MMORPG: The Elementalist

“Who… Who’s this chick?”

Everyone from Remorseless Warrior’s crew shook their heads. “No idea. We’ve never seen her…” They had also been guessing who the Fallen Angels would send for the second round—would it be another winged Elementalist to win another round or would they risk sending out a weaker player…

They were surprised to see that it was Xiaoxiao who had been sent out.

After they saw the Aquamancer’s speed in activating her barrier, Remorseless Warrior and his crew grinned…

“Wait… Xiaoxiao… I’ve seen this name on the Fallen Angels member list before. She’s only at Level 49! So, she only ranked up recently like that Dinosaurcerer,” said one of the Executors.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m certain! I noticed that there were only a dozen members on their Clan’s name list so I went on and read it.”

He was very sure.

Remorseless and his crew looked at one another and smiled…

The battle had tipped to their favor!

“Maybe Tarzan could actually win this round after all…”

“I thought of just giving up this round. Heh, yet they allow such a newbie Tier 5 Aquamancer to charge ahead. If that’s the case, they shouldn’t get upset if we win.” Remorseless Warrior smirked.

Indeed, they had originally wanted to forfeit a victory during that round—therefore, Remorseless Warrior sent out a Titanwraith Berserker. He was also hoping that his opponents would lower down their guard by having them face a weaker combatant and that they would use up their stronger combatants along the way.

However, he did not expect them to send out an unpopular female Aquamancer, and a newly-ranked-up one too, once they saw the Berserker step into the arena.

Even though Tarzan was the weakest amongst the available Executors at the moment, he was still quite strong… He was merely a little weaker than Thor and was also capable of dishing out consecutive attacks.

“Tarzan! Take her out at full force!”

***

Meanwhile, Qin Ruo and his gang were worried about Xiaoxiao.

They truly did not have the slightest idea of the capabilities of Remorseless Warrior’s combatants. However, they knew Xiaoxiao fairly well—she just ranked up to Tier 5 recently, thus she was not any stronger than the time she was at Tier 4.

She was still refining her skills in Elemental Perception and also a few other basic Elemental techniques; without a doubt, she did not have the faintest clue about how to use Tier 5 offensive and support magic.

Plus, that was not the only thing that they were worried about.

Xiaoxiao had no experience in player-versus-player at all. She was like a blank canvas, except for the several dueling training sessions she had with Qin Ruo. Her equipment were of average grade, and she was not as combat-ready as a Tier 4 Field Commander.

Sending her out onto the arena was an immensely huge gamble…

However, Qin Ruo had good reasons for that.

Out of the thirteen members they had, Fateless and Permanent Lock were both Bandits; so once they were no longer in stealth mode, any Tier 5 player with sufficient preparation could take them out easily… unless they actively forfeit the fight from the get-go.

Therefore, instead of sending out the Bandits, who would face imminent defeat, it would be better if they sent Xiaoxiao… She was, after all, an Elementalist—her Class was made for combat. Even if she could not win, she could at least drag the battle for three minutes.

Besides!

The air in the Level 2 area of the Aricus Underground Ruins was immensely humid… That gave Xiaoxiao a rather good geographical advantage. As for Xiaoxiao’s combat prowess, Qin Ruo knew what she could do more than any other person.

The opponent was a Tier 5 Titanwraith Berserker…

He could actually be a good stepping stone for Xiaoxiao!

As Qin Ruo’s face beamed in secret, Subjugator suspiciously sent a private voice message to him. “Qin Ruo, about that Magic Scroll you gave Xiaoxiao earlier… Was that the scroll dropped by Galbis?”

“No.” Qin Ruo shook his head.

“That scroll wouldn’t do Xiaoxiao any good.”

“So you know, huh.”

Subjugator breathed a sigh of relief. In a one-on-one duel like that, if it was the combatant’s first time using Teleport, it would not only be quite ineffective in delivering the elements of suspense and offense, the user could also make mistakes due to miscalculations—a result of being unfamiliar with the mechanics of Teleportation.

“Then, what did you give her? Tier 5 AoE Magic?”

“Lycan Barrage.”

Subjugator’s jaw almost dropped to the ground. Before he could utter his opinion, the duel between Xiaoxiao and Tarzan had begun!

***

A battle between an Elementalist and a Warrior-type would begin once the former completed her barrier formation.

That was the rule!

The reason for it was, in regular field combat, the Elementalist would have detected her enemies from afar preemptively activated her defenses. Hence, it was only fair that she was given the opportunity to do so before the duel began.

The moment Xiaoxiao was blanketed by her Frostbarrier, Tarzan, who was forty meters away, immediately hunched and lunged forward like a cheetah!

That surprised Qin Ruo and his fellow teammates.

‘It’s another experienced combatant!’

‘Xiaoxiao’s in trouble!’

However… as everyone looked worriedly at Xiaoxiao, who was taking too much time to cast her barrier, she stepped forward and acted, surprising everyone.

***

Wheep! Wheep!

Wheep! Wheep!

As Xiaoxiao swung her Dark Gold magic staff rapidly, wave after wave of Aquaramparts surged from the ground in front of her and gushed towards Taizan.

She was also slowly backing away while controlling the Water Element.

Tarzan had instantly activated Berserk and Berserk Shell as he swiftly rushed to get within thirty meters of her. He was even prepared to slam away the lock-on magic attacks that she was casting. Nevertheless, he did not expect Xiaoxiao to be so gentle.

Elementalism!

The newbie Tier 5 Aquamancer had not even raised up her Darkfrost Shield, yet she wanted to use Elementalism at such a close range…

How arrogant!

“I’m at close range, within thirty meters of you. At best, you have a two-second reflex time… what could your Elementalism achieve?”

Heh!

As Tarzan quietly thought about that, he let out a disdainful laugh and continued to dash forward at high speed, holding his Skybreaker Staff tightly. In the blink of an eye, he was now fifteen meters closer to his opponent…

Suddenly!

Tarzan noticed more and more small swamps of water flowing out of the ground. That, coupled with the Aquaramparts, which were swirling around him… he could not help but feel a treacherous scheme looming in the air.

Aquaramparts?

They were all Aquaramparts…

The little girl… Could she have learned Qin Ruo’s infamous Frostramparts Formation?

Shivering at the thought, the Executors outside the arena could not help but look at the recently-ranked Tier 5 Aquamancer, Xiaoxiao. They all appeared uneasy and worried.

Frostramparts Formation…

Qin Ruo was able to take out countless enemies with that attack; one such fallen enemy was the strongest Champion in the Demon Faction—Savior.

If Xiaoxiao also knew how to use that skill, the tables would flip.

As the number of swirling Aquaramparts rose to seven, the swamps also released more Aquaramparts to the air… Everyone could not help but be impressed…

That was fast!

The Water Element was charged up so quickly!

Remorseless Warrior and the Executors could not believe their eyes—if that many Aquaramparts were turned into Frostramparts and exploded, it would leave quite a bloody scene.

The Berserk Shell was able to nullify one strong attack for the Berserker, but not that many.

“Idiot! Destroy those Aquaramparts! Quickly!” Remorseless Warrior shouted in the Clan Channel.

Perhaps it was due to the shouting from Remorseless Warrior and his comrades or the looming threat he felt from the Aquaramparts, but Tarzan quickly summoned his Pet…

With a thundering roar, a Chimera materialized next to Tarzan and fired three Elemental Bullets from its mouths!

Shou! Shou! Shou!

Three Aquaramparts were pierced by the attack…

Seeing that three of her Aquarampants were destroyed, Xiaoxiao frowned, and without hesitation, started to freeze seven of the Aquaramparts.

However, Tarzan was also sharp in his perception…

As a wave of bone-chilling air rose up, he locked on to his target and furiously swept out his scarlet red staff, crushing four newly-formed Frostramparts before Xiaoxiao could detonate them!

“Frostburst!”

As Xiaoxiao yelled out her command, the three Frostramparts that were left immediately exploded…

The damage was of a Tier 2 consecutive Frostburst… Without a huge number of Frostramparts, the resulting attack was not enough of a threat to Tarzan.

“Die!”

A loud growl echoed throughout Level 2 of the Aricus Underground Ruins.

Yet!

Tarzan’s attack missed its target entirely as a snowy gale blew around him.

He was confused because he felt no recoil from his staff once he delivered his blow, and he heard no painful moaning from the Aquamancer… Then, a system message delivered shocking news to him.

Attack missed!

Impossible!

Tarzan could not believe it.

At that speed, the opponent would not have been able to escape the attack no matter how she evaded it…

Hold on… could it be?!!

Teleportation?!

That female Aquamancer also knew how to teleport?

While he was still stunned from the shocking revelation, Tarzan felt a strong ramming force from within the snow. Soon, his Berserk Shell was shattered! Then, another powerful attack sped towards him…