'How could he see Happy?!' Maria thought.
The healer of their team was perfectly hidden behind the second layer of the invisible zone. She was supposed to be the safest person on The Raven Guild's team, as Maria and Iga's window dressing was meant to make the mage the most crucial part of the team. Yet, Jake's Thunder Arrow was enough to take her down.
In a single blow, the healer—one of the essential cogs of every team—was taken out of the equation.
It was such an unexpected and sudden blow to the team that Maria and the rest grew worried about their chances against Casual Clowns.
Jake also appeared next to his healer as though looking down on them.
He helped Sin Blackberry cope with Beatrix, whose blade would soon meet SWalker's sword.
'It's six versus seven,' Maria thought, 'Their tank will soon fall. I don't think he's weak enough to die from the fall damage, but he should be stunned for a few seconds after the impact. Before he comes down and further troubles us, I'll create the path for my teammates!'
The remaining members of her team were melee combat players—a thief, a lance wielder, and a dagger user. The last member was quite a unique player as she didn't have a thief or an assassin class.
She was a ninja, with a knife and shurikens as her primary weapons.
Her second subclass was a mage as she weaved five elements with her weapons to strike.
Shaw is in a stalemate with a lance wielder while the thief is immobilized by SWalker's Knight Mode.
El Boss Queen faced the ninja woman and was the first member of Jake's team to suffer serious damage. She was surprised by the ninja's skills, as she believed this woman could only use physical attacks.
Maria's lips widened as she noticed that, 'Excellent, Ann!'
Without pointing her staff in the direction she wanted to affect the battleground, Maria used one of her lesser gravity skills. She twisted tall and plain trees, forcing them to plummet around El Boss Queen and the ninja.
Before those trees could become like a prison to entrap El Boss Queen, an abrupt wind torpedo slammed itself into their barks, bending them away from the tanned woman.
Last Coin didn't even look in her direction, keeping his eyes on Maria.
He stood still, his Joker Mask getting more intimidating as precious seconds passed.
Maria whispered, "That was a Gust Of Wind..."
"...yes, you noticed," Last Coin timidly replied. "You can try swaying the battlefield again. I suggest you make a move on me first because I will not let your magic get to my teammates."
He recalled his conversation with Jake before this battle.
If archery was good at troubling others, magic was much more versatile when it came to controlling the environment.
Therefore, Last Coin, with his keen eye and senses for mana, was holding the crown of the clown's battlefield while his archer friend was breezing between others to trouble others.
'Their game plan might be similar to ours. But I know Jake is better than their ninja and thief!' Last Coin thought.
At the same time, Prince finally landed.
-
"You're mine," SWalker said as he butted in Sin and Beatrix's battle. He stared at the female swordsman with a serious expression behind his mask.
He side-glanced at Sin, "You don't mind, right?"
Sin shook her head, "I don't. I'll spend more mana on healing Prince. What about your previous opponent?"
The pale, colorless mask suddenly lit up in red stripes. It even had a cruel smile written on it!
SWalker's words became a reality as everything Beatrix worked for was gone.
Instead, she gazed at SWalker's eye-catching Joker Mask.
Worse, she also felt his sword tearing through her pauldron and driving itself into her skin and muscles! She was assaulted by abrupt game notifications, which told her about the severe health point losses and bleeding.
The heavy blade didn't stay long in her flesh.
SWalker took it back swiftly before lowering it down at her again. He drew a vast, long cut on her armor, popping it open. There was no fan service as there was a chain mail protecting the leftovers of Beatrix's dignity.
Alas, the said dignity was getting slashed left and right by SWalker.
His sword was blurred as he cut through Beatrix.
He seized his chance, not planning on letting it slip through his fingers!
Before long, the lady's sword cluttered on the ground.
[You have killed Beatrix Lv. 30]
SWalker flourished his sword and wiped the blood off of it. 'I'm content with that battle. I could quickly read through her skill and overwhelm her. Just like she has ways to surprise her enemies, so have I. The Enemy's power-up is the perfect parallel to The Knight Mode. I learned a few parries from Sin and became better at one-handed swordsmanship.
I won't be surprised if The Enemy evolves in this tournament. Knight might as well become the king of defenses, second to Prince.'
Deep in his heart, SWalker felt everyone would evolve or improve during this tournament. He couldn't wait to see his friends' progress.
As he looked around, he noticed that Jake had managed to help El Boss Queen and set her up against the thief. Now that she had the upper hand, she was determined to defeat her opponent.
'I wonder if she will also evolve. If yes, then what will become of her?' SWalker thought. As a swordsman, he disliked El Boss Queen's skill. He even allowed himself to look at her, going ham against the thief.
She utterly disregarded her bleeding and wounds.
All she wanted was to strangle the thief.
That was when Prince's voice went across everyone.
"I lost the microphone!"
Jake translated, "He lost the edge against their tank!"
Prince corrected Jake, "Against their tank and that mage woman!"
Last Coin added, "Sorry! That tank taunted me! I didn't expect that!"
Prince shouted, "Ah, dear! You believed in me so much! Don't apologize! Prepare for whatever is about to come!"
Casual Clowns were suddenly rooted down to the ground, unable to act.
Their eyes fell on The Raven Guild's tank, whose shield emanated the spiraling aura.
Behind her, Maria had pressed her hand against the tank's steel armor and pushed her skill onto her shield.
It looked like one of their best combinations would soon unfold on the scene! None of them expected it to come out during the first clash!