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13.31% Miracle Summoner / Chapter 266: -262- Can she do it?

章節 266: -262- Can she do it?

"Clang!"

As the crisp clash resounded through the air of the labyrinth, sparks burst forth like shooting stars, illuminating the entire space.

Asuna swiftly caught up with the orange rapier user, who was attempting an ambush. Just as the opponent unleashed their sword skill, creating a pink effect, aimed at the back of another player, Asuna moved even faster, her rapier also emitting a pink radiance, akin to a Shooting star, aimed towards the back of the player.

Of course, Asuna wasn't attacking others.

The female player's target was the weapon of the orange marker rapier user.

And both sides used the same sword skill, the basic skill for rapiers in the early stages - "Linear."

However, there was a significant difference in the execution of the sword skills between the two.

Although the orange marker rapier user's "Linear" was quite potent, Asuna's "Linear" was exceptionally impressive, quick as a flash, radiant like a shooting star.

Therefore, even though Asuna acted a beat later and initiated her sword skill later than her opponent, her rapier moved at a terrifying speed and caught up in time, intercepting the weapon that was about to strike another player's back.

The two rapiers met behind that player, as if two rapier users simultaneously rushed the player and launched an attack. The result was that their weapons collided, generating sparks and a gust of wind.

"...!?"

The orange marker rapier user was taken aback, not expecting to be intercepted.

"What... what's going on!?"

"What's happening!?"

The other players were even more startled, like scared birds that scattered in different directions.

As for the player who was attacked, they seemed to be somewhat stunned and unable to react.

"Get out of here!"

Asuna reprimanded without hesitation.

Only then did the targeted player come to his senses and quickly run back to regroup with his teammates.

The two rapier users then separated and jumped to the side, putting some distance between them.

The tension in the air became palpable.

The gazes of the two rapier users met in mid-air, sparking as if their glares ignited flames.

"Orange... Orange Rapier User...!?"

"The orange rapier user has appeared!"

"But... why are there two!?"

"What on earth is happening!?"

Seeing the two rapier users facing off, the players present, who were considered prey, couldn't help but become flustered.

Watching from behind, Rozen observed this scene and silently nodded.

As long as someone witnessed two orange marker rapier users appearing simultaneously and confronting each other, they would inevitably think that the real attacker of players and the rumored beautiful female player who unintentionally injured others might not be the same person.

Although there would still be doubt, it was better to have doubt than certainty. At least doubt allowed for some alleviation and room for possibility.

"Next, it's up to Asuna to take him down."

Rozen turned his gaze towards the battlefield ahead, focusing on the two rapier users who were in a standoff.

Then, he muttered something unknown.

"But, can she do it...?"

Rozen seemed to already know the outcome as he watched.

At the same time, the two rapier users engaged in a conversation.

"...Who are you?" Asuna broke the silence, her voice low. "Why are you attacking other players?"

This was the first question Asuna wanted to ask.

Unfortunately...

"...Mind your own business."

The rapier user who emerged from beneath the cloak had a hoarse and somewhat grating voice, not as harsh as nails on a chalkboard but still quite unpleasant compared to Asuna's voice.

And that voice was not female, but male.

In other words, the orange rapier user who attacked players was a male.

It seemed that he understood he had been set up, as he released a strong sense of hostility, even... murderous intent!

In other words, he held a murderous intent towards Asuna.

This caused Asuna's emotions to fluctuate slightly.

Surely this young girl had never experienced such direct malice from someone before?

However, this girl who had previously shown herself to be quite cold and dark in front of Rozen, was surprisingly verbose at this moment.

"Aren't you going to stop?" Asuna pretended to be calm and said, "Don't blame me if I take action."

This statement from Asuna immediately earned a mocking laugh from the rapier user.

"Take action?" The rapier user stared at the rapier tightly gripped in Asuna's hand and said with extreme disdain, "Can you do it?"

Clearly, he saw through it.

He saw through Asuna's attempt to act tough.

If one looked closely, it could be seen that the hand gripping the rapier, which had just displayed remarkable skill, was trembling slightly for a moment.

Yes.

Asuna's current emotions weren't as calm as they appeared on the surface.

Perhaps losing hope for the future and life itself could make this girl not care about her own life and death, but when it came to the life and death of others, that was a different matter.

Ultimately, Asuna not a magus, not a servent, but an ordinary girl.

Even if someone like Mash could feel fear and hesitation in battle, it went without saying that Asuna would feel even more so. Just the thought of her sword tearing through someone's body made her field of vision seem to shrink, her breath became rapid, and even the ground she stood on seemed to gradually move away, causing her to feel dizzy.

This wasn't a game.

This was combat.

Once her weapon cut through the opponent's body, their life would be threatened, and if their HP dropped to zero, they would die in real life.

Just the thought of killing someone with her own hands, how could Asuna possibly remain calm?

And so...

"You can't do it, little girl."

The rapier user sneered and said such words, raising his rapier in his hand.

"If you want to do it, at least achieve this much."

With that, the rapier user shot forward like a spring, charging towards Asuna.

"...!?"

Asuna immediately had an intense reaction, subconsciously stepping on the ground and retreating backward.

Although her sword skill was superior to the opponent's, and her speed was higher, logically she shouldn't have been afraid of being threatened. However, Asuna's first instinct was to back away.

This made the mockery at the corner of the rapier user's mouth even more pronounced. He didn't hold back as he thrust his rapier forward.

The target was Asuna's thigh.

"Splurt!"

In the sound of tearing, the rapier cut across Asuna's thigh, leaving behind a wound with an bleeding effect.

Asuna's HP immediately decreased as a result.

"Ugh...!"

Asuna let out a muffled groan.

In SAO, players didn't feel pain when injured, but the sensation of being attacked by a weapon still lingered.

Asuna felt as if her thigh's skin had been sliced by something sharp, and the discomfort of the weapon piercing her flesh brushed past her mind, causing her movements to momentarily falter.

"This is what a real PK looks like, young lady."

Seizing the opportunity, the rapier user closed in, his face contorted with both mockery and madness. His rapier transformed into streaks of sword light, sweeping towards Asuna's entire body.

Asuna could only lift her weapon and begin a futile defense.

The two rapier users clashed in the labyrinth, their weapons colliding with each other.


next chapter

章節 267: -263- That's enough

"Clang!"

The collision of steel against steel resonated clearly in the surroundings.

The two rapier users were like legendary warriors from various tales and novels, ceaselessly wielding their weapons in a battle that turned the sounds of clashes into pleasing musical notes, echoing in all directions.

Watching this scene, the players who had just been treated as prey finally reacted.

"No... regardless, let's go help first!"

"Isn't that female player the one from the rumors? She wasn't the orange player who attacked other players."

"But it's also possible that both of them are criminals who attack players!"

"So, let's surround those two and prevent them from doing anything else!"

The players were making decisions as if in agreement and were preparing to move forward.

However...

"Don't move!"

Rozen stood in front of the battlefield where the two rapier users were clashing, blocking all the players who were ready to step forward.

"This doesn't concern you. Just watch from the sidelines."

Rozen issued this instruction without hesitation, his gaze sharper than ever.

"Gu!"

Rainbow Butterfly also flew in front of Rozen, flapping its wings and scattering phosphorescent powder, as if it would pounce on anyone who dared to come forward.

It had to be said that Rozen's display truly intimidated those players.

Even if he usually appeared lazy and careless, Rozen was still the person known as the strongest and most outstanding Master. He had commanded and directed various heroes from myth and legend, silently exuding a lot of leadership qualities.

In such a situation, even if this group of ordinary players were at the top of the hierarchy in this world, they were still just regular people. How could they act freely in the face of Rozen's overwhelming aura?

As a result, each and every player froze in place, not daring to move.

Rozen then turned his gaze back to the center of the battlefield.

Although it was a fierce battle that unfolded before him, the situation was almost completely one-sided.

In terms of technique, Asuna was nearly impeccable. Even if she didn't use sword skills, she didn't panic, and her rapier under inhuman speed left behind trails, parrying the incoming attacks time and time again, avoiding significant HP loss.

Compared to Asuna, while the criminal rapier user's abilities were also decent, whether it was the completion of sword skills, the agility of movements, or the stability of footwork and direction, he was far from matching Asuna.

As a result, unless the opponent's level or equipment greatly surpassed Asuna's, she had almost no chance of losing.

In fact, the criminal rapier user's equipment and level were not particularly high. It seemed that due to his obsession with attacking players, his proficiency was low, and his weapon wasn't high-performance either. Only his skill proficiency seemed to be quite good, which was how he could display such high strength.

Asuna's level and equipment didn't seem to be high either. After all, she had just left the starting town's inn and hadn't replaced her equipment. The reason she had made it to the labyrinth area was likely due to the journey and not actually much time spent as an active player, probably around half a month?

In other words, the level and equipment gap between the two rapier users was almost negligible.

So, the only factor left to consider the difference in their strengths was their skills.

And Asuna's skill was far superior to the other rapier user's.

Therefore, logically speaking, the rapier user shouldn't have been able to defeat Asuna.

However, at the moment, despite the overwhelmingly one-sided situation, it was Asuna who was falling behind, not the criminal rapier user.

The reason is quite simple.

Asuna was only focusing on defense; she never once directed her weapon towards the rapier user. No, it's not that she couldn't, but it's because she fundamentally resisted pointing her weapon at a living person.

On the other hand, the rapier user, though lacking in skill and unremarkable in equipment, showed no hesitation in inflicting harm. Almost every strike he made targeted Asuna's vulnerabilities, aiming for her throat, heart, abdomen, eyes, and more. He relentlessly attacked her weak points.

With this repeated pattern, even though Asuna had the highest skill, prolonged defense would lead to failure. Her body couldn't avoid being repeatedly slashed by the sharp weapon.

Before long, despite Asuna successfully blocking attacks to vulnerable areas, the rapier user's weapon cut through her thigh, side, armpit, arm, and even her cheek. Effectual scars appeared across Asuna's body.

Naturally, Asuna's HP was continuously decreasing in this situation.

90%...

80%...

70%...

It dropped below 50% fairly quickly, turning her HP gauge yellow.

Even in this state, Asuna's HP gauge kept decreasing.

Until it reached the red zone.

"Haha...! Hahahaha...!"

Seeing this, the rapier user finally descended into an irrational fit of maniacal laughter, laughing while launching even more frenzied attacks.

"Die...! Die...! Die...! In the end, everyone will die...!"

The rapier user had spiraled into madness.

And Asuna was stunned.

"Everyone will die...?"

Indeed.

Wasn't that something she had always believed before?

In the end, everyone would die.

So...

"You're going to be one of the first!"

The rapier user's madness completely consumed him as he roared desperately.

Hearing this, Asuna finally understood.

"This person is... the same..."

Like her, trapped in this world with no hope or future in sight, he had collapsed completely, losing his sense of self and becoming a crazed criminal.

Initially, Asuna thought this rapier user was the same as those players who turned to robbery after running out of money, attacking players to extract the col they needed.

But that was wrong.

The reason this rapier user had fallen to this state was simply because...

"He's given up on himself..."

Just like Asuna.

So, the question arose...

"Will I also become like this someday?"

The answer wouldn't be denied.

Because as long as Asuna continued to sink into this kind of despair, in the end, she would either die at the hands of monsters or, like this rapier user, experience a complete mental breakdown.

By then, would she still be herself?

"No!"

Asuna raised her head forcefully.

"I absolutely refuse to become like you!"

Asuna finally began to fight back.

"Haaaah!"

After blocking the incoming rapier strike, this time Asuna didn't retreat. Instead, as if challenging the path she had denied in front of her, she took a step forward, rushing toward the rapier user.

"Clang!"

The effect of her sword skill flashed on Asuna's weapon.

Even amidst the fierce battle, Asuna had managed to prepare her sword skill's movements and executed it successfully, turning her rapier into a shooting star that flashed forward.

"What...!?"

The rapier user widened his eyes.

Facing an attack that even Rozen had to be amazed by, the rapier user was completely caught off guard.

The tip of the rapier aimed straight for his chest, like an aurora shooting upwards.

This strike, if it connected, would be a critical hit, dealing astonishing damage.

Unfortunately, the strike didn't hit successfully.

"Alright, that's enough."

At this point, a voice without a hint of tension intervened.


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