episode_0060

The day before the duel, Irene was very angry with me.

“I brought what you requested, but… Violet, are you out of your mind?”

A neatly organized bundle of documents dropped in front of me. These were the materials I had urgently requested.

“Thanks for granting my request!”

At my brazen response, Irene frowned, looking exasperated.

“That’s not what’s important! Martina was quite famous for her dueling skills even before we enrolled. She’s also an active B-rank Hunter. I don’t know what your skill level is, but this is madness! I’ll help you, so go cancel it right now!”

“No! Go back on my word now? I can win!”

I wasn’t completely certain, but I had a good degree of confidence.

Firstly, we had an advantage in the variety of our armaments.

I confirmed something while going through the duel application process. During the application, there’s an agreement procedure regarding the armaments each person can use, and her armament was a single sword. A rapier, at that.

‘As expected, my prediction was correct.’

Furthermore, after rummaging through various documents Irene had urgently obtained, it seemed that the only magic she could use were simple disruptive techniques like magic bullets. Unlike her appearance, she was a pure close-quarters combat specialist.

In contrast, our armaments were diverse: a 10-shot crossbow, shields of various sizes, daggers, spears, axes, one-handed swords, maces. It was a shame we couldn’t use explosives. Not that we had any to begin with.

Anyway, I believe that swordsmanship skill or experience can be overcome by the number of weapons. Once the duel begins, we can pressure and crush her from all ranges, from long-range to close-quarters.

“…You can use multiple weapons? It doesn’t seem like you’re proficient with all of them.”

“That’s true. But there’s a way.”

The advantages the Violets possess aren’t limited to this. We have numerical superiority.

According to the status window, my current level since the last level-up was as follows:

Name: Violet Dunhind Ruzilin Epithet: Novice Duelist Status: Polaris Academy 1st Year Student Lv: 19 HP: 3500/3500 MP: 18000/18000 Unique Ability: Lv2 Lv2 Synchronized Aptitude: * Backstab – Damage increases when attacking an enemy from behind. * Contempt for the Weak – Damage increases when attacking an opponent with low HP. …

The number of clones I could create at once was 36. It was a shame I couldn’t bring in all 100+ clones I had created so far. However, there was a solution for this too.

Since others couldn’t discern my mana reserves, it was a trick I could use.

“Mana supplements ready?”

“Plenty!”

I emptied my wallet and ordered a ton of expensive mana supplements. Four boxes were delivered, with 25 colorful vials per box. Since each one seemed to restore about 500 mana, theoretically, I had secured an additional 50,000 mana.

With this, I could create up to 100 clones. We could sufficiently overwhelm her with numerical superiority. We would form a phalanx and pressure her.

And finally, there was a unique characteristic only my ability possessed.

“…Your ability relies on clones! If your main body is intercepted, numerical superiority becomes meaningless! And most Hunters would easily jump over a phalanx…”

As Irene’s words revealed, people in the world didn’t know exactly what my ability was. There were rare Awakened individuals with unique abilities who could create clones like me. However, their abilities worked like a puppeteer controlling puppets, with the main body controlling the clones. From the perspective of someone unaware, it would naturally be rational to target the head.

I intended to use that common knowledge against them, making myself the bait.

I won’t lose.

***

The next day at 2:40 PM, after washing up, I took a final look at my weapons and equipment before heading down to the first floor of the dormitory.

Daphne still hadn’t woken up. The doctor said she would wake up around today.

“…Violet. I’ll ask you one more time, are you really sure? If you can’t cancel, let’s at least postpone the duel. Then I can contact Helios and get you some better equipment.”

Irene, who was waiting at the entrance, repeatedly asked with concern, so I waved my hand dismissively. I had no intention of getting help from Irene’s side here.

Gratitude aside, this was solely my affair. This was my revenge.

After walking for a while, I entered the dueling arena and saw that more people than expected were seated in the duel stands. Had some rumor spread? Perhaps the management committee intentionally brought them. Some people were seen munching on popcorn and cola.

“Violet… Since it’s come to this, do your best.”

Irene saw me off with a regretful expression as I stepped into the center of the arena. I watched her go and sit in the dueling stands.

Soon, it was time. I, Clone 3, tried to calm my pounding heart as I walked into the arena. I saw Martina walking from the opposite side. Her arrogant posture was still the same.

I’ll flatten that proud nose of hers.

“Now, before the duel begins, I will reconfirm the intentions of the duelists. Violet Ruzilin, Martina Perian. Are you ready? Those who are ready, please signal.”

As the announcement from the disciplinary committee member came through the speakers, I nodded. From the opposite side, a voice said, “I’m ready.”

“Then, we will prepare for the duel.”

A mechanical hum sounded, and the floor vibrated. Although I had been to this place many times, the sight of the barrier deploying and isolating the area from the outside was still difficult to get used to.

“Now, the duel will begin in one minute. Participants are requested to wait until the start signal is given. 59, 58, 57…”

The translucent barrier began to rise. At the same time, my vision briefly folded and unfolded, distorted, then returned to normal.

During that process, the dueling arena, which had been the size of a small basketball court, had suddenly expanded to the level of a football field. This virtual reality environment, larger on the inside than the outside, was not easy to get used to. Was there really a need for it to be this large?

The countdown had already dropped to the 30-second mark. Perhaps because it was my second duel, my body trembled slightly. I saw Martina, who had been lightly stretching on the opposite side, turn her gaze toward me. I saw her scoffing at my appearance.

“Hey! First-year! Surrender quickly!”

Booing voices were heard too. Was that the blonde ponytail girl’s friend? I tried my best to ignore it.

The countdown reached the 10-second mark: 9 seconds, 8 seconds. The fated moment approached.

“Everyone, prepare!”

I felt the Violets trembling violently as if an earthquake had struck. Was it fear? No. It was anger, excitement, the indescribable pounding of a heart just before battle. All of it mixed together, flowing through my heart and throughout my body.

“The duel begins.”

From the speakers inside the barrier, a short burst of sound, like a starter pistol at a track event, exploded with a *bang*. My mind sharpened.

“Battle formation! Prepare to charge!”

I felt mana vigorously draining from my body. Thirty Violets immediately deployed within the dueling arena. Their armaments were crossbows and shields. The Violets, lined up in two rows, drew their weapons and aimed them at the enemy.

Simultaneously, the Violets in the central region began frantically chugging mana supplements.

Primary objective: Deploy over 50 clones within the arena.

Martina had just drawn her sword from its scabbard. The red-tinged rapier’s appearance was quite impressive. Wait, I remember what that is now…!

“Everyone aim! Let’s end this in one shot!”

We uniformly pulled the crossbow levers to load bolts. Simultaneously, mana flowed over the bolts. I aimed the red dot of the sight at her upper body. All of this took 1 second. Once more, like interlocking gears of a clock, I continuously pulled the triggers.

Martina began to charge.

-Whizzing!

The bolts, imbued with red mana, sliced through the air. As the bolts flew close to the target, a series of flashes erupted. A hit?

“She deflected them!”

“Everyone, open fire!”

Surprisingly, Martina swung her rapier and intercepted the bolts flying right in front of her nose! We continued to pour bolts on her, but she charged forward, taking the barrage head-on.

“She’s coming! She’s coming! Shields up!”

I felt Clone 5 falter. In mere seconds, Martina had crossed half the arena and charged at us. The momentum I felt reminded me of when I watched Irene’s duel. In terms of speed alone, she must be at least 0.7 Irene, wouldn’t she?

I met her menacing green eyes as she charged, and the Violets immediately put their shields forward and thrust their spears. The spearheads, imbued with red mana, were thrust straight forward and…

And then, nothing was felt. The target vanished from sight.

“Where did she go? She vanished!”

“No! Above!”

She leaped over us! Truly the leg strength of an Awakened!

Martina leaped right over our formation. Her target was Clone 5, who was standing at the rear of the formation.

“Aargh! She’s coming!! She’s here!”

“You know what role you’re supposed to play, don’t you? Don’t run away!”

She took the bait!

Clone 5 desperately tried to defend by wildly swinging her sword, but the white-mana-imbued rapier was faster, piercing the crown of her forehead.

“Gasp!”

Clone 5 collapsed to the ground. Martina, with a triumphant expression, confident of her victory, turned around.

“Hahaha! Is this all? After all that bravado…?”

Martina’s voice trailed off, and she looked alternately at the fallen Clone 5 and at us. Her face, intoxicated with victory, was now tinged with bewilderment in the face of uncertainty.

Yes, she must have expected it. To defeat the main body in one blow and watch the clones vanish. But what now?

“What, she was clearly… the main body?”

“That was my clone!”

“Does this make sense? Clearly…!”

Utilizing the recovered mana, more clones were generated. A total of 50. The assault team, armed with shields, rushed at her. As a result of taking our bait, she was now at the rear of our formation. She was semi-surrounded. Clones 18, 19, and 21, turning their bodies, charged with riot shields. They intended to crush her with the shields themselves, leveraging their full weight, and then stab her with their swords.

Like this, we’ll overwhelm her with sheer numbers…!

Surely, that’s how it should have gone.

-Crash!

An impossible explosive sound was heard.

Clone 18 crumpled and fell with her shield.

“Screech!”

With a single kick from Martina, the riot shield crumpled.

As Clone 18 fell, Clone 19 beside her extended her right arm forcefully and thrust her spear. The rapier subtly twined around the spear, which was flying in a straight trajectory, and exploited the opening. Clone 19’s neck was pierced.

“Gah!”

Three pure white slashes flew onto Clone 21’s riot shield, as she stared with wide, startled eyes. The shield shattered. Clone 21, recoiling in terror, had her head split in two.

“Surround her! Surround her!”

I knew an Awakened was strong, but this strong?

No, we have numbers!