slash.
I can use it a most 20 times. In practice, that number goes down to 10-15.
I'm not allowed to refill my mana in this match, so I really should save this but I can't afford to hold back here.
Legs, arms, torso, I kept changing my target there should be no way to predict it!
I'd like to see you try!
A clashing sound of metal resounded in the ring every time I unleashed a slash of Dimensional Blade
It didn't matter where the slash emerged, Alma blocked them all without missing a beat.
O, oy oy! This is supposed to be my trump card! What kinda monster are you repelling all those so easily!? Heck, how'd you know where they're coming anyway!
"Bothersome move... Probably can't guard against this without Mana Search."
"Kuh...!"
Oh crap, I used up 40% of my mana for nothing.
There's no point in keeping this up if she's just gonna block it! I gotta find an opening before going for the neck...
...?
Alma's sight is directed somewhere else.
Someone at the audience? No, she's staring hard at the top of this ring?
"...What's up, sure you got the leeway to get distracted right now."
I got a bit irritated seeing Alma paying her attention elsewhere and spoke with a sarcastic tone.
Alma turned to me and spoke.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Neora, I'm suspending our match."
"...Wha?"
"Ask Menu what's the best course of action."
Right as Alma finished that, a magic circle-like shining pattern emerged in the air above the ring, at the spot Alma was staring at.
Eh, wait, w, what the heck...!?
<<It's a teleportation magic formula! Incoming!>>
『...Haruru... Gurururu....!』
A gigantic bear emerged from the shining pattern. No, it's a bear-type magic beast.
The thing is about eight meter tall, and easily exceeds 20 meter horizontally. How the heck is it so big.
Menu displays it as a Lv73 Giganto Forest Bear.
"W-what the heck is that big thing...!?"
"Gotta be a performance right?"
"They're letting that thing intrude the final...?"
"E-emergency!! A powerful magic beast has manifested inside the ring!! This is not a performance!! Everyone, please evacuate the stadium!!"
The umpire warned loudly.
His panicked voice prompted the audience to realize this was not a drill, and they started scampering while screaming.
Oy oy, oy oy oy...!
What the hell is going on now!?
<<S-someone cast a long-distance teleportation spell above the ring!>>
Yeah I can tell!
Who did this!?
<<I'm done analyzing that teleportation magic circle! The caster is... a demon!!>>
Demons...! I haven't fought one yet, but seeing as they pull this crap, they can't be a decent bunch.
Blast them and their crap! But we've got Revival Formula inside this ring...
<<No, the Revival Formula was no longer functional the moment that magic beast came forth! You won't get revived anymore if you die now!!>>
W-what...!!
I have the Grace of Revival, but Alma's...!
"Run away, Alma! There's no more revival! You're gonna die for real!!"
"! Got it...!"
Now then, what do I do.
First, I'll have to get Alma out of the ring.
Can I hold off this giant until then...!?
<<N-no! The barrier enveloping this ring is still active! The staff members in charge of the barrier had run away at the first sign of danger!>>
What!? Damn, I'm gonna beat up those staff members later!
Uh oh! That bear is going for Alma...!
『Gugyajaaaaaaaaa!!!』
"...!!"
"Woraaaaaaaa!!!"
I managed to narrowly block the bear's claw targeting Alma with Shield Art Skill.
What should I do! This bear's gonna kill Alma at this rate!
Defeat this thing? But how?
I only managed to beat Shining Tiger, a magic beast on par with this one, thanks to the help of my companions and us in a tip-top shape.
Aina-san especially, no way we could have won without her supports. Defeating an S-rank magic beast without an S-rank combatant is a vain struggle.
I'm also limited on moves I can deploy at only half my max MP.
Gotta fetch Mana Recovery Potion from Item Screen...!?
『Gyagaaaaaaaa!!!』
It swung down the other arm that wasn't on my shield.
Ah, crap, how is this huge thing so fast--
~~~~~~~Aizawa-kun's POV~~~~~~~~~
"Dammit!! Damn, damn damn!! Why won't it break, dammitall!"
I been tryina to bust the barrier with force, but there ain't even a crack!
That damned bear's gonna kill Alma! That Okama took a hit for Alma and passed out!
I dunno where they set the terminal for this barrier too!
And my blade ain't even puttin' a dent on this stupidly hard barrier!
Don't die you! Don't you dare die on me, Alma!
『Gagyajagwaaaaa!!!』
The bear charged at Alma to crush her with its sheer size.
Stop! Stop, stop!
Ya got no right to kill her, ya darned bastard!
Damn, won't, make it...!!
Just as I gave up hope,
"Hikaru!!!"
At the same time Alma yelled someone's name, the part of barrier located near the bear bastard broke apart alongside the sound of a breaking glass.
"Get beeeeeeeeeeeent!!!!"
『Gi, gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!? Gabyagaba!!!!』
The black haired old man I saw shouting during the semifinal jumped in through the barrier's tear looking like an ogre and punched the bear bastard on the head.
That punch pulverized the bear's head, its body slowly collapsed on top of the ring.
...I couldn't wrap my head around this whole thing.
What's that old man's deal...!?
No seriously, what the crap is his deal!?
Author's Q&A
>He stole that dagger...
Ah, it wasn't depicted but he did return her dagger after the match, don't worry.
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