Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Flying Wolfram
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Okay.
Before kicking off this massive battle, I double-checked all the cards up my sleeve.
First, let's recall the stats I remember for Rudika Hassan Shadow.
Skills:
She has a few other skills besides these, but those are her main combat ones.
Hassan-style Dagger Arts is just slashing away up close.
Abyss Steps lets her hide in blind spots while guaranteeing her next strike hits.
Zero-to-Hundred Zero is instant acceleration. It's a developer pun—zero time to go from 0 to 100. What is this, a cyber machine? It's not a dash; it's teleportation.
Then she crits like crazy and ignores stiffness from damage... In short, she's a natural-born assassination machine.
And the kicker? She's a mid-first-year recruitable ally, in her 'initial' state where she 'absolutely' can't lose to Kelters. Meaning all those skills can tier up as much as they want. Insane.
But right now, she's still 'initial' Rudika.
If I could drag in her post-Act 5 power, it'd be a fair fight.
Of course, that's only if I were fighting as Kelters.
So, how should Wolfram handle this?
Don't worry.
I have the ultimate tactic that only Wolfram von Loengrin can pull off.
It's called...
Hellish Windbag Throne Tactics.
"The fight's on, but diving straight into blades clashes with style."
"...What are you getting at, Wolfram?"
"No, wait. My friend and fierce rival, now turned foe—Rudika Hassan Shadow. Would you hear me out for a moment?"
"...Fine."
Good.
I've bought myself a 'turn.'
So how do I spend this turn? Beg for sympathy from Rudika and ask her to go easy?
No way I'd waste it like that.
First, activate my skills.
Come forth, my ace in the hole.
"【This Jefrin has far too many students. Don't you think most are just posers? Trash who should be expelled anytime?】"
I tossed those words not at her, but at the audience.
As arrogantly and obnoxiously as possible.
The spectator seats stir. Perfect.
"【It's a pity to show our fight to such trash, Rudika Hassan Shadow. You're one of the few I deem worthy. Our battle should command a ticket price—it's too grand a feast for those paupers.】"
Now the audience realizes my insults are aimed at them.
'Bloodline trash' 'I'll kill you someday' 'You ruined my family' 'You embezzled and got chased out by your sister—what gives you the right?' 'Die.' 'Die.' 'Just die.'
Yes. Come on, insult me more.
Now.
Time to use my Act 2 clear reward item.
Skill Proficiency Up Ticket. Activate.
Amid the flood of skill messages, I spread both arms wide.
Now, at full strength, my words carry the weight of imperial decree—near-divine utterance.
"【Shut your mouths.】"
With that, all complaints vanished, leaving only silence.
Good.
First prep done. Time for the second.
"【Rudika Hassan Shadow. My friend, heir to the greatest assassin clan.】"
I glance over—her eyes waver. Proof the intimidation landed.
As expected.
Even with 20 Will, she can't fully block a 'boosted 1-tier skill.'
"【This duel thrills me too, but heaven is heaven, earth is earth. They can never stand on the same plane.】"
I clench my fist, extend my index finger, and slash downward.
This is the signal to Filtia.
Rumble rumble rumble.
With a massive groan, the ground lifts my body.
I'm not flying. The earth itself is raising me up.
It forms stairs, leaving Rudika on the ground as I ascend higher.
Looking back, there's a throne of exquisite beauty: golden armrests, blood-red seat and back.
Yes.
This is the 【Trial of the Dragon】 reward I prepared to face Rudika Hassan Shadow.
Sitting atop it, gazing down, Rudika stares up from at least five meters below.
"【Sorry to keep you waiting. My preparations are complete.】"
Man.
Think about it—this is like a demon king overlooking a hero.
"【Come at me, assassin. If you reach me, I'll praise you.】"
Might as well ham it up like a demon king.
There's this thing called a stationary boss.
Common gimmick in boss fight phase one.
Sitting on a throne, pointing a finger summons adds to fight for you while the boss watches from on high.
Classic example: Act 5 boss in old-school Devil Hunter II. From Act 1 to 5, it summons mobs from Stone Citadel while cackling at the gate.
First trait: 【Main body is invincible.】
Second: 【Stationary boss just spams AoE from above.】
"【What's wrong? You're staggering.】"
I flick my hand—an invisible shockwave slams into Rudika.
Next, status potions fly through the air.
First is the throne's built-in attack spell.
Second are status potions I prepped and loaded myself.
Rudika dodges purely on agility, waiting for her moment to charge.
"Haat!"
"【Hmph.】"
No chance.
You're first-person view. I'm top-down.
With map overview, I never lose.
"Ugh!?"
"【Oh? Dodged that too?】"
Even as 【Status: Paralysis Potion】 targets her opening perfectly, her assassin talent lets her evade.
But startled, she stumbles back several steps.
That's it.
This is how 'Wolfram von Loengrin' beats the ultimate assassin, 'Rudika Hassan Shadow'—strongest and worst way.
So.
'What do I need to fight Rudika Hassan Shadow evenly?'
'First, I can't move. No point against 22 Dexterity.'
'Best skill: Imperial Bloodline. She's a high-mobility assassin with no AoE.'
'Weak to status effects too.'
'Solution: Stay put, ignore her attacks, spam AoE status from stationary position.'
That's why I snatched this from the First Emperor's vault without hesitation.
Filtia asked multiple times if I was serious, but hey—no other way.
I glance—appraise the throne.
Yeah. My 【Trial of the Dragon】 prize.
The emperor's combat throne.
Originally a 2-tier monster item, but without dragon heart, it's just 6-tier now.
So what powers it?
"...".
Yep.
Magic stones.
My hands shake.
One mid-grade mana stone gone every minute.
Even amusement park bumper cars cost less.
I shove in a stocked magic stone from beside me.
How many lin is this one worth?
Activation costs money, those flying potions cost money—everything's money.
"Haha! Ahahaha! Wolfram, this is fun! So much fun!"
But Rudika neatly dodges every attack.
1-tier skill on, emperor's treasure deployed, mana stones burning through—yet she laughs happily...
It pisses me off.
Having fun, are you?
I'm not.
Rudika Hassan Shadow's heart swelled with joy.
Wolfram von Loengrin was her 'watch target.'
She'd negotiated with her family to upgrade him to 'protection target' via imperial talks, but his past misdeeds had warranted imperial scrutiny.
His stats seemed pitiful: Stamina 2? Magic 3? Strength 4? Number games?
Yet look at her friend.
With those frail stats, he pulls off miracles time and again.
Her Dexterity: 21. Strength: 13. Stamina: 14.
One hit should drop him. Poke his solar plexus walking up—he'd crumple.
But it doesn't land.
"Kuh!"
Desperate charge to the throne—and potions rain down.
Trajectories memorized. Step back two—let them pass. Sizzle. The potion bubbles ominously on the floor.
Next, magic attack. The throne's baleful aura surges. One step? Half. Tiny shift evades—or get blasted back.
"Hoo."
A sigh escapes. Tired? Me?
Yes. She's tiring.
Her Stamina 14 lags behind Nefti's 16+, even Aila Trista's.
She's a shadow striker for one-shot kills. Weak to attrition, status, magic.
And her friend exploited that perfectly.
This path leads to defeat.
He's enjoying it too. A smile tugs at her lips unwittingly.
"I retract my words, Wolfram."
"【Which ones?】"
His voice chills her spine, squeezes her chest.
The emperor's blood surveying her—it cows her to bow.
That's her friend, fighting in earnest.
"This academy's boring. No thrills. I take it all back. ...Look how you make my heart race."
"【Took you long enough, fool.】"
"So, with respect, I'll go all out. My friend, Wolfram!"
Hoo. Awaken senses.
If it must hit, make it hit. If unreachable, overtax legs to close distance.
Thus she resolves, powering her feet. Berserk - Overdrive. For 5 seconds, boosts Dexterity to 22.
Dexterity rivaling the First Emperor.
Suppress instincts to rampage, numb omnipotence high.
To keep 'Rudika Hassan Shadow' sane at crucial moments, she's dulled her senses all along.
"Here I come, Wolfram."
By utterance's end, she'd kicked off, scaled stairs, smashed her wooden dagger into his solar plexus, and tumbled back.
Faster than five words: hundreds of meters bridged—her earnest strike.
Took two potions, one magic wave mid-way.
Yet berserk legs didn't stop.
Fun fight. Body wrecked by breakthrough, but victory hers.
"Twas fun, Wolfram."
My friend. My best friend Wolfram!
With respect, this fight ends in my—
"【Showing an opening? Pathetic, assassin.】"
"...Huh?"
Then a fierce magic wave engulfs her. She feels her body flying down the stairs.
Why? Didn't it hit?
What happened...? Why miss?
Did Wolfram dodge? Forward? Back? Side? Down? How?
Faster than her speed? How?
"【The First Emperor was a riot. This throne has an eject function. I weakened it... just a tiny hop. Tsk. Body creaking from that? What to do with your Stamina.】"
His voice, rising farther, whispers in her ear like beside her.
Tumbling from stairs, Rudika laughs incredulously, gripping her dagger tight to the end.
"Flying Wolfram... Haha, ahahaha!"
Knew he had sky-high ambitions, but actually flying?
How to win this?
Soon after. It ended.