Bam!

I fell on the ground as I felt something hit me. It was an arrow, but not the same arrow Nergal have been using.

[ Health 42% ]

Must be his primary skill considering the size of the projectile that was left on my shoulder guard.

Wait, I just sliced his arm. Did he do something to regenerate it back? I glanced as I stood noticing a couple of glass vials attached in his belt.

I pulled back quick as I notice him smiled and knocked another arrow.

The projectile grazed my ear and before I could react, another one flew on my shoulder.

[ Health 38% ]

Mind the distance. I repeated his words on my head. I need to get far from him!

I ran towards our golem but it was late for me to realize that it was a mistake. I should not have exposed my back against my enemy.

[ Health 34% ]

[ Health 30% ]

[ Health 25% ]

Several arrows flew on my back. I was able to dodge the last two. He stopped shooting at some point but I kept running to reach the boundary line.

I turned back to check and found him chasing behind. He was pointing his bow on me and noticed that his arrow was glowing bright.

Dodge! Pull yourself! Do something!

My mind panicked but before I could do anything, Nergal released the arrow.

=====

"That was a good fight, you pulled up a stunt there," Eckes said as I met him on the wooden table at the center of the stone platform in the Etherium.

The battle ended and I lost. Nergal took advantage of my death to quickly destroy my team's golem and hoarded points from my pawns. He was wearing a new set of equipment afterwards and his attacks became stronger.

I never knew a single death can result in such defeat. I've carelessly died twice back in the test but I had time to turn the situation around. This battle was different. This is the real deal.

[ Chalice 70 / 1,000,000 ]

I lost thirty quints and I felt bad about it.

"Another round!" I told Nergal. I might be able to earn it back if I win next time.

I might actually loose again but it doesn't matter. I want to get used to it; to this battle. I wanted to find a way how to beat him.

Nergal looked surprised but then he smiled and nodded.

We used the same avatars in the next round and while on it I was able to learn how to navigate the interface to view his profile which prompted a panel that shown his items and his skills. I got particularly curious about his skills.

•••••

STILL HUNT

Type: Innate - Passive

Description:

Shikarees are raised and honed in the wild being taught the ways of the hunt since their childhood. +40% weapon damage against neutral monsters.

+20% chance to inflict MARK using normal attacks. +35% weapon damage against targets inflicted with MARK

Only 1 MARK can be active at a time.

•••••

SHARP SHOT

Type: Primary - Combat

Description:

Shikarees are trained to perfectly aim on their targets while infusing mana on their arrows.

Deal +160% weapon damage in a single attack / +200% weapon damage to targets inflicted with MARK and knock them back. Hold and charge to further increase effect.

Cooldown is decreased by 5 seconds upon inflicting any target with MARK

Cooldown: 16 seconds

•••••

I must take note on his innate skill as it enables him to inflict MARK while attacking. I did not paid attention last time but it appears an icon pops in my vision whenever Nergal hit me with an arrow. The icon indicates that I am marked and once I am marked, the damage he deals increase.

Pairing that effect with his primary skill SHARP SHOT he was able to shave a good portion of my health and was even able to knock me to the ground which gave him opportunity to shoot me while I am recovering.

I have to be wary of those normal arrows. I navigated in my interface to unlock a different skill this time.

•••••

EN GARDE

Type: Secondary - Support

Description:

A true knight is known to always be on guard. With the knight's reformation, the Cavalier's are taught how to use their natural mana to improve their defense.

Increase durability of all items by 60% and nullify all form of affliction excluding BIND for 14 seconds.

•••••

With this skill I was able to increase my defense and completely remove the chances of being inflicted with the Shikaree's MARK. It only lasts for fourteen seconds but I was able to utilize it to increase my survival while taking down his pawns.

Five of my allies survived this time and I still have time before the effect of EN GARDE ends. Nergal moved back to his golem as we charged forward.

=====

Don't get so cocky kid. A little protection is not enough to beat me.

I held and aimed my bow on the rookie as he focused on fighting the golem. I moved a little to the back to avoid being targetted by the pawns while keeping the distance close to land a perfect shot.

As soon as his skill faded I released my arrow.

Tak!

I grinned seeing that he got marked. He tried to dodge but he was a little slow. From my position, I then activated SHARP SHOT. I noticed him reacted pulling out of the golem.

Running away, eh? Come on, show your back on me again so I can kill you fast.

I held the arrow for a little longer waiting for him to turn around but instead the rookie dashed forward using LINE DRIVE.

He swung his sword as he came but I was able to step back to dodge him. I'm glad his skill had a limited distance. He desperately tried to attack again but just in time I pointed him my bow and finally knocked him the arrow.

BAM!

He flew back from the impact and landed in front of the golem. The golem haven't finished off the pawns but since the rookie used a skill inside its boundary, the golem began pounding him.

I didn't gave him chance to escape. With a few more shots he disintegrated.

=====

I lost again. Another death which resulted to defeat. I should have been more careful.

"That's alright, we all make mistakes. Besides, you're getting better," Eckes said patting my back.

"So, another round?" Nergal asked grinning.

[ Chalice 40 / 1,000,000 ]

I checked my remaining essence. I thought I would be able to earn back what I lost before if I win but I could not. I just lost even more.

[ Nergal is asking for a Duel, accept? ]

I stared at the panel for a few seconds contemplating on myself. Another wrong move and I'll lose another thirty.

I thought I could get him that time. I was marked but I could have stopped him from using his skill by cutting his arm. I wanted to disable him and give my pawns time to deal damage on the golem.

I wanted to try it again but I'm starting to realize that I have little points left.

Think, I have to think.

It sucks to be defeated. That thought clouded my head. I want to beat him somehow.

I moved my finger towards the panel and soon we're back on the same avatars.

=====

Tch. The rookie is still up? And here I was thinking that he lost the spirit and crept under their golem.

He moved his arm forward and from the metallic band he was wearing unfolded metal plates that formed into a big round shield.

•••••

RONDACHE

Type: Side arm

Description:

A military grade unfoldable shield perfect for blocking normal attacks.

Can nullify damage of a single combat skill but automatically breaks after. Repairs back after 18 seconds.

Effect: Durability: 110, Speed penalty: 12

Skill: COVER UP - detect incoming attacks within 6 meter radius

•••••

I checked his profile confirming that its the only item that he brought. He sure took time to buy that garbage.

The fight was already between the second group of pawns when he appeared. I've gained more points and even led some of my soldiers towards the golem. If he stayed a little longer I could have pushed the team into their gate.

The shield prevented me from properly landing an arrow as it covers most part of his body. It even protected him from the pawns. But that cheap trick won't work for me. I moved quick as soon as he shifted to another soldier.

=====

Ack?!

I alerted as I noticed an icon popped from my side when I turned. I haven't been hit by an arrow so I'm pretty sure this is not a MARK, it was a different icon I recognized to be part of the shield's mechanism.

COVER UP

I hurriedly moved the shield I was holding to where the icon appeared then I felt something bumped in its surface.

[ Durability 86% ]

Nergal shot an arrow but I was able to intercept it with the help of the shield.

[ Health 92% ]

A blade suddenly came from my side. An attack from the pawn I was fighting. I shove the soldier with my shield, stabbed him and blocked another arrow from Nergal.

[ Durability 85% ]

The RONDACHE was a very helpful item. Aside from being a shield, it also grants a passive skill which warns me of incoming attacks and even tell me the direction where it would come.

I went to check the pillars as soon as the battle started. I searched for items that I can purchase using the small amount of points I had.

Anything that I can use against arrows, anything that would help me block those attacks.

The butterfly was right. Investing in defense is not a bad thing. Improving my defense increased my chance of survival.

I continued taking down pawns while blocking most of Nergal's arrow.

Obtaining points became slower without my skills but I managed to unlock them after some time.

I relied too much on my shield and eventually its durability dropped to zero. After which it shattered into pieces.

Nergal took advantage of it and was able to inflict me with a MARK but I activated EN GARDE when he started charging SHARP SHOT.

He waited for my defensive enhancement to fade before shooting but he lost focus while moving which then cancelled the activation of his combat skill.

He got annoyed of it and went on aggressively shooting me and my pawns.

I moved away and waited for the small icon in my left arm to light up. The symbol informed me that I can again use RONDACHE so I quickly unfolded the shield to block the rest of his attack.

This time I might have a chance. Going defensive might be slow but it might work. I'll stay on alert while patiently wait for an opportunity.

The situation continued until I was able to save enough points to unlock my ultimate. Nergal just came back from their gate with full health and new items. The mean smile in his face suggesting new danger but I must not let him overpower me. Going defensive doesn't mean I won't eventully go for attack.

Blue lines of light appeared on my skin. I activated ARC TURBO after I took down a pawn. Nergal seemed unprepared when I bolted forward using LINE DRIVE.

I slashed his arm but only broke the new metal bracer he was wearing. I dashed once more ripping part of his leg.

With my ultimate I can continuously activate my skill for a limited time. Its a very short moment but I have to make use of it. I need to take him down before he kills me again.

Bzzz. I landed another hit as I moved around, my blade leaving a trail of light.