Damn. Somehow this story has managed to get 1350 followers without me noticing. Feels like only a few weeks back when it passed 1000, huh (though it was probably more like months). Thanks everyone for reading, favoriting/following, and reviewing. Special thanks to everyone who left encouraging words last chapter! :)
Naofumi glared at the back of his fiancée's head as the party left the throne room and congregated outside. Her crimson ponytail swished side to side, her gait firm. Side to side. Again and again. She didn't look back. He gritted his teeth. He wanted to rush up to her, grab her by the hair, and yell at her to stop acting so irrationally.
What was her problem? Was she really jealous of Raphtalia? Ridiculous!
Stepping outside, Naofumi took a deep breath of cool air. The sun had set a while ago, torches and braziers casting flickering light and shadows onto the castle walls and gardens.
Perhaps it's nothing, he tried to reason, perhaps it's only part of her act. He knew it wasn't. The look of betrayal and hatred in her stunning eyes had been real. He knew her well enough to see through her act at this point—flawless as she may be—and this had definitely not been an act.
Naofumi shook his head. No matter. I'll quickly win this shit, and then I'll show her just how wrong she is.
They arrived at a square stone building that was about three stories high and looked more like four walls drawn around a square courtyard than an actual building. A tall gate allowed entry into the courtyard, and though it was passable—the portcullis raised—only knights and servants entered through there, some carrying torches. The guests of the feast were clustering around the walls of the building elsewhere—around entrances that led into the building proper.
Naofumi, the other Heroes, and Malty with her party followed the knights through the gate.
"Don't worry, Myne. I'll win this duel and free the poor girl."
"Thank you, Motoyasu." Malty briefly touched his arm. "I know you can do it. I'm counting on you."
Motoyasu walked a bit straighter, and Naofumi glared.
Ren and Itsuki were talking quietly among themselves, their parties nowhere to be seen.
It's an arena, Naofumi realized as he fully entered the courtyard, which was a perfect square. The building surrounding it really was like a wall...for two stories high, then it shifted into stands. Each side's stands—aside from that of the gate—had an elevated space inside the middle: an alcove for the more important people. The one opposite the gate was the highest. Two thrones were situated there, and sure enough, the King appeared a moment later, taking his place. Faint voices sounded from above, increasing in volume as the stands filled with people.
The facility was probably used for show matches or tournaments. Public executions or plays were also a possibility.
Knights were carrying flaming braziers and setting them onto the ground in the courtyard, building a square, which would likely be the stage for the duel. It left a good portion of space toward the sides of the arena, though it was still quite the big area. Malty and, by extension, everyone else had stopped before the line of braziers.
A knight approached. "Princess," he said, "please accompany us inside. Your father is waiting for you in the royal alcove."
"Tell my father I'll not be joining him. I'd like to observe the duel from the ground. To cheer on Motoyasu and to make sure the Shield Hero doesn't use any tricks like the cheater he is." She turned toward him, glaring.
Naofumi tried to make his look as innocent, pleading, and confused as possible. Her expression softened for a moment before her scowl was back full-force.
"Are you sure, Princess?"
"Did I stutter?" she snapped.
"N-no, of course not. I'll notify your father right away!" The knight scurried off.
A trio of knights approached Naofumi, shooting nervous glances at him and Raphtalia, who stood with a dejected posture for some reason. Did she think he was mad at her for her little outburst?
"Shield Hero?" the knight in the middle asked. "We've been ordered to escort your slave to—"
"Is that necessary?" Naofumi asked. Like I'd trust them with Raphtalia's life.
"Well, the King ordered us to—"
"The Princess is allowed to stay. So Raphtalia will stay as well. She knows better than to interfere, and it's not like she can run away or anything." There were knights standing guard at the gate.
"Yes, well—"
"Ren, Itsuki," Naofumi called. "Are you going to watch the duel in the stands or will you also stay down here?"
"Actually," Itsuki said, "we'd like to watch from below, if it's not any trouble?" He looked toward the knights.
"O-of course not, Bow Hero."
"Great." Naofumi smiled, clapping his hands together. "Then Itsuki and Ren will watch over Raphtalia during the duel. Is that agreeable?"
"Whatever," Ren said with a shrug.
"Sure," Itsuki said.
The knights visibly relaxed, muttering words of relief. They shot a last wary glance at Raphtalia, then hurried away. Naofumi couldn't help but smile at how they seemed to fear her.
"The stage is set," a knight said, stepping toward them through the line of braziers. "If you're ready, you may now enter, Spear and Shield Heroes. The rest, please step toward the sides or take a place in the stands via one of the entrances."
Was he ready? Naofumi tried to catch Malty's eyes again, but she stood with arms crossed, glaring at one of the braziers, the flames casting orange light and shadows onto her perfect face. He turned toward Raphtalia. She still stood with her head bowed, curse-marked arms hanging at her sides.
"Shield Hero?" the knight prompted.
"One moment." Naofumi reached for the fastenings of his cloak. "Raphtalia, I want you to hold onto my cloak while I duel. It's too good to be dirtied during—"
"Don't bother," Malty cut in with a scornful tone. "Whoever took pity upon you and gifted you with such fine clothes surely regrets having done so, now that your true colors have come to light. It's only fitting that it should be sullied to display what kind of person you truly are, don't you think, Shield Hero? Or did you steal them, I wonder? However else would you have come in possession of such fine material? They are certainly too good for you!"
Naofumi glared back at her. Then he smiled and made sure his cloak was secured firmly around his form, running his hands fondly across the smooth material. "You're right, Princess. This cloak was a gift from someone who is very important to me. Thank you for reminding me of that fact. I shall wear it with pride while I win this duel! I'm not planning to let it come in contact with the dirt, after all."
The corners of her mouth briefly twitched into a smile. Then she sniffed disdainfully and marched away toward the left side of the arena, the girls from her party following behind.
"Confident, aren't you?" Motoyasu taunted. "I'll not go easy on you just because you're a Shielder. I'm afraid that cloak of yours will get quite dirty, not to mention get a few holes."
Naofumi ignored him and turned back to Raphtalia. Ren and Itsuki were standing behind her, impatient expressions on their faces. "Take good care of her," he said. "Raphtalia, why are you looking so dejected? Don't you have any faith in me?"
"T-that's not it," she said, shyly meeting his gaze.
"I told you that I'd have you cured until tomorrow, and I don't plan on breaking my word. Now go with those two and watch how I trash the Spear Hero." He smiled gently at her, resisting the urge to give her a head pat.
Ren snorted.
"Yes, Mr. Naofumi!" She offered him a hesitant smile, then scurried off with the two Heroes.
Naofumi stepped onto the stage with Motoyasu, both taking positions where the knights indicated. A good distance between them, Naofumi stood with his back facing the gate, and Motoyasu with his back facing the alcove where the King sat. A subtle manipulation to show favor, no doubt. Naofumi grinned. Malty and her party stood to the left side of the stage, Raphtalia and the two other Heroes to the right.
The King rose from his seat. The noise in the stands quieted down. He raised his arms and announced, "We've gathered here to witness a holy duel between two Heroes. In the case of the Spear Hero's victory, the Shield Hero is forced to set his slave free. In the event of the Shield Hero's victory—" He paused, putting a hand in front of his face as to hold himself back from laughing. It had the desired effect, and a wave of amusement ran through the stands. "I shall ensure that his slave's curse gets treated."
Laugh and mock me all you want, Naofumi thought, his smile never wavering. It's only going to make my inevitable victory all the sweeter.
"Regardless of the outcome," the King continued, "His Holiness, Biscas T. Balmus, High Priest of the Three Heroes Church, has assured me that the Three Heroes Church will provide the required Holy Water to cure the Shield Hero's poor slave of its curse." He nodded toward the alcove on the left, above where Malty stood with her girls.
An elderly man wearing a Pope's Hat, clearly the aforementioned High Priest, sat there. He briefly stood to wave at the crowd, a kind smile on his aged face, and a wave of applause could be heard in the arena.
Naofumi looked at him with narrowed eyes. Would he have to defeat this old man in order to achieve his goals? Kill him? He vowed not to underestimate the High Priest. After all, in a world with levels, old people had to be the strongest, right? Levels would only increase with age. Or did levels—or stats—dwindle with growing age?
"Now, are the combatants ready?" the King asked.
Motoyasu twirled his spear. "I finally get to avenge Myne. Of course, I'm ready!"
Naofumi only nodded, striking a battle stance and holding the Chimera Lion Shield in a defense position in front of him. He inhaled deeply, the smell of fire and smoke itching in his throat, and let the chatter of the spectators and the crackling of the fire become background noise.
"The duel ends if either combatant is unable to continue fighting or if one yields. Begin!" The King made an appropriate hand gesture, then sat down.
"Ready to get your ass beaten?" Motoyasu asked.
"I could say the same, Motoyasu," Naofumi said, grinning.
"Motoyasu!" Malty called in a sweet voice. "Go and defeat the Shield Hero to free that poor girl. I believe in you!~"
The other girls shouted words of encouragement along with her.
Naofumi rolled his eyes, trying to reign in the irritation and anger he felt at Malty's behavior. She should be cheering for me!
"I'll not disappoint you!" Motoyasu smiled brightly at them before focusing back on the duel. "Ready to lose, Naofumi?"
"You already said that," Naofumi called. "The duel started a while ago, you know? What are you waiting for? Need some more encouragement before you're brave enough to attack me?" He grinned as Motoyasu's expression darkened.
Yelling a sort of battlecry, Motoyasu charged, and the tip of his Spear changed forms, becoming bigger like that of a vicious polearm.
Naofumi waited for him to get closer. "Lion's Roar." The golden lion head on his Shield moved, emitting a loud, terrifying roar. Shrieks of surprise and fright could be heard from above.
Motoyasu halted, his eager and enraged expression shifting into one of apprehension.
Naofumi smirked confidently, pretending that the ability did anything more than to do a little scare. "What's the matter Motoyasu? Already giving up?"
Motoyasu scowled, tightly gripping his Spear. "Damn Bastard! Don't think your stolen materials will save you!"
"Oh, but I think they will!" Chimera Dragon Shield. Naofumi relished how the new-found confidence left Motyosu's gaze as he set eyes onto the vicious dragon head, its horns and scales glinting gold-orange in the flickering light of the braziers. The arena was silent aside from the faint sound of the wind and the crackling of flames.
The time of hiding and playing the underdog is over, Naofumi thought, grinning. I'll make an example out of him, and then I'll fuck Malty so good that she'll never again consider the possibility that I could want anybody but her. He turned his head toward his fiancée and shot her a confident smile and a wink, not caring if the other girls saw.
"Eyes, on me, Naofumi!" Motoyasu yelled, charging. "Here I come!"
Naofumi waited and took the hit. With a metallic clang, the spear bounced off the Chimera Dragon Shield. He'd barely felt the impact. "Is that all you got?" Naofumi laughed.
"Take this!" Motoyasu spun his Spear around and went for a horizontal swing.
Again, Naofumi blocked, the Spear bouncing off effortlessly.
Motoyasu grunted in frustration. He took a step back, then yelled, "Chaos Spear!"
"Air Strike Shield!" Naofumi cast immediately. The ability formed in front of him just as Motoyasu started to rapidly strike, the Spear glowing. 20, 30 strikes impacted the Air Strike Shield, not breaking it.
Naofumi smirked. "How weak! I'm disappointed." He dismissed the Air Strike Shield.
"I haven't even started!" Motoyasu made to dash again.
"Dragon's Claim!" Naofumi announced, aiming at Motoyasu. The dragon head on his Shield opened its maw, and a gust of fire erupted from it.
Motoyasu halted and took a step back, eyes widening in shock—and perhaps fear.
More fire kept pooling out of the Chimera Dragon Shield, the heat from it radiating against Naofumi's skin. The fire sped toward Motoyasu, and as it moved, it shaped itself into a dragon with a wingspan two times the length of the Legendary Spear.
Motoyasu yelped and threw himself to the ground. He wasn't able to dodge. For a moment, he was completely covered inside the flames. When the fiery dragon had passed with a whoosh of flames and continued its flight behind him, Motoyasu looked exactly the same as before, not a trace of the fact that he'd just been engulfed in fire. His HP was still at 100%.
Seriously? Naofumi thought, brow twitching in irritation. This ability is useless as well? There's not a single hair out of place!
Motoyasu was equally as confused, frantically tapping his hair as he got up. Of course, the pretty boy would be most concerned about his hair getting burned.
There was a loud crashing sound, making them both start in surprise—releasing a girlish squeak in Motoyasu's case. Behind the Spear Hero, the ground outside the duel area was aflame. And there was a suspicious gap in the line of braziers.
Did the ability knock them over? Naofumi wondered.
Boos were sounding from the stands, people yelling at Naofumi for destroying the arena. But there were also a few complaining about Motoyasu, wondering whether the Spear Hero wasn't just a little girl playing Hero.
The King had risen from his throne and leaned onto the railing of his alcove, frowning down at the burning embers that had been strewn across the ground. Would he make a deal out of this? Thankfully not. He just shook his head and retook his place.
Chimera Goat Shield.
Motoyasu was still staring dumbfounded at the destroyed braziers—or perhaps toward the King, waiting for him to interfere.
"Goat's Bleat." Naofumi aimed at Motoyasu. The golden goat head simply detached from his Shield and flew toward the Spear Hero in a little arc.
"Ow!" A dull thud sounded as the goat head impacted Motoyasu's head and bounced off. Laughter sounded from the stands. The goat head hovered in the air above Motoyasu. Its mouth moved, and a bleat sounded, then it vanished, reforming onto Naofumi's Shield.
Motoyasu released an angry scream and charged.
Chimera Viper Shield. Naofumi charged as well. "Viper's Fang!" The ability's icon appeared in his HUD, ticking down rapidly, and there was a hiss, but nothing else happened. He bashed his Shield against Motoyasu's attack, feeling the impact of it this time, vibrations coursing through his body. The ability's icon flashed. Another, louder hiss sounded, and the two intertwining, golden snakes from his Shield enlarged and shot toward Motoyasu; he screamed as they sunk their fangs into his arms.
Finally something useful! Naofumi grinned, relishing the exclamations of surprise from the stands.
The snakes retreated and returned to their usual size and spot on the Chimera Viper Shield. Motoyasu stumbled backward, clutching at his left arm. "Bastard," he gasped, face in a grimace.
Naofumi's grin widened.
The Spear's gem glowed for a moment, and then Motoyasu was holding a potion bottle in his hand.
Naofumi considered denying him—either by charging, shooting a rope, or summoning and Air Strike Shield—but decided against it. It would be too easy if he won already, would it? Motoyasu hadn't suffered—hadn't been humiliated—enough yet.
While Motoyasu greedily downed the potion, Naofumi looked toward his fiancée with a smug smirk on his face. She stood with her arms crossed, a fierce scowl on her stunning face, and the anger seemed to be alive in her eyes, reflections of the flames dancing in her emerald irises. He was reminded of their confrontation on their first day together. He couldn't wait to push her against a wall and claim her lips again, whether she wanted or not.
Naofumi leisurely circled around Motoyasu, watching Malty out of the corner of his eyes. "Are you done drinking your little potion, Motoyasu?"
Laughter and boos echoed from the stands, most of it directed at the Spear Hero.
Motoyasu wiped his mouth, glaring. "How did you get so strong, you damned cheater! How did a useless Shielder manage level 35 already?"
How does he know my level? Naofumi wondered. He couldn't tell that when I was at the Dragon Hourglass last week. He looked at Motoyasu's HP, which had been lowered marginally, and spotted a 41 next to it. That hadn't been there before. Interesting. He idly noticed how his SP were completely full, even after he'd cast more than a few skills. Maybe counter skills replenish SP?
"What kind of stupid question is that?" Naofumi called. "By having party members and have them kill stuff for me while I shield them. This isn't a solo game, you know?"
"Oh?" Motoyasu attacked again. "You mean by forcing your slaves to fight for you?"
Naofumi switched to the Chimera Dragon Shield and blocked, the Spear bouncing off with a metallic clank. "I'm not forcing anyone to fight for me."
"Why is the girl your slave, then?"
Naofumi grinned. "That's for me to know and you to find out!" He batted aside another of Motoyasu's strikes. "Come on, pretty boy, is that all you got? I thought you 'haven't even started yet'?"
"Get ready to hurt! Chaos Spear!"
"Air Strike Shield!"
It had much the same effect as last time, the Air Strike Shield completely negating the skill.
Motoyasu dashed to the side. "Lightning Spear!" Electricity gathered around the Spear.
"Shield Prison!"
An anxious whimper escaped Raphtalia as she watched the Shield Prison form around Naofumi. She had her hands clenched, pain flaring up her arms, and was fighting with the urge to rush onto the stage. Her tail stood straight.
The lighting shot from the Spear and impacted the Shield Prison. Flashes and tendrils of lightning raced across the metallic surface, illuminating the courtyard. The heat from the braziers pressed against Raphtalia's face, discouraging her from taking another step forward. The lightning vanished, and the Shield Prison burst open a moment later. Raphtalia's heart skipped a beat, panic momentarily constricting her chest, before she realized that Naofumi had deliberately canceled the skill. He was already sprinting toward the Spear Hero, an eager grin on his face.
"Dog Bite!" A bark sounded, and Naofumi smashed his Shield against the Spear Hero's haphazardly raised Spear. The two dog heads came alive and bit the Spear Hero, who cried out in pain, staggering backward.
Raphtalia smiled and took a relieved step back, clutching her hands to her chest. Her heart was still racing, but it was now filled with hope.
"I can't believe Naofumi's actually winning," Ren said.
"Well," Itsuki said from Raphtalia's left. "It's not that surprising. He does have all the Chimera Shields, after all."
Ren snorted. "For all the good it does him. The Goat Shield seems to be some kind of taunt ability, but Motoyasu doesn't need any encouragement to attack anyway. The Lion Shield was surprising but useless all the same. The Snake Shield is the only one that actually did anything... well, aside from destroying the arena."
Itsuki chuckled. "Yeah..."
The Spear Hero cried out as said Snake Shield once again bit him. "Damn you!"
"Seriously?" Ren scoffed. "What kind of amateur is Motoyasu anyway? I would have no problem against a Shielder."
I don't think so, Raphtalia thought, smiling. The two Heroes seemed to be quite young and childish, but she knew better than to ask about their age.
Raphtalia watched in awe as Naofumi battled with the Spear Hero. She didn't cringe anymore when their weapons collided with loud metallic clangs that sent sparks flying and barely managed to follow along as Naofumi switched between his Shields, shouting skills here and there to block, dodge, and attack.
"Motoyasu is getting weaker," Ren commented.
"Yeah. How often has he been bitten by Naofumi's attacks at this point? At least 10 times. I suspect that the abilities inflict some debuffs or drain stamina. They barely deal damage."
"Yes, Motoyasu isn't even below 90% HP yet. We'll be here the whole night if the fight continues like this..."
Itsuki hummed. "Well, it looks like Motoyasu is faltering. Not to mention that he's getting desperate. His movements are quite sloppy. He won't beat Naofumi like that." He shook his head in disapproval.
"Motoyasu is moving a lot more, and his attacks require a lot more strength than Naofumi's. It's obvious who will tire first."
"Quite ingenious," Itsuki said. "I'd have never thought about that. Motoyasu will simply lose because he can't damage Naofumi in the slightest. Has he even inflicted a single point of damage?"
Ren chuckled. "1 or 2 percent, I'd say."
"I mean, it's still a pretty useless class, but in an artificial, isolated one-on-one situation, it has its uses."
"I guess so."
Raphtalia wanted to argue with them, but movement in her peripheral vision drew her attention. "What is she up to?" she murmured, scowling at the Princess, who was walking away from her party members on the opposite side of the courtyard.
"Did you say something?" Ren asked.
Raphtalia hesitated for a moment. "Look there. The Princess. I bet she's planning something to make Mr. Naofumi lose."
"Really?" Itsuki frowned. "Seems a little paranoid, don't you think?"
"Yeah," Ren agreed. "What would she even do? There are hundreds of people watching. If she interferes, Naofumi will be declared the winner."
Raphtalia thought about something she could say but couldn't come up with an explanation. "I just know she's up to no good. Why else would she skulk around the stage like that?"
"Perhaps she's looking for a drink," Itsuki offered, then chuckled. "I know I could use one if this continues like that."
On the dueling stage, Motoyasu cried out in pain as snake fangs sunk into his skin once more. Grimacing, he attacked Naofumi, who blocked the attack with his left arm, seemingly batting it away effortlessly.
"Give up already, Motoyasu!" Naofumi called, smirking. "You can't win this! Don't you think you've embarrassed yourself enough—"
"Dream on," Motoyasu yelled, attacking. "I'm not leaving that girl in your clutches!"
Itsuki faced her. "Raphtalia, right?"
"Yes?" She kept her gaze on the Princess, who seemed to walk up and down the border of braziers without purpose and an irritated expression on her face.
"So you're Naofumi's slave? He bought you?"
"That's right."
"And he forces you to fight?"
"Mr. Naofumi doesn't force me to do anything!" Raphtalia stated firmly. "The Princess is a bad and lying person. You shouldn't listen to her."
Itsuki nodded, unconvinced. "So he's not touching you?"
"Touching me? How would he do that when he's battling over there?"
Itsuki heaved a sigh.
"What he means," Ren said, "is if Naofumi has touched you in an inappropriate manner."
Inappropriate manner? Raphtalia thought, unsure what would qualify as that. Was he talking about touching her in public? He's probably referring to anything sexual, she realized, recalling Lucetta's instructions. Her cheeks heated up. "N-no, Mr. Naofumi isn't like that."
"Are you sure?" Itsuki questioned. "Even if you think it might be acceptable, it could be inappropriate."
"W-well." Raphtalia looked to the ground. "We did hold hands earlier today. A-and he sometimes hugs me when I'm sad or when I have nightmares." She looked up. "Does that count as inappropriate?"
Itsuki was shaking his head, chuckling softly. "I guess not..."
Ren was looking at the duel, eyes narrowed. "You may be right," he said, not turning his head. "About the Princess. It seems like she's trying to move out of Naofumi's line of sight. But he's rotating along with her while fighting, even if it's not obvious if you're not looking for it."
Raphtalia grinned. Stupid Princess! Mr. Naofumi is much too smart for your cowardly tricks!
The Spear Hero's health had arrived at about two thirds at this point, his movements starting to become shaky from exhaustion.
"I'm not sure who I want to win," Itsuki said. "I mean, Raphtalia needs to be cured, but even if Naofumi is treating her well, I would prefer it if she's freed. Quite the tricky situation." He hummed. "No matter the outcome, we should try to accomplish both."
A pang of fear shot through Raphtalia.
"This whole thing is a waste of time," Ren scoffed. "Like, couldn't Naofumi just buy some Holy Water and cure her himself? He's just a damn showoff. Motoyasu isn't better, though he's probably regretting his decision at this point."
"Maybe," Itsuki said.
Where's the Princess? Raphtalia thought, frantically looking around the arena, not finding her. She looked toward the King...and caught a flicker of crimson hair before it vanished from view again. A minute later, the Princess reentered the courtyard through the gate, looking very pleased with herself. What did she do?
The spectators slowly grew quiet, and Raphtalia realized that it was because the King had risen from his throne.
It took Naofumi a few moments to realize that the King was speaking. He was in the process of blocking another of Motoyasu's attacks when the King once again called out, "Halt!"
Naofumi backed away, and Motoyasu, as well, seemed to grasp the situation after looking around in confusion for a few moments. He was panting, his blonde hair was in disarray, and beads of sweat were running down his face, glinting orange. Was Malty responsible for this interruption? He'd seen her leave and reenter the courtyard some time ago. Had she finally seen reason and convinced her father to declare him the winner?
The King loudly cleared his throat. "The duel has been going on for nearly an hour now. It appears that the Shield Hero doesn't have the power to beat the Spear Hero in any time period that would allow us to remain awake in our seats."
A wave of amusement ran through the stands.
"As such..." Aultrcray raised his arms to quiet down the noise. "As such, extra measures need to be taken to...motivate him. Once the duel resumes, the Shield Hero has a quarter of an hour to defeat the Spear Hero. Otherwise, the Spear Hero will be declared the victor!"
People voiced their opinions about that. From the sound of it, most were in agreement.
"Yeah?!" Naofumi called. "And how is that fair? Seeing how Motoyasu has challenged me, it should be him who should strive to defeat me! Not the other way around!" His exclamation was met with some agreement.
"Perhaps," the King said. "But the way I see it, you are the offender here. After all, it was you who threatened a knight and who is under suspicion of violating your slave. As such, my judgment remains. Is there anyone else who would like to speak in the Shield Hero's defense?"
Silence.
Naofumi snorted. He looked toward his fiancée. She stood next to her girls again and had a very pleased expression on her face, arms crossed. He smirked back at her, enjoying how her expression faltered, then looked toward the King. "Fine!" he called, "I was only toying with Motoyasu anyway. Time to get serious."
The King wasn't perturbed and announced, "Are you ready to continue?"
"Yeah!" Motoyasu exclaimed with an eager grin on his face, his exhaustion seemingly vanished.
"Alright—"
"One moment!" Naofumi called, a hand raised. He ignored the King's inquisition and thought about what to do.
So far, Malty had repeatedly tried to get out of his line of sight. The only explanation he could come up with as to why was that she wanted to interfere with magic, and considering how she needed to be out of his field of view to do so, he concluded that whatever she planned to cast would be a projectile-type spell he would be able to dodge if he saw it coming. But would she really go so far as to cast something in front of everyone? He could only hope that it would be something sneaky and undetectable, like Wind Magic.
No matter what it was, he doubted very much that it could do him much harm. Motoyasu on the other hand...
"Seeing as the Shield Hero—"
"I'm ready!" Naofumi announced. "Just let me take my position, then we'll resume." He slowly walked toward the side where Malty stood, staring intently at her. He shot her a wink, then turned toward Motoyasu, back completely toward his fiancée. Motoyasu had a frown on his face but played along anyway, moving so that he stood on the opposite side of the stage. Meanwhile, Raphtalia had started moving as well, walking alongside the stage until she had a clear view of everyone, especially Malty. Ren and Itsuki were trailing her but made no move to stop her.
So she noticed as well, Naofumi thought. Good.
"Brace yourself, Motoyasu," Naofumi called, making sure to sound especially cocky. "I'll show you what a real Shielder can do and will eliminate you in a single move!"
Motoyasu barked out a laugh, but it sounded a bit forced. Apprehensive, perhaps.
"Let's begin!"
"Very well," the King said. "On my command... Begin!"
Motoyasu didn't move.
Naofumi grinned. Seems like he has some brain cells left, he thought. Although, waiting while you have the time advantage is the obvious move. So some would argue that defying that expectation is the better course of action.
Chimera Goat Shield. Naofumi aimed his Shield. "Goat's Bleat." The goat head detached from the Shield and shot forward in an arc.
"Ha!" Motoyasu struck it out of the air with a triumphant expression. Nonetheless, the golden goat head managed to appear above Motoyasu a moment later, letting out a bleat. No one laughed.
Motoyasu scowled and charged, gripping his Spear with both hands.
Naofumi charged as well, switching to the Chimera Dragon Shield.
"Mr. Naofumi!" Raphtalia's shrill voice pierced the silence.
"Dragon's Claim." Naofumi threw himself to the ground.
Still scowling, Motoyasu wasn't stopping, about to reach Naofumi in a few moments. Flames shot out of the Chimera Dragon Shield, heat washing against Naofumi's face. The flames shifted into the form of a dragon and sped toward Motoyasu. A cooling breeze of wind suddenly washed over Naofumi, ruffling his cloak and hair. The fiery dragon was about to reach Motoyasu. It distorted faintly.
A female shriek of surprise sounded from behind, unmistakably Malty.
Chimera Viper Shield. Naofumi jumped to his feet and charged blindly toward where Motoyasu had vanished in flames. A loud grunt sounded, then the crackling of the fire was pierced by repeated thumps against the ground, crunching. There was a crashing sound as the fiery dragon once more destroyed the braziers. It vanished, and Naofumi spotted Motoyasu lying on his back near the edge of the dueling stage. His HP was still above half.
"Air Strike Shield!" Naofumi placed the skill atop Motoyasu's body.
The Spear Hero, lightly dazed, tried to maneuver, but his body, from the chest downward, was firmly sandwiched between the ability and the ground. He tried to wiggle himself out, but Naofumi was already there, holding him in place with a boot on his shoulder. Spear in one hand, Motoyasu tried to swing at Naofumi. The attack was quite pathetic.
"Viper's Fang." Naofumi easily batted aside the Spear and watched as the golden snakes sunk their fangs into his opponent's throat.
Motoyasu grunted, and his movements started to slow—like every time he was hit with the skill. It wouldn't do much more than to briefly slow him, though. Naofumi reached toward his belt and retrieved the Paralyzing Potion he'd purchased for Raphtalia all those weeks ago.
Chimera Lion Shield. Naofumi crouched and moved his Shield next to Motoyasu's head, then announced gleefully, "Lion's Roar."
Eyes closed, Motoyasu shrieked like a little girl as the golden lion head let out a deafening roar.
Naofumi cringed in sympathy. He unstopped the Paralyzing Potion and thrust the opening into Motoyasu's mouth. The Spear Hero screamed, chocked, and gurgled, and with all the thrashing around, a good half of the potion got spilled onto the ground. Good enough. The glow from his medicine-enhancing ability vanished, and Naofumi discarded the empty bottle, then grasped Motoyasu's head to press his mouth shut. After an involuntary swallow, Motoyasu's efforts completely stopped. He lay still aside from some agitated breathing.
For good measure, Naofumi punched him across the face. It was intensely satisfying. He took a few deep breaths. The Air Strike Shield vanished. Grinning, Naofumi stood and dusted off his cloak.
It was eerily silent in the arena. The whole fight probably hadn't taken more than 15 seconds after resuming. People were understandably shocked, disbelief plastered across faces everywhere, jaws hanging open.
"What's the matter?" Naofumi called, unable to keep his smile at bay. "You didn't think I was bluffing when I said I would finish him in a single move, did you?"
Someone started to clap, and reluctantly, more people joined in until deafening applause sounded in the arena. More than a few people decidedly didn't participate, but the fact that he was getting applause in the first place was pretty astounding in and of itself.
He looked toward Malty. His fiancée seemed frozen in place, eyes wide, mouth agape, a hand outstretched toward him. Apparently, the realization hadn't quite set in. Victory thrumming in his veins, Naofumi was tempted—very tempted—to shoot a rope at her and drag her onto the arena so that he could hug and kiss her in front of everyone.
Instead, he smiled and patted his cloak affectionately, noting with satisfaction that it had barely gotten dirtied during his little dive to the ground.
Raphtalia stared in awe at Naofumi as applause assaulted her from all sides. Her smile must have been equally as wide as his, and her heart was racing, beating with happiness and love.
"He really did it," she murmured, blinking tears of joy out of her eyes.
The applause quieted down. Naofumi stared expectantly at the King.
"Well." The King cleared his throat, looking around the stands. "It seems the Shield Hero—"
"Cheated!" the Princess shrieked. Everyone's attention shifted onto her as she stalked onto the stage. She picked up Naofumi's discarded potion bottle and held it up. "The Shield Hero used this to defeat the Spear Hero. A non-permitted aid!"
Agitated speculation broke out among the spectators. Meanwhile, cloaked figures had entered the courtyard and were crouching beside the Spear Hero, making sure he was okay.
Anger erupted inside Raphtalia. "So what? The Spear Hero used a potion as well! Mr. Naofumi didn't break any rules."
The Princess glared. "Don't speak, you—"
"Yeah!" Itsuki interrupted. "No one said using potions wasn't allowed. And don't think we didn't see what you did, Princess!"
Ren grunted and spoke, almost as if talking to himself, "I wonder how Naofumi knew. That was almost perfectly timed..."
More shouts were filling the air. It took Naofumi unleashing that terrifying roar from his Shield to once again quiet everyone down. He looked toward the King's alcove. "Your Majesty. What do you say? Was me using a potion against the rules or not?"
Standing, the King looked deeply troubled.
"How about this," Naofumi continued. "Since there seems to be some doubt about my victory"—a few chuckles could be heard from the stands—"we can say that it was a tie. Nobody loses. We both won, and both promises will be fulfilled. I'll release Raphtalia as my slave, and you'll ensure that the curse on her arms gets cured. What do you say, Your Majesty?"
It was silent, everyone staring expectantly at the King. Eventually, he gave a nod. "That is agreeable. The result of the duel is a tie."
Triumph pulsated in Raphtalia's chest as she looked at the Princess's outraged expression. Then all the warmth suddenly drained from her body as the real meaning behind Naofumi's words set in: he was going to free her.
Why? Raphtalia collapsed, dropping to her knees. Why? Why would he abandon her now? He'd promised, but... He didn't have to settle for that tie. In the storm of voices that suddenly seemed so distant, she vaguely heard Itsuki asking whether Naofumi was sure. He was. He was done with her. And truly, could she blame him? Of course not. After failing again and again, he'd finally had enough of her. And after proving how he could beat another Hero by himself, what did he need her for? He didn't. Not even for the things the Princess had insinuated. Because he didn't love her. Not like she loved him.
Tears fell onto her hands. She felt nothing except a deep chill inside of her, darkness all around her. She was all alone again. All alone in this scary world. What would she do now? Where would she go? What could she do without her Master to guide her? Raphtalia gasped for air, all-consuming fear gripping her heart.
I don't want to be alone. Mommy, Daddy... No one answered her pleas. She wanted...anything, anyone, to tell her what to do. Even the pain of her old cell was better than this emptiness and uncertainty.
She barely noticed the hands that grabbed her and held her upward—and how her skin prickled as it was freed of any curse marks. Through blurry vision, she saw how Naofumi and Kuro's names vanished and how her symbol changed into a sword. She pressed her eyes shut and wept, crashing back to the ground when the steadying arms let her go.
Had they extinguished the braziers? Had everyone already left? She felt so cold...
"—thalia. Raphtalia."
She blinked her eyes open, staring in confusion at Naofumi's blurry face. An illusion?
"What's the matter, Raphtalia? Are you hurt? Talk to me! Raphtalia!"
The hands holding her upward felt surprisingly real, but surely, the concern and care in those brilliant emerald eyes was a figment of her imagination. "Mr... Naofumi?" She sniveled.
Raphtalia squeaked as she was suddenly pulled toward him and enveloped in a tight embrace. Her face brushed against the smooth fabric of his cloak. She inhaled his familiar scent, and feelings of safety and love spread through her, casting away the fear and coldness in an instant. Warmth raced through her body, her heart racing, and when he caressed her ears and hair, the touch was like fire—but in a good way.
"Raphtalia, tell me what's wrong. Did those guys hurt you?"
She shook her head no against him. "I'm... I'm fine. But why are you...still here?"
"Huh?" He suddenly chuckled, vibrating against her. "I should probably send you a party invite. My bad. How do I do this..." He hummed, never stopping his caresses. "There, did you get it?"
Her heart skipped a beat as text appeared in front of her eyes, and she immediately accepted. A happy sound escaped her when Naofumi and Kuro's names reappeared near hers. "So you're not...leaving me?"
"Of course not." He tightened his embrace. "I thought I've told you that often enough already."
Her cheeks heated. "I...I know, but...why did you free me? You didn't have to. I don't mind being—"
"Because it's the right thing to do, okay? Because you don't belong to anyone but yourself. You're free to do whatever you want. So, do you still want to adventure with me, though? You can—"
"Of course!" She would have thrown herself at him if she weren't already in his embrace. Instead, she just hugged him tightly, clinging desperately to his warmth. "Of course I want to be with you forever!" Her tail was wagging uncontrollably, her heart racing. She kept her hotly burning face buried in the crook of his neck.
Suddenly, Naofumi grunted, and the air was driven out of her lungs. She blinked in confusion, and it took her a moment to realize that she was lying on her back. Naofumi was on top of her, pressing her body into the hard stone ground. She felt every little gravel through her thin dress. Had someone shoved them?
He righted himself, pulling Raphtalia, who still hadn't let go, along into a kneeling position.
"What happened?" she asked.
He was tense for a moment, craning his neck to look around the empty arena. It was silent aside from some distant chatter and hurried, retreating footsteps. "Mal—" He heaved an irritated sigh, then relaxed. "It's nothing. Are you alright, Raphtalia? You must be cold."
"I'm fine." Happy. A little yawn escaped her, and she closed her eyes, relaxing into Naofumi's embrace. "Tired..."
"Yeah... it's been a long and eventful day. Let's go to sleep."
She made no move to let go, face snuggled against his fluffy cloak. A moment later, he picked her up and carried her away. The cool night air brushed against the bare skin on her legs and curse-free arms, but it did little to quell the intense warmth inside of her. Everything would be alright, as long as she stayed with Naofumi. A bright smile on her face, she fell asleep before they even entered the castle.
You may have noticed that I've changed the Shield's abilities a little. Most notably, counter abilities are now active abilities that, upon activation, only offer a brief period in which they can be triggered. If no attack comes, they go on cooldown. I think this is a more interactive, fun, and logical thing to do. I should probably go back and edit the few scenes where the Dog Bite appeared so far, but I'm too lazy for that.
Also, counter abilities tend to be Special Abilities, which don't technically need to be spoken out loud to work (though Naofumi is a showoff and does so anyway). So I've added that there's always some sound effect (a hiss and a bark, in this case) to go along with it, so that an enemy may counter the counter, lol.
Or perhaps I'll just change it so that all abilities need to be spoken out loud. After all, I've never seen one of the other Heroes perform a silent ability. Gotta keep things fair here.