Ch.401[Chapter 401] Duel

The judge began adjusting some settings before starting the match.

“Well, since you seem eager to fight quickly, I won’t change much. However, I need to adjust the status effects a bit. If we apply PVE specifications directly to PVP, we’ll get one-sided results like just now.”

The judge tweaked the status effect settings and closed the configuration window.

“Since Sir Dominic’s main status effect is stunning, I’ll change it to just a brief stiffening effect. The duration will only be enough to make you flinch, so it won’t be a one-sided fight… Oh, right.”

After completely nerfing Sir Dominic’s abilities, the judge turned to Kageyasha.

“I’ve also nerfed your burn damage, just so you know. Matches should be fair.”

“…Hmph.”

Kageyasha seemed slightly annoyed at the judge’s words but didn’t argue further about fairness.

After all, he was a warrior who valued honorable combat.

“Each round has a 5-minute time limit. After that, the winner will be determined by judgment, and we’ll play best of five. Any objections?”

“None.”

Sir Dominic raised his shield, steeling his resolve.

“Likewise.”

Kageyasha raised his halberd and glared at Sir Dominic.

Both began emanating fierce auras as if they would clash at any moment.

“Very well. You may begin.”

[The wheel of fate is turning!]

[GET, SET, GO!]

With the judge’s words, status windows appeared and disappeared before Sir Dominic and Kageyasha.

As soon as the windows vanished, both fighters approached each other and began with light probing attacks.

Sir Dominic thrust his sword while holding his shield, and Kageyasha swung the back end of his staff at Sir Dominic.

Naturally, Kageyasha’s attack was blocked by Sir Dominic’s shield.

However, Kageyasha was a warrior with terrifying strength.

His supposedly light probing strike was powerful enough to push Sir Dominic back three steps.

As Sir Dominic was pushed back, his attack also failed, but since Kageyasha’s attack was also nullified, they had merely exchanged moves.

“…You’re strong.”

Sir Dominic remained tense against Kageyasha’s frightening power.

Moreover, according to the judge’s earlier words, Kageyasha wasn’t just relying on his brute strength.

He was hiding something else.

Sir Dominic approached Kageyasha again with extreme caution.

Once more leading with his shield.

“…Solid.”

Sir Dominic wasn’t the only one who had gauged his opponent’s level from a single exchange.

Kageyasha could also tell how formidable a tank Sir Dominic was from the sensation at the end of his staff when he pushed him back.

The tip of his staff had slightly bent.

The impact that returned to Kageyasha’s hand from the collision was just as significant as Sir Dominic being pushed back.

Although Sir Dominic’s attacks didn’t yet feel threatening, his defense was certainly not to be underestimated.

Kageyasha clenched and unclenched his tingling palm as he readied his stance again.

He realized that if he kept holding back his hidden move, he might lose in the judgment.

So, Kageyasha revealed his hidden technique.

“Thus the fire god rages.”

Kageyasha took out a pouch hidden in his sleeve and scattered its contents over the axe blade and spear portion of his halberd.

The pouch contained metal powder, which glinted red as it caught the flames of the burning arena.

As soon as the glittering metal powder touched the weapon, it suddenly burst into flames. The halberd began burning with multicolored flames, suggesting a mixture of various metals.

Kageyasha twirled the burning weapon in the air several times before striking the ground with the spear tip. The metal powder that fell to the ground also caught fire, creating a wall of multicolored flames.

“Wow!”

“Impressive.”

Dominica and the judge watching from the corner expressed their admiration.

The gallant movements coming from his large frame, complemented by the brilliant flames.

Whether this was his special technique or not, even Sir Dominic couldn’t help but be impressed.

However, as if unwilling to give Sir Dominic time to admire, Kageyasha threw another pouch.

The wall of flames on the ground grew even larger, eventually rising high enough to conceal Kageyasha.

Though temporary, Sir Dominic momentarily lost sight of Kageyasha.

Then suddenly, a halberd strike emerged from beyond the flame wall!

“Kuk!”

Sir Dominic was startled by the sudden attack and raised his shield, but Kageyasha’s attack was faster.

The axe blade of Kageyasha’s halberd grazed Sir Dominic’s arm.

The blade tore through Sir Dominic’s armor and dug deeper, leaving a long wound on his right forearm.

Sir Dominic quickly hid his arm behind him and raised his shield.

However, he couldn’t raise his sword because, for some reason, his forearm wasn’t healing.

Sir Dominic was basically a tank with excellent regenerative abilities, but that regeneration wasn’t manifesting.

Was the fire cauterizing the wound, making regeneration difficult?

Sir Dominic thought this must be the opponent’s special technique.

Regardless, Kageyasha used this momentum to attack Sir Dominic even more fiercely.

All Sir Dominic could do now was raise his shield.

Sir Dominic thought he would lose this round by judgment without some drastic measure.

And with that thought, Sir Dominic’s special skill [Cinematic] activated to help its master.

…

Kageyasha maintained his offensive before stepping back momentarily.

He had been swinging his halberd while holding his breath for a quick assault.

But humans must eventually breathe.

Kageyasha briefly withdrew to catch his breath.

“This should work favorably for me in the judgment.”

Kageyasha privately predicted his victory in the first round.

He had not only overwhelmed Sir Dominic with his offensive but also sealed Sir Dominic’s regenerative ability with his special skill.

[Thus the fire god rages.]

This was Kageyasha’s special technique.

It reeked strongly of chuunibyou syndrome, but that couldn’t be helped.

This special technique was indeed created when he was around middle school age.

When he saw this technique again as an adult, he was so embarrassed that he couldn’t use it with his face showing, which is why he wore an oni mask.

However, regardless of its embarrassing name, the technique’s power was formidable.

After scattering metal fragments mixed with flammable materials and igniting them with his weapon, the weapon’s attack power and armor penetration increased, while also blocking the opponent’s health regeneration and inflicting continuous burn damage—a technique seemingly designed to counter tanks.

This technique was precisely why Kageyasha wanted to fight Sir Dominic.

Who would win in a battle between his technique and the supposedly invincible Sir Dominic?

A paradox.

A battle between a spear that can pierce anything and a shield that can block anything.

Kageyasha wanted exactly this kind of fight, to find out which was more impressive.

And so far, Kageyasha had the upper hand.

“I can easily take the first round.”

The first round would be Kageyasha’s victory.

Perhaps the momentum from the first round would even work in his favor for the next round.

Kageyasha was indulging in premature happiness.

Far too premature.

“Hm?”

Kageyasha suddenly realized something strange about the flickering flames.

More precisely, black smoke had begun rising above the previously multicolored flames.

“Black smoke?”

Kageyasha looked toward the source of the black smoke, holding his burning weapon.

“It seems he’s preparing a final desperate move.”

Kageyasha assumed the smoke indicated Sir Dominic preparing a last-ditch effort.

He pulled his weapon close to his body before thrusting it with all his might toward the rising black smoke.

A sensation of penetration traveled through Kageyasha’s palm.

I definitely hit something, he thought.

Kageyasha believed he had thwarted Sir Dominic’s final desperate attempt.

Of course, this was only because Kageyasha didn’t know Sir Dominic well.

“Heh.”

An ominous laugh came from beyond the flames.

“Heh.”

A burning figure with burning eyes emerged from beyond the flames.

“Heh.”

He was holding the staff portion of the halberd with one hand, slowly walking through the flames toward Kageyasha.

With each step he took, the burning buildings behind him began to collapse.

Sir Dominic approached Kageyasha in a state of bliss, forgetting even that his eyepatch was on fire.

Suddenly, a high-rise building next to them collapsed.

With a loud crash, the structure flattened both Sir Dominic and the flames, narrowly missing Kageyasha’s face.

What on earth is happening? Kageyasha was bewildered.

But Kageyasha had no time to be confused.

“Heh.”

Once again, a terrifyingly blissful laugh reached Kageyasha’s ears.

Kageyasha looked up with trembling eyes toward the source of the sound.

There, Sir Dominic, still engulfed in flames, was steadily walking toward him.

Behind Sir Dominic, a building exploded with a bang.