The blade aimed for the eye slashed through empty air.
Every Mage Knight battle begins with Blink.
Since he didn’t move closer to me, it meant he was about to cast a spell.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I closed the distance.
‘Dark blue effect. As expected, it’s lightning-based.’
Avoiding lightning magic is difficult in the Storm’s Resting Place.
The rain on this battlefield never stops, and the bottom of the wreck is always soaked with water rippling around.
All lightning magic receives significant bonuses to range and power.
However, that doesn’t mean the inherent drawbacks of lightning magic disappear.
The slow casting speed that inversely correlates with its fast projectile speed and the mechanism that easily harms the caster themselves.
Unlike other magic where simply leaving the range suffices, lightning magic requires creating distance from the target as well.
So, by aggressively closing the distance like this, it makes such an approach possible.
I grab the sword of Cerberus with my hand.
My flesh was cut by the sharp blade, but the current that surged from the ground twisted around the both of us.
The dizzying sensation of electrocution struck. My muscles involuntarily contracted and convulsed.
[Status Abnormality: Electrocuted effect applied.]
[All action speeds reduced for 120 seconds…]
Damages inflicted on both sides.
This is the cost of misjudging the Assassin’s speed.
If he used faster-casting ice magic, it might have been different.
A standard shadow build would have likely been impossible, but now it’s somewhat viable to get close at least.
No matter how much of a Cerberus, it seems the speed of this martial Arts assassin was beyond calculation.
Not the most common build and not many people can pull it off properly, but in the end this guy is human too, isn’t he?
[Effect of ‘White Moon Contract’ applied.]
[All martial arts-related skills enhanced. All action speeds…]
[All shadow-based skills cannot be used.]
[Remaining duration: 19 minutes 58 seconds.]
The Mage Knight versus Assassin dynamic is straightforward.
The Mage Knight attempts outfighting with Blink while the Assassin accumulates damage by sticking through shadows.
The battles usually center around spatial awareness.
But… if the Assassin side has confidence,
if they can counter the Mage Knight’s Blink without relying on the shadow’s natural long invincibility frames…
Then it’s possible to battle with a martial arts-focused build.
The Assassin build that boasts the fastest speed available.
Numerous dash skills and sharp power, inversely proportional to the decreased defense.
‘How dare you attempt probing fights in front of me?’
Within a mere 0.1 second, the success or failure of the attack is decided.
A literal blade-to-blade showdown begins.
Without any complex thoughts, continuing the combat relying only on reflex speed, body vision, and a natural sixth sense.
Discard any amateurish thoughts and fight like an animal.
A faint white aura coated my body.
Usually not very noticeable, it stood out in the dark.
The side kick aimed at my ribs is blocked around the elbow.
I guard against the hand trying to grab my leg with a dagger, then flip the situation and strike down.
I throw a throwing dagger towards the Blink-evading Cerberos.
Then, leaping towards the opponent – the speed at which the distance is closed is something even I find hard to adapt to.
While fending the longsword with my right dagger, I dropped into a low stance.
The clearly visible ankle right in front of me.
With my overwhelming speed now, there was no reason not to take the shot.
Feeling good about the successful attack, I retreated using the hand that touched the ground as leverage.
“Huh…”
“Can you fight decently?”
“I misjudged. This will be the last time using Mage Knight.”
“It would have been better if you started this way.”
A smile implying annoyance.
I lunged again at the oddly pleasant-looking individual.
Cerberos’s magic switched from offense to defense.
Left hand as shield, right hand as sword, mimicking the feel of a Dark Knight.
A familiar playstyle reduces the time to think.
The moment I attacked his side, Cerberos’s figure suddenly disappeared.
A faint silhouette at the far edge of my vision. The direction: upper left. Is he aiming behind me?
Given the angle, a counterattack would be tough, so I evade. Then relentlessly go for the inside again, aiming low.
Deflecting the blade with the dagger and going low.
Drawing their vision with a projectile and again going low.
Evading the magic, attempting a ground fight which fails, then again going low.
The dizzying speed makes a loud whistling sound with every movement.
The rain hitting my face feels stinging, and the projectiles flying in become almost blinding when combined with my speed.
Carefully controlling even my breathing to avoid losing focus.
But this burden of insane speed combat is true for Cerberos too.
After relentless attacks, I finally severed his Achilles’ tendon and the tendon.
Though I got hit quite badly on my back, it was a satisfying trade-off.
A slight smirk appeared when we briefly reached a lull.
“Say that again. What’s with my low attacks?”
“I didn’t say anything wrong. In terms of completeness, it’s still…”
“Still what?”
“Relatively insufficient. But you’re aggressive. How did you end up like this?”
“Not your business.”
It wasn’t a big secret.
If I aggressively utilize low attacks, conversely it would make targeting my legs harder.
Necessary choice to hide the fact that my left leg is the key point.
A little pride-hurting, but… my small body was also a factor.
Because of the significant height difference with knights like Cerberos, it’s difficult for them to target me when I lower my stance.
Of course, I had no intention of telling him that.
Anyway, with the previous attack, Cerberos lost his mobility.
Despite Mage Knights’ unique Blink remaining, footwork is as important a weapon for knights.
Any hindrance to stepping forward or back becomes overwhelmingly critical.
In the exchanges with me, Cerberos began to show slight signs of faltering.
[“Reinforced Paralytic Poison” effect successfully applied.]
[All the target’s action speed…]
Regardless of how multifaceted Mage Knights are, they aren’t as sturdy as knights.
Naturally, they aren’t as fast as assassins.
Even if they attempt long-distance wheel warfare, they can’t escape from my speed status.
Smashing up the rising ice spikes and using the severed surfaces as footholds to leap and approach from behind.
While breaking the makeshift shield, I hit the forearm.
While giving a counterattack I can’t avoid, I stab the thigh.
Retrieving the previously placed dart while dodging a thrust to the collarbone and recovering to my original daggers.
Using the perfect opportunity during the retreat to tear at the ribs.
In exchange, my right shoulder took quite a bit of damage.
[“Critical Spot Targeting: Internal Organs” effect activated.]
[“Reinforced Bleeding Poison” effect has been stacked.]
[“Reinforced Bleeding Poison” effect changed to “Unstoppable Bleeding.”]
As time passed, the match tilted heavily.
Out of Cerberos and me, the side closer to a beast seemed to be me.
Both of us holding our weapons still, a moment of silence during the process of looking for openings.
“Ever thought about going pro?”
“…”
“Shame. Let me know if you do.”
Complicated words that mess with my head.
Not now. I consciously erased it.
Against an opponent, I can’t win while harboring mental fluctuations.
Better to finish this off quickly.
Continuing my offensive focusing on lower attacks, something caught my eye.
Behind Cerberos. There’s no railing at the edge of the wreck.
Would pushing him make him fall into the sea?
“Come to think of it, there was something I promised.”
“An agreement? Did we have one?”
“It’s alright. I’ll remind you.”
A drawback of this speed battle is the inability to play stably,
You need to continuously create chaotic variables that the opponent’s calculations can’t keep up with.
So, go even bolder. Without sparing your body, engage in the fight.
Knock the flat of the sword with the dagger tip.
Evade magic using a skill with instant teleport properties, and cancel the overhead smashing attack.
Plunge the dagger into the rising ice spike and halt mid-action.
There was no need to stay halted for long.
Kicking off the pillar again while charging, I saw a tremendous opportunity.
The upper body was open. If I could land it now, I could hit either the neck or heart.
But…
“Trap?”
My rational judgment says it’s the opponent’s intention.
Attempting a gamble right before the match collapses.
If I succeed with a frontal assault, I can end the game, but the damage I’ll take is surely at least from the abdomen to the heart.
It would be a fatal wound.
On the other hand, my intuition whispered that it’s an opportunity worth taking a stab at.
There’s not much time to think about this long. I’m under time pressure in this terrifying speed battle too.
That’s why I made a conclusion immediately. A gamble worth taking.
If it succeeds, who cares about the risks?
I closed the distance again, and our blades tore into each other’s flesh.
“Ugh…”
My dagger plunged into Cerberos’s neck.
Yet, the stubborn bastard still wasn’t finished.
Cerberos’s sword pierced my abdomen.
From bottom to top. It felt as if the blade was tearing through all my organs and bones.
Still, I didn’t lose consciousness, and my character is still alive.
I completely destroyed his arm to stop him. Then he went for the knee.
If that gets any higher, it’ll reach my heart.
Would I be able to block it with force?
Our strength stats might not differ much, but it’ll be a test of strength blocking a leg with my arm.
I wasn’t confident. The timing didn’t give me much leeway.
Be a little more bold. I still have stamina to spare.
I decided to pull the embedded sword myself.
Using the dagger as a hook, I pulled and wrenched the long sword out of my body like tearing myself.
My health bar took a horrific hit, but I survived.
The bloody sword rolled on the ground, extinguishing Cerberos’s last hope.
Now then—
“I won.”
“…Looks that way.”
A tingling pleasure overlays the pain.
My dagger plunged into Cerberos’s neck again, and the remaining dagger was stabbed between his eyebrows.
Lastly, I kicked the lifeless corpse with my foot.
A system message appeared as one body sank into the sea.
“I… said it. I’ll make sure you’re soaked in seawater.”
The first round ends with my victory.
