Second World-Novel

Once Pallas announced the match, Rodney weaved his head away as he readied his two-handed hammer.

Everyone was confused why he did that, but then they remembered that Jeanny had made an abrupt and aggressive thrust the moment her match started last time. Rodney must have thought that this was how Jeanny liked to start her match. Little did he know that the aggressiveness was because of her opponent's rudeness.

However, Jeanny was indeed aggressive when she attacked. It's just that she was too polite to go all out right from the start unless the opponent riled her up, as it happened on her first tournament match and the one with her sister.

Seeing Jeanny was just waiting with a ready stance. Rodney decided to deliver the first strike. He lunged forward with his hammer swinging.

Jeanny thrust. The tip of her spear hit the shaft of Rodney's hammer. The impact threw Rodney back. Jeanny's stance was steady.

Seeing his assault deflected, he decided to proceed more carefully. He walked sideways as he circled Jeanny. Jeanny followed his movement with one pivoting foot, keeping Rodney in front of her.

Rodney finally lost patience and attempted another swing. Another thrust came and forced him back again.

He gritted his teeth and made successive swings, even camouflaging Power Strike in one of the swings. However, all the swings were repelled. Jeanny used her own Power Strike to counter when her opponent used his.

"Grrhh…! Do you want to fight or what…?" Rodney uttered. He felt as if the girl was playing with him.

But during the middle of his speech, Jeanny disappeared.

'What…?' Was the question that surfaced in his mind when he remembered his opponent's skill sets. He hurriedly jumped to the side just as Jeanny's spear thrust down from above.

The spear stabbed onto the floor, missing the target. Yet, Jeanny had trained with this skill numerous times to devise a follow-up attack when the assault missed. She used her spear which was embedded into the floor as a support to push her body that was still in the air towards her opponent.

Rodney, who was just turning around to deliver a counterattack, was stunned when he found Jeanny was right above him. Jeanny's foot swooped down and gave him a solid kick. He didn't receive damage but he lost his footings.

Jeanny landed next to him and used the butt of her spear to knock Rodney's head again, before swiping his legs with her spear. Jeanny executed Domain of Spears when Rodney fell on his back. Since he was in a laying down position, he wasn't just hit by one spear when numerous spears pierced out around Jeanny.

Without letting Rodney get up, Jeanny used Hundred Spears, stabbing the laying down Rodney multiple times.

Rodney activated Last Stand and Righteous Fury as his HP fell below 30% and he had full ten avenging orbs. However, he was still in a laying down position. He tried to strike back but Jeanny moved to an angle where he had difficulty hitting her. All the while, Jeanny never stopped her Hundred Spears. Her stabs continued stabbing the parts that prevented Rodney from getting up. Without getting up, he couldn't perform any meaningful attack with his hammer.

He lost his life without being able to counterattack.

"Wow! She is indeed good," Paytowin uttered in admiration.

"Yeah, she really gets it," Jack said.

"Gets what?"

"The best time to hit someone is when they are down."

Paytowin rolled his eyes.

"Next match, warriors!" Pallas declared.

*

Warrior Section Match 4

Handsome Joe, level 46 Mage Knight (elf) Vs Spring Crown, level 47 Weapon Master (vampire)

*

Joe was scowling all the way to the arena. He knew this was it! He was facing a heavenly enforcer now. He couldn't afford to lose. This was their real opponent. For the sake of their cause, he had to win. He would not disappoint Wilted.

"You are too tense. Lighten up," Spring said. His slight smile was still decorating his face.

Joe's scowl was getting even more prominent now. "Don't try to condescend me!" He uttered.

Spring sighed. "You are truly too serious. See, that scowl has ruined your namesake. How can people still call you handsome if you continue to put on that face?"

"My scowl will disappear once you are down. Now taste my spectral…!"

"Wait!" Spring exclaimed and put his palm out while Joe was still speaking.

"What? Don't tell me you want me to give you time to prepare!"

"Man… You are truly… The referee hasn't asked us to begin yet," Spring said.

Joe turned to Pallas and saw the divine champion was staring at him. "Are you two done talking?" He asked.

Joe nodded.

"Done here," spring replied.

"Begin!" Pallas announced.

Joe immediately became tense again. He took a low position, ready to receive Spring Crown's attack. But the guy was just standing at his position in a leisurely stance.

"You said you want to let me taste your spectral something? Go ahead. I'm waiting," Spring said.

Joe frowned. Wasn't this guy underestimating him too much? He cast his spell with his left hand while the sword on his right hand was ready in case Spring decided to attack. But the number one gamer just stood there watching with his little smile.

Joe's spell was completed and his Spectral Projection appeared. He continued with another spell and three phantom blades swirled around him. All the while, Spring Crown didn't move a muscle.

"Max-level Spectral Blade and level 12 Spectral Projection. Not bad," Spring uttered.

"How do you know my projection's level?" Joe asked. Determining his spectral blade's level was easy since only a max-leveled one would have three blades, but there shouldn't be a tell for the spectral projection.

"As the levels progress, your projection becomes more detailed. You don't know the distinction of your own spell?" Spring replied.

Joe wasn't sure if he believe Spring's words. Details? The projection looked just the same. Was this guy messing with him? But the guy indeed guessed his spell's level correctly.

"Are you done preparing your spell? Or should I wait longer?" Spring asked.

Hearing that, Joe was furious. He cast another spell. "You will regret looking down on me!"

Joe's left hand glowed, indicating the Spectral Discharge spell. He then controlled his projection to charge forward while he shot range attacks using the left hand that had been armed by Spectral Discharge. He was planning to repeat his previous match's strategy.

Spring twirled his spear and smacked the energy attacks Joe shot at him. When Joe's spectral projection arrived, a dagger appeared in Spring's left hand. He blocked the projection's assault using his spear while cutting the energy attacks using the dagger.

The exchange went on for a while. None of them suffered any damage. It was obvious for Joe since he attacked from a distance, but Spring was also completely fine despite being besieged by melee and ranged attacks. The smile on his face never wavered. It was even as if he was enjoying this.

Joe even had his projection activate Adrenaline Rush to increase its attack speed. Spring did the same, turning it into an even contest again. Joe looked for an opening and controlled his projection to execute Power Strike, but Spring used the same skill. The two weapons clashed and no damage resulted.

Joe was getting agitated as the fight continued. His opponent was still smiling as if he was fighting for leisure. Since long-range attacks were not working, he decided to come forward. With him and his spectral blades, Spring would have to deal with attacks from multiple directions.

'Let's see if you can still act relaxed!' Joe uttered in his mind. He rushed forward while continuing to shoot range attacks.

When Joe arrived, the dagger in Spring's hand turned into a long sword. Playing with the two weapons in his two hands, he blocked the projection, Joe's swords, three spectral blades while dodging Joe's occasional range shots.

"He had a good dual wield form," Domon praised.

"Yeah," Jack agreed. "It was not simple handling a spear using only one hand."

"He is also rather proficient in using those different weapons," Domon added.

"He is good in using all kinds of weapons," Jack said. "Not only weapons but he can also be said to be an expert in all kinds of classes and game systems as well. He is truly an all-rounder."

"Good in all things means he is average in everything," Leavemealone commented.

Jack was surprised the guy commented on something other than Wong's match. Jack replied, "not really. He might not be the best in everything, but he is at least above average in everything. He had another thing that he is best in, though."

As Jack said that, Spring also uttered something in the match, "time's up." His spear changed to a hammer and he smashed Joe's projection aside using Power Strike. He then thrust at Joe using the longsword on his left hand. However, the thrust was too forceful, it opened himself up.

Joe was delighted. His opponent finally made a mistake. Joe parried the thrust using his sword while his three spectral blades slashed at Spring who was defenseless.

But just before the blades touched Spring, they vanished.