Chapter 699 - The Spinning Heat Ignites
—And so, after a match that lasted the full ten minutes.
『The second round is decided!!! The winners are the 【Great Tiger & Twin Fists】 pair!!!』
The call that signaled the end echoed through the stadium, a result that most people had expected.
The four men, who had continued to ring out a clamor of fists and blades that was more than just heated, it was sweltering, right up to the 600-second time limit… all wore satisfied expressions, though each in their own way.
"Man, oh man, trying to keep up with these young punks is tough work. Every one of 'em rampaging with the energy of youth. An old man like me just can't keep up."
"Says the man who rampaged more than anyone else…"
On one side was the [General Commander & Ever-Changing] pair, who had suffered a narrow defeat after a serious slugfest. Goldow flashed a bold smile, looking more pleased than anyone despite his loss, while Maru II, looking more exhausted than anyone, shot back a retort.
"What's the deal with your general? Are you serious? That was only thirty percent of his power?"
"…Well, he's our [General Commander]. It's to be expected."
On the other side was the [Great Tiger & Twin Fists] pair, who had snatched victory by a hair's breadth after a desperate brawl. Tiger☆Lucky let out a sigh of exasperation at the unchanging monstrousness of the 'big shot' he hadn't fought in a long time, while Genkotsu quietly replied with a single word and a nod.
Fists flew, blades flew, points flew, and other things flew…—After spreading a heat that was in no way inferior to the first match, the battle came to a satisfying conclusion for both sides.
"Alright…—Let's get the hell outta here, you lot. The audience has gotta be sick of seeing dudes' faces by now. Let's hurry up and let the lovely ladies bring some 'flair' to the stage."
He surveyed the crowd with a grand air, his performance punctuated by practiced gestures.
His words, meant for his friends, reached not only the four of them but everyone watching… His demeanor, born of a deep understanding of his own public persona, effortlessly drew laughter.
Before the eyes of tens of thousands, he was perfectly at ease, showing not a hint of nervousness.
The fact that he was, at this moment, the 'loser' did nothing to diminish his imposing presence. His overflowing confidence naturally spread to others, planting seeds of both 'relief' and 'anticipation' in the hearts of all who saw him, all who heard his voice. This magnificent man—
…was like a mischievous gang leader.
"Well then, keep on enjoying the show."
With a grin, he flashed a cheerful smile.
Leaving behind words as casual as if speaking to friends,
…he departed with the companions he had played his heart out with, passing the baton to those who would follow.
And the four shadows that appeared in their place…—to be more precise, upon seeing one of those four shadows, a particularly petite one whose owner would surely look away and feign ignorance.
…the audience, hit with its second surprise of the day, erupted in an explosion of cheers.
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"—Are they cheering that much for me…?"
"Of course they are. You're the most talked-about person right now."
"Hah… Even compared to my public persona, this form is overwhelmingly the center of attention, I guess…"
Still in the suit. However, unlike a little while ago, it was now a suit he could confidently say he was 'wearing to death.'
This stylish suit automatically adjusted to the avatar's physique, which meant in reverse it would naturally look sharp and perfect—and the all-too-perfect result was this.
"The fact that this looks better on me than my male form is infinitely frustrating…"
"Ufufu. It really is astonishingly wonderful, you know?"
"'Not happy' wins by a narrow margin, so please stop."
His swaying white hair wasn't swept to the side as usual, but stylishly gathered and flowing down the back of his neck. And this 'Transformed Body,' adorned in formal wear he was unaccustomed to in both the real and virtual worlds…
"—Haaah, so cute, so cool, so amazing, what is that, I can't, I really can't, I want Sora-chan to dress up and stand next to her so baaad…!!!"
"I knew it, but it's still so annoying… Why is the guy the one with the most 'flair'!? It makes no sense."
…had apparently turned out so well that one person across the stage was glitching out, and another was giving him an undisguised, deadpan stare. So, yeah, this was the situation.
It's not like I came out in this form for fan service or as a surprise, but whatever I say now would be pointless. No one would be willing to listen anyway.
I think I can vaguely hear a certain former idol-turned-commentator yelling something in the distance, but I'll calmly ignore it. Ignore it.
I think I can vaguely hear a mysterious chant of 'something-chan' coming from the entire venue, but I'll empty my mind and shut it out.
—Narrow your vision. Just develop extreme tunnel vision.
Putting on a show for the fans like Goldow is an impossible task for me. So, at the very least, I'll just do what I can to carry the torch of excitement from my predecessors.
"Suuuu—… Okay, I can do this."
"Mm, fufu… You don't look okay."
No, I am not okay. So please, let's just start already, senpais…!
Let me rampage so hard I don't have the luxury of worrying about my surroundings—and as if sensing my wish, the 'enemy' smiled.
One, cheerfully. The other, with a look of exasperation… though in truth, she was just like me, desperately trying to psych herself up amidst extreme nervousness.
All four of us took a step forward simultaneously, and the dress and suit transformed into battle attire.
"Are you alright?"
"—I'm alright. As planned, I'm counting on you to keep Rinne in check."
"Of course, I've got it."
Walking beside me is the [Scorching Gaze] in her gardenia-colored dress. As I exchange words with my partner, who exudes her familiar brilliance, I force myself to calm down and take a deep breath.
Opposite us are two girls. One is the familiar incarnation of energy, [Bell-Mail]. The other is the still-unfamiliar white cat, Natsume-senpai.
Our first match, in this third round: [Acrobat & Scorching Gaze]. The opponent I, the [Acrobat], will mainly be fighting is—the latter. The senpai who commands infinite 'threads,' and is one rank above me.
"Please, don't just leave me here and get yourself beaten, Rinne-senpai."
"I'll do my best! For the sake of upholding my dignity as a senpai!"
"Somehow, that's not very reassuring…—Alright, then."
As if by chance, our white-haired gazes locked, and our fighting spirits connected.
After our first contact during the Four Pillar War, our record stands at one draw. They say he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day, but even I'm not stupid enough to claim 'victory' for merely escaping from an opponent who wasn't even serious.
Southern Faction Rank Seven, [Thread-Weaver]—also known as the nemesis of all MID-focused players.
"I learned the hard way that you're ridiculously strong, but that's that."
A confident voice reached my ears, and the flash of her slender fingers entered my sight. She apparently has quite a lot to say to her not-so-cute junior, and so,
"If you underestimate me, you'll get more than just a little burn—《Ember Kitty》."
Above her white hair, two small crowns of fire flickered like a cat's ears.
And upon her attendant 'threads', she bestowed a silent, raging 'black flame.'
To date, only eight people are confirmed to possess it. In a way, it is an ultra-rare attribute that surpasses even 'Starlight Magic,' and it is a magic that is extremely difficult to handle, in a different sense from that particular power.
Special Attribute 'Darkness'—it wasn't like that of its synonym, the [Undying], where the attribute resided in an 'item.' She was the one and only player who had perfectly mastered the darkness that truly dwelled within her.
"…I've never once underestimated you guys—my predecessors. Seriously."
"Are you sure about that…? Well, fine. In that case…"
The 'threads', cloaked in raging darkness, soared through the air, their writhing forms resembling countless dragons rearing their heads.
"Come at me with everything you've got, you little brat."
The trembling kitten was nowhere to be seen.