Chương 46: Stop! I Surrender!

I Surrender!

For all that Ryan's fireballs flew out twenty a second, the Stamina cost was monstrous. Each Fireball drained 20 Stamina—so twenty a second meant 400 a second. Even with his cap of 4, 000, far above a normal player's, that was just ten seconds of full output. His fireballs couldn't trigger Combo, so each dealt a fixed 250 to the shield; at that rate, ten seconds would whittle away only half its HP.

"It's exhilarating, sure—I feel like a human turret—but this drain is terrifying." The Stamina potions sold in a tier-three city's shop restored at most 400 Stamina each—one second's worth for Ryan. And the potion cooldown was ten seconds; luckily, his 10x acceleration let him down one every second. Still, it was a hassle, no fun at all, and he had to watch his Stamina constantly—one slip and the turret went dry.

"Stop, stop! Enough! Enough!" From within the sea of fire, Achilles shouted.

"This is no fun at all! I quit!" From the start he'd been beaten down by Big Gunn, and just as he thought he was adapting, ready to strike back, the man—whether by design or instinct—saw through him, pulled back, and turned the corner-bound Achilles into a living target. Twenty fireballs a second—he couldn't take it. The man got to enjoy himself; Achilles was suffocating. Maddening! And helpless to do a thing about it!

"Stop already! Please, be a decent person! I quit—is that not enough?!" A spar was meant to measure combat skill, not to be a stand-and-tank contest. Is this even human? That firepower's fiercer than a Gold Boss!

"Quit? But we haven't decided a winner yet." Ryan tipped a Stamina potion down his throat, a flicker of confusion on his face.

"Weren't you the one always clamoring to measure yourself against me? Why back out now?"

"Who fights like that?"

"Is there something wrong with fighting like this? Should we set up turns—I punch you, you kick me back?" Ryan frowned.

"It's a fight. You fight however's comfortable, however wins. Hold on a moment—I'll have your shield broken any second now." With that, his fireballs poured on, hammering Achilles's dome. -250! -250! -250! … Numbers floated up off the sword-qi shield without pause; watching its HP plummet, Achilles paled. Forget it! It's just one loss! A real man can take a loss—I'll just win it back later! He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Stop! I surrender!"

At the words, Ryan—mid-pill, mid-Fireball—curled his lip and slowly drew back.

"Couldn't you have said so sooner? You made me waste five or six Stamina potions." The flames faded; Achilles let his shield drop and slumped against the corner like a frost-bitten eggplant. Since birth he'd never lost a bout among his peers—and now he'd lost in a game, to this fellow called Big Gunn. Game or not, it stung. A loss was a loss; using the game as an excuse wasn't his style. What he hadn't expected was to lose so thoroughly.

He'd known Ryan's fighting method in advance and prepared countermeasures; by his plan, he'd had real odds of winning. Instead it was a rout—his own scheme turned against him, the very cause of his defeat. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. What terrifying battle sense. Even the seasoned Achilles felt a chill recalling it.

From Ryan's opening, he was all but certain the man had walked into his trap—yet Ryan had reacted in a flash, countered, seized control, and crushed him outright. On that alone, he'd never look down on this Big Gunn again. Pairing it with the cool composure and meticulous schemes Ryan had shown in the dungeons, Achilles's scalp prickled. On the surface he seems like a slacker—but he's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Forget everything else; from the battle sense the man had shown in that brief fight alone—if Big Gunn weren't formidable in reality too, Achilles would twist his own head off.

"Hey, what are you brooding about?" The spar over, Ryan stretched, walked to Achilles slumped by the wall, and pulled him up. Reign had been live a while now, yet Ryan had faced few fights that demanded his full attention. Achilles's strength was real; that Ryan won was wholly thanks to the System and his rich experience. In a true head-on clash, it would never have ended so fast.

After all, in his last life Achilles had fought him over a hundred times, each side taking their share of wins—his strength beyond question. Green as he still was this life, he was, undeniably, a genius. Ryan was different: what he'd carved out in his last life came from relentless, day-and-night effort. Achilles, though—he was a genius without question.

"I lost. You're… strong." Achilles's gaze sank, and as he came to himself, resolve filled his eyes.

"But this is only for now. I'll win it back someday!"

"Good. Challenge me anytime!" Ryan smiled. There's the Achilles I know.

"See you around!" Achilles brushed off the dust, took up his greatsword, and turned to go.

"Wait." Ryan called him back.

"Why not join the Snowfall Mercenary Corps? Then we could spar often."

"No need." Achilles stopped and turned.

"Staying by your side, I'd never break through—forever in your shadow. I need to find my own way to grow stronger, alone. Just wait—when we next meet, I'll defeat you and even the score!"

"Since you've made up your mind, then go." Ryan fell silent a moment, then nodded slowly. Achilles's choice was sound; given his temperament, going off to temper himself alone suited him.

"Let's add each other as friends, then—easier to stay in touch."

"Sure." Friends added, Achilles shouldered his greatsword and left the shop's backyard. Ryan looked up at the star-strewn sky, his thoughts drifting, lost in something only he knew. …

"Cousin, there's progress!"

"On what?"

"The Snowfall studio and Big Gunn!"

"Oh? Tell me!"

"You won't believe how lucky this is! Today I met a kid named Edwin Shaw—he says he knows who this Big Gunn really is!"

"Excellent! I'll log off right now. Where are you? I'll come to you!"

"I'm in Duskcloud City, Southriver Province!"

"Good. I'll set out tonight—we'll talk face to face!" Nameless Slayer hung up the comm, excitement blazing in his eyes.

"Big Gunn—your good days are about to end!"