Jake didn't have room to kneel beside Wukong to pat him.
Though it wasn't a good time to get overwhelmed by feelings, Jake didn't mention it, as Shiro had also made him question himself.
That said, Jake couldn't waste any more seconds.
'Wukong, take a perch on a tree and join in whenever you're ready,' Jake said. 'I'll go at her with Joker Form and avoid as many attacks as possible. It'll be difficult since she used that skill... it means she must have adapted enough to me.'
This mind message cleared Wukong's swelled eyes.
He shook his head and promised to fight beside Jake for the remainder of his battle cooldown.
Jake smiled. 'We're in for a lot of fun, then!'
Although Jake didn't feel it in his bones, he slightly shifted his form to match Wukong's style. This was an experience he gleaned from becoming closer to his companions by imitating them along with Elizabeth.
What awaited them was a fun game where they would avoid Shiro's katana until the end!
'Right at her!' Jake shouted, beginning the sprint.
Wukong zoomed beside him. He held his staff low and close to his little legs. It was odd that his staff didn't touch the ground, but Wukong's natural talent in wielding it made it possible.
Jake changed his bow into its smallest form. 'I need to be faster than I have ever been before! Release more arrows, and don't let her touch me! Damn, my mana is low!'
[You have assimilated with Medusa.]
'Sorry, girl. You'll have your time later,' Jake thought. His chest warmed up.
Throwing himself into a skid, Jake began the last dance against Shiro. He released arrows from the lowest angle possible, then pulled himself closer to the forest's canopy to further disorient his opponent.
It was challenging to fight against such a rat. Shiro decided to dodge arrows from below and cut those from higher angles.
Her second opponent was more straightforward. The baby monkey slammed his staff against her katana before ducking or pouncing away. He was playing the game in his own way, which was adorable.
In this way, Jake and Wukong weaved their moves around Shiro, aiming to defeat her without letting a single strand of their hair fall off their heads.
It wasn't easy, for this woman had adapted fast enough to Wukong.
He was so simple that her adaptation enveloped him in a few moves.
She was also adapted to Jake, and her perception was always on his tail, telling her which arrow was more dangerous than others.
"Instant Devour."
All dangers were gobbled by her ultimate skill.
Jake appeared on the tree's branch and scowled at her... 'I had to assimilate with Medusa to keep up with her! I don't see a window to evolve, either! No idea pops into my mind... I need a finisher move against her... a reward for all this hard work I've done so far against her! A single skill!'
Jake clicked his tongue, 'I need a shot.'
He took out a small bottle of alcohol and drank it in one go. 'Good thing I am about to be self-employed.'
It took only a single thrust to finish him off.
Shiro threw her katana behind and prepared for that move.
Her obsessive eye shone bright.
'Die and return to your real self!' Shiro screamed.
In that single moment, Jake bet on everything—his hard work and talent. He opened his eyes to the latter and understood his hard work even more.
'Not learning skills like most players do has helped me to see through their foundation! And this particular skill—The Feather Step—was never meant to be fully learned by me! I learned this in its entire form to become stronger! But before that, I learned its gravity concept the most! I know it so well that I know I can pull it off!'
He dropped his twin swords and extended his dominant hand forward.
It seemed like Jake wanted to catch the thrust with his palm.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
[You have temporarily unlocked The Archer's Feral Vision.]
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Every single arrow released with the combination of The Feather Step trembled.
Jake marked Shiro's head. His Vision went through Shiro.
Stirred by that growl digging straight into her heart, Shiro thrust her katana.
Alas, she was too late.
Out of nowhere, an arrow pierced through her head. Immediately after, another arrow lodged itself into her skull from the side. Seemingly for no reason, the arrows Jake had released before became animated, rushing in Shiro's head direction.
They pelted her so much that she became a hedgehog.
"You... call... this... archery?" Shiro asked.
She dropped onto her knees and dispersed into thousands of particles.
Jake stood over the pool of blood. "Yeah... my archery."
[You have created a new skill!]
[Please name it, or the game system will name it in your stead!]
"Moon's Execution," Jake said.
[Moon's Execution(Rare)—Archer's Original Skill was created by twisting the foundation of The Feather Step's gravity concept. With his keen eye, Archer noticed that the gravity concept still dwells within his arrow despite them being dodged or deflected by his opponents. He can animate them again to converge them on his opponents!]
[Prerequisites: Vision(Legendary), arrows must be intact and imbued with The Feather Step's Gravity Concept, and this skill can only be used against enemies with health points below 10%.]
'Here we go, you crazy tramp,' Jake whispered to himself, 'I evolved. I devoured your obsession. And I know what I will be doing after this tournament.'