kscans

Chapter 105 - Arrival of the Whirlwind

The end of the countdown was near. With his back to the wall, Rotta smiled cheerfully as he recalled the interesting player he had found after so long.

A face he had definitely never seen before, a young man—no, a youth—with a face that was a rarity in this virtual world, not beautified in any way.

He had been so surprised by the young man's incredibly out-of-place appearance that he had spoken to him on a whim… but my, oh my, he was quite something.

Full of openings, completely exposed. He probably had zero experience in PvP in this world, his expression unable to hide his anxiety and bewilderment—and yet, what in the world was that 'pressure' he exuded?

As he… Haru himself had said, the equipment he wore was quite impressive.

No, not just impressive; to be honest, he still couldn't quite figure it out. The only things he could barely identify the original materials of were the clothes he wore on his upper and lower body, and the gauntlets and boots that protected his hands and feet.

Other than that, the first thing that caught his eye was the azure accessory shining on his chest, and the crimson ring on his right hand—and then there was that hair ornament, which radiated an incredible amount of information pressure.

All of them were undoubtedly top-class items rarely seen. He had a vague memory of seeing the brooch somewhere before… but the other two were a complete mystery.

And then there was the dagger… no, a short sword, perhaps, slung behind his waist. Unfortunately, he couldn't get a good look at the whole thing, but even through the scabbard, he could sense something that rivaled the aforementioned hair ornament.

From his overall attire and posture, he was almost certainly a light warrior specializing in agility, but…

"And he's a newcomer…? Heh heh, really…"

He couldn't help but get his hopes up.

Rotta had come to the preliminary venue as usual, but this time, he might get to see something interesting, different from the usual.

With his spirits lifted by this premonition, Rotta heard the familiar call of the countdown reaching zero, and,

"—…Ah, eh?"

A few seconds into the opening—a storm of red phosphorescence erupted from the opposite side of the wall.

In other words, he saw the death effects of a large number of players, and alongside the players next to him who had witnessed the same scene—in the midst of the battlefield, he stood there, utterly dumbfounded.

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The sound of battle had rung out—and I was surely the only one who could follow his movements with my eyes, for I had been watching him intently.

Clad in his new white and azure attire, his form vanished, gripping unfamiliar small blades of black and red.

A hazy, high-speed shadow closed in on the nearest player—and with a flash of the crimson dagger.

"…!"

One flash, no, that wasn't right—activating [Observer's Eye].

My eyes, imbued with the light of the skill, capturing the moment ahead, drew countless sword flashes in my vision that looked like a single strike.

He passed by, five flashes, defeated.

He passed by, three flashes, defeated.

He passed by, four flashes, defeated—

The surroundings were finally starting to notice the abnormality.

And the shadow challenged a heavy warrior carrying a large shield, and,

—[Blink Switch].

I saw those words, heard so many times, tremble from his lips—

And appearing from the void was a grotesque battle-axe, as if wielded by a giant.

Speed that the eye couldn't follow, a weapon switch without warning, and faced with so many unknowns, the heavy warrior, his face contorted behind his visor—was crushed whole, along with the greatshield he had shakily raised, and scattered into motes of light without even a cry.

"W-Wha, what was that… eh?"

"Whoa… no way, isn't that insane?"

"Wait, wait, wait, who?! Who is that?!"

"I've never seen him before… have you?"

Avoiding the crowd of male players, I was in the seating area for female players.

At almost the same time as the participants who had drawn their weapons in the arena, the spectators around me also began to be captivated by the one player who was putting on a display of abnormality.

Whether he knew he was drawing all eyes to him or not, he—my partner, Haru—further increased his speed and challenged the veterans surrounding him.

He passed by again, and defeated another.

He passed by again, and defeated another.

Again, and again, and again… an endless repetition of that scene, each and every one—was, for me, nothing short of a heroic tale.

"Amaz… wow, isn't he seriously cool?"

Yes, he's amazing, isn't he? My partner is cool..

"He's so fast I can't even follow him with my eyes."

He runs faster than anyone else, so it's hard to keep up with him..

"That's nuts… it's like he's playing a different game."

A long time ago, I thought the same thing and sulked a little..

"Man… it must be so much fun to be able to jump around so freely like that."

And when he does, Haru smiles with such a carefree face, you know?

He's so mature, and yet so childish—

"…!"

Why? Tears suddenly welled up, and I was surprised, covering my eyes.

I didn't understand it myself, a wave of emotion so big I couldn't put it into words.

The back I was so used to seeing seemed so, so far away—and why, oh why, was I so proud of it?

—Hey, Haru. What kind of face are you making right now?

A glimpse of his profile amidst the fierce battle answered the question I had whispered in my heart.

"Ah, jeez…!"

Just as I had imagined—a carefree smile on his face, and smiles and tears spilled from me.

Unable to take my eyes off his figure as he joyfully ran around.

The heat of the emotion that burned within my chest, which I held with both hands, made my heart tremble uncontrollably.

◇◆◇◆◇

"Th-This is intense…!!"

Non-stop top speed. On top of controlling the ultra-high-speed maneuvers, I had to manage the effects of an increased number of skills, and on top of that, new enemies, new enemies, new enemies appearing in my vision without me even having to look for them—…!!

But I can actually do this!?

How many did I take down just now!?

What's with that gear, are you a light warrior or a magic warrior!?

Screw it, heavy shield bearers get the [Giant's Hand Axe] right over their guard!!

Stop with the homing magic!!!

As usual, my thoughts can't keep up at all, I'm running purely on instinct.

And the crimson dagger shatters in my right hand—screw it, welcome, second [Parabellum Bullet]!!

"Wait, where did you pull that from—"

"Trade secret!!"

To the monk who cried out in surprise as I instantly pulled out a second one from the void right after shattering the first, I cut him into six pieces and on to the next one!!

I'm aware of the presence approaching from behind, aiming for a surprise attack. When I turn around, a green-haired light warrior who has gotten surprisingly close is raising a nasty-looking weapon like a claw—

Evasion, or rather, I just lunged for an attack, so my center of gravity is low and I can't lift my leg—then I'll just lunge further, activating [Tremple Slide]!!

This skill, which seems to literally translate to "stomp-slide," allows you to slide your avatar in the direction of the foot you put weight on, as its name suggests. It's an active mobility skill.

It has a short cooldown and minimal MP consumption, so it's very user-friendly, but because it's so widely known among light warriors, it's easy to read.

You can predict the direction of movement by paying attention to the footwork, and the distance is a short, unadjustable two meters, so there's a risk of being targeted for a follow-up attack.

—However, the fact that the movement speed is based on the player's AGI is the one specification that elevates this skill to near god-tier performance when I use it.

"So fa—?!"

My opponent is a strong player, enough to enter the Four Pillar selection. Of course, his PvP fundamentals are on a different level than mine, and as expected, he showed signs of reacting to the preliminary motion of [Tremple Slide].

But too bad, my slide is at 350 kilometers per hour.

"—Crimson Valor!!"

With so many different weapons, my instantaneous image construction can't keep up. I pull the trigger of my thought-based controls with a vocal command, assisting the activation of [Blink Switch] and summoning a crimson long spear.

That last attack had a skill effect wrapped around it, right?

Too bad, but I'm taking advantage of that opening after your skill's recovery time!!

"Wai—"

"Don't you dare say that after trying to backstab me!!"

Ignoring the pleas of the claw-wielding light warrior whose face was contorted in horror was a given. What I drove into him was not the shining blade of the demon horn—but a pommel strike after a quick spin!!

"Goff…!!"

Still, the specs of the original material are what they are. Even a single blow from the pommel, which also has a fragment of the demon horn, shaved off nearly twenty percent of the light warrior's HP… twenty percent, huh. Another shot—doesn't look like I can get it in…!

警戒ing a counterattack? Non, non—look around you. Even while focusing on the opponent in front of me, there are plenty of players looking to take advantage of the situation.

The moment I showed an opening, I quickly distanced myself from the pitiful light warrior who would be mobbed by the surrounding players, and forcefully thrust the [Demon Horn Spear: Crimson Valor], which had fed on fresh blood, into the floor.

"Include!!"

The decorative cloth, which had grown slightly longer than before the pommel strike, emitted a crimson glow—and the rousing crimson magic light transferred from the spear to my avatar.

This spear, which doesn't suck blood… but converts the HP stolen by an attack from its pommel into magic power to strengthen the user. The enhancement effect lasts for a time corresponding to the HP absorbed, even if I switch weapons, and above all, it's simply a high-performance weapon even without relying on its special effects.

And it has two more abilities hidden within it. It's honestly excellent, and apparently, I'm surprisingly good with a spear!!

An unknown weapon with an unknown enhancement effect. On top of that, the guy who's running around the battlefield with insane agility while spamming a ridiculously confusing weapon-switching skill—I've probably become more than enough of a "high-priority target."

The surroundings cleared, giving me a certain amount of space—but that's fine, that's fine. Being evaluated, even in the form of caution, doesn't feel bad.

I haven't even had it for a day, but I spun the long spear, which felt so familiar in my hand, with one hand as if to show it off. This isn't showboating, you know. This is a purely intimidating act.

"We're just getting started, senpais—let's kick it up a notch!!"

I threw myself back into the fray, a battlefield where the fire had only just been lit.

The enemy shadows as far as the eye could see still stood, seemingly without end.