Chapter 260 - The Emergency Revenge Match
The young men appeared, their faces more tense than the first time, but at least they looked a bit more composed. Even though they were still nervous, they had shed the frivolous air and now carried the taut tension of warriors.
They noticed my gaze and, when a few of them looked over, they straightened their backs and renewed their resolve.
Yeah, maybe I can expect a little more from them.
"Chief Umpire Greens is reiterating the rules, but aside from the change to one versus eight, there are no other differences. The two sides will be separated, and the match will begin on the signal."
Gradena should have given them a general explanation of the magic potion's effects. Just think of it as a temporary boost to basic physical abilities. They might be confused at first, but they'll get used to it soon.
Plus, Flannel isn't going all out. He understands the significance of this revenge match and isn't planning to knock them out too quickly. I'm counting on his discretion.
Even though they're fighting as a group of eight, there's no way they can achieve a high level of coordination. They aren't a close-knit team, and even if they're from the same guild, they likely don't have much experience fighting together. I hope they can at least make good use of their numerical advantage.
But these young men are still the promising ones. I hope they can put on a good show.
"Alright, Chief Umpire Greens is raising his hand... and here begins the revenge match!"
Even as the match started, Flannel remained in a defensive stance, letting the initiative go to the young men.
All of them immediately started moving, circling around to approach from the sides. Thanks to the magic potion, they were moving pretty fast. They must have planned their strategy beforehand, given the limited time they had.
They formed a surrounding formation and began launching magical attacks while closing in. This was a pretty impressive assault.
Even a seasoned fighter like Flannel couldn't guard against attacks coming from all directions with just a single ice wall. He could easily defend himself with a full 360-degree ice shield, but that would be too passive and not very heroic.
No matter how well he defended, it would look like he was getting beaten up. Stopping all those attacks would be impressive, but a defensive strategy targeting their magic depletion wouldn't sit well with the audience.
If it were me, I'd either use Active Armor to defend gracefully or go for individual attacks. But it seems Flannel had a different plan.
He created an unnecessarily large ice dome to defend against the magical attacks.
"Wow, what a formidable defensive spell! The thick ice walls are repelling the challengers' fierce assaults!"
"The challengers' attacks are numerous and powerful, but Flannel is showing a different level. This defense won't break."
A spectacular display of unconventional defensive magic. I didn't expect him to go for such a defensive move, but he's doing a great job.
Continuing to pour magic into an unyielding defense is just a waste of magical power. The difference in magical ability is too great, and it's clear the match isn't even. The young men seemed to realize this and gave up.
After stopping their attacks, Flannel was still surrounded by a transparent ice wall, with sunlight filtering through, creating a fantastical light show. It was a beautiful sight, but it felt a bit showy.
"Hero Flannel and the challengers are glaring at each other through the ice wall... oh, and now Flannel is drawing his sword! What's he planning to do inside the defensive barrier!?"
Drawing his sword suggests he's inviting them into close combat, but I doubt the young men can break through that ice. It's hard to imagine him drawing them in only to stay inside the barrier. What's his plan?
"He's holding his sword with both hands, raising it high above his head..."
"It looks like he's going to put on an interesting performance. Stay tuned!"
As the Leader commented, Flannel moved with blinding speed, swinging his sword down and then in all directions.
The transparent ice gradually turned white and finally shattered spectacularly.
"Unbelievable! Flannel has shattered his own ice barrier with his sword!"
It almost feels like a one-man show. This isn't how a battle should look.
The young men must have realized they weren't being taken seriously. Their expressions changed.
"Everyone, snap out of it! The challengers are attacking all at once! Can Flannel handle this!?"
In a one-on-eight close combat, the odds are overwhelmingly against the lone fighter. But an overwhelmingly strong opponent can handle such numbers easily. Even if the enemy were twenty or a hundred, the maximum number of simultaneous attacks would still be around eight. If you can handle eight attacks at once, the rest comes down to stamina and focus.
Handling eight attacks simultaneously is already beyond normal, but with such a significant skill gap, Flannel should be able to manage. That's what makes him a hero, and I acknowledge he has that level of skill.
The attacks from these uncoordinated fighters may seem simultaneous, but they're not. The timing and distances vary, and with skill and composure, you can handle them without being overwhelmed.
Siegrune, my Vice-Commander, is the best at this. She can take down a thousand enemies without flinching. This is possible for such a powerful fighter.
After all, we're only dealing with eight inexperienced fighters. While Flannel might not be as skilled or powerful as Siegrune, he should be able to handle them easily.
The young men's attacks, now without hesitation, are sharp and fierce. The timing is still off, but they're getting more intense.
Flannel uses his sword with his right hand, parrying attacks with vertical and horizontal swings, moving a step or two to dodge the rest. He still seems to have room to maneuver.
From the young men's perspective, they're forcing Flannel to use his weapon, and the visual impact is strong. The audience is hyped, and this additional match is already a success.
But the real show is just beginning. Not a drop of blood has been spilled yet.
"You bastards! You're not much different from before! If you don't put in the effort, Yukari will kill you!"
A particularly loud shout cut through the cheers. Gradena must be heckling from the entrance of the challengers' side.
They reacted to her taunts and seemed to step up their game. They might have also gotten used to the magic potion's effects.
"Show us your manhood, you guys! If you lose without putting up a good fight, you'll be ashamed to show your faces in town!"
Her encouragement, more like taunting, had an effect.
The young men's attacks became more desperate, almost reckless. They knew they wouldn't die in the arena, and Rosabel-san was ready to heal any injuries. This realization led to a more spirited and determined assault.
That's more like it. They should have started like this from the beginning.
Flannel seemed to be struggling a bit more with their more aggressive and committed attacks. He could use ice defenses to reset the situation, but since he initiated the close combat, he couldn't retreat without losing face.
The young men's momentum was growing, their excitement overriding their fear. Even when Flannel's counterattacks left them slightly injured, they didn't seem to care.
"The challengers are launching wave after wave of attacks! Are they about to overwhelm the hero!?"
"Their youthful energy is thrilling to watch. While Flannel's skill in deflecting the attacks is impressive, the challengers' momentum is only growing."
Their growing intensity was truly remarkable. They were riding the wave, driven by the pre-match advice and Gradena's taunts. They were determined to give the hero a run for his money.
In the heat of battle, one of the young men, in a desperate charge, managed to graze Flannel's leg with his sword, even though he took a hit himself. Another young man, seeing his chance, rushed in with a spear, almost colliding with Flannel.
Flannel barely dodged, only to be met by another desperate swordsman who, despite being cut on the arm, struck Flannel's Aurora Ore armor.
Taking advantage of Flannel's slight loss of balance, the remaining young men swarmed in.
It was clear the hero was in a tight spot.
A section of the audience let out a cheer that sounded almost like a scream. At that moment, Flannel revealed the true skill that made him a hero.
Until now, he had been fighting with his sword in his right hand. But in the heat of the moment, he drew his sheath with his left hand, turning into an impromptu dual-wielder. It was a split-second decision that showed his true resolve.
The unexpected attack from his left hand, using the sheath as a blunt weapon, sent the young men flying. The attack was so forceful that several weapons were broken, and a few young men were knocked down with broken bones or bruised sides.
A moment later, a huge cheer erupted from the audience.
"Unbelievable, a comeback blow! Flannel has knocked down the challengers with his sword sheath!"
"The challengers were caught off guard, focusing on his sword. They took the full brunt of the surprise attack."
"Chief Umpire Greens has declared the match over! The exhibition match ends with a dramatic comeback victory for Hero Flannel!"
The fallen young men were carried off on stretchers, and the next phase would be victory interviews.
"That was a good match. Onee-sama, their movements were different from the start."
"Right, I gave them a little extra magic potion. It was necessary to make the match more exciting. But it worked out well."
"The final moments were intense, especially that last move. Flannel seemed to be showing his true strength. They look like they've been thoroughly defeated."
A flashy start, a breathless assault, a tight spot, and a dramatic comeback. It was a perfect spectacle. I think it was a resounding success.
"He must be satisfied with how the match turned out. Now, we need to get busy with the aftermath. Everyone needs to give their final push."
"Where will you go, Yukari-dono? I'm going to help Zenobia."
"I'll go congratulate Flannel and the young men. I promised to reward them if they put up a good fight. I need to check if they have any specific requests, especially since some of their weapons were damaged."
"That's a good idea. They'll appreciate even just the materials."
Amid the excited shouts of the audience, Margaret and the Leader continued their conversation, reflecting on the match.
As Valeria and I stood up, so did Siegrune and the others, ready to take on their final tasks.
To ensure today's success remains a success, everyone needs to keep working until the last person leaves.