I understood it all at once.
There was a kind of premonition the moment I saw Camellia’s eyes.
A sense of longing arose within me.
It felt like looking at an opponent that would be difficult to surpass.
Desperately burning with a competitive spirit, somewhere in the unconscious, there was a mixture of dark jealousy and pure admiration.
I knew that kind of person all too well.
I faced her spear with a bold demeanor.
The customary way for a warrior’s one-on-one duel is to start with lightly clashing blades.
But the assassin begins by throwing a weapon as a greeting.
The dart aimed at my brow was weakly blocked and fell.
“It’s been a while. Ah, can I speak informally? It’s not our first meeting, after all, and we are enemies.”
“You may do as you please. Though I don’t understand why you use honorifics in broadcasts…”
“What was that? I didn’t catch the latter part well.”
“It’s nothing.”
Ah, it’s a familiar beginning.
Just like the first time we met, her crescent blade slashes toward my shoulder.
The way to deal with it is no different from before; I firmly stepped on the spear shaft.
Previously, I was too late in retrieving the spear.
I even received a counterattack because I hastily raised it.
Camellia must have run simulations countless times, possibly even hundreds, based on that memory.
—At that time, how could I have won?
Until that question in her heart was resolved.
“Let’s see how much you’ve improved.”
“Hah!”
What an interesting expression.
Eyes that twist in frustration, perhaps due to wounded pride, yet a strange smile lingers at the corners of her mouth.
It’s both wounding her pride to be tested but also thrilling as an opportunity to prove herself.
Back in the days when I was doing kendo, until my friend passed away, I was always in this state.
Now, I find it difficult to feel the same way, but I understand that excitement and desperation better than anyone.
That’s why I didn’t sense any anger in Camellia’s spear.
Even though an amateur dared to challenge a top-tier professional for a demonstration of skill.
[Passive: Emotional Restraint]
[Immune to any ‘Intimidation’ status effect.]
[Applicable Target: Fierce Spirit (Sigma Camellia)]
The spear beneath my foot slides to the side.
Good. This makes it harder for me to hold her back.
But now my flank is exposed.
Just as she attempts to stab my open side, her spear quickly rises toward my jaw.
She instantly changed her grip on the spear once it was free.
Using a spear doesn’t mean you have to attack only with the blade.
Swordsmen also use techniques like half-swording or mort-hold on armored opponents.
Moreover, this movement seems to anticipate how I’ll act.
This is sturdier than I expected.
I should have done some analysis beforehand.
And I also need to consider the presence of other allies here…
“Don’t worry. No one will come. This was my condition for joining.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“If Cross breaks their promise, I’ll fill your vacant position.”
“Isn’t that an unfair contract?”
The look in her eyes suggests deep thought, then she clenches her teeth as if realizing something.
“There’s no way someone else could fill the void I leave. If it’s a lie, it’s too much of a loss for me.”
This time, her crescent blade is laced with anger.
A series of bold attacks follow.
The paths carved by the blades feel strangely difficult to predict.
The movements used for dodging are larger than usual.
I clearly have to bend low or leap entirely to avoid the attacks.
It’s like she’s specifically targeting my height.
Because of this, my turn never comes, even after dodging.
I can only manage to slightly stab her in areas like her wrists or ankles.
A few news article titles from a while back cross my mind.
– Camellia Completely Dominates Sparrow! Complete Anti-Assassin Tactics Unveiled
– Camellia: “There’s Someone I Want to Face.”
Complete Anti-Assassin tactics, huh.
This title might be slightly misleading.
It’s more appropriate to call what Camellia prepared as “Anti-Gawol Tactics.”
Otherwise, there’s no way she could know me so well and attack accordingly.
Even Cerberus couldn’t analyze me as thoroughly as this.
Well, there was a reason for that, naturally.
As soon as I stepped into the shadows behind her, the crescent blade swung toward me.
Failing the attack, she parried using the spear’s shaft.
She took a step back and threw a knife toward my brow.
‘There’s no way she’d take a hit from something like that.’
I never expected that to begin with.
But the knife flying close enough surely distracted her vision.
Right at the moment the knife bounced off, I summoned a decoy.
Exactly to the left and the right.
With the same movements pre-set for the decoys, I press Camellia.
Her counter to my psychological warfare is…
[Effect of “Warrior’s Spirit: True Sight” has activated.]
[Removes all hallucination-type debuffs, and counters all illusionary effects for 3 seconds.]
She didn’t want to take it in the first place!
Using “True Sight” as the Warrior’s Spirit meant giving up the ability to detect my stealth or location.
Rather than allowing surprise attacks, she is saying she won’t fight me with psychological tactics.
This is troublesome.
I delayed my evasion while pretending to be a decoy.
Her spear blade grazes my shoulder.
If I have to give her an injury, I need to gain something in return.
I plunged deeper and lodged a dagger into her thigh.
[Activation successful for “Vital Point Strike: Tearing Muscle.”]
[Applied effect: “Enhanced Hemorrhagic Poison.”]
I twisted the blade, tearing it further until near her waist.
Her elbow hit my back, but it’s bearable.
The problem is that her spear point is now in the spot I need to escape.
Just as I didn’t offer any easy points, it seems Camellia doesn’t either.
Well, I have no choice. My shadow starts to fade while a dark chain rises.
I tightly grip the end of the chain and pull, catching her spear in the middle.
Success in stopping her.
I intended to swing her around, but my insufficient strength stats made me falter.
The spear’s wild movement caused me to distance myself a bit.
“Ugh!”
“Don’t underestimate me!”
This naturally leads to informal speech.
Should I cut her some slack because I’ve done the same?
The momentum of her spear movement has changed.
It’s rougher and more aggressive than before, but still highly refined.
She must have been irritated that I was holding back my skills.
Well, I can understand her feelings.
The moment my friend felt I was holding back against him.
I acted wildly and outrageously as well.
But… that’s separate, this is different.
This war isn’t over just because Camellia dies.
I have the next battle to consider.
“I’ve never looked down on you. I’m just giving an objective evaluation.”
I get that you’ve been studying me.
I understand that you’ve worked tirelessly.
I fully grasp how much you’ve pushed yourself.
But you’re not yet at the level of Cerberus.
I don’t intend to give you everything I’ve got.
That is simply a spear meant to kill me.
Camellia has tried to fill her weight class deficiency with thorough analysis.
At least when facing me, she can puff up like a top-tier player.
Then how about this?
Face not just me, but also my opponents.
Just before the attack.
I slightly delay the tempo.
Camellia’s expression turns one of bewilderment because she initiated the spear movement earlier.
Sometimes, slower than faster makes it harder to deal with.
This was a discombobulating rhythm, famously used by the Reaper.
Naturally, Camellia’s attempt to parry failed.
I plunged the blade into the back of her hand and sliced it along her wrist before withdrawing it.
As she attempts to move the spear again, I kick it away with my foot.
“Unlike you, you haven’t seen what Cerberus has seen. I don’t have any habits or fixed styles. I just use whatever feels right.”
“Ugh!”
“Still, you’ve improved a lot. Targeting my height was a good move. It could become a sharp weapon if properly honed.”
Next is the either-or choice forced upon by Cerberus.
I stab the center of her guard while checking on her liver with my left arm.
Will she offer her spear-holding arm or give up the attack?
Camellia’s choice is to retreat to a defensive stance.
Then I immediately move to the next question.
Choose between the right foot or the left thigh.
She’s slow to answer.
Then take the left flank.
[‘Vital Point Strike: Internal Organs’ has activated successfully.]
[‘Enhanced Hemorrhagic Poison’ effect has stacked.]
[‘Enhanced Hemorrhagic Poison’ has evolved into ‘Unstoppable Bleeding.’]
I twist the blade inside her body and break it.
After stirring her insides once, I catch her face in my hand.
Slamming her down, I try to kick her spear away again.
Is my strength insufficient?
The spear I couldn’t fully push away finally pierced my calf.
Luckily, it’s the right one. That was close.
“Phew… that was nerve-wracking.”
Still, it’s over now.
I drew a large cut from her flank to below her armpit with my dagger.
A strong flow of blood ensued, and I pressed her down onto the floor.
Holding the dagger with both hands, I aim for her heart.
Or, rather, I intended to.
Camellia barely stopped it with her trembling hands.
“Will you give up? At this point, you’re just stalling time. It’s pathetic.”
“Just one answer… tell me one thing!”
“What?”
“Why… Why don’t you become a pro?”
“…Because I don’t feel like it.”
What a bothersome question. I exert more force with my hands.
Even though a warrior’s strength is higher than mine, in this position, under such conditions, she wouldn’t hold out long.
My dagger gradually approaches Camellia’s heart.
“Nobody else, but I know you. That’s a lie!”
“How do you know anything to say such things…”
“Answer me!”
[When strength can uproot mountains and vigor can cover the world─]
[Sigma Camellia obtains the effect of ‘Force that Uproots Mountains and Valor that Covers the World’]
—
