Chapter 23: Tag Team
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"Wait! You can't just do this!" I yell out forgetting about where we were
"Silence! How dare you interrupt us!" Lord Romel berated
Oh crap! I just blurted that out spontaneously! This is bad. Even though they're NPCs they currently have much more influence in this world than any player! If only I could've kept my mouth shut.....
"My Lord! Please forgive him! He is new to the ways of court." Commander Gil bows down asking for my forgiveness
"Gil! Why stand up for such an insolent cur!?"
"My Lord, he's the one that rescued the expedition. Surely that warrants some lenience?"
"I am grateful for that. But this is-"
"BE QUIET! All of you! Do not forget these are my chambers!" Queen Diana suddenly said with a harsh tone
Suddenly reprimanded by the lord of the region made us all fall silent. Could this situation get any worse? Did I just make the quest fail? No, that's not important! Worst case scenario we could all be executed here and that doesn't sound too good in a real death game....
"Young man, step forward." she suddenly beckoned me
This time I acted befitting a commoner in front of royalty. I stepped forward and got on one knee while lowering my head. I did this in western tradition because it was more appropriate for the setting I guess?
"Speak. Why do you object our tradition?" She said with a calm but cold voice
"Forgive me, your Majesty. I am merely concerned for the safety of my comrades."
"Hooo, and who might they be?"
"That would be me. I'm his sister Queen Diana." Hime also got on her knee
"Sister? I see, who is your intended partner for the arena young lady?"
Without waiting for Hime to call her, Amy had already stepped forward too. The Queen’s gaze was now staring the three of us down. Lord Romel and Gil were also silent while waiting for the Queen to speak again.
"I have made a decision. This young man will also participate in the fight."
"Thank you, your Majesty!" I said
You have replaced a player's position and now among the 'Coliseum Festival' quest participants
This is fine. At least I can fight instead of Hime. I don't know what I'll be fighting but it was definitely better me than her.
"What is your name, young man?"
"I am Haruki, your Majesty."
"Fufufu, you seem much more capable than the others here Haruki. I will look forward to watching you fight alongside your sister." She said while licking her lips
"Wha-"
"We are finished. Leave Lord Romel and I to our discussion!"
After she announced that, the palace guards in bright silver armor started to gather the players. Looks like we were being 'politely' asked to leave. Before making our way out, Romel gave me a dissatisfied look but didn't say a word.
"Damn it! What the hell's wrong with her?" I mutter quietly as soon as we were at the courtyard
"That was close, Haruki. Be glad it was only this." Sylva said with a bitter look
"I know that some of it's my fault... But Hime still ends up fighting after all that!"
"It's much better this way Nii-san. Amy would be helpless with her focus on healing skills."
"Hey!!" Amy protested
"Yeah, but...."
"Nii-san. Please have a little faith in me. I can take care of myself."
"....."
"We might not be as strong as you and Sylva but we were counted as part of the best players in Roden." Amy added
"Fine, fine. Just.... don't do anything stupid."
"Says the one that just made a fool of himself in front of two lords." Hime smiled
"Ku... That was an accident."
"Fine, fine." she replied the same thing to me
I guess this is acceptable. At least now I could do something instead of just watching. And truth be told it really made more sense for me to replace Amy. I felt kind of bad about earlier. Even if I was worried for Hime I shouldn't just leave Amy alone.
Turning to Amy I was about to apologize but she stopped me. Just by shaking her head I knew she understood why I did that. This girl really is a true friend.....
"By the way, wasn't the queen..... kinda weird?" I asked the others
"She was strict. But not really weird." Sylva answered
"How so? I thought she was beautiful and forgiving queen." Hime also said
"I see..."
Was it just me? I don't know why but the way she talked and looked at me sent shivers down my spine. But it doesn't look like the others noticed. Maybe it really was just my imagination?
"When is the quest gonna take place?" Amy questioned
"No clue" I shrugged my shoulders
While wondering about the quest we spotted two figures walking towards us from the palace. It was Lord Romel and Commander Gil! Was their meeting with the queen over? Looks like it's time to get more details. Noticing the approaching men, the players all formed a half circle and paid attention to them.
"Gather round, all of you." Lord Romel starts
"I will now be announcing the circumstances of this....event. As you've all heard you will all be fighting according to this city's tradition. The opponents will be Prax's best fighters."
"Who are they?" Asks one of us
"They are the same as all of you. Adventurers."
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At the coliseum gates the players from Roden were waiting anxiously for the festival to begin. Yesterday the Lord said that each team would be fighting battle after battle until two reach the finals. In short, we were entering a tournament. Although we were high leveled compared to our own region's players, we don't know much about this city's. What's more they've been competing for a longer time giving them a better advantage.
Thankfully the fights weren't to the death. Though that did ease my mind a bit it still was dangerous. Even though technically we wouldn't die any injuries were felt for real and that sure as hell doesn't sound entertaining. Still, I can't let my guard down. Who knows what that queen has planned.
"Uwaah, suddenly I feel nervous!" Amy spoke out
"You're not even fighting....."
"Hey! You were the one that stole my spot!" She glared at me
"I thought you said you were actually relieved yesterday!"
"Nii-san, Amy, please be a little more serious." Hime looked annoyed
""......""
"Look it's about to start." Sylva points at the soldiers rushing out of the Arena
"Haaah, let's go Hime."
"Yeah."
"Good luck, guys! We'll be rooting for you!" Amy said waving her hand
"Haruki,, do your best. You too, Hime."
As Amy and Sylva said that, we started to walk in separate directions. The contestants were now heading towards a waiting room while other people went to the spectator seats.
It seems the players from Roden were gathered in a single large room waiting for their turn to fight. Hime and I were last so we waited as each team got out for their match. None of them came back though. Looks like they all lost their matches. I guess the arena players from Prax were all strong....
Being the last one here it's now our turn to fight. Since the quest only needed us to participate maybe we could just give up midway.
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"I won't be giving up. That's shameful."
What!? Did it show on my face? I've got no choice now....
Following the pathway we spotted a bright light at the end of the hall. A rumbling sound could be heard as we drew closer. Reaching the end I looked at Hime and made sure she was prepared.
"You ready?"
"Yes. I'll show that I can handle myself." she replied while stepping forward
"WOOOOOOOOOH!!!"
The view from down here was mind-blowing. Thousands of people were shouting and staring at the both of us. Their voices were so loud it felt as if the ground was shaking beneath us! This arena was huge! And the spectators were mostly players from what I see. Cheering out loud it looks like they were enjoyed watching the superiority of their city's players....
"CRUSH THEM BOTH!!! SHOW THEM THE MIGHT OF PRAX!!!"
Looking around bewildered I noticed two people on the other side of the coliseum. Looks like those are our opponents. One had a black robe with an iron mask covering his face while the other had dark green scale armor. The robed player carried a staff so he must be mage. The other was wielding a hammer nearly twice my size!
"Let us see what the last warriors of Roden can do!" Queen Diana signaled the start of the match from a high balcony
I immediately readied my sword while focusing mana to my left arm. Hime pulled an arrow from her quiver and took a stance behind me. The two enemies also raised their weapons and stood still. The mage started casting spells but I was confident we could dodge them at this distance.
That turned out to be a huge mistake. His spells hit the ground of the arena and created multiple dark purple spheres. Stepping out of the magic circles were skeleton warriors! That mage is a summoner!
The skeletons started to rush forward while the players still stood unmoving behind them. It'll be bad if the two of us were surrounded so I also ran forward and attacked the summons.
CLANG!
My steel blade couldn't cut through their bones! That summoner's skill must be quite good for these kind of monsters...
This time I tried slashing again with 'lightning blade'. The effects are clearly visible with the blade cleanly severing the leg bone causing it to fall down. Rolling to the right, I dodged an upward swing by a few centimeters while being chased by 5 other skeletons.
Hime's arrows turned out to be quite effective against them. It seems the wind element enchantment on her bow makes the arrows capable of piercing their bones. That must mean magic is their weakness! I launched a 'lightning bolt' at one of their rib bones and it blew up in pieces!
Swinging my blade around I managed to destroy a few more of them while arrows supported me. Amy was right. Hime is a strong player! Turning around I noticed that the mage was standing alone now. Where's the warrior? My question was answered immediately with a shadow coming at me from above.
"Damn!"
I quickly used my movement skill and jumped back as fast as I could. When the player's hammer hit the ground it managed to create a crater! Pieces of rock flew everywhere with some scratching my face, causing several cuts that were red with blood dripping out.
The skeletons were all obliterated by that massive assault! The other didn't summon anymore so he must be out of mana for now.
Holding my sword tight, I started to attack the scale-armored player with both the katana and lightning claws. He parried my sword with the handle of his hammer while kicking me back before my claws could reach him.
A couple of arrows manage to hit him penetrating his shoulder and thigh. Glancing at Hime's location he started to run towards her and ignored me.
"AS IF I'D LET YOU!"
With the speed bonus granted by 'lightning movement' I easily caught up with him and kicked his knees from behind making him fall over. When I tried to stab his back a small mana bolt hit me causing me to lose balance. Before I could hit him he was already facing me with his weapon readied.
"Hime, get the mage!"
I have to let Hime take the offensive now. If she only stood behind me we would surely lose in no time. Hearing my instruction she bolted off leaving me facing the warrior in a one on one match.
"Give up, the others from your city already lost." he suddenly spoke to me
".....Sorry, my sister's pretty stubborn about all this!"
Dashing straight at him I avoided his hammer by leaping to the left. I struck my blade towards his chest but he deflected it with his right arm. Even though his armor was quite sturdy it still couldn't entirely block my blade covered in electric sparks!
With some blood gushing out from his arm he tried to swing his hammer down again. This time I immediately ran around him as the heavy weapon made another hole in the ground with an explosion-like sound. Because I was behind him, his own body shielded me from the rocks flying around.
"You little-"
Before he could turn around I blasted him from behind making him fall forwards to the ground. Now's my chance! Since he couldn't get up for now I can rush over to Hime and help her with the other one.
Before I did that I realized that she was in control of their battle. Her high agility made it easy for her to dodge the player's weak spells. Having used all his mana to summon at the beginning left him only able to use low-cost skills! Jumping around while circling him, Hime managed to lodge arrows at his feet and left arm preventing him from moving.
Huh. I guess I really should trust in her more.
Sensing another attack from behind, I poured mana into my legs and jumped 5 meters in the air, leaving him staring at the empty air. Doing a backflip impossible to replicate in real life, I landed behind him. His back was completely unguarded again!
Using both sword and claws I unleashed a quick flurry that decreased his HP fast. When it hit 25%, he suddenly fell down unmoving. I did it! WE did it! Hime was also finished with her opponent.
After knocking the fighters out the entire arena was silent. The Queen, with a smile on her face, stood up from her seat and announced to the crowd.
"The first victory for Roden! Looks like they have saved the best for last!"
The entire coliseum went into an uproar! Some were cheering for us while others were jeering. We managed to clear the first round! Feeling a sense of excitement and ecstasy I pointed my arm up and launched a huge lightning bolt to the sky proclaiming my victory!
Quest updated: Coliseum Festival
You have won the first match of the tournament. There are now five more matches before the final battle.
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