Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Noble Half-Breed (3)
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The lightning that had coiled around Ireila's body in an instant enveloped the entire arena.
——Pzzt zzt zzt!!
Looking down from mid-air after leaping over what resembled an electric trap, I swallowed hard.
'If I touch that, I'll get stunned and die instantly...'
It was a method I often used back when I played as Elisis to clear large groups of trash mobs.
Lay down an electric AoE for a wide stun, then wipe them out with magic in one go.
Being on the receiving end made it a truly infuriating spell.
Whooooom!!
I endured as long as I could, using Curtain of the Wind to slow my descent.
The silver lining was that this wide stun required gathering power for a set duration before it could be used.
She couldn't spam it.
Szzzzzt...!
Thud!
I landed on the arena floor just as the electric energy faded.
Whoosh—!!
I immediately kicked off and charged straight at Ireila.
'If I'm going to attack, now's the time...!!'
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Silent Gale Wind energy gathers in both legs, converting into explosive propulsion.
Boom crash crash crash——!!!
Wind energy converged on my legs, transforming into explosive thrust.
I closed the distance in an instant and gripped my axe tightly.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Song of the Hawk Sharp wind energy envelops the weapon.
Shhh shhh shhh!
Ireila began casting a new spell.
With an atmosphere utterly different from before.
No more room for chit-chat now.
But just running around would get me caught soon enough, turning me into prey for the thunder dragon.
17 minutes left.
I had to land some damage somehow and weaken her.
Even if she healed, it didn't matter.
Healing consumed mana too.
"Hraaah!!"
Piiiing!!
I swung the axe infused with razor-sharp wind energy.
Aiming for her waist.
With intent to cleave her in two.
If her waist was severed, recovery would be unlikely.
Instant death bypassed auto-healing.
But.
Claaaang!!
"Wha...?!"
"I can use that too."
"Grrgh!!"
I'd slipped through her guard with Silent Gale for a perfect ambush.
Yet Ireila reacted.
Not just reacted—she infused her hand with wind energy from Song of the Hawk and caught my axe with her wing-like grip.
'Need to create distance...!'
The moment my axe was caught, I yanked it free to pull away and kicked off backward.
Thud!!
But as if she'd anticipated it.
A small orb of blue lightning floated behind me.
"Oh, crap..."
The instant I kicked off to gain distance.
While airborne, I spotted the orb.
Too late.
My body flew away from Ireila straight into the orb.
Lightning surged into me.
Pzzt zzt zzt!!!
"Gaaahhhh——!!"
My muscles contracted from the current, freezing me in place.
Amid the agony, I rolled my eyes to check Ireila.
'Can't stop...! React...!'
A stun mid-battle.
Against an overwhelmingly stronger foe, it was a death sentence.
And as expected.
Ireila charged with Silent Gale, just like I had.
Her fist, wrapped in Song of the Hawk, aimed for my chest.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' is aghast! Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' cries out! Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' bristles its tail! In that instant, I sensed death.
Those watching me surely did too.
Even Ireila's eyes sharpened as she sensed it.
But I thrashed.
'You think I'm dying here...!!'
From my rigid body, I squeezed out mana.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Curtain of the Wind A protective veil of wind disrupts incoming attacks.
"Huh...?"
"Grah!!"
Fwoosh!!
Ireila's fist missed my chest.
The Curtain of the Wind shook my stunned body from her fingertips.
As a result, her fist pierced my left shoulder instead.
"...Impressive."
Ireila's brief voice.
Before I could react.
Twirl.
She spun her body.
Boom crash crash crash!!!
And kicked me straight into the arena wall.
Thud, thud thud...
"Hahk, hahk..."
I clawed my way out of the rubble, clutching my pierced shoulder.
Shhh!
Pure white holy power swirled around my shoulder, healing it instantly.
"That was... hahk, close to dying for real..."
"......"
Step, step, step.
Face twisted in pain, I glared at Ireila.
Expressionless, she scattered lightning around her and approached slowly.
Strong.
Much stronger than me.
This exchange drove it home.
'Time left... 15 minutes...'
Only half the match time had passed.
Could I hold out?
Honestly, I doubted it.
But.
"Hooo..."
I had no intention of just giving up easily.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Aaaah——!! Gladiator Number 17 and Ireila's fierce exchange!! Ireila fights like a cat toying with a mouse!! 12 minutes remaining!! Will this be the end for the beleaguered Number 17——!!] "Hey!! Hang in there, Number 17!!"
"You're doing great!! Just a bit longer!!"
"Yeah!! Stop just dodging and attack!!"
Tskree!
Boom!
Boom crash crash!!
Dust billowed as the frenzied clash continued in the arena.
The spectators watching Number 17 versus Ireila were immersed in the overwhelming thrill, shouting toward the arena.
They cheered clearly for the underdog, Number 17.
All expected another miracle from him.
"Number 17..."
"Gladiator, sir...!"
And in the stands, two figures.
Karga and Tiriel watched the match with faces full of worry.
"Karga, what do you think? Doesn't the Gladiator look exhausted?"
"...Honestly, just surviving this long is impressive. He's taken too many hits from that royal half already."
"No way..."
"......"
Tiriel's eyes welled with tears at Karga's cold analysis, while Karga ground her teeth.
'Number 17...'
The match teetered on a knife's edge.
Essentially, Number 17 desperately holding on.
He'd nearly died multiple times, barely escaping each crisis to last this far.
Of course, his skills made it possible.
Excellent magic and miraculous healing.
But the problem was the match dragging on.
'At this rate... his mana...'
Karga recalled Number 17 fainting from mana depletion recently.
His total mana wasn't vast.
Just average, like any mutt.
So, he was probably nearing his limit.
"Number 17..."
Karga gazed at his weary face from the stands, frustration etched on hers.
——Pzzt zzt zzt!!
'Not much time left...'
And Karga wasn't the only one sensing Number 17's limit.
Ireila, the participant herself.
She thought the same, seeing his exhaustion.
His mana would run out soon.
"Hraaaaa!!"
Yet he charged without giving up, dodging her lightning magic.
And struck at her when chances arose.
'A real mutt... does this?'
Miraculous ability.
Beyond his elven magic, his combat sense and adaptability.
And his unyielding spirit even at the brink.
That impressed her most.
If this were a Colosseum match outside, Number 17 would've shaken her off and escaped long ago.
She was certain she couldn't kill him easily in the wild.
However.
"Tired now, aren't you?"
Even he had limits.
"Hahk, hahk, hahk..."
Drip, drip...
"Not healing your wounds means your mana is gone?"
"Hahk, hahk..."
7 minutes left.
Number 17 had held out well.
Everyone watching thought so.
He'd done admirably.
Accomplished what no mutt could.
"What a shame. Would've been great if you had a real name."
Ireila paid respects to such a Number 17, gathering Song of the Hawk and lightning at her fingertips.
"You're an amazing person."
"Hahk, grrk, haa..."
The crowd held their breath.
All shared Ireila's sentiment.
He'd achieved greatness.
Transcended a mutt's limits.
So they watched his end solemnly.
"Haa, amaaazing, haa, you say...?"
But.
"Bullshit."
One person in this arena.
"I, haa, won't, haa, accept that...!"
Only one objected to the mutt's miraculous stand.
"I won't... end like this...!"
His eyes still burned.
Despite mana too low for healing.
Blood dripping, he gathered every last drop of mana.
'Time left... 6 minutes.'
Mana for one final struggle.
'Using it all... I'll pass out...'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' cheers you on! Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' cheers you on! Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' cheers you on! Ancestor 'Star Prophet' cheers you on! He wasn't the only one refusing to give up.
The great beings watching him.
Those who acknowledged him more than anyone refused his defeat.
"Hooo..."
He steadied his breath.
"Let's do this."
Death loomed already.
"Win or die... not going quietly..."
"......"
Number 17 gazed calmly at Ireila.
In that gaze.
Ireila felt a chill down her spine for some reason.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Curtain of the Wind "Ngh...!"
She readjusted her stance at his sudden aura.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Thread of the Wind 'What...? His mana is surely... don't tell me he's burning life force too...?'
Desperation born of accepting it as the last stand.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Song of the Hawk This was one of the techniques that turned the tide when leading the great fairy master.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Silent Gale The mutt poured all power toward one goal.
And soon.
━━━━━━━━━━━!!!! A deathly sword strike born from one mutt created a storm in the arena.
'What... is this...'
At the storm's center, Ireila felt fear.
'This... is Quartet of the Wind...?'
The storm slashed endlessly.
Her healing mended wounds instantly.
But new massive gashes appeared before they closed.
"Ngh...! Hn...! No...!!"
Shhh shhh shhh!!
The mutt's dance, as if forsaking life.
That acceptance of death instilled true terror in Ireila for the first time.
"No...!! Kyaaah—!! No—!!"
She would die.
The noble half-blood from two purebloods.
Felled by a single worthless mutt.
Shhh shhh shhh shhh!!!
The arena watched, stunned.
It wasn't just "transcending mutt limits."
This was.
——A rebellion against the noble blood of mutts.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ An achievement has been confirmed. Achievement: Breaker of the Wall of Birth. Your seed has been planted in 'Feast of the Stars'.