Chapter 275 - Phantom Knight.
KnightOfHoliness walked in circles around the battlefield with his sword held in an already victorious position!
The audience's cheers filled his mind, awakening a sense of pride inside him that he wasn't aware existed. For the first time in his life, he felt what it was like to be the greatest!
Seeing the lovestruck gazes of the women in the crowd filled him with satisfaction, while the envious stares of the men filled him with arrogance.
However, those feelings were dashed when a familiar voice cried out from behind him.
''WATCH OUT!'' The red-haired youth known as Salamander called out to the showboating Knight.
Isaac had once again raised his weapon, and the barrel was aimed at the back of the Knight's uncovered head.
*BANG!*
KnightOfHoliness flinched and swiftly raised his shield into the path of the bullet.
*CLANK!*
The bullet ricocheted off the shield and flew off into the distance, somewhere outside the stadium.
KnightOfHoliness lowered his shield, annoyance unmistakable on his handsome features.
The gun's barrel was smoking, and Isaac stared down the sight, his face not betraying any state of emotion.
''Fine!'' KnightOfHoliness lugged his shield in a position that covered his entire body.
''I didn't intend to outright humiliate you, but you just don't know when to give up you brat!"
Isaac let out a long breath of cold air, ''Wheeeew….''
The Knight had enough of this insolent young man and his casual attitude. He lunged forward, his heavy armor not hindering his movement in the slightest!
He swiftly closed the distance between the two, arriving in front of Isaac before the young man had a chance to move. His grip on his sword tightened as excitement filled his mind.
Unfortunately for him, Isaac had never intended on moving.
As he stepped in front of the Marksman, he heard a sound that was vastly different from the previous explosions.
*BAM!*
The muffled sound of a gun firing rang through his head. The Knight couldn't even tell if the shot had been from a gun. It was just too deafening!
An ice-covered bullet left the barrel and penetrated the ground in front of the armored Knight. Frost burst out from the impact, and a thin layer of ice covered the ground.
KnightOfHoliness's foot slipped across the ice, and his right leg was launched upward!
The scene had gone from staring down the emotionless bastard in front of him to staring at the sky in an instant! He felt that he was about to end up on his back and knew that would prove to be fatal!
He couldn't let that happen!
Though his right leg was up in the air and covered in frost, his left leg was still scarcely gripping the solid earth of the stadium!
Memories of his childhood rushed into his mind. Something that he'd done hundreds of times came to mind, but to do it right now? It seemed outrageous!
Still, it was the only solution he could think up on the spot. It was something he could do with his eyes closed... or even with a single leg.
He put all the force he could muster into his left leg, leaping into the air! The Knight used the momentum of his frozen leg to kick backward, tucking his knees as he did so.
His body rolled through the air, and the last-second backflip paid off! One second, he'd been dazed and worried for his life... the next, he was back to standing on solid ground!
Cold sweat poured down his back as the thought of his imminent death was still clear in his eyes, yet his face betrayed the surprise that he felt at pulling off such a ridiculous save!
The audience was utterly shocked at the display of acrobatics that had occurred before them. It didn't go unnoticed that the women in the crowd had an even greater look of reverence in their eyes!
If he'd busted his ass here, there was almost no way he would have been able to defend against the man in front of him! Luckily, he managed to pull off a save, and he was facing the Marksman as if the slip had never happened.
He glanced at the layer of ice on the ground and grimaced, ''Ice..? Is this his true ability?''
Steam was still rolling out of the barrel of the sniper.
[Icy Shot Used!]
Isaac glanced at the notification in front of him. He thought that he had a chance to end this match quickly by using this skill.
However, KnightOfHoliness had exceeded his expectations.
On the other side, even though he'd managed to survive, the Knight was feeling a tremendous amount of humiliation from the near-death experience!
[Knight Rush Used!]
The armored man crossed the distance between them in a single bound! To those watching, it looked as if the Knight was flying through the air!
Isaac leapt out of the way before the Knight could steamroll over him.
KnightOfHoliness brushed by his opponent. Isaac thought he'd gotten away, but the Knight shifted the position of his shield, and his body flew in a new direction!
The Knight rotated almost a full hundred and eighty degrees and was once again rushing toward Isaac. He hadn't lost any momentum! It was like the shield would drag him in any direction that it pointed!
Though Isaac had managed to dodge, he hadn't put much distance between himself and his opponent. With the sudden turn, the Knight was almost upon him!
KnightOfHoliness raised his sword and struck down toward the man who dared to humiliate him in his moment of victory! This time, he would be sure to kill the bastard!
Isaac raised his gun, barely managing to block the strike. It felt like a mountain had been dropped on top of him!
He fell to his knees. The muscles in his arms bulged as they pressed back against the tremendous force! Isaac felt that his bones would shatter at any moment!
To everyone watching, it looked as if the sword had been blocked... yet KnightOfHoliness let out a mischievous fit of laughter! This was the moment he'd been waiting for!
[Phantom Knight Used!]
The steel sword changed colors, and the metal suddenly became translucent! To Isaac, it looked as if things were happening in slow motion!
One second, the steel sword was being blocked... the next, it had phased entirely through the Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle!
Isaac widened his eyes in shock and tried to move out of the way, but the speed of the strike was far beyond what he was capable of dodging at this range!
*SPURT!*
The sword not only phased through the rifle but also straight into his camouflage clothing and the armor that lay beneath! As the sword penetrated his armor, the tip became solid once more and dragged through his torso!
A deep gash formed, unable to be seen by the onlookers, and blood started filling his armor. His chest became numb, and an odd warmth spread across his chest and abdomen.
"The sword... even passed through my armor..?"
The sword was entirely solid now and was sticking out of his back, the tip covered in blood. KnightOfHoliness took his time pulling the blade slowly from the young man's chest, grinning as he did so.
Blue blood rushed from the wound in his chest when the Knight finally pulled the sword free. The blood cascaded downward, staining his clothes and the ground beneath.
'This armor is completely useless against him...' Isaac's eyes were closed, as he didn't want to open his eyes to see the insane drop in HP that he knew had occurred.
'If this armor is useless...' What good was having armor if it couldn't even protect him? How could he win this fight without it?
Isaac mustered up the willpower to open his eyes.
[-440 HP!]
[HP: 7/526]
KnightOfHoliness rested the edge of the sword on Isaac's shoulder. A minute scratch showed on his neck as the blade hovered just a hairsbreadth away.
"Well, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed this little spar," The Knight looked condescendingly down at Isaac.
He brushed his bangs to the side before continuing, "You should be proud that you were the stepping stone for the rise of the great KnightOfHoliness!"
''Goodbye, Wraith!''
The audience's cheers rang loudly in the stadium as the Knight once again swung his sword. The members of Black Arrow looked on in agony as the blade closed the distance.
The sword closed the distance, and a rain of blood showered the Knight as it slid across Isaac's throat!
*SPURT!*