Second World

"What a reversal!" Paytowin exclaimed.

"An Avenger was indeed that dangerous, you cannot let your guard down just because you are in the lead. With the right usage, this class can reverse the situation in a heartbeat," Jack said.

The protective layer surrounding the arena vanished and Darkrod came back to life. After the two players walked out of the arena, the words in the sky changed.

*

Warrior Section Match 2

Sane, level 46 Berserker (draconian) Vs Spring Crown, level 47 Weapon Master (vampire)

*

Both Jack and Paytowin, who were resting their backs on the stone steps, leaned their bodies forward at the same time. Spring Crown, they had often both watched this player in the past. They wondered how he performed in this game world. Out of all the participants in this tournament, Spring Crown held the highest level.

"He is a vampire, right? Considering all the surrounding is turned to void, this could be assumed as a night environment?" Jack asked.

"No, this arena has been set as a neutral environment," Paytowin answered. "Vampire race receives no boost nor handicap in this match."

The two contestants took their positions. "Begin!" Pallas announced.

Spring Crown carried a long blue spear. He was standing in a relaxed pose, the spear was on his back with its tip near the floor. He was slightly smiling as he watched his opponent. It was not a smug smile. Jack and Paytowin knew that the smile was not him underestimating his opponent. This was simply how he was. In fact, the two never saw his game character without that smile. It was as if his standard face was one with that slight smile.

Sane, on the other hand, interpreted the smile as a belittling gesture. He was carrying two axes on both hands. He immediately used Jump Assault once Pallas kicked off the match, covering the distance between Spring Crown and him in an instant.

Spring Crown made a few backsteps while his eyes stayed on his opponent. Sane's two axes came cleaving down at empty air.

"Nine and a half meter, Jump Assault level 7," Spring Crown muttered.

"Nice footwork," Domon praised. He was sitting beside Jack, at the other side from Paytowin.

Jack knew Spring Crown to be an expert martial artist as well, but that was not his most frightening ability.

Sane, finding his assault had missed, made another swing using his axe. Spring Crown's spear was finally lifted and it thrust out.

The thrust was fast and sudden, Sane didn't have the time to react. The tip of his spear clanged with Sane's axe. Jack saw Spring Crown's spear thrust with a glowing animation, which meant that it was skill. Sane's axe swing, on the other hand, was a normal attack. Small damage came out of Sane's head, indicating that Spring Crown's damage eclipsed Sane's by three times.

"Hm… Physical damage two hundred and twenty. Power of the blow, strength two hundred and sixty-five," Spring Crown again muttered.

<br/>Sane was enraged, not because he lost the exchange just now, but from his opponent's relaxed conduct. All the mutterings and that smile, especially that smile! He activated his two buff skills, Berserk and Cry of Rage, out of anger. Black tattoos covered his body as his howl of anger reverberated around the arena.

"Tattoos density… Berserk level twelve. The intensity of the cry, level ten."

Sane's body started spinning in high speed as he moved forward, his two axes extended out, intending to cut anything on his path.

Spring Crown backstepped again with his swift footwork while uttering, "Speed of spinning… Punishing Cyclone level fourteen."

Spring Crown continued to backstepped as Sane's spinning move was gunning at him. He stopped after a distance, Sane's spinning was still moving towards him.

When Sane was almost upon him, Spring Crown thrust his spear. When the spear and the axe were about to touch, everyone expected to see Spring Crown's spear getting smashed aside by Punishing Cyclone's powerful momentum. However, the Punishing Cyclone ended just as Spring Crown's spear arrived. Sane was still in his brief pause due to his skill ended. The blue spear continued unhindered and stabbed Sane's throat, delivering critical damage.

The spear then disappeared and a long two-handed sword appeared instead. It stabbed at Sane's waist as Spring Crown stepped forward. The weapon then changed again to a two-handed axe and Spring Crown made a fast slash, continuing shortening the gap.

Sane finally snapped out of his daze and tried to make a swing at his opponent who had come to a point-blank range.

Spring Crown's weapon changed again, this time to a fist weapon. One fist struck Sane's arm that was swinging at him while the other punched the wide-open armpit. The weapon then transformed into a pair of daggers. As the two contestants' bodies touched each other, one of the daggers was lodged into Sane's ribcage while the other thrust up and stabbed from underneath Sane's lower jaw, going deep into his skull.

The damage bonus from weapon changing and critical damage took out Sane's HP. He fell to the floor as Spring Crown's weapons disappeared back into his storage bag. His expression never changed throughout the fight, his small smile never wavered.

"Winner! Spring Crown of the vampire race!" Pallas declared.

Everyone took a deep breath, the fight was completely one-sided. The timing that Spring Crown used to initiate his chained attacks was Godly.

Jack and Paytowin, however, didn't find it strange. Aside from being called number one gamer, Spring Crown was known by two other titles during his gaming tenure, calculating machine and master reader. He would learn the gaming mechanics of any games he played to its detail. Any skills and specs of equipment, he could determine with a single glance or exchange, quickly reading his opponent's ability on the spot. He knew exactly when and where Sane's Punishing Cyclone would end.

Jack turned to his grandfather. "If everything goes as predicted, you will be meeting him in the final," Jack said.

"It appears so," Domon said.

"Do you have the confidence to win?" Jack asked.

"Aren't your question a bit too condescending? His martial arts is nothing compared to mine," Domon replied.

Jack rolled his eyes at his grandfather. "You forgot already when I beat your ass? Do not underestimate game skills!"

"Hmph, you were just lucky."

"This is not a small matter. We need to stop them from winning so that Master doesn't get what he wants."

"Don't worry, I've brushed up on my game skills execution. Anyway, he might be able to predict my game skills, but he won't be able to predict my martial arts," Domon said confidently.

'Well, that true as well,' Jack thought. But the fact was, Spring Crown had also defeated many martial art expert gamers who in reality had a much better martial expertise compared to him. His ability to read his opponent was not only limited to game mechanics.

"Just… Don't let your guards down when you go up against him," Jack said.

"I never let my guards down, boy," Domon replied.

After Spring Crown and Sane left the arena, Pallas announced the next match as the word in the sky changed. This time, it was Leavemealone whose body leaned forward as the next contestants walked into the arena.

*

Rogue Section Match 2

Wong, level 46 Battle Monk (orc) Vs Windleg, level 46 Assassin (elf)

*

After he got into his position, Wong did a quick side neck stretch, he then turned to where the spectators were sitting.

Jack, Domon, and Leavemealone were sitting close to each other, but Wong's eyes were clearly on Domon. Leavemealone was upset because of this. Wong didn't consider Leavemealone as an opponent at all.

"Control your emotion," Domon said when he sensed Leavemealone's turmoil. "You won't win against him with such a clouded mind."

"I understand, master," Leavemealone uttered, but it was difficult to control his emotion. He was determined to regain the honor of his previous loss.

Wong turned back to his opponent. "Let's finish this quick," he said.

Windleg, who was his opponent, scowled when he heard the old orc's comment. What did this guy take him for?

"Begin!" Pallas announced.

The two lunged forward at the same time, but for different reasons. Wong didn't want this pointless battle to drag longer than was needed. Windleg wanted to show this arrogant orc that he was not someone to be looked down on.

Windleg's daggers gleamed with green luminance, which meant he had activated Poison Mastery that added poison damage to his weapons. When they were close enough, Windleg used Phase Strike. He disappeared and appeared instantly behind Wong, ready to deliver backstab.

Wong was not flustered at all by Windleg's sudden disappearance. He stopped his advance, swiveled back. His elbow hit Windleg's arm which was thrusting, slapping the attack away as his large orc body slammed onto Windleg.

The body blow caused Windleg to sway. A series of hits landed on Windleg's stomach in quick succession, an elbow, a backhand punch, and a stab using four fingers. The four fingers then turned into a fist and struck Windleg's body from close proximity. The last punch was so powerful that it sent Windleg's body skidded back.

"One-inch Punch," Domon uttered.

The series of blows brought Windleg's HP down to critical by the end of the four rapid hits. Fully on alert, Windleg intended to use Vanish to escape. But before he could activate the skill, he felt a strong impact at the top of his head.

The spectators saw Wong lift his leg high while Windleg was still woozy. The foot then came down with an axe kick, planting Windleg's face onto the floor as well as cleaning out whatever HP he had left.