Chapter: 362
Lasha.
Strong Person Hunting.
That name was like a fantasy to the warriors of the continent.
The fact that she applies for a fight is proof that she has risen to the ranks of the continent’s strong. Whenever she revealed herself, those wielding weapons would feel tense and expect that she might have come for them.
As Lasha’s fame spread throughout the continent, her fighting style was known to many.
For instance, when “Strong Person Hunting Lasha” throws a powerful punch to gauge her opponent, it’s quite something.
Bam!
Lasha’s punch collided with Lucy’s shield, sending vibrations through the arena and kicking up dust.
Amid the thick dust that made it hard to see, many people coughed, but most had already assumed the outcome was decided.
It’s true that Lucy Allen has shown considerable skill up until now. Her level has surpassed that of a student, so she wouldn’t lack when it comes to real combat.
In particular, Lucy’s shield technique was renowned among the arena’s strong, being formidable enough that most opponents wouldn’t easily break her defense.
However, this time, the opponent belonged to the category of formidable.
Lasha’s punch had silenced countless who considered themselves strong.
An overwhelming attack that left those expecting a fierce battle in a sense of emptiness.
As the anticipation of defeat dominated the arena, a chilling atmosphere settled over the audience.
Some regretted betting their money unnecessarily. Some laughed, saying the victor of the arena was already decided. Others excitedly spoke of witnessing the fight between Benedict and Lasha, when suddenly…
As the dust cleared, what revealed was Lucy, with her shield blocking Lasha’s punch, still wearing a smile.
“Did you block this?”
“How could I not block it when you stupidly run in asking me to block it?♡”
What the heck happened? Did she hold back her strength? Was Lucy hiding her true power all along?
Amidst the murmurs among the audience, the real strong ones, including Benedict, were reflecting on what just happened.
Lucy wasn’t using her full power. Our daughter didn’t even show her best defense she could muster.
But that didn’t mean Lasha was holding back either. She was genuinely trying to smash Lucy.
Normally, Lucy would have flown back, crashing into the arena wall with her shield. Nonetheless, the reason Lucy managed to block Lasha’s punch was that her shield technique had reached the realm of miracles.
Blocking Lasha’s punch just before it reached its peak with her shield was nothing short of astonishing; it was like she had seen countless futures and chosen the best option.
Did I not understand Lucy’s true potential?
No. It’s clear she hadn’t shown such skill during training in the Knights.
Just a few days ago, Lucy was decent enough to form a team with other knights, but she wasn’t outstanding enough to replicate a scene from a legend.
Was it just a coincidence? Or was it a miracle bestowed upon her by the Lord who takes care of her?
I don’t know which it is, but one thing is certain: if Lucy can continue showing this level of performance, it’s not impossible for her to last a minute.
“Haha! This is turning out to be more fun than expected!?”
While Benedict found a faint hope and reddened his eyes, Lasha kept pressing Lucy.
Sometimes with destructive power, sometimes with a blinding speed, other times with a series of attacks so overwhelming that just facing them was tough.
None of these attacks were easy for Lucy, but proving that the initial miracle wasn’t a mere coincidence, she grit her teeth and somehow managed to block Lasha’s strikes.
As each second passed, the atmosphere in the arena shifted.
Those who felt sure of Lasha’s victory fell silent. The one who bet on Lucy Allen widened their eyes.
Before the miracle created by the underdog, many raised their voices.
At that moment, when everyone forgot their personal preferences and began to cheer for Lucy…
Lasha curled her lips upward.
Her fist, for the first time, bypassed the shield.
A sound erupted from Lucy Allen’s side where her fist connected—a sound that shouldn’t emanate from a human.
Then Lucy’s body, defying gravity, soared into the void and crashed into the ground, shaking the arena.
Silence reigned once more.
*
In the moment I gathered my scattered consciousness, the first thing to hit me was pain.
Ugh. It hurts like hell.
My bones are undoubtedly broken, and as blood trickles up my neck, my organs might be damaged too.
Having been through this a few times, I strained to lift my eyelids and used Armadi’s Mercy.
Gag!
The injured body found its place as the engraved pain made me involuntarily scream.
“Grandpa. How long has it been?”
<23 seconds.>
“I managed to last a bit.”
I never thought Lasha would maintain her fighting style from beyond the monitor for this long.
It was only natural to feel strange about her attacks that countered my movements as if she had seen the future.
But still, I lasted half the time, so if I withstand the other half with my own strength, it should be doable.
Staggering to my feet, I drew up all the divinity I had saved within me.
Even if I faint after this fight, I have to give it my all. There’s no way I can endure otherwise.
“Benedict’s daughter. When have you ever fought against me?”
“Why would I, silly?♡ Why would a cute, delicate girl like me fight a muscle pig like you?♡”
“Right? Then that just means what you did earlier was your ability, huh? Good. I like it more.”
“Ugh! That’s so gross!♡ I can’t stand girls who stink of sweat, you know?♡”
“That kind of slander won’t do. I’m a rather neat person.”
With nonsensical banter, Lasha began to move her feet.
Now I had to throw away all the game knowledge. If I remain conscious of that, I’d just be toyed with by Lasha.
From now on, what I need to focus on is nothing but my accumulated experience. And the voice of the Iron Wall that has kept me alive so far. Just those two things.
Bam! The moment Lasha’s punch met the shield coated in divinity, the shock traveled through the bones.
This felt entirely different from the previous time when I used my tainted knowledge for just parrying. Just a slight miscalculation would shatter the bones in the arm holding the shield.
“Haha! Looks like you can’t see the future at all!”
With certainty that she couldn’t perform the same extraordinary feat as before, Lasha cackled more fiercely.
Damn it. Her attacks are too fast. I can’t respond to every punch. I’m managing to protect the dangerous spots, but that doesn’t mean much.
Lasha’s punches threaten wherever they land.
It’s painful, and I can hold it in, but the shock accumulating in my muscles and bones cannot be ignored. If this continues, before long…
That ominous premonition immediately turned into reality. My leg, having withstood several attacks, crumbled without any warning.
With my balance shaken, my defense collapsed, and Lasha, as if anticipating this, pulled her arm back vigorously.
As she gathered power there, I urgently amassed divinity in front of my shield.
Even if I tried to perform the holy magic clumsily, I would be shattered in the process. To withstand that punch, I needed to summon a miracle.
I drew a line with the divinity gathered in front of my shield. To reenact the story grandpa had passed down to me.
“Looks like you’re up to something fun!”
The moment Lasha’s fist struck the shield made of divinity, blood began to leak from my mouth.
It was a backlash from doing something reckless without proper preparation.
However, my struggle brought about a significant outcome.
The newly formed shield of divinity shattered, Lasha’s attack met my shield, and unable to endure her monstrous strength, my body hot-shot into the air, crashing down to the ground several times. Yet I still had some energy left to move.
Stumbling up from the dust, I spat out the blood pooling in my mouth and brushed my disheveled hair.
I could see Lasha approaching from a distance.
[Young lady. A small gap has appeared, so let me ask you one thing.]
‘This doesn’t seem like the time, though.’
[Why did you read your opponent in the beginning and then throw away that knowledge entirely?]
‘What are you talking about?’
[You know the tactics your opponent likes to use, so why aren’t you employing them?]
‘Well, once the opponent figures out what I’m doing, that knowledge becomes meaningless.’
The moment I get mired in the tainted knowledge, I would only be toyed with by the opponent who grasped my strategy.
I had suffered a serious blow more than once by relying solely on the knowledge from the game.
The opponents I faced just a while ago began to notice something strange at some point. Why should that kind of trick work on Lasha now?!
Above a certain level of strong, the tainted knowledge I held could be an unexpected variable, but it couldn’t be a decisive blow in determining the outcome.
Unless, of course, someone like Nakrad completely loses their rationality.
[I see. I roughly understand.]
‘If you have something to say, say it quickly! There’s no time for leisure!’
[Trust me, and do as I say. Utilize the knowledge in your head. But don’t blindly believe it; just consider it as a reference.]
‘No, Grandpa.’
[Just do it! I’ll listen to your complaints later!]
Ah, seriously! How could I just do it on command!?
Though complaints welled up inside me, I couldn’t voice them out. Lasha was now arriving right in front of me.
“How long do you think you can hold on?!”
Bam! As I added strength to my stinging arm, I recalled Grandpa’s advice.
Use the knowledge from the game.
Lasha was changing her movements because she was conscious of that. How am I supposed to use it now?
This is why I dislike smart people. They assume everyone thinks at their level and explain things poorly.
“Do you have time to think of other things?!”
Hearing Lasha’s voice snapped me back to reality as I instinctively moved my body to dodge her fiercely incoming punch.
The knowledge engraved in my soul. My only pride. Following the tainted knowledge.
Oh no. This is bad. It’s been countered for ages.
It’s too late to turn back now. I was thinking about how to get back up after taking a hit.
Ding! A refreshing sound rang from my shield. It wasn’t merely blocking; it was the sound of a successful parry.
Why? Why did I succeed in blocking that?
In my confusion as I watched Lasha’s series of punches, I soon understood the reason.
Lasha’s attacks were certainly different from the patterns in the game.
But if you ask me if they were entirely different, the answer is no. After all, the patterns from the game are based on the attacks Lasha enjoys using.
No matter how much I twisted them, the fundamentals remain unchanged.
I see. The dozens of hours spent grinding to tackle the Apostle of War were not wasted. I just didn’t know how to use them properly.
Realizing this, I lifted my lips into a smile and raised my shield high.
<10 seconds left.>
With a firm belief that I wouldn’t lose.
…Huh? Is this a loss flag?
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.