That morning, the air around the guild building felt denser than usual. Party Noiver walked side by side toward the Adventurers' Guild. Inside the guild lobby, Patrick was already waiting with an enthusiastic smile.
"Are you ready?" Patrick asked briefly.
"Always ready!" Keyzier answered calmly.
Patrick led them through the back corridor of the guild building which connected directly to a large iron gate. The gate led to the guild's special field. A mini colosseum usually used for exams or settling disputes between adventurers.
As the iron gate slowly lifted, a roar immediately greeted them.
WUUUUUOOOHHH!
Upon arriving in the center of the arena, the three of them were extremely surprised. Keyzier, Donovan, and Novalia's eyes widened seeing the sight before them. The spectator stands surrounding the arena were packed. A sea of people filled every inch of seating.
Not only adventurers, but ordinary citizens, merchants, and even some nobles who happened to be in Pixa City were also present.
News about the "Wonder Kid from Altoria" fighting the "Wild Dragon of Pixa" had apparently attracted the interest of the entire city. Some were even willing to stand crowded in the stand aisles just to watch the match.
Unbeknownst to the three of them, in a somewhat hidden corner of the stands, a short man with a thick beard was sitting with his arms crossed.
That person was the Dwarf owner of the "Black Hammer" shop. He smirked, his eyes fixed on the sword at Keyzier's waist and on Donovan's back.
"Show me if my steel is worthy in your hands, Brat!" the Dwarf muttered.
On the opposite side, another gate opened. Party Wild Dragon walked in gallantly, led by Fred. The cheers of the audience grew crazier, chanting Fred's name.
However, when the two parties stood facing each other in the center of the arena, Novalia gasped in shock. She realized something fatal.
"Wait a moment..." Novalia whispered anxiously. "There are... five of them?"
Behind Fred stood four of his colleagues: a large man carrying a shield (Tank), a woman in a white robe (Healer/Buffer), a thin man with a magic staff (Mage), and a woman holding a bow (Archer).
Meanwhile, Party Noiver was only three. This match was 3 against 5.
Keyzier clicked his tongue softly. "Tch, This is one of the reasons why I want to find our new members quickly!" Keyzier grumbled without averting his gaze from Fred.
Now, Donovan and Novalia realized that the lack of party members greatly affected their mobility and division of tasks. Fighting a Rank S Party with such a disadvantage in numbers was a very heavy challenge.
Both of them also hoped for the same thing as Keyzier. Hopefully, in the near future, they could find new members to fill the scout (archer) and pure healer positions.
Patrick raised his hand high. The atmosphere in the arena suddenly became silent.
"The rules are simple! Fainting, surrendering or leaving the arena means losing. The use of lethal items is prohibited.
...
Begin!" shouted Sera, who was acting as the match referee.
As soon as the signal was given, the battle aura exploded instantly.
Keyzier gave a quick command. "Novan, attack their tank! Hold him back so he doesn't disturb the backline. Nova, get ready! Maintain your position and do as usual immediately when I give you the signal!"
"Okay!"
Donovan immediately charged forward like a raging bull. He drew his Mythril Greatsword and jumped high towards the enemy Tank.
Clang!
The ear-splitting sound of metal clashing echoed. Party Wild Dragon's Tank was pushed back several steps, his feet digging into the ground to withstand the weight of Donovan's attack. He was surprised to feel such a strong and heavy attack from a Rank C brat.
Seeing their Tank overwhelmed, the woman in the white robe behind Fred immediately raised her staff.
"Strength! Iron Skin!"
Golden light enveloped the Tank's body, providing physical strengthening and defense buffs. The Tank's muscles enlarged, and he managed to push Donovan back.
Keyzier's eyes narrowed sharply. The Buffer must be defeated first!
Keyzier raised his hand, aiming at the woman. "Fireball!"
A fireball shot fast targeting the Buffer. However, before the fire hit her, a dragon-scaled spear cut the fire's path.
Slash!
Fred split the fireball easily. He stood protecting his colleagues while smiling defiantly. "Did you think I would let you touch our support, Keyzier?"
Keyzier didn't answer. Instead, he grinned wider, a grin that made Fred's hair stand on end.
"In that case, try blocking this!" Keyzier said softly.
The mana around Keyzier fluctuated violently. Magic circles of various colors appeared simultaneously around his body.
The audience held their breath. Multicasting that many spells was impossible for an ordinary human.
"Fire Arrow! Wind Arrow! Rock Bullet! Ice Arrow! Dark Arrow! Water Arrow!"
Hundreds of magic projectiles from six different elements launched like a rainstorm towards Fred and his team.
"What is this?!" Fred shouted in panic. He spun his spear at high speed, creating a wind shield to deflect the rain of attacks.
But Keyzier wasn't finished. He raised his right hand to the sky.
"Javelin of Thorn! Lightning Storm!"
The ground beneath Fred's feet cracked, spawning crawling thorny wooden spears. At the same time, black clouds gathered at the arena ceiling, striking with purple lightning.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Relentless magic explosions hit Fred's position. Fred was kept half-dead busy protecting their support behind him. Cold sweat began to trickle down the Rank S adventurer's temples.
Taking advantage of the chaos from his magic storm, Keyzier didn't stay put. He activated his assassin skill, 'Shadow Step'.
His body disappeared, merging with the shadows, then appeared right in front of Fred within a hand's span. The Phantom Demonic shortsword was already in his hand.
"You're too busy looking up, Fred!"
Keyzier attacked using his fast and deadly swordsmanship.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Fred, with extraordinary reflexes, managed to parry the attacks, but he immediately realized the strangeness of Keyzier's sword.
"Fire Blade!"
When their swords clashed, fire spewed out, singing Fred's eyebrows.
"Ice Blade!"
The next slash froze Fred's spear shaft slippery.
"Wind Blade!"
The third attack created air pressure that pushed Fred back.
"Dark Soul Blade! Lightning Blade!"
Every time Fred parried his sword attacks, the magic element coming out of Keyzier's sword blade always changed. Fred couldn't predict what element would come out next. He was forced into total defense, pushed back step by step by a brat half his age.
"What kind of monster are you?!" Fred cursed between his ragged breaths.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena, the Mage and Archer from Party Wild Dragon saw an opening. They realized that Novalia was standing still in the back, seemingly unprotected.
"Ignore Keyzier! Attack that Mage Girl!" shouted the Archer.
An arrow infused with wind mana and a large fireball glided fast towards Novalia.
"You're finished!"
However, Novalia didn't budge. She didn't even lift her staff.
Bzzzt!
When the attack was one meter from her face, a transparent hexagonal wall appeared. The attack shattered upon hitting the barrier.
It wasn't an ordinary barrier. It was Absolute Shell, a high-level defensive magic that Novalia had modified during her hard training. The attack couldn't touch her in the slightest.
Novalia smiled sweetly from behind her shield, her eyes staring straight at Keyzier's back as he pressured Fred. She saw the gap in the enemy formation which was starting to fall apart because their focus was split.
The Tank was busy with Donovan. Fred was busy with Keyzier. The Mage and Archer failed to attack Novalia. And the Buffer stood open without protection.
This was the awaited moment.
Keyzier, sensing the change in mana flow on the battlefield, jumped back away from Fred. He took a deep breath, then shouted loudly giving the signal.
"NOVA, NOW!"