[Death Duel will start in 28 seconds]
Alex can't help but feel a growing sense of excitement. Pushed by his [Uzin's Rage R2], which fuels his desire for revenge against the man who has caused him nothing but trouble, his gaze locks onto Jason. An invisible barrier stands between them in the middle of the ring, preventing him from approaching until the timer runs out. Somehow, his eyes are drawn to Jason, who suddenly begins to glow faintly, some kind of effect activating around him.
"Kill him... human... kill him now... I need blood... ssssssomething... isssss making me crave it even more..." Mustrano hisses, his left hand moving on its own, trying to draw him forward.
"No!" Alex yells, cancelling Mustrano's conjuration. However, the feeling of rage does not disappear; in fact, it grows stronger.
I want to kill this bastard.
First in Water 7, then in Alubarna, then in the Realm, spreading information, causing an open conflict with the Seekers, and now trying to assassinate me in Yorknew... not once, but twice.
Seeing him struggle in front of him, despite not usually having such tendencies, evokes an immense sense of satisfaction in Alex.
As Jason desperately screams, his eyes filled with pure panic while he tries to activate the card in his hand, Alex feels an unfamiliar yet intoxicating sense of pleasure building inside him, making him almost giddy.
Hehehe... suffer!
I'm going to enjoy this... you'll regret ever messing with me.
"FUCK THIS! BROKEN PIECE OF SHIT!" Jason yells, throwing the card onto the ground before stomping on it. "BASTARD. Listen to me! Let's make a deal! Please!"
This will be so fun... He's given up. I've already won!
He... he... I can enjoy this. I just need to calmly finish this job; there's no need to worry anymore.
...
No...!
I need to stay calm and composed! What am I doing?! This is a duel to the death, what the fuck. Wait, he was glowing?! But I can't calm down... somehow... I just want to... no, I need to kill him. What is this?!
Partly out of desperation, partly out of a need to regain control over himself, Alex activates Thorian's Domination, the ability almost activating on its own, as if telling Alex that he needs to use it. Immediately, clarity returns to him, and his desire for revenge vanishes. Thanks to the increased SPR and the resistance against any form of mind-altering effects, Alex feels like he's just woken up from a bad dream.
This is better... I was about to lose it. [Uzin's Rage R2] is incredibly powerful, but with the Rank Upgrade, the side effects apparently became even stronger. Also... he was just acting! He did something. I know he did something....
[Death Duel will start in 13 seconds]
"HEY!" Jason yells, still bleeding heavily. "Don't ignore me. We can talk this through. Look, I can offer you—"
Alex shuts him out completely, deciding not to listen or even make eye contact. Still, he notices Jason subtly turning around for a moment, hiding his face from view, his hands behind his back. Surrounding Jason, Alex sees a slight shift in color, as his body is surrounded by a slight glow.
So he's using items. He's trying to deceive me. It was all an act.
I know his Hatsu, but it looks like he can't use it anymore. Still, he might have one last ace left... although he burned through a lot of resources during the last mission and this one. He used something to try to control me, I'm sure. It was something passive. He should be running dry on Aura... still, there's no reason to take unnecessary risks. I'll play it safe—but apply enough pressure to finish this without giving him an opening.
Meanwhile, Jason continues to lash out, screaming wildly before directing his frustration at the ground, specifically at the Leave card lying there, continuously stomping on it.
"Fuck this thing!" He screams, kicking it away until it lands towards the edge of the ring. "Let it disappear!"
Items disappear if they're dropped and left alone for a minute; I know that. Not only because it's a Greed Island card, but also because of the system. When I still had inventory limitations in the world of Final Fantasy 9, which forbade low-level players from acting like mules and greedily hoarding items, I had to juggle my items as well. He can still pick it up and regain it. It's a trap. Why would he throw away something insanely expensive like that?! The rules were displayed for him. It's worth a fortune, and he's trying to trick me.
His reaction, though... he seems almost too enraged. He's acting insane, but I know what he's trying to do. Is he trying to lure me towards the edge of the ring? Of course... this sneaky rat only relies on deception, tricks, and sneak attacks. He's a schemer till the very end. This is his only way to lure me into death... he can't win any other way. He wants to push me down! The stupidest thing would be to rush towards that card and try to pick it up, and then get pushed to my death.
My Hatsu saved me... I almost rushed in, full of anger. Without Thorian's Domination, I might have... so does that mean I can't get the card?
Heh, not quite. How about this?!
[Death Duel will start in 2 seconds]
"..."
Alex calmly moves toward the middle of the stage, toward the barrier separating the area into two sides, not taking his eyes off his opponent for even a moment.
He draws his [Skullflame Shield R2] and [Draining Meteor Sword R2].
No need for grenades or arrows. At worst, he can squeeze out another use of his Hatsu and throw them back at me. Calmly... and logically destroy him. Give him no openings.
[Death Duel starting.]
The barrier in the middle of the stage suddenly glows brightly before shattering into thousands of fragments, dissolving into light.
Alex carefully presses forward, trying not to make exaggerated movements.
Let's give this a try!
He begins by using Pull, skillfully arcing the biotic projectile toward Jason, who once again draws a card from his inventory.
Alex immediately recognizes it as another Greed Island card, which confuses him.
How many cards from Greed Island does this guy have?! They must be expensive as fuck! He couldn't have gotten them himself... does he have a sponsor? It's also weird that he got a Supporter from an outside source. Samir seemed angry... no way he sponsored him after he arguably betrayed his guild... this guy... could he be a spy?! But for whom?!
No matter what, I need to stay focused.
Jason yells, despite his pained expression, a hint of amusement visible as his lips curl into a devious smile: "Reflect on," creating an orange-red shield in front of him, protecting his entire body.
However, Alex also can't help but smile as his Biotic Pull curves around him and arcs toward the ground near the edge of the stage, towards the card he's kicked away earlier.
The attack explodes against the ground, directly above the card, and the resulting gravitational pull throws it backward toward Alex.
Mustrano!
Reconjuring Mustrano, Alex sees Jason not following what he's doing at all.
Good.
Using his basic Biotic abilities, he focuses on the card, pulling it towards him, and just half a second later, it rests securely in his glowing left hand, exactly above the mouth of Mustrano, held between two fingers, hidden beneath his shield.
[Leave Card]
World: Hunter x Hunter
Quality: Light Gold
Type: Greed Island Card (Spell Card)
Effect: This card can be activated to abandon a mission and return to the Fantasy Realm instantly.
Effect: When activated, it automatically causes all ongoing missions to fail, triggering all penalties. Player receives an additional penalty, lowering mission rating.
Effect: Prevents the player from achieving an F, A-, or any rank above that. Rewards and penalties will be halved or doubled, respectively.
Note: To activate the card, hold it in your hand and say or think "Leave On!"
Note: A highly prized B-Rank Spell card that can be bought in Masadora, the City of Magic. #1014 with a Transformation Limit of 30.
Note: A coward will have to live with a damaged reputation and lack of self-esteem, but at least he gets to live.
"Thanks, idiot!" Alex says, holding the card up while smirking at his opponent, watching his head shake in pure, unfiltered rage, this time without any acting involved.
Quickly putting the card away into his inventory before his opponent can reverse his movements, Alex does nothing reckless and simply closes the distance to his opponent, slowly approaching him step by step.
"Okay, fine. I give up. Let's stop! I'll give you a one-gold-ranked item!" Jason pleads again, raising his hands. "I surrender! You can't kill an innocent, unarmed human being. Are you a murderer?! I am surrendering!"
Whatever he says... he doesn't mean it, nor do I care. The moment I used this voucher, one of us was fated to die. The only thing I can do is make sure it won't be me.
As Alex approaches, Jason's pleading face twists into one of sheer rage as he suddenly opens his inventory and another pair of combat knives appears in his hand. He instantly throws one towards Alex.
Why is he using these shitty knives?! That's like the third or fourth one I've seen in my encounters with him. They look absolutely garbage... but they feel dangerous. Not only strengthened by his Aura, but by something else. He's also not a melee fighter... how does he even kill his enemies? It must be those knives, but I can tell he's not very strong physically. Still, he must have some method to kill his enemies.
Alex raises his shield, even directing most of his Aura to it, to deflect the knife, but as the knife hits him, his shield is slammed aside, and the knife tears a noticeable tear into his shield, an ear-screaching sound giving him the urge to cover his ears.
What?! How is there so much weight behind it?! It damaged my shield?! How?! I need to strike back. This fucker... he has more tricks in store. I can't lose my cool. Time to slowly and carefully finish the job.
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