Second World

'Their duration ends?' Joe thought in surprise when he saw his Spectral Blades disappear. Time's up? Was that what his opponent meant by the words?

While he was taken aback by the event, Spring twisted his sword and slashed Joe's wrist. Joe hurriedly retreated and started casting another spell. Spring's hammer and longsword disappeared, replaced by his blue spear again. He made successive stabs, causing Joe difficulty in casting.

Joe's projection returned. Confident that his projection would hinder Spring, Joe resumed his casting. The projection slashed at Spring. Spring, however just rushed ahead without stopping.

Joe was confused by Spring's action, but he was then stunned when his projection also vanished just before its slash hit Spring.

'Duration ends again?' Joe thought in alarm.

"The max-leveled Spectral Blade and level 12 Spectral Projection had only a twelve seconds difference in their duration, and you have cast the spectral projection first," Spring uttered while his spear stabbed repeatedly at Joe.

Joe had to cancel his casting to defend. He suffered damages because he couldn't block all those stabs. His mind was in turmoil, how could one keep such detailed timings during a fight? Did he have an internal stopwatch inside his brain?

Spring's spear changed to an axe as he approached. It seemed that he was using the same approach as the previous match, utilizing Weapon Master's perk while enclosing.

A small green light suddenly flashed at the right side of Joe's waist. This green light slashed upward with surprising speed. Anyone would have been caught unaware by this sudden strike, but Spring had jumped back before this green slash hit.

"Wind Slice, an Elf's race skill in conjunction with the classes from Warrior's branch," Spring uttered.

'He has predicted it?' Joe thought in dismay. The Wind Slice was indeed his fifth-month race skill. It slashed with wind energy in melee range, dealing 200% wind damage and a 20% chance to cause Poison effect. The best thing about this skill was it had no telltale sign aside from the brief flash before it slashed. Any opponent in an intense melee exchange wouldn't have paid attention to this brief flash. Yet, Spring did.

Joe didn't let his surprise stop his movement. Even if the Wind Slice failed to hit Spring, it still allowed him to put a distance. Joe backstepped further as he cast a spell.

Spring's weapon changed into a spear again as it thrust, which Joe parried with his sword while continuing backstepping. Joe's spell was completed and his body was covered by Mana Shield.

With the shield, he was more confident to engage Spring. He charged forward and continued shooting range attacks with his glowing left hand. Spring who had been advancing was moving away instead.

"What are you doing? Don't you want a melee fight?" Joe shouted.

Spring Crown simply smiled in silence.

<br/>As the reversed cat and mouse continued, Spring suddenly sprang forward after some time. His weapon was empowered by Ki Weapon, it seemed that Spring had decided to be more serious. Joe aimed his left hand to shoot at Spring but nothing came out. His left hand was no longer glowing.

"Shit!" Joe uttered.

But his Mana Shield was still active, he proceeded to clash with Spring. Spring's melee weapon constantly changing, causing Joe to have difficulty in anticipating his fighting style. The Ki Weapon glow remained even when Spring changed his weapon. Joe suffered several hits but his Mana Shield absorbed the blows.

Joe was worried that he would be caught off guard again when his Mana Shield expired, so he looked at its duration.

'Shit, four seconds?' He exclaimed in his mind. He hurriedly disengaged from the melee. From the exchange, it was clear that his martial expertise was not at Spring's level. He won't survive a pure brawl.

Spring didn't chase but he readied his stance to deliver Ki Wave. Joe saw it and started casting a spell.

Spring's Ki Wave shot out. Joe's completed his spell and a round portal appeared in front of him. It was Mage Knight's level 45 spell, Displace. The spell created a portal that displaced all range attacks coming from the front. Another portal appeared near Spring, the Ki Wave shot out from this second portal back to Spring.

Spring didn't appear surprised by Joe's move. He was still smiling when he assumed a defensive position. His spear glowed with soft light. The Ki Wave hit his spear and was seemingly absorbed into his spear. The glow on his spear turned bright.

"That's…," Joe was taken aback by Spring's move.

Spring used Charge to close in. Joe also used Charge to flee. However, he bumped into something just after moving a few meters. He realized then he was already at the edge of the arena. He had bumped into the transparent protective layer around the arena.

"Shit!" Joe cursed again.

Spring had arrived before him. "You should have paid more attention to your surroundings," he said as he thrust his spear forward while executing Ki Strike.

A large blast of energy engulfed Joe. His mana shield is no more so he received full damage from the blast. Joe was already not in full health before suffering the blast. But even if he was, it won't make a difference. The damage number indicated that Joe would also die if his health was full. Joe's lifeless body fell to the floor beside Spring.

"Very high damage," Jack uttered.

"Aside from his Ki Weapon and Ki Strike are already max-level. His damage is further added by Absorb Energy skill," Peniel explained.

"Absorb Energy? Was that the skill he used when he blocked his own Ki Wave?" Jack asked.

"Yes. It is a non-standard Weapon Master skill. It allowed the weapon to absorb any energy attacks, amplifying the weapon's stat for a short duration. The degree of increase depends on the energy it absorbed. His Ki Wave just now must also be at max-level to boost his spear's stat that much."

"He didn't use that skill against Joe's attack because his own attack is more beneficial to be absorbed. He had used Joe's own spell for his benefit. He is frighteningly in perfect control throughout the match."

Jack turned to his grandfather. "He will be your opponent in the final round. What do you think?" Jack asked.

"His martial art is above average, but nothing that I can't handle," Domon replied.

"Tsk, that's not what I'm asking! You have to be careful against that control of his," Jack uttered.

"No one can be in full control in a fight. I will teach him that. Don't worry, I will secure a victory for you," Domon said.

"You are so sure your grandfather will reach the final?" Paytowin asked.

"Against that weird lovebird? No doubt," Jack said.

"Afei, we can't be so certain of our victory until the end. Even against a seemingly weak opponent, we have to be vigilant," Domon admonished.

"F*ck me! You just said you will secure a victory against a strong opponent a moment ago."

"If it is a strong opponent, we have to be confident to increase morale. If it is someone we think is weaker, we have to be vigilant to not be caught off guard."

"This sounds similar to something you have said before, doesn't it?" Peniel said to Jack.

Jack decided to not comment.

After coming back to life, Joe walked with slumped shoulders back to his seats. Anotherday and Darkradiant were also wearing glum faces. This meant the two of them couldn't afford to lose.

Pallas announced the next match to proceed.

*

Rogue Section Match 4

Kill Order, level 46 Assassin (human) Vs Wong, level 46 Battle Monk (orc)

*

Another heavenly enforcer, Jack thought. He was kind of putting his money on Kill Order more than Darkradiant. If Kill Order could stop Wong's advance here, then they were one step in stopping Master's plan.

"You mentioned that Wong is a martial grandmaster, right?" Paytowin asked Jack.

"Yeah."

"You said he can use mana manipulation as well?"

"No doubt."

"But why are his damages not as impressive as that Arthur guy? That Arthur only used two attacks to finish off an Avenger with a high HP pool. This Wong fellow needed five strikes to finish his opponent who had lower HP. Is it because mana manipulation is more powerful if used with a weapon?"

"No, the reason is that he didn't use mana manipulation in his previous match," It was Domon who answered. "Well, his attacks are not exactly bereft of mana manipulation. He simply didn't use active mana manipulation. For a grandmaster, even if he didn't intend to use it, a little bit of the chi still enhanced his strikes. Yet, the difference between actively using mana manipulation and not is the difference between heaven and earth. If he used a proper martial technique with mana manipulation, he could have ended his previous match with a single punch."

"He underestimated his opponent," Leavemealone commented.

"A weakness that you can exploit when you go up against him," Domon said.