kscans

Chapter 714 - The Tank Advances

The second match of the second round, B-Block: [Wolf Pack & Heavy Tank] vs. [Great Tiger & Twin Fists].

It was a matchup between the tag team of the second-ranked members from the North and South, a pair that many considered a 'disaster' second only to [Peerless & Castle Lord], and the two martial artists from the North and East who had brilliantly won their first match.

And so, following the disaster match, three shadows danced upon the stage.

The [Great Tiger] wielding his spear, and the [Twin Fists] throwing his punches. Despite being a hastily formed team, their individual, extraordinary senses allowed them to display a perfect coordination as if they had been comrades for years. And—

—facing them all alone, the small figure of the [Heavy Tank] danced as their equal.

"—Haaah…! This is… haaard…!"

The charging spear, the roaring fist—the twin shortswords drew jet-black arcs that parried every blow.

Uni, performing at his absolute limits without a moment to breathe or even blink, cheerfully shouted that it was 'impossible'… but as everyone watching knew,

"—Seriously, this guy…!"

"—…!"

—it was the 'enemy' side, attacking with a numerical advantage, that was having the harder time.

A frontal spear thrust, its immense weight a 'disguise,' was easily deflected by a shortsword, but that was merely the opening gambit and a feint in their coordinated attack.

The power of his crown, unleashed from the start of the match as in the first round, was already at full power and in its second stage. The invisible great jaws had reached the state of 'Toragasane,' and even the lawless [Dual Heavy, Starfall Twin Black Steel] would be subjected to some degree of force from its extraordinary power.

While not enough to clash on equal terms, the impact was enough to make the [Heavy Tank]'s hand float up—switch. The warrior, having passed his partner from behind, unleashed a straight punch faster than the eye could see, and at the same time, the sound of a cannon roared.

It was the two of them who winced.

The right fist of [Twin Fists] was knocked upward, unable to continue its straight path. And the body of [Great Tiger] was sent flying, letting out a groan of anguish… The [Heavy Tank] looked on,

"—Haaaah…!"

—and let out a breath that sounded genuinely pained, while a wicked smile spread across his face beneath his crown.

He held two shortswords in his hands, but Uni wielded four weapons. That is, two blades and two 'cannons'… the fingers of both his hands, which housed the enhancement effect [Pygmalion, Dwarf Gunner] from his special title, 'Heavy Tank.'

The invisible cannonballs, generated by the universal 'weight' he received and accumulated, were a lethal weapon that could be fired from his fingertips at a single thought, exceeding the speed of sound for an instantaneous hit.

Furthermore, as another vicious characteristic,

"Tch… [Truths—"

"—Like I'd let you!"

—that which pierced the earth and crushed steel was a recoilless cannon that was not bound by its power. In other words, even for a finishing blow that could be used with the flick of a finger—there was no such thing as post-attack recovery frames.

He threw his left sword, followed by a weight camouflage.

Before [Twin Fists], whose right arm had been sent flying into the air by the cannon's roar, could land on his feet, and before he could finish the incantation to manifest the crown with its extremely troublesome properties,

—the thrown blade flew straight for the center of his chest, a critical point.

There was no way to receive the feigned super-heavy object, no way to deflect it, and no time to evade. Thus, Genkotsu's split-second decision to thrust out his left arm was, at that moment, the undisputed best course of action—

"[Regalias, Tree-Calming Royalty]!"

"—! Gck… mgh…!"

—but it merely served to prolong the inevitable, buying the second-ranked member of the Southern Faction a few more seconds as he closed in for the kill.

The warrior, his left arm impaled by one of the [Dual Heavy, Starfall Twin Black Steel], was exposed to its feigned super-weight and the power that stole his agility in proportion to his avatar's durability. He fell.

And then,

"Sorry, Genkotsu—this time, it's my win."

—the small warrior, dancing menacingly, pointed his 'cannon' at the fallen man without mercy or hesitation,

"'Full Burst.'"

—and unleashed everything he had, eliminating his enemy without a second thought.

The successive roars shook the stage violently, and because of it, the silence of the dumbfounded audience seemed to be emphasized as it reached Uni's ears… but he shook his head as if to say it couldn't be helped.

It wasn't as if he was rampaging at full power for no reason.

"Alright… one more left. Are you ready, Tora?"

"Tch… You've gotta be… man, what's gotten into you? You're more fired up than I've ever seen you."

"Aha, well, you know. The number one showed off, and the number three showed off, so—"

This was a simple matter.

"—the number two has to look cool, too."

"…What's that supposed to mean?"

Secretly, and certainly, the one who valued his 'position' more than anyone else was simply letting his pride run wild… That was all. It was nothing more than a common occurrence.

Meanwhile, behind the small, ferocious warrior.

"—Wow… PvP players really are terrifying…"

—the [Wolf Pack], who had stayed out of the fight and showed none of his cards, yet had clearly provided 'support' for his partner, let out a carefree, absentminded voice as he,

—foreseeing the end of the match, called back the countless presences around him to his side.