The next day, Alex and the others already arrived.
''Morning Leo. It was a good match I almost lost.'' Alex said the moment he saw his friend. Because yesterday both were extremely tired they didn't have the time to chat.
Wearing a bright smile Leon answered, ''Indeed, it was a good fight. I concede this defeat. Next time I will win. By the way, that last move of yours completely caught me off guard. I wonder how many unusual skills do you have?"
The others were interested in knowing what kind of ability Alex used. What type of ability can make you switch places with your target? Isn't it too godly?
Before Alex could say anything a commotion started. Artemia and Lilith had arrived.
''Look the Third princess is beautiful than usual. She is ready for the match.''
Someone among the spectators said another one added,
''She will win. Even though Alexender is talented, he is nothing in front of our Goddess. He will lose.''
Most of the spectators seemed to share this feeling.
Turning blind ears to everything that was being said, Artemia walked toward Alex.
Once in front of him, she started after greeting the other she faced him and said.
''Good morning Alexander. Let's have a good fight. No need to hold back as I won't hold back. May the best win.''
''Sure,'' Alex replied with a smile. Unlike others, Artemia was going to be a real challenge.
Artemia left, however, instead of immediately following her Lilith stopped and looked at Alex for a moment before disappearing and when she reappeared she was already before him.
Lowering her head she whispered into Alex's ears, ''I want you to beat her as you beat me. If you win I have something you will be interested in.''
Like a ghost, Lilith disappeared after leaving those words. Maria looked at her strangely while others showed no reaction.
Alex shook her head and decided to focus on the match that was about to begin. Although curious about what she meant, he couldn't let that curiosity get to his head, or else he may make a blunder during the fight.
After Freya and Elseria came, Chris went into the arena to announce the stage of the final.
Meanwhile, Alex was getting ready to depart. Just as he took his first step he was stopped by Maria.
''Wait.''
Turning around Alex put on a teasing smile.
''What is it, Alexa? Are you planning to give me a good luck kiss? I w-"
Alex's words were cut off abruptly when his eyes widened. In his pupils was reflected an extremely beautiful face approaching at such high speeds that he was lost of words. Then something kissed his cheek like a lightning followed by the sensation of something being wrapped around his right wrist.
Everything happened too fast, by the time Alex regained focus Maria had already retreated to where she came from.
''Indeed it was a good luck kiss.'' She said.
*Uproar
Another commotion started. Most of the people sucked in a breath of fresh air not believing that the Ice Goddess just did something so audacious.
Most men became jealous as not only Alex snatched the pure Luna, he even put his claws on the Ice beauty. Unforgivable, if it wasn't because they knew they are not Alex's match they would have provoked him
to a duel and beat him.
If looks could kill Alex would have died a thousand times.
Leonardo's complexion turned ugly, he was not the only one though. The First prince who just came back from a diplomatic mission witnessed his beloved kissing another man. His eyes turned red with jealousy, he immediately put Alex on his blacklist.
Katherina, the second princess seemed pleased when she noticed her brother's hatred. This meant fewer competitors.
'Alex will be mine.' She murmured, however, she couldn't help but get depressed when she remembered how she hadn't made any progress. She was at her wit's end, unable to come up with a proper plan to win Alex over.
Back on Alex's side.
Leon whistled, Ferris facepalmed. Luna was surprised, so is Sakuya. Both seemed to have noticed something. It is said that when a woman was curious about a man, it was only a matter of time before she fell in love with that man. Guess it's true.
Alex the concerned party was surprised by the sudden kiss on his cheek, however, what surprised him, even more, was what Maria wrapped around his right wrist, it looks like a simple macrame bracelet, but Alex knew it was nothing but simple.
When Maria put the green macrame bracelet around his wrist, he felt his body became lighter.
''Status,'' Alex called out. He decided to check his status to see if his hunch was right about this bracelet not being simple.
『[Alexander Kael Touch]
Class: Magic Gunslinger
Age: 17
Male
Race: High Human
「 Rank 7]
Level 66
Experience Value (XP): 0/18900
Magic Power: 5070/5070
Magic: None
Attack: 1550
Defense: 1450
Agility: 1600 (+100)
Intelligence: 1450
Luck: 1230
BP: 0
SP: 0
Gift: Two Guns * Semi-sealed*
Skills: [Advanced Appraisal Level 1] [Item box Level 2] [Swift Fingers Max] [Divine Sense Level 4] [Throwing knife Level 5] [Dark Vision Level 2] [Dual Wielding Level 2] [Accel Level 3] [Knife Art Level 4] [Link Level 3] [Gun Art Level Level 10] [Normal Regeneration Level 5] [Mana Recovery Level 5] [Synthesize Level 3] [Shadow Shift Level 1]
Special Abilities: [Language Comprehension][Danger Sense] [Overdrive] [Death's Eye] [Envisage] {Erase} {Magic Bullet} {Snatch} [Hellsing] [Xerox]
Titles: [Otherworlder] [The one who can't use Magic] [The one whose fingers are faster than Flash] [Goblin Slayer] [The Reborn] [Shadow Nemesis] [The Slaughterer]』
And indeed it was as he expected, this was not a simple macrame bracelet. This bracelet enhances his Agility by 100 points.
〖With this thing on your wrist you have become faster.〗Silveria said.
'Indeed.' Alex said feeling grateful. Even though he had not faced Artemia, he had the hunch that she is the agility type, therefore he was wondering how to deal with her. Maria's gift came in handy and also confirmed his hunch.
Alex almost said thank you, however, he stopped midway as he believes that such a word was not needed between family members.
''The final will begin. Participants get ready.'' Chris announced.
Alex was already on the stage, Artemia was standing in the opposite direction.
Looking at the two, Chris announced.
''Begin.''
Alex readied his weapons, Silveria in his left hand while in his right hand was Razor.
Strangely Artemia's weapon, Gift was two composite glaives, blue in color. They seemed to an invisible blue chain connecting the two weapons.
Outside, the moment Maria saw Artemia's weapons, she sighed as she knew how dangerous these two weapons are. How deadly Artemia who wield them could be. She could only hope Alex never the fate she suffered.
〖What? How? It impossible, they were lost.〗Silveria became emotional the moment she saw Artemia's Gift.
'Calm down will you? Start from the beginning. Do you know these weapons?' Alex asked the emotional Silveria.
Calming down Silveria answered,
〖Yes. Hailed as the fastest weapons they disappeared during the final war. Everybody thought that they have been lost forever. I guess it was wrong. However, they seemed incomplete.〗
'Uncompleted? ' Alex said while eyeing Artemia vigilantly.
〖Indeed, incomplete. Even so, be wary of them because it-〗
Silveria's words were cut short as Artemia suddenly vanished.
Without a second thought Alex unsummoned Silveria and summoned his second knife, Reaper. He spun around to welcome Artemia's attacks.
Clangs! Clangs! Clangs !!!!
Sparks flew out like firecrackers as the two weapons clashed. Dozen of moves were exchanged in the span of seconds.
Clangs! Clangs !!!
Artemia would disappear to reappear with a deadly strike, however, Alex had no trouble following her attacks no matter where they came from.
After performing those high-speed attacks, they got separated.
''As I thought if it's you, you would be able to keep up. However, that wasn't my best you know?" Artemia said with a smile. She was like a child who had finally the right mate to play with.
Wearing a battle-crazy smile, Alex said.
''I know. Now my turn.''
Whoosh!
Razor was launched at her at frightening speed, however, as if wasn't a deadly knife coming toward her, Artemia was still wearing a smile on her face, she titled her head to the side to let the blade passed by an air breath of her face.
As if he was waiting for such an outcome, Alex appeared behind her and caught the knife being slashing at her.
Clangs! Clangs
Alex's knives were blocked by Artemia. The two resumed another high-speed battle.
Outside not many were able to follow them, they only able to see sparks flew out like firecrackers.
Leon couldn't stay still, his blood was boiling, he wanted to go in, to experience such a battle. Unfortunately, it was not possible, and he couldn't help but lament, vowing to have a match against Artemia, a rematch as the last one he had lost.