384 Chapter 384: Fifth Individual Round (1/2)

Cain watched my team gather and celebrate in the technical area, his face stony and impassive. Despite the apparent lack of emotion on his face, there was a bead of perspiration slowly trickling down his forehead as he gazed at us intently.

\”Seems like we underestimated them,\” he murmured to himself.

\”Yeah, that's right.\” Gunther Schalke didn't realized that his team captain was talking to himself and joined in. \”I heard the rumors, but I couldn't believe it. That Craig Carlson…the Demonic Spear. They said that his spear can pierce through any defense…but I didn't think he would be able to break through Adonis's impenetrable wind barrier so easily. He cut through the Barrier of the Wind King as if it was nothing more than paper!\”

\”No.\” Cain shook his head. \”Did you not realize it?\”

\”Realize what?\” Eleanor asked, puzzled. Cain sighed and lowered his head.

\”That spear technique wasn't natural. It was truly a curse. It didn't simply penetrate Adonis's Barrier of the Wind King. It reversed casuality and effect…in other words, no matter what kind of protection Adonis cast, it wouldn't have worked.\”

\”I don't understand. What do you mean, that technique reversed casuality and effect?\” Eleanor was left looking more confused than ever. However, realization seemed to dawn on Gunther and he slammed a fist into his palm.

\”Ah…you mean…!\”

\”That's right.\” Cain nodded, almost as if he had read Gunther's mind. \”Usually, the act of Craig Carlson throwing the spear would be the cause, and the effect would be the piercing of his opponent's chest. Or wherever he chose to attack. However, his curse reversed that cause and effect, and it is almost as if his opponent's chest or wherever getting punctured is what caused him to throw his spear. It's pretty convoluted, but unstoppable once he pulls it off.\”

\”Then there is no counter!\” Eleanor gasped. \”How do you fight against such a horrifying curse?!\”

\”As horrifying as that cursed technique is, it has a range limit.\” Gunther was the one who came up with an answer. \”The moment he begins casting that spell, back away and retreat as much as you can, maximize the distance between yourself and him. As long as you are far enough, that terrifying cursed spear would be nothing more than a stinger.\”

\”Easy for you to say!\” Eleanor complained. \”You use a gun! You excel at long range combat! But how do people like me, who are exclusively close ranged melee combatants, fight against him?!\”

\”We have our ways,\” Cain told her. \”Instead of whining about it, take your time and think of a solution yourself.\”

He then proceeded toward the stage.

\”C…Captain?!\”

\”I'll be finishing the individual matches personally,\” he told his stunned teammates without turning back to look at them. He gripped his sword tightly. \”We'll need to regain the intiative and build back our advantage.\”

\”Oho!\” the commentator's voice raised the tension, and I could almost imagine the guy leaning forward and almost yelling into his microphone. \”The captain of Adorno Academy personally takes the stage! Perhaps he realizes that he cannot afford to hold back any longer! It's time for him to eke out a decisive advantage over Jing Tian Academy!\”

The spectators gasped and murmured, watching the scene unfold before them. Cain was a famous figure among the Federation, and there were few people who did not know him. He was a superlative swordsman, one of the few who was almost comparable to Kureha Franklin. Almost. That still made him a formidable opponent in his own right, for he had integrated his own style and magic into his swordsmanship.

He was a very difficult person to fight against.

\”Will the Jing Tian Team send their captain out as response to this massive challenge?\” the commentator continued excitedly. \”Or will they strategically yield this match and focus on the team battle instead?\”

I glanced at Harrison, wondering the same thing. Personally, I wasn't very fond of giving up any matches, and any decisive advantage we could gain in the individual matches would spill over to the team battle. If we could eliminate Cain in the individual matches, he would be disqualified from participating in the team match. That would prove beneficial to whatever team Harrison chose to send out.

But who should he send? Bu Fan? The pseudo protagonist of Versatile Mage had plot armor, so I had no doubt he would win no matter who he was sent up against…okay, never mind I was going too far with the joke. Regardless, this would be a tough choice for Harrison, and as much as I detested the guy, I recognized Bu Fan's strength. Moreover, Bu Fan wouldn't be participating in the team match because he was the solo type of guy. He could work with us if he was forced to, but quite frankly he was far from being an ideal teammate.

Unfortunately, I was in no position to criticize him. Everyone else probably thought the same of me. They didn't consider me arrogant, thankfully, but I wouldn't be surprised if they thought I was toxic and considered me a pain to work with.

Everyone in our team glanced at Harrison, awaiting his decision. However, he merely stayed silent, pondering by himself. His eyes seemed so very far away, as if he wasn't even thinking about the current situation.

\”Harrison?\” Yue Chu prodded. Our team captain blinked and glanced at him, then shook his head. Smiling, he turned to me.

\”Richard, you're up.\”

\”Huh? Me?\”

\”I know you can do it.\” Harrison placed an encouraging hand on my shoulder. \”This is a great chance to take out their captain and gain an edge in the team battle.\”

\”Are you sure about this?\” I frowned, feeling nervous. \”I can't guarantee that I can win. That Cain guy is pretty formidable.\”

\”There are no guarantees in life,\” Harrison replied sagely. \”But that doesn't matter. Just do your best and don't worry so much. Whatever happens, happens, but make sure you give your all and have no regrets.\”

I straightened up, took a deep breath and nodded. Picking up Hei Yue and Bai Ri, I entered the stage.

\”Eh? Jing Tian Team is sending Richard Huang!? What a surprising selection! You would think they will reserve their summoner for the team battle, but they are using him for their final individual match? Will he be able to hold on against Cain long enough to summon anything?\”

Cain narrowed his eyes as he watched me take my place opposite him, on the far side of the stage. He swung his unsheathed sword, as if testing his weapon, his eyes never leaving me.