*CHING!!* *BAM!!* *CHING!*
The siblings decided to bombard me from different directions, attempting to overwhelm my agility.
When the time comes, Irina attacks the opening I purposely reveal. I deflect Clifton's strike and leave my body open. Snow energy gathers around her sword as she throws a thrust at me. I step aside to evade it and counterattack. To my surprise, her thrust was a feint. Her sudden switch of trajectory slams the winter aura into me, pushing me a few distance.
"Huff huff..." Irina and Clifton click their tongue. Despite their resistance, I am seen unscathed with my sword up.
A small part of my blade is frozen, mist continuously expands from it.
...They are growing. That was their first hit.
I swing my sword to dissipate the ice.
"Irina, I think we have to go all out. I can't shake off this dangerous feeling..." Clifton says.
Irina furrows her brow. "A-Alright..."
With a burst of energy, the aura on their blade solidifies and expands a domain of blizzard. Winter descends in this small arena as white graces every corner.
!
As expected, their accumulated mana and techniques are superior...but their aura unleashed is frankly disappointing.
Both siblings appear behind in the blink of an eye, their swords clash with mine and release terrifying gusts of snow. Indeed, the force is stronger.
They jump back in opposite directions and deploy the same tactic. Attack barrage from different angles, this time systemically.
Behind. Left. Right. Left. Front. Right. Behind.
Every guard explodes mist and cold. As time passes, the slashes become harder to predict and their steps seamlessly blend into the blizzard.
Despite that, I could decipher the foundation of their technique. Their footwork represents a snowflake and their swordsmanship represents the raging snowstorm.
Clifton stops his attack and pulls back his sword. A giant ball of snow gathers at the tip and blasts towards me. One slice separates the snowball into two before Irina dives from above. A whirlpool of winter nature dances around her as if the queen of the snow descended.
*BOOOOM!!!*
The avalanche of snow and mana unleashes a formidable torrent seemingly obliterating everything into a snowpack. The surge of kinetic energy trembles the arena through the barrier, rumbling a roar.
"Hah...huff...huff..." Irina stumbles on the ground, barely collecting herself with her sword as support. Chilling metamorphosis assaults both siblings from the merciless grip of cold. Ice crystals of frostbite revealed on their skin, atop their otherworldly pallor.
I see...those movements were a bridge to the final move.
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A silhouette appears amidst the chaotic vapour.
!!
Clifton widens his eyes, bewilderment fills his gaze. "H-He..."
The vapour vanishes and reveals my state. Frostbite eats away at my body but my gaze stays resolute.
"Are you done?" I ask.
"Damn...it..." Clifton mumbles.
Irina musters her remaining strength to ask me "How...are you unaffected by the cold?"
...
"Compared to the Land of Death, it's warm."
"T-The Land of Death?!" Clifton exclaims. "You've gone there?"
"Not yet," I reply.
!!!!
Albeit a terrain full of opportunities, no one will go there by their own will. It's named the Land of Death for a reason and none has ever returned in one piece.
Although I could have ended the match earlier, I was worried she had a hidden ace and concealed my strength. Cautious is a warrior's first line of defence.
The siblings grit their teeth from the taste of defeat and throw in the towel.
"What a tenacious display! The illustrious Nelson family, destined to rule the arena by the very threads of their esteemed ancestry, met an astonishing defeat! Wielding not only a blade but a courage forged in the crucible of adversity, to the valiant commoner who defied convention!!" The MC says.
"YEAHHHHHH!!!!"
"WOOOHH!!!!"
In this cacophony of elation, strangers became brethren, bound by the shared narrative of victory. It was a thunderous manifestation of communal joy, an outpouring of energy that transcended individual boundaries.
To the nobles, the danger became apparent. My action was a warning.
At that moment, I can feel a powerful gaze, thinking it might be Roate. However, it is Mina, among the spectator.
What was that? It felt like someone staring into my soul.
...
"Mother will be angry," Clifton says.
"Don't worry, most of her wrath will be on me," Irina replies.
...
==================
Healers on sight immediately went into action the moment I left the arena. They help erase the ailment and restore my strength.
"Phew!" I collapse on the couch in my lounge after.
"Hello!" a sudden voice pops behind.
"W-What the fuck?!" I jump out of the couch and find Mina smiling at me. I detected nothing!
"Sorry about this, I wanted to have a private talk."
"A-Alright, what is it?" I say.
...
...
...
???
"Uh..."
"Ah umm...My name is Mina Yvelle." She extends her hand out.
"Okay...? I'm Loi Krist."
I take her hand.
---------
Mina Yvelle
Fate: 200000
Role: Protagonist
Affiliation: ARW
Talents:
-Sword Tier 12
-Magic Tier 13
Attribute:
-Fire Tier 10
Skills:
-Quick Cast
-Quadruple Cast
-Rune Art
-Blessing of the Gods
-Lie Detection
-Unparalleled Genius
-Dragon's Protection
-Fairy's Protection
Extract?
[Yes][No]
---------
...Huh?
WHAT?!
PROTAGONIST?!
SO MANY INNATE SKILLS?!
"Hm? What's wrong?" Mina asks.
"Ah right..." I let go of her hand.
What the hell...
...
Hmm...
Actually, it isn't that surprising...she DID repel the outworlders after all.
"Uhm...so, I'm in search of comrades that will go through thick and thin with me. I will be going down a path extremely dangerous and ambitious."
...
"Okay?" I reply.
"So...I would like you to be one of them. You have great potential!"
"Are you asking to be my friend?"
"Y-Yes, it ought to be rude to directly ask that..." Mina mumbles.
What? Why? You just sound arrogant.
"Sure..."
Mina smiles in delight. "Great!"
...
...
...
...
The return of the awkward silence.
"So...anything else?" I ask.
"Yes...I apologize for this...I don't communicate much..."
"Alright, spit it out," I say.
"Hm? Spit what out?"
"What you wanted to say!"
She's even worse at communication than mutton, how did she become the protagonist?
"Oh. We will face off in the upcoming match. Since we are both in the same situation, I'm here to propose something. Do you want to rig the match?" She asks.
"...I'm listening."
"Let's fight with half of our true strength. Revealing too much leaves us vulnerable."
...
"I'm not falling for that," I say.
Mina sighs. "Do you covet the prize? I can give it to you."
"No, I need to aim for the first."
That way, I can direct 'their' attention to me before Mina.
"...Then we shall fight it out on the battlefield," Mina says. "Please don't take it the wrong way. I do want to be friends with you."
"Of course, I understand. It will be a light spar."
She smiles. "Yes."