All members of Roaring Tigers and Fighting Lambs suffered from Scar’s spell, and they weren’t spared from the enormous HP reduction and the cursed status appearing on their screen.
Their Thief and Leonel died just like that, and the rest were about to take potions to recover their health bar. However, Gerald and Hidey weren’t just going to watch and let them do so.
“Die!” Gerald aimed his sword at Roxy’s neck. He was pissed at the girl even before for getting in his way. Now it was his turn to annoy her.
Roxy blanked out, and she still hadn’t recovered from Scar’s damage. She stood frozen as Gerald’s blade tore open a long gash in her side. But instead of receiving the notification that she had died, it was Nikolai’s smiling face that appeared in front of her, taking the damage that was supposed to end her life.
“I got you, Sis Roxy.”
“N-Nikolai . . .” Roxy blinked, and Nikolai dissolved into particles before she could even utter another word.
Though thanks to Nikolai’s sacrifice Roxy recovered from her daze, and she immediately swung a hook with her weapon, which connected brutally to Gerald’s stomach. The force sent him flying away, but the damage wasn’t big enough to kill him in a single hit.
Roxy immediately depleted his Health Potions in one go, just in time that Hidey rammed her weapon against hers.
Now, the tables had quickly turned in favor of Black Lion with Scar’s single move, and the crowd went wild in the stadium.
Roxy was left to defend the front, and if she died, the mages were open for the butcher.
On the side, Scar’s smirk was from ear to ear. This win was in the bag. Roaring Tigers and Fighting Lambs’ HP were all near zero, and there was no White Mage to heal them from the curse. They must also have depleted all their potions right about now, and there was no longer any Thief to supply them with one.
It was now two against three.
“. . . Wait . . .” Scar’s smile fell right off his face when he realized that Sumeri was gone.
And when he glanced at Ren, the guy was smirking. Scar’s eyes squinted, reading the words uttered by his lips from a distance.
“Got you.”
Before Scar knew what Ren was talking about, a pair of hands wrapped tightly around his chest while a familiar warmth enveloped him from behind.
Scar’s fine hair rose on end when he realized it was Sumeri!
But how?! How could she appear behind him without him knowing? Even if she used [Teleport], the distance shouldn’t be enough for her to go around his back. Moreover, her HP was full, and she wasn’t suffering from the cursed status. That only means that she somehow escape from his [Death’s Cavalry].
And Scar’s head was torn apart, for he didn’t understand how Sumeri could survive his attack. And worst, she was behind him without anyone even knowing. Was it her special item?
Sumeri only smirked before Scar’s surprised face. She then whispered near his ear, voice cold as her heart, “Hell truly hath no fury as a woman scorned.”
“Scar!”
Before Hidey and Gerald could move, a resounding BoOoOmM shook the arena, and everyone’s ears rang for seconds at the massive explosion.
The impact sent waves and waves of force that the audience even clung in their seats while the gust of winds pushed them back.
Ren chuckled at the turn of events, unminding the ravaging winds and dusts from the explosion. Yes, just like how his HP depleted at a rapid rate with each second, everything was within the palm of his hands.
To kill Scar, he needed him to let his guard down. And no better time for a man to let down his guard as when he was basking in his victory. Using [Butterfly of Deceit] that Ren stored in his [Mind Palace], thanks to Evie, he timely used it on Sumeri when [Death’s Cavalry] made its march.
The beauty of that spell was, besides the immunity against any attack by replacing Sumeri’s body with an illusion, he could also place her real body to a safe distance. Since Evie had already evolved it to level two, the distance increased within a two hundred meter radius.
It was enough to plant Sumeri at the very back of the stage without anyone knowing. And since Scar’s group put too much fate at their leader’s spell, they thought that everyone couldn’t escape [Death’s Cavalry’s] grip and eventually die.
As for the explosion that soon followed. Ren gave Sumeri the special item that he acquired from Hubert, [Atomic Dud]. Unlike normal duds, [Atomic Dud] didn’t recognize friends or foes. But the amount of damage it inflicts was a sure death sentence at the player’s current ATP.
It was expensive, but it was worth it.
Too bad that Gerald and Hidey were meters apart from Scar, or they might have been killed too from the blast.
But no worries, Ren thought. It didn’t change anything whether they were alive.
The next round would decide everything.
Ren should have been the one to use the [Atomic Dud], but it was very fitting to give it to Sumeri so she could have her revenge, even just a little. She needed that or she would explode.
When the smoke and dust settled, Roxy stood from her feet. She was sent flying by the force of the explosion earlier.
She was about to rejoice at Scar’s death when a blurry silhouette danced in the remaining smoke. And when the wind blew it away, everyone gasped that Scar was still alive with a half HP.
“Scar!” A relieved smile replaced the worry and dread on Gerald and Hidey’s faces while the audience almost destroyed the stadium with their roars and cheers.
Scar was still alive!
Scar wiped the dust and smoke from his armor before he looked at Ren and smiled though he couldn’t keep the irritation from his voice.
“I paid millions for that [Plume of Life]. And I thought that I wouldn’t be able to use it in this fight. But who knows that I did after your little trick. I’ll give you credit for that.”
Ren only shrugged. “That little trick worked then.”
Scar’s lips twitched at the corners. “Is that it? Is that the best you can do? You sacrificed Sumeri for that lost shot that was supposed to end me. But here I am . . . still standing.”
Ren was silent before he chuckled. “Oh, but I think Sumeri’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. You see . . . you used your final trump card, after spending millions, and lost it. And even so . . . you’ll still lose in the end.”
“Lose?” Scar raised a brow, and he chugged bottles of HP and MP potions, restoring all his health bar to full. “I think you still don’t understand that predicament you’re in. You don’t have any potions left, and it’s only a matter of time before that curse will end you.”
“Ah . . . it’s fine.” Ren raised his staff and pointed it at Scar. “My goal is for you to use your special item anyway.”
And before Scar could retort, a thick dark fog suddenly engulfed the whole arena. Everyone stood frozen in shock, for this scene was very familiar.
Scar’s face couldn’t be painted when he heard those gallops from the distance as the dark fog intensified. While Gerald and Hidey felt their limbs turning frigid with dread.
“Can you feel it?” Ren asked. “That thing running through your spine, that’s inevitability. That bit on your leg – fear . . . Behold! The might of an Arcanist!”
[Death Cavalry]
Armies of reapers riding a skeletal horse galloped in mid-air. Their ghostly scythe raised and slashed across Gerald and Hidey’s flesh before all went for Scar and ripped his soul into the abyss.
The horror of the ghost horsemen was nothing compared to the huge damage flashing before their screens. Gerald and Hidey barely stifled a scream before they burst into particles.
Scar’s handsome appearance clashed with the anger on his face as he murdered Ren with his glares. His jaw tightened, body shaking. His defeat was hard to swallow and until his last breath, he couldn’t accept it.
“Ren,” Scar hissed through the gap of his gnashing teeth and he burst into particles.
When everything settled, silence rippled like a curtain in a breeze before a resounding roar and cries vibrated in all corners of the world.
In victory, Roxy yelled so loud the ground shook together with everyone in Roaring Tigers and Fighting Lambs.
Ren lifted his face to the warmth of the horizon before he slowly closed his eyes while half of his body was turning into dust.
“Ren!” Roxy was surprised at the turn of events. Were Ren’s potions depleted? How could that be? She didn’t even remember seeing him using it. Or she was just not paying attention.
“Ren!”
The worry in Roxy’s voice made Ren look at her.
“It’s all up to you now . . . leader.” He grinned before he turned into nothing but sparkling dusts.
My job here is done.
—-
A/N (Doesn’t consume coins)
I’m taking a break this Saturday to catch some sleep 🥱😴
Happy Rest Day! 🤗�