Moto Sekai Ichi – 180 | Sousaku – 創作

180　Shisousei Match Part 2

【Spearmanship】
《Dragon King Spearmanship》 Extremely powerful single-target attack
《Dragon Horse Spearmanship》 Powerful long-range attack (shockwave)
《Rook Spearmanship》 Rush attack (charge thrust)
《Bishop Spearmanship》 Powerful ranged attack (Cleave)
《Gold Spearmanship》 Counterattack (Counter)
《Silver Spearmanship》 Powerful single-target attack (charge thrust)
《Knight Spearmanship》 Forward leaping attack (leaping thrust)
《Lance Spearmanship》 Ranged attack (Cleave)
《Soldier Spearmanship》 Normal Attack (Thrust)

The final of the Shisousei tournament to determine the challenger for the title.

Champani and I were about to start our match.
Before the match, she and I took our positions, faced each other, and exchanged a few words.

"Good day to you, Master. It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Good day to you, Champani. It's your big day."

"Yeah! Truly."

……There are "great people" in the world.

Champani. She is undeniably an amazing one.

Since the day she first held her dream in her heart, she has believed in her own path, never giving in to the hell she has been through, and has pushed forward, overcoming adversity.

And now, here she stands.
She stands here in the very form of the ideal she aspires to.

How amazing that is! It would take a lifetime for those who mocked her and pushed her into hell just for fun to understand.

"――Bow to each other! Get ready! "

We bowed to each other.

Champani took out the Rainbow Naginata.
Mine was just an ordinary mithril spear.

Then, there was a moment of silence.

She took a lower stance and quietly opened her mouth.

"……Thank you very much."

A beautiful smile that was unforgettably captivating.

What on earth is this thanks for? I didn't understand why, but for some reason, it felt right. She must felt like expressing her gratitude to me now, anyway.

"Likewise, thank you."

If so, I shall return the words.

I'm the one who wants to say thank you.

You're doing great. You have done very well, not letting your horrific past distract you, working hard, realizing that the spear is better suited to you than the sword, starting over again from scratch, and rising to this level in half a year.

I respect you, wholeheartedly.

If you were me...... you probably wouldn't have killed yourself. Yeah, that would probably be right.

You have a strength that I don't have, a willpower.

I'm going to be competing with such a great person from now on. It's bound to make one smile.

"――Begin! "

The signal to start the match.

We closed the gap between us at once, both of us with wondrously welling-up smiles on our faces.

"Huw! "

Her first move was 《Bishop Spearmanship》 from just outside the effective range. A powerful ranged attack with a horizontal cleave.

The breath that escaped from her mouth showed how much strength she was putting into it.

Champani, you're serious. But hey, girl, you skimped on the first round, didn't you?

"Yeah, I've considered that."

Immediately afterward, I noticed her strategy and couldn't help but be honest with her.

I responded with 《Gold Spearmanship》. A counter-skill. At the slightest touch of the spear, Champani would be struck with a painful counterattack, forcing her to go down.

Then ...... she pulled slightly on the hilt of the naginata and pulled it closer to herself.

This was probably the reason why she released 《Bishop Spearmanship》 at the very edge of its effective range. If you pull back a little, you can avoid a counter, and if you push out a little, you can attack without any problem. She had discerned that fine line.

It takes a great deal of training to be able to discern this line well against a moving object. However, even though Champani has been seen on the Firstest premises for the past six months, she has not shown the slightest sign of such training and has always worked in a ladylike and elegant manner.

"It's amazing, when did you learn to do all this stuff?"
"A lady doesn't display her efforts to others."

That seems to be the case.

"You're a lady to the core."
"Oh ho ho ho! "

Champani laughed with real glee and prepared her next skill.

That is 《Lance Spearmanship》. A lateral cleave attack with a shorter preparation time than Bishop, but with a lower range and power.

Very good... perfect for a pursuit...... But it lacks punch.

"! "

No, wait.
I was completely taken in by her pace.

Champani said herself that she was good at "thrusting". However, from the first blow, two "cleaves" in a row. Is she preparing something?

"――There! "

I knew it. After seeing my 《Lance Spearmanship》 in response to her 《Lance Spearmanship》, she immediately canceled the skill and activated 《Knight Spearmanship》.

《Knight Spearmanship》 is a skill that involves a large leap and a thrust. It is the fastest attack in 【Spearmanship】.

Good. A nice slow pace. Without error

However, it's not enough that you let me out waiting after having invited me casually.

"Let's try this."

About the same time as Champani activated her 《Knight Spearmanship》, I took a step back and again activated 《Gold Spearmanship》.

"! ! "

Champani's eyes widened in surprise.

Well, that's to be expected. Because, clearly, the timing is not right for Gold to be ready in time.

No, that was poorly worded. For me it was "clear", but for her, it would be "subtle".

In other words, it is a bluff, a move that leaves everything to the opponent.

Champani will now have to make a judgment and decide what to do based on the subtlety of whether or not my Gold will make it in time for her to leap with Knight in the very brief moment before she is ready.

It would be a good idea to continue attacking with Knight, or perhaps even to change the direction of the leap and start all over again.

"As expected, 'spear'-heading the attack is fun! "

……Spear, huh? Interesting. She's a beautiful woman, a young lady, a maid, a Shisousei participant, and she even has a sense of humor. That's perfect, man.

Champani leaped in the opposite direction from me, making such an amusing gag.

So she decided that my Gold would "make it".

No wonder. There was a lot of play in your first Bishop. Really, really on the edge just about 7 to 8 inches away.

"Whoa there."

Here comes a skill that cannot be overlooked.

Champani started preparing 《Dragon Horse Spearmanship》 while leaping, using a mid-air skill cancel, which she also showed in the first game. A powerful long-range attack skill with a shockwave. Is this a strategy to take advantage of the distance opened by Knight to hit me with a long-range attack?

"Come on, be ready, master――eh!? "

Champani turned around as soon as she landed, a look of astonishment on her face.

I can sort of understand why. Closer than you thought. Wasn't I?

It's simple. From the moment she jumped with Knight, I canceled Gold and rushed in with 《Rook Spearmanship》.

Whatever you prepared, whatever you came with, in this situation I would play Rook. Since that was decided, it was natural to activate it and rush immediately. You shouldn't be surprised by this.

"Come."

Gold will not make it in time.

Don't be afraid, go ahead and fire.

It's all you can do now.

"Tch!! "

And you did. Great!

At a moment when there was less than a meter to go between us, Champani activated her 《Dragon Horse Spearmanship》.

It clashed with my 《Rook Spearmanship》 and we both received a shock.

《Rook Spearmanship》 is a Rush attack skill that is more powerful the more it charges up. The timing of the skill activation is divided into two parts: at the start of the Rush and at the finishing thrust attack, and the charge-up time is counted up to the activation of the Rush. In other words, not much could be charged up this time. But it is still half as powerful as Dragon Horse. However, adding to that the huge status difference between me and her...... sadly Rook would be more powerful in the end.

"……It's very powerful, isn't it?"

"I'm surprised you didn't freak out."

"I am a lady."

"……Absolutely amazing."

She's the most spirited woman I've ever seen. But.

"Sorry."

I am number one in the world. I can't give it away, no matter how much of a lady you are.

We both took damage and the distance between us opened again.

Champani was clearly taking a beating.

But she was not wavering. She stood firmly on her feet, straightened her back, and held her spear pointed at me. It was no longer a matter of willpower.

The stagger time was shorter for me, who had taken significantly less damage. Hence, I could prepare 《Rook Spearmanship》 again and start rushing ahead of her.

Only a second passed, and the pause was so short that I barely made it past the threshold where if she began to prepare her 《Gold Spearmanship》 it wouldn't be in time. At that moment, her staggering broke.

Come on, the next move will decide everything. How will you respond? You won't have a chance to play Gold.

"! "

With a determined look on her face, Champani prepared――《Silver Spearmanship》.

A single attack skill that delivers a more powerful thrust the more it is accumulated.

However, it is completely inferior to 《Rook Spearmanship》, which is a higher skill in the same category. No matter how much she accumulates from now on, the status difference between me and her will not be reversed.

Champani, what the hell are you thinking――?

"――! ! "

No way……!

"Dear Master, everyone in Firstest, members of the audience, and Karen-san. Also, father, mother……Please, look at me."

Champani finished accumulating. Then, the timing of my thrust with my 《Rook Spearmanship》 and hers with her 《Silver Spearmanship》 overlapped, the directions were aligned, and the speeds were matched――

"This is my path in life――! "

――Counterbalance.

This was her aim.

She wanted to counterbalance exactly like I had done in my match against Raspberry Bell three days earlier in the Issenza match, at this very moment.

It was an all-or-nothing bet. This was not a half-hearted technique that could be learned in three days and three nights.

And yet, she risked everything on this big event, on this grand stage, on something that was still incomplete.

It is the strength of those who have carried out who they believe themselves to be, without worrying about how anyone else sees them.

Of those trying to surpass themselves.
Of those trying to leave something behind.

Frantically.

"……………………"

The Counterbalance failed.

Champani was blown away by a direct hit from my 《Rook Spearmanship》 and went down with a bang.

……An "ah-ah" sigh, akin to disappointment, could be heard from the audience. Some were heard to say, dismissively, "Oh, come on."

It would seem so, depending on how you looked at it. The action seemingly incomprehensible at first glance, such as preparing a Silver against a Rook, resulting in a direct hit and downfall, made no sense at all, most not understanding what the player was doing.

Of course, Champani must have known that.

She knew that the audience wouldn't understand.

She knew that her father, her mother, and the ones who used to bully her, would never understand it.

She must have known that she would be considered a small fish who lost because of a mistake that didn't make sense……

"You don't fucking understand."

You don't get it.

You all can't see how great she is.

People don't understand how amazing she was to try to go further than her current happy, blissful, best self, even if she had to lose.

It's only natural. She wasn't trying to be understood. Her dream has never been for anyone to think of her as a lady, but to continue to be the lady she thinks she is.

Amazing. You're awesome, girl. Too strong.

I know I'm pathetic that this is the only word I can come up with, but ...... you're really the best.

"――That's enough! Winner, Second Firstest! "

======

Thank you for reading.

Cheat sheet

Status Details

HP　Hit Points
MP　Magic Points
SP　Stamina Points
STR　Short range attack skill power, strength, physical power.
DEX　Long range attack skill power, dexterity, hit rate.
AGI　Quickness, avoidance rate.
INT　Attack Magic skill power.
LUK　Good luck, critical rate.
VIT　Simple defense.
MGR　Magic defense.

Skill Ranking

From lower (16th) to higher (1st) class, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade

16th class
15th class
14th class
13th class
12h class
11th class
10th class
9th class
8th class
7th class
6th class
5th class
4th class
3rd class
2nd class
1st class
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9 (Can challenge Title when all related skills are at this level)

Types of combat skills

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

Pawn/Soldier (Fuhyou)
Lance(Kyousha)
Knight (Keima)
Silver General (Ginshou)
Gold General (Kinshou)
Bishop (Kakugyou)
Rook (Hisha)
Promoted Bishop/Dragon Horse(Ryuuma)
Promoted Rook/Dragon King (Ryuuou).

List of Swordsmanship skills

【Swordsmanship】　Damage： STR Dependent.

《Dragon King Swordsmanship》　Powerful ranged attack forward + stun.
《Dragon Horse Swordsmanship》　Powerful ranged attack in all directions.
《Rook Swordsmanship》　Very strong single-target attack.
《Bishop Swordsmanship》　Quick and powerful penetrating attack.
《Gold Swordsmanship》　Ranged attack in all directions.
《Silver Swordsmanship》　Strong, single-target attack.
《Knight Swordsmanship》　Precision attack＋added damage against vital points.
《Lance Swordsmanship》　Penetrating attack.
《Soldier Swordsmanship》　Normal attack.

(Rook＋Knight, Silver＋Knight, Lance＋Knight, Soldier＋Knight are possible for Combine)

List of Jojutsu (cane) skills

【Jojutsu】Thrust・Strike・Sweep

《Dragon King Jojutsu》　Extremely powerful wide-area attack
《Dragon Horse Jojutsu》　Wide range defense + knockback
《Rook Jojutsu》　Very powerful ranged attack
《Bishop Jojutsu》　Rush piercing attack
《Gold Jojutsu》　Very strong defense
《Silver Jojutsu》　Powerful ranged attack
《Knight Jojutsu》　Rush attack
《Lance Jojutsu》　Piercing attack
《Soldier Jojutsu》　Conventional attack

List of Spearmanship skills

【Spearmanship】

《Dragon King Spearmanship》　Extremely powerful single-target attack
《Dragon Horse Spearmanship》　Powerful long-range attack (shockwave)
《Rook Spearmanship》　Rush attack (charge thrust)
《Bishop Spearmanship》　Powerful ranged attack (Cleave)
《Gold Spearmanship》　Counterattack (Counter)
《Silver Spearmanship》　Powerful single-target attack (charge thrust)
《Knight Spearmanship》　Forward leaping attack (leaping thrust)
《Lance Spearmanship》　Ranged attack (Cleave)
《Soldier Spearmanship》　Normal Attack (Thrust)

List of Archery skills

【Archery】

《Dragon King Archery》　Powerful on-impact ranged attack.
《Dragon Horse Archery》　Powerful piercing ranged attack.
《Rook Archery》　Very strong single-target range attack.
《Bishop Archery》　Strong piercing range attack.
《Gold Archery》　Range attack with added knockback.
《Silver Archery》　Strong single-target range attack.
《Knight Archery》　Precise sniping range attack.
《Lance Archery》　Piercing range attack.
《Soldier Archery》　Normal range attack.

List of Shield Arts skills

【Shield Arts】

《Dragon King Shield Arts》　Very powerful ranged attack to the front.
《Dragon Horse Shield Arts》　Reinforced defense + all-range attack.
《Rook Shield Arts》　Powerful forward Rush attack (VIT converted to STR and added to net STR)
《Bishop Shield Arts》　Great Reinforced Defense (16th class: 250% ~ Grade 9th: 600% Defense)
《Gold Shield Arts》　Range homing defense ＋ Knockback（While active, attacks within a certain range would redirect themselves towards the shield）
《Silver Shield Arts》　Reinforced defense (parry grace time reduced by 0.01 second, successful parry triggers counterattack effect)
《Knight Shield Arts》　Defense + Knockback.
《Lance Shield Arts》　Piercing Reflective Defense
《Soldier Shield Arts》　Normal defense.
Success condition for parry: Activate the skill 0.287 to 0.250 seconds before the attack reaches the target.

Types of Magic skills

They use the “Form” or “step” system of martial arts. From lower to higher.