Chapter 256: The International Tournament (16)
"I can support you two from the backline with Ender's Arrow!" Jake shouted at his teammates through the voice chat. "They know about its weakness, though!"
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"It's better this way!" Arthur replied. The arrow's looming threat sounded good to his ears. It'd make those shamans aware of Jake's threat and somewhat limit them.
What Jake needed was a good moment to break each shaman!
Arthur glanced at his friend, "Can you fight two versus three, Shaw?"
Shaw nodded. "Yeah, no problem!"
The shamans cradled their totems, each pulsating with an indescribable sound. Their current stance meant that each wielded an Echo Domain.
The weakness was that they could no longer multiply each other's skills and were limited to their own skills. For instance, Ajed Black's offensive skill was the fire tsunami, which he could have strengthened through his friend's Echo Domain. Now, it was only possible with his totem, and he also had to impale it onto the ground before conjuring magic.
There was, of course, an incentive behind them switching their styles.
Holding them like melee weapons, the shamans could switch to a close combat style and fight their opponents while their impressive and multiplied buffs strengthened their bodies.
Their respective Echo Domain made it possible.
"Feeble men have no room in Africa! Show them our hearts steeled in the wilderness!" Ajed Black screamed, his voice echoing across the first floor as he didn't bother putting that into his team's voice chat.
Arthur and Shaw raised their weapons.
The swordsman thought, 'A shaman class doesn't seem fair if they can so easily turn melee… It's a common class over their continent, but Ajed Black's presence makes me believe his skills are at least a grade higher than his friends'. I need to be more versatile. Just like I had used Asta Mana Sword with my sword within the statue, I must improvise and use my skills in different ways.'
The three shamans stormed at Arthur and Shaw, then.
Their totems were jutted out from their cradles, waiting to straight bolt into the enemies.
Arthur lurched forward.
He aimed for Ajed Black, wanting to take the brunt of his enemies' prowess. His enemy, however, shifted to the left side, leaving much more room for his shaman friend.
The said friend barged into Arthur's zone, snatching his attention.
At the same time, Ajed Black and his other shaman friend ganged up on Shaw. While Ajed Black slammed his totem into Shaw's hole in the chest(the result of Shaw's sacrifice), his friend drove himself into Shaw's weapon.
As much as Shaw wanted, he couldn't protect himself against two.
He overvalued himself.
[You have lost -701 HP!]
'This bastard! He's so strong!' Shaw thought. It was a critical strike on top of Ajed Black's heightened strength. He was stronger than a bull. 'Damn minotaur! One… or two… and I'm done.'
His yellow eyes widened as the past flashed in his mind.
[Ya sure you want this skill? It's odd. Making you one with a weapon is an art. It's simple and cliche, but I damn love it nonetheless! But that's all there is to it. The seller says that other players with this skill have never gone past the second stage—the sacrifice.
It also doesn't come with any cool skills.]
[I want it. I don't need a skill or a class to give me epic moves! I will make them myself! Anyone who needs a skill to perform something amazing is on the wrong path! I like this skill! I will unlock its potential and turn this into an original skill no one else wields!]
[Beautiful! I know you will get to the second stage before the tournament begins. You'll find your dragon-slaying art in countless sacrifices to come. I'll look forward to your service, little Shaw.]
Out of nowhere, darkness dwelled within Shaw's eyes.
It wasn't like he closed his eyes.
He lost them.
All sound died to Shaw. He could no longer hear the weird sounds coming off the totems.
Sweat on his lips had no taste at all.
[You have sacrificed your senses to your living weapon!]
[This grand sacrifice has significantly strengthened your stats!]
[Your strength and dexterity stats have crossed four thousand points!]
[The Living Weapon has made contact with your Perception Skill.]
[Your Perception Skill has temporarily evolved to The Living Weapon's Vision.]
Shaw saw, felt, smelled, and just noticed three totems, a sword, a bow, and an arrow in every possible way. He could sniff out any weapon around him and their intent!
'Jake released an arrow. It's so strong! Gotta respect the grind, bro! Anyway, this arrow is not meant to dispel any skill but to damage Ajed Black! He must have decided to confuse them! I can't waste this chance,' Shaw thought.
Shaw withdrew his spear when the arrow was about to reach Ajed Black. It was held back by the other shaman, but it didn't mean Shaw couldn't take it away!
That was when Shaw shocked everyone at the scene.
He swept his weapon to the side before changing the grip to make a thrust! In fact, he didn't have to change anything as his hand had become one with his spear!
That wasn't the reason everyone's mouths opened.
Shaw bent his upper body so much that it looked like he broke at least a few bones! In this inhumane way, Shaw thrust his weapon straight into Ajed Black's chest.
His arm began a rotation then!
'DRILL STRAIGHT TO HIS BONES, MY SPEAR! IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL FLAY DRAGONS AND CRAFT ARMOR FROM THEIR SCALES WITH THIS SKILL!' Shaw howled.
Meanwhile, Jake's arrow connected with Ajed Black's totem.
It was a blunt arrow drawn in Formless Soldier Form.
It caused Ajed Black's hands to go numb.
He couldn't move his totem at all!
'It wasn't meant to damage him?!' Shaw inwardly exclaimed. If his teammates and girlfriend had heard him, he would have been scolded. This time, for sure.
It didn't matter, though.
Shaw closed up distance and seized the chance. He didn't care about the other shaman because Jake had teleported to assist him from the side.
Facilitated by his friend, Shaw flung his spear, drawing a cut on stunned Ajed Black.
He bent his legs and took a form before him.
'PRAYING MANTIS—DRAGON SLAYING THRUSTS!'