Chapter 686. Close Quarter Comba

"So, are you saying this David guy has very little chance to win?" Paytowin asked.

"Don't underestimate him. I can sense his killer instinct. He is an experienced combatant," Domon offered his opinion.

"Yeah. He is a real-world soldier. So I think he should have a trick or two up his sleeves," Jack agreed.

"We are about to find out," Paytowin said.

The two combatants below the arena were facing each other. "Good luck," David said with a smile. Synapses didn't return the greeting.

"Begin!" Pallas announced.

Synapses didn't waste any time. She summoned her azure cat as well as called her seven wolves out, before turning into a human cat. It was clear that she wanted to finish this match fast.

David held a pistol in his right hand and a dagger on his left. He held the dagger with a reverse grip while pressing it close to his pistol as he fired, advancing at the same time.

"Huh?" Everyone was flabbergasted. Wasn't that gunner supposed to keep the distance, instead?

Synapses' wolves were faster, so they came to David faster than the others. As they approached, a shadow leaped out from behind David. The shadow revealed itself to be a large dog with long black fur and red eyes.

"A Barghest, another medium-sized rare elite pet," Peniel exclaimed.

"Rare elite?" Jack was amazed. He was not surprised that Ronald owned a rare elite pet, considering his association with Master who had a deep knowledge of this game world. But David was a normal player, who from the looks of it, never played a game before. So, it was even more amazing for him to be able to get his hands on such a high-grade pet.

When the Barghest almost came into contact with the wolves, flame erupted around its fur. The wolves that tried to bite the Barghest recoiled back as they received fire damage.

"Isn't that Elementalist's Flame Shield?" Jack uttered after seeing the scene.

"That Barghest had several abilities. Its most troublesome power is not that Flame Shield. This pet is actually the best one to go against other classes that have a pet," Peniel said.

"Oh? Why is that," Jack asked.

"You will see. That azure tiger although appears impressive is a special elite grade, one grade lower than the Barghest, so it should have no problem using its ability."

Jack became curious due to Peniel's world. He saw as the wolves retreated, the azure tiger had arrived and was about to clash with the Barghest.

Suddenly, the Barghest's red eyes glowed bright red. The azure tiger stopped.

"It has the mesmerize ability like vampires?" Jack asked.

"No. Better," Peniel replied.

Before Jack could ask for further explanation, the azure tiger moved again. However, instead of pouncing on the smaller Barghest, it whirled around and smacked the wolves behind it.

"Mind control?" Jack asked.

"Charm monster," Peniel answered. "The skill turned a hostile monster or pet into an ally for a short duration. The skill had a failure chance, though. Against same grade and same level monsters, the success possibility is roughly only thirty to fifty percent. Against lower grade monsters of the same level, the success rate is around fifty to seventy percent. Lower level monsters will increase the success chance further."

<br/>"How long will the monster be charmed?" Jack asked.

"Thirty seconds," Peniel answered.

Thirty seconds was a short time, but it was also enough time for two experts to decide winning or losing.

The azure tiger took on most of the wolves and the barghest took on the rests, but due to the wolves' large numbers, one still managed to come to David. David had never stopped advancing. When the wolf lunged, David gave it a straight kick and sent the wolf sprawling across the floor.

Synapses in her cat form had also come near. David never stopped shooting as he advanced, and the target was always Synapses. Synapses had been tanking the shots as she advanced. After using Beast Form, her HP had doubled and she also had a small regenerative effect. She could survive a few standard attacks. What puzzled her though, was why her opponent was also running towards her. She didn't let this confusion hinder her. As long as she got the gunner into melee range, she knew she would win.

David was now directly in front of her. She swung her arm forward to claw at David, as her maw prepared to bite. David shot a bullet point-blank at her, accurately hitting her left eye, which resulted in critical damage. Synapses felt extreme pain and also pushback from the shot, but she forced herself forward.

As her claw was about to hit David, David shifted his position to the side so Synapses' claw hit his left arm. David received damage but Synapses felt her clawing arm getting locked, then it was being twisted. She felt herself losing balance. David's pistol fired from close range again. This time, the shot hit Synapses' right eye. Now her two eyes were closed, causing her to lose vision.

David came to Synapses' side while she was blinded and losing balance, her rib-cage was exposed. David made rapid stabs at her side using his dagger. His pistol still aimed at Synapses' head and activated Rapid Shot. All five bullets hit the back of Synapses' head. No miss, it would be difficult to miss from such a close range.

All the headshots were critical hits. Despite Synapses' double HP, she still couldn't tank those many punishments. She fell to the floor without knowing what had happened after losing her sight.

"Winner, David of the human race!" Pallas declared.

The crowd cheered. David made a slight bow to the audience with a smile.

"A gunner who is not afraid of close combat. Now, that's something," Paytowin uttered.

"Yeah. Hopefully, he can do something about that other gunner," Jack said as he glanced at Ronald. The final of the archer section would be between these two unusual gunners.

The next match continued. The last member of Wilted's camp who had come to this tournament, Blackhole, walked down to the arena. His face seemed indifferent. The winner of the third match of the mage section, Flarement, also walked down.

*

Mage Section Match 5

Flarement, level 46 Summoner (draconian) Vs Blackhole, level 46 Elementalist (ethereal)

*

The two magic users took their positions opposite each other.

"Begin!" Pallas announced.

Flarement immediately prepared Magic Shield. After seeing what happened during Selena's last match, he didn't dare to initiate the match by immediately throwing basic spells. Strangely, Blackhole didn't react as was expected. He was already casting an advanced or elite spell at the moment, spell formation was forming at the tip of his long staff. His casting was fast, rivaling Selena or even faster.

Flarement was surprised by Blackhole's act but he immediately took action. He fired Mana Bullet and Energy Bolts before started casting a spell as well.

Blackhole acted as if nothing happened. The mana bullet and energy bolts came and battered his body. Amazingly, his spell formation continued, not even slowing down.

"Does he have some sort of talent that can prevent his spell casting from being disrupted," Jack asked Peniel.

"Not every hit is guaranteed to disrupt one's casting. As long as the casters maintain their concentration on the spell then the casting will continue. Still, it is easier said than done. Most spellcasters would lose their concentration from a hit."

"Meaning he is a very focused person," Jack remarked. "Or, he could have a talent that helps him focus his concentration, like my Hundred Synchronous Thoughts."

"Probably," Peniel didn't disagree.

Blackhole's spell formation was completed and the preferred Elementalist's spell to initiate a fight was cast, Ice Field. It had a wide area of effect and also slowed the opponent down. If the opponent was unlucky, he would be frozen instead.

Flarement didn't bother to run when he saw the Ice Field's starting effect appear, it would be futile to do so. He continued his casting while praying that he didn't get frozen status.

He was hit by the ice spell, suffering damage, but thankfully, not frozen. He also managed to keep his casting intact, the casting speed slowed down though when he was hit.

Blackhole was already casting another spell. Flarement's spell took effect, he was only casting a one-rune spell, Barrier. Once Barrier came up, he felt more confident. He started casting the summoning spell that required more runes. Even if his barrier was broken, he still had the Deep Wisdom race skill to help him keep his concentration.

Blackhole's spell was completed and Arcane Turbulence came up with Flarement in the center. Blackhole continued with another spell. Flarement felt that Blackhole's casting was picking up in speed each time he cast a spell. He dismissed it and convinced himself that it was only his misperception.

But when he saw Blackhole complete a four rune spell earlier than him who was also casting a four rune spell despite starting later, he knew then it was not a misperception.