Chapter 85: Finale
A few dozen minutes later, we found out that we would be competing against Karon and X in the final match of the category.
The organizers of the tournament were generous enough to give us all an hour-long break after Karons battle ended, so by the time we were supposed to go back out there, Cerion would have healed from most of his internal and external wounds. It was impressive how effective the liberal use of potions could be. Not as impressive as healing skills, but still.
After the match had ended and the adrenaline left my body, I had fallen unconscious from the excessive blood loss. Dark form revived me a few minutes later, though, so I had nothing to worry about going into the finale.
How are you feeling? I asked my partner, who was lying on a stretcher, covered in bandages.
Like a sack of shit. Still, Ill recover in time for the match, dont worry.
Thats not what Im worried about, though.
Cerion sighed.
Im fine, Arthur. Stop acting like everyone but you is made of glass. he replied frustratedly.
I lifted my hands in surrender and left him to his grumbling. To be fair, what he had said hadnt been wrong. I did need to work on that. Theres always something to work on these days.
~scene transition~
Dear people of Roa and visitors from abroad, in a moment, the first finale of the tournament will take place! Its the first of the nine categories, the tier 2 doubles finale! Whichever team of two wins this match will prove that they are the strongest tier 2 duo in the kingdom, and will receive a prize worthy of such a title!
Please welcome our competitors, team A3 and team A2! These teams are destined rivals! On one side, [Oil neomancer] Karon and his mysterious partner, the [Faceless] X! This duo uses their broad versatility and impressive dynamic teamwork to play to their own strengths! Karons surprisingly powerful oil-based skills allow him to trap and burn opponents before they even see it coming. Xs stealth and speed make him a dangerous opponent to ignore! He had used his well-practiced skills to knock many other contestants out of the tournament.
On the other side, we have [Tidal swordsman] Cerion Rass and his partner, [Overloading Death Knight] Arthur! Their team has overwhelming prowess in every category! Cerions powerful ranged attacks can take opponents out of the match in one blow, and Arthurs unique disposition makes him near impossible to defeat!
I can honestly say that this generation's finalists are the strongest to enter this stage in the past 50 years!
Please applaud our competitors one final time, everyone!
As the lengthy announcement finished, my blood was starting to boil from the excitement. On one hand, I felt like Arcellus would have been a more climatic opponent to face in the finale, but on the other, I felt like the doubles tournament should have two proper teams as finalists, not one and a half of a team, like Arcellus had been.
Before the match, Cerion and I had agreed to go for Karon first. He had the most diverse powerset and was the one that gave X commands. With some luck, Xs own tactical prowess was underdeveloped, meaning that his battlestrength would be crippled as well if Karon was out of the picture.
PEOPLE OF ROA, ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE?!!!
The crowd cheered in reply, the stadium practically shaking in excitement.
321START!nove(l)bi(n.)com
That useless servant is already out?! he screeched, as he ducked under one of Cerions water spears.
Dont think youll get rid of me so easily!
He lifted both hands to the sky and made a giant black ball of oil, which burned like a black sun. Then, he heaved as he lifted an imaginary object into the sky, sending the black ball, the size of a house flying into the sky.
We stared at it in wonder for a moment, before the ball blew up, setting the sky adobe the arena on fire.
Then, flaming balls of oil started to rain down to the arena like a heavy downpour. Everywhere, the oil spread and set the earth on fire. Cerion created a bubble of water around himself, to walk over the flames, and I thought I could just ignore the heat, since it was nothing compared to Arcellus.
Unfortunately, the heat turned out not to be the main point of the attack, because Karon cackled as he dove into the oil and disappeared.
Randomly, he shot out of the oil like a mole, sending dozens of flaming balls of oil at us every time he did so. Either his mana capacity was really large, or he was regenerating mana while in the oil. I tried to send overloaded orbs at the oil to destroy it, but the empty patches were quickly refilled by the rain of fireballs that was still forcing us to dodge left and right.
Cerion screamed in anger.
Im fucking sick and tired of being USELESS! he shouted, before a massive wave of water carried him into the air. The wave spread to all sides of the round arena, carrying so much mana that my [Weak mana sense] picked up on the powerful skill.
I had to brace myself as Cerion released control over the water and let the wave cascade onto the arena, crashing into everything that stood in its path.
The water covered all of the oil and I had to swim to the surface to get some air, because the newly created lake had filled up the arena. As I breached the surface of the water, I heard Karon desperately trying to stay afloat.
You damn.. guh i-ingrate! Get . rid of this w-water!
Cerion wasnt impeded by his element. He surged out of the water and covered Karon in a whirling ball, trapping him in a water prison.
He clutched at his throat, unable to breathe.
Give up. Youve lost. Cerion said.
From his face, it was clear Karon wasnt about to agree to that proposal. Cerion sent out some spears of water and slammed them into Karons immobile form, finally knocking him unconscious, causing his body to be teleported away.
As the water flowed out of the arena, I heard the announcement of our victory.
And thats it, folks! The winners of the Tier 2 doubles tournament have been decided! Team A3 dominated the second round, overcoming various teams, ambushes and challenges. In the third round, they either overwhelmed or outlasted their opponents, proving their resilience and perseverance! They have more than earned their victory! Please congratulate Arthur and Cerion on their incredible performance!
Cerion was still breathing heavily from the exhaustion, and it looked like that last attack hadn't been wholly intentional, because he was staring listlessly at the sky. I walked up to him and put my arm around his shoulders.
Look alive, partner! We fucking won! I said with a bright smile.
Sure enough, he couldnt withstand my peerless charisma, because he joined me as I screamed at the sky in exuberance.