Chapter 203: The First Esports Tournament — Seventh Division (8)
Jake stood over the fallen thief.
She didn't know about his movement skill, meaning she hadn't taken his arrow off her shoulder. Had she done that, she would have bought herself a few more minutes or maybe even escaped him—she would have paid for that with severe bleeding as Jake's arrow was four-bladed.
It was so acute that bleeding was unavoidable unless someone's skin was tough.
Nonetheless, reading Jake's movement skill took time and experience.
Seeing through it during a battle was difficult, so no one had found its secrets yet.
Only a few viewers did.
The thief rolled on the ground, her heart loud.
'How did he hit me?! Even skilled mages shouldn't be able to shoot me down here so easily! I'm in a dense area with no clearing above me! This is getting absurd!' the thief thought.
Her goal was to survive and save her guild's pride.
She would see the game's development from the shadows and react accordingly. All her plans crumbled the second Jake's arrow hit her shoulder.
Out of nowhere, he was close to her and even had leisure to knee her face!
After dropping flat on the ground, Jake pinned her down to the forest floor with his arrows. She was at his wish and even could be used to show others fan service.
Jake wasn't such a man, though.
Now that his leg was healed, he could rejoin the battle and finish off the first team Casual Clowns faced. He didn't want anyone to survive, as it would complicate his team's plan.
"You can't survive and pray for a second chance," Jake said as he stared down at the fallen woman. "Our target is the mountain's spire, you see. I like climbing them. Did you conquer The Unconquerable Mountain?"
The thief woman didn't utter a word.
She only glanced at her game system and stats to see how long it would take for bleeding to finish her off. She couldn't commit suicide as it would be too shameful.
But now that this man had asked her about The Unconquerable Mountain, the thief woman wondered if she had what it takes to kill herself in the game world.
"I take it as a no," Jake said. "I'm just a little curious. I guess you don't want to exchange a few words with me cause we're opponents. I have nothing against you. It was a good battle."
He drew a casual anchor point that was enough to finish off the thief.
She stared at him with a contorted face. She was still so pretty, just like the rest of her team.
Jake let the bowstring slide on his thumb ring.
He killed the thief.
[Casual Clowns have eliminated The Raven Guild's Seventh Team.]
[13 teams remain.]
"Seventh? Well, good luck in other divisions," Jake commented. He turned around and headed straight to his team.
Jake inwardly talked with his companion as he maneuvered through the forest like a monkey.
'It's much easier to cooperate now that you can talk, Ender. Good job on staying in her wake,' Jake said.
Ender replied, 'She was weaker than that guy.'
'That guy? You mean Law be damned?' Jake asked.
Ender nodded, 'Yes. He was familiar with the shadows and darkness. She not.'
'She was not, huh,' Jake smiled.
Ender noted the grammar.
Jake continued his chit-chat with his companion. 'I was thinking about their cumulative months in this world. I'm late by three months, but I already spent close to ten months here.'
In hindsight, Maria's team's cumulative months in The Legend Enigma Online was thirty-seven.
Jake also didn't know that his team's cumulative month here was sixty-five.
Casual Clowns were the most experienced team in North America's Seventh Division by this metric.
The conversation between these two halted as golden pillars rose to the skies.
Those pillars represented the consumable items's drop.
Jake could see four of them ahead of himself.
'Those drops appear exactly between two teams. We can decide to go for them and potentially clash with another team or start our climb to the mountain's spire.'
The team quickly decided their next move.
-
"No hesitation whatsoever! Archer has dealt with the last member of The Raven Guild's team! They have nothing to look forward to in the seventh division! Thank you for your participation, and good luck next time!" Elise shouted.
In the crowds, Mary didn't hide her elation.
She stood up and flipped Nadia off. "Haha! That's my brother and his team! Get smashed, little chicks! The first ones to come in and out! You'd better prepare better for the next divisions so we can smash you with more bangs!
If you lose so much more, I'll even let you choose the game in which you want to get beaten, Nadia, Little Black Chick!"
Nadia rose to her two feet.
She was about to begin the loud argument with Mary, but Maria's appearance on Enheim beat her to the bush.
Nadia turned around and embraced her little sister.
"How do you feel?" Nadia asked. She was so gentle and warm that the surrounding new guild members of The Raven Guild had nearly their eyes popping from their skulls.
Maria broadly smiled. "It was fun! Jake and his team are really strong! Each of us has learned a lot… have we disappointed you?"
"Of course not! All of you have given your best! Your combo worked flawlessly and would have killed clowns in a different environment! We didn't have enough luck this time!" Nadia instantly replied. She stroked Maria's hair and even buried her little nose in it.
Her eyes momentarily swept through the other teammates from the seventh team.
That expression told them they were spared, all because of Maria's words.
If she had asked if only she had done an excellent job, Nadia would have rebuked everyone individually.
Alas, Maria was too kind to let others take the blame. She was sure that Nadia would never rebuke her, so she didn't even try to be on the same side as others and instead took them under her wing.
The team bonded much more with Maria after that.
Their potential was about to be unlocked with more experience and levels!
Nadia said, "That tank, Prince. I'll not forgive him. I'll have him hunted down."
Iga saluted, "I'll not lose to him next time! I will have him dance on my palm instead! Please, give me a second chance to prove myself against him!"
The rest followed her.
Maria was shocked to see that kind of reaction. She was worried that her team wouldn't like her as much as she did them because of her older sister. It must have been difficult for them to work with her, knowing she was the guild master's little sister.
But each of them ended up liking Maria so much that they couldn't care about punishments.
Maria smiled and said, "Sister, don't do anything to them! Casual Clowns have won fair and squarely! It was an exciting match that I will remember forever! How about we all watch it together? Could you tell me what's going on? I can't use my vision here."
Nadia swept her eyes through a few guild members.
They quickly left a few seats vacant for Maria and her team.
Nadia raised her voice at Elise, then.
She said, "You'd better show us more of Casual Clowns! If you don't, I'll personally deal with you after this tournament!"
"Ah, the raven chick is going after me! All I am interested in is Archer, so you got lucky!" Elise replied.
Bobby sighed, "We must show replays of other teams! It seems like Untamed and Golden Lotus have eliminated the other two teams! Let's look at them!"
Mary sat down and crossed her legs while the screen flashed with replays of Golden Lotus' team.
She harrumphed, "Those observers are showing others first before our guild to spite me, right?"
"Be more patient," Edward said.
Mary gave him a glance before harrumphing again.
Her father was so proud of Jake that his smirk annoyed Mary again. These two also heard Jake wanting to fight against Untamed, so Edward looked a lot at that.
Mary secretly would be fine with her guild losing to Jake.
She didn't dare to say that aloud.
Edward and Robert were aware of it, though.
"Jake has much more to show," Edward said. "He told me he has an epic video edited, but can't post it because of this tournament. You pray for your guild to be good to bring out more of our Jake."
Mary scoffed, "He barely survived that landing! He needs more practice."
Robert chuckled. "Should we take him out for another casual quest?"
"I think we must! Sigh, this brother is so troublesome!" Mary said, hiding her feelings.
Unfortunately, everyone could see what she felt deep inside her heart.
That broad smile meant that she really wanted to see what more Jake had in store!
That was when everyone could see each team's decision.
Mary smirked.