Vol. 13 - Chapter 775 - Preparation for Conquer Day #3 - Duel against Sword God 2

The curtain rises on the deathly duel between Sword God and Allen..

*Fwoosh*

(A straightforward attack?...It doesn't seem to be a feint. She believes I am not worth getting serious?)

Allen's eyes were snapped wide, making sure nothing escaped from his sight. He churned his intelligence at its full capability, and parse Sword God's footwork, expression, and direction.

After noticing Allen had no intention to make the first move, Sword God blitzed forward, her silhouette blurring due to her extreme agility.

Unlike the broadsword Kurena had shaped Ascalon into, the Ascalon in Sword God's hand featured a slender frame, albeit its blade went beyond one meter in length.

Allen's experience with sword went as earlier make-believe knight game Kurena would often pull him into in their childhood. The sword was his preferred weapon type, but he also had used many other weapon types in that.

He accurately grasped the gap between him, and rapidly approached Sword God. He decided to avoid direct confrontation. Sword god with her divine artifact was a deadly combo to confront head on.

He dodged, stepping away from coming under the sword's trajectory. A calculated move, one he had planned to take from the beginning, and yet, the sword's tip nearly scratched his face.

(Wh—? That was so close?!)

Perhaps it was his natural instinct after the last challenge, when he nearly lost his neck, Allen started to make sure he didn't miss out on sword's trajectory or speed from the fringes. Alas, he had barely dodged when another slash raced toward him.

(Tch, I can't dodge every attack at this close range. Damn it. I need a new plan!)

Sword God was playing an unpredictable sword style. Often, she would draw a slash at unimaginable speed, then another she would deliberately lower it, making it harder to predict.

He couldn't have faced it within melee range. Once he had calculated this, he kicked the floor and jumped several metres backward. And yet, with an agility almost surpassing the barrier of sound, Ascalon trailed through the air to Allen's position within mere 0.1 second.

«His movement is something. It's hard to believe he's keeping up with the Sword God.»

«This is the second time he dodged Sword God's attack.»

«Is he truly human? For a second, my eyes couldn't even track his movement at all.»

Astonishing gasps came out from the disciple angel's crowd as they watched Allen's movement. Of course, Allen's attention was completely occupied by the Sword God, and he had no leeway to pay attention to their murmurs.

«Look at you, now you're truly speaking fast. Is this the blessing of the Great Spirit God, I wonder? Maybe you have already surpassed your agility.»

(So she says, but she still managed to read every one of my moves. I am not going to let her target my neck again.)

As the gamer he once was in his previous life, through his experience of PvP events, Allen was one to believe 'agility' is the key to any duel.

In this short exchange, he definitely had an edge in agility, but he couldn't let himself lower his guard at all.

[Name] Allen

[Age] 16

[Job] Summoner

[Level] 250

[Endurance] 35,515＋135,000

[Mana] 56,780＋144,000

[Spiritual Aura] 200,780

[Attack] 19,876＋145,200

[Resistance] 19,876＋140,000

[Agility] 36,919＋159,600

[Intelligence] 56,790＋165,400

[Luck] 36,919＋128,000

[Blessing] Stamina Recovery Ex., Mana Recovery Ex., Improve Dodge (high), Clear Mind (Invalidate Abnormal Status), Flight, Critical Rate Up, Physical Resistance (high), Breath Immunity, Malice Exterminator, Damage Reduction

[Divine Technique] Creation 3 (6)

[Skill] Summon (9), Production (9), Fusion (9), Strength+ (9), Awakened (9), Growth (9), Expansion (8), Synchro, Storage, Quick Summon, Equivalent Exchange, Leader, Ruler, Inventory, Divine Technique Art, Sword Art (5+3+1), Throw(3)

[Experience] 30 Quadrillion/10^68

Skill Progression:

Production - 720 x 10^8 / 1000 x 1000 x 10^8

Fusion - 560 x 10^8 / 1000 x 1000 x 10^8

Strength+ - 600 x 10^8 / 1000 x 1000 x 10^8

Awakened - 470 x 10^8 / 1000 x 1000 x 10^8

Growth - 410 x 10^8 / 1000 x 1000 x 10^8

Creation3 - 6 x 10^8/10 x 1000 x 10^8

Deck (All 90) — All Possible Summon Rarity x Composition

[Insect] 08 Deck - Seal A B C D E F G H (One of each rarity)

[Beast] 09 Deck - S A B C D E F G H (One of each rarity)

[Bird] 25 Deck - S A B C D E F G H (One of each rarity) (A - 10, E - 5, F, 1)

[Grass] 09 Deck - S A B C D E F G H (One of each rarity)

[Stone] 07 Deck - Seal A B C D E F G Seal (One of each rarity)

[Fish] 07 Deck - S A B C D E F Seal Seal (One of each rarity)

[Spirit] 06 Deck - S A B C D E Seal Seal Seal (One of each rarity)

[Dragon] 13 Deck - S A B C D Seal Seal Seal Seal (One of each rarity) (A - 8)

[Angel] 03 Deck - S N/A B C Seal Seal Seal Seal (One of each rarity)

[God] 03 Deck - S A B Seal Seal Seal Seal Seal Seal (One of each rarity)

※ Seal - Summon Impossible

※ N/A - No longer available after Merus's jump from A-rank to S-rank

Equipment:

【Weapon】Allen Sword: Attack +50,000; Intelligence +30,000; Physical Resistance (Extreme); Skill Activation Speed +100%; Critical Rate +100%; Infinite Repair

【Armor ①】Armored Dragon Armor: Durability +8,000; Physical Attack Damage -50%

【Armor ②】Dark Dragon Mantle: Durability +4,000; Magic Attack Damage -50%

【Ring ①】Agility +5,000; Agility +5,000

【Ring ②】Agility +5,000; Agility +5,000

【Bracelet ①】Skill Activation Speed +50%; Agility +5,000; Agility +5,000

【Bracelet ②】Skill Activation Speed +50%; Agility +5,000; Agility +5,000

【Necklace】Agility +3,000; Agility +3,000

【Earring ①】Agility +2,000; Agility +2,000

【Earring ②】Agility +2,000; Agility +2,000

【Belt】Wind Resistance; Agility +10,000

【Anklet ①】Vitality +5,000; Agility +5,000

【Anklet ②】Vitality +5,000; Agility +5,000

Allen's Final Status (Warrior Howl+Equipments+Buffs):

[Endurance] 134,500／539,102

[Mana] 511,926

[Spiritual Aura] 511,926

[Attack] 653,508＋50,000

[Resistance] 418,465＋12,000

[Agility] 1,103,961

[Intelligence] 789,615＋30,000

[Luck] 407,554＋999,999※

Buffs:

1. Sophia and Luck's Great Spirit's Blessing

2. Sophia's Spirit God Blessing (8); Prayer of Ode (8);

3. Roselina's True Support (8); True March (8); Mermaid Princess (8); Dance of Heaven (8); Sonorous Song (8);

4. Great Spirit God Easley's Breath of the World (All stats +30,000)

5. Peromas's skill [Luck Eleven] ※

6. Merus's ability [Funny Pom-Pom], Awakening Skill [Crazy Dance]

7. Makris's ability [Royal Guard], Awakening Skill [Royal Aura]

8. Bird H's Golden Egg (All stats +3000)

9. Graham's Warrior Howl

Allen had gone through every possible means to make himself stronger for this challenge. He had cashed out his favour from the demon's raid in the form of a blessing from the Great Spirit God. Then, back at Heavy User Island, he had Peromas cast Lucky Eleven, and that was superimposed with Angel B's [Luck Slot], making it possible to bring luck to 999,999.

Yet, with her comprehension of swordsmanship and sword arts, Sword God's accuracy was so terrific each strike of her managed to warp the abstract concept of luck.

Even if it appeared Allen had made a perfect dodge, the sword would still have struck at the target, ignoring the laws of physics.

Fortunately, with buffs this time, Allen had found his method to cope against the absolute accuracy of Sword God.

(Does this at least put us into equal footing?...But the last two dodges barely cut it out.)

The gulf between their swordsmanship was still something that he couldn't bridge. Somehow, Allen would find himself constantly under the slashing trajectory of Sword God.

"A... Allen..."

Kurena murmured in uneaseness. In a contrast from the leisure expression of Sword God, Allen's comrades were engulfed with a strain of tension. Not even the angels, or Kelvin believed Allen could deliver that one strike against Sword God, one of three combat god sisters, and the leader of Eight Armament Gods.

(I am better with my agility. And luck's correction is keeping me from severe injury, and my strikes' accuracy is improving itself. Recalling back, Extra Mode had a status limit, too, but it seems I am an exception. Hah, truly tell mode.)

Allen had exhausted his brains just to find a means to gain a favourable position in this duel. With buffs, he could narrowly avoid the attacks. But the fact was cold; he couldn't just dodge forever as the Sword God delivered closes the distance almost at the same speed.

«Oh, come on. Is this what this duel is, a game of cat and mouse till sunset? Or... ooh, can it be—you're scared, haha? Uh-huh, even your buffs, which you've especially traded your favour for, wouldn't last long.»

(Was she saying "Try to attack, if you can"? Is she vary of my counters...? But, in my current stance... maybe it's worth a try.)

The difference between the two sides was striking. Allen was dripping with sweat, his sword held straight in his hand, while Sword God just taunted casually, grinning.

The distance between them was shorter than 5 metres. Despite taking notice of his improved agility, Sword God hadn't even taken any stance, simply standing at her spot nonchalantly, carrying Ascalon on her shoulder.

Allen held his sword high, and bolted forward with extreme speed.

(Still, she's not trying to take any measure. There's no way she can dodge at my current speed!)

Allen crossed the centre between them, but Sword God showed no emergency. It was clear she had no intention to dodge. She should've known there's no way she could go scot free if Allen managed to land even one strike, even if she was a god. After all, Allen was buffed to the best of his ability, with Grham's skill already in activation. And his weapon—the Allen Sword was forged from sacred orichalcum, and contained a huge amount of Earth God's divine power.

Within a fraction of second, Allen had closed the gap to mere one meter, just a simple gesture, and his sword could touch Sword God's jaw.

The other side remained unflinched. Allen didn't slow down, for it was already a match of life and death, and further bolstered his agility, reaching out straight for Sword God with his weapon.

*Fwoosh*

(Huh... the head disappeared...?)

Just when Allen's sword was mere inches away from Sword God's jaw, the situation took a turn, leaving Allen in wonder if what he was seeing was an illusion.

The dynamic vision was completely dependent on agility. The faster someone was, the better they could grasp the movement of their target. Allen's agility status had recently crossed the threshold of one million. It went without saying he should've noticed anything strange. Yet, just as Allen's sword cut through Sword God's head, instead of splitting, it disappeared into smoke.

And soon, like she was a mirage crafted from the heat haze, her entire silhouette dispersed. No, it wasn't just her Sword God or her sword. Allen felt even his sword's tip turning into an illusion.

*Slash*

(W-what? My sword... disappeared? Hmm? Was my sword always this light?)

Allen was left completely clueless at the situation occurring, though before he could be completely swallowed in it, the sensation from his arms pulled him back to reality.

Suddenly, he felt the weight of his sword wasn't quite matching his experience. He couldn't even channel his strength in his arms.

Completely caught in the mysterious happening, Allen's ears picked up the cries of Kurena during his confusion.

"A-Allen! Y, your arms!"

"Hmm? What about my—huh?! M-my arms?!"

The right hand of Allen, which carried his sword, was dancing in air, sliced by Sword God's attack.