Chapter 256 - Battle For Blood (III)

This egg is just giving me a headache trying to figure out why this one is different. What the hell is this egg anyway? I killed the Spider Queen before and I never received this egg before. Not only does it make me confused on how to hatch it, but it is also a bit confusing on why I need to fulfill some conditions just to find out what this egg is and the method of hatching this is also hidden.

Then how come it is giving a reaction?

"Master, it seems one of the conditions needed for you to fulfill is to fight other people and dominate them in a battle. It was just a hunch, but since you went to Arena and fought battles against other people, the egg started to react. That might be one of the key factors for it to hatch," Lucia speculated.

"Really? But from the looks of this egg, it already stopped showing any signs of hatching. Aside from its glowing color and occasional movement, nothing else seems to have changed."

"It might be because you haven't done the other requirements. From the looks of it, this egg had some of the strangest ways of hatching. It didn't even need to be a warm area or cold area just to hatch. From the looks of it, just fulfilling the conditions are enough for it to break out of its shell whatever the egg is holding inside it," Atlas theorizes.

"That's pretty obvious, Atlas. But Master, Atlas is right. This is the first time I have seen an egg with such a bothersome way of hatching. It was like it doesn't have any intention to ever go out of the shell," Lucia also has given her thought.

"So that means I can only keep on trying different methods until I hit one correctly just like how I managed to hit one requirement?"

"That's the case, Master," the two acknowledged.

Although it's not as major as I thought it would be, I managed to get some progress on hatching this thing. It's no longer something that I can't hatch. I just needed to fulfill its hidden requirements.

...

After a few minutes of the fight, the fighters who engaged before already got a winner. Based on the bracket and order, my match is the next one. Since my enemy is a Magic Knight and someone that will become famous in the future, even if they aren't in their peak performance like how I know them in the past timeline just yet, I won't just let down my guard.

"Let's do this."

...

"Ladies and gentlemen! We are now in our third battle for the quarter-finals! The players today are stronger than expected which is why the tournament is moving at a faster pace. But it's better that way, isn't it? Anyways, our next fighters are another big shot as far as we know the results of their previous battles!"

The players and the NPCs started to cheer once again as a response to the MC. It is pretty chaotic in the audience stand.

"Oh? It looks like our audience is also pretty hyped up on our upcoming combatants too. Well then, without further ado, let's introduce our combatants and call them to the arena! First, in the Red team, the magic knight who has defeated his enemies in just a few swings of his sword and has obliterated some of the promising combatants and grabbed the winning glory in the last battle he takes in! None other than BlackBlaze!"

BlackBlaze went out from the other side of the arena. His outfit is inspired by one of the anime with the VR concept too that reigned the anime rankings until it plummeted in rankings due to the cliche things slowly appearing in later episodes. No wonder he took the Twin Blades of Magic Master as a class up for the Magic Knight class so that he can dual wield like how it happened in the anime. Still, I can't deny that he is one that has shown talent despite showing some signs that he is trying to portray an anime character. That might be even one of the factors he is capable of fighting rapidly due to his inspiration.

"Now, on the Blue Team, a player with unpredictable combat abilities which is normal for a Versatile Class. His last battle is just a complete counter and used what the enemy has in store for him and used it to his advantage! This time around, will he retain the same playstyle to fight? Let's welcome, Bladeheart!"

My name is called so I immediately stood up from my seat and went out of the gates of the Arena's waiting room. I also ready my weapon in the form of a magic sword for me to fight back against him.

We stood in front of each other and waited for the timer to start its countdown.

3

2

1

BlackBlaze quickly dashed forward and pulled out the sword behind his back and ignited it using the [Flaming Sword]. His swings are quick so instead of blocking it with my sword, I dodged his blows and backtracked a little bit. Based on his fighting style right now, it seems he is relying on quick attacks and strong blows combined together to take down the opponent.

"[Wind Blade]!"

As I jumped to the side, he released [Wind Blade] to where I was about to go. He already predicted my movements and based on this, he wanted to lock me out and take me down before I can do anything. But I know how a Magic Knight fights so instead of taking the [Wind Blade] head-on or just dodging it again.

SWISH!

One quick slash and I managed to cut the [Wind Blade]. My sword is covered in rocks after activating [Earth Sword], allowing me to counter the [Wind Blade]. BlackBlaze didn't flinch when I cut the [Wind Blade] he released and continue his advances to take me down.

"Enough of warm-up!"

PENG! PENG! PENG!

Our swords clashed and the sound of the sword echoed in the arena.

"Oh wow! This is nuts! I can barely follow their movements! BlackBlaze's quick attacks are all being received and countered! This is something I expected but still formidable to see than just your imagination! Which fighting style would win perhaps? A real Magic Knight or a player that can imitate what a real Magic Knight can do?"

Our exchanges of attack ended and the two of us retreated again to catch a bit of breath before we started to attack again.

"[Ice Prison]!"

"[Melting Heat]!"

I attempted to slow down BlackBlaze using Ice prison but it seems it is not possible as he immediately countered [Ice Prison] with [Melting Heat] that amplifies fire attacks and allows Ice magic to weaken, making [Ice Prison] easily countered.

He struck the tip of his sword on the ground while I am just a few meters away from him and immediately cast a spell.

"[Lava Geyser]!"

FWOOM FWOOM!

A thick liquid of lava spout out from the ground on where I am standing and almost hit me. Thank goodness I immediately changed the magic sword from a cannon and used it to dodge away from the attack before I get toasted. Once I managed to get my distance for a bit.

But it seems like BlackBlaze has read my movements and is already one step ahead of me. He cast [Fire Sword Ray] towards my direction.

THUD!

I was planning to tank the attack and mirror it back to him but I changed my decision when a notification appeared in my skill panel.

-[Terra Shifter]'s effects activated.

A huge rock appeared before me shielding me from the brunt of the attack blocks the way that made BlackBlaze get a bit shocked when his surprise attack was also stopped.

"Where are you watching!?"

BlackBlaze didn't notice my presence as I immediately used Stealth and rush towards him. Before BlackBlaze gets to react, I already got his left hand where he is using the sword to hold cut off.

"WOAH! BLADEHEART MANAGED TO GET A HIT! WHAT WILL BLACKBLAZE DO THIS TIME TO FIGHT BACK?!"

I was about to hit him again after slicing his left arm but he is not a slouch and quickly picked up the sword on the ground and blocked my incoming attack using his remaining arm.

PENG!

So he is an ambidextrous guy. He is not just showing off his dual-wielding mastery in the past timeline, he is capable of wielding it without any problem and not just for a show-off.

I didn't push my luck and fall back again, allowing BlackBlaze to stand back up again, and even though he is missing an arm, he is still fully capable of fighting back.

"[Earthshaker]!"

RUMBLE RUMBLE!

The arena started to shake with the effects of the [Earthshaker] I used. BlackBlaze is slightly affected by the attack but he didn't fall over and managed to keep his feet standing. Before the duration of the [Earthshaker] wears off, he closed off the distance between him and me and slash his sword at me in point black range.

"[Wind Blade]!"