Disregarding what Alisa, Sharon, Ennea, and Ines thought, Ace and I grinned and suddenly rushed out at each other. I had activated Piercing Light while Ace used one of his Crafts. He swung down hard quite I blocked the giant broadsword. It created a loud echo of striking metal, which caused Alisa to flinch. This guy was definitely not to be underestimated. I doubt Ace reports to Melchior directly. I recall there being another person above him. Someone who calls himself The Emperor.
Not to get confused with the position I was granted by Ouroboros, which shares the same name. No, this guy actually calls himself The Emperor. Such a cringe name.
Still, while the two of us had clashed swords, I spent a moment reviewing Ace's information. I was left dumbfounded.
[Ace Rayne - Level: 100]
Title: One of Swords
Organization: Garden of Swords
Holder of the highest rank within the Garden of Swords, who is not one of the Overseers. Ace operates mostly out of Calvard and the East, but for some unknown reason, his eyes fell upon Western Erebonia. His newest target is Alisa Reinford. Ace holds a near perfect kill ratio, and won't turn back from his mission until his target is dead, or incapacitated. Despite holding such a rank within the Garden of Swords, he still holds worry for his younger sister, Nadia Rayne.
HP: 35,000,000
STR: 8,000 DEF: 8,000
ATS: 5,000 ADF: 4,000
RES: 20,000 ARES: 15,000
EXP: ???
'Holy...', I thought. Did I see that right? Thirty-five million health!?
Even Reverie's boss on its hardest difficulty only had around eight to nine million. And even then, its Level was 250. Ace is only Level 100, and yet he's displaying stats far higher than what you'd find in Reverie. This is likely an impact from the Gamer System. This power-scaling...
Will it continue, and continue as time passes? Or will it reach a stopping set, and do something else instead?
I wonder, if I had a look at the Jaeger King now, would his stats be similar? Definitely an endgame boss. The "true" start of Sky hasn't even begun yet, haha! Such a weird development, isn't it? I mean, will Estelle and Joshua be Level 100 by the time they become Junior Bracers? That would be hilarious to see.
I am not sure how much health I would lose if I take a direct hit. It's already taking a lot of strength just trying to keep Ace in his current position...
"Heh. You've gone awfully quiet, Mr. Rulebreaker. You tryin' to find a weak spot or something?", Ace said, looking right at me. "Well, I won't give you any!"
"Tch.", I replied, only to see Ace swing with his spare arm, and punch. BANG!
Thanks to the sudden force, Ace managed to get a blow on me.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has received a normal blow from Ace Rayne.]
[Ding! No additional modifiers have been detected.]
[Ding! Detected additional parameters from Gamer Naoto. Now recalculating final damage...]
[-4,000!]
[Ding! Current HP: 27,000/31,000.]
A feeling I hadn't felt in quite a long while began to spread around my body. It was dull, but I could feel it. At last in that regard, it assured me that I am not a machine. The feeling of pain. Ace's strength is no joke. I have all that damage reduction, and the additional damage reduction on top of that. Being able to shave off 5% of my health in one blow without any Craft, he's strong alright.
"Master!", Ennea exclaimed, seeing me get punched backward. The moment she saw blood trickle down the right side of my lips, her eyes turned cold.
"Haha!", Ace said, and grinned again. "That was just a little welcome gift. Surely that's not all you can amount to, is it?"
"As if.", I retorted. "In fact, you just gave me an additional means."
"Is that right?", Ace asked, wondering what I was referring to.
I didn't immediately launch into a second attack. Ace blocked my first strike so easily. I had something else in mind. I bet he expected to turn my blade toward him once again, but nope. With a swift motion of my sword, I sliced my palm, and channeled my Mana. A bluish aura burst forth, and soon turned into a crimson red. Seeing this aura wrap around me, Ace's eyes turned serious. I didn't mix it in with bloodlust this time. To Ace, it was an eerie, empty feeling that was striking against his mindscape.
"This aura...", Ace uttered. Alisa had seen this aura once before, when she saw it converge toward my feet to activate Mana Walk. This time, I was activating a different Spell. One that I was familiar with.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has consumed 10,000 EP.]
Just like that, blood started to drip out. It didn't take long for the blood to have a mind of its own. It swirled, and condensed. The blood then moved upward, and split into four spheres. They now floated over my shoulders.
"Are those spheres really made of your own blood?", Ace pondered, seeing the crimson spheres floating around me. He could feel they were powerful. Just this feeling alone caused Ace to laugh. "Hahaha! I knew someone like you wouldn't be normal."
In response, Ace raised his greatsword high above him as if it were weightless. I'm sure this thing weighed a shit ton. Still, I ignored Ace. You see, on top of being able to consume as much EP as I want for these Blood Spheres, that isn't the only thing they can do. This Spell serves as a base for other Spells I have access to.
"Heh. That isn't all you know.", I said. I saw anticipation appear in Ace's eyes as I readied my spell. The first one was done, and it was time to use another. Something...different. Yes, I did have access to my current Spells, but this was something I have yet to try. I just ignored Ace, and continued the Spell. Instead, I uttered a short chant.
"Glacialis Acus.", I uttered. I spoke loud enough to have Ace just blink at me. He heard something he didn't expect. Continuing, I raised my hand that still had its wound. Perhaps it was due to the high amount of resistance I possess that the wound was already closing. The atmosphere around us suddenly turned cold. Even Alisa started to shiver with how cold it had gotten. From there, one after another, beside the four blood spheres, something new began to form. Icy-cold needles. They then began to swirl around the four blood spheres.
"Sanguis Acus.", I uttered, doing a second chant. On their own, the blood spheres began to shoot out more blood. They formed the same shape I had used for the icy needles. This time, they turned into bloody needles. Both blood and ice started to swerve around me. There were well over twenty to thirty of them. And if each one landed a blow, that would count as a single attack.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has successfully created a new Spell: Icy Needles!]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has used Icy Needles in conjunction with Blood Spheres.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has triggered a third Spell, Blood Needles!]
[Ding! HP: 27,000/31,000, EP: 75,000/103,500.]
Feeling the icy cold air creep against his back, Ace frowned. I looked much more powerful now that I had many ice and blood needles surrounding me. It didn't even consume the Blood Spheres. How cool is that? I could use them to attack alongside these needles, or save them for another Spell.
"Hmm. At this pace we might not even need to step in, Ennea.", Ines said. It looks like Ines made use of the Blood Spheres I made to take down the rest of the assassins as they made their way here. I no longer saw them. She then looked at Alisa. "Since Rulebreaker is fighting the One of Swords head on, let's protect the target."
Ennea had calmed down after seeing me get injured so easily. She was quick to assess the ongoing battle, and nodded her head.
"That would be for the best. I prefer attacking from long-range anyway.", Ennea said, grabbing a hold of her bow. The two then made their way to Alisa's side, and saw Sharon beside her. Alisa didn't think she would see more people she didn't know suddenly show up like this.
"Who are you two?", Alisa asked.
"Save the questions for later, Lady Alisa. We need to let Master focus on his opponent. With...Kreuger assisting us, we'll keep you safe.", Ennea said while looking at Sharon.
"Thank you.", Sharon said, thanking Ennea and Ines. She kept her stance ready, in case Ace's next attack does go past me.
I heard Ace click his tongue. After I successfully used two spells back-to-back.
"Tch. I shouldn't have given you time to prepare those, let alone barring my target from me.", Ace said, and frowned.
"I get that you're strong, but in reality it is four against one dude. Even if you break past my defenses, you have Kreuger and the Stahritter to deal with. They aren't weak.", I said, and grinned again.
"Even so.", Ace said, only to keep his greatsword raised high. He then started to leak an aura of his own. I felt an intense pressure shot out toward our direction. It was enough to cause Alisa to back away. Was this battle qi? It felt intense. And since he wasn't as cloaked as those other assassins are, you'd wonder whether or not he was an assassin. "I have no idea what in the hell you just did, but I will smash those needles away."
"I'd have it no other way.", I responded. "Just don't blink, alright?"
I assumed my own stance, and let my strength flourish. Brandishing Glistening Moonlight, I entered the same stance the Sword Fox uses. Pointing my rapier outward, I saw Ace launch his body upward. He attempted to swing his blade downward. At the same time, my needles were launched. Just like what he said he was going to do, Ace began to tear the needles apart, despite them being made of Mana. I didn't launch them in a single path, though. That would be stupid. Ace's sword was huge, and could cover a large range. I made sure to send these needles out in multiple directions.
I didn't remain idle either. Even though I was greeted with a big blast of wind from Ace's swing alone, I started hopping back and forth, letting my footwork do its thing. My pace steadily grew faster and faster. Before long, a faint afterimage was left behind. Once the force of Ace's attack met me, all it was met with was empty air. Ace just saw his attack fail to land.
Yet in that single moment, Ace couldn't put up a block in time before I moved the remaining needles, aiming from both sides. Several needles struck different parts of Ace's body. The icy needles would sink in and begin to freeze his skin, while the blood needles would graze his skin, and make him bleed. Thanks to this unique combination, once the blood started leaking out, it would freeze over, like having a bad scab form.
The needles continued their flight path, then suddenly changed positions, only to get absorbed back into my blood spheres. During all of this, Ace received hit after hit, and the damage stacked. I saw several numbers appear over his head. I was shocked with how much damage this Spell combo did.
[-405,000!]
[-370,000!]
[-320,000!]
[-650,000!]
[-220,000!]
[-230,000!]
[-190,000!]
[-170,000!]
[-500,000!]
[-550,000!]
[-175,000!]
[-220,000!]
[-285,000!]
[-265,000!]
[-1,000,000!]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has inflicted -4,250,000 damage!]
[Ding! Ace Rayne's HP: 30,750,000/35,000,000.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has inflicted a unique Status onto the target: Bleed.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has inflicted Freeze onto the target!]
[Ding! Due to inflicting a certain combination of Statuses on target, it has formed a special Status.]
[Ding! Freeze and Bleed have merged into Frostburn.]
[Ding! Frostburn effect: Loses 0.5% HP every second. Slows movement. Duration: 15 seconds.]
I saw Ace wince his eyes in pain being hit by half of the amount of needles I launched at him. The wounds inflicted did a fair amount of damage. Imagine sharp, needle-like blades cutting across your skin. He felt his skin turn extremely cold thanks to being hit by them. I saw a constant tick of damage of [-175,000] above Ace's head, triggering every second.
Through this attack alone, I am cutting off around 15-20% of Ace's health in one go. Talk about powerful, eh?
Blood spurted out from Ace's wounds. The stench of blood wafted around the rooftop.
"That really hurt, you know? That sure was somethin'.", Ace said, seeing the smashed needles scattered around his blade begin to dissipate into small Mana particles. It was as if his sword hit nothing.
"Haha. Did you enjoy that welcome gift? You might want to watch your backside.", I said. Ace saw the phantom image was still in place.
"Hmph.", Ace responded. Despite being slowed by Frostburn, he turned around with ease, and ignored the fact that parts of his skin were currently frozen. He saw me reappear behind him, all thanks to my speed. I had moved before he could swing his sword again at me.
"Crimson Swallow!", I exclaimed.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has activated Crimson Swallow.]
[Ding! 7000 EP has been consumed. Current EP: 68,000/103,500.]
"Not so fast!", Ace shot back, and managed to swing his sword downward again. But to his surprise, all Ace hit was empty air again. And a grin that appeared on my fading face. He hit a second phantom image.
Kuuusha!
Ace felt his left shoulder get pierced through. It wasn't a rigid cold this time. He felt a searing pain strike against his body. Wooosh!
"Damn it!", Ace cursed, feeling intense pain in his shoulder. It wasn't just the pain either. It felt hot. A blaze erupted. As to what I did exactly, I left behind two afterimages. The first one launched those needles, and the second one was a scapegoat. I had managed to appear behind Ace's back, and delivered a blow onto his left shoulder.
A streak of crimson traced my sword, like a swallow cutting through the sky at an impossible speed. The air around us was split with a clean, slicing sound. I didn't hesitate.
A huge damage number appeared over Ace's head.
[-3,750,000!]
'Holy...', I thought, seeing a huge damage figure appear.
[Ding! Ace Rayne's HP: 24,350,000/35,000,000.]
Just like that, I had dealt almost thirty percent of Ace's health...
The wound I inflicted just now wasn't light. I heard Ace scream in pain.
"Ahhh!", Ace yelled, feeling my rapier now lodged into his shoulder. Yoink.
Pulling Glistening Moonlight back out, blood splattered onto the ground around us. Ace's blood. I saw a clean hole that was now set ablaze, which was quickly turning black. The silver blade I had was drenched red.
Seeing a big hole in the large robe he was dressed in, I saw anger flash across Ace's face. If his eyes were visible, they'd likely display anger too.
"My little sister helped make me this outfit, you piece of shit snake!", Ace roared. Being called a snake, eh? That's a new one. I am working alongside Ouroboros for now though, so it is only time until I start getting those nicknames.
Ace did a sudden turn as Frostburn ended and swung down hard, managing to catch me off guard. I tried to move my blood spheres in time, and thanks to that initial block when we engaged in combat, the one shield had worn off. I had nothing protecting me this time. The blood spheres absorbed some of the impact, but it didn't block all of the attack. I saw the blade glow in an intense, yellow light.
I couldn't dodge Ace in time. Ace's motion was clean, and struck against the frontside of my body. A huge gash appeared, which tore my robe. I felt a searing pain against my chest, which left behind a big wound.
[-8000!]
"Cough, cough...", I uttered, feeling an intense pain strike against my body. I had a glance at my health.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's HP: 19,000/31,000.]
Thanks to the force of the swing, Ace blasted me backward. He sent me flying toward Alisa, while more blood splattered out of my chest.
"You...", Alisa yelled, seeing such a large wound appear on my chest. I could see worry appear in her eyes. Such a large amount of blood must be scary for her. Ace ignored Alisa's outburst, and instead, grinned at me.
"How's that, you piece of shit? You know what, you're officially on my shit list. I'll kill you here tonight. I'll get my satisfaction killing you before I kill Kreuger.", Ace said, pointing his bloodied sword at us.
"I won't let you.", Sharon coldly said. Sharon rushed forth, swinging her chains outward. She is the Severing Chains for a reason. Ace was now under Sharon's attack, but Ace remained calm. He unleashed his aura again, and was now distracted by her. Ennea rushed toward me and assessed the damage.
"Are you alright, Master?", Ennea asked.
But before I could even speak, I was distracted by an unexpected Gamer Notification.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has suffered a fatal blow.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Skill, Superhuman Endurance, has triggered an unexpected effect.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto has generated a new Skill: Regeneration.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Status has been updated!]
[Regeneration]
Slowly heals wounds over time.
Would you look at that?
"Why don't you have a look yourself?", I responded, causing Ennea to raise her eyes at me. Even though I was still spilling blood, a low hiss reached our ears. A soothing sensation started spreading across my chest. Albeit very slow, the wound was starting to close.
"This...", Ennea uttered, becoming surprised to see my body start healing itself. I didn't think Ace would take almost half of my health down in a couple blows, and the Gamer System even labeled it as a fatal blow. I could have fallen unconscious right then and there, if it weren't for my insane Resistance. Ace really is a monster. Recruiting him to my side is becoming more appealing with each passing moment.
Ace glanced my way, only to see the wound he inflicted on me to heal on its own while fending off Sharon's dagger.
"Tch. You really are a damn monster.", Ace uttered.
"Heh. I could say the same to you.", I responded.
Both sides came to a sudden standstill while Sharon relentlessly attacked Ace. We were in the midst of battle!