Despite that, they didn't call because the tournament was about to start. Even if they didn't, Smoke still knew that he had their support.
After his conversation with Sierra, he continued sharpening his gladius. Afterwards, he ate his newly learned dish 'Pork Rib Stew with Sage Cornmeal Dumplings'.
The meal boosted his health regeneration by 3%. When used together with the 'Heart of ReenTe', Smoke's total health regen was at 5%. Provided that he doesn't get hit.
FREE FOR ALL FIGHT:
Ayu (Lioumerean) vs Ilad (DarkElf) vs Kasar (Halfling) vs Sagen (Human)
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All the participants were ushered into the center arena. The crowd grew wild as each of their representatives appeared before them.
Smoke, Sagen, Kasar and Ayu were all called to stand on the large oval ring. Each district representative stood on their respective ends of the ring.
Smoke donned the following equipment: his strengthened leather-shielded armor, compounded flamdius, rare shield, rare lucky bunny ears, rare necklace, rare gloves, and epic hooded cloak.
He checked on the other participants. Ayu, the Lioumerean cheetah, was dressed in a provocative leather armor. Smoke thought that it revealed too much skin. Her sword was a schiavona, a basket hilted sword. She also had a medium-sized round shield on her side.
Next, there was the Halfling, Kasar. He wore a black leather armor and had two kodachis as his weapon. Kodachis were the only Katana type swords that were accessible to the job of a Swordsman. Smoke thought that Kasar must have wanted to have Samurai as his advanced job.
Lastly, directly across Smoke, stood Sagen. His face looked exactly like the same in Zectas. He wore a heavy chain-mail. He had on his back a great sword called a zweihänder.
A loud commentator's voice was heard throughout the arena.
"My Lord Duke Burmistrz, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present to you, the finalists of our 5th bi-annual Swordsman to Knight Tournament. From the southern district we have the mysterious, Ilad! From the western district we have the enchanting, Ayu! From the eastern district we have the nimble, Kasar! And finally from the northern district we have the headstrong, Sagen!"
Sagen's guild had bought an entire front section of the arena and had huge banners with the name 'Feras' printed across it. They kept shouting out Sagen's name.
All the participants continued on waving to their audience. The crowd exploded into shouting, clapping and cheering.
Everyone was in complete uproar. They could not wait for horn to be blown.
TTOOOOOOOTTTT!
Each one of finalists studied each other carefully. Their eyes were darting back and forth as they checked the opponents on their sides and in front of them.
Their stalemate did not last long. Smoke rushed towards Kasar, while Sagen ran for Ayu. It was a simultaneous fight between high level players.
Kasar jumped from Smoke's right side to his extreme left. Smoke was significantly slowed down by his added enhancements on his leather armor and sword.
The Halfling ran circles around him. Attacks from Kasar's kodachis came from every direction. If it weren't for Smoke's 'Cunning of the Dire Fox' ability, he would have received numerous back attacks.
At the same time, Sagen raised his zweihänder over his shoulders and ran into Ayu's direction. Ayu was not flustered by the huge sword and met his charge head on.
Sagen used his 'Great Divide' ability, Ayu easily side stepped the wide attack. She thrusted her schiavona at her attacker, but struck nothing but air. Sagen had rolled away after executing his wide attack.
Ayu gave chase and was faced with a great horizontal cleaving attack from Sagen. She did her best to block the blow with her shield but was knocked back.
Kasar using his two kodachis, he unleashed twin 'Sword Smite' attacks. Smoke planted both his feet firmly on the ground and got ready to receive both attacks.
Owing to the fact that Smoke's modified equipment gave him added weights, he did not move from where he stood. Smoke found an opening after Kasar's powerful attack.
He used his flamdius and unleashed his own explosive strike, throwing Kasar over to Sagen, who had just blasted away Ayu.
Kasar saw that Sagen was about to attack the fallen Lioumerean and took this chance and launch a series of sword strikes on Sagen's back.
Sagen tried to runaway and was attacked by Ayu. Smoke saw that Sagen was stuck in a pincer attack between Ayu and Kasar.
Manipulating the ring, he launched himself upward. In the last few seconds, Kasar saw Smoke coming from above him. He tried to block with his two swords but Smoke's attack went right through them.
With his flamdius, he sliced down Kasar with his own variation of the 'Great Divide' ability. Smoke's added weight increased the force of his attack.
Kasar took the slash right on his torso and was slammed down to the ground. He was stunned for two seconds. Smoke grabbed hold of his feet and throw him off the ring.
Ayu was about to attack Sagen when a red light struck her eye. It was from one of the Snipers sitting in the crowd, who used the ability 'Guided Light' which temporarily blinded Ayu.
The ability 'Guided Light' was intended to give Snipers an added accuracy bonus but Sagen used in the same way he cheated Seth in AUTOMATA.
Sagen repeated his most powerful attack the 'Great Divide' and blasted Ayu off the ring. Ayu was eliminated from the tournament.
Only Smoke and Sagen were left standing on top of the ring. Smoke's lifebar was still hidden because he did not receive any direct attack, while Sagen's lifebar displayed (62,184/89,000 HP).
Raising his zweihänder over his right shoulders, Sagen prepared his attacking stance. On the other side of the ring, Smoke sheathed his flamdius and raised his right hand.
With his open palm pointing at Sagen. This move bewildered his opponent. Instead of charging blindly at Smoke, Sagan prepared to dodge whatever attack was coming.
The audience waited with anticipation to see what move the DarkElf would use. A small ball of white light was formed and was launched from his hand. The white ball flew fast and struck Sagan and healed him for 5,400 HP.
When Smoke used his 'Life Share' ability his lifebar appeared, which displayed (55,305/61,450 HP). He did not stop and kept on launching more 'Life Share' orbs in the direction of Sagen.
He did not stop until Sagen's lifebar was full. His current lifebar displayed (25,150/61,450 HP). Smoke activated his necklace, 'Heart of Rentee'. Now, his regen was increased to 5%.
Sagen was dumbstruck. He just stood there and watched Smoke's life increase at an amazing rate. Twelve seconds passed, and Smoke's life was already fully restored.
The audience applauded Smoke's action. They thought that he wanted a fair match with Sagen at their prime conditions.
"You bastard! How dare you make a laughing stock out of me! WAAAAAAHHHH!"
Sagen was enraged. His humiliation was clearly visible on his face. He got back to his fighting stance and ran towards Smoke.
Like clockwork, multiple red lights pointed on Smoke's eyes. Yet, Sagen and his Snipers couldn't believe what they saw.
Smoke's eyes were shut tight. The red lights were clearly seen on Smoke's closed eyelids. Sagen smirked and continued on his attack.
With a great vertical swing he struck down his zweihänder and made a deep hole on where Smoke stood. Sagen tried checking his sides and found nothing.
A shadow was casted over his face which made him look upwards. Sagen was staring directly at Smoke's 'Armored Armadillo Shield'.
KLAANG!
Smoke used his 'Armadillo Bash' ability and Sagen was stunned for one second. The moment Smoke hit the ground, four quick flaming thrusts slashed Sagen's body.
All four slashes made Sagen's lifebar drop down to (68,056/89,000 HP). The injured swordsman tried to retaliate with a side attack but Smoke's shield did not budge an inch.
With his eyes closed, Smoke smiled and did the exact same move as Sagen but with a completely different result. Even with his zweihänder blocking the flamdius, Sagen was pushed back by five feet.
"ARRGGGHH! When will you stop mocking me?"
"Not until I've completely stripped you of your pride and made a complete fool of you in front of everyone here."
"Just what the heck is your problem anyway? I don't recall meeting you before."
"No, you haven't, but your cheap tricks have irked me for the last time and this time you shall feel the full brunt of my wrath."
Smoke ran towards Sagen and launched multiple lunges. With his zweihänder he was only able to parry about two thirds of Smoke's attacks.
Sagen kept on backing up as Smoke continued his unending lunges. They had circumnavigated the ring and Sagen was left with only (33,350/89,000 HP).
At this point, Smoke stopped his attacks. He quickly backed off, giving Sagen plenty of space to reorganize himself.
Sagen's fighting tactic was completely obliterated. From the division tournament, he had been relying on his Snipers blinding his enemy. He didn't think that there was someone capable of fighting him with their eyes closed.
"Are you proud of yourself? Are you happy with winning titles that don't belong to you? My brother should have won that tournament but you took it away from him."
"Brother? Who's your brother? Well, whoever he is, it's his own fault for losing. In the end the winner is the won who is in the ring..."
A series of white orbs came at Sagen and completely healed his life. Smoke was left with (6,150/61,450 HP).
"DAMN YOU ILAD! You even reduced your life to 10%. I'll show you, no one makes fun of Sagen! WRAaaaaahhhhh!"
For the time it took Sagen to reach Smoke's location, Smoke's lifebar had fully restored. Sagen's zweihänder was still raised over his shoulder, when Smoke used his 'Earth Manipulation' ability and catapaulted himself at Sagen like a canon.
KLAANG!
Sagen was once again stunned by the 'Armadillo Bash'. This time, Smoke didn't stop with the lunges, he finished it off with a loud exploding slash which pushed Sagen near the edge of the ring.
With only (43,350/89,000 HP) on Sagen's lifebar, a succession of 'Life Share' orbs came his way once more. The crowd started laughing as Sagen cried out once more.
Only the section with the Feras guild members remained silent. They were glaring angrily at Smoke for making a fool out of their guild master.
Like a mad raging bull, Sagen went straight at Smoke, still holding his zweihänder over his right shoulder. Smoke responded by retreating strategically and continued pummeling Sagen with his 'Life Share' orbs.
After five minutes of running around, Smoke stopped. Sagen stopped as well. Sagen kept on shaking his vehemently.
He couldn't grasp how anyone could fight so well without their eyesight. He took his usual fighting stance and devised a new strategy.
Screaming from the top of his lungs. Sagen ran blindly, moving closer to Smoke. The DarkElf responded by using the same counter move, launching himself at Sagen with blinding speed.
But before Smoke came into Sagen's range, Sagen struck his zweihänder on the ground and used his 'Great Divide' ability on the ring.
Debris were flying everywhere. Smoke was hit, he was not able to dodge all of the scraps from the broken ring. The effects of his necklace had worn off.
"Did you see that? Oh, right, you can't because you stupidly closed your eyes. Just who in their right mind would fight with their eyes clo..."
KLAANG!
After such a devastating attack, Sagen took the chance to gloat, giving Smoke an opening to use his 'Armadillo Bash'. Now, that Smoke's regen only relied on his special 'Pork Rib Stew', it was reduced to 3%.
In that one second that Sagen was stunned, Smoke performed the fastest slashes he could muster with his flamdius.
After that blurring attack, Sagen was still left with (38,152/89,000 HP). He launched a sideways cleave for his counter attack.
But while Sagen was preparing his counter-attack, Smoke had already moved to his blind spot. From there he used the most explosive strike he could summon.
BOODOOM!
The blast blew Sagen off to the opposite side of the ring. Sagen still had (13,284/89,000 HP) left. Smoke slowly walked to Sagen's direction.
Sagen boiling with rage took completely different stance. He lowered his knees and arched his back. He took his zweihänder and leveled it to his line of sight. His zweihänder's sharp edge pointing straight at Smoke.
Sagen ran at his top speed and thrust his zweihänder with all his might. Smoke's responded by simply moving to his side and ran his shield across the length of Sagen's blade.
