Soul Art Online
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 22: Tournament- 2
- Arthas -
I was surrounded by the members of the Knight's Academy as soon as the fights for the day ended, cheering at my win.
While I wasn't the only one in the Knight's Academy who qualified for the next day's events, my performance was by far the best.
"Hahahaha great job, Arthas. Great Job." Sir Ralph patted my shoulder happily. "You should have seen the faces of the other two when you took down those puppets. Several people complained that you were cheating after seeing your level. Hector Black's cronies were so pissed off when Lord Uther cleared your name… seriously, I haven't had this much fun in years." He laughed again, this time joined by others too.
I just smiled at his compliments.
"Anyways, sit down, you all. Let's talk about tomorrow's competition. Don't let today's victory cloud your ego. Today was just a selection round. The real competition will be tomorrow. You need to take the matches seriously, even against the weakest of the foes." Ralph said and then looked at me. "And you Arthas. Your performance was the best among all players of the fifth tier but you also have a weakness that others don't. Do you know what?" He asked me.
"My level, Sir. I am the lowest level among all who qualified for the next round in our tier." I answered. In fact, I had noticed that compared to my level 29, the one who was the second lowest level was level 42. That was a thirteen level difference.
Sure my Achievements made up for my stats a lot but Lord Knight's Stats Gains for Strength and Endurance per level were actually slightly higher than that of Man Slayer. The Man Slayer had higher stats in Speed.
The reason I could complete the round so quickly was because I was relying on my passive skills and Buff Skills like Armament Haki to further increase my stats. Using Armament Haki however meant that I also had to continuously use my mana which would affect my fight in the long run.
I needed to be careful against those who were at level 50 and possibly had buff type skills like Armament Haki or Battle Aura too or I could be at a disadvantage.
"Exactly. Against someone at T5 Level 50, you will be at a disadvantage of mana in a long drawn fight. That's why, fight seriously from the start. Use your skills wisely in the fight. Don't waste mana. The ones who can reach that level, none of them are simple. Each one must have a trump card of their own. Be careful not to get caught in their moves." He warned.
"Yes Sir."
"Good. Then let's go over what you will be facing tomorrow. The rounds will be in a knockout format. You will have to draw lots to get a number at the start which will decide your position. Each tier will have their own matches as usual. This time however, the rewards are much better. I have come across the piece of information that this year's rewards were sent from the Capital itself and Lord Uther was sent due to this reason. This is your chance, go ahead and grab it. Time and tide waits for none."
The information was indeed quite appealing.
After discussing some things about who our opponents could be, what to concentrate on when fighting certain people, their strengths and weaknesses, we decided to rest. Dinner was arranged by the Knight's Academy at one of the hotels belonging to Ryan's family.
Veena and Rose were invited along with Arnold who had come to congratulate me after the meeting.
"Well, he is not the only one who needs congratulations. You, my boy, congratulations on becoming a Grand Knight." Ralph said and I was taken aback for a moment before checking Arnold and sure enough, his class had changed and become Grand Knight.
A T6.
Sure enough everyone noticed it one by one and congratulated the guy.
"Congratulations, my friend." I wished as we shook hands.
He had been on T5 Level 50 for over two years now, working hard to perfect his skill without giving up, and had finally become a Grand Knight. If someone deserved it, it's him. I was very happy for him too.
"Thank you."
"I can't wait to get back to Llyne and spar with you again. I want to see what it feels like to fight against a real Grand Knight."
"Hahahaha any day, Arthas, any day. I also want to check my new strength." He laughed.
"So, how did this happen?" I asked. "I remember seeing you as a Lord Knight just in the morning." I asked.
"I had completed the requirements for the Class change and was just waiting for the approval from the Capital. Today, Lord Uther himself presented me with the approval letter from the Capital's Knight Academy. I will have to go to the Capital next and get the official badge from His Majesty." He explained.
"Great. Then I will train till you get back. I can't have you leaving me in dust now, can I?" I laughed.
"And I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Still, you should focus on tomorrow's match for now. From what I have heard, the people from the Order of the Black Hand are… quite shady."
"Oh?"
"Their leader, Garell Cole is one of the best newcomers of the guild and his power is said to be among the best in T5. He is a T5 Stalker, the next level of a Rogue. They can be extremely tricky. We didn't get to see his skills in today's round as he was facing against Golems but against people, he will be able to use his full power. You need to be careful of him." He said, looking quite serious. "He is not the best kind of person and will try anything to win."
"Hmm. Anyone else?"
"The others are from the Templars and Magic Knights but you can face them on your own. I am just worried about any tricks that guy could have pulled off."
"I see. Thank you. I will pay attention to him."
"Good. Then come on, today we party. On your victory and my promotion." Arnold put an arm around my shoulder and brought me to the rest of the group.
"We are having a party today?"
"Eh, just a small thing organised by the Knight's Academy. The real celebration will be in Llyne after I return from the Capital."
Sure enough they were arranging for a party already.
In that party several people had arrived, both from the Church and Magic Tower to congratulate Arnold.
They were not exactly the higher ups but some of his friends from the battlefield.
As they say, the strongest of bonds are born in the most difficult of times.
x_
"I didn't know Rose was like this when she got drunk or I wouldn't have made her drink." Veena said watching me carry the drunken valkyrie on my back.
"She is a bit weak to alcohol." I smiled, not knowing what to do.
"I'm not weak. Ya are weak… hic!"
I chuckled at her words. "Yes yes. You are not weak. You are a brave valkyrie of Asgard." I praised.
Beside me Veena chucked too.
"I can see why she gets along with Bina so much. Both are weak to alcohol."
"Eh… I thought it was because both were very serious about their work?"
"Well, there's that too. Both of them are very similar." Veena nodded. "Rose is just a bit younger than Bina."
I remembered that both Bina and Rose were weak to alcohol but I hadn't been with them. They were talking to the members of the Magic Tower while I was with the Knights all the time so I didn't see her getting drunk.
Not that anyone minded it.
We reached our room and I laid her on the bed.
"I will take her for a bath. Would you like to join?" Veena asked, raising an eyebrow.
I rolled my eyes.
"Mmhhh, there ya two go all lovey dovey again… it's… frustrating."
…
We looked at the drunk girl who was looking at us with half closed intoxicated eyes…
What the fuck?
"Do you know how frustrating it is for me… you two are always being so lovey dovey… always… having sex so loudly… hic! And here I am… always single… even when I entered this game to find someone… I got trapped in here *sob* *sob*... I am fated to be single… aghh they were right. I will always be single."
And then she started crying.
My eyes twitched at her words.
What the hell has this girl been thinking all this time?
And what did she just say? She joined this game to find someone?
Did she get tricked by someone or was she really this lonely?
This world is weird. Or at least Asgard is weird.
How could someone as beautiful and talented as Rose be single all this time?… I will never understand.
Veena looked at the girl who was actually crying, looking pitiful right now and sat down beside her.
"That's not true, Rose. You are a beautiful and talented young woman. You do not need to get so worried. You will obviously find someone good for yourself."
"Easy for you… hic! Easy for you to say that. You already got married and have family… and now even have such a handsome boyfriend even inside this game world. Do you think… hic! Do you think I can't hear you two going at it all night?"
…
My lips twitched at the unusually shy and polite girl not holding back…
So they did hear us going at it.
"I obviously know you can hear us. Why do you think I am that loud?" Veena replied casually, making me pause abruptly.
"...say what?"
Even the drunk rose paused and looked at the woman in surprise, forgetting about her crying for now.
"Oh don't tell me you don't enjoy seeing their shy reactions the next morning." Veena asked, unbothered.
No!
No, I don't.
If anything I feel like digging a hole and burying myself when Bina gives me that… that look of hers.
My pause however was enough for Rose to regain her thoughts and she started sobbing again.
"Hic hic… now you are bragging… Are you making fun of me?"
"Obviously not. I am just saying that you are a beautiful and talented young girl. You should be more confident. There are plenty of guys out there who would do anything to be together with you."
"Lies! No guy in Asgard even wants to talk to me." She cried again.
"That's probably because they are intimidated by your talent. Bina is the same in this regard. She is very talented and strong so much so that others feel extremely intimidated by her. That's one of the reasons why most men in the Underworld never dare to go after her. And although there are some who are not afraid of death… they are too stupid for her tastes… sigh, even being too perfect is a problem. Serafall is the same too."
"So… so… I will always be alone?"
"I never said that. You will obviously find someone good enough for you. Arthas, tell her something." She suddenly urged and I found myself under the gazes of two women all of a sudden. I won't lie… it was far more intimidating than the gazes of the thousands of people in the competition today.
"What?" I was taken aback at the sudden call.
"Tell her that she is worrying about nothing." Veena urged me.
"Umm yes. Veena isn't wrong, Rose. You are very pretty, smart, kind and incredibly talented as well as hardworking. In fact, if I wasn't with Veena, I would have loved to have someone like you as a partner. I am pretty sure that you will soon find someone who will be perfect for you." I assured.
"Really?" Rose stopped crying and looked at me with her teary eyes.
I won't lie… I think my heart just skipped a beat there.
This girl… was so adorable.
I quickly pushed those thoughts aside. I had Veena. I shouldn't think about others.
"Yes yes. I'm not lying." I quickly spoke to assuage the girl.
"He is not wrong, Rose. All you need to do is have confidence in yourself. Don't let anyone talk you down. If you are still single, it is because you have not found someone you like yet. Just remember, once you find someone you are interested in, don't let them go. You never know if someone else will steal him away from right under your nose."
"Hmm." The girl looked calmed down and was actually listening.
I was also feeling better, having safely stepped out of the conversation.
"Sometimes girls must make the first move because some boys are just too dumb or honourable to make it."
…
I don't know why but I felt a stab at that comment.
Rose however nodded, like an honor student getting a lesson from a master. Even in this drunk state, she was studious. I couldn't help but smile at her actions.
"Actually I know just the thing to get your confidence up. Arthas." She looked at me.
"Huh?"
"Take Rose on a date after the competition."
"Eh… what?" I asked, to confirm if she was actually being serious here.
"Yes. Take her on a date. It will help her get her confidence up." She repeated again.
"Wha… but… that's…"
"You don't want to go on a date with me? I knew it. You didn't mean anything by those words…" Rose asked, her voice cracking again.
"No… no… it's not like that… I am… I was just taken aback… yes." What the fuck is happening here?
"Great. Then it is decided. Let us get cleaned up now. A lady cannot sleep smelling like alcohol, now can she?" Veena clapped her hand happily and got up.
Rose also wiped her tears and followed her to the bath, leaving me all confused in the room. What in the world just happened here?
I was confused so I did the only thing I could do to calm down.
Practice Martial Arts.
My Shingen-ryū Martial Arts Skill had leveled up this morning while training and was just a single level before reaching max level.
Shingen-ryu [Unique Skill] [Level 49/50] [Exp: 102/49000]
Shingen-ryu or "Style That Originates From The Heart" is a school of Martial Arts in which the practitioner learns hand-to-hand combat as well as the ability to control their aura for combat.
Passively Increases 2 STR 2 END 2 DEX 2 INT 2 WIS per level.
Current Increase: 98 STR 98 END 98 DEX 98 INT 98 WIS
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū [Level 38/100] [Exp: 110/38000]
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū is an ancient kenjutsu developed to allow a single samurai to defeat numerous foes single-handedly. Rooted in the concept of ichi no tachi, or to strike in a single blow, practitioners of this style use a combination of immense speed and agility, battōjutsu, and acquired, observation-based pseudo-clairvoyance that permits a practitioner to anticipate an opponent's moves.
Passively Increases 2 STR 2 END 2 DEX 2 INT 2 WIS per level, unlocks new Skills every 5 levels.
Current Increase: 76 STR 76 END 76 DEX 76 INT 76 WIS
These skills are the reasons I could fight with a Level 50 T5 despite being a Level 29 T5 myself. Well, these Skills and the 18% Extra Stats from the Man of Culture Achievements. They pushed me to a level where I could safely contend with peak T5, even the abnormal ones like Arnold Straight in a fight.
The Shingen-ryū Skill was almost complete now and I was anticipating the Max. Level bonus of the Skill. It's also why I had been focusing so much on this skill whenever I had any free time.
The two ladies came out after almost thirty minutes… in their towels.
Rose however was too tired and sleepy to care and directly went to bed.
I looked at Veena who was smiling at me after tucking Rose in the bed.
"You should take a bath too. You have an early day tomorrow."
I nodded and did just that.
I really needed to cool down.
Finally, after a bath, I came back to see Veena in a short black see through night dress, smiling at me.
Yeah… that cooling down was wasted.
x_
I slumped down beside Veena after almost a dozen rounds as the two of us basked in the afterglow.
We had been holding back for a while now and now that we got an opportunity, it was like a dam broke down.
"That was…"
"Amazing."
Rose was passed out after drinking, completely unbothered by the noise we were making. I now understood why Veena had her drink heavily today.
It's just that… she hadn't expected her to be so weak to alcohol.
"Yes, you outdid yourself today." She kissed my shoulder as she hugged me from the side and placed her head on my chest.
I smiled as my hand slid to rest over her bottom.
"Glad you liked it."
We stayed like that for a while.
"Go on, I know you want to ask something." She spoke, making me chuckle.
"About Rose…"
"It's surprising, isn't it? Such a talented girl and yet having confidence issues about such things. Seriously, children these days…"
"Umm… I personally think it was due to the jealousy of her coworkers and classmates. They couldn't beat her in achievements so they went hard on other things. Petty fools."
"Yes, that makes sense. There are always such fools. For them their small four walls are their whole world and making someone feel bad gives them a sense of superiority. I have seen my fair share of them." I looked at her and she had a faraway look in her eyes.
"I sense a story there."
"More like ancient tales." She rolled her eyes at my question but smiled and continued nonetheless. "It reminded me of my half brother, the current head of the Bael House. He has such a personality."
"Oh…" I tried to remember what I could and remembered that she was probably talking about Sairaorg's father. Yeah… that guy was a douche.
"My mother… she was not the main wife but rather a concubine of the head of the house. Her position was much lower than the official wife. My half brother and I were around the same age but my talents were far better than his… and he didn't take it well." She shook her head. "He didn't leave any opportunity to show me up for the slightest of things. It was infuriating when I was young but as years passed, it became more of an annoyance. Then I got married off to Zeo and became the Lady of The Gremory House. He is a good man and we have a very good relationship."
"You say as if he still does that." I asked.
"Oh yes. Yes, he does. Nothing direct… he doesn't have the courage to do so anymore. My son is a patient man but there is a reason he sits on the Lucifers throne." She smiled but that smile was far more dangerous than the normal ones I am used to.
"Seriously, even after… how many centuries was it?"
"Hehehehe, are you asking me my age, Arthas?" She laughed.
"I…" I was surprised for a moment and then shook my head, understanding her joke.
"Jealousy is a very ugly thing. It harms both sides. After Sirzechs was born, he inherited my Clan Trait, the Power of Destruction, the Clan Trait of the House of Bael's, something they are incredibly proud of. Sirzechs however inherited it stronger than any Bael ever… including the first Bael, Zekram himself."
I nodded, already knowing some of this. "And I take it that he didn't take it well?"
"No… no he didn't. Then Sirzechs became the Lucifer and he even lost his usual chances to mock me due to my son's position. In that time he too had a child… and he pushed all his expectations onto his son." She shook her head. "Unfortunately, Sairaorg didn't inherit the Bael's Power of Destruction. Even his Demonic Power reserves were negligible… while my daughter, Rias, she inherited my power once more."
"He didn't take it well, did he?"
"More than just that. He more or less exiled Sairaorg and his mother. One of his concubines however did give birth to another son who had inherited the Power of Destruction and now he is the current heir. Poor Sairaorg and Misla… they didn't deserve that. Actually, not even Sairaorg's half brother, the new heir wanted any part in all this." She sighed.
I didn't say anything and stayed like that, softly caressing her back.
She continued after a while. "Fortunately Sairaorg is a very strong willed and hard working young man. He has made himself into one of the best in the younger generation and reclaimed his position as the heir of the house. He is doing very well nowadays." She smiled.
"I… can't imagine how a person could do such a thing to their wife and child." I said, speaking from my heart.
"That's because you are a good person, Arthas." She patted my chest. "And that's why I think you would be good for Rose."
"..."
She giggled again.
"Really… when I called you dumb for not understanding a woman's heart… I wasn't wrong. Don't tell me you didn't notice the obvious crush the girl has on you. Then again, I don't think the girl notices it herself. She is too inexperienced about her feelings."
"What?" I asked in a deadpan.
"Rose has a crush on you, you blockhead."
"That… seriously?"
"It's plain as day. Not only me, even Bina and Suika, even Elaine have noticed this. Seriously, it is plain as day for anyone watching her. You can see it in her actions, the way she looks at you or how she behaves around you. That girl has a massive crush on you." She explained.
I was still taking the fact, trying to recall the time spent with Rose.
"Then again, it's understandable. Imagine it from her perspective. A girl, shunned by her coworkers, gets tricked into playing a game to find a significant other. But instead of finding love, she gets trapped, defeated and even enslaved, even being bid on publicly to be sold… that's a very low point of life for anyone."
I nodded. I can actually see that.
"And then you come in, like a prince from some fairy tale, swooping in and saving her from a fate worse than death. Tell me if that's not an ideal situation for an innocent girl like her to fall in love."
"Falling in love is a bit…" I tried to speak but she just rolled her eyes and continued.
"And then you spend time with her, fighting together, often standing in front of her, blocking attacks meant for her… I have seen people fall in love for much less."
…
Makes sense… I guess.
"So go on. Take her on a date. You two will have a good time." She urged.
I looked at her and shook my head. "I… don't want to lead her on. That would be incredibly cruel to her."
"Who is asking you to lead her on? I really think you will enjoy her company."
I opened my mouth in surprise.
"What? Did you forget what you had promised me on our first night together?"
"…you were actually serious?" I asked, surprised. I had thought it was some kind of test or something like that.
"Obviously. I was very serious. You are not going to go back on your word, are you?"
"It's not…" My words stopped as I felt her hand on my length.
"You did say that you would have loved to go out with her just a while ago. Or could it be that you were lying?"
"I wasn't…" I gasped as she grabbed my length and started moving her hand slowly.
"Rose is a beautiful girl, isn't she?"
"That I won't deny."
"Then tell me, has she never made your heart skip beat."
"It's not like that." I denied, not risking the ire of the woman who held my manhood in her palm and possessed enough strength to do with it as she liked.
Dammit mind, you are supposed to be scared… get it together.
"Oh come on. You live in a house with three beautiful women. Don't tell me you have never imagined Rose mewing under your thrusts or… Bina, giving you that stoic look of hers while gagging on your cock while you hold her gorgeous silver braids and push her down on yourself."
Unconsciously, the image of the two girls flashed in my head. Of the night I had seen them in their night dress… my dick twitched.
Fuck.
I didn't even need to turn to the side to know the grin that Veena was sporting right now.
"You are too good at this."
"A thousand years are enough to learn a lot of things." She replied, calmly but the victorious smirk was still on her face.
I rolled my eyes at her words.
"Give it a try. You will like each other." She said, this time quite genuinely.
…
I just stared at her for a while and then nodded.
"Okay."
She smiled and snuggled closer to me and I too closed my eyes to sleep for the day.
x_
I woke up early the next day and went out for my daily training.
By the time I came back, Rose and Veena had already awakened.
The poor girl was sober once more and perhaps the entire weight of the previous night's events came crashing down on her sober mind as she looked like she wanted to bury herself alive to get away from the embarrassment somehow.
Veena on the other hand had just laughed it off and reassured the girl.
I had known that Rose had a complex about being single, not that I understood why she would, but I never imagined it to be so big of a deal.
Thankfully, we didn't have time as today's competition was going to start in a few hours and I had to go out early.
Arnold was going to attend the competition with the higher ups today as well so Veena and Rose went on to join Roland again while I went to the Knight's Academy to join the rest of the Knight's Academy representatives for the matches.
Sir Ralph was there to see us off before the matches.
"Remember boys, whether you win or lose, it doesn't matter… just fight fairly and give it your best shot. May the best man win."
"Yes Sir!" Everyone shouted together.
"Now go, show everyone what the Greenfrost Knight's Academy is made of."
x_
I stood in the arena once more the next day.
This time the games were held in another stadium, outside the city, something prepared just for today.
The other participants for the second round of the T5 competition were standing beside me.
Around us, the stadium had changed, containing several stages, with a large stage in the middle.
In front of us, stood a tall man, the one who would oversee this stage of competition.
Morrison Ford, Grand Knight, level 56
This guy… he was almost at the level cap of Grand Knight.
He gave off a type of invisible pressure of sorts as one looked at it.
Was it some kind of skill or was it just my imagination?
He raised a hand and the participants quieted down. One of the Knights, perhaps a subordinate of his, brought a box in front of us.
"Alright, line up everyone. One by one, put a hand in the box and pick out a number. Only one number for each. If you try to be too smart and take out two, you will be assigned the higher one so be careful."
We did just that.
One by one, we picked up the numbers.
My number was 8.
I waited until everyone was done because that's when Morrison addressed us once more.
"Good. Now that everyone has their numbers, listen up. I will tell the rules only once so pay attention to it."
Everyone was silenced and listened to his words quietly.
"You will now face the opponent whose number adds up with your to 65. That means number 1 will face 64, 2 will face 63 and so on. Since there are only sixty three participants, one person will get a bye and pass on without having to fight in the first round. Is that understood?"
We nodded and he continued.
"After every match, you will be given time and items to heal back to your best state before the next match. There will be six rounds in total. Once you lose, you are out. Any questions?" He asked.
We shook our heads.
"Eight matches will take place at the eight stages around this one at once. Go on and line up." You will be able to see your numbers there."
We left the main stage and found our respective stages. I had another guy from the Knight Academy in my section named Edward.
Each stage had a T6 Knight as a referee on them.
I was on stage number two.
One to four and their opponents on stage one, five to eight on stage two and so on…
There were three other matches scheduled before mine and we were given a place in the stands to rest. I had time in hand so I took the chance to check out the levels and classes of other participants around me.
There were some known as well as some classes I hadn't seen yet.
A Level 46 Myrmidon.
He looked like a sword based class with a katana like blade and light armour.
He wasn't a level 50 so this guy must be skilled in what he does to make up for the level difference.
Looking by his gear, he seemed like a Speed Type fighter.
There was also a Heavy Warrior, the next step of Warrior, something which Suikazua-san was aiming for.
Getting through that defence is going to be hard.
The matches started.
On stage number two, the first match between number five and number sixty, a Magic Knight and a Master Monk, both at level 50.
Last time I didn't have much of a chance to see the fights of other participants so I decided to check out their fighting styles for myself.
This was my first time seeing a Magic Knight fight.
As the referee gave the signal for the match to start, both players moved simultaneously. Their speeds were not that fast… at least to me.
The Master Monk was faster than the Magic Knight but that was only until the Magic Knight raised his sword and a green aura enveloped him as his speed rose, surpassing even the monk's.
Both of them clashed in the middle of the stage, a slight shockwave passing around the area as the sword and the gauntlets clashed against each other, sparks of fire flying from the point of contact.
In terms of strength, the knight was slightly below the monk. The latter didn't want to give up the advantage as a white aura enveloped him. Both his speed and strength increased suddenly.
He was suddenly as fast as the Magic Knight with the boost while his hits were sending the Knight sliding back even when defended against.
The Master Monk didn't let down his attacks and maintained pressure on the Magic Knight who was having a hard time keeping up with the attacks.
"Do you know what Skills they are using?" I asked Edward who was sitting beside me.
"The Magic Knight? Wings of Wind. It increases the speed of the user by a large margin depending on the skill of the user. He looks like he has it at a high level too. Too bad it's going to end now. The max time to which the skill can be kept up is one hundred and twenty seconds."
"And the Master Monk?"
"That's probably some kind of aura based Skill. Monks specialize in those. It consumes stamina but increases their stats. Those muscleheads pack a punch… quite literally. His aura will fade in a bit too."
"Hmm." I nodded. It seems to be a similar type of skill like Armament Haki. "So it's a contest of who lasts longer, isn't it?"
"Well… normally I would say that is the case but you never know with those Magic Knights. They are all tricksters. The best way to fight them is to not give them any chances at all, just like the Master Monk is doing. If they get any chance to activate a skill, it could get ugly… ah, the Monk fell for it."
Sure enough the Magic Knight's aura faded and the monk kept his attack up, moving away and making a distance when his aura was about to fade, taking a moment to reapply the skill and rushing in once more.
It was only after a moment that I understood what Edward meant by the Monk falling for it. While continuing his assault, the monk suddenly paused, a look of pain passing through his visage.
The Magic Knight didn't let this chance go and his sword took on a bluish glow as it sparkled with electricity and he attacked immediately.
I checked the Monk to know what was going on and found that he was paralysed.
"When backing away from a Magic Knight, always make sure they are disoriented or they will pull this kind of stunt. The guy probably used the Volt Body Skill, a very rare skill for Magic Knights. It has a certain chance of causing paralysis for three seconds when attacked. Normally, when the person is paralysed, Aura Type Skills get dispelled."
Sure enough, for the next two minutes, the monk was on the mercy of the Knight who rained skill after skill on him till he gave up.
"Seriously, these tricksters…" Edward shook his head although the guy was smiling.
"You know that he will probably be up against you in the next round, right?" I asked.
"Yeah… it's going to be a pain in the neck… but I'll manage." He chuckled. "I still have to fight you in the round after that."
"Oh… I guess I will have to win my next match then." I smiled back at the guy.
It was his turn next.
His opponent was a Templar.
A Lord Knight vs a Templar.
It was my first time watching a real Templar at play too.
This time I understood what Kenneth had meant back then… that in a fight among Knight Trees, Lord Knight tree almost always wins.
The Templar had nice skills, basically focused on healing, increasing defence and Holy Attribute attacks… they were however all useless against the sheer speed and brute attack of a Lord Knight.
The Lord Knight Tree's essence is violence with surgical precision and Edward showcased it perfectly.
It was not to say that the Templar was bad. It was completely the opposite instead.
The guy was good.
Far better than many players I had seen in Llyne, better than even Kenneth and other Sword and Shield Knights I had fought against. His skills were trained to a high enough level and his technique was good too… but it just wasn't enough.
He was trashed aside by Edward's attacks, his defence torn apart. All his defence increasing buffs and healing did was increase the time of that trashing.
The match ended in Edward's victory
Next was the turn of the Heavy Warrior vs Great Swordsman, an advanced Class of T4 Swordsman. It was an interesting fight.
High defense vs high attack.
Heavy Warrior was very good in defense, good attack but slow speed while the Great Swordsman had a very good attack and high speed but low defense.
It came down to who could last longer and the Great Swordsman proved to be the winner in this by a bit.
Finally it was my turn and up against me was the Myrmidon.
I stepped up on the stage under the cheers of the crowd and faced the guy in front of me. Light cloth armour and samurai sword. He gave me a nod and took a stance, bending his knee slightly, waiting for the signal to charge towards me.
I drew my sword and took my stance too.
The referee gave the signal and almost instantly the guy charged towards me.
My first thought about him was… fast.
The guy was probably one of the fastest enemies I had faced yet.
However I was never afraid of speed. Observation Haki made sure I wasn't taken by surprise and the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū style of fighting was based on speed and fast sword draws. Both gave me the capability to react to high speed attacks readily.
I clashed with him and found the weakness of the guy immediately.
Strength.
His strength and defense was lacking… a lot. His blade was repelled as soon as our swords clashed against each other and his balance looked like it fell through before he quickly, in a show of incredible reflex, regained his balance and attacked me from another angle.
I parried his attack and the clashes started between us.
This time however I held back a bit, clashing with him and matching his attacks, trying to counter him with my swordsmanship.
It was rare to get such fast opponents and my Observation Haki and Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū level was rising. Since I was going to get healed anyways, I took some time to grind my skills for now.
- Veena -
"Oh, a Myrmidon. It's very rare to see those in these parts of the world. I remember seeing them during my journey to the other continent." Roland said. "Very sharp swords, those guys. They are raised in battle from a young age and fight to earn and live. This lad is quite good too."
She watched the fight and he wasn't wrong.
Arthas' opponent had a very fast style of swordsmanship, reminiscent of a samurai.
"What do you think the result will be, Miss Veena?" Roland asked.
"Obviously, Arthas will win."
"Hmm… I can see that he is holding back. I just don't understand why." Regan asked, pushing his glasses up.
"Knowing him… he is probably… training. After all, it is rare to meet such a swordsmen. It would be a pity to not hone his skills against a master."
Arthas was probably grinding his skills in this match.
"Training? That's quite… brave of him." Regan said, taking a moment to select the word.
Unfortunately for him, he didn't understand how player's skills worked.
The two competitors showcased a great show of swordsmanship on the stage, increasing the anticipation of the audience until they clashed and separated a distance.
She observed that the Myrmidon was slightly out of breath, probably due to the heavy attacks of Arthas.
Arthas looked like he had enough and he bowed slightly before taking a stance again.
This time however, she could sense his seriousness.
His blade lit up with lightning as he kicked the ground, his figure almost blurring as he slashed down at the Myrmidon.
The myrmidon dodged to the side but Arthas followed with a quick attack, forcing him to defend himself with his sword. Unlike the previous times however, this time he was thrown away by the attack.
Arthas didn't let him go and followed up once more, going for another attack.
It was just like a fight between the Templar and the Lord Knight… except the difference was far more obvious.
Myrmidon's sword was flung from his hand on the fifth attack as Arthas put his blade against his neck.
The referee announced his victory.
"Seriously… it's ridiculous no matter how many times I see it. His strength and speed… it's really comparable to a Grand Knight." Roland commented.
She smiled and looked beside her at Rose who was looking at the fight attentively.
Poor girl had been unable to look Arthas in the eye since she woke up this morning. It was good to see her getting back to normal once more.
The fact that the fastest way to calm Rose down was to throw work at her was both hilarious and admirable.
Even she was greatly impressed by the work ethics of the girl.
With the first round of games over, all players were sent to rest and recover.
They waited for around half an hour before the next round of games began once more.
The next three rounds went on in a similar manner.
The players were all skilled, each getting stronger with each passing round.
Arthas however was a head higher in terms of strength and won the matches with relative ease.
Just like that, it was time for the semi finals.
Before that, there was an hour-long break.
During that break, a person looking like a Knight approached them.
"Are you with Knight Arthas?" He enquired.
"Yes?"
"Lord Arnold Straight has invited you to the VIP studios to watch the next two rounds with him. I was sent to guide you there."
"Lord Straight? I see. In that case please show the way." She turned towards Ronald and curtseyed slightly. "My apologies for parting ways suddenly like this."
The man however took no offence and just laughed it off.
"No, it's nothing. Please go on. I think they must be interested in Arthas after seeing his performance. It might be someone higher up communicating through Lord Straight. You shouldn't make them wait."
"Then please excuse us." She left the place with Rose, following the guy through a path behind the stadium leading to the vip rooms.
As they reached the stairs, another person was waiting there.
He looked at them and then at the guy leading them. "Lord Straight's guest?"
"Yes."
He looked at them closely, probably using some kind of skill like the Scan Skill of the Hunters. His eyes stopped on Rose for a moment and a frown came on his face.
"She has a slave mark on her body."
Rose winced slightly but she kept her expressions in control. "Yes. Will that be a problem?"
"For security reasons people with slave marks are not allowed in VIP Rooms without express permission of the Marquis. I am afraid I can't allow her inside unless I have permission."
She thought of the implications of the words. In case someone had the slave mark, they could be forced to attack someone against their will and the owner can deny the responsibility completely by stating it to be the action of the slave. It did make them a risk in such high profile places.
"I see."
"Umm… I can wait outside." Rose said.
The man thought for a moment and nodded. "Very well. Show her a place to stay in the meantime." He ordered the person who had escorted them till here.
The other man nodded and led Rose while she followed the new guy to the VIP Studios.
While walking, she was stopped by a voice.
"Miss Veena?"
Both of them paused and looked at the man who had called out to her.
"Sir Ralph." She bowed.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was told that Lord Arnold Straight has called for us at the VIP Studios?"
However the man frowned. "Arnold? But he has been with the Knight Academy's group the whole time."
It took her a moment to realise the words as several things happened simultaneously.
The man who was leading her drew a dagger and tried to hold her hostage.
Tried… being the word here as before he could even get the dagger near her throat, he was blown away by a punch from Sir Ralph who had appeared beside her without her even noticing.
It was only the next moment that a gust of wind followed him and blew her hair from the force of the attack.
She however had something else in mind and quickly opened the Guild Chat.
"Rose… where are you? Answer quickly."
She waited… and waited… but there was no reply.
- Kuroka -
"Woah… they are really strong, right, Kuroka-san?" Gaspy asked, from behind his mask as he watched the matches.
She kept quiet and watched the classes and their skills in preparations for the future, collecting information to see what could be of help to them.
Her main target however was to collect the information about the player named Arthas who was currently fighting in the arena.
The first round was him against a samurai type swordsman.
She could see that he was merely toying with the guy the whole time. The first hit made it obvious that he held a significant advantage in strength but he was holding back the whole time putting on a show for the audience here maybe?
Even in the next matches, he kept a similar performance, avoiding using too much of his strength and actually playing around with the opponent before beating them normally.
Some of the skills she observed however seemed useful.
Like the Skill of the Master Monk looked like Touki and had a similar function too. Then there was that guy with the Stalker Class.
It was the next step of her own Rogue Class and she got a lot of inspiration after seeing him fight. He was a skilled fighter and the combination of skills he was using seemed quite useful for her who didn't know much about the Class.
Finally it was time for a break so they decided to go out and eat something.
Gaspy wanted to avoid the crowd so they took a less crowded way.
"You should talk to him after the matches, Kuroka-san. You will be able to level up much faster if he agrees.."
"It won't be that easy, Gaspy. Someone who is that strong must have a good team. I don't know if he even needs someone from my class." She shook her head.
As they were going, she saw two people passing by in the distance.
"K-kuroka-san… that girl… she is a player." Gaspy whispered.
Another player?
She looked closer and it was a white haired, blue eyed girl wearing a dress suitable for nobles. From her dress, she looked more like an npc than a player. She used her Scan Skill and sure enough it was a player.
Level 8 Warrior.
A T4.
"Umm… do you think she is from… Arthas' team?" Gaspy asked.
"Maybe." She nodded, still in thought.
"Should we… maybe talk to her?"
"We can." It would help to see what kind of people they were.
And just talking to someone who was near her level was far better than directly talking to someone who was almost a tier and a half stronger than her.
"Let's go." She asked Gaspy as he followed her slowly.
However as soon as they were about to turn the alley to go behind the two people, she heard something and stopped Gaspy.
Using her blade as a mirror, she saw from the corner of the alley.
The man with the white haired girl… he attacked the girl, making her unconscious.
…what the hell, nyaa?
NPCs kidnap people too?
x_x_
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Beta Note: The advance chapters are in order of what is updated, a first Tier will not get 2 advanced chapters for every story, only the next two to be released.
Author's Note:
I am back with another chapter of 'Soul Art Online'.
So, several things happened in this chapter.
Arthas had a celebration party.
Arnold is now a Grand Knight.
Rose got drunk and spilled the beans… and Veena jumped on the occasion to push Arthas forward.
The matches started however the twist…
How and most importantly, why did Rose get kidnapped?
Kuroka saw her getting kidnapped.
What will happen in the next chapter?
To know more… what the next episode of Dragonbal… cough cough… wait for the next chapter of Soul Art Online.
Enjoy the new chapter.
Good Day, Peace Out.