Evil Avalon

Chapter 124 Unseen power

(TL:By Rafael,valhallatls.blogspot.com)

The female student in a kendogi who was at the entrance stood in the center of the arena and raised her voice.

"Let me explain the rules of the duel. First, fight fair and square. Clash your skills and make it your future reference. Secondly, no killing. Those who break this rule will face severe penalties. And..."

The rules of the duel are as follows:

- Fight fairly and squarely.

- No killing.

- Surrender is allowed.

- If one is deemed unable to continue the fight, they lose.

These are general rules, so there's nothing particularly noteworthy about them. If anything, it's safe to say that there's hardly any worry of being killed, as anyone, even someone as influential as the Ashikaga, would be forced to drop out if they break the "no killing" rule. Plus, there's a priest teacher in the background who can heal injuries, which is reassuring.

"Now, let the duel begin. Are both sides ready?"

"Wait a moment. Are you going to fight in that outfit?"

The heavily armored Ashikaga, covered entirely in metal plates except for the face, frowned when he saw Tsukishima still in his school uniform just before the start. Despite carrying a weapon at his waist, it wasn't a blade but a highly lethal Japanese sword used to slay monsters, not one with a dulled edge.

Even though he had undergone physical enhancements, it didn't mean he could block pain. If he were to be slashed, the pain would slow him down significantly, and if his wrist were cut off, he might lose consciousness. Until his HP reached zero, like in a game, he could move as if he were unscathed. Therefore, armor was crucial.

"Huh? I don't need armor. This is all I need."

Saying this, Tsukishima produced a small metal wand of about 30 cm. Since they had suspected for some time that he had the potential to be a summoner, it wasn't surprising that he used a wand, and it made sense that a magician wouldn't wear metal armor that could inhibit their magic. However, a new problem arose.

In this world, it seemed to be common sense that "magicians aren't suited for duels," and the onlookers in the audience frowned in discomfort.

"A one-on-one duel, and with a magician in such a limited space... My, oh my. It's hard to believe he's in his right mind."

"Damn, this is disappointing. I'm out."

A tall, scruffy man, apparently the head of the "Weapon Research Club" named Tsukasa Horai, shook his head, wearing a disappointed expression, and even Tatehana, who had been sitting, stood up to leave.

Arena 1 was the largest of the four arenas, but for fighters reaching level 20, it was not particularly spacious. Consequently, close combat was inevitable. In such a situation, a magician could only rely on fast-casting magic. That seemed to be what they thought.

Before leaving, Tatehana glanced sideways at Sagara and Kusunoki. Perhaps he had something in mind when he saw that they showed no intention of moving, he addressed Kaworu and her friends.

"Hey, first-year. I mean, Suo! Weren't you supposed to join the First Kendo Club? Why are you hanging out with that guy? Do you know something?"

"That is Tatehana-sama. I know nothing. That's why I came all the way here to find out. All I can say is... Takuya-san is not just an ordinary person."

"What do you mean?"

Even Kaworu, who was standing behind, seemed to have some idea, judging by her thoughtful expression. She probably saw a part of Takuya's "power." Tatehana, though irritated by Suo's vague answer, returned to his seat and sat down heavily.

"But how can a magician defeat a swordsman? What do you think, Magic Club?"

"...Even if it's against a swordsman, there are ways to do it. However, it's difficult to handle without a deep understanding of magic and a lot of experience in combat."

"That's right. They say that, but now I have even lower expectations."

Isshiki, the president of the First Magic Club, responded to Tatehana Kagura's question while staring intently at Takuya. To handle a swordsman, knowledge and experience were necessary, but Takuya, a first-year E-class student, had only been allowed in the dungeon for about three months since he became a adventurer, making him even less impressive.

(Even among players, it's without a doubt that a swordsman has the advantage in this limited space. But...)

The fighting area was about 30 square meters. While a swordsman's attack range was limited, they were quick to attack and had all rapid-fire skills. A magician with weak defense and a slight delay in their attacks would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage. However, since Ashikaga wasn't a player, there were countless ways to approach the situation.

Unaware of this, the spectators watched as Ashikaga turned red in anger.

"I was foolish to have expected anything from you. I shall atone for my folly with your blood, O Rokuryu..."

"Then let the duel...begin!"

The referee lowered his raised arm to announce the start of the duel. Ashikaga, heavily armed, crouched down and assumed a stance with his drawn sword, immediately launching an Iaido strike. He had slashed down the opening Fire Arrows simultaneously fired at him.

Tsukishima, on the other hand, ran in a circular pattern, continuously releasing magic bullets. With his left hand, he drew a magic circle manually and activated it instantly. It was probably the intermediate job skill "Wizard's" "Fast Cast," a skill that shortened the casting time and cooldown of magic.

As a result of this skill's effect, the speed of firing magic bullets visibly increased. This was a typical way for a magician to fight. However, as expected of the vice-president of the First Kendo Club, He parried, dodged, or nullified all the magic bullets.

"It's just trickery. Can't you show us something more interesting? With this level of performance, you won't be able to entertain the esteemed guests we've invited."

"Hahaha...then I'll show you just a little more."

After cracking his neck, Tsukishima channeled his magic power into the ground. As a result, a magic circle with a diameter of about 3 meters appeared and began to glow in a crimson color. That magic circle was...

"Flames of burning passion, manifest and follow me! Ignis!!"

At first, flames shot up vertically, then twisted into a shape of something that resembled... a lizard standing about 1.5 meters tall. It was muscular to the point of being impressive, flames sporadically spewing from its mouth. Perhaps it was excited, as it repeatedly slammed its thick tail onto the ground.

Ignis was a summoned beast learned by advanced job "Summoner." By using this skill automatically, it could be inferred that he had a skill setup focused on summoning. However, the sudden appearance of the summoned beast left the onlookers in awe.

"What, a monster!?"

"...It seems like it was summoned by magic. Is it an agent from another country, after all?"

Tatehana, who mistook Ignis for a monster, reached for the sword he had leaned against his side, but Isshiki, after seeing the flow of magic, speculated that it was the result of magic. However, why suspect agents from another country?

"He's not a agent. From what I've researched, Takuya Tsukishima was born and raised in Japan. I found records of him being in an orphanage, so he's definitely an ordinary person."

"Then why does he have such skills? His level is clearly around 20 or so."

(An orphanage... I see. So that's how it is.)

Players like me who inhabit someone else's body carry the person's past with them when taking over. But in the case of Takuya Tsukishima and Lisa, they came to this world in their original world's bodies. In that case, they seem to be labeled as orphans with no family. The fact that there's a fabricated past is also intriguing in its own right.

What kind of skill is that? If he's not an agent, then what is he with such a strange level? These questions might have led to a discussion, but the situation started to change, interrupting the conversation.

As Ashikaga leaped towards Tsukishima, ready to perform an Iaido motion, Ignis intervened, swinging her thick tail with a sound of cutting wind. Ashikaga narrowly avoided it, but he was hit by Tsukishima's spinning kick from the other side and was sent flying several meters with a thudding sound.

"Gah... a kick!?"

"Why are you surprised? Even mages undergo physical enhancements."

There were several reasons why Ashikaga couldn't avoid the kick. Ignis moved to protect Tsukishima. There was a preconception that mages didn't engage in close combat. But the most significant reason was that it had become a 2-on-1 situation.

In a one-on-one duel, a swordsman might have the advantage, but the dynamics change in a 2-on-1 situation. If he could summon a summoning beast with high defense, he might have a chance to use high-level spells with long incantations. Moreover, if Tsukishima could do both melee and magic, it expanded the tactical options, such as flanking and continuous attacks.

The battle was evolving rapidly. Ignis breathed directional flames at Ashikaga, painting the previously white arena in orange light. He tried to roll to avoid it, but Tsukishima's magical projectiles were also heading his way, accompanied by a loud impact.

Two or three hits seemed to land, but the full plate armor's defense was not to be underestimated. Ashikaga quickly got up and raised his sword.

"Guh... Y-you! Using the power of monsters, how low can you stoop!"

"Kuk... You say interesting things. I'm fighting you to match your level, after all."

Ashikaga, frustrated that he couldn't fight as he had expected, accused Tsukishima of being unfair, but using summoned beasts and coordinating with them was a basic tactic for summoners.

However, as Tsukishima mentioned earlier, the question remained: why was he fighting on Ashikaga's terms? If he wanted to, he could have easily overwhelmed Ashikaga with his player skills. Why hadn't he shown any of those skills yet? Was he concerned about leaking information? In that case, he didn't need to accept such a duel from the beginning. Perhaps he was worried about someone's observation here.

"Disappear, you monster!"

Frustrated, Ashikaga decided to target the summon beasts first, rushing towards Ignis and swinging his sword. But Tsukishima wasn't just going to stand and watch. He moved to flank Ashikaga and fired a series of magic projectiles with his wand.

Ashikaga noticed this and tried to stop abruptly to dodge, but he was hit by Ignis's punch from behind and stumbled, losing his balance.

"Ignis!"

"Gwaaaah!"

In response to the summoner's command, Ignis let out a thunderous roar, increasing her magical power. Her thick tail instantly grew massive, becoming a whip of burning light that swept over the mithril alloy floor tiles, coloring the arena in orange. It was Ignis's maximum firepower skill, "Flame Tail."

Ashikaga crossed his arms and tried to endure it by crouching, but with a sound like a collision with a car, he was blown away and slammed into the wall. No matter how much he wore a full plate mail, he couldn't escape major damage. This battle seemed to be decided.

The first swordsmanship club fell silent, their breaths held. In contrast, the members of the Eight Dragons and Suo were leaning forward, their eyes changing color as they watched this summoner's battle. If he could summon such a formidable monster and control it, could a mage fight regardless of the situation? Could he become a candidate for the strongest in PvP? They were discussing such possibilities, but it wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.

Summoning a summon beast required a casting time of at least a few seconds, and in some cases, more than ten seconds. Buying that time in a face-off with a swordsman was a daunting task.

Ashikaga could have had a chance if he hadn't given Tsukishima the time to summon a summon beast. Even if he had summoned one, if he had experience in handling multiple opponents, he could have fought calmly. However, it seemed that he had never practiced hunting or club activities. It was clear that he was not used to it.

Tsukishima cracked his neck joints and looked at the unconscious Ashikaga with a bored expression.

"Weaker than I expected. Well, I guess that's how the locals are... But the price for picking a fight with me will be high."

"Y-You're disqualified! Is it not embarrassing to rely on the power of monsters?"

The female student serving as the referee shouted, and the members of the first swordsmanship club, who had been watching from the sidelines, raised their voices in anger. It was not surprising that things had turned out this way; Tsukishima had expected this. In fact, it had gone according to plan.

I looked at Kirara-chan to ask if I should intervene, and she was whispering to Sagara in a low voice.

"(Sagara-sama, should we let him swim a little longer to gather information?)"

"(There's a point to that. But what do you think, Narumi?)"

"(It's true that he hasn't shown the full extent of his abilities yet. If it's against the First Swordsmanship Club, he'll have to use some of his strength... But it would be better to stop him sooner if we intend to.)"

As a player, he should have several powerful player skills, but he hasn't shown any of them. However, if he's going to face off against all the members of the First Swordsmanship Club, he'll inevitably have to use some kind of skill. By observing his skills and tactics at that time, it might be possible to speculate on his job and combat style when he was a player.

However, players in this world don't adhere to the common-sense categories that the people of this world think in. Even if he were to summon the highest-tier job's summon beast, everyone present here might be put in a dangerous situation just by seeing it. While it's hard to believe that he would summon something like that, since we don't know what Tsukishima is thinking, we can't anticipate the damage either. In that case, it might be wise to use the authority of the Student Council President to stop it as soon as possible, if it can be stopped.

"(He hasn't shown his full strength yet. I don't think Tsukishima will stop, but I'll go first.)"

Below, several members of the club were emitting an "aura" and drawing their swords one after another, and Ignis stood in front, growling, ready to protect her summoner. If they continued watching, they would soon enter combat. At that moment, Sagara interrupted with a commanding voice.

"That's enough. As the Student Council President, I will preside over this duel on behalf of the referee. The winner is Tsukishima. It was splendid."

"But, Sagara-sama! This guy summoned a monster in this sacred arena, and furthermore, we nobles—"

Members of the club shouted angrily at Sagara, refusing to accept such a judgment. They would never acknowledge Ashikaga's defeat. However, not a single one of them put away their swords. Honestly, the fate of the First Swordsmanship Club didn't matter. The question was whether Tsukishima had any intention of stopping.

"Enough with the commotion. After I deal with them, it will be your turn to watch from on high. Be prepared, because I won't let a single one of you escape."

To think he would pick a fight even with Hachiryu. In response, Tatehana and Isshiki seemed to get ready to pounce, but they just stared back at him with sharp eyes. I felt a slight sense of relief at their calm demeanor.

(However, as I thought, things are heading in a bad direction.)

Tsukishima seemed to intend to fight Hachiryu as well, but I had no idea what he was aiming for, to the extent of disrupting the school's order.

The fear of the Hachiryu extended beyond just their individual or factional strength. They were all legitimate heirs and heiresses of major nobles to the point where, if they wanted to, they could mobilize armed groups and even assassination organizations representing Japan. If they clashed with such forces, it would inevitably involve those around them.

Even if they were temporarily defeated, in a Japan that adopted the nobility system, antagonizing nobles would lead to a far-from-peaceful life. That's why I, despite having an absurd game knowledge cheat, tried my best to stay inconspicuous. But... was there something here that could escalate things to that extent?

Already, the situation had deviated significantly from the game's story, but as long as the Hachiryu survived, there was still hope. For the sake of saving Tenma-san and Kuga-san, for the sake of protecting many people from the impending disaster, and for the sake of Kaworu achieving her dream and becoming the heroine, I couldn't let things go haywire any further.

I was about to get fired up, but then I saw Sera-san, who was blushing and had a blissful expression on her face just over there, and I felt exhausted... Sigh.

"(Narumi, don't go yet. Let me draw out his true strength, and I hope you can use that information to come up with a plan.)"

"(Sagara-sama... In that case, I—)"

"(Kusunoki is our insurance for when we can't stop him ourselves. When that happens, you should contact the outside and take command.)"

With that, Sagara entrusted Kirara-chan with the golden Student Council President's badge and quickly put on leather gloves, preparing for battle. He had the determination to gather information for me at the risk of his own life.

"(Understood, President. But if things get dangerous, I'll intervene on my own.)"

"(...I'm counting on you.)"

Sagara, clad in a white robe, nodded lightly and then jumped down from the spectator stands. He glared at Tsukishima and the members of the First Swordsmanship Club through his glasses with a sharp look, releasing his anger in silence.

"If you don't obey my orders, I won't show mercy."

The members of the First Swordsmanship Club paled at the sight of the Student Council President in combat mode. Sagara had a poor reputation in the game, characterized as foolish and incompetent, but at the very least, he seemed to be a clever person. So how strong was he? I'd like to see that battle without him holding back.

TL Note- The player vs game character fight is going to take place....

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