577 A Different Fight
"What's going on here!? Neither of them is taking the initiative perhaps they're wary of each other! Or maybe they believe their opponent is too strong!?"
The announcer is accusing them of being scared in a roundabout way.
Dyudo grinned at that. Immediately followed by a rapid chain of three shots.
There was no hint of hesitation in his motion.
The shots were met with a small black tornado one meter in diameter which suddenly emerged in the middle of the arena.
It's positioned just right to stop the arrows.
Arrows fly super fast. I had to focus so much I inadvertently entered Acceleration just to follow them. My eyes now see them in slow motion.
Those arrows changed their trajectory all of a sudden. They went around the tornado toward the targets behind the queen. Two arrows passed her left side, one to her right.
I quickly realized this is the so called 'wind' the announcer mentioned earlier.
Those arrows must be controlled with magic. There's no way those movements are natural.
But as expected of the one called queen, the arrows suddenly stopped mid air just before they hit their targets and fell down the ground.
"What an incredible display of offense and defense! Three arrows that were let loose in one breath changed their trajectory mid air and went straight for Queen's targets! Naturally Queen wouldn't take that lying down!"
This announcer has an incredible kinetic vision it seems. His explanation is on point.
The audience erupted into earsplitting cheers at that.
The fight proceeded on. Queen shot at a high angle. She shot three arrows like she was returning the favor.
Three arrows were rapidly let loose. They're both highly skilled.
Once the arrows reached high into the air, they underwent a strange phenomenon.
All the audience eyes are on those arrows.
The moment the three arrows hit the zenith, they fall downward toward Dyudo's targets at twice the speed they flew upward.
Dyudo didn't look panicked at all.
He merely waved his hands at these arrows. Yet the effect was obvious.
It's a barrier made of wind magic. The falling arrows got repelled while they were still high in the air and fell off outside the arena.
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This is pretty much a battle of magic, not bow and arrows. As well as a battle of wit.
(What even those bows are for... Those arrows obviously don't even need a bow to fly like that...)
Anything goes. I put on a slightly different expression than the rest of the audience.
"My? Is it not to your liking? Ah, I suppose it can't be helped if this is your first time watching, Saito."
Selram commented as she peered at my face from the side.
Just how did I look to her anyway?
The fight began for real after this. The number of arrows shot, trajectory and patterns saw a drastic change.
Each side kept trying to land a decisive blow. Blocking arrows and immediately countering. It's as if they're fighting a turn based battle where they take turn one after another.
Yet, even though neither of the gladiators moved from their spot in this quiet battle, the audience's fervor kept reaching even higher heights.
Thus, the two of them kept using up their arrows before eventually the battle was decided just as their supply hit ten arrows left each.