Chapter 287: Dekan, the Great Angler |
“Is this bastard planning to win the championship without fighting a single match?”
Many spectators had seen through Dekan’s strategy.
Dekan’s head-on combat was indeed not strong.
But his truly terrifying aspect was his unpredictable off-the-board tactics.
For Dekan’s opponents, perhaps.
Just successfully arriving at the competition venue was already more than half the battle won.
“We can only say that Mr. Dekan is indeed the most talked-about contestant. We look forward to his performance in the next match…”
The host was still trying hard to smooth things over, hoping to transition smoothly to the second match…
A few minutes later.
“So tired.”
The first thing Dekan did when he came back was to lean directly against the sofa.
Like a hero who had just returned victorious from a thrilling battle.
To his left, Cloix smiled helplessly.
And to his right, Cornelia was snickering.
The Cat Teacher noticed that with the passage of time.
These two people seemed to have changed too.
“You two just spoil him! As a teacher, I can’t stand it anymore, meow! Iris, you say something to him! Isn’t he tarnishing the reputation of the Norton Kingdom?!”
The Cat Teacher did not even want to stay with these three for a moment and jumped over to Mi’e’s side.
“Huh? Isn’t it fine as long as he won? I was just thinking about giving a speech as the champion’s national representative. Dekan has already helped me think of the lines!”
Iris said with full anticipation.
“…Meow.”
The Cat Teacher was speechless for a moment.
He found that this princess was indeed too easy to fool.
After all, the more obvious a person’s desires were, the easier it was for Dekan to handle them…
“Your first-encounter kill can only be used once, so you have to take out at least two of the remaining three opponents off the field?”
Mi’e was also quite skeptical that Dekan could really coast to the finals.
“Off-field strategy is also a kind of first-encounter kill. My next opponents will definitely be extra vigilant. I’ll have to honestly fight three rounds on the field.”
Dekan sighed.
……
For the rest of the time, Dekan was seriously watching the remaining three matches.
These were all opponents in the same half of the bracket as him.
Only one of them could ultimately advance to the finals.
The second match was a 7th-rank mage against a 7th-rank summoner.
In terms of strength, there was not much difference.
But this mage had a lot of experience fighting in Shadow Worlds, and had even frequently fought against brutal Resurrection Church members.
She had even once escaped from a bishop of the Resurrection Church.
Her survivability alone was comparable to an 8th-rank.
Without much surprise, this mage named Belika from the northern countries defeated her opponent.
She would also be Dekan’s opponent in the top 8 to top 4 match the day after tomorrow.
Coincidentally, this Belika was a card maker and also a branch president of the Card Makers’ Association stationed in the northern countries.
Back when the northern countries were making things difficult for Dekan as a Special-Grade Card Maker, she had helped the northern countries to deliberately obstruct Dekan’s review within the association.
Looking at the results displayed on the screen, Dekan propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
“Dekan, this is truly a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road. But if you want to defeat her head-on, you’ll have to show all your trump cards, meow, right?”
The Cat Teacher asked.
Since Dekan said he would no longer play off-the-field tricks.
Then to face Belika in Phantom Canyon, if Dekan wanted to win, it would be more difficult than defeating the opponent from the first match head-on.
“No, I’m already studying the opponents for the last two matches.”
Dekan said calmly.
The Cat Teacher: “Then what about Belika, meow?!”
As if shooing away a cat, Dekan pulled out a file on Belika and threw it to the Cat Teacher.
The Cat Teacher was about to see if Dekan had any cards that could single-handedly counter Belika, creating an absolute advantage.
However, he only saw that on Belika’s file, in the past experiences section, Dekan had circled a line of words—
【Cautious and suspicious personality】
“Dekan, meow… you…”
The Cat Teacher looked at Dekan in a daze and asked.
However, Dekan did not respond.
He was seriously thinking about how to fight the last two rounds.
Tomorrow’s matches would be the second half of the top 16 to top 8 matches in the other half of the bracket.
However, the results of the matches in that half of the bracket could basically be guessed without watching.
Because there was a young Imperial Sword Saint, Adair, who was said to have near-bishop-level strength, and was a top-tier even among the 8th-ranks.
If nothing unexpected happened, this cheater would sweep through his opponents in the other half of the bracket and enter the finals.
He would also be Dekan’s final opponent.
As for Dekan’s second-to-last opponent…
The third match could be called exciting, or it could be called unremarkable. It was a match between two evenly matched opponents, who fought until the last moment to determine the winner.
And in the fourth match that had just ended, the 8th-rank Holy Knight of the Sun God Cult, Argel, almost instantly killed his opponent.
He was the current youngest Holy Knight Commander of the Sun God Cult, and also Judith’s successor after she stepped down.
He was also one of the favorites to win this competition.
In the championship predictions, Bishop of Agony Dekan was first, Imperial Sword Saint Adair was second, and Holy Knight Commander Argel was third.
The gap between the three was not large.
There were even times when the predicted rate of Imperial Sword Saint Adair winning would exceed Dekan’s.
But if the Holy Knight Commander faced the Imperial Sword Saint, although the Imperial Sword Saint had a greater chance of winning, the real outcome was hard to say.
Neither of these two 8th-ranks was easy to deal with.
Just as Holy Knight Commander Argel, who was being interviewed in the venue, was asked by the host which opponent he most wanted to face.
He suddenly drew his sword and pointed it towards Dekan’s VIP box.
He did not say a word.
But the aggression in his sharp eyes was already at its peak.
Argel seemed to have a great grudge against Dekan.
And he seemed to be not only staring at Dekan, but also moved his gaze to Cloix beside Dekan.
The hostility in his eyes was even heavier.
“Oh? Interesting.”
Dekan could not help but cover his mouth and laugh.
At first, Dekan had not realized why Argel was hostile towards him.
Now he understood in an instant.
This guy had a crush on the former Knight Commander Judith. As a result, before he had a chance to express his feelings, Judith was tricked into becoming an idol and then got together with Cloix.
Cloix also frowned. It was clear that he was a little annoyed with Argel.
Dekan patted Cloix’s shoulder and said:
“Don’t worry, brother. I can play this hothead as I please. I won’t let anyone interfere with your romance.”
Cloix also nodded in reassurance.
Leaving this kind of thing, messing with the opponent’s mentality, to Dekan was his specialty.
Finally, it was the group interview for the four winners of the day, taking questions from various reporters.
When leaving.
Dekan seemed to intentionally or unintentionally glance at the mage Belika beside him and smiled faintly.
This made Belika shiver all over and become as alert as a hedgehog.
She felt that the other person’s gaze was like looking at a snack on a plate.
She could not help but feel afraid.
The guy she had made things difficult for in the Card Makers’ Association back then had now become a formidable figure.
And putting aside new and old grudges.
She felt that according to Dekan’s previous strategy against his opponents.
It was a question of whether she could survive safely until two days later…
With such an anxious mindset.
Belika did not even sleep that night.
So the next day, she began to investigate the movements of Dekan and his group.
However, the result was.
This group of people seemed to be seriously enjoying their vacation.
PART 2
It looked like Dekan had no intention of using underhanded tricks on her off the field at all.
Despite this, she did not dare to relax her guard until the match began, and she followed Dekan with high intensity.
Until late at night.
Before Dekan and his group returned to the mansion, Dekan called Cloix alone and took a detour.
“It’s finally coming…”
Belika was extremely scared. She did not know whether to continue following them.
After thinking about it.
She decided to continue observing.
After all, the barrier in the royal capital was so safe.
Even if Dekan discovered her, he could not possibly attack her directly.
If she did not follow, she might not even know how she was tricked tomorrow.
However, just as Belika locked onto Dekan and Cloix’s figures again.
She saw them talking to a figure in a cloak.
And this figure seemed to take out a seal to show them.
Similarly, Dekan also took out a seal.
“Eek—!”
Belika covered her mouth, her eyes filled with terror, as if she had seen the most terrifying thing in the world.
She could not be mistaken!
That was a Bishop’s Certificate!
She had once encountered a bishop holding such a seal. The despairing power of that person still made her feel fear to this day.
The one in the cloaked person’s hand was the Frenzy Bishop’s Certificate, and the one in Dekan’s hand had a mark she had never seen before.
If it was a new mark other than the few known bishops…
That could only mean…
“Wuwu…”
Belika cried out in fear, but desperately used magic to block out the surrounding sounds.
She had discovered a shocking secret.
The Bishop of Agony was not a rumor!
Dekan was really on the side of the Resurrection Church!
Just as Belika, with trembling hands, took out a recording crystal to record.
She saw Dekan abruptly turn his head and look in her direction.
At this moment, Dekan’s pupils had completely turned into golden demon eyes, like a monarch of an unknown dark world.
That was definitely not the aura of a human!
In an instant, as if by instinct, Belika used all her strength and fled like a madwoman.
After a few tens of seconds.
Cloix confirmed that he could no longer sense Belika’s magic power and signaled to Dekan that the other party had left.
“Hahaha! The next match is going to be a good show.”
Dekan finally could not help but laugh.
Cloix also helplessly spread his hands.
As an experienced veteran 7th-rank mage, Belika naturally would not think that she could be completely counter-surveilled by the newly promoted 7th-rank Cloix.
But she did not know that Cloix’s magic power growth potential was SS, and Cloix himself had also cultivated his magic control to the extreme.
……
Belika ran home, crying and trembling all over.
She hugged her head and hid in a corner, shivering.
She felt that her life could end at any moment…
She cried like this for almost half the night.
Realizing that no one was chasing her and that she was still alive.
She finally calmed down and thought about it.
Fortunately, she had a disguise spell on her at the time. The other party should not have recognized her.
However.
She was not sure if Dekan really had not discovered her, or if he had already discovered her but it was just not a good time to act, and he was waiting for an opportunity after the Hero Festival.
And what were the Frenzy Bishop and the Bishop of Agony secretly plotting?
Was there going to be a major turmoil at this Hero Festival?
Belika only felt that the more she thought about it, the more terrifying it became.
As if the God of Death would come for her at any moment.
She did not dare to rashly go and expose Dekan, because she had no evidence. Doing so would only make her look like a lunatic and completely expose herself to Dekan.
Then it would really be over.
She now did not know.
What to do next…
……
On the day of the top 8 to top 4 match.
This time.
Both Dekan and his opponent Belika successfully arrived at the competition venue.
After a friendly gesture from both sides, they were finally about to enter Phantom Canyon.
Dekan looked exceptionally normal, and his attitude towards his opponent was also very polite and elegant.
The audience could not help but exclaim that Dekan was finally willing to fight a proper match.
But…
What was wrong with Belika’s mental state…
She had heavy dark circles under her eyes, which were bloodshot. After seeing Dekan’s smile, her body trembled uncontrollably.
Belika already wanted to run away.
But the more she realized her current state, the more she worried about exposing herself to Dekan.
And then a vicious cycle.
These past two days, her mental state had been really terrible.
Although she had considered forfeiting the match.
But she was worried that forfeiting would reveal some information to Dekan.
So she still mustered up her courage and came, not expecting her body to be so uncooperative.
Fortunately, Dekan could not possibly do anything to her in front of a large crowd.
However.
Just before entering the Shadow World.
She suddenly saw Dekan reveal a strange smile.
And Dekan’s mouth seemed to be silently mouthing: “Did-you-see-it”
In that instant, it was as if an ice pick was stabbing her from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
【Welcome to Phantom Canyon 2.0.】
【Generally speaking, simulated duels are not life-threatening.】
【The terrain is mountainous, and the pain is 1/4 of real pain.】
【If you actively surrender in Phantom Canyon or completely lose consciousness and cannot recover, you will be teleported out of Phantom Canyon.】
【Surrender does not need to be declared; it can be done through thought.】
【Pain has an upper limit and will not cause permanent damage to the duelists.】
【When mana is depleted, continuing to consume mana will result in a protective defeat and removal from Phantom Canyon.】
【The initial distance between the duelists is 20 meters.】
【The duel will officially begin in 30 seconds. Please prepare.】
The moment she entered the Shadow World.
Belika had already lost all will to fight.
She wanted to cry now, but could only desperately hold back her tears.
“Let, let me go… I don’t know anything…”
Belika looked at Dekan in the distance and pleaded.
However, Dekan just tilted his head in confusion and asked:
“What are you talking about? Are you referring to the time when the northern countries deliberately used tricks to obstruct my review for Special-Grade Card Maker?”
“Yes… yes… you’re right, it was our fault… please forgive me, let me go… I was also instructed…”
Instantly, the entire venue, the audience seats, erupted in an uproar.
Belika, at the Hero Festival.
In front of everyone.
Admitted to an extraordinary matter…
And many high-ranking officials from the northern countries’ delegations.
Their faces turned ashen.