Chapter 78 - Reverse aggression and outcome of the match (2/2)

The physical attack of Shinto priests other than the vanguard type is low.

In terms of rankings, they are second from below right after mages. Realistically speaking, it’s not something you’d make use of.

However, at the same time, among the vanguards’ physical defense, light warriors are the worst.

Their endurance is just slightly above that of archers which are rear guards.

Therefore, I can deal some damage even with attacks from my staff.

However, that’s if I manage to land a hit.

「Kuh! Why, why am I unable to dodge!? Even though my attacks are not finding their mark!?」 (Tobi)

「You don’t get it?」 (Hind)

I took down Tobi’s HP, which was full to around 60%

It’s not like I used a special skill and it’s not like I actually awakened to some godly reaction speeds either.

This is…

「Ouch! My lower leg! My lower leg!!」 (Tobi)

「This…is just reading your opponent!」 (Hind)

That’s why in this scenario, there’s no need for superior reflexes.

If you know how your opponent is going to move next, no matter how fast Tobi is going to move, there’s no need for instant reactions and it’s possible to keep up with him.

The habits I saw Tobi have from behind, his choice of skills, the direction he dodges, the timing at which he switches from offense to defense…I wielded my staff while remembering those things.

The right one is a feint, immediately after that, he’ll go for the kill with his left, while dodging those dual blades, I thrust my staff through a small gap!

「Nuah!? Wait, now that I think about it, I never managed to win against you during Kendo lessons! Why didn’t I remember that since we are inside a VR game!」 (Tobi)

「It’s too late even if you remember that now, you idiot!」 (Hind)

This is a strategy that only works because my opponent is Tobi, someone I know really well.

If that wasn’t the case, I would have become incapacitated already.

「…Kuh, I have no other choice in that case! I’ll make this the last bout!」 (Tobi)

His body started shining and Tobi’s HP decreased in an instant.

At the same time it split into two, one of them headed towards Yumir, who was chasing Mitsuyoshi-san.

「That idiot…」 (Hind)

While confirming that this was our victory, I felt a tinge of loneliness because of Tobi’s actions.

This is like going towards his own defeat.

Besides, this is the first time I’ve seen him fight with eyes so devoid of life, no matter how well he controls it, I know without a doubt that the 「Thing」 in front of me, is nothing more than a fake.

While dodging its attack, I hit the body with my staff and it vanished easily.

Once he saw that happen, Tobi took a glance bitterly, shook his head and switched to running with all his might.

「He went your way, Yumir!」 (Hind)

Immediately after, the main body went after Yumir, but since I called it out, the surprise attack ended up in failure.

Yumir’s sword, who turned around, and Tobi’s blade clashed and sparks scattered.

「Nuoh!? Don’t get in my way, Tobi!」 (Yumir)

「I won’t let you defeat Mitsuyoshi-dono! Not yet, it’s not over yet!」 (Tobi)

「Tobi-kun, why did you come!? Go back, I’m fine over here!」 (Mitsuyoshi)

I have around 40% HP remaining and since rear guards don’t obtain MP while being attacked I didn’t have any other choice but to regenerate it naturally, so my current MP was really low.

Luckily, I didn’t get hit by Tobi even once, but that was the result of frantically dodging while cold sweat ran down my body.

That’s just how much of a disadvantage Shinto priests have in a direct confrontation.

If Tobi had attacked me more persistently or I somehow ended up getting hit by a skill…there’s the possibility that I would have been unable to deal with it and end up getting defeated.

The best chance might have been if he had attacked along with the copy from both sides at the same time?

If I were to be attacked like that, I can say with confidence that I’d had ended up flustered.

However, even if it didn’t end up like that because he became flustered, Tobi’s error of judgement proved to be fatal.

Whether to ignore me from the beginning and join up with his partner or believe in Mitsuyoshi-san and try to defeat me as soon as possible…I believe that he should have focused on any of those.

Doing things half bakedly and having his and his partner’s HP decrease for nothing meant that there was no way for Tobi to win anymore.

No longer being targeted, I charged up just the minimum amount of MP needed and cast 『Healing・Plus』 on Yumir.

「Ohh, my HP! Alriiiiight! This is the end!」 (Yumir)

「Ah, as I though, we should have aimed for the 「True Self」…since that point where we failed to kill Hind-kun, we were already…gahah!」 (Mitsuyoshi)

「D-Damn it! Mitsuyoshi-dono!!」 (Tobi)

Having replenished plenty of her HP, Yumir forcefully broke through Tobi and finished up Mitsuyoshi-san with a 『Heavy Slash』.

I think he did well to last that long, but there is no way for an archer to win against a knight in close combat.

The audience heated up and Tobi’s dual blades fell powerlessly from the stage.