Altaïr's feelings were complicated; he couldn't quite define whether this sensation was moved, helpless, fired up with passion, or something else entirely.
Under Isis's expectant gaze, he forced himself to control his expression and squeezed out a "Thank you, I'm pleasantly surprised."
"Hehehe," Isis scratched her head with a silly grin, "Glad you like it."
Altaïr vigorously rubbed his face. Regardless of whether this surprise was suitable as a birthday gift, the idea of freely competing with Isis in a match genuinely interested him.
During normal hunts, there were many factors to consider.
The environment, terrain, possible Monsters, teammates' conditions, Monster movements, tactical arrangements, and so on; one couldn't recklessly abandon caution just to compete for some arbitrary victory.
And how would victory be determined? Whoever inflicted more wounds wins? Whoever lands the final strike wins?
Or take separate quests hunting the same Monster, comparing who finishes quicker? None of those seem reasonable.
Natural hunting grounds are vast. During normal hunts, the time spent searching for Monsters and chasing them far exceeds direct confrontation time. Coupled with environmental differences, it's impossible to compare fairly.
Only special venues like the Arena, where battle begins immediately upon meeting, can minimize these external factors.
Challenging the dual Khezu hunt, whether solo or duo, is a 4★ threat level quest; they aren't eligible.
And inevitably, situations arise where someone gets besieged by two Khezus, requiring mutual coordination and cover.
Compared to that, the Guild Manager's decided plan was more suitable.
When the Arena's iron barrier rises, both enter simultaneously, each dealing with one Khezu, it can be seen as two simultaneous solo hunts.
There's no mutual interference, and the final result is clear-cut; there's no better opportunity than this.
Thinking this, Altaïr couldn't help getting excited. He retrieved his Whetstone and meticulously sharpened his Bone Katana "Wolf".
Isis cheerfully took out a ration and chomped down half of it with a bite.
Birthday gifts, surprises, etc., weren't key; she knew Altaïr wouldn't let such an opportunity slip.
The two no longer engaged in unnecessary conversation and began preparing individually.
After some time, knocking sounded, and Arena staff pushed the door open.
"Time's almost up, are you two ready?"
Altaïr flipped his wrist, sheathing the Long Sword behind him, nodding to the staff. Isis also brushed off food crumbs from her hands and mouth and stood up.
The staff smiled, gave a "cheer up" gesture, and left to report.
Soon, horn blasts symbolizing the Arena's start resounded; cheers from the spectator seats pierced through the walls, washing over like tides.
But the two in the preparation room couldn't hear these "disturbances" anymore; they exchanged glances, donned helmets, and pulled down their visors simultaneously.
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Through the dim corridor, they entered the immense Arena spanning nearly ten thousand square meters.
"I've already hunted two times here successfully, I have terrain advantage, challenger," Isis suddenly spoke up.
Altaïr chuckled and glanced at her, "Pre-match trash talk, you're using small tricks too? Francesca taught you?"
"Hehe!"
"Rumble...!"
Amid the deafening roar of machinery, an iron barrier forged from steel bars thick as thighs, towering over ten meters, rose between them.
Separating the two, it also bisected the entire arena.
"Whooooooo!!!"
The spectator seats ignited instantly; under the host's passionate commentary, they understood this was a contest between young Hunters.
Everyone likes something different!
As the iron barrier rose, Altaïr and Isis charged out simultaneously, spurred by the rapid bell symbolizing the Arena's start.
Their thoughts were identical: even saving just one second, get to prey first!
At the same time, at the Arena's other end, iron cage doors imprisoning Monsters opened.
Two bizarre Flying Wyverns, over ten meters long with pale, slick skin, were freed from their cages.
Unlike the majestic, ferocious Flying Wyverns in ordinary impressions, this Monster's first impression leans more toward horror and disgust.
They lack the Flying Wyvern species' iconic shells, scales, claws; even eyes are absent; even the head's location is indistinct. Only the blood-filled slit-like mouth crammed with triangular sharp teeth at the neck's front proves this is the head.
All this makes this Flying Wyvern species Monster, scientifically named "Fulufulu (Khezu, White Electric Dragon)", look like a leech worm with wings and feet, fat, astonishingly enormous.
If not in the Arena, ordinary people seeing this Monster scream in fear or faint outright is normal.
Of course, Hunters don't fear; they worry about their pace not being quick enough.
Regarding speed, Altaïr, as a Long Sword user, holds absolute advantage.
The Khezu facing him just stepped out of its cage, sniffing left and right, assessing surroundings, when Altaïr rushed before it.
Khezus inhabit mainly dark caves; their eyes have long degenerated, vision almost nonexistent. But extremely keen smell and special bioelectric perception help it detect enemy arrival instantly.
It contracted its neck, inhaled deeply.
Entering attack range, unsheathing his blade, Altaïr prepared for a "classic opening" with forward Step Slash but swiftly altered his move.
He detached the sheath, holding it diagonally at waist, sinking center of gravity; simultaneously, wrist flipping, Bone Katana "Wolf" unsheathed less than a second ago was re-sheathed.
Coolly watching every movement of the Monster before him.
"The eye deceives you; the mind's eye does not. Use spirit, lock onto opponent's qi," Amos's teachings echoed in his mind.
Now!
When the Khezu opened its bloody maw, deafening roar sweeping out instantly, Hunter's blade unsheathed, sword flash seemingly cleaving the soundwave.
His extremely focused mind ignored the roar almost rupturing eardrums; spinning, diagonally striking blade carved a slender blood groove below Khezu's head-neck.
Khezu lacks scales and shell; blade entering flesh feels soft yet resilient. This Iai Slash cut wasn't deep, but timing was genuinely skillful.
Qi momentum stirred; Spirit Gauge swiftly coalesced; his fighting spirit ascended accordingly.
Scream moment vital part receiving slash not only interrupted Khezu's roar but made it instinctively shrink neck, revealing a not-small, not-big opening.
Good opportunity.
Altaïr retreated half-step; originally horizontally held blade slowly raised, rotated 180 degrees, finally transforming into bizarre posture, blade reverse-held, tip pointed backward.
Meanwhile, his entire body's muscles tightened; Spirit Gauge condensed; power accumulated.
Long Sword users on stands, or Hunters with deeper Long Sword understanding, revealed surprised expressions, focusing attention.
Some unseen move?
Haifa, running along with Amos to watch, couldn't help smacking her lips.
Understanding Altaïr's talent, she and Karin saw more than others.
From this move, they saw Great Sword charging technique shadows; that blade-pointing-backward posture also resembled Strong Charged Slash somewhat.
Khezu shook its head; that seemingly short, thick neck, actually incredibly elastic and flexible, suddenly elongated, biting toward Hunter before it.
Altaïr, completing charge and Spirit Gauge accumulation, lunged simultaneously, turned, swung blade, horizontally slashing out a complete light arc.
Intersecting with Khezu's elongated biting head; next second, Khezu's side neck cleaved open a huge wound, massive spray of blood gushing out.
On stands, Long Sword users noticing this gasped; some directly stood up.
After a posture akin to charging, initiating Spirit Roundslash directly?!
The young Hunter on battlefield naturally couldn't hear their astonishment and questions; Monster's blood stained his armor; Spirit Gauge agitated; fighting spirit soared again.
Altaïr grinned.
If normal cooperative hunting, he'd let Isis take frontal battlefield now, circling to Monster's rear or side for guerrilla attacks.
But now independent combat; to win over her, not risking some chances won't get opportunities.
Facing aggressive Khezu, Altaïr brandished blade, activated Demon Mode.
(Translated by yourtl.app)