บท 20: Natalia and Karina (2)
Natalia stepped back, quickly breaking contact with Karina and positioning herself a short distance away from where Karina had landed after her strike. Fortunately, Natalia's skill cooldown had expired, but she hesitated to use it immediately, knowing this fight would be more prolonged than her previous encounters. She decided to reserve it as a trump card, taking the risk that Karina might have noticed its activation, despite being a level 9 NPC who had not achieved her level through mere luck.
Most NPCs who are warriors or seasoned fighters possess some form of magical ability or combat skills, although not as varied as those available to players. These skills are honed over years of experience. However, in Karina's case, she lacked any such abilities, relying instead on her exceptional speed and swordsmanship.
As soon as Karina's foot touched the ground, she twisted her body and lunged toward Natalia, aiming to keep the pressure on without giving her a moment's respite. Swinging her sword from above, Karina aimed a powerful blow at Natalia, who managed to block it just in time. The intensity of Karina's attack intensified, her serious expression unsettling Natalia.
"Let's see how long you can this keep up," Karina hissed, prompting Natalia to wonder if Karina held a personal grudge against her.
Karina delivered a relentless flurry of swings, each one precise and intended to overwhelm Natalia, which they did. Natalia realized she couldn't keep up with the onslaught and decided to use a skill to assist her.
Whispering "Whirlwind Flurry," Natalia activated a skill that allowed her to twirl her body with tremendous speed. This skill enabled her to evade attacks and block simultaneously. The whirlwind lasted for 5 seconds, creating a tornado-like zone around her. However, it left her immobile and caused dizziness for 7 seconds, with a cooldown of 2 minutes.
Karina swung her sword as the tornado began, but it bounced off harmlessly. Natalia then landed a blow on Karina's left hip, though it did little damage due to Karina's higher level. Karina stepped back, waiting for the whirlwind to subside.
"This is the first time I've seen a something like this. It must be some kind of magic... But if it were, the referee would have intervened. What if they don't because I'm a mere human from this world?" Karina pondered as she watched the whirlwind dissipate.
Natalia stopped, trying to regain her focus after using the skill. She knew the gamble she took, as the dizziness would render her vulnerable for 7 seconds. She counted down the seconds, maintaining a composed facade to hide her weakness.
"Hey, isn't that magic?" Karina asked the referee.
"No, that is a perfectly acceptable skill," the referee replied.
"A skill?!" She exclaimed before gritting her teeth and refocusing on Natalia. "Lucky me…" Natalia thought as her vision blurred and her body felt unsteady.
Karina composed herself, clearing her mind. "You've got to focus on the battle, unfair or not, her little skill didn't do any damage. I should try to go a little harder on her. After all, she seems to be standing her ground. However, I need to join these knights… I told my father I would. There's no reason for me to be going easy on someone who is a hero," Karina thought as she closed the distance between her and Natalia.
"3…," Natalia counted down, her voice steady.
Karina's pace quickened. "2…"
Karina sprinted forward, dangerously close to Natalia. "1," the moment arrived, and she swung her sword with precision aimed at Natalia's left side.
"Ability boost!" Natalia yelled, dodging the swing and turning the tables by launching her own attack. She had been on the defensive, overwhelmed by Karina's relentless assault. Karina, caught off guard, managed to evade Natalia's strike, signaling a shift in the intensity of the battle.
Natalia's ability boost lasted for one minute with no side effects, but its cooldown time was a daunting seven minutes, rendering it unusable for the remainder of the battle.
The exchange of blows intensified, each anticipating and countering the other's moves. They were evenly matched, with Karina gradually growing mentally tired of the prolonged duel. She increased her speed, delivering swift yet potent blows that wore Natalia down.
Swinging her sword once more, Karina clashed with Natalia, their combined force sending them staggering back. Natalia, visibly fatigued and running low on stamina, stood her ground despite her tattered appearance and the trickle of blood from her mouth.
The tension between the two fighters was palpable, hanging in the air like a heavy fog. Natalia's fierce determination contrasted with Karina's composed demeanor as they locked eyes, assessing each other's resolve.
Karina acknowledged Natalia's skill with respect, tinged with a hint of challenge. "You fight well," she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "But it's time to end this."
Without waiting for a response, Karina launched herself forward once again, her movements swift and precise. Natalia barely had time to react as Karina's sword came slashing down towards her with deadly intent. Instinct kicked in, and Natalia raised her own sword just in time to deflect the blow. But Karina was relentless, pressing the attack with renewed vigor. Blow after blow rained down on Natalia, each one harder to block than the last.
Desperation fueled Natalia's movements as she fought to keep up with Karina's onslaught. Her muscles now screamed in protest, her body pushed to its limits. But she refused to give up, drawing on every ounce of strength she had left.
As the battle raged on, it became clear that Natalia was reaching her breaking point. Her defenses began to falter, and Karina seized the opportunity to strike. With a swift movement, she aimed a powerful blow at Natalia's exposed side, aiming to end the fight once and for all.
But Natalia refused to go down without a fight. Summoning the last of her strength, she twisted out of the way at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. With a fierce cry, she launched a counterattack of her own, her sword flashing through the air with deadly accuracy.
Karina watched, unable to move, as Natalia prepared her final strike. Instead of showing concern or regret, Karina closed her eyes and sighed.
"What was that about?" Natalia's expression changed at that sight, being caught mid-strike. Time seemed to slow, freezing her body in place while allowing her to observe everything around her.
"What's happening?" Natalia wondered, feeling trapped in a world devoid of color and only tones of gray. "This is different, not like when someone moves too fast for you to react. I should feel myself moving if it were speed," she thought.
Karina moved slowly, as if in a dream. "How is she moving in this state?" Natalia began to panic as Karina approached, her eyes glowing a faint brown.
"Wait that's it… she stopped time! But for how long?" Natalia thought, closing her eyes, awaiting the inevitable impact. Suddenly, her body felt light again, and she opened her eyes to find no pain from wooden sword.
Blinking, she saw color return, followed by a speechless crowd. Looking to her right, she noticed the wooden sword millimeters from her ear, almost hitting her shoulder. Natalia felt a mix of relief and fear, questioning why Karina hadn't struck her.
Attempting to make eye contact with Karina, Karina stood still, then spat out blood.
"She had the ability to use skills... in the end, I never used my trump card… well nows my only chance," she thought.
Struggling to lift her sword, Natalia's body felt heavy, and she collapsed to the ground.
Karina remained frozen, then placed her sword on the ground to steady herself, breaking the frozen-like state. "What just happened? I felt like I was moving through a frozen state. Why am I so tired? I can even taste blood in my mouth," Karina said, wiping the blood away.
Regaining her composure, Karina stood up proudly. The crowd, shocked by the turn of events, couldn't help but cheer in celebration. The air filled with roars of triumph, echoing through the plaza.
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