Chapter 1-49 : The Birth Of The Head Hunting Princess Ⅲ (part 1)
I was wondering about my next opponent. Rin said he was the third strongest member of the Silver Wing Brigade, so it wouldn’t be an easy fight for sure. Moreover, I’ve used my trump card in my first match.
As I wondered, my second match would soon start, and my name was called.
『The next match will be Alice VS Runx! For the contestants, please head to the arena now.』(Taurus)
「Good luck, Alice!」(Ruka)
「Break a leg~」(Rin)
「Un!」(Alice)
I nodded at Ruka and Rin, who wished me luck, and left my seat.
As I walked toward the stairs, I noticed the number of spectators had increased. I felt like the number was double that of my first match.
「Why are there so many people now…?」(Alice)
My guess was that they were here because a strong member of the most well-known guild would be fighting in this match.
Yeah, they must want to watch this Runx guy.
I feel more nervous now knowing that my next opponent was more popular than I thought.
I shook my head to get rid of the nervousness for a bit and went downstairs to the arena.
My opponent was already there when I entered the arena.
He was wearing full heavy armor that covered his entire body and holding a huge shield. He was also wearing a cool-looking houndskull bascinet helmet, so I couldn’t see his face.
He noticed me and raised his hand, greeting me.
「Yo, Alice, it’s been a while.」(Runx)
「Umm… Do I know you?」(Alice)
His voice sounded familiar, but I didn’t remember him at all.
「Hahaha! Sorry, I’m in my new armor, so it’s only natural you don’t recognize me.」(Runx)
While saying that, he lifted the visor of his helmet and showed his face. He smiled at me.
「Ah!」(Alice)
「You remember me, right?」(Runx)
「You are! …Who are you again?」(Alice)
「Oi, oi!」(Runx)
「Fufu. I’m sorry, just kidding. It’s been a while, Captain-san.」(Alice)
Now that I see his face, I recall who he is.
He’s the third squad captain, the captain of the squad I belonged to when I joined the raid led by the Silver Wing Brigade to exterminate the swarm of wolven monsters in the south and open the path to the port town a while ago.
I didn’t know his name. I only know him as Captain.
So his name is Runx.
「That’s right! It’s me!」(Runx)
「You look completely different from the last time we met. Especially your new armor.」(Alice)
「It looks cool, don’t you think? You look cute, too, in your new armor. Kimono looks great on you.」(Runx)
「Ahaha… Thank you.」(Alice)
「You contributed so much to the raid back then, and I see you’ve grown stronger now. Have you noticed the number of spectators has increased? They came to see you, you know?」(Runx)
「What?」(Alice)
They came to see me? He must be joking, right?
「I thought they came to see you.」(Alice)
「Me? Haha! I might be the third strongest member of the Silver Wing Brigade, but, nah. I don’t have many fans. Our Leader does. You haven’t checked the in-game forum, have you?」(Runx)
「The forum?」(Alice)
「After your horror-movie-like match against Kenya, everyone was talking about you.」(Runx)
Now that he mentioned it, Rin said the same thing.
So these people really came to see me? Ugh… I feel even more nervous now…
『Both contestants, are you readyー?』(Taurus)
「Woops, enough chit chat. Looks like the match is about to begin. I won’t go easy on you.」(Runx)
「I won’t hold back either.」(Alice)
The captain closed his visor and held his huge shield forward, taking a fighting stance.
Meanwhile, I drew my wakizashi and held it in reverse-grip style. I bent my knees a little bit so I was ready to dash forward anytime.
『Let us begin the match! Get ready… FIGHT!』(Taurus)
「【Sever】!」(Alice)
I activated my【Sever】Skill as soon as the match started and looked at my opponent.
However, as I thought, I couldn’t see any red lines on his body.
People with full-body heavy armor are annoying!
「I watched your match, so I know how you fight. As you can see, my helmet is covering my head. Your blade won’t reach it.」(Runx)
「We’ll see about that!」(Alice)
At first glance, he looked like he didn’t have any openings, but I saw him open his visor.
If I could reach his helmet, I might be able to open it, expose his face, and cut his head off.
However, to be able to do that, first, I need to make him lower his guard.
I used most of my seeds in my first match. I still have a few, but I can’t create a forest with this amount.
I have to think of another strategy.
「【Black Curtain】!」(Alice)
Anyway, first, I created a black smoke around him with my dark magic spell.
「Oi, oi. You’re not seriously planning to fight me with this cheap trick, are you?」(Runx)
As he said, a dark magic starting skill like this won’t do much. Even if I could blind him for a few seconds, he could still hear my footsteps. If I carelessly approached him, he would definitely bash me with his shield.
However, those few seconds would freeze him and give me time to sing.
「The bird in the cage～♪ bird in the caー」(Alice)
「ー【Divine Aegis】!」(Runx)
I just started singing, but he immediately used a skill.
His armor glowed in white for a second, and at the same time, my Black Curtain was dispersed.
「What theー」(Alice)
「Too bad, your weird song skill won’t work on me. It’s an advanced Paladin skill that allows me to repel most debuffs in this game.」(Runx)
I was planning to apply ‘confusion’ on him, but he has an anti-debuff skill?
Dammit, I should have known!
As expected from the captain. He’s strong.
People say that he’s even stronger than the Leader of the Silver Wing Brigade in terms of defensive abilities.
「What’s wrong? You can keep singing if you want. It won’t affect me, but I’d love to hear you sing.」(Runx)
「…….」(Alice)
He’s teasing me.
It kinda annoys me, but I can’t get provoked.
My【Children Song】Skill doesn’t work on him. I have to calm down and think of another way to fight.
「If you’re not coming, then I’ll go!【Vanguard Dash】!」(Runx)
While I was thinking, the captain charged toward me while holding his shield forward.
「ー!!」(Alice)
As a matter of course, a defensive-type player like him doesn’t move very fast. He seemed to have put some points on AGI, but still, I was faster than him. I was able to dodge his shield without much effort.
I looked for an opening right away for a counter-attack, but still, I couldn’t see any red lines on him.
I doubted I could inflict any damage on him if I hit his thick armor, so I quickly stretched my hand, trying to reach his helmet and open it, butー
「【Shield Bash】!」(Runx)
「Whoa!」(Alice)
He swung his huge, heavy shield like it was nothing before my hand could reach his helmet.
Lucky for me, I had quick reflexes, so I managed to dodge it.
Howeverー
「As expected, you’re really quick. BUT! I doubt you can dodge this one!【War Cry】!」(Runx)
「Ugh!」(Alice)
As soon as he activated that skill, I suddenly had a strong urge to attack him. It seemed to be a very strong taunting skill. So strong that I couldn’t even control my own body.
My body was moving on its own. I dashed forward and swung my blade horizontally at him.
Naturally, he blocked my blade so easily with his shield, and thenー
「【Shield Bash】!」(Runx)
「Kyaaa!!」(Alice)
He swung his shield right away and sent me flying into the air.
The force was strong, but thanks to my high AGI, I managed to regain my balance mid-air and landed on my feet.
Since he wasn’t a damage-dealer-type player, his offensive skill damage wasn’t that powerful, but still, it chipped thirty percent of my HP away.
I will lose at this rate if I don’t do something.
I guess I have no choice. Seems like I have to use my other ‘trump card’ here.
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