Once Pallas gave the go sign, Rollingrock took the initiative by using Blitz Slash. Joe was taken by surprise but he still had time to cast Mana Shield. It was Mage Knight's level 35 spell. It was similar to Mage's Barrier. The spell created a shield around the caster, but this shield reduced all damage by 50%, and when Joe received damage from the blitz slash, he lost his stamina instead of HP. The shield would vanish if Joe's stamina dropped to zero or if thirty seconds passed.
Joe immediately cast Spectral Projection. Despite Rollingrock's lower level, he had the Blitz Slash, meaning he passed Blade Dancer's trial on the first try. Joe couldn't afford to underestimate him.
Joe sent his spectral projection to clash with Rollingrock while he cast Spectral Blade. Three spectral blades floated beside him. This showed Joe had max-leveled his Spectral Blade spell.
Rollingrock ran past Joe's spectral projection to get to Joe's real body, but the three spectral blades slashed at him once he arrived. The spectral projection then came again and clashed with Rollingrock while Joe put some distance.
Joe cast another spell. Spectral Discharge, Mage Knight's level 40 spell. His left hand started shining. This spell made his casting hand into a beacon that collected energy. This energy could be shot every second. it inflicted small damage, but the caster could also charge the energy for a longer period to build it up into a more powerful shot. This spell lasted five long minutes, effectively turning Mage Knight into a ranged damage dealer during the duration.
Rollingrock activated his level 45 skill, Phantom Blade. This skill gave his two swords a phantom companion. Every time he slashed, these phantom blades followed behind. These phantom blades couldn't be blocked. If the opponent parried the slash, the phantom blade following from behind would continue slashing. It also ignored defense completely. However, the damage it inflicted was only 30% of the real weapon.
Joe's spectral projection suffered under Rollingrock's onslaught, but at the same time, Rollingrock suffered under Joe's ranged attacks. Rollingrock knew he couldn't keep on dealing with the spectral projection. Even if he killed the projection, his HP would already be low by then, when Joe still had full HP. So he tried to force his way to reach Joe again. But every time he approached, Joe's spectral blades kept him at bay. Joe then put some distance again.
Helpless against Joe's tactic, Rollingrock's HP was slowly eaten away. The match lasted rather long. In the end, Joe won with his kiting technique.
Blade Dancer was superior in close combat. Aside from the exclusive skill, Blitz Slash, all its standard skills were melee. Jack could see now if this class simply relied on its standard skills, it was at a disadvantage against ranged classes who knew how to keep its opponent at bay.
But he was also excited after seeing Blade Dancer's level 45 skill that he was yet to receive. If he used these phantom blades accompanying his burst slashes art, wouldn't that double his strike counts? Half of those were even unblockable. Even if their individual damage was low, the combo multiplier would compensate for it.
Pallas called the next contestants.
*
Rogue Section Match 1
Kill Order, level 46 Assassin (human) Vs Deep Puncture, level 46 Assassin (draconian)
*
Both were assassins, so both had the same skill sets. When Pallas yelled begin, the two rushed over to one another.
When they almost clashed, Deep Puncture vanished.
Kill Order, upon witnessing his opponent's disappearance, used Roll. Deep Puncture appeared behind where Kill Order was and stabbed, but his dagger hit empty air. At this time, it was Kill Order who vanished.
Deep Puncture hurriedly moved away, but his reaction was late. He suffered a stab. But at least he managed to turn his body a little so that the stab wasn't considered a backstab which caused extra damage.
Both Assassins used their exclusive skill, Phase Strike, but Kill Order proved the expert of the two.
Deep Puncture tried retreating, but Kill Order followed closely. The two stabbed each other in a flurry. Kill Order used the opportunity when Deep Puncture was too focused on his dagger to send a low kick. Deep Puncture lost his balance, which allowed Kill Order to land two clean stabs.
Deep Puncture's body disappeared again. He had used Vanish, the assassin's level 40 skill that moved him ten meters away in a random location and became invisible. A moment after he vanished, Kill Order threw his dagger. Deep Puncture was startled to find the human assassin accurately targeted him even when he was invisible. The dagger struck his head and caused critical damage.
Deep Puncture's HP was already low when he used Vanish. He was also afflicted by Poison status from Assassin's skill, Poison Mastery, after getting repeated stabs. His HP zeroed from the last weapon throw.
"Winner, Kill Order of the human race!" Pallas announced.
Jack, who was watching, said, "that guy can also sense mana."
"It appears so," Peniel agreed.
"Sense what?" Paytowin asked.
"Later," Jack said.
"Next match!" They heard Pallas' voice.
*
Archer Section Match 1
Ronald Dreary, level 46 Gunner (ethereal) Vs Telebinge, level 46 Elite Marksman (draconian)
*
Jack leaned his body forward. This was the first match that involved a Heavenly Enforcer. This was also the first time he would be seeing a Heavenly Enforcer in action. He had known the other two but he had never seen them in action as well, at least in this world for Spring Crown's case. He was curious to know what made Master give these players such a title.
The two contestants stood at the usual starting positions away from each other. Telebinge held his bow and arrow down while Ronald opened the right side of his cowboy coat and revealed a revolver on a holster by his hip.
"Begin!" Pallas declared.
Telebinge lifted his bow and lodged the arrow swiftly, he was in the aiming stance. He was just about to pull his arrow when he saw his opponent didn't make a move. Ronald's right hand was next to his revolver but the weapon was still inside the holster.
Telebinge frowned. "Take out your weapon," he said.
Ronald didn't reply nor did as is asked, he simply grinned. Jack thought Ethereal's mouthless grin was particularly disturbing.
"Suit yourself," Telebinge uttered and pulled his arrow.
*BANG*
Before the arrow was released, however, he felt a strong knock in between his eyes. He was sent reeling backward from the force, at the same time critical damage appeared on his head.
*BANG*
Before his consternation subsided, another shot landed at the exact same place, scoring another critical hit.
Telebinge couldn't afford to let himself wonder about anything that had just happened. He forced himself to move sideways. The surprising thing was, his opponent never appeared to move at all.
No, he had! Telebinge stole a glance and found that Ronald's revolver was already out of its holster. Its nozzle was currently aiming at him by Ronald's hip. Ronald had been shooting from his hip without taking a standard aiming stance.
The nozzle flared, another shot was fired. Telebinge felt the shot hit his thigh. He lost balance, his running stopped. Another shot was fired from Ronald's revolver and hit his head again. His HP was low already due to the consecutive critical damages. In his desperation, he called out his pet, a red-furred cat, as well as making an urgent shot while executing his level 45 skill, Trace Arrow. This skill caused the shot arrow to chase after a target, dealing very high single target damage.
Telebinge didn't have the time to aim, so the arrow was off-mark. But in its mid-flight, it turned direction and flew towards Ronald. Its cat pet was also dashing towards Ronald.
Even with the incoming assaults, Ronald stayed in his position, not moving away. He opened his left coat and revealed a second revolver on his left hip. His left hand turned into a blur as the revolver disappeared from its holster. The left revolver was also shot from the hip, hitting the arrow accurately in its flight. While his right revolver fired another shot and hit Telebinge on the forehead again.
The draconian fell after that last hit. His pet which was still running was forcefully unsummoned after his death.
Ronald's two revolvers were back inside their holsters. Throughout the match, the gunner didn't even move one step.
Everyone stared with disquiet. The player in front of them was totally in a different league.
"Normal attacks," Jack muttered.
"What?" Paytowin asked.
"All his attacks are standard attacks. He never used any skill," Jack said.
Paytowin came to a realization. "Who is he? Why have we never heard of him? Does he use a different alias from his previous games?" He asked.
"I don't think he is a gamer," Jack said. "That is not a skill gained from playing games."
"The damage those revolvers dealt is rather high for a one-hand gun, even with the critical," Paytowin remarked.
"Those revolvers are set weapons," Peniel informed. "Similar to set equipment, they received a bonus if the same set was equipped. It must have bolstered the damage because he had two guns of the same set."
"Set weapon and set equipment. Damn! You are not kidding about this World Maker guild," Paytowin said.
Jack turned to where Wong and Spring Crown were sitting. Was it possible to hinder two out of the three from winning this tournament?
