28 Chapter 29: Concept Magic (1/2)
The instant the coin landed the expression on the faces of the two girls went from playful to serious. Ariel instantly cast Ventus while Serena began chanting
”Eh?” I unintentionally let out
Since it happened so fast, I barely managed to avoid the Wind blade by ducking. I felt a few strands of my hair get cut off by that attack
”Wha-”
Before I could say anything Ariel put constant pressure on me by propelling a wind blade at me whenever I stood still
”John, during a fight you usually start talking whenever the opportunity arises, it's because you don't take things seriously that you end up in a bad spot!” Said Ariel after stopping
What's going on? Wasn't I supposed to be teaching them?
”W-w-wait timeout! Time out!!” I shouted as Ariel continued to pressure me with Ventus
Meanwhile, Serena had finished her chant and was summoning her fine lion
”Yes?” Asked Ariel with a scary smile
”U-um ariel... Don't you think you should hold back a bit more? This is just practice, your blades are pretty sharp...” I said while she stopped attacking
”But I am holding back? These attacks are just enough to be able to knock you out! John is very strong after all.” She replied with a proud expression
No, please don't think of me as some sort of strong being, these attacks might actually kill me if they hit me head-on
”A-Ariel, I don't think anyone can surviv-”
Before I could finish, Serena sent a fireball at me, which I managed to dodge by sidestepping to the left. Once I did a fire lion which was being hidden behind the giant figure of the fireball jumped at me and bit me midair
While it latched on to my shoulder, I cast Glacio and froze it
”Aw, I thought we got him with that strategy... John always jumped to the side to dodge a big attack...” Muttered Serena
”S-Serena... A-at least you should hold back... My arm still feels numb” I said
”Don't be silly john. As if something like that is enough to stop you.” They said
Nonono, no matter how I look at it, these attacks are aiming for my life. I may be able to withstand Ventus head-on since Ariel is slightly holding back. But if these 2 keep constantly attacking me like this I might really die...
”W-Wait... Maybe let's just do a 1v1...” I said
”Huh? Did you hear something Ariel?” Asked Serena as she cast another fireball at me
”Nope, not at all,” Ariel replied as she mixed in a Ventus behind it
S-Stop... S-Someone Help, HELP!!!
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”How did we lose...” Muttered Ariel while her body was frozen
”Our plan was perfect...” Muttered Serena while her body was also frozen
”Oi, did I just hear something about a plan? When did you guys even make a plan? We had 1 minute to prepare.” I asked as I stared at them
”Hmmm?” I said
”W-We were practising working together so that we could be able to catch up to you and beat you...” Said, Ariel
”Surpassing me is one thing, but was there a need to beat me?” I asked
”Well... You're a-always growing so fast that we felt as if, beating you would be the only way to tell if we've caught up...” Serena muttered
Ah, so that's what it is...
”I see... I guess that makes sense... Once you guys are ready, come to where I'm at, I'll begin Serena's lesson of the Fire concept, and help ariel improve her wind control” I said as I unfroze them
Shortly after, I headed towards the middle of the open field and waited for Serena and Ariel
”T-thank god he didn't find out that we were training because we were planning on making him do something for us if we won...” Serena muttered
”Yeah...” Replied Ariel
This should be far enough... I said as I looked over at the two girls who were talking
I felt my legs lose strength as I sat on the ground. I looked up at the sky and cast 'Quiescis'.
”Alright, I set it to 5 meters, so all I need to do is wait.”
As I waited I began to recall the events of the fight. It was a close match. Serena and Ariel showed perfect teamwork as they made up for each other's weaknesses.
Ariel would pressure me while Serena began her chant so that I wouldn't be able to disrupt it and Serena would attack me while her chant was finished. It was a simple strategy which would have been easy to be, but they added complex combinations with their attacks.
For example, she'd always hide another spell behind the fireball. Whether it was a Ventus or a lion. Of course, I was hit a few times by Ariels ventus but it didn't do much damage, unlike how she acted, she held back quite a lot.
The Ventus which would be able to cut enemies in half only left a few small cuts on wherever it hit me. But they lost because of that. Since Ariels only spell was one that was able to cut. She wasn't able to deal that much damage to me.
Serena's spells weren't life-threatening so she didn't have to hold back that much. I was pressured on the beginning because I wasn't prepared but over time, I easily countered them.