10 Chapter 10: Phantom Hunter (1/2)

”!!!”

I winced as several more arrows pierced through me, causing to hit the ground. Rolling to my feet while desperately dodging a few more energy arrows, I glanced around the open arena and realized that there was nothing for me to seek cover under.

The terrain was overwhelmingly advantageous to someone with ranged abilities. No wonder they called the current edition the shooting edition. Currently the meta favored a shooting list, and those mages who relied on melee were at a slight disadvantage.

A very slight disadvantage, for such weaknesses could easily be circumvented by focusing on defensive enchantments to endure the barrage of spells or shots, or specializing in speed. Indeed, many combat mages used super speed to almost teleport next to their opponent and engage them in close combat. Since ranged mages specialized in ranged attacks, they were pretty terrible at melee combat. Mostly. So they would get wrecked if they allowed their opponents to get close.

It all depended on who was fighting.

Unfortunately, I had neither speed nor defense. If melee combatants were at a disadvantage against ranged mages, then summoners were totally weak against both melee and ranged, for such opponents could quickly take down the summoner before he or she could finish casting the spell. Unlike ranged spells, summoning spells took a lot longer to cast, and consumed much more energy. After all, we weren't just throwing a temporary fireball that existed long enough to hit the foe. We were actually bringing an actual, living existence capable of casting its own spells and launching physical attacks into the material plane. Of course it would be a much more complex spell.

Taking a deep breath, I reached out and grabbed an arrow before it struck me. The energy projectile detonated in my hand, causing me to stagger back. Good thing it did – while I stumbled, the following volley of arrows sailed above my head.

”Hmph. Lucky bastard.”

I stared at Hal Gunther, who continued to maintain a good distance from me. ”Not really. I'm more curious as to why you haven't finished me off already.”

Hal Gunther had plenty of opportunities to hit my vital points and knock me out for good, but he had been aiming for my limbs, or non-vital areas in my body. Probably to show off how accurate he was, and to prolong the battle needlessly. I felt blood trickling down numerous wounds, and grimaced. At this rate I might pass out from the blood loss before he finally delivered the finishing blow.

”Are you kidding me?” Hal Gunther snorted. ”It won't be fun if I win so easily. Come on, entertain me more! Where's your spells? Are you sure you don't have a Divine Device? This is so one-sided that it's boring!”

Indeed it was. Not just from him, but also for the spectators. The Crowley Academy students were staring at me impassively, as if wondering if I was just wasting their time. My schoolmates were watching me sympathetically, put in their eyes. Many of them were probably thinking they were vindicated in their decision not to volunteer, after seeing the sorry state I was in.

However, I shrugged. ”So what? It's not my job to entertain you or make your fights fun.”

Hal Gunther glared at me, and then loosed several arrows. I quickly hit the ground to avoid them, silently noting that I was gradually getting used to the pattern and speed of his attacks. It was subtle, but I was getting better at dodging them.

Unfortunately, I was aware that Hal Gunther was still holding back, and he hadn't really unleashed his true power yet.

”I've to admit, I'm impressed, though.”

Suddenly, Hal Gunther caught me off guard with a compliment. I stopped dodging and narrowed my eyes.

”After watching me put on such a miserable performance? Are you being sarcastic?”

”No. I genuinely am impressed.” Hal Gunther grinned, revealing sharp teeth that resembled a shark's maw. ”Even after taking so many of my hits, you still haven't given up yet. I thought you would surrender by now, or beg me to end this.”

”Who would be so stupid to beg you to end a match by delivering the finishing blow when I can just painlessly surrender?” I asked with a roll of my eyes.

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”See? That's what I mean.” Hal Gunther pointed at me. ”You know that you have the option to surrender, yet even with those wounds you still haven't given up yet. You're still fighting me.”

”These wounds?” I glanced down at my current injuries, and cracked a derisive smile. ”Are you kidding me? My Dad beats me up more badly than this on a daily basis. Never mind my Dad, even my schoolmates deal much worse injuries to me. Do you really expect me to give up just because of a few cuts and scratches?”

Hal Gunther glowered at me, his expression contorting in fury. If I could spare the breath, I would have done a Star Wars imitation and said something to the effect of ”good, let the hate flow through you.” unfortunately, I wasn't some Sith Emperor who could shoot lightning from his hands.

”Idiot. I was only going easy on you. I'll teach you true terror!”

Throwing his hand into the air, he summoned a gigantic forest out of nowhere. In an instance, the entire stage was covered in greenery, with grass and trees sprouting and growing from what seemed like soil.

”It took me quite a bit of time to cast this spell, but it's worth it!”

Unseen, Hal Gunther was chuckling in the midst of the woods. Even though I could hear him laugh, I couldn't pinpoint the direction where his voice was coming from. It seemed to echo everywhere and nowhere.

”This is my ultimate spell, Hunter's Forest! Welcome to my world!”