Chapter 12 – Player Versus Player!

Author's notes: Alright, well here it is! A chapter over ten years in the making. This contains what I can only hope will be some of my best work, and even more so that you'll agree. If you recall one of the best fight scenes in the original SAO, this will certainly take you back! Equally so, I drew plenty of inspiration from a very famous fight scene from what else but Overlord! It's getting closer and closer to the end for this next story of mine, so let's send it out with a bang, shall we? Here goes!

10th of January, 2023
Land of Temptation, Continent of Chaos

Mantine's log:

Call me crazy, but it feels like this campaign of ours is nearing its sunset. I can only hope Wesley kept his promise, and my body in the real world is at least alive enough to function when this is all over. Regardless, we've all been back to business over the past week. Though I might be somewhat critical of Sutahime's methods of disposing of Dirgegun... oh, who am I kidding? The bastard deserved it and then some. Disproportionate retribution might as well be my middle name. Either way, the guild and I had elected to partake in the New Year's event taking place all over the world, which demanded one-thousand kills for some extra skill points that other players might miss out on. Of course, I was the one who had to do all the work...

"You can do it, Mantine! 995... 996...!" cheered Jin from the sidelines, having finally established herself as a proper member of Knight 40. Mantine was tirelessly slaughtering basic enemies among the crystalline ridges and slopes that made up the snowy area. If he could just reach a thousand, the entire guild would be awarded several extra skill points! They'd need everything they could get to get the edge over the Guardian Force, who still outnumbered them and had taken out roughly an equal amount of bosses on the second continent. Disembodied suits of armor were reduced to scraps and shards clanking about the ground, and the bodies of humanoid drakes were scattered here and there before disappearing as they did.

Rance elected to cheer his friend on as well, with his own flavor. "C'mon, big guy! I wrestled that polar bear to the ground with just Cham and Tort here – and lemme tell ya – he begged for mercy! That's saying something, when you consider these two maggots are nothin' more than dead weight! So when ya think about it, I was at a disadvantage! Taking out a few little guys with that basic-ass combo?! I coulda done that! Faster, or I'm fining you ten-thousand gold!"

Morana grinned and put her hands on her hips. "The hentai king over here is right, for once! You're lasting longer on this quest than ya did with me! Why don't we fix that? Finish it up, or I might not even give you that second chance!"

Mantine jolted, nearly distracted from his thousandth kill. "Y-yes, dear! There, a solid 1k on behalf of everyone! Y'know, that would've gone a lot quicker if you guys had helped."

"It builds character, soldier! Besides, we've been freezing our asses off over here while you had your comfy negotiations with the yeti and them! Think of it as your tribute to us as leader! You should be willing to make any sacrifice necessary to bolster our strength!" Rance preached to the blue-clad warrior. He had committed pretty hard to the drill sergeant act, clearly.

Either way, the entire guild was rewarded with a generous handful of skill points to spend however they'd like. The Guardian Force was not only greater in numbers, but considerably wealthier than Knight 40. Therefore, it stood to reason that this would be a boon for their future. The players wasted no time redeeming them, though they all thought carefully on what they'd spend them on. There were no takebacks, so every choice they made here could potentially turn the tide in the battles ahead.

As the week went on, most of the Continent of Chaos was cleared out of its various bosses, even the fearsome Dragon Priest at Nail Hill, bringing the group ominously close to Black Claw Nest, whose base could be seen from the highest point of the hill. It was not just the experience they were after, but most importantly, the valuable materials for smithing. Mantine in particular had obtained blueprints for a weapon he was dead-set on acquiring. Furthermore, though her physical location had been sealed off, Mantine and the others had made sure to keep in touch with Crete via the Contact spell, and had been blessed with the knowledge of several high-level gear sets, ones that far surpassed their level until recently. Long story short, they were all bound and determined on bringing nothing but their best to the final battle, and if that included a little min-maxing, then so be it.

"Weapon ascension? Hah! Just who the hell do ya think you're talkin' to, Mantine? Piece of cake, pal! At the end of the day, this is just hammerin' stuff onto more stuff." Sutahime grinned, looking over the provided blueprints as a pile of multicolored dragon scales and scrap metal lay before her, sparkling with a rainbow of luster. "You guys are just lucky you collected this haul before the GF snapped it all up. This stuff doesn't grow on trees. These armor sets on the other hand, well... you're also lucky I kinda like doin' this." she added, reading the notes Crete provided closely. "It's therapeutic, in a way. Hmm... Reads more like a recipe than a blueprint..."

"Aren't those kind of the same thing?" Mantine wondered as she watched the woman work. "What's a blueprint, if not a recipe for a building or a weapon? Besides, I brought some for everyone... even you!"

"Goodness, you're too kind." she said half-sarcastically. "You wanted the Poseidon set, huh? With the... Black Dragon Lord's blessing. Fine, fine... leave it to me. I'm gonna need the base materials from your current gear, so... I'm afraid you're gonna have to strip."

"You know, somehow I'm less concerned with your phrasing, and more so with the prospects of leaving my equipment with you." Mantine said, reluctantly unequipping all of his gear and returning to his civilian outfit. "Go gentle on it, would you?"

Suta dismissed his worries. "Yeah, yeah, I promise not to smash it too hard. Now get outta here – you're in my light, and I'll be up all night working this stuff at this rate. Man, if I wasn't Knight 40's personal blacksmith, I'd be rich by now... what are you still standing there for? Didn't I say go to bed?"

Knowing that arguing with Sutahime while she was in her zone was a futile effort at best, Mantine retired to his room within the guild hall and took off to dreamland within less than a minute.

Early that next morning, a quick, terse tapping was heard on the door. Most of the group were still fast asleep at this hour, most certainly Sutahime, getting some well-deserved rest after her tireless work. However, Tort was awoken, perhaps not minding since his Malaysian heritage meant he lived in a much different time zone than the others. He'd shuffle over to the door to answer, feeling a bit weird that he was on the opposite end of his earlier encounter, though not opting to kick the man on the other side in the head.

As if history repeated itself, a messenger from the Guardian Force greeted Tort in the usual white-and-gold garb. "Greetings! I've a message for Mantine. Was told I'd find him here... Please don't deck me like you did the last guy, I don't even know what it says! I was actually told not to read it."

"I was..." Tort wanted to remark how he was the last guy, but simply elected to accept the letter. "Well? What do I look like, mike? A mailbox? Just give it here... I'll deliver it when the oaf wakes up. Our Lord Mantine... likes to sleep til noon when he can get away with it. Now get outta my sight!" he said, taking the envelope into his inventory and shutting the door. "There, I got things done the Knight 40 way..."

The warrior in dark green woke Mantine in due time, explaining that the mysterious letter was for his eyes only. Intrigued, he brewed some coffee before pouring himself a cup and taking a close look at the folded paper and what was written within. "I see..."

Dear Mantine, honorable guild leader of Knight 40,

It would appear that the cursed death game, Dragon Saga Online, is nearing its end. All that stands between us and the freedom of every player within, is the Black Claw Nest and whatever lies at the very top. Furthermore, with the death of one of my vice-masters at the hands of one of yours, I'm positive that you have what it takes. I have one final request.

Before the assault on the final dungeon, I hereby challenge you to a one-on-one duel to the death, in the Seabreeze Arena atop Port of the Winds. There are no rules; you may bring whatever equipment and skills you wish. I know that you want closure just as bad as I do, and so I'm extending this cordial offer to you. I'm sorry it had to come to this, but business is business. I need no reply to this mail, your presence at the arena tomorrow is confirmation enough. Best of luck to the both of us.

Kind regards,

Kite

Mantine would read it over a few more times before placing the letter back into his inventory. He couldn't help but smile just a little, finally hearing from his old friend for the first time in many months. "So that's how you reach out to me, Kite? It humanizes you, I'll give you that – and you even kept your old dramatic flair. That said... I'm still tired... this coffee must've been weak. I need more rest if I'm going to fight you at full percent. Knowing you, you'd want nothing less." he mused to himself, before sending a correspondence confirming he'd accepted the challenge, and then rolling back into bed. Typical Mantine, that sleep fiend.

Only a few hours later, he was awoken by a familiar voice, two purple twintails dangling in his face accompanied by the aura of raw bitch energy. "Rise and shine, oh exalted Lord Mantine! A warrior who barely manages to roll outta bed at 1pm hardly deserves the fruits of my craftsmanship!"

The Texan jolted awake, now actually quite excited to see what Suta had been working on all night. "Alright, alright! You've made your point... What magic have you worked this time, Sutahime?" he asked, getting dressed and heading for the hall's meeting room. Suta stood next to a glass case and presented the first of her creations to Mantine with a prideful smile. "You may not recognize it anymore, but this is your beloved Glacialis... I've imbued it with the blessing of Elga. Say hello to Black Dragon Glacialis! Its offensive power increased tenfold, as well as the potency of the natural ice element within! It's bigger, faster, and stronger too! You'll have to give it a go yourself to really understand what it's capable of!" the woman proudly boasted, no doubt earning such a boast after her efforts.

Mantine grinned with delight as he looked the blade over – it had been nearly completely transformed. Though it retained its icy blue hues, it was no longer forked, now a much longer, crystalline spike of pure ice in every shade of blue that shimmered under the midday's light. The golden, trophy cup crossguard was completely reshaped into a downward curving hilt lined with rigid spikes, met with what appeared to be a dragon's eye in the middle, pure white with a red cross-shaped iris. It exuded a constant aura of aqua frost, even when not in hand. Mantine gladly equipped his new prize, feeling colder already.

"The rest of our weapons, including those of your sweetheart Morana, and myself have received similar upgrades. What? You thought I'd stay up all night on just one weapon? Hah! Trivial for a master smith of my caliber!" she said, before motioning Mantine over to a mannequin covered in a cloth drape. "And that was only the first part! Feast your eyes on your new armor, Lord Mantine!" she said, pulling the cloth away in a dramatic flourish. "Infused with the Black Dragon scales, presenting your new Armor of Poseidon! Applause is not necessary."

The blue-haired knight might've drooled just a little at the sight. The set was decked from head to toe in several thick layers of metallic blue plating, with just the right amount of cloth gracefully flowing off of its dragon bone construction. The boots and gloves were spiked to the nth degree, and the helm bore three pairs of horns, with the frontmost curving upward and displaying an effervescent liquid effect as though they were full of sparkling water. The cape brought it all together perfectly, appearing as an eternally fluid river in a gradient of glimmering crystal blue. It even felt like water to the touch.

Clasping his hands together and bowing profusely, Mantine offered his eternal gratitude the best way he knew how. "Exalted craftsman... craftswoman? Sutahime! Your service to this guild will never be forgotten! Seriously though, if you need a little extra from the guild vault, don't be a stranger. This is everything I dreamed of, and them some. I don't know what we'd do without you." he said, taking the armor set and opening his inventory interface to get a better look at the stats and bonuses. Fitting of such high-level regalia, the set offered several boosts to movement speed and critical hit chance in addition to its sturdy defenses, befitting that of a tanking class.

"Well... you'd probably die a gruesome death... and be forgotten in the grand scheme of things, or worse! Hah. I'm the duct tape that holds you all together, admit it! Seriously man, enjoy your new threads to your heart's content. Your fair lady will find her new set waiting for her when she comes back – that dragon leather can be used for damn near anything, and I managed to enchant it! As for the leftovers, I added them seamlessly into my own outfit... those white scales really bring my look to the forefront. Being a badass like myself doesn't mean much if I can't look stunning doing it!~" she said, equipping her improved robes and posing gracefully after a spin.

"As for the matter at hand..." Mantine thought aloud, "your timing couldn't have been better. I should probably get going... don't wanna leave my old pal waiting too long. Round up everyone else when you can, Sutahime. We've got a special owner's box set up just for each guild of the featured competitors. I'll be sure to put on quite the show for you all. After all, I am dressed to impress, thanks to you."

Suta perked up, wrapping her head around the situation. "Oh, yeah! Figure the way I wasted his pal back in the manor mighta stirred him up a little. All right, front row seats! It's WWE Champions time! I never met the guy, but I get that the two of ya have some pretty long-standing beef, and pals or not, he's part of the reason sis is gone... kick his ass, Mantine." she said with genuine conviction.

"Watch me." Mantine said with a sincere nod before heading out, to see his old friend face-to-face for the first time in about a year.

At the highest point atop Port of the Winds was the famous Seabreeze Arena. It was the ultimate destination for any aspiring duelist... or at least, it would be, if this game had panned out as everyone originally expected. It wasn't used too often given the current state of the game, but remained fully functional nonetheless. Roughly the size of a football field, the arena was mostly flat, sandy plains with a few hills and rocks dotting it here and there. It actually had several layouts that could be chosen by competitors, but Kite had opted for its most balanced, default appearance. It was surrounded by rows upon rows of bleachers for excited spectators to get a lovely view of the action, and on this particular day, those seats were packed to the brim. Even players who were no longer actively fighting on the front lines were eagerly awaiting the outcome of this legendary brawl!

The owners' boxes on either side featured a lovely array of amenities, including exquisite food and drink, not to mention a large crystal ball which the players could use to get a close-up view of the action. Kite's side included the survivors of the initial battle in the Graveyard, as well as that mysterious armored man that assisted him on that fateful day of betrayal. Mantine's side housed the usuals – his beloved Morana, as well as Rance, Tortoiseshell, Chammeng, Sutahime, Jin, and Chocolate. They were given a circular leather couch to lounge on and watch the bout through the glowing orb.

Fully decked out in the gear that Suta provided, Mantine kept his confident stride as he entered the arena, met with a fairly equal amount of cheers and boos. Though he could see the audience clearly open their mouths, he couldn't hear so much as a peep. "Interesting... the arena itself must be soundproofed. Could prevent coaching and the like... not a bad idea."

Upon making his way onto the battlefield, he spied a figure that was unmistakably the person he'd known for quite some time now, yet hadn't seen in many months... Kite. There was no doubt about it, he even sported the same luminous pink hair that covered his head since day one. However... it didn't exactly take an eagle eye to notice the fact that he was not only in casual, basic civilian wear... but had fallen dead asleep in the dirt, head comfortably resting in his palm. Just what was his angle here?

"Well, I'll be... my old pal must've thought I'd show earlier in the morning. After all this time, you'd figure he'd know I like to sleep in... hmm..." Mantine said quietly to himself, assessing the situation. He crossed his arms, sinking deep into thought... and then the perfect idea came to him. Yes, this couldn't have worked out more in his favor! "As luck would have it, he didn't hear me coming. Did Suta make my armor lighter? Hmm. In any case... sorry, Kite, but I'm using my own lateness to my full advantage." said Mantine with clear conviction.

The blue-clad knight opened his skill interface before him, making sure everything he needed was readied onto his hotbar. He took a deep breath. "Offensive Aura." he cast his first sword skill, as a brief glow of red enveloped his body. "Defensive Aura." he continued, prompting the same effect in green. "Time-reversal Aura. Cockroach Life. Water Veil. Sky Blade. Magic Ward. Flight. Maximize Magic: Trip Mine. Reflector. Alter Probability. Vampirism. Pavise. Shadowgift. Triple Maximize Sword Skill: Tornado Blade. Harmonious Duality. Triple Maximize Magic: Gauge Seal. False Data: Life." almost as if he'd been rehearsing, he rattled off every skill he planned on using, stacking buffs upon buffs, knowing he could end this before it even started. "Ready when you are, Kite..."

Rather than drawing from his mana reserve, Mantine would opt to fully expend his draconic aura, the third energy bar granted to anyone who managed to survive the final reclass test. As much as the warrior in him craved a true and honest fight, Mantine took the practical route – a move that would surely end his unsuspecting opponent then and there... "Here goes..." he'd say, taking another deep breath as his entire body shone a shimmering cyan, as an array of golden runes floated before him erratically.

"My, my. First time I've actually seen a Super-Tier skill in action..." said Suta, comfortably seated with the rest of the guild as they watched Mantine patiently from the box. "Is he seriously gonna blow his whole load all at once?"

Morana shook her head. "Mmm-mmm. It's drawing from his draconic gauge. His mana's totally unaffected, but..."

"The big guy can't use that again for a whole minute now... he's got some stones on him, using it for the opening move..." Chocolate added, watching closely with bated breath.

Rance furrowed his brow and gritted his teeth. "Now, I ain't sayin' you're wrong, but... it might be all he needs."

Mantine appeared hesitant for a moment. "I've really committed to this, huh? Well, at least he stuck to his own rules – I don't see anyone around, and a display like this would've drawn them out by now. Alright, then. Might as well keep some insurance on me." Mantine slid a blue bracelet onto his left arm.

A familiar voice played through the jeweled accessory. "You got it, big bro! In just ten minutes, your wish will come true!"

"Crete... why'd you have to put your voice into this thing? Thank you... Ol' Kite's really in over his head, it seems. Sorry I had to lame you out like this, but... to put it in your terms, business is business. Super-Tier Skill – Judgment of the Divine Dragon Lord!"

In an instant, the entire arena was engulfed in a roaring hurricane of blue and gold magic! The spectacle could be seen from all over the far reaches of the game world, like a mushroom cloud from the very heavens! Were it not for the protective shielding around the arena, even the spectators could be gravely injured from this breathtaking display of raw power! The ground beneath them shook violently as a chain of magical blasts went off and the effigy of a golden serpent ran its way clean through Kite's idle body, twisting and constricting with what could only be called the burning soul of Mantine himself!

"Now there's the Mantine I know! You had it taken care of from the start!" Chammeng cheered, pumping his fist.

Tort high-fived the golden myrmidon. "Hell yeah! He's got this one in the bag, mike! As if there was any doubt!"

Suta crossed her arms and smirked. "Meh, I coulda done it in half the time... and I was hoping we'd get these comfy seats a little longer. Morana, you have no idea the pain us skinny gals endure sitting down for a long time... meanwhile, you've got a comfy seat wherever you go!"

Despite the friendly jest at her body, Morana's face remained straight and focused. "Not gonna be that easy... If I've learned one thing in all this time... you gotta wait til the smoke clears."

"As a wise man once said... were it so easy." Chocolate added, still fixated on the battle. "Our old pal ain't gonna just go out like that."

Indeed, Mantine didn't even bother moving from his position. A golden shockwave emerged from where Kite laid just before, kicking up several dust clouds. The resulting winds whipped them away... revealing, to the collective shock of the audience, Kite. Not only was the rose-haired man virtually unharmed, but he was standing up straight, and now adorned head to toe in his regalia of legend – dragon scaled chainmail, perfectly fitting of his slender frame and allowing for maximum range of movement. Each piece was trimmed in the typical Guardian Force white and gold, intersected with deep cuts of pink. His entire body surged with enough mana that his sparking was visible to the naked eye.

...and all that could be heard from him was gleeful laughter. "Mantine, this isn't like you! Is that any way to greet your friend? I mean, really, were I a betting man, I'd say you were actually trying to kill me there! That said... long time no see."

Truthfully, this was exactly what Mantine anticipated. He knew someone of Kite's caliber wouldn't go out like that. "I knew you were gonna say that! What's wrong, Kite? Was my reunion gift not good enough? I know it wasn't much, really. Did it at least feel good? I tried, man, I did!" the paladin met his old friend's glee with equal mirth.

The English man drew his crossbow, the ultra-rare prize known as Heartbreaker. It fit his aesthetic well, and sported pink, bladed limbs for close combat. "Gotta hand it to you, brother. I wasn't expecting that. What's gonna feel really good, though, is taking down somebody as strong as you. When I left you to languish on the coast back in March, I figured you would've learned your place. That's good though, you never were subservient in all the time we hung out. Good on ya, really."

"Then we're on the same page, it looks like. I'll be honest, I didn't think you'd show me a shred of respect. For the life of me, I could never see you as anything less than a friend." Mantine said truthfully, drawing his enhanced Glacialis and his new shield. The metal itself was cloaked in an energy barrier, effectively doubling its defense. "You're pretty sure of yourself, then?"

Instead of answering, Kite loaded his crossbow and fired his first volley, but Mantine swatted each bolt away with his shield. "Unless you need glasses, that was a little weak on your part. After all this time hyping yourself up, is that it? You do want to hurt me, is that right?"

"I'd love nothing less! You did fire the first shot, after all! I guess now I can't do much but rip you apart, friend!" Kite shouted, taking an offensive stance. With that, the duel was officially under way!

[[Mantine – Dragoon, lvl 77]] VS .[[Kite – Destroyer, lvl 80]]
[[3...2...1... BEGIN!]]

Kite gracefully dashed forth at breakneck speed, his legs not even touching the ground, and yet... boom! He'd set off the first of Mantine's traps! Mantine wagged his finger and shook his head. "I'd be a little more careful there if I were you. While you were dozing off, I laid down powerful trip mines all over this arena. You might have the advantage of range on me, but you'd still better watch your step."

"Fair point, chum. I'll stick to what I know, then. Flight!" he cast a buff of his own, allowing his body to move freely through the air. He fired a bolt in a seemingly random direction, homing in on something unseeable, which exploded on impact. "I'd say you littered the air with these as well? Clever, for what it's worth. I'll just have to make each move count, then."

Mantine nodded. "Aren't you sharp? Had me puzzled out before the fight really started." he said, before thinking to himself, 'Hope that worked. Truth was, I only set those two up. Any more woulda ran my mana out too quick. Those things don't come cheap... I can't gamble it away like that. I'm completely outmatched as far as raw power goes. If I can just chip away at him for now...' before charging toward Kite with his sword at the ready! "Maximize Sword Skill... Gravity Thrust!"

As he got closer, a black hole would manifest from the tip of his blade, attempting to draw Kite closer! With his free hand, the rose-haired man would cast his own skill! "Maximize Sword Skill – Wall of a Thousand Arrows!" he shouted, summoning just what the spell described – a tightly interwoven array of black arrows – more like spears at their size – just barely deflecting the attack and shattering in the process! Kite elected to regroup and think things over. 'Mmm. Can't say I wasn't expecting this sort of fight. Loathe as I am to admit it, I won't be able to break him just going all out with my offense. The Heartbreaker's special ability lets me heal equal to half of every hit I land, even if he blocks it. It must really suck having to go it alone – the bloke's used to having his guildmates at his side no matter what. I'll give him a look real quick... Reveal MP...'

Kite's skill let him see a visual indicator of his opponent's current mana reserve. To Kite's surprise, it was a staggering amount relative to his class. 'He's not a magic caster... wonder where he got all that, or for that matter, what use a tank build would have for it? Given how much he's invested in his MP... it stands to reason that if I can wear it down enough, he won't have a leg to stand on. His defense won't help him much if each one of my shots can tear through his armor, but I'd better patch myself up to be safe. Let's give it a go, shall we?' Kite waved his free hand. "Greater heal." he'd say, summoning a brief flash of green onto his body.

Mantine glared at him and shook his head again. "What do you take me for, Kite?" he taunted as three ethereal blades manifested from thin air, stabbing the bowman in succession. "What's wrong, did that break your flow? Actually, don't answer that. What I'm really wondering is... Was this your aim from the get-go? Never in a million years did I think an old online buddy would turn on me like you did back there. If you were playing me for the long game, then bravo – you pulled it off with excellence only matched by myself."

"Don't give yourself too much credit on that one, friend. I would've loved to waste away the remainder of my teenage days grinding with you and Kindon to our hearts' content. I saw an opportunity and seized it, honestly. We were in a bit of a Lord of the Flies situation, and you know how dangerous that can get. I hate the idea of leaving you high and dry, but at the same time, I always thought you were a step behind the rest of us. Perhaps if you'd tried a little harder... who am I kidding, the past is the past. Get out of my way, Mantine!" Kite shouted, aiming his crossbow and closing one eye... but just before he took the shot, he'd activate his next skill! "Greater Teleportation!" he'd disappear in a blink, appearing right behind Mantine, crossbow squarely aimed at his neck!

...only to find himself unable to move for that precious moment! "I'm not just gonna give you this one, Kite. That Dirgegun guy you got so chummy with used this one all the time! Level 3 Paralysis!" Mantine used the energy field around his armor to release a yellow burst, covering Kite's body in sparks. "Back on the ground where you belong! Heart of Ice!" Seizing the situation, Mantine would follow up by briefly transforming his blade into a greathammer wrought of pure ice, with the dragon's eye on its face. It struck Kite cleanly, sending him hurtling below, leaving a smoking crater in the stone!

The azure paladin rocketed after him, blade at the ready! He'd swing in rapid succession, too far away to land a proper hit, but each blow would release a jagged spike of crystal clear ice! "Icicle Barrage!"

Though his movement was impeded, Kite would no less attempt to resist, his body set aglow as he shouted, "Greater Teleportation!"

Furiously gripping his blade with both hands, Mantine thrust skyward. "Don't you ever listen?! I said I ain't letting you get away with that. Here goes the big one... Triple Maximize Sword Skill: Harmonious Infinity!" With this next cast, the arena would quake again as innumerable, smaller copies of his blade manifested in thin air. "Where will you go now?!" He'd shout, launching the razor sharp assault, some blades tracking Kite and others firing randomly, just to account for where Kite might teleport to, even with his reduced range.

Indeed, Kite would find himself on the edge of the arena, with a storm of blades about to reduce him to ribbons! "Maximize Magic: Mirror Reversal Shield!" he'd cast one of his own draconic skills, summoning a purple shield from his weapon that covered his entire body! Kite had thought quick; when the small icy blades found their mark, it was Mantine who would suffer!

"Argh! You damn-!" Mantine did his best to block what he could with his shield, being flung back by what was once his own attack! He kept his feet firmly dug in, unfaltering in his stance. Still, his mouth was agape with shock. "Say what?! What the...?!"

Kite met his surprise with a mocking laugh. "You're losing your edge, Mantine! I mean, really, you've played this game for over a year now, and you still don't know about the Destroyers' skill tree? That's just embarrassing on your part."

"What's embarrassing is the ludicrous thought that a skill like that would save your ass." Mantine said through gritted teeth, his healing ability already going to work unbeknownst to Kite.

Kite reloaded the Heartbreaker with a bright yellow bolt, causing it to glow and spark wildly. "Please, keep trying to make it look like you know what you're doing... it's damn adorable. You might be second to none in your ice manipulation, but this weapon works with damn near any element under the sun. Do I need to explain lightning bolts to you, too, or am I getting too ahead of myself?"

"Aside from a small chance to paralyze, they're basically just standard heavy ammo with a lighting element slapped on. Don't patronize me." Mantine growled, raising his shield.

Kite didn't answer, firing the golden bolt instead! It passed right through Mantine's shield, tearing into his chest and coming out of the other side! Blinding flashes of lighting came from his body, causing him to scream out in agony! "Grrraaaaghhhh! Shit! Kite, you sonuva...!" he shouted as his body convulsed with thousands of volts.

"I invested in that skill just for you, old friend! You put all your elemental points into ice, and what is ice, but frozen water? You're the perfect conductor! Now, get cooked alive!" Kite said, firing two more bolts of electricity, each one finding its mark in Mantine's chest.

The knight would clutch his chest in pain as each shot tore through his defenses. "Kite! Don't you dare take me lightly! Rrgh!" He struggled to stay on his feet as the shock coursed through his body!

Kite reloaded the crossbow. "Unfortunate; looks like you've used up all of your tricks."

"Hardly." Mantine said flatly, as Kite's body was shrouded in a purple aura. "Maximize Magic: Cursed Body!"

Kite's eyes scanned over his HUD, finding that not only was his HP and mana draining at a fairly steady rate, but several of his skills were temporarily disabled. "You underhanded little- that's a warlock skill! You shouldn't be able to-!"

"You're quite right. I'd never be able to use this normally, but while you were asleep, I had just enough time to cast Shadowgift. It allows any class to use a spell or sword skill classified as dark magic. Aren't I something?" he said, hoping his natural healing would offset Kite's assault.

"If that's all you've got, then I'll just have to up the dosage." Kite said, readying another bolt of lightning. 'I can't keep using this back to back. Even without his Cursed Body, this skill takes a serious toll on my MP, not to mention cooldown's about to kick in. Good news is, that little stunt he pulled brought his own MP dangerously low. Just a bit longer now...' he thought to himself before loosing the shot!

Mantine quickly countered, his icy blade cutting through the air itself! "Windshear Slash!" he called, the attack making its mark and appearing to bisect Kite at the torso... only for him to undo the damage and reform. Mantine once again couldn't help but be surprised. Despite his attempt to evade, the next bolt was a direct hit in the knight's chest. "Impressive; that wasn't a standard healing skill." he growled, suppressing the pain. "A variant of my Time Reversal Aura, right?"

Kite flashed a genuine smile. "Kindon was practically begging me to invest into that one. I kid you not, he told me it'd save my life one of these days. I never doubted him for a second."

Mantine shook off the shock and asked with curiosity, "I was meaning to ask you, if you'd give me that chance... what ever happened to our old pal Kindon after he left with you and the others? I never saw hide or hair of the man since our little incident."

With a somber frown, Kite shook his head. "Poor guy didn't make it. We lost several men in the confusion during that scuffle Yuuki and Lucas caused while you were away. Kindon fought to the bitter end, but simply got overwhelmed."

"A life for a life, huh? My thanks for the closure. Bet that joker's watching us right now, bowl of eggs and everything." Mantine said, smiling for a moment.

Knight 40 were also watching them back in the owner's box. Chammeng slammed his fist on the table around the crystal. "Just what the hell's going on down there? Big guy's getting shredded all of a sudden!"

"Much like his namesake, Mantine's fairly weak to lightning attacks, from the looks of it." Jin observed. "His setup's got a fair amount of resistances, but Kite definitely planned this one."

Sutahime shrugged with apathy. "Kite's good, but I think the guy's in over his head... not to mention full of it."

Down below, Kite fervently kept an eye on Mantine's mana. 'Never thought I'd say it, but when it comes to raw skill and investment, the ol' cowboy has me beat. I knew he'd be preparing for this ever since I ran him through back then, but so was I... too bad he relies so much on sword skills.'

"Maximize Sword Skill: Pavise!" Mantine proclaimed, activating one of the buffs he'd cast earlier. He stared Kite down, waiting for his next move with bated breath.

'Really, another defensive skill?' Kite thought, a little confused. 'Doesn't he know my special ammo can bypass defenses entirely? Stacking that on top of Defensive Aura is useless. This guy hasn't learned a thing since our RuneScape days. Better yet, this act is burning his MP all the way through. This might end up being a waste of time...' his lightning burnt out, he'd then switch ammo, loading what looked like grenades into his crossbow.

Mantine watched Kite load his weapon, shrugging apathetically. "Shoot, man. Gotta admit, you got me good here. So far, you've countered almost everything I threw at you. Whatever you did during our time apart must've paid off. No earthly idea how I'm gonna get my way outta this one."

Kite aimed his bow at his former ally. "No shit. If that really is the case, why don't you call it quits and be on your bike? You did accept my proposal for a duel to the death, remember? That is, unless you're seeking death out."

"Man, you know, I would, but..." Mantine said, cracking his neck, "...to tell you the truth, I'm not much more than a selfish sonuvabitch. It's why most of my family hates me, and I don't blame them one bit. I like what I like, and I do what benefits me the most. Been that way since I was a kid. I might be regaled as a hero by some, but I'm completely insufferable. Hell, I'm surprised my guild has stuck with me this long... and that's exactly why I'm still standing here. Do you really think I thought I'd get close enough to a group of people to care about them, much less fall in love and get married... sorta, but you get the point... don't you?"

"Nevermind, I'm only killing the mood."

"Fine, we'll get back to it then. For the record, Mantine... Kindon and I never saw you that way, but I'm starting to see your point. Here goes! Napalm Magnet Bomb!" Kite unloaded every round of his red-hot glowing ammo toward the knight! He'd activate Flight, his elegantly flowing cape splitting and unfolding into a pair of wispy wings! He'd take a hard right to evade, only for the explosives to follow his trajectory and stick to him, igniting his body in flames!

...however, Mantine didn't so much as flinch on impact. He didn't even make a noise as he burned. "Maximize Magic: Hail Bomb!" he'd send a spiked orb of ice toward Kite, exploding next to him and even freezing him for a moment before he broke himself free! Wasting no time, he'd activate his next skill before Kite fully recovered! "Maximize Sword Skill: Storm Blade!" he screamed as his body spun until it formed a blue cyclone of icy swords!

Though a few of them found their mark, Kite would dash toward Mantine in a furious rage, blowing through the attack and landing a clean hit with the bladed limbs of his crossbow! His range advantage didn't matter to him anymore!

'That bastard healed again! Fine, I'll make it that much harder for you!' he thought, furrowing his brow. Kite went in for another swing, but Mantine wouldn't take it head-up this time. "Now, activate... Pavise!" He'd summon a giant shield before him, negating all damage and giving him the chance to ready another skill!

"Get out from behind there and face me! Grenade Bolt!" Kite fired three rounds, sticking into the shield and blowing it to shards in an instant, but when the smoke cleared, Mantine had finished calling his next attack!

"Icicle Barrage!" he'd hold out his sword, releasing an assault of frozen spikes, digging into Kite's body relentlessly! "What do you have to be afraid of, Kite? You're a force of nature, so tear me apart if you've got it in you! Windshear Slash!" he taunted Kite, firing three more attacks that cut into Kite, who fought through the assault long enough to close the distance to dig into him again, regaining more health!

After their clash, Kite would retreat backward and set his body aglow. "You're really pushing it, old friend. You want me? You got me." Kite said menacingly, slamming his fist into the ground. The entire arena lit up with seemingly random embers and bolts of lightning.

Mantine looked on with curiosity. "Kite's not much of a killer, but it looks like I've pushed him indeed. I was wondering how long it'd take him to go all in on the big one." He raised his shield and looked at the bracelet on his arm with intent.

"Sure-Kill Move..." A blinding light took shape, forming a brilliant ballista. "Titanium Reality Bomb!"

Mantine gritted his teeth and beaded sweat as the ultimate attack was prepared before his eyes. As if taking note of the display, the voice on Mantine's arm spoke up. "That one doesn't look good, big bro! I can go ahead and-"

"Start it up, sis. Get the timer going – just don't dare grant my wish until I say the word! Something tells me I might not need it after all! Be quick about it!" Mantine said, preparing a skill and taking a deep breath.

The bracelet pulsed as if in confirmation. "Right, big bro! Timer's almost up..."

"I'm not giving you the chance to do that, Kite!" he declared, drawing every ounce of energy from within him. "Awakening Skill: I Will Die When Hell Freezes Over!" he shouted from the bottom of his heart! Ice crystallized behind him, almost in the shape of a snowflake... but upon closer inspection... it was a clock! The hand would tick forward as each precious second passed, waiting to deliver the cold eruption!

For all its heart-sinking bravado, Kite's sure-kill move had a gruelingly long startup time. The already large ballista grew in size slowly until it dwarfed Mantine and Kite... and its chamber extended, nocking not one, but three grand payloads. Appearing as magical warheads in radiant silver and gold, each with enough power to level the whole arena. The Englishman said nary a word, staring intently at his display in hopes that it would fire off in time...

Four...

The three shots loaded themselves into position, charging mana from the air around them!

Three...

Wings trailing behind him, Mantine used his flight to close the distance, appearing inches away from Kite and his legendary weapon.

Two...

The charges would arm themselves, one by one, until the tip of each bolt was as a blinding star...

One...

...but for Kite, it was too little, too late. He had well and truly lost his reckless gamble.

"End of the line, Kite. Good on you for trying as hard as you did."

The frigid clock hand had reached twelve, securing inescapable victory for Mantine. At that moment, the entire battle arena was frozen solid, only for the dense, clear ice to shatter into a storm of sharp needles, leaving his adversary to be eviscerated in the unforgiving cold Mantine had relegated him to. He kept a close eye on Kite, making sure his health bar zipped down to nothing. Heavy snow and fog rendered the battlefield nearly unseeable, and both sides, along with the audience, waited and held their breath as the frost slowly faded. Seconds felt like minutes...

Having exhausted himself, Mantine dug his sword into the ground for support and gasped for breath. He could taste the blood in his lungs, and his eyes felt like they could pop from his skull at any moment. This battle had taken everything from him, and then some.

...but if it was that easy, I wouldn't still be here. Kite... you really are something.

The winds died down at last, letting the drifts of snow rest on the ground, giving everyone a perfectly clear view of Kite... now fully healed and standing strong. He smiled with conviction and cracked his neck, loading his crossbow as he gazed intently at Mantine.

Mantine met his stare with his own hazel eyes... and laughed just a little. "Hah! So? How was it? Your first death, I mean! I've never felt anything like that! What a headrush! Really, there's no arguing as to who got the first round here, but I'd feel awfully empty right now if you went down like that! Please, tell us your thoughts!"

Kite obliged his friend's request, stretching and flashing the knight a competitive smirk. "My my, Mantine. I was honestly worried things had gone south. You really had me going for a second there... but thanks to this Crystal of Denial our dear old Kindon gave me, I'm fit as a fiddle and absolutely ready for round two. Can't say the same for you, though. That display of yours burned through the bulk of your MP, and nothing you could muster up would be enough to bring my HP down from full. Gotta hand it to you, old chum; for being at a complete disadvantage, you lasted a hell of a lot longer than I expected."

Using his sword to push himself back onto his feet, Mantine smiled back with the same fervor he was met with. "Well, shoot. Never in all my years would I expect honest praise from you, especially after all that's happened. You have a wholesome side to you! I'll take it. Really."

Kite assumed a battle stance and, rather than firing, began to slowly approach Mantine, each step brutally crunching the newly-formed snow beneath. "On the other hand, you've done a great job draining my own MP. I had to use everything under my belt just to keep you on the defensive. I barely have anything left, but then again, you have even less. Given the circumstances, I'd say all that's left is to ask you what your last words are. Don't go out silent on me, now."

Mantine rose to his feet, shrugging as he lightly sipped a health potion. "That's a heavy question you've asked me, Kite. Let me think. Well, s'pose I could go on some cliched spiel about how ironic it is to be defeated by my old brother-in-arms... grieve on about how you turned out the way you did... or talk about how friendship can get us all outta this. Instead, I wanna thank you for granting me the most exhilarating duel of my life..."

Mantine threw the empty vial on the ground, crushing it beneath his feet and twirling his icy blade in his hand, digging his heel in, and flashing Kite a peculiar smile. "...and for your fantastic job securing my victory better than I could ever dream of."

For a brief moment, Kite's confident grin faltered into a gasp of disbelief!

"Fact of the matter is, if you had fought me in any other way, I wouldn't have stood a chance in hell."