"Begin!" Pallas declared.
David sprang to the side while a handgun and a dagger appeared in his hands. He took a low stance as he ran to make himself as small a target as possible. Even with that weird posture, he was still as fast as when he ran normally.
Ronald didn't just stand this time. He had seen David's match as well. He knew his opponent this time was a veteran who was used to a gunfight, it would be a blunder to treat this opponent the same as others. The second the match started, he had moved to the side and his two revolvers were out from their holsters
The two started shooting one another. This was the first match where they saw Ronald's shot miss. David had been making a very swift zig-zag movement while keeping low and advancing. All the time he shot his handgun at Ronald to keep Ronald on his toe, thus reducing Ronald's accuracy. But even so, a few bullets still grazed or hit David's non-fatal parts.
Ronald, on the other hand, wasn't struck by any bullets. He was also doing zig-zag movements but away, keeping a distance from David. It was clear from this exchange that in terms of a gunfight, Ronald was still the better shot.
Ronald used Rapid Shot with his two revolvers. His set weapon, the two revolvers, had the set ability called dual gun wield. It allowed his gunner's active skills to affect both weapons, as long as they were done at the same time. Five bullets were discharged from each revolver, totaling ten bullets were rushing to David.
They, however, hit a metallic hovering object that materialized in front of David.
It was David's Drone skill. His drone was different from a normal gunner's drone. It was much larger. It had a wide plate as part of its body. It hovered in front of David with its nose facing the floor, making it look like a floating shield. David stayed behind this drone for cover as he continued shooting.
Everyone understood that this modified drone was because David had used an evolve seed, giving it the ability to provide cover to its owner. The seed also gave his drone extremely high HP and defense, it also reduced all damage received. However, with its tip facing down like that, it could not shoot the enemy. So, it lost its attacking capability when it was utilized as a defensive cover.
With his drone cover, David was more confident as he was now advancing straight to Ronald. No more zig-zagging move. He continued to shoot at Ronald as he used his drone to block Ronald's bullets.
"Hahaha, not bad, soldier!" Ronald laughed.
Ronald also called out his drone and his Boom Hound. Ronald's drone was also slightly different from a normal drone. It was wider but thinner than a normal drone, making it look like a flying dish. Its metallic plate was also bright red, unlike the normal drone which was metallic bronze.
Seeing the Boom Hound, David stopped advancing and summoned his Barghest. He had already seen how Anotherday was afflicted by the hound's roar which disrupted Anotherday's ability to use skills. He stayed in his position and continued shooting behind his drone cover.
David's Barghest ran out and headed to the Boom Hound. The Boom Hound shot sonic bullets from its mouth, but the Barghest agilely dodged the bullet. When it came into range, its eyes glowed bright red. It had used its Charm Monster skill.
Yet, the Boom Hound shook it off. The skill had failed. They both were of the same grade and the Boom Hound also had natural resistance against influence skill, further lowering Charm Monster's success rate. It again shot sonic bullets towards the Barghest.
The Barghest suddenly vanished.
"Did it teleport?" Jack asked Peniel, but he didn't see the pet appear in any other places.
"The Barghest had invisibility ability," Peniel answered. "Its invisibility was different from the spell version. This Barghest won't turn visible even after touching or attacking an enemy. However, its duration is very short at twenty seconds."
The Barghest was nowhere to be seen but its rapid footsteps were heard as it rushed towards the Boom Hound.
The Boom Hound couldn't pinpoint the Barghest's location. Suddenly, its back received a clawing and a damage number appeared. It growled in pain and started moving as well, but it was difficult to avoid an opponent that couldn't be seen. It received another claw to its side.
But this second time when it was hit, it uttered a high-pitched roar that radiated shockwave. It was the same roar that had incapacitated Anotherday.
The Barghest's lost its invisibility after that. The roar had afflicted it with the Cursed effect, which caused the target to be unable to use skill or spell for a short duration and reduce the healing received.
Yet, the affliction didn't reduce its fierceness. The Barghest was still charging at the Boom Hound while baring its teeth and claws. The Boom Hound didn't back down. With its opponent now visible, it could attack as well.
Both pets were very fast. They two clashed with one another with speed almost invisible to naked eyes.
David had never stopped shooting from behind his drone cover. Ronald had been constantly moving to dodge David's bullet while he and his Drone shot at David as well, but it was difficult hitting David with the protection of the shield drone.
Once David noticed the Boom Hound had used its incapacitating roar, he continued his advance. He believed in terms of close combat, he should be superior compared to Ronald. But as he got near, Ronald's drone started flaring. Seeing the sign, David immediately ducked and took full cover behind his shield drone.
Ronald's drone shot a stream of high-density flame. David's drone received continuous damage from the flame. After all the punishments, David's shield drone's HP had gone down to around sixty percent.
Ronald took the chance when David was hiding to shoot a few bullets at David's Barghest, helping his Boom Hound get the upper hand. The flamethrowing from Ronald's drone didn't last indefinitely. After it ended, David rose and returned to shooting again. Facing the incoming shots, Ronald also returned to moving around and shooting back at David.
When David reached sufficient distance, he used his Throw Grenade skill. Yet, as soon as the grenade left David's hand, Ronald's bullet came and hit the grenade. It exploded in the air.
"F*ck!" David cursed. He was hoping the grenade could give him an opening to rush into a melee range.
In retaliation, Ronald's grenade came. David was going to return the favor and shoot at the grenade mid-flight, but his head was suddenly assailed by a massive headache. Ronald had used his race skill, Mind Blast.
With that disruption, David couldn't make an accurate shot. He hurriedly ducked back to his shield drone's cover. The grenade exploded but he was unharmed. The unusual smoke from Ronald's grenade covered David. He hurriedly moved sideways to go out of the smoke's coverage while continuing to face Ronald's direction.
At this time, David heard some murmurs from the audience. 'Did something happen?' He thought.
He couldn't let the noise distract him. He needed to focus on his opponent. He came out from the smoke while still having his shield drone covering him, he prepared to shoot. He had cornered his opponent close to the arena's edge. A little bit more and he should be able to dash over and finished this phantom gunslinger in close-quarter combat.
Yet, when he aimed. Ronald was not there.
"What?! Where..."
*BANG! BANG!*
He felt two impacts on the side of his head. Critical damage appeared accompanied by a sharp pain in the head. He bore the pain and turned in the direction from where the bullet came from and was shocked to see Ronald standing atop his hovering drone. Its wide and flat dish-like surface gave a stable foothold for Ronald to stand on.
The drone brought the gunslinger up high and at an angle where David was not covered by his drone shield. Ronald's two revolvers were aiming at David.
David hurriedly shifted position to place his Shield drone in front of him again. Ronald's revolvers flared. From its sound, Ronald had used the Rapid Shoot again.
David's drone shield was not yet perfectly placed to face Ronald's direction, but it was enough to provide partial cover. Yet, in that instant, David noticed the direction Ronald was aiming at. It was not directed at him. The aim had been slightly to the side of his shield drone.
Upon that realization, he heard repetitive impact sounds from his side. At the same time, he felt bullets hitting his body that was facing that side.
"Im–Impossi…" David didn't finish his words as these last few hits took out his remaining HP.
Ronald had used the five bullets from his left revolver to shoot the five bullets from his right revolver. The ten bullets hit each other beside David and the resulting ricochets caused five bullets to change directions and hit David from the side.
Many didn't understand what had happened, but those with good eyesight saw what had happened. Jack who had Dragon Eye ability was one of them.
"Damn… Is that kind of accuracy even possible?" Jack muttered.
Actually, if it was still in the real world, Ronald wouldn't have been able to do such a trick. But here, he had gained a skill that slowed down his reaction time for a short period. A skill called Focus Sight. It was similar to Jack's Dragon Eye skill. The Focus Sight slowed down perceived time to 1000% of normal, which was twice that of Dragon Eye, but lasted shorter at only three seconds.
But even with the ability to slow down time, no shooter would still be able to do what Ronald did.
"Champion of the Archer section, Ronald Dready of the Ethereal race!" Pallas announced.
With this, it was certain that Master would get the Draconic Suppression Crystal.
