Chapter 729 - 2 & 2 vs. 3 & 3
A frozen crown clad in ice, and a crown of memory, counting its bullets. Having correctly assessed each other's strength, both revealed their titles without hesitation and kicked off the ground in unison.
Compared to a certain rabbit, their speed was still within the realm of reality. But that was only because one's senses had been completely warped; to the eyes of a normal person, they were still a blur.
In one step, two, they stomped across the stage, and in the blink of an eye, the blades of the two who had crossed paths—
—failed to meet.
The ice that had instantly materialized on their intersecting trajectory blocked the weapon of the [Heavy Tank], [Dual Heavy, Starfall Twin Black Steel]. The ice shattered without even managing a momentary delay, scattering into the air as a blinding shower of shards.
It was a simple, childish trick. However, stealing an opponent's vision was the most straightforward, yet most efficient, method of manipulating their choices—the ultimate form of interference for a player.
In a virtual world where all are granted a “perfect body,” blind players do not exist. That is precisely why a ‘blinding’ attack is, without exception, an effective tactic in PvP. It is the most basic of basics, a fundamental of strategy. And of course—it worked even on rankers.
Once your vision is blocked, all that remains are 'instinct' and 'habit.' No matter how strong one might be, the thoughts one can process during high-speed combat without thought acceleration are limited.
And if your opponent is someone who knows those two remaining factors intimately…
…reading their next move is a simple matter.
From behind the glittering shards of ice reflecting the stage lights—no, from below. A small frame, pressed low to the ground, launched an attack aimed at the legs.
And having read the attack, the [Peerless] warrior leaped from the stage a split second ahead of the blow.
"[Genhyo Rikka (String Ice Six Flowers)]."
"Tch…!"
From mid-air, he wove the sound of a technique.
Ignoring the [Heavy Tank]'s strained smile, an endless torrent of ice burst forth from the blue sword. Six “necks,” writhing like snakes, were unleashed—
—and as they glittered at the six points of a hexagon, a great mass of ice instantly filled the domain. And so, in less than a second, a towering spire of ice that pierced the stage ceiling was erected….
"—Whoa, whoa… you're serious!"
"Hah, a little late to realize that."
However, its target was not captured.
Confined to a radius of three meters—a diameter of six—the ice possessed a super-hardness beyond that of normal ice. Voices echoed, one from inside and one from outside the prison, a cage that would be synonymous with defeat if one were caught within.
Of course, the “master” inside was neither trapped nor captured.
"Now, focus. If you're slacking, I'll take your head in five minutes."
The attendant ice did not obstruct him; for him alone, it yielded, opening a path. Thus, he stepped out from the prison that shattered like thin ice and, with a declaration that was no empty boast, Irori smiled.
And opposite him, Uni's smile deepened even further.
"Ahaha, nice—that's more like it!"
Their feet pushed off the ground, once again in perfect sync.
At the center of the stage, steel and ice began to rage.