19TH GEAR - THE PRESIDENT’S SECRET
Beep!
The sound of the Checkpoint Tower blasted on the empty deserted field. I can’t believe that they allotted an old Triangle field exclusively for the Merry Knights Speedmage Guild, but at least this field is all for us. I’ve seen Cool Escape Speedmages practice in a large playing field that contains four Triangles to cater to their over one hundred members.
Beep!
It was already afternoon after our encounter with Professor Azure, and we just finished warming up. For starters, I let my Speedmages run five laps around the Triangle while using their Accel-type speed spells.
The first one to touch the Checkpoint Tower was Cruzo, as he is the fastest Speedmage in this club since he is a Speedster. It’s kind of weird to see that the fattest member is also the fastest person in our club.
The second one who touched the checkpoint tower was Ericka. Considering that she is a Striker, her speed and form are better than most I’ve seen from other clubs.
“Go, Flu! You can do it!” I cheered through the mic.
“R-Right!” Flu said as she was finally close to the Checkpoint Tower.
Flu is improving rapidly, but she still sucks at controlling her speed. Maybe it’s because of her competition-grade shoes which makes the controls of her foot a lot more sensitive. She is zigzagging on her first laps, but she’ll get the hang of it eventually… I think.
“Ah! I can’t slow down!” Flu shrieked.
She rapidly approached the Checkpoint Tower, still at full speed, and then-
Beep!
“Ow!”
Flu finally touched the tower, not by her hand, but by her forehead! Thankfully, the magical barrier prevented her from hurting herself.
“Are you okay!?” We three immediately went to her position.
“I’m fine! Tahahaha! I’m such a failure!”
Flu wryly laughed with a sorry smile while scratching her head. She was still on her knees when we approached her, and she seemed to be tired. There’s not a hint of injury on her body, so that’s good.
I sighed and then looked at her. “Take a quick break, Flu.”
“O-Okay, coach.”
Flu said dejectedly as she walked towards the bench and grabbed a towel to dry her sweaty face.
Since this is our first practice and my first day as a coach, I have to know more about the seniors’ capabilities in being a Speedmage. I want to see them in a Speed Battle firsthand to improve their strengths and cover their weaknesses.
“Prez, Cruzo, you’re up! Let’s have a practice bout and let’s see what you got!”
“Okay, Coach!” Cruzo excitedly gave me a thumbs-up.
“Well then.” Ericka smiled and flipped her wavy blue hair.
Both of our seniors went to the starting Checkpoint Tower and readied themselves while I approached the bench to accompany the tired Flu. I wore the Mystic Glasses and then had the whistle ready on my hand.
“Ready… Get set…”
I raised my hand and blew the whistle.
Fweeeeet!
“Ice Accel!” Prez was the first one to activate her speed magic. She was just faster for a split second. Blue ice streaks were left as she ran forward, and each step she made freezes the ground!
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“Earth Accel!” Cruzo’s feet became heavy and a crack was made every time he makes a step. Yellow contrails were left as a result of his vigorous running, and even small pebbles are being thrown around.
Earth Accel is quite a peculiar speed spell to use in Speed Battles. I heard that it raises the horsepower of the legs of the caster and makes the weight of their feet in favor of their speed. I don’t know how it works properly, but seeing that Cruzo is getting the lead, it’s quite a good spell for a Speedster.
Cruzo’s Speedmage shoe is the Golem V-2, which is a boot that is as heavy as a stone tablet. It’s filled with chunks of heavy minerals to aid in the grip of the soil, using friction as a force to increase its speed. It doesn’t adhere to physics and it purely works via magic.
Beep!
After ten seconds, Cruzo scored his first point by touching the 2nd Checkpoint Tower!
“Come on, Prez! You were not that slow last time!” Cruzo teased as he turned to the right and continued his race towards the 3rd Checkpoint Tower.
“You’ll pay for making fun of me, Panda!” Prez grinned as she approached the 2nd Checkpoint Tower!
Beep!
The score is now tied to 1:1.
At this moment, Ericka’s direction changed. She did not follow the line toward the 3rd Checkpoint. Instead, she ran towards the 500-meter free space between the 3rd Checkpoint Tower and the 1st Checkpoint Tower.
“Why is Prez not going for the 3rd checkpoint?” Flu asked beside me.
“Prez just gave up on catching the 3rd checkpoint. This is called a yield, where a player will no longer try to touch a Checkpoint Tower and decides to just stick to striking the opposing player’s back as a way of scoring.” I explained.
“Why would she do that!? Is she giving a handicap to Sir Cruzo?” Flu asked.
“Not really. Yield is a strategy most often used by Strikers as they are not built to race against Speedsters in touching the checkpoints. Remember, Strikers primarily score by striking their opponent’s back. So they are willing to let go of the checkpoints just to ambush their opponent.”
“Ooooh. Thanks for the explanation, Coach!” Flu said happily.
Beep!
Cruzo has now touched the 3rd Checkpoint Tower. The score is now 2:1, in favor of our senior panda. He sets his eyes toward the faraway 1st Checkpoint Tower, but his opponent is already ready for an ambush.
“You won’t be able to touch the next tower, Panda,” Ericka said.
“I will shake you off with my speed! Raaaah!” Cruzo stomped forward and ran with his full power!
Yellow streak and blue streak clashed in an instant! Both Speedmages repelled each other with their hands coated with magical barriers!
Knowing that Cruzo cannot escape Prez using his straightforward charge, he went up to the north trying to make a detour!
“You won’t escape from me!”
Ericka followed Cruzo towards the north and then drew a circle with her ice-skating foot! The circle immediately expanded, creating slippery ice on the floor!
“Freezing Field!”
“Uwooh! Waah!” Cruzo shrieked as she slipped through the ice, losing control over his movements!
“Your back is wide open!”
Ericka slides through the ice like a figure skater and then strikes at her opponent’s rear!
Beep!
A blue magical circle was formed on Cruzo’s back, indicating a point! Now it’s a tie, for 2:2!
“Prez is really amazing!” Flu appreciated with starry eyes.
I agree with Flu’s statement. Each movement of Prez is like a dance that is ought to be watched by audiences. Her execution of striking is most elegant, and her composure in Speed Battles is stable. It makes me wonder why Merry Knights have never won a single match in Speedmage Tournaments.
“D-Darn it!” Cruzo cried. He raised his foot upwards and slammed it on the icy ground. “Earthshatter!”
The icy ground was broken into a million polygonal pieces, and the ground where Cruzo is standing became a small crater. The powerful stomp removed the Freezing Field from effect, but there was a drawback.
After Cruzo used Earthshatter, his movements became sluggish. His right foot was also pinned on the ground, and he’s having a hard time withdrawing it!
“Shit!”
“Watch your back, slowpoke!” Ericka happily said as she went again to the rear and made a strike!
Beep!
Ericka is now leading with a score of 2:3!
Curiously enough, Cruzo was not affected by the magical barrier's repel effect. He stays pinned in a place, which means he’s just a sitting duck!
“One more!” Ericka cried.
Beep!
Ericka struck again for the score of 2:4!
“Yaaah!” Ericka made a U-turn and struck once again!
Beep!
The score is 2:5, with Ericka having a massive lead!
It was a one-sided fight. For the rest of the minutes, Ericka just kept on striking Cruzo’s vulnerable rear. It doesn’t help that Cruzo has a big shoulder, which means there is a big target on his back.
In the end, Ericka won with a score of 2:12.
Fweeeeet!
I sounded the whistle.
“Match is over! President Ericka won!” I said through the mic.
Both Speedmages went to the bench to regroup with me. Cruzo is panting like a wild dog, while Ericka barely had a sweat.
“Prez, you’re amazing!” Flu cheered. “You fought spectacularly there!”
“That’s our Prez for you. Even she was able to beat the senior members of the Merry Knights last year.” Cruzo said.
“Well, as the president of Merry Knights, I have to show how Speed Battles are done.” Ericka flipped her wavy blue hair to the side to show her elegance and dominance.
Prez’s ability in Speed Battles is above average, and I think she can beat Tezza Flaschk in a fair match. Prez’s control in the Triangle is awesome, she’s agile, and she timed her Freezing Field beautifully.
But then again, Cruzo said that they never won any Speed Battles last year. Why is that?
“Urp!”
Suddenly, Ericka held her stomach. Then she bent over and puked!
“Blargh!”