Second World

David was revived. He glanced at Ronald who was looking back at him with a grin. David's expression was flat, but the glint in his eyes belied his calm expression.

"See you on the battlefield," David said.

"Can't wait," Ronald replied.

The two then left the arena.

When David sat back beside Jeanny, Jeanny offered her condolence. Before David could reply, he heard someone sitting on his other side. He turned and found Jack beside him.

"That's really too bad, mate. Sigh… Truly wish you could have won," Jack said.

David was bewildered, why was this guy acting so friendly? Jack was cheering for him so passionately before and was now lamenting his loss. He didn't remember to have built any good relationship with this guy to warrant such support. Little did he know that what Jack lamented was the World Maker getting what they had come for.

"By the way, I can't help but notice. It seemed you know that cowboy guy?" Jack asked.

"I've never met him before, but his reputation precedes him. Several of my comrades had the misfortune of encountering him during some operations," David answered.

"He is a soldier as well?" Jack asked, he knew David used to be one.

"A mercenary, who had no qualm of doing questionable acts for the highest bidder. He was known better by his title, the phantom gunslinger of the battlefield."

"Wow. That is some title," Jack remarked.

"He didn't give the title himself. His victims did. Every unit that encountered him was mostly wiped out. However, he always left one victim alive, albeit wounded. He did it intentionally so this surviving one could bring his tale back to the base. He always acted alone, came abruptly on the battlefield, finished his massacre in a short time before disappearing, and his weapons were always revolvers. That's how he earned his nickname."

"Hm… I can see why Master looked for the service of such a person," Jack said.

"Master?"

"It's the boss of the guild he is in. You used inspect on him, right? The World Maker. Our guild is an enemy of his."

"I see…"

"Which makes us allies. We should work together to beat them!"

David rolled his eyes at Jack. "Are you trying to swindle me into giving you a discount on a mission against that guild? Don't try it. We are also mercenaries now. You still have to pay the fee in full if you want our service."

'Uh… I was expecting you to do it for free, not just a discount,' Jack thought within.

David sighed, "If only my boss know this phantom gunslinger is here, he will be the one that comes here instead of me. He lost a dear partner to that man. He had been searching for this phantom for a long time."

"Your boss? The leader of Dogs of War?" Jack asked.

David nodded.

"Why didn't he?" Jack asked again.

"He has no interest in such a competition. He lived on the battlefield. Unless it is a mission that involved real conflict, he won't join. If he had come, I believe he should have been able to be the champion instead."

<br/>"Snake Boss is that good?" Jeanny asked.

"He thought me everything I know," David replied.

"Snake Boss?" Jack asked.

"That's the alias of my leader," David answered.

"If he calls himself Snake Boss, why did he not name his guild Snakes of War instead? He should be a Dog Boss if so," Jack said.

"It's his right to give his guild whatever name he likes. What does it have to do with you?" Jeanny uttered.

'Uh… did Jeanny just reprimand me and defend David?' Jack thought within.

While they talked, Pallas had called out the next combatant. It was the last of the individual matches.

*

Mage Section Final Match

Selena, level 46 Elementalist (human) Vs Blackhole, level 46 Elementalist (ethereal)

*

Jack couldn't help but be amused. Aside from the first Knight section, all the other sections of the final matches were fought by players of the same classes. Weapon masters, Battle Monks, Gunners, and this last one was Elementalist against Elementalist. If he didn't know any better, he would think the whole thing was staged.

The two elementalists stood opposite one another with their long staffs ready. Selena was holding a long metal staff with a large ruby adorning its tip, while Blackhole's long staff was of wooden material. The head of Blackhole's staff was a sculpture of some kind of bird with six wings. Its wings wrapped around a scarlet-color rock.

The two didn't utter anything to each other. Once Pallas yelled begin, both took action by forming spell formation. Selena had seen how focused Blackhole's concentration was, it would be a waste of time firing basic spells at him. This match was seemingly back to the first mage match where both sides compete on completing spells right from the start.

The two's speed was almost equal, runes formed one after another. As more runes appeared, Selena seemed to be the faster spellcaster. However, Selena noticed something troubling. The spell that Blackhole was casting had runes that Selena was unfamiliar with, meaning it was a non-standard spell. The runes were also more complicated, which could explain why Blackhole took a longer time to cast compared to her.

There was no point to wonder, she was already casting, all she could do was complete her spell as fast as possible and hoped that it disrupted his opponent's casting.

Her spell formation with four runes was completed and the spell cast. Ice Field hit Blackhole with him at the center. Blackhole completely ignored it. He suffered ice damage and was slowed, but his spell casting was not hindered.

Selena felt somber. If only her opponent was frozen…

She was not given the time to think too much. Blackhole's spell formation already had four runes and was now in the middle of forming its fifth rune. Selena immediately cast a one-rune spell for protection, Barrier.

When her Barrier formed, Blackhole also completed his spell. Four lightning rods fell from the sky and landed around her. These lightning rods then created electric fences, trapping Selena within.

"It's Lightning Cage spell," Peniel informed Jack.

This Lightning Cage was not large, Selena could not move much inside. After limiting Selena's movement, Blackhole cast another spell. The spell was again containing runes that Selena was not familiar with.

Selena decided to not hold back anymore. She was also casting her non-standard spell as well. She regretted not having done it from the start. This was already the final, there was no point in keeping trump cards hidden anymore. Her opponent was more decisive in this regard.

The two were of similar speed this time, both completed five-runes spells at the same time.

Uncountable fire dust appeared around Blackhole. This dust caused a small explosion when they touched Blackhole's body. Explosions after explosions occurred, draining Blackhole's HP.

On Selena's side. Some cloud appeared in the sky which was supposed to be void, this cloud crackled and thunder was heard. A runic symbol appeared on the ground under Selena's feet. She knew she was supposed to flee the area covered by this symbol. The symbol was not large, even with her slow movement speed, she could escape the area. However, around her was the lightning cage.

Abruptly, a thick column of lightning came down, striking the area marked by the symbol. Selena's figure was completely engulfed by this lightning column.

Jack recognized this spell. It was similar to the one Garland had used when fighting the High Lich, albeit Garland's lightning strike was much thicker.

When the lightning strike ended, Selena's barrier was no more. Her HP was also already critical. If she didn't have the barrier, she would have been one-shot by this Lightning Strike spell.

Blackhole, in the meantime, was already casting another spell once he cast the Lightning Strike. The flame dust around him kept on detonating and reducing his HP. His HP was less than half already, but he acted as if none of the hits bothered him. His casting was as fast as normal.

He completed his spell and a fireball was shot. Selena was still trapped by the lightning cage. It was also too late for her to cast a fireball to counteract Blackhole's one. She had been paralyzed after the lightning strike. When she came out of the paralyzation, Blackhole's Fireball spell was already almost completed. All she could do was putting a magic shield in from of her.

Yet, this basic spell was not enough to protect her completely from the Fireball spell. Her magic shield shattered and the splash damage hit her, consuming her remaining HP.

Blackhole won the match.

Pallas announced the outcome of the match with Blackhole as the champion for the mage section. Now, all individual matches had their champions.

Selena was revived. She was gloomy. She felt it was such a pity. She couldn't help herself to say it out loud. "You are very lucky to not get frozen from the Ice Field spell," she said to Blackhole.

Blackhole turned to her with a cold expression. He then lifted his amulet and said, "luck has nothing to do with it. This amulet protects me from frozen and paralyzation status."