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Over the Infinite Chapter 21 Part 3

 

So far, the rookie battle matches have seen good performance from the rookies, with an almost even win-loss ratio.

Even though it’s three against one, I thought there would be a vast difference in strength with intermediate adventurers, but the training environment after debut makes a huge difference.

Incidentally, I saw a certain cat-eared figure in the spectator seats, perhaps out of interest.

Surrounded by what seemed like clan members, all beast people, the ones on either side of her might be the clan master and sub-master.

…I wonder why she was sandwiched between them.

Our match is soon. Just a few more to go.

In the waiting room, we watch the ongoing matches on TV, waiting for our turn. It feels like waiting for a boxing match.

「It’s amazing. I wonder if I’ll be doing this in a year. 」

Lilika, who came to support us in the waiting room, says while watching the TV broadcast. Probably. She even has more than a year, which seems luxurious compared to our barely a month.

Philos, Gowen, and Gaul also came to support us earlier, introducing us to Gaul. Despite his wolf-like appearance, he was a genuinely nice guy.

Do party members tend to have similar temperaments? No, I refuse to believe that. Absolutely not.

Pelshe-san and Topopo-san are in the spectator seats, but the old man alone came to the waiting room. Probably the other two were considerate of his attachment to us.

「I won’t say anything cliché like ‘do your best.’ It’s obvious you can’t win. 」

「It’s kind of disheartening to hear that before we start. 」

Yuki says, but his eyes are anything but relaxed.

Not just Yuki, all of us.

After the long dungeon dwelling, we realized we all hate to lose. Even Sarges with his peculiar inclinations is the same.

「Of course. The arena’s betting has changed to ‘how many minutes will it take to end the match’ for you guys. 」

The arena matches are basically all betting matches, allowing the audience to gamble on the outcome.

The betting method and rules depend on the match, but the rookie battle is usually just about guessing the winner. There is no draw.

However, in our case, a special rule applies because otherwise, odds can’t be established. No one would bet on us.

So, for us, there’s a special rule on how many minutes it will take for the match to end.

It seems like it could be manipulated, but I guess people just enjoy betting in a festive mood.

「What did you bet, old man? 」

「I bet on you guys winning. If I win, I take it all. 」

Damn, even when it comes to things like this, he has a good personality.

「Haha, Gwuar-san is a funny guy, isn’t he? 」

「Can players also bet on the match? 」

「In that case, you can only bet on yourself. It’s probably to prevent purposely losing. 」

「Then please place everything we have on us winning. 」

I handed over all the money I hadn’t used from the items we got in the dungeon to the old man. In other words, almost the entire amount.

Aside from shields and weapons, we probably won’t have much chance to use potions in this match.

As expected, the old man’s eyes went wide when he received it.

「If we win, let’s go all out on food and drinks. 」

「Haha, you guys are crazy… But I like that spirit. It’s a good attitude. 」

Anyway, even if I say I want to return it, he wouldn’t accept it. It’s fine to use it like this. If we win, it’s going to be a huge celebration.

「If we win, we could probably buy a cheap apartment. 」

「If we win, that is. It’s like throwing money down the drain. Ah, what a waste. 」

This was a decision made by all three of us.

The money isn’t ours to begin with. Even if we were to earn it again, we should do it on our own, not relying on them. I think we should legitimately conquer the 11th to 30th floors on our own.

Besides, if we’re going to win, we might as well let the old man have a good time.

It seems like the match before ours just ended when I looked at the broadcast. It’s about time for us to move.

「Let’s go. 」

「Okay. 」

「Yes. 」

「Considering how high-level the matches have been, do your best. I’m rooting for you. 」

Lilika, who didn’t know much about the situation, also offered her support.

「Go out with a bang. At least land a hit or two. 」

As we were leaving the waiting room, the old man called out from behind.

He probably thinks that’s the best we can do. A miracle happening just to that extent. That must be his expectation.

The previous match ended quickly, apparently, as we heard the buzzer signaling the end just before we headed to the stage.

This means we’ll head straight to the stage without any waiting time. Better than being anxious with a prolonged wait, I guess.

Unconsciously, I clenched my fists. My steps felt heavy. This was a kind of tension I hadn’t felt even in the Minotaur fight or the boss battles in the Infinite Corridor.

What awaited us was undoubtedly the strongest opponent we had ever faced.

But, regardless of how we got here, we decided to fight. Whether we’re tense or afraid, we’ll move forward.

I wanted to make sure the two following me wouldn’t feel any more anxious.

The massive doors of the arena entrance opened, and light flooded in. We stepped onto the stage laid out before us.

Already in the center of the stage stood the familiar figure of the knight in red battle armor.

The trademark crimson armor and giant spear I had seen several times in videos.

Her presence was truly heroic, a figure many in this city aspire to and idolize.

I felt a pressure so intense, as if merely standing in front of her could blow us away.

It was a level of strength that dwarfed the Minotaurs, Huge Lizards, and Grand Golems we had fought before. If I were the person I was just a little while ago, I wouldn’t even be able to stand here.

She looked at us with a somewhat lonely expression in her eyes.

But there was no hint of underestimation. She certainly wasn’t taking us lightly.

Probably, no words were needed.

She didn’t seem inclined to speak, either.

The two behind me silently took their positions.

The noisy arena fell silent. The buzzer signaling the start of the match would soon ring.

Even facing her, the depths of her strength were still unknown.

But let’s clash with her with all our might. With everything we can do right now.

 

-5-

 

At the buzzer’s start, it was Arsha who made the first move.

She closed the gap between us with superhuman speed, accelerating from zero to maximum in an instant.

 

―――― Action Skill ((Whirlwind Formation)) ――

 

It was a skill I had seen several times in videos, a wide-ranging spear attack.

Although its name is similar to my ((Whirlwind Slash)), the characteristics differed due to the weapon. The spear’s length almost doubled its range, sweeping us all in a single strike.

It would have been the end for us if we were still at our debut level.

But we weren’t the same as back then.

Yuki had already begun evasive maneuvers, and Sarges… well, he was somewhere.

Instead of evading, I moved to intercept.

Perhaps she didn’t expect me to charge in. A hint of surprise appeared on Arsha’s face.

I leaped over the unleashed ((Whirlwind Formation)) and struck with my great sword.

「Uraaaa!! 」

 

――――  Action Skill ((Strike Smash)) ――

 

A skill for large weapons like great-swords and battle axes, striking down like splitting bamboo.

The timing was perfect. It felt like an attack that should have hit, but it missed entirely. Arsha was already a few steps away from where I had swung my sword, though it seemed impossible given her post-skill rigidity.

But my attack was just the beginning.

Yuki launched a thrown knife, and at the same time, Sarges, who had plummeted from high above, delivered a kick.

With her post-skill rigidity, she couldn’t avoid these synchronized attacks, I thought.

But Arsha narrowly avoided the knife’s trajectory and countered Sarges’ ((Tornado Kick)) with a swing of her spear.

Where on earth did her rigidity time go?

 

―――― Action Skill ((Tornado Kick)) ――

―――― Action Skill ((Dragon Descent Strike)) ――

 

Sarges’ ((Tornado Kick)) from above was intercepted by the shaft of her spear, followed by a swift half-spin of the spear.

「Uguuahhh!! 」

Although Sarges avoided a direct hit from the blade, he was hit by the counter-like ((Dragon Descent Strike)) and sent spinning through the air.

Arsha then pursued Sarges for further attacks. This was bad. Just one hit had already reduced Sarges’ HP by half. It was no joke to lose one of us in the opening exchange of blows! Yuki couldn’t provide support from that distance. In that case, I had to―

 

―――― Action Skill ((Parrying Kick)) ――

 

However, Sarges ingeniously diverted the trajectory of Arsha’s crimson spear with his leg, despite being in a vulnerable position in mid-air.

It was the weapon deflection using his leg that he had demonstrated several times during training with the old man.

Though the spear didn’t hit, Sarges lost his balance and fell. He managed not to collapse, but the ((Dragon Descent Strike)) alone had inflicted significant damage.

「Indeed… impressive. More than I imagined. I heard you entered training, so I adjusted my assessment, but it seems it still wasn’t enough. I thought you might just be making up the numbers, but the third one isn’t too bad either. 」

The first words she spoke were an analysis of the battle.

It seemed like she was appreciating us quite a bit, but couldn’t she be a bit more careless?

「Don’t worry, I won’t let my guard down. I have orders from the Dungeon Master, and I’ll give you my full effort. 」

That’s the last thing we need. It would be totally fine for her to let her guard down. Bring it on.

Standing with her spear in one hand, as if rooted to the spot, I felt the pressure from Arsha intensify.

Honestly, just standing under this pressure made me want to collapse.

「As your opponent, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet. I’m Arshelia Growentina, the Vice-Captain of the (Meteor Knights). It will be a brief acquaintance, but let’s make it a good one. 」

This is where the real battle begins.

The desperate match of the rookie battle starts from here.