Chapter 48

Chapter 48

“You have improved a lot at utilizing the haste buff,” I praised Liz.

We had already taken the middle orb and are currently heading towards the bottom orb after we had learned that Renz lost against their ace. On the bright side, Chu won the contest for the top orb, netting us one orb advantage and a 3v1. We can regroup and take the easy win, but I don’t think Chu would agree on that kind of play. He has always been stubborn and prideful and I’m sure he would be offended if I were to even suggest grouping up against a single player in the first place.

“Yeah, it’s all thanks to you for giving me a lot of pointers," she jovially replied.

“You're a natural too. I only helped improve your potential.”

“Really? Glad to hear it!” she beamed at my praise, forcing me to avert my gaze to avoid being dazzled by its radiance.

"Still, I'm a bit surprised how polished your knowledge on the ins and outs of movement-increasing buffs are," she pried.

"...I played another VR game with similar mechanics," I lied.

She didn't seem to believe my excuse but didn't pursue it nonetheless, which I'm thankful for.

“I do get why using haste is pretty hard though," she changed the subject. "It's like... when I’m picking a light object, for example, an empty water jug, that I thought was full and heavy, I would put too much force into lifting it and stumble. It is the same but a hundred times harder when hasted. I would put too much speed and force into an attack and after that initial attack, I would be out of balance and susceptible to counters,” she rationalized.

“Yes, I completely agree. It is one of the major downsides of haste... but let's save the topic for later, we have company.”

As I say that, a beautiful girl our age brandishing a red-themed broadsword appeared from one of the ruined ancient building.

“Terra... Frostia... Zephyr... I won’t forgive you for harming them! I will avenge my friends!” her voice trembled as she cursed our very being.

They’re still alive though! You know we're just playing a VR game, right?!

I identified the newcomer.

Blaze

Hp: 71%

Lvl: 95

Guild: Atelier Guild (Officer)

Duel wr: Hidden

Team Rank matches wr: Hidden

1v1 Rank matches wr: 76% (Rank 841)

Wins: 2839

Matches: 3712

id#:***********

Introduction: Feel the heat of justice as I blaze through the darkness with my flames for a brighter tomorrow!

Renz, you didn’t even get her HP in half and you have the gal to call yourself our ace!?

I sighed. It was a bad match-up for him to begin with so I can’t blame him too much. He was supposed to fight their archer and Chu was supposed to face off against their ace. I guess the enemy is one step ahead of us this time.

“Be careful, Liz. She’s strong,” I called out to her in the team chat to prevent anyone from listening.

“I know, I watch her streams so I have a grasp on what she is capable of. No worries though, even if I lose here, we still have you and Chu.”

I nodded at her. She has a point; our enemy is the only one remaining and we still have three members of our team. Still, I hope I will not have to reveal the ace up my sleeve to win this match. I want to save it for the main event if possible.

“Want me to cast haste on you?”

“No need. You already healed me back to full health, besides, you only have mana for one more haste, right? Save it for yourself just in case,” she messaged back in our team speaker mode to prevent anyone from finding out.

So she already has a grasp on the full range of my mana pool. Haste costs a lot of my mana pool to cast compared to white magic as my mastery of it is still not enough due to my level deficiency. No surprise that she found out, she is a veteran player after all.

“Fine, I’ll try to support you from the side with white magic, good luck,” I cheered her on.

“I don’t need luck if I have you with me,” she said as she walked casually towards our opponent.

What are you even saying?! We’re being streamed so don’t spout out such embarrassing things!

When both of them were only a few meters apart from each other, Liz initiated the first strike. She used her weapon skill to launch a surprise attack. She teleported behind the enemy but was met by a sweeping slash before she even made her move.

“Ack!” Liz exclaimed before disengaging.

Lizbeth

Her trust in me paid off and her gamble won. I had already known her opponent’s weapon skill so I had already pre-cast the Guardian Angel skill. However, her capitalizing on the momentary confusion of the enemy was solely from her skills and intuition. Honestly, she never ceases to amaze me. To put your wholehearted trust into someone in a desperate situation is not an easy task. I can tell that from experience with my old teammate and partner. It honestly makes me happy she has this much faith in me. What a peculiar, yet endearing girl.

“Wha- I... we lost...”

“I told you before, didn’t I? I have reliable teammates by my side,” she stated while giving her opponent a gentle smile. “Good game.”

“Yeah... it was a good match,” Blaze reciprocated Liz’s gesture before she vanished into blue motes of light.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

-Rin's PoV-

“I... I’m sorry guys... It was all my fault we lost... I wasn’t able to win against them...” I sniffled as my voice trembled in admitting my shortcomings.

We were back at the GM-created lobby. The other team is currently celebrating their win, the creepy siscon being the loudest even though he did almost nothing in the fight and got eliminated early. On the other hand, me and my friends are extremely solemn in comparison to them.

This is all my fault. I failed my team. They put their whole trust and faith in me to carry them... but I still lost. Even though I know cursing myself won’t change the outcome of the match, I still can’t help but to blame myself for my inadequacy.

“Nobody here thinks that way, Rin. You did the most work even in this match. If there is to blame, it is me for failing to protect Lyra. Because of me, we didn’t even get to eliminate a single player in the opposing team. I could’ve reduced the burden you had to shoulder, but I failed to do that,” Wren tried to console me.

“It’s nobody’s fault guys, please don’t be too hard on yourselves, it can’t be helped that we lost. The enemy is just the better team this time. Our informant did not even know their support was a dual caster because they hid it so well. They beat us both in tactics and skills so don’t feel too bad. I’m sure no one will blame us for this loss,” Lyra expertly pointed out.

“Yeah! If the management blames us for not qualifying even though they lack critical information on the enemy, I will personally kick their butts!” Ellie tried to lighten the mood.

*Warning: mental and emotional state fluctuating. Player is advised to take a break.​

I ignored the notification. Their encouraging words made me even more emotional. I am truly lucky to have them as my teammates.

“...Thanks guys...” I expressed my gratitude from the bottom of my heart.

“Well, enough of this dreary atmosphere. Let’s congratulate the winners, shall we? We have a reputation to uphold as members of the Atelier organization. We at least have to show our sportsmanship, yeah?” Ellie beckoned us by going to our opponent’s side to congratulate them.

We followed her as she led the way. Ellie stopped in front of one of our opponents, a black-haired guy with a custom Taoist set, whom I assumed to be the one who beat her in the contest for the top orb.

“Hey, that was a good match, you earned the right to add me as a friend. I’ll help you out sometimes in training if you want. We can even play together in front of my stream viewers!”

“...Sounds bothersome,” he replied unenthusiastically.

“What! You're kidding right?! Don’t you know many of my male fans would do anything just for me to add them to my friends list? You don’t know how lucky you are! Or are you scared for a rematch 'cause you know you just got lucky earlier?” she taunted.

That seems to have gotten a rise out of him, the very first time since they started talking.

“...Fine, I’ll take you on anytime you want.”

My attention was immediately caught by a familiar dazzling figure who greeted me before I had the chance to.

“Blaze, that was a good fight!” Lizbeth greeted.

“...Yeah.”

She analyzed me for a bit. Then suddenly, her expression changed, giving me a solemn look.

"Please cheer up. It was not your fault, I think you would've won against me if I was alone," she tried to comfort me.

Am I that obvious?

“I... no, you're too good even on your own... it felt like you were improving every second we exchanged blows. You would've eventually surpassed me in that fight.”

She gave me an unreadable look before quickly pulling me for a hug.

"W-whaaaa-!"

I was caught off guard by her boldness. So this is what Lyra felt earlier when I did it to her.

“Don’t worry, we will carry the weight of your aspirations. Believe in us, my teammates and I will win the tournament so that no one could ever blame you for losing this match.”

My heart skipped a beat. They say I am a natural, but this girl... she is on a whole different level.

We stayed like that for a while, her gesture comforted me even though we were in a VR game and probably hundreds of miles apart from each other. We did garner curious stares from our opponents and teasing ones from my friends, but I didn't mind as much as I thought I would. I was too focused on Lizbeth's comfortable and calming gesture to even think about the other players' reaction for once.

After mustering up my courage, I finally asked her.

"Uhm... can we play again some other time? I-if you're not busy practicing for the main tournament that is..." I asked nervously, afraid of being rejected on the spot.

"Of course! I always watch your streams, I'm a streamer too so we could do collabs together if you'd like?"

Sharing our hobby through streaming and playing the game we both love sounds... extremely delightful.

I beamed at her. "I would love to!"