Inter - Universe Anime Group Chat
Duels-1

Inside Astral Zero, Miko and Claire stand facing each other. They were in a place that looked like a stadium left behind. The old building looks long abandoned, there are not many people in there and the atmosphere there is very quiet, adding to the gloomy impression and making the fur stand for some people. If such a place existed in the real world, then people would probably think of it as a haunted place and do a lot of paranormal experiments.

"You really want to do a duel with me, Miko?" ask Claire to make sure.

"Fum."

"I will tell you once again, the physical attack will indeed be replaced into a mental wound during my time in Astral Zero. But that does not mean you are completely safe when you are in this place. Too many mental injuries will drive you crazy. Do you want to do a duel with me?"

"It's okay." He shook his head. "I'll try. Then, I need to immediately become strong when I am here. I need to be strong to defeat them."

'They? Does he also have a grudge with some people?' thought Claire.

What they mean by Miko is of course the immoral ghosts of Miko's own world. He had never tried it, but he felt confident that magic energy, mama, or whatever the name of this world could be used to injure the horror creatures from his world. Miko's goal from the beginning in this world was indeed to gain the power to fight against those creatures even though she herself did not know to what extent they were strong.

"Alright, Beginners. I'll train you." Claire's eyes became serious with her eyebrows dropping in the middle. "You may be a beginner and never do a fight directly using your body, but don't expect me to give up and give you some light, you know." He also added, "From your fight against the Sealed Spirit this afternoon, I know you have never fought before, other than light training. I'll tell you what it's like to be in front of a powerful enemy."

"Fum."

*Hack!*

"Come out, Scarlet." With his whip ringing, Scralet revealed himself as a cat. Simultaneously, Claire's whip was draped in a blazing fire, dealing more damage when it hit the opponent.

'W-Well, he's not kidding at all.' Miko gulped her saliva looking at the fire whip. Her gaze was fixed on Claire's whip and she began to doubt whether her previous choice of not retreating was the right choice? It won't be fun asking the wrong person to train you.

‘Let's think again,’ Inner Miko. ‘She is strong, stronger than most of the schoolgirls here, making her suitable to be a teacher. His social skills are poor, I doubt he can give the right advice and again we have different types of weapons. Continues, he's psychopathic enough to try to make a contract with a sealed spirit. Have I made a request to the devil? This won't make me a target for a shot, ‘kan?’

"Ready or not, I'm coming!” Claire darted straight to Miko without waiting for her enemy to get ready.

According to the view, when in a real fight, not all enemies are as good as that to wait for you to prepare. They will attack with the intent to kill. If you are not lucky, you will die even without doing anything in the field of battle. Just being a shooting pole then being eliminated.

Claire's practice cannot be said to be wrong because it does quote on a direct fight, where the enemy does not give a chance. However for the size of training a beginner, this was simply too much. Not everyone could make a fight with barbaric methods like being whipped continuously without a break. They will succumb to the pain of the lashes.

Rather than attack, whips are a weapon more used for torture. The downside of the whip is its shape which makes it harder to control than the sword. But if it succeeds in becoming an expert in the use of whips, it will be a very painful weapon adding to the torture aspect of each whip attack.

*chuck!*

“Okuri, Kitsuna, Nekoma!” The three spirit symbols lined up neatly on Miko's left arm interjected. Furthermore, his three spirits incarnated into elemental waffes.

From her wolf spirit, Miko gets a more like a jacket made of wolf fur in blue. Then from fox spirit—Kitsuna—, he got a katana with a red handle. And from the cat spirit—Nekomata—, this spirit incarnated into a ring that is on the index finger of his right hand.

“Good, I didn't expect you to have mastered elemental waffe in just one day. But, it is useless without the knowledge to use it!” screeched Claire while making an attack using her whip.

‘Okuri-san provided defensive and healing abilities during the time I wore this armor, the Kitsuna katana had a burning effect in addition to her sharp slash, and the Nekoma ring gave an increase in speed. With these three effects and the abilities I bought from the group, I should have survived, ‘kan?’

*wing!* *leash!*

When Claire's whip body comes, Miko shakes her katana at the whip, intending to fend off. But unfortunately for him, the whip turned and even wrapped around the katana.

*Hack!*

“Hmph!” Claire once again swung her whip at Miko, giving a wave at the whip.

*tank!*

“Ah...” Miko's hand is less powerful when holding a katana, and instead makes it fall when the wave from the whip reaches her hand.

“Hehehe, you must hold your weapon firmly or your enemies will play you, you know.” The smile and laughter on Claire's face was very annoying when she heard Miko.

*suout!*

Claire continued by pulling the whip, making the katana thrown some distance inside this stadium. Damn for Miko, with this she did not have a truly offensive weapon to defeat her opponent, at least for close combat. One very fatal little mistake to make by a beginner.

“Hum...” Miko's irritation was stuck in her throat when she wanted to say some harsh words. ‘At least, give me a chance to make an attack! How can I train myself if I don't use a weapon like this!’

*Syout!*

“Hora, hora, don't daydream too much! I'm not that good at giving it time off!” Claire's whip swerved through the air as she said like a battle-crazed person.

The whip moved wildly through the air and was ready to deliver an attack at any time following the movements from Claire's hands. He did prepare for the next attack without giving his opponent time to take a breath or give the chance to think about his next move. This is not a good teacher!

*tap!* *tap!*

Miko jumped back several times to make distance.

Lucky for her, because under the speed-up effect of the Nekomata she managed to evade Claire's whip. Rather than an increase in speed, it was more visible as a wind thrust as he moved. The wind pushed under his shoes, then he had a greater repulsion force which made him move further.

"Piercing Wind Talisman!" Simultaneously when Miko jumped back, she threw the spell paper out of nowhere towards Claire.

*wosh!*

The spell paper turned into a gust of wind and became a sharp wind that pierced towards Claire.

"Hhhh!" Claire is surprised to see Miko use a spell. But he quickly regained his composure, then moved his whip and fended off the sharp air that was pointing at him. "You've managed to use spirit magic apparently? I never knew you could use it!"

"Every human being will thrive as long as they live. I'm not that lazy to stay still and make the world move forward without me in it" Miko said aloud. "Sharp Cutting Talisman!"

*sis!*

A talisman was again ejected out of nowhere, then it instantly turned into a kind of blade that shot at Claire.

*Syut!*

Claire could avoid it easily through a few light steps. Then, he instantly gave an attack using his whip swing.

His experience in fighting could not be compared to Miko who had just entered into this bicycle duel battle practice. Previously, he had only tried a few times by trying to create magic or control the mana within his body. If not for the help of the system, he himself would still find it difficult to use magic. This system has become its own cheat.

*tap!*

Miko jumps up to dodge the attack, but ….

*Leash!* *bagh!*

Her jump was not very perfect and made Claire's whip wrapped around her legs. Because his jump was blocked, he fell when he did not get the balance.

*Hack!*

"Acts!" miko shouted softly as the whip sounded behind her back.

Fortunately, Okuri's elemental waffe form made her not receive full damage. Otherwise, his body would have some burns to bear. An ordinary human body was not that strong to bear the damage from the fire whip. Also called beginner. Just attacking can be good.

"Come on, did it just get here your fight?" Claire pulled back her whip and made it swerve in the air, ready to continue the attack.

Miko slowly got up from the ground, then she started an attack, "Lightning Bird Talisman!"

*Bzrt!*

A talisman floated in the air before it changed shape into lightning with the shape of a bird. Then, the lightning bird struck Claire.

Claire slightly tilted her body, dodged the attack, and said, "Hmph! Too weak and easy to read. Your attack is too open and predictable. I don't need to see your attack to avoid it. Just need to see where you're going to attack."

'Ugh, he's too strong!' inner Miko.

Although this is not a real fight, but this fight is dangerous for Miko. His opponent had no intention to budge in this training duel. At the worst possible time, Miko would receive mental injuries and go crazy. But of course, that wouldn't happen because the Author isn't that evil to make someone mentally ill. This is a novel with a slow plot so it is advisable to save the CHAPTER.

Entoma Vasilissa's talisman ability was good enough for the start and the output power of which was currently in accordance with the amount of mana Miko after being assisted by her three contract spirits. But again, without adequate fighting skills it is just a decoration and cannot be used to injure the opponent. Though depending on its use, any attack can be deadly.

“Strengthen Self!” Yelling that while it was not necessary, a talisman stuck to Miko's own body.

As the name suggests, this talisman has the effect of improving itself. A buff ability that is always active for some time to come without having an attack effect. I don't know what Miko's plan is to use this ability, even though she herself doesn't have good fighting skills. Raw strength of any kind would be useless without adequate skills. The feeling I've written this several times before ….

*tap!* *tap!* *tap!*

Miko ran around Claire using her enhanced physique and the ability of Nekomata wind gusts that make the jump distance every time she steps wider. He intended to make Claire confused by this spinning motion. Well, this strategy is indeed a basic and simple strategy to confuse opponents. Also, it has weaknesses.

First, the twisting motion makes both sides dizzy. It is true that the party that becomes the axis will be more confused, but the side that surrounds also has an effect. So, this is not recommended in people who get drunk easily because of the vehicle or because of the twisting motion. But this is only advice, it is up to you if you want to use.

The second weakness, the person who is surrounded is only silent so that he saves energy, while the person who moves in a circumference distance that depends on the diameter of the circle. Obviously, the enemy benefits in the form of saving energy. Self will become exhausted and the enemy can win just by silence. It would be a very ridiculous defeat to lose without giving a single attack to the opponent.

“Hmm? Do you intend to make me dizzy by turning around me?” claire's monologue questions with her tilting her head. “Forget it, you won't make it. The sound of your footsteps is too obvious, so I can guess when you try to get close to me. Even if you were to use a long-range attack, do you think it was quiet enough? What you are doing right now is nothing but spending your own energy!”

There are several choices that can be made by the person who becomes the shaft. First, they can attack on targets that surround them. The likelihood of this attack hitting an opponent is quite low because the target is moving, but during high accuracy, this is not a problem. Second, he could twist his body following the opponent's movements to pay attention to what was about to be done. The weakness of this will only make yourself dizzy. Third, he could stand still and wait for the enemy to take the next step. The downside is that it allows the enemy to act first in making an attack. In addition, it requires extra energy such as teleportation to the outside, blowing up around, or jumping up. After all humans are “ beings given a choice”.

Claire starts to close her eyes and concentrates on watching Miko's movements using her sixth sense. He focuses on sensing if Miko is making any movement other than this spinning motion. Logically, different movements will produce different sounds. This can be practiced by listening to the sound of the motor moving straight and the motor inside “tong satan”.

A motor that moves straight will have a different sound as the sound source gets further away. Whereas in a demon barrel, the motor is on the same track and has the same speed, so that it produces the same rotation frequency as well, with the final result having the same sound pattern, that is a little slow when it is far and harder when it is near. Just like that, there will be a difference in sound when Miko makes a movement with a different distance.

*set!*

“There is no point in making such a circular motion if you shout at the end!” Claire opened her eyes at the direction Miko was.

If you ask why Miko always yells the name of the attack when using the skill, then the reason is the same as most anime shounen say the name of their attack when going to issue the skill. The reason is to make the anime sound cool and not silent. It will still be good and not silent without saying the name of the skill if BGM (Background Music) and SFX (Sound Effex) have the right selection, he said, but most shounen anime have characters who pronounce the name of their abilities when going to attack. This was a foolish move as the enemy could probably guess the effect of the attack through the name of the ability.

*boom!*

As the name suggests, the Explosive Talisman is a talisman with explosive abilities. So when this talisman hit Claire's whip, an explosion occurred and covered the surrounding view. It was not a very powerful explosion. With Miko's current mana strength, the attack power he has is reduced despite gaining the ability of the group. Still, this does not change the reality of the surrounding area covered in explosive smoke.

“I told you, ‘kan? It's free!” Claire was seen to have no injuries at all after the smoke disappeared.

He searched for Miko's whereabouts, then he saw her a few meters away by holding Katana—Kitsuna—. “Hmm.. so that's what you planned before, yeah. You want to take back your katana that was thrown before. Not a bad attack, but what are you going to do with that thing?”

Cruel enough to call something by the designation “benda”. Well, Kitsuna is a spirit technically, but she is still a cute living being. But even though the call as the thing is heard by Miko, she ignores it and prepares to throw Kitsuna at Claire. There is a difference in strength between casting spirit magic and spirit itself in terms of power.

•••••

Back inside the academy building, there wasn't much going on inside there. At night like this most schoolgirls choose to sleep or do some PR if it exists. Well, it's a good thing there's no PR for the Raven class or at least Claire doesn't do that PR. In essence, the atmosphere there became quiet and quiet with most people stopping their activities.

Inside the dorm room of the group members, Kino was training her abilities. It was not his magical skills that he trained, but his ability to use his pistol. Kino's training is very simple: he pulls his gun as fast as possible by aiming for something as good as the target. This practice was more or less the same as a knight swinging a sword many times.

*black!*

Inside the quiet room, Kino pulled the gun quickly, then he returned it again to the holster. Just that, he repeated it many times.

'Rikka said she was going to go play with someone. I didn't expect him to have any new acquaintances besides Claire. In this place there are indeed some unique people even though most of them are selfish noble girls, anyway. By the way, the people in Raven's class are quite kind and friendly.'

*black!*

"Rikka is not here and the Admin is out of nowhere. I was alone in this place and there was nothing to do. What is it, anyway, that is being done by him? I haven't seen the trunk of his nose since this morning when we headed to where the spirit was sealed. Is he back in his original world?'

*Clack!*

The door opened, this made Kino point at him before saying, "Why did you come here, Ellis Fahrengart?"

Yep, the one who did that visit tonight was Ellis. I don't know what his motivation is, he came here with a mysterious gurgle. Not that he does strange things, but what makes him mysterious is himself who comes here at night. It is not the custom of everyone to go into someone else's room when night falls.

"Um... are you thinking of patrolling with me tonight? I met Rikka before, she was with Rinslet Laurenfrost. I thought you might be lonely to be in this place alone," asked Ellis a little shyly.

"Why are you thinking of taking me? Isn't there anyone else from the Sylphid Knights who would patrol with you?" ask Kino.

"No, no, no, I was just thinking of taking you on patrol. How could my Sylphid Knight be lazing around and refusing orders from me?" Ellis puffed out her chest proudly as she told him about her Knight.

"I don't actually have a job right now. So if you have to patrol with you .., fine. I will patrol with you" replied Kino.

With that short conversation, Kino finally did a job that was not really for him. He did this voluntary work without expecting anything in return and solely because he joined. He also wanted to know what usually happened at night like this and patrolling alongside the Sylphid Knight chief was one of the good things. Not bad for doing it.

•••••

Inside the hallways of the academy, Kino and Ellis take a boring night trip. Most of the students here had already slept, if anything, there were only one or two of them. What do you expect from a night like this? No high-class thief was stupid enough to enter this academy. They will immediately become minced meat if it is discovered.

"Very quiet, yes," flat comments from Kino.

"Well, it's common at night. There's not much to do on a night patrol, it's easy to do this job. Not many people are stupid enough to loot this place" Ellis explained. "But even if there is no crime, it does not mean there is nothing at all. We Sylphid Knights need to ensure security in this place."

"Oh, yes." Kino thought of something. "What if we see that man? I'm a little sorry to see him who owns a house like that. The place is so dingy, the night wind might bring it down."

"Hmm? Do you want to insult our hard work?" Ellis's eyes glanced at Kino beside her.

It's a little sharp and piercing to watch out for. It was enough to make a tremble when it was stared at with such eyes. Those eyes gave off an aura of dislike and questioned the opinion Kino had said. Yet Kino as someone who has gone through many places, has a trained mentality.

"Not really. I was just thinking of seeing him."

•••••

Long story short, the two of them headed to Kamito's hut. There, it just so happens that Kino and Ellis meet Rikka, Rinslet, and Carol Natasha. For Kazehaya Kamito, of course he was there as the host. Think of it like that for ease even though here is actually a dormitory that does not resemble a dormitory. What a pity for Kamito.

“Yo, Rikka, I did not expect we would meet at this place.” Kino slightly raised her hand when greeting.

“Fufufu, I did not expect that you would come here, Kino!” rikka replied using a high tone, then turned into asking when asking, “What are you doing in this place? Rarely see you active at night like this.”

“I don't go out at night not because I can't go out at night. I just thought there was nothing to do at night. When I became a wanderer, stopping at night became commonplace as it was dangerous to move around in the dark,” Kino explained before turning to the girl standing next to Rikka. “Then you... Rinslet Laurenfrost, right?”

“Ara~ you recognize me, yes. I am flattered, Kino-san,” said Rinslet.

“No, no, it is precisely I who feel flattered because you know my name,” denied Kino. “Then, did this friend of mine not trouble you?”

“No, this Rikka is a very excited person. He doesn't bother me at all, kok.” Rinslet patted Rikka's head slowly. “Then, you don't need to use formal language when talking to me. It doesn't suit you.”

“Thank you,” Kino replied with a small smile. ‘Good he is a person who is easy to get along with others. It would be very difficult if he was an arrogant person and liked to bully the weak. I can build a good relationship with him.’

“Rinslet Laurenfrost, what are you doing here night-night?” ask Ellis a little.

He's been with her before. Otherwise, how would Ellis know if Rikka was with Rinslet? Only, Ellis herself did not know what the two of them were doing. Ellis guessed that RIkka was just following so that there was no need to care, so she by default immediately paid attention to Rinslet who might be the leader of their streets.

“Not much, I just feed this one guy.” Rinslet folded her hands as she faced Ellis with a rather sharp look in her eyes. “What does that include breaking the rules of the academy, Miss Knight?”

“No, it's okay. Besides also good if you two can be familiar.” Ellis turned to Kamito at the door of the hut. “You yourself must have trouble in this new environment, ‘kan, Kazehaya Kamito?”

“Even if I have trouble, at least do not add to my difficult position in this place. Building a house just like this, do you corrupt the funds you get?” kamito said flatly which sounded as an insult.

“What you said!” cry Ellis. “We Sylphid Knights also have trouble building a house in just one day, do you want to say if we commit corruption? This already included the humiliation on the Sylphid Knight!”

“...” The atmosphere became awkward and silent for a while.

Indeed, something that is done in a hurry will produce something less than satisfactory. See that for example soap operas in Indonesia. They were in too much of a hurry to bring out the latest episode. Of course, the scriptwriter will have difficulty finding story ideas. You who are friends of the author must understand how difficult it is to find good writing. As a result of making a rushed script, the soap opera flow becomes so-so and the edit is less than optimal.

At least give the crew time so they can make a totality result. No need, deh, make soap every day. One or three times a week is good. Just fill the television show with other events besides soap operas. Pity the children today who are looking for television channels but the discovery of soap operas. Well, actually today's children play FF and friends until they become the leaks of death, anyway.

“But I think it's true, you know. This hut was built using wood, there was no mattress and used straw as a bed, the room was very simple, and there was no decoration at all. It became the only human habitation structure that was most different from the others in this Areishia Spirit Academy. Isn't this inhumane?” Rinslet.

“What do you mean? Do you want to invite a duel?” harrumphed speech Ellis.

“Hmph! Of course I dare to duel with you. Do you think you can beat us? four against one,” Rinslet added.

“Guh...!” Ellis' words stalled in her throat as she did not dare to continue.

Against Rinslet, Rikka, and Kamito simultaneously he is confident to be able to do so despite not knowing the power of Kamito. But for Kino, he has different confidence to beat him. He was defeated by Kino. This will be his second defeat.

“Wait, I still have not said who will be on the side, you know.” Kino interrupted their words.

“Eh? What do you mean you'll side with him, Kino?” rikka asked a little.

“It's okay, isn't it? I was a neutral party after all. It doesn't matter to me to side with anyone, ‘kan?” added Kino.

“Yosh! Then at midnight, we will have a duel inside Astral Zero. Don't use sleepy excuses to escape!” Ellis pointed her index finger at Rinslet confidently.

This time it's different. With Kino on his side, Ellis has a higher chance of winning. It does become three against two, but quantity loses against quality. Kino who has defeated Ellis plus Ellis who is the chairman of the Sylphid Knights. They are not easy opponents to face. It will be a tough fight.

“Wait, I have not said if I will join the fight!”  shout Kamito.

But it is a pity that Kamito's screams are not cared for by anyone. Ellis and Kino have left the CTF which means no more arguments from Us will be accepted.

Really, being the only guy in the place of the girls becomes something that is difficult for someone to do. Just imagine if you had other opinions but no one listened to you! Therefore, do not be alone and listen to what others want to say to you. Maybe that's something important. It's sad to have an opinion that doesn't matter.

“Good.” Rinslet turned to Rikka, and said, “So, Rikka, do you think Kino is strong?”

“Um, well, he's very strong. Previously he had defeated Ellis,” replied Rikka casually.

“Eh?”

Rinslet questioned his decision to have a duel with them. If Ellis was alone he still believed himself to win. But if the enemy is two of Ellis, his confidence has just been hit listening to the explanation of this new friend.

“Hah, don't joke. I haven't even told you to agree.” Kamito sighed.

•••••

Long story short, midnight arrived and they headed into Astral Zero. Coincidentally, the location of their duel was the same as the one Miko and Claire used to practice. The Rinslet squad who came first met them there and just greeted him. Furthermore, Claire was a good friend of Rinslet from a long time ago, so naturally she kindly greeted.

Miko was in a bad position. He was lying on the ground exhausted. His eyes were spinning due to dizziness or confusion. His three contract spirits disappeared and he ran out of steam. His body needed to be moved from the arena before they would start a duel or else this innocent person would gain an additional impact.

“I didn't expect that we would meet here Claire Elstein. What are you doing?” rinslet asked with a friendly smile at Claire, but her eyebrows showed otherwise.

“Rinslet Laurenfrost, I returned the question to you. What are you doing here?” Claire's eyes became ferocious when she saw Rinslet's arrival.

“Um, well, I made some troublesome trouble with Miss Knight, so I challenged her to a duel, then we ended up here. More or less, that's the story that happened. It will definitely be a quick finish unwittingly.” Rinslet crossed his arms proudly, eliminating the part about Kino.