Chapter 33 - Miracle (1/2)
Translator: Atlas StudiosEditor: Atlas Studios
[Valkas Ur Stakes 37 Contribution Points]
[VS]
[Ash Heath Stakes 2 Contribution Points]
It was already very rare for a rookie to participate in deathmatches on two consecutive days when he first came to the “cesspool” (a death row criminal’s pet name for prison), not to mention that his opponent was actually Valkas “The Aristocrat”. Naturally, this attracted the attention of countless people.
Many people who were not from the Deathmatch Society came over to watch. The audience seats were packed, and even the entrance was filled with people.
“Both of them are using swords… Is this a duel of swordplay? I haven’t seen a swordplay duel in a long time. After every swordplay duel, the entire ring is filled with the fragrant scent of blood…”
“Human, kill that elf!”
“What kind of sword-holding stance is this? He hasn’t learned swordplay before, has he? Could it be that he was scared when he saw The Aristocrat holding a sword, so he took a sword as well?”
“If you don’t know how to use a sword, then don’t use a sword! Isn’t it better to use a spear? Simple and easy to grasp.”
“It’s clearly better to use an axe. One swing of the axe and no matter what kind of weapon your opponent uses, everything will turn into mush.”
“You… What nonsense are you talking about? A spear is clearly more suitable for beginners!”
“I… I’m not talking nonsense! Axes are the best weapons for beginners!”
Ash had yet another reason for escaping from prison: he would rather listen to others swear than listen to two grown men argue with each other in the elegant manner of a tsundere young girl. It was as incompatible as tom yum with tofu pudding.
“They’re so noisy.”
“That’s what the cesspool is like. There are buzzing flies everywhere.”
Valkas looked at the iron sword in his hand and flicked it with his finger, producing a clear clang.
“Maggots can’t turn into butterflies. Even a real butterfly is just a slightly larger fly in a cesspool.”
Ash laughed. “I see you have a lot of reflections about prison life. Are you interested in publishing a book?”
Valkas gently brushed across the sword blade with his fingers and assumed a standard swordplay stance.
“Ash Heath, I’m sorry.”
The instant the barrier around the arena rose, Valkas turned into a blur. The longsword in his hand seemed to extend to over ten meters as it pierced through the air!
Even though Ash had been on high alert the entire time, he still did not have the time to block with his sword. He could only barely dodge to the right and avoid a hit to his vital spots. A small piece of flesh on his shoulder was sliced off by Valkas’ sword!
The intense pain made Ash gasp, but he had no time to rest, for Valkas was already close!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Ash did not run away. Instead, he took the initiative to charge into Valkas’ arms and pull the battle into the most dangerous distance!
His rationality was not drowned out by the pain—Valkas was ten centimeters taller than him, and had long arms and legs. His arm span and range of attack were too great. At such a close range, there was almost no room for Ash to resist. Only by shortening the distance between the two could he turn Valkas’ advantage into a disadvantage, making it impossible for him to swing his sword!
“Have you never learned any swordplay?”
Ash suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. From the corner of his eye, he saw Valkas turn his wrist and change the forward grip on his sword into a reverse grip!
Clang!
Valkas’ sword blocked Ash’s stab. The elf swiped his elbow horizontally and used his height advantage to land a powerful blow on Ash’s forehead!
Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!
The power of the elbow strike almost made Ash faint. At this moment, the spell energy that had been silent in his mind slowly circulated, emitting a cool aura that allowed him to quickly regain consciousness. His body still maintained his combat instincts as he decisively retreated!
When his vision cleared up, a cold light came towards his face!
Boom!
Ash scrambled to his feet, not daring to let his back touch the ground at all. He looked at the wall that had been torn apart by Valkas’ sword, his face filled with delayed fear, followed by dread.
Their swords were not sharpened!
The prison was not crazy enough to provide sharpened weapons for the death row criminals to fight with!
It was already ridiculous that Valkas could use his weapon to slice off a piece of flesh from Ash’s shoulder blade. Ash thought that Valkas’ sword was so fast that his shoulder flesh couldn’t even react in time.
But that was a stone wall!
It’s actual stone!
Stop! This is not swordplay!
This was beyond the scope of swordplay!
“Spell… Spell spirit?”
“Why do you look a little surprised?”
Valkas smiled.
“Isn’t it natural for a sorcerer to use a spell spirit in battle?”
“But the prison didn’t unblock the spell energy limits—”
“Some things can’t be locked. Even if their limbs are bound, they will still sprout wings and fly. The spirits born from the knowledge that I have completely grasped are still my power, even if there is no supply of spell energy. They will still make every ordinary action of mine into a moment of miracle.”
Ash let out a deep breath. He could feel the weight of his shirt. The blood from the wound in his shoulder had soaked into his clothes. He could feel his strength seeping away, little by little. The blood took his physical strength with it as it fled his body.