Chương 58: Fairy Guard vs Voyagers Pt.1

1 Benkay raised his hand.

"BEGIN!" The moment his hand dropped, the arena exploded into motion. Mochi shot forward.

"ALRIGHT, KING! YOU'RE MINE!" King grinned.

"Come and get me!" Mochi's fist ignited with orange flames as he closed the distance. But before he could reach King..

"NO YOU DON'T!" Ace suddenly rushed past him.

"Mochi! He owes me a rematch!" Mochi skidded to a stop.

"HEY! I called dibs!" Ace ignored him. He barely took two steps before a massive figure appeared directly in his path. Max.

"NO YOU DON'T." Ace stared up at him.

"Give me a break..." Max cracked his knuckles. Ace tightened his grip around his swords.

"Get out of my way." He narrowed his eyes.

"Or I'll remove you myself." Max's grin widened.

"Well?" He planted his feet.

"Move me." Max brought his hands together.

"Magic Skill: FAIRY STORM!" A violent gust erupted from his body. Wind tore across the arena, kicking up dust and forcing Ace backward. Ace dug his boots into the ground.

"Damn it!" His coat whipped violently behind him.

"His wind is strong!" Max didn't move an inch.

"This is Fairy Storm." The air continued swirling around him.

"It repels anyone I consider an enemy." Ace narrowed his eyes. Max continued calmly.

"And while it's active, your Magic Skills won't be nearly as effective." Ace stared at him.

"Half as effective?" He tightened his grip.

"We'll see about that." Ace cupped his hands together.

"Magic Skill: FLAMETHROWER!" A massive stream of blue fire erupted toward Max. For a moment, the flames pushed against the storm. Then the wind twisted. The entire stream bent upward and was swept harmlessly into the sky. Ace stared.

"You've gotta be kidding me." Max disappeared. Ace's eyes widened.

"Where'd he.."

"Right here!" Max appeared directly in front of him. Ace barely crossed his swords before Max's fist slammed into them. Ace was launched backward. He twisted in midair and landed on his feet, carving two lines into the stone. He breathed heavily.

"This is getting annoying." His eyes scanned the arena.

"The wind changes how my attacks move... and weakens my magic." He looked back at Max. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Fairy combat isn't exactly my specialty." Max smiled.

"Then adapt." Ace lowered his stance.

"Yeah." His grip tightened around his swords.

"That's exactly what I'm gonna do." Across the arena, Amelia and Krystal had already begun their own battle. Krystal calmly raised her hands.

"You ready?" Amelia took a breath.

"I am." Her wings spread. Golden magic gathered behind her.

"Magic Skill: CRACKER MISSILE!" A barrage of glowing missiles launched into the air. They curved toward Krystal from several directions. Krystal's expression sharpened. Then— She vanished. The missiles crashed into the ground. Amelia blinked.

"Where did she go?" A pink blur flashed past her. Amelia barely turned in time.

"She's fast!" Krystal appeared behind her.

"You need to be much faster than that!" She swung her leg. Amelia raised her arm. The kick slammed into her guard and sent her sliding backward. Amelia spread her wings and caught herself before hitting the ground. She smiled.

"Not bad." Krystal landed lightly.

"You're pretty quick yourself." Amelia immediately dove forward. Krystal sidestepped. Amelia's fist missed by inches. She twisted in midair and snapped her wings outward. A powerful gust burst from them. Krystal shielded her face. Amelia saw the opening.

"Magic Skill: CRACKER MISSILES!" Dozens of golden projectiles shot forward. Krystal weaved between them. Left. Right. Down. Up. She moved so quickly that Amelia struggled to keep track of her.

"She keeps dodging everything!" Krystal suddenly appeared above her.

"Got you!" She drove downward. Amelia crossed her arms. WHAM! The impact sent her plummeting.

"Whoa!" Her wings snapped open. She stopped herself just above the ground. Krystal landed nearby. Amelia took a breath.

"Okay..." She wiped the dirt from her cheek.

"I see what you're doing." Krystal tilted her head.

"Oh?"

"You want me to chase you." Krystal's lips curled upward.

"Maybe." Amelia looked toward the sky.

"Then I won't." Her wings spread. She shot upward. Krystal looked up.

"Hmm?" Amelia climbed higher and higher. Then.. She folded her wings.

"Magic Skill!" A cluster of glowing missiles gathered around her.

"CRACKER MISSILE!" The missiles rained down. Krystal's eyes widened.

"Oh." She immediately sprinted. The missiles smashed into the arena behind her. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Krystal weaved between the explosions. Amelia smiled.

"Gotcha!" She dove after her. Krystal looked up.

"So that's your plan!" The two collided in midair. Both were sent tumbling in opposite directions. Amelia recovered first. Krystal landed gracefully. They stared at each other. Amelia laughed.

"Okay." She raised her fists.

"Let's keep going..." Krystal nodded.

"Indeed." Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena... Mochi and King finally had their chance. Mochi cracked his knuckles.

"Alright, King." He lowered his stance.

"Let's see what you've got." King smiled.

"I'll gladly show you." Mochi exploded forward. His fist shot toward King's face. King tilted his head. The punch passed harmlessly beside him. Mochi immediately followed with another. King ducked. Mochi spun. His leg swept toward King's head. King leaned backward. The kick missed by inches. Mochi turned. King was already several steps away.

"Stop moving around!" King laughed.

"Why would I?" Mochi charged again. This time, King didn't retreat. He waited. Mochi threw a punch. King stepped to the side at the last possible moment. Mochi's fist cut through empty air. King tapped Mochi's shoulder as he passed.

"Too predictable." Mochi spun around.

"HEY!" King was already moving. Mochi chased after him. Every time Mochi attacked, King seemed to know exactly where the blow was coming from. A punch. Dodged. A kick. Dodged. A feint. Dodged. Mochi's frustration grew.

"How are you doing this?!" King smiled.

"You're relying too much on your eyes." Mochi paused.

"What?" King raised one hand.

"In combat, I use my magic as an extra sense." He closed his eyes.

"Think of it like an invisible barrier around me." Mochi stared.

"It doesn't defend me." King opened his eyes.

"But it tells me whenever something enters my range." Mochi's expression changed.

"So that's why you keep dodging everything..." King nodded.

"Exactly." Mochi rubbed his chin.

"So you can basically feel where I am."

"More or less." Mochi's eyes narrowed.

"Then I'll just attack everywhere." King's smile faded slightly.

"Hm?" Mochi grinned.

"Let's see you dodge this!" He rushed forward. Instead of throwing one attack, Mochi unleashed a storm of punches. King weaved between them. Mochi changed direction. King followed. A punch came from the left. King slipped right. A kick followed. King ducked. Mochi spun. Another punch. King moved backward. Mochi didn't stop. He chased him across the arena, forcing King to keep moving.

"There!" Mochi swung. King twisted away. Mochi immediately changed the angle. King ducked. Mochi kicked. King jumped. Mochi launched himself after him.

"Gotcha!" King's eyes widened. Mochi's fist came within inches of his face. King twisted his head away. The punch grazed his cheek. He landed several meters away. A small cut appeared beneath his eye. King touched it. He looked at the blood on his fingertip. Then he smiled.

"That was close." Mochi landed.

"Yeah." He grinned.

"Almost got you." King wiped the blood away.

"You better be careful." Mochi raised an eyebrow.

"Why?" King's eyes sharpened.

"Because I'm starting to figure you out too." Mochi's grin widened.

"But I almost had you." King nodded.

"You did." For the first time, his expression became completely serious. He's getting faster. King watched Mochi carefully. Every attack is slightly different. He's learning my timing. Mochi lowered his stance.

"So you're not invincible after all." King smiled.

"Well, neither are you." Mochi suddenly vanished. King's eyes widened.

"Where—?"

"RIGHT HERE!" Mochi appeared beside him. King barely raised his arms. BOOM! The punch slammed into his guard. The force pushed him backward. His feet dug trenches into the stone before he finally stopped. Mochi grinned.

"Now we're getting somewhere!" King lowered his arms. His eyes were shining with excitement.

"Yeah." He raised his fists.

"This is going to be fun." From the sidelines, Benkay watched with a huge grin.

"Now THIS is what I wanted to see!" Thomas nodded.

"They're surprisingly evenly matched." He watched King carefully.

"King had the advantage at the beginning." His eyes shifted toward Mochi.

"But Mochi is starting to understand his fighting style." Tony tilted his head.

"And he's adapting?"

"Exactly." Thomas smiled.

"King's ability gives him an incredible defensive advantage." He folded his arms.

"But the longer this fight continues..." His gaze returned to Mochi.

"... the more information Mochi gathers." Benkay chuckled.

"And once that kid figures something out..." His grin widened.

"Things get interesting." Back in the arena, Mochi and King stared each other down. Neither moved. The noise of the other battles seemed to fade into the background. Mochi raised his fists. King shifted his stance. Both smiled. Then— They disappeared. The two fighters collided in the center of the arena. Their fists met. The impact sent a shockwave across the battlefield. Neither gave an inch. Mochi pushed forward. King pushed back. For the first time since the match began... King wasn't simply dodging.

And Mochi wasn't simply chasing. They were reading each other. Adapting. Countering. Learning. Mochi's eyes sharpened. I've got it. King's expression changed. He's figured something out I see.. Mochi pulled his fist back. King shifted his weight. Both knew what was coming next. Neither backed down. And the next exchange would decide who had truly adapted to the other.