NOVEL NEXT Chapter 98
Chapter 98: Elf-Dwarf Race Clash (2)
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The next match was underway. With a score of 1 win and 1 loss, stepping into the arena were a dwarf wielding a hefty axe and shield, and an elf who conjured an elemental right from the start.
This elf, focusing on wind elementals, shot arrows wrapped in wind, making them even more powerful. Meanwhile, the dwarf just plowed forward, shielding himself with his giant shield.
While the dwarf tried to lumber up to the elf with his sturdy defense, the speedy elf toyed with him from a distance.
The elf’s wind-enforced arrows struck the iron shield with a thud, showing they weren’t just your average arrows. Yet, the dwarf was blocking those bad boys like a champ.
It felt like a battle between a long-range light tank and a short-range heavy tank. On top of that, we had elemental attacks adding to the chaos!
Invisible blades of wind scratched the shield and armor, leaving thin, irritating cuts. If he wasn’t armored in metal, those would’ve dealt serious damage.
The outcome of this fight? The elf lost despite burning through all his arrows and magic, unable to drop the dwarf.
Even after emptying his quiver, the dwarf’s shield and armor were torn up, but he just kept right on going. The dwarf withstood all attacks and closed in on the elf.
The elf undid the bowstring to use his staff instead, but in close quarters, he was no match for the dwarf.
Keeping his distance and trying to poke at the dwarf with his staff, things took a turn when the dwarf ditched his shield, charging in with both hands around his axe. It was the moment when all of the dwarf’s pent-up frustration boiled over.
The elf aimed his staff against the axe, but what could a skinny staff even do? It was split in two, and the hefty axe blade lodged itself right into the elf’s head.
After the match, they checked on both competitors’ injuries. The elf? No significant injuries to speak of. The dwarf, on the other hand, looked like a golf ball, riddled with holes all over!
Hmm… Even with holes everywhere, it wasn’t life-threatening to the dwarf. His endurance is, frankly, astounding.
By the way, when the elf came back from the land of the unconscious and spotted his snapped bow, he burst into tears. It was the prized bow he got from the sacred tree during his coming-of-age ceremony, now shattered. Can’t blame him for sobbing uncontrollably!
That sight was so pitiful I decided to just casually fix his bow. No big deal.
Anyway, we were now at match four, with the dwarves leading two games to none.
In this duel, we had a dwarf wielding a massive war hammer and shield, going up against a light-clad elf.
Actually, no, “lightly-clad” isn’t quite right. There was a sword on the elf’s waist!
And not just any sword—a hefty one-handed one!
An elf wielding a sword?!
So, anyhow, this peculiar sword-wielding elf faced off against the dwarf with the war hammer.
The opening exchanges looked like the previous fights. The dwarf withstood the rain of arrows while closing the gap, and the elf kept his distance while whittling down the dwarf’s defense.
But this time, the elf was holding back on using his elementals, seemingly saving them.
Was he wary of running low on mana, like last time? Or was he plotting something else?
What was holding the elf back from unleashing his elementals? The answer would pop up soon enough.
After exhausting his arrows, the elf couldn’t penetrate the dwarf’s defenses. So, the elf dropped his bow outside the arena and pulled out the sword at his waist.
A sharp one-handed sword made of steel! It was a sword that, honestly, only dwarves could probably make in this age. How on earth did the elf acquire it? Did he buy it from a merchant or what?
The elf gripped the sword, readying himself, then summoned a fire elemental to imbue the blade with its power. Suddenly, flames flowed down the sword!
No kidding, the elf was wielding elemental power through his sword. It was surely a unique fighting style.
I wondered just how effective it would be in actual combat… a little curious, I was.
The dwarf, casting aside his shield and readjusting his grip on the war hammer, faced off against the elf wielding a flaming sword.
Metal clashed, sparks flew, and both combatants got their fair share of cuts and scrapes.
However, overall, the dwarf had the upper hand. The lightly-armored elf versus the heavily-armored dwarf? Yeah, not a fair comparison.
What turned the tide was… the elf’s sword skills!
With fluid movements, the elf evaded attacks and didn’t let a single opening slip by, slashing with the flaming sword.
His sharp swordsmanship was like an elegant dance, targeting only the gaps in the dwarf’s armor without any protection.
On top of that, the fire from the elemental was causing secondary damage. The flames creeping in through the elf’s strikes were starting to hurt the dwarf’s muscles.
The dwarf’s movements began to lose their edge. He swung the war hammer back in retaliation but kept missing the evasive elf who was countering with a flourish.
Thus, the unusual elf with the sword triumphed over the dwarf, gifting the elves a victory.
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After the fourth match wrapped up, I took care of the combatants’ wounds while praising their fierce competition.
The dwarf was tough, but good grief, the sword-wielding elf was absolutely incredible! I wanted to chat him up more!
“To imbue the sword with elemental energy? What a strange elf you are!”
“I was captivated by the sword right from the first moment I laid eyes on it. It’s been about 500 years since I first picked up a sword!”
500 years?! No surprise his moves were so polished!
“But why a sword? Isn’t it easier with arrows? Umm. Is it because the wood will catch fire?”
“Yep. The elemental I formed a pact with is a fire elemental, so I couldn’t wrap my arrows in it. Plus, if I went all-out attacking, I might inadvertently set the trees ablaze! That’s when I discovered the sword and just fell head over heels!”
“Yeah, for an elf, dealing with a fire elemental isn’t exactly a walk in the park.”
“I started with a stone sword, later graduated to a bronze sword, and now here we are with this iron sword made by a dwarf! Honestly, I wanted to meet the dwarf who crafted this sword, but alas, the war broke out, and I missed my chance.”
So, it was a sword crafted by a dwarf. Definitely an impressive sword for this time period.
“Well, it might have been proven in this situation, but I’m content knowing that the last 500 years wielding a sword were not in vain. Plus, the sword infused with an elemental showed its full might!”
“Ah! Truly magnificent swordsmanship and elemental integration! ‘Elemental Sword’ would be a fitting title for it! Hold your head high!”
“‘Elemental Sword’… That’s a great name! I hadn’t really thought of giving it a name before, but that totally fits.”
“Yes! Take pride in it! Among everyone here except the hero, you wield the sword best!”
Well, you had to exclude the hero from that equation!
“Oh? So, the hero is that strong? Now I’m itching to duel him.”
“Yeah, the hero had that look in his eye, too. Let’s set up a match after this. Now, get some rest.”
While the dwarf wasn’t in any dangerous state, he did take some damage, and a few of his bones were hurting from blocking the war hammer. His palms were also torn up.
After tending to the injuries from the fourth match, the final showdown was set to begin.
With a tight score of 2 wins and 2 losses, this last match would decide everything.
The elf’s final fighter stepped onto the stage, and cheers erupted from the elf spectators.
And who stepped onto the stage? The dwarf representative.
Carrying a concealed weapon on his back and holding a shield in hand, the dwarf representative was ready.
The elf opponent checked his quiver and glared at the dwarf representative.
And with the signal from the hero referee, the final match kicked off.
As the elf let loose his arrows, the dwarf representative slammed his shield down like a tree into the ground to block, then drew the weapon hidden on his back, pulling away the cloth.
The concealed weapon revealed itself… a crossbow? And a rather large one! It was a crossbow that used short javelins as bolts!
What?! A crossbow now?! What’s happening? Is the dwarf’s progress just… bizarrely fast? Or is it just me, or is introducing a crossbow here completely out of whack? Can’t tell!
Anyhow, the dwarf champion, with the crossbow already primed, rested it against his shield, aimed at the elf, and pulled the trigger.
As he did, the taut string released, and the javelin sped forward towards the elf—so fast, it made arrows look like they were standing still.
“Gah!”
A singular moment of finality. A short gasp of death.
The speed and destructive power were totally off the charts compared to arrows. For a lightly-armored elf, this attack was like an avalanche.
The final match ended in an instant.