Chapter 267:  The Stage of Envy (Part 2)

“Sss…”

Serina grit her teeth as she belatedly realized she had just narrowly escaped death, letting out a sharp breath of cold air.

If the Beastman Nun hadn’t blocked that third sword for her, she would have been run through long ago.

The sword speed of the Hero of the Gale was terrifyingly fast; the three strikes had been nearly layered on top of one another, not to mention that overwhelming afterimage trickery. ‘Is this really something a normal human can do?’

“Don’t just stand there dazed. Can you be serious? Why is your buckler just a decoration? Move!”

In the back, Samimi was still rambling incessantly, her voice loud enough to make one’s head throb.

“It seems there is no need for me to take action. Why don’t you just come up? You are the one I want to defeat,” Bemore mocked from the opposite side, arms crossed over her chest with absolutely no intention of joining the fray.

Against a makeshift Hero and a Beastman Nun, Legas alone was enough to suppress them.

Hero was the highest title in adventurer circles, usually representing the strongest individuals who fought the enemies of the Human Race. Most past Heroes were experts at hunting Magic Beasts.

But Legas was different.

Her techniques were practically “chip damage” against Magic Beasts, but when used in combat against humans, they were top-tier PK skills.

Afterimage Step, Misty Step, spiral positioning, high-speed sword, Shadowless Sword, and irregular swordsmanship — all were the most shameless fighting styles in the Arena.

Her footwork and sword techniques were ever-changing; every execution was different. Even if one knew her moves in advance, it was impossible to defend against them because her sword followed no logic and no pattern.

That three-sword kill-sequence from a moment ago was just a bit of her improvisation.

Even Samimi and Bemore were seeing it for the first time.

Flashy and impractical?

That was true against Magic Beasts.

But once the armor was breached —

That was a swordsmanship capable of slaying even a god.

The White-haired Witch and the Arrow of Dream in the Hero Party didn’t actually rely on Samimi’s support. Their weaknesses could be compensated for with training, as they were “mechanic-based” prodigies themselves.

But Samimi’s Amplification was a qualitative change for melee classes.

Melee combat was a battle of stats.

Without stats, everything was empty talk.

“Serina, you can do it! Don’t be afraid!”

“I’ll give you a defense enhancement. You won’t die even if you take it head-on! Trust me, even if you actually get cut, I can save you!”

“Give it your all! You don’t want to be looked down on for the rest of your life, do you?”

Samimi was shouting commands like a coach from below the stage.

Serina’s technique was too unrefined, so Samimi naturally had a few things to say. If it had been Niubao, she wouldn’t have had much to teach.

This feeling of “shouting commands like a spectator watching a chess match” —

‘It’s so satisfying.’

“Can you just shut up?”

Serina had a look of misery on her face, her head feeling like it was about to explode from the constant nagging.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Ghostly shadows flickered everywhere.

However, this time, she was much calmer than before.

When the Hero of the Gale performed the Afterimage Step again, Serina wasn’t as flustered as she had been just moments ago. Her eyes moved rapidly, trying her best to locate the real body.

Legas noticed this as well.

Serina’s rhythm was stabilizing.

This was the characteristic of the Shield Axe Hero —

Rapid adaptation to the battlefield.

After all, she was also a “Hero.”

But the one who truly made Legas wary was the Beastman Nun.

She didn’t bother looking for the real body at all —

She simply slashed through every afterimage!

Her reactions were incredibly fast, and her strikes were decisive. She had even caught the sneak attack from behind earlier.

Her reactions could keep up with Legas’s sword speed.

The Shadowless Sword had just been broken by the Sword Saint last night. Now, it was being seen through by someone of her own age.

This made Legas very displeased.

‘Here it comes!’

Combined with Samimi’s constant interference from the side, this kind of outside support — it was practically despicable!

Niubao had already unsheathed her Paladin Sword.

Twin sword slashes!

To an onlooker, it looked like she was hacking wildly at the air. But every one of her strikes hit those “invisible” attack trajectories perfectly.

She had predicted the Hero of the Gale’s blade in advance.

On the other side, Serina wasn’t nearly as flashy. She simply held up her Deep Blue Buckler and blocked haphazardly.

Yet, she managed to block every thrust.

She looked flustered, but her parrying was becoming more professional. Because this shield was a divine tool specifically forged for parrying. Its equipment quality was a total stomp.

With just a single shield, she could exhibit defensive power that surpassed a heavy knight.

This was the Shield Axe Hero.

Offense in advance, defense in retreat.

Can’t win? Then turtle up!

Who could break through her defense?

Even a turtle would bite if pushed too far.

Now —

She held her ground firmly.

Drag it out!

Just drag it out!

“Without the Divine Official’s Amplification, you wouldn’t even be able to block a single strike from me,” Legas’s voice echoed in her ear.

“You don’t deserve to be called a Hero.”

The sword could be blocked.

The words could not.

Each word of mockery was sharper than a blade.

Legas suppressed the two of them alone. Even with their Amplification —

If they couldn’t land a hit, it was all for nothing.

But she also couldn’t land a decisive blow.

The situation had reached a stalemate.

And so —

She changed her tactics.

The chatting tactic.

“By what right do you call yourself a Hero?”

“Are you even worthy of receiving a Divine Official’s Amplification?”

“You think you can be a main attacker with that level of output?”

“Stop dreaming!”

She continued her verbal assault while unleashing her sword.

Serina’s resolve wavered, and she began to retreat step by step.

“Give the Divine Official back to me!”

Legas took the opportunity to strike fiercely, completely locking Serina down.

Meanwhile, Niubao —

She was still struggling with the afterimages.

She couldn’t see through the feints. She believed in everything she saw.

So, her approach was very simple —

Cut them all down.

If she blew up every afterimage, she would naturally find the real body.

It was clumsy, but effective.

‘It looks like Niubao still has a lot to learn,’ Samimi thought, shaking her head.

However, she didn’t intend to interfere.

Because —

Niubao really was using a “clumsy method” to break through.

Even though Legas’s real body was on the other side hacking away like a madman.

‘Is there really such a deep grudge between Heroes?’

It was the first time Samimi had seen her so agitated. The usually elegant and swift swordsmanship had now turned into that of a Mad Berserker.

Serina was already at her limit.

**[Hero-Exclusive Attack Enhancement: Formula Combination]**

There was no other way. Samimi increased the Amplification.

In an instant —

Power surged!

Serina’s sword speed actually kept up!

And Legas —

Hearing the words “Hero-Exclusive” caused her heart to tremble.

Her sword slowed down.

‘I remember now…’

Serina’s eyes lit up.

‘I am the true Hero!’

She raised her buckler and charged forward.

In this moment —

She was no longer just defending.

She began to counterattack!