73RD GEAR - THE PASSIONATE BURNING PANDA
I do not know why, but it seems to be like I always get the whole school’s attention to me one way or another. I guess it was my curse to be watched by so many mages while participating in trivial Speed Battles like this.
We are here at the Cool Escape Training Grounds, and there is already a Triangle set up for a Speed Battle. Paul Handsomeson is the President of the Cool Escape Guild, so he often gets whatever he wants including the sudden Speed Battle we are about to conduct.
Students have already gathered around. It was an all-familiar scene to me as this is pretty much the same thing that happened to me on my very first day. I am still the navigator, but it was not Flu who will play this time: It was Cruzo. He will be fighting for the love of his life.
On the other hand, Captain Tezza will stand as the navigator of President Paul. I can see on her face that she was the least interested in this trivial matter, but she cannot do anything but obey and guide her president.
The referee for this match is the ever-so-adorable Flu. With her cheerful voice and bright personality, she made this petty duel a pretty big deal as most of the students were now flocking around the Triangle.
I took a look at President Paul. He is wearing a gray metal set of Speedmage Shoes Colossus F1, which is best used as catalysts for steel-based speed spells. Because this type of Speedmage Shoes is heavy and sluggish, it is often used by Strikers.
Cruzo is getting nervous. He is still flustered, but he is trying his best to focus on the incoming game.
“Cruzo, your enemy is a Striker. Try to reach as much Checkpoint Tower as you can, and never get caught.” I said.
“R-Roger that, Coach!” Cruzo put a trembling thumbs up and gave a nervous beam. “I-I can do this with my determination and guts!”
Cruzo went to the 1st Checkpoint Tower and talked with our referee Flu. I saw Flu encouraging our big fat panda sophomore with gestures as pumping of fists, but Cruzo remained to be nervous.
I took a look at our opponents to see what they are doing. I have no data about President Paul since he did not participate in the Joint Training Camp and even the Regional Speedmage Tournament. I have heard that he is an absentee lazy President with top-notch narcissism skills.
And I’d say the rumors are pretty much on point. Right now, he is doing push-ups as a warm-up and as a flex because he knows that Cruzo cannot even do one push-up.
“Ninety-seven… Ninety-eight… Ninety-nine… One hundred!” Paul hopped back on his feet and then wiped the sweat on his forehead. “Phew! One hundred push-ups workout done!”
“But you started counting at ninety-seven.” Captain Tezza muttered.
Paul ignored his Captain’s remark and he just went to the 1st Checkpoint Tower and stood tall while smiling at his opponent.
“Your name is Cruzo Laprazi, right?” Paul asked with a narcissistic smile.
“Y-Yeah. H-Hoping for a nice game with you.” Cruzo greeted.
“Heh! This will be a good game, but not for you.” Paul flicked his hair and his sparkling dandruff showered around the place. “I will show you not to mess with a handsome president!”
“W-Wait, I did not even know that she has a fiance!” Cruzo cried.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters now is that I will crush you right here, and right now.” Paul said with a try-hard handsome smile. “Let’s just have a bet. Whoever wins this Speed Battle will be Heffy’s fiance.”
Just how confident is this guy? Wait, the real question is: Are all Presidents of Speedmage Clubs this narcissistic? I remember President Levi Armstrong of Eaglecrest having a boastful personality. Even the Useless Prez of Merry Knights is always holding her head up high.
And now that I met the Cool Escape President, I can now see that being the leader of a Speedmage Club requires a high ego as a standard.
Flu raised her hand and readied to blow the whistle. Both Speedmage went to their ready positions, touching their Speedmage Shoes- all set to use their respective speed spells.
“Both Speedmages Ready! On your marks… Get set… Go!”
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Fweeeet!
After blowing the whistle, Flu choked on it and died(?).
“Earth Accel!” Cruzo boosted forward in the lead, aiming for the 2nd Checkpoint Tower!
Meanwhile, Paul just crossed his arms, not caring about activating his speed spell at all. “Heh! You can run all you want, fat panda. I will still catch you.”
“Stop being an idiot, Prez!” Captain Tezza yelled. “Start running or you will end up losing!”
“Okay,” Paul smirked and his brown eyes glowed. He touched his Speedmage Shoes and chanted a complex accel-type spell. “Mech Accel!”
In an instant, metallic wheels sprouted on Paul’s Speedmage Shoes which converted it into a pair of roller skates! These wheels started to rev and it boosted forward to match Cruzo’s raw speed!
Cruzo remains on the lead of about fifty meters, and he managed to touch the 2nd Checkpoint Tower!
Beep!
Point for Cruzo, at 1:0!
“Keep it up, Cruzo!” I said through the mic.
Cruzo drifted and continued to move on towards the 3rd Checkpoint Tower while maintaining his top speed!
After a few moments, Paul was able to reach the 2nd Checkpoint Tower. He flicked his hair and showered his glittery dandruff before touching it to score.
Beep!
Point for Paul, at 1:1!
After touching the 2nd Checkpoint Tower, he rushed back to the 1st Checkpoint Tower to prepare for his ambush as a Striker-Class Speedmage.
A minute passed, and now Cruzo was able to get to the 3rd Checkpoint Tower without any problems! He touched it, drifted, and then went ahead to follow the line towards the 1st Checkpoint Tower!
Beep!
Point for Cruzo, at 2:1!
The real battle starts now. Paul is circling the 1st Checkpoint Tower, guarding it with some unknown tactic. Normally, Strikers would ambush their opponents between Checkpoint Towers. This peculiar tactic seemed to be bait as Cruzo can only go for the 1st Checkpoint Tower to score.
“Cruzo, proceed slowly once you are a hundred meters away from the 1st Checkpoint Tower,” I said. “And watch out for his movements.”
“Okay!” Cruzo nodded as he surged forward still at his full speed.
The moment Cruzo reached the hundred-meter mark away from the 1st Checkpoint Tower, his steps slowed down. His black eyes focused on Paul who seemed to be waiting at him.
“Come on, Panda! Why won’t you take this Checkpoint Tower to score a point?” Paul teased with a smile.
“Do not fall to his bait, Cruzo,” I muttered at the mic. “If Paul catches you, it is all over. A Speedster like you will have a hard time escaping from a tag fight initiated by a Striker.”
“Then what should I do?” Cruzo asked.
“Stall time. The score is 2:1, in your favor. You are in the lead.” I said. “You can run away and bait him until he lets go of the Checkpoint Tower.”
“B-But isn’t that a less determined and less gutsy way to win?” Cruzo asked with a frown.
Cruzo’s words entered my brain like an electric jolt. Stalling time and preventing your opponent to score is the same thing as Lilith’s Deadlock tactics. Sure, it was a good technique to win, but the Speed Battle will be boring. This is just a practice match anyway, so we should not take away the element of fun.
Besides, I do not care who Heffy ends up in the end. It’s none of my business. In fact, I am more inclined to know about Flu’s secret crush than winning this Speed Battle.
I made a deep sigh. “Fine then. You do you.”
“Thanks, Coach!” Cruzo pumped his fists. “I will have determination and guts on my side! Uwooooooooogh!”
Earth debris started to splash around Cruzo’s shoes and then he made a step forward, creating a crack in the ground.
“Bulldoze!”
Cruzo charged forward with breakneck speed, aiming for the 1st Checkpoint Tower where Paul awaits.
However, when Cruzo managed to close in and shortened the distance to twenty meters, Paul smirked.
“You have fallen to my obvious bait!” Paul laughed out loud. “Spring Hop!”
The wheels on Paul’s Speedmage Shoes transformed into a giant spring, and he used such spring to enhance his jumping power! As soon as he hopped, the spring formed an arc and controlled the direction of his jump with great precision!
Paul went over to Cruzo’s back and struck it!
Beep! A gray magical circle point indicator materialized!
Point for Paul, now a draw at 2:2!
“Guuuuh!” Cruzo cried as he was launched away because of the repelling effect!
“That is just the beginning! Here’s more! Hahaha!” Paul laughed as he sprung once again and struck Cruzo’s back!
Beep! Another gray magical circle point indicator!
Point for Paul, now at 2:3!
“Here’s more! Spring Hop!”
Paul jumped once again with ultimate control of his jump, and he struck Cruzo for the third time in the back!
Beep!
Point for Paul, now at 2:4!
“Gaaah!” Cruzo was thrown farther and farther away from his target 1st Checkpoint Tower because of the relentless assaults.
“One mooooore! Hahaha!” Paul laughed as he used his Spring Hop once again to jump overhead!
“Cruzo, get out of there! Retreat!” I cried out loud.
“Guuuuuuuts!”
Cruzo roared out loud, creating a Shockwave Shout. Both Speedmages were thrown away from each other because of the shockwave, and now the distance between them is about two hundred meters.
“Gah…hah…hah…”
Cruzo panted as he grasps for oxygen. Being flung around repeatedly drains a lot of stamina, but I can see that Cruzo has a lot left. His stamina, however, is another story.
“I’m sorry, I was wrong all along,” Cruzo said.
“It’s fine. There is still time to score more points.” I said.
“No. I mean, I was all wrong in thinking that determination and guts alone will make me able to win a Speed Battle.”
I saw a glint in Cruzo’s eyes. Mana started flowing out of his body, and smoke seemed to come off. His body temperature is rapidly rising, but he still has a smile on his face!
“I was lacking one more thing… And now, I know what it is.”
Cruzo looked at Heffy who was watching the Speed Battle. Then his mana levels started to rise tremendously! Cruzo’s fats started to melt, and all that is left inside his body are pure muscles and bones. His Golem Speedmage Shoes also removed the rock armor on it, making it a lot lighter than before.
He has finally removed all things weighing him down, literally and figuratively!
“Determination! Guts! … and Love! These are the three essential elements of victory!” Cruzo shouted out loud.
Flames started to envelop Cruzo’s big macho body as he boosted forward!
“Magma Accel!”