Uhh... Did I queued in the wrong match?
Seeing the absurd amount of opponents, I turned my gaze at the referee asking him what the hell was going on using body gestures only to get a reply from him with his eyes pointing towards Prez who had a wide mischievous smirk on her face.
I KNEW IT!
Got caught off guard by one of her schemes again, I can only stare at her in disbelief not realizing that the announcer had already officialized the match to the audience and now only waiting for the referee to start the fight.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it seems that we had a very interesting fight this round. A battle between Rey Argent, the top duelist of the newly formed 32nd campus, against Jeanne Sera Bradford and her entourage of duelists from the 1st campus!"
What do you mean interesting fight?! This blatant is cheating! Even for an exhibition, this is uncalled for! How could this matchup even be allowed?! nu-uh, nope I'm backing out!
Just as I was about to resign, it was then that Prez cut off my only way of escape.
"Rey! I swear if you forfeit now I'll tell both your and Arthur's mother what kind of escapade you two got involved last week!"
Wha— This woman!
"—REY I BELIEVE IN YOU! DON'T SURRENDER!" It was Arthur who desperately shouted from his seat as if his life depended on it.
With a smug painted on her face, Prez unsheathed her weapon and pointed it at me before signaling the referee to officially start the fight.
With the referee receiving Prez's confirmation, I can only sigh in protest before steeling myself for the upcoming struggle.
"Duelist ready yourself!
...
...
Fight!"
With the match now officially begun, I wasted no time and began to assess my situation.
Just by looking at how my opponent is structured, there's no doubt that it was Prez who organized this team.
The enemy rank is divided into two echelons with each having an equal amount of vanguard and rearguard members.
For simplicity, I'll refer to these two as the Alpha and Beta.
Based on their formation, Alpha, being on the front, would be the one who would be facing me head-on while Beta on the other hand would try and act as the support as well as the reserve force that will reinforce the Alpha team whenever someone gets incapacitated.
Tch... Taking a note from Marvin's self-made theoretical guidebook on fighting formation...
Seeing that my situation was already this bleak by the beginning, I first let out a deep breath to clear up my mind before deciding to charge straight toward my enemy.
I've honestly been keeping up with Prez's weird behavior as of late, she's been an enigma since last week. I don't know if it's her monthly cycle that's causing this, but she's been abusing her power too far for my liking, someone needs to stop her before she becomes a full-fledged tyrant.
This is my first time fighting this many opponents all at the same time, and even if I use all my might I honestly have no confidence if I can really win this fight. —But somehow I need to send a message to Prez that her misdemeanor needs to be put to a halt.
Facing my first opponent head-on, I quickly let out a preemptive strike.
Claaang!
As my blade cut through the air, It was immediately parried by a man wearing full-plated armor that had numerous protective enchantments.
With just one look, you could speculate that this man came from a very affluent family being able to afford such expensive equipment.
"Lady Bradford, I, Solmani Von Heltoln, will be the one who will vanquish this villain and claim your sworn reward, I swear it under my name!" The guy confidently declared.
"Very well, then prove your worth sir Heltoln"
"As you command!"
"Tch..." I don't know what promises Prez gave these guys to have this boost in confidence, but I've decided, I won't hold anything back, that girl is too dangerous to be kept wandering around!
"My lord, you seemed to be heavily outnumbered. Shall I aid you in this fight?" Entropy calls out to me.
"No, even with an asymmetric match, this duel is still between me and Prez, asking for aid after all participants had already been announced would sully the sanctity of this match. Besides I don't really care if I happen to lose"
"I see, but if you ever need my aid, don't hesitate to call my name"
"I'll take that to heart"
With a renewed resolve, using my superior athleticism, I force myself to make a quick recovery from the parry before gritting my teeth and unleashing a powerful leg kick to his armored calf forcing him to lose his balance.
"I don't know what Prez told you lot, but don't involve me in your silly games!" I shouted before grabbing him by the face plate of his helm and slamming it into the ground.
"Gruaah!" My first victim gasps for air from impact.
"You're done!"
"No not the face!"
Now immobile, I then remove his helm before delivering a concussive finishing blow knocking him out of consciousness.
"That's one..." I announced as I savagely moved to my next target not letting up the pressure.
*********
"Joseph keep him at bay!"
"I know, I'm trying! But this guy... —He got through! LUCAS WATCH OUT!"
Constantly on the move and not allowing my foe the chance to take advantage of their superior number, I slipped through the center of the enemy formation with the plan to render their rearguard from taking any action or else risk a friendly fire.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Andras, what are you doing?! I already finished my spell casting get out of there!"
"I can't he's following my every move!"
"—Tch, then brace yourself! ABLAZE!!" Getting frustrated by my actions, one of the mages which I presume to be Lucas launched a powerful ball of fire which I easily evaded causing it to hit his teammate instead.
"Andras!"
"Gruuah!"
That's another one down.
"Five!" I declared as I let out a powerful roundhouse kick to the abdomen of Lucas knocking him out of the fight.
"Make that six..."
"Whoa there folks, this guy is actually insanely good, never before I've seen someone be able to go toe to toe with this many opponents!" The announcer enthusiastically commented in the background.
With sweat now pouring heavily all over, I can feel my body slowly beginning to overheat, but nonetheless, I need to continue moving forward.
"MY LORD!" Entropy's voice suddenly rang inside my head and not a moment too soon a barrage of stone rained down just a meter from me.
I was lucky Ent managed to give me an early warning, if not there's no doubt I'll be knocked instantly.
"Stone shard!" Another shout came from the back and rang into my ear. It's Prez, she's part of the Beta team which has now begun supporting what's left of the Alpha.
As I Anticipate the trajectory of her attack I quickly maneuver out of harm's way and reposition myself in the middle of the echelons rendering her and the rest of the mages from Beta unable to launch their ranged attack but with the downside of making myself more vulnerable to pincer and flanking attack.
"My lord from above!"
Just as I thought I was safe from all projectiles, a dagger then came flying by hitting me and shallowly dislodging itself to my shoulder.
"Are you alright my lord!"
"Urghh... It hurt, but I'm okay"
Pulling out the blade, I yelped in pain as a small amount of blood began to trickle out from the cut.
"I guess even you can't handle this much huh" Prez taunted me as she spell-cast another wave of stone shard.
"You think?!" Not falling for her provocation, I then grappled the nearest rearguard member of the alpha team and used it as a meat shield.
"Using my teammate as a cover, very clever Rey, but try to defend from this!" Prez then using her finger began to write another series of characters in the air.
"Water that seeded life and destruction,
Bend to my will and eliminate my foe!
Aqua current!"
As the spell cast came to a completion, the series of texts floating in mid-air converged into a single point where it then conjured a high-pressure water that jetted out towards me.
"Tch" Clicking my tongue, I tumble out to evade the magic attack, but to my surprise, it then suddenly changes course to exactly where I was going.
"!!!"
Taken aback, I simply had no other option but to brace myself for the inevitable.
BAAAM!
After being flung up in the air, Prez then followed it up by another Aqua Current which then slitther up towards me before slamming me to the ground.
"Guh!"
Amazed at how I managed to absorb that beating, I slowly got up from the ground.
"What? Is that all?" Prez again taunted. "I was kinda expecting something more from you Rey"
"Tch..."
I guess there's no other way...
With pain still pulsating all over my body I yank two of the cylindrical containers from the bandolier that's wrapped around my waist.
"SC-WHITE" I whispered as read the label.
I guess this will do.
Pulling the pin out of the canister, I then tighten up my grip on the striker lever before throwing it into the middle of the enemy team.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Haha, Brother what kind of flimsy throw was that? you missed!"
Just as everyone on the other side began to mock me on how flimsy my throw was, it was then that I heard a muffled popping sound from the distance which was followed by a sudden discharge of a thick white cloud of smoke.
PLOOOOSH!
"What the!"
"Ughh. I can't see!"
With everyone disorientated by the white cloud, I renewed my assault and charged straight into the smoke.
With their visibility at a minimum, I then started to do my work and mercilessly eliminated my enemies one by one.
"Jacob is that you —argh!"
"Tch he got Dilan"
"Hiding in the cover of the smoke, what a cowar —guaak"
"I can't see anything! —AHHHHH!"
"He's everywhere, stay close with one another! —gru!"
"—You're still full of surprises, you know that. Gale wind!" with another spell cast, Prez unleashes a powerful gust of wind dispersing the cloud of smoke away and revealing ten unconscious bodies on the ground.
"Look at that ladies and gents, Rey had just bagged another ten to the ground! Unbelievable!"
Surprised by just how effective the smoke grenade was, I again yanked another one from its bandolier before pulling the pin and rolling it to the ground.
"—Gale wind!" Just as the smoke is about to pop out, to my surprise, Prez has already prepared another wind magic to cast it away.
"I don't know what type of trinket you've used, but it won't work a second time!"
"I figured just as much" I replied before picking up another sword from the ground and began to double wield it. "After all none of my tricks worked twice against you so far...
...
—So Prez, what's it gonna be?"
Upon seeing my renewed stance Prez then tightened her grip on her sword.
"Say Rey, how about we both take this seriously and finish up this fight, one-on-one with nothing but pure strength, skills, and talent. No more trickery"
"You're proposing that now? Sigh... You're unbelievable" I chuckled while panting heavily.
"What can I say, I really hate losing, especially to you" Prez also chuckled.
"Then sorry Prez but I can't do that!" With a shout, I charge up toward Prez eliminating the remaining students from the first campus who try to get in the way.
"I made it this far, might as well finish the job! Am I right Prez?"
"You got that right!" Prez acknowledging my resolve also then charges straight at me.
"Take this!" Prez then performed an overhead slash which I managed to parry.
Claaaang!
"Another one!"
Cliiing!
"And Another one!"
CLINK CLAAANG!
Strike after strike Prez let out a flurry of attack which left me no choice but to remain on the defensive and parry everything.
"Wow, ladies and gents, it looks like Lady Bradford has finally taken this fight seriously! Rush after rush! Slash after slash! She's pushing back Rey to a corner! There's just no end to her attacks!
It seems that the title 'Holy Sword Mage of Weisstoria' isn't just for show! Is this the end for Rey Argent?!"
"Tch" I click my tongue.
Claaaaank!
"We've been through this, parrying and evading won't get you far against me Rey"
"I know, but it makes a hell of a show right?" I exhaustedly reply before taking a glance at the now excited crowd.
"Pfft... Haha... Indeed" Prez let out a soft laugh at my words. "—but every show eventually needs to come to an end"
"I agree..."
...
... ...
""Let's end this!"" The both of us synchronously yelled.
Taking a deep breath, Prez then jumped back as far as she could to gain distance from me before starting her chant-casting.
"Violent flame from my soul,
burn brightly—"
Tch... I can't let her finish! I need to close the distance!
Yanking a different kind of canister from my second bandolier, I then desperately throw my two swords at Prez to stop her chanting before moving in to close the gap for a final Hail Mary.
Prez noticing my intention, immediately swatted my two swords away and seeing that I had no more weapons in hand to defend myself, abandoned her chant to finish the fight using her sword.
"You're wide open! Quick Thrust!" Prez yelled before letting out two thrust attacks of which one connected piercing through my shoulder. Luckily the blade didn't manage to sink deep due to the protective enchantment of our equipment.
"It's my win" Prez boldly declares as she's about to deliver the final blow.
Not yet!
I'm not done yet!
With my body nearing its limit I desperately began to recite words that had always kept me going whenever my body started to give up from the intensity of my training.
"I have come so far, and only heaven knows...
—Yet I still have far to go... heaven knows!"
With sheer willpower, I summoned out what remaining strength I had left to dodge her final attack and pull the pin out of the canister before releasing it.
"Prez.... You're not the only one who can use miracles... With this relic... I... CAST... BANG OUT!" I yelled at the top of my lungs before diving into the ground, closing my eyes, and covering both of my ears.
One...
Two...
BAAANG!
Even with all my precautionary measures, a bright light followed by a concussive force soon hit my body at full strength overloading all of my senses to the point of fainting.
...
... ...
... ... ...
"Ughhh..."
Despite my ear still ringing and having double vision from my bloodshot eyes, I force myself to get up from the ground to inspect Prez only to see her on the ground unconscious.
Kneeling beside her I immediately check her status and am relieved that she's breathing properly. Luckily there are also no external injuries aside from a small bleeding on her left ear.
With most of my concern now gone, the adrenaline, which seemed to be the only thing powering me up to this point suddenly shriveled away and my consciousness soon faded to darkness.
I win...