BATTLE OR ALIVE
Chapter 25: The Final

The development of the competition has now reached the top, remaining two people who will duel and become winners. Jell was fighting Mai, which was what people were waiting for, especially the adventurers and guild staff.

Jell is a very good and powerful swordsman. In the battle he had recorded, he had never lost to anyone. Even he was able to defeat Lhava the strongest adventurer and Adolf the strongest knight.

Mai is an assassin who is very agile and able to find reproach from all sides of the enemy's defense. In the battle that was recorded, Mai never lost against anyone. In fact he was able to defeat three Lhava women alone and was able to defeat other contestants in the competition.

By looking at all the history of their fight, it is no wonder why people are so excited when they learn that the final of the competition will feature a battle between Jell and Mai.

***

The room is dark and the absence of lighting that is able to illuminate the entire room, there is only a little dim light at the ends of the room.

There are seven seats in the room. The seats were empty except for seat number one. There was someone sitting there watching the monitor in front of him.

“Good both of you. So, what if I join in too? I will definitely give you a very fun game.”

With a laugh that ended the words, her voice echoed throughout the room.

But not long after from another direction the door of the room opened, a woman with a robe covering her whole body, but the robe she was wearing was different from the one sitting on the number one chair. Come in and sit in seat number two.

“It looks like you're very happy, yes.”

“Ah, you. Of course, the key has now grown, and the game is more interesting.”

The woman stood up from the seat and circled the round table.

“I've done what you asked, so what next?”

The woman circled around and stopped at seat number one, sat on the armrest and she looked at the man's face. He was seen teasing the man sitting on the number one chair, in a tight robe, able to show his body shape.

“Do as usual and also, if they want to do the doubling, allow.”

“Hm, alright.”

Ending their conversation, the mysterious man stood up from his seat and went towards the exit of the room. Leaving the woman alone, the woman just stared at him away.

“I hope you don't try to lie to us.”

Saying that made the mysterious man heading for the exit stop his steps, looking back at the woman. The atmosphere in the room instantly became cold and gripping. None of the two continued the conversation, they just stared at each other.

“Just relax, I won't do it, “No. 3””

The man answered and left the room.

***

This morning Jell and Mai went to the guild to do something important, for Emma, she was doing some training to get stronger so she could be allowed to enter the upcoming tournament.

They were now waiting in front of the counter and asked if they could meet Yinn. There's still less than an hour to go for the final, so as long as there's time they decide to do some development.

“Yinn-san long time ago, ya”

“A... Uh? Maybe there's more business.”

Jell was sitting waiting for Yinn seriously while Mai was out of nowhere when she had bought food.

Waiting for about 10 minutes, Yinn came. His face was a little gloomy, did something happen? Jell in his heart who noticed Yinn's attitude.

“Ah, sorry to wait so long. What do you two need?”

“Ah, for that. We want to do the doubling.”

“Multiplication?”

Yinn was a little surprised by what Jell said. Tilting her head she was thinking hard about what Jell meant.

(Eh? What did I say wrong? Yinn-san looks confused.)

Yinn thought for quite a while until she explained that she did not understand what Jell was saying, as Jell had expected. To answer Yinn's ignorance, Jell briefly classifies what doubling is.

Multiplication is where a person is able to double their job. That may sound cheating, but in BOA it is mandatory to upgrade the avatar. Multiplication can be done to all players, if he is a Fighter who wants to add a Mage as a second job, it is not prohibited.

And because that freedom is what makes Jell and Mai want to do the doubling because they want to do all the tests in the final competition. However, it seemed like their hopes were crushed because Yinn as the guild leader just did not know about this.

Explaining everything to Yinn, the first reaction he showed was surprise. That's for sure, because doubling the job is like cheating. However, if this world is indeed BOA, then the impossible can be done.

In the BOA game, we will know how to do the doubling, the player will be directed to the guild, with the help of NPCs then the player can easily get the doubling.

Yinn listened to everything carefully and she was thinking about the multiplication that Jell meant. He was thinking“ If the thing Jell said could indeed be done then the balance of power in the world would be disturbed. So what if I just try it on them? I'm sure it'll be better.”

Deciding what he was going to do, Yinn invited them straight to his office.

“Alright, for now let's do everything.”

Jell explained how to do the doubling, first Jell had to drip his blood onto the Status Plate right in the diagram logo. After that, Jell had to drain enough mana to mix with the blood, after which Yinn would do her last touch. Blood that has been mixed with mana will be smeared on the five corners of the diagram by forming a star logo.

They did everything and what they got as expected. Jell's Status plate glowed and emitted a very strong mana pressure. Which comes out is 10% of the amount where Jell belongs.

The puzzled Jell that his mana could leak from the Statsu Plate made him a little worried.

The light dimmed and the light moved towards Jell, enveloping Jell's entire body with a high concentration he fused with the rays as well as the rampage of mana.

...

Jell's gaze now turned white, she couldn't see anything as long as an endless white room. Right there, Jell noticed that there was a different light right in front of him. Stretching out his hand, the light fused with Jell. And the expanse of white space disappeared after Jell opened his eyes.

“Hm? Looks like it worked?”

Jell who was trying to confirm about the results he got, did not look around him. Yinn's room was a mess, books, documents, and whatever was in the room were all spoiled like they had been wiped out on the storm broom.

Jell who did not understand what was happening, asked Yinn who was standing in front of him, fortunately she was fine. Yinn explained what happened was like opening the gates of doom.

Not long from the doubling of Jell, suddenly the door of Yinn's room was broken from the outside. They were guild employees and adventurers with the rank of Red. They seemed to be preparing for an attack, the Mages were ready for the spell and the Figters were ready to attack.

The situation is getting confusing for Jell, actually what happens when he does the doubling.

“Yinn-san, are you okay?!”

One of the guild employees approached Yinn, followed by the other employees they gave Jell a sharp look. As if they were ready at any time to attack him, it made Jell fall further into confusion.

“We feel a very gripping aura and also very heavy, actually what is.”

The employee explained what happened, Jell who was listening seemed to know what was going on here.

“Ah, it's okay. Nothing to worry about.”

“But, Yinn-san!”

“It was just a leak where Jell-san belongs, so there is nothing to worry about.”

Everyone who listened to that explanation made a face of disbelief. They explained the impact Jell had had, many of the novice adventurers and the people who were eating, all of them fainted after receiving the blow which belonged to Jell.

On the other hand Mai just made an ordinary face, she did not seem to care so much and instead felt proud because Jell showed pressure. He seemed to not care what Jell would accept, but he just wanted to with this incident no longer underestimate Jell and make the same mistake as Lhava.

(Pressure from the King, I haven't felt it in a long time. And it's still pretty scary.)

Mai in her heart described how much she missed that calamity.

With all the commotion, Yinn could finish quickly. He calmed everything down and ordered everyone to exit the guild for a while as Mai was likely to have a leak as well. To avoid casualties, you must first evacuate.

...

Everything went smoothly, as expected when Mai did the doubling occurred leakage where the same as Jell. But that did not result in casualties and Mai also got a doubling.

Jell takes the Mage job and Mai takes the Marksman job. Initially Mai wanted to take the Mage job just like Jell, but it was rejected by her because if Mai took the Mage job, then Mai would not be able to use her special powers as a Marskman.

That way Mai is unable to use magic according to her previous wish and ends up being a shooter.

After doubling down and exiting the guild, they cross paths with Rin who seems to be looking for them as well. That way they go together towards the competition.

***

In the main arena district A is already very crowded with people, it is because the final of the competition will start in a few minutes.

Jell and Mai are ready in their respective positions, but different from Mai, precisely in Jell's waiting room there is Rin who is standing.

Rin stood in front of the entrance, leaning against the door she was watching Jell who was preparing.

“So? Since she is your boyfriend, are you going to give up?”

Rin begins her talk and it takes Jell a little surprise because she is not aware that she is there.

The listening Jell only made a difficult face because Rin thought that Jell would give in just because her opponent was Mai. But Jell is not one who will pity someone if that person is ready to face the risk, because this is a competition so he has no reason to give up. He will move all his strength to defeat Mai.

“I will not budge from him, after all he and I are always competing in many ways, so there is no reason to budge.and one more thing, he is not my girlfriend.”

Jell gave her answer as she readied her sword and some other things. While Rin who is listening just doesn't really care about the answer that Jell gives. But there was one thing he wanted to ask.

“Not a show? But you guys are very familiar. Even a lot of people say you are already at a very high level for a couple.”

Jell who was listening made an astonished face, tilting her head she had absolutely no idea that there was such a rumor. He didn't even hear from anyone who said they were dating.

“Eh? What so?”

“Surely, stupid!”

Inexplicably with Rin suddenly getting angry and slapping him, he looks dissatisfied with the answer. Whether or not Jell is dating Mai is true, is what she asks. But somehow he looks dissatisfied and upset at thinking so.

“Ita-to where you suddenly slapped me?”

“Hmpf, think for yourself.”

After he slapped her he turned around and walked out of the room with a red face like burning.

“What, did I do wrong? I don't understand.”

***

Long waiting for the final to begin, Jell and Mai have prepared on each side of the arena.

“All right everyone, with this the final of the contest will start soon. To the east, there is a participant who is said to be the strongest person in the Athera Kingdom and is dubbed as the strongest sword user, Jell Kiyomizu. And in the west, there is a woman who is rumored to be the most beautiful woman in Athera and is called the Queen of the Assassins, Mai Ogawa.”

The audience cheered very loudly, everyone was filled with shouts and applause that filled the arena. Many come in the final of this competition, and do not forget also the royal family who is obliged to see who will put the position of the next King.

It could be seen clearly that Marina was making an upset face while sitting down and Adolf who was standing next to her looked troubled to face her attitude. And for Rin, she was in the right seat of Marina's seat and there was Emma sitting next to her again. I don't know when they've started getting along.

“The reputation of both participants is great, but in the final this time one of them both must be a loser. With this the final round match at the start!”

The mark on the start of the match is already in disgrace, Jell and Mai are very ready to beat one of them.

After the mark started to be given, Mai very quickly immediately took out her Dual Knife and directly pointed towards Jell. Jell who was on the other side of the arena had already made preparations to withstand Mai's attack. His sword was already in his right hand, with Jell's defensive horses able to easily withstand Mai's swift attack.

Mai's speed was very unreasonable for a start, it easily left a crack mark three times the size of Mai's legs. As if he wanted to defeat Jell with just one strike, the attack focused only a single strike and speed without any twists.

His attack was tackled by Jell with ease. Crossing his sword he closed the direction of Mai's attack.

Mai who failed to make her quick attack did not lose momentum, she directly lowered herself to the ground and tried to stab Jell with a surprise attack using her one Dual Knife.

But it was not as easy as he thought, Jell after seeing Mai who dropped herself and stabbed her head, immediately taking distance.

With the leap to dodge the attack, Mai still did not allow Jell to rest. He once again launched a second attack from the Dual Knife that he did not launch during the surprise attack earlier.

After Jell landed to take some distance between the two, Mai quickly launched a follow-up attack and just like before, Jell was able to easily withstand her attacks with a diagonal pattern using her sword.

“Ahaha, Jell you're so loud. I want to destroy you more and more.”

For Jell who was only doing defense, this time he would not give Mai another chance to make a quick attack. Jell easily without doing any tidying or magic circle he installed the skill “Fire Stage” and advanced towards Mai.

Mai who was targeted immediately jumped to avoid his attack, Jell's attack destroyed Mai's previous foothold. The strength of his skill this time was 3 times stronger than the skill he used against Adolf.

Mai who jumped and avoided Jell's attack did not waste time, she counterattacked with “Air Claw” skill to stop Jell's attack. But, his attacks could be easily destroyed with just a single sword slash.

Jell did not stop her movement, she pursued Mai with active skill and always threatened all her previous footholds.

Their chase comes to a halt after Mai realizes something is wrong. He fell silent and only realized there was no place to stand, all the arenas had been destroyed by Jell.

(So this is what he's after? Loin' man!)

Jell stood still and raised her sword with one hand. Mai who saw him broke out in cold sweat because she knew exactly what Jell was going to do.

Raising his sword and instantly Jell's sword shone violently with a turbulent fire burning his sword. The fire that looked extremely hot, it almost reached a black color and the light was directly swallowed.

While doing that position Jell immediately smiled.

“Flame”

Mentioning the name of his skill instantly the battle arena shook violently. As if there was an earthquake going on in the arena, people wondered what was going on in there.

A great earthquake shook the arena and Mai slightly lowered her head not to fall. The skill Jell unleashed was a fire skill and not a ground skill, so the earthquake was not what Jell had been after, but after the earthquake.

The earthquake was slightly better and what happened left the people watching dumbfounded as they looked at the lava rising from within the arena.

The lava gushed out at high speed with a height of about 15 meters, forming a lava geyser. Lahar rose from the attack on the arena that Jell had done earlier.

Mai who saw the phenomenon was completely astonished and she did not know that this was what Jell was after. However, after making Jell lava geyser was not malalukam attack, but if it was seen Jell certainly stranded with the condition, but he just stayed there.

(He is still silent. Is there anything else he's planning? There may be no more.)

And Mai's conjecture was correct, Jell returned smiling after seeing Mai's reaction to her not-so-ending plan.

Jell's sword in the sky was now aimed horizontally at Mai, and she read out the skill.

“Last Already Mai, Black Hole.”

Jell's sword covered in black flames was now condensing all over his sword and now his sword looked much bigger than before. After the fire solidified instantaneously the fire no longer let out any turmoil.

Jell pointed her sword and fired a black laser at her sword towards Mai.

BBBUUum!!!

A huge explosion occurred in the arena. It was because of the attack that Jell had made, Black Hole. The skill he did earlier was a very strong streak skill, the first of the attacks would be to conduct a huge explosion, and from the result of the explosion it would create a black hole ,and pull the target if only the target is not affected by the explosion, and after the target is sucked the first explosion earlier will also be sucked. And the consequences of this skill will leave nothing behind.

The scenery shown Jell makes anyone who watches it will not think that Jell is a beginner adventurer, Jell is already on a different level.

(What the fuck. Creating a black hole? Skill level ‘SS’ he was able to do that like it was no big deal. Jell, who he really is.)

Rin who was watching could not cover her shock from what Jell was doing. He seemed to be in disbelief and did not even think that Jell could perform such a high-level skill.

“As expected of Onii-chan, she is really strong!”

In contrast to the surprised Rin, Emma looks very relaxed and is still able to bring out a smile to Jell.

“Emma, why do you look so calm? Jell just did the impossible, you see.”

Asking how relaxed Emma was towards Jell who was out of the way of normal people, Rin asked her why she was neither surprised nor shocked. However, the answer given by Emma makes Rin more surprised.

“Eh? Onii-chan is indeed very great from there, even what he did against Lhava-san was also very great. He finished it off with Explosion, and it was so great!”

Hearing what he said Rin became speechless back then if Jell could bring out a ‘SSS’ level skill that even the kingdom's greatest magician could only do once in his life.

With such a shocking result it left the battle arena shrouded in ashes that rose as a result of the attack that Jell carried out.

“When did you hide? Mai you're still alive.”

Jell shouted with a smile that was not lost at all from earlier, she looked around very carefully and thoroughly. Mai was an Assassin, so in this condition she was greatly benefited by the rising ashes covering Jell's gaze.

And sure enough, after Jell shouted came an attack from the direction of 3 o'clock position Jell, and it was no mistake Mai. He attacked Jell with a quick strike, but this time his fatigue increased from before.

Resisting each other's attacks, Mai's face looked extremely excited and a smile that was the same width as Jell's.

“A really great attack, Jell. But it still can't beat me, haha.”

“I know that, and I will not be satisfied if you die with just that little attack.”

The ash that surrounded the arena disappeared during Mai's attack earlier, there was a trace of wind after Mai's movement.

People were surprised that Mai was able to withstand Jell's attack earlier, and even Mai was not injured at all and there was no part between her beautiful skin of scratches.

Jell and Mai who were holding back the attacks were each mocking each other, they were mocking and laughing. As if this was just a power fight match, these two people were too relaxed for the word playfulness.

Just like before, Mai who did an attack from above weighed heavily on her body and made herself fall and tried to attack Jell from below and Jell was able to avoid it easily.

The two took their respective positions in the corner of the arena. Jell used the horses of the assailant and Mai also used the attacking horses, both of which would make the final attack.

No referee counts their movements, but both advance simultaneously as if they were moving with the same button.

“Warning! The warning! To all who are watching the contest please disperse! In repeat.”

The warning sounded, Jell who was listening instantly stopped moving and noticed what was happening. But unlike Mai, she but ran towards Jell. Jell who saw him directly hit her on the head after he got to where he was.

“You're bego, you didn't hear any warning?”

“Ita, what are you doing. A warning? What warning.”

“I don't know, but it looks like our match was cancelled.”

Mai who heard his words made a surprised face and she turned into paper. He looked at Jell blankly in disbelief that their game had to be stopped because of one problem.

Jell stopped their fighting. An icon appears in front of him like a keyboard, and there are options there.

[Exit]

Pressing the exit button, suddenly the arena protectors shattered just as they ended the duel.

***

Running towards the horde of people who filled the front of the guild, Jell and Mai immediately entered because they were allowed by the guarding employees.

Being inside the guild, in the silence there were not many people. There were only a few servants and there were also some adventurers with Red rank and above. Passing through the hallway to go to Yinn's office.

Arriving there just as expected, Yinn was sitting there. He was not alone, there was Rin, Marina, Adolf and Emma sitting there.

“All are here? Yinn-san, what exactly happened?”

“Calm down, Jell-san sit down. I'll tell you everything.”

The newly arrived Jell and Mai sat down and listened to what was really going on here.

Without any secret Yinn told him what was going on...

This happened an hour before the final race began, at which time the guild employees were busy preparing for the final, and they were not aware of any letters being sent.

The letter was sent at a time when the employees were busy and the letter was left in advance. When the competition took place, the guild had taken in all the activities and full control for the event and it was also approved by Marina as one of the royal families.

And as the guild held full control over the contest, they issued information that the guild would not accept the request for the time being.

And therefore, the letter sent was not directly processed and ended up in Yinn's hands. But that's not the problem. The problem is with the letter.

The content of the letter was to convey to the guild to prepare for the great calamity that was about to happen in the near future. Scorpio has risen.

In the letter it is written that, Scorpio's mobile fortress has been active and is walking from west to east, or rather is heading towards the kingdom.

...

Yinn read out the contents of the letter, after which she screeched in disbelief at the contents of the letter. But after he sent out some scouts, it proved to be true. That within a radius of 100 km from here, it was detected that Scorpio was moving closer.

After explaining everything, Marina made a difficult face. He seemed to be upset because of the maslaah that just kept coming. Leaving the room, Marina and Adolf left and they exited the guild.

“Keep, what are you guys doing, Yinn-san?”

“We can't just move. Marina-sama has taken the experts all the units in this case, and our guild will help her as best we can.”

Jell listened, and Jell sat down while thinking some things about the case.

“What about adventurers? Are they going to grab experts in this battle?”

“For that we still do not get permission from him, so for now still not.”

“Difficult too, yes.”

Jell stood up while scratching her head, Towards the exit, she followed the others.

“Yes, if there's anything I can help you with, you know where I am.”

“Nn, thank you very much, Jell-san.”

Walking out, Jell came out while waving her hand.

...

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Nn? What do you mean. Of course see the development.”

Jell was currently sitting on the barrier of the district gate A. Sitting cross-legged there he was looking at some knights who were preparing some tools to fight Scorpio. There are some tools that can be said to be sufficient to fight against the destructive fortress, but it is still lacking.

Sitting there, Jell was not alone, there was Rin who was also standing there watching the knights who were at work.

“So, you won't take experts in this battle? I wonder why you want to be King, you are a man who likes it.”

Jell turns to him when Rin says she is disappointed in him. Looking at the anger of Rin, she gets angry because Jell can't always be serious about something.

He did not want Jell to be King, but there was also a feeling in his heart that Jell was the one who was able to save this kingdom. Facing that wavering feeling made her even more dizzy.

Shortly after Mai came towards Jell, there Emma also followed behind.

(I regret having to engage with fools like them.)

Passed Mai and Emma without saying a word.

“Ah, Rin-Onee–“

Accepting the treatment made Mai's face shrivel up a little. Emma who tried to greet him also did not continue her greeting, Rin passed by.

Sitting near Jell, Mai also saw what Jell saw. Asking what had happened, Jell did not answer. Jell simply gave him an abstract answer and strangely Mai understood the meaning of it. But in contrast to Emma, she tilted her head with “?” it appears in his head.

“He regrets what he started.”

Jell's words to Mai's question.

That way, Rin no longer interferes with their daily lives.

***