Counterattack

Cohen was quickly losing his mind from the side effects of Haste.

However, with the experience of protecting Yenika under his belt, his abilities were now much better than before.

“Damn, is Pond’s body still too tough? I have to think of something…”

Could it be… that he had to use forces other than fists?

Cohen began to rack his brains, trying to recall the various skill applications from the game.

However, they were all techniques that used weapons. Without weapons, these techniques were just like a clown jumping around on stage.

Cohen’s face turned green from thinking so hard.

Crap! Why do I have to use weapons?!

Does not having money mean I don’t deserve to fight or live?!

Wait!

Cohen looked around. He hadn’t noticed during the battle, but the stands were now filled with students, many of whom were holding weapons to watch the fight.

Wasn’t this a natural armory?

Cohen had a brilliant idea!

Cohen raised his hands above his head and shouted:

“Okay! Brothers! Everyone, look at me! Look at me!

I’m an S… uh, that’s not right. Can I borrow a weapon, please?”

What mattered more, his reputation or survival?

He was immediately issuing a declaration of independence!

However, no one responded to Cohen’s request. Everyone on the stage looked at each other in confusion.

How could this be? My face and the atmosphere were all on point, so why hadn’t anyone offered me a weapon?

Cohen then remembered another thing: martial artists could have their own exclusive weapons.

That meant that most of the weapons in the hands of the people here were their exclusive weapons, obtained through contracts.

Throwing one’s exclusive weapon to someone else was like bending over and…

In short, it would be an insult and disrespect to both the weapon and oneself.

Cohen thought:

That’s it for me!

Cohen had truly become a clown without a future.

He really had no moves left!

“Are you Cohen, right?”

A seductive, charming voice rang out from the stands.

Cohen turned around and saw a beautiful figure. Silver-black hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her exquisite waist.

She wore a delicate, pure white dress, resembling a noble prince.

The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and an inscrutable smile played on her jade-like face, a picture of beauty.

The eyes, which were constantly narrowed, revealed an endless sense of mystery.

Of course, Cohen knew who it was.

This was his favorite character besides the Phoenix Girl protagonist.

Princess Viola Selvey.

She was a powerhouse in the game. Even the protagonist needed to reach a certain level of strength before she would recognize him and become a powerful ally on the journey, making it easier to move around in the empire.

Her rare Light attribute magic could dispel most dark skills and debuffs.

She was both a valuable asset and a formidable fighter.

However, Cohen didn’t like this character because of her strength, but because of her personality.

Viola seemed to have a touch of girlfriend material, but she was a white fox with endless schemes, a pure prankster and maker of mischief.

If you weren’t careful, you’d fall into her trap and be completely played by her.

Cohen never tired of watching her strategic flirting with the Phoenix Girl.

In short, it was delightful to be dominated, crush me!

Cough… However, Cohen wasn’t an M. What did playing around with the protagonist have to do with him?

Wouldn’t it be nice to watch the protagonist get screwed from the safety of his own little courtyard?

Cohen was also curious as to why the princess was here.

In the story, the princess had strong magical talent, but she chose a completely different path from the Phoenix Girl, choosing to study the chivalric spirit in the physical arts department.

However, she wouldn’t reveal herself over a few small waves unless there was an interesting spectacle to watch.

Cohen then looked at his own disheveled appearance.

Damn it! She really was here to watch a clown act!

Thinking, “Oh, well,” Cohen shouted to the princess:

“Yes! Does the help from a classmate sound good?”

Cohen didn’t dare to call her by name. What if he accidentally interfered with her watching the show and got his head chopped off?

Viola continued to smile.

“What kind of weapons do you need?”

“All of them!”

“Hmm?”

“I mean, I want all the weapons you have. I’ll pay you back if I break them.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Viola’s narrowed eyes opened slightly, and she looked at Cohen.

“Deal.”

Cohen planned to use all the martial arts he could remember, staking his reputation as a veteran gamer.

He couldn’t lose.

“Very well.”

Viola clapped her hands, and several people in uniform appeared behind her, carrying weapons. They threw them down in unison.

The weapons landed precisely around Cohen.

Cohen casually picked up a spear and swung it a few times.

The quality’s not bad, good enough.

Cohen swung the spear and looked at Pond, who was also bracing himself for a counterattack.

“Are you planning to get serious?”

“Hard to say, I’ll test you out now.”

“Come on!”

Cohen recalled the martial arts techniques related to the spear, standing still for a long time.

“What are you…”

Pond was about to ask what was going on when Cohen disappeared.

“Wh…”

Pond activated his spiritual perception and immediately located Cohen to his side.

He was swinging the spear tip towards his waist.

Cohen combined Haste to quickly approach Pond and launch a quick strike.

The technique was called “Wild Dance”, and when mastered, it could unleash dozens of strikes in a very short moment.

Pond reacted extremely quickly, slamming his hand into the ground to make Cohen lose his balance.

Cohen’s strike went wide, and Pond then swung his other fist at Cohen.

Cohen then used the spear to find a point of support, using it to stand himself up and jump towards Pond.

The moment he jumped, the iron spear beneath his feet was shattered.

“Without a weapon, let’s see you…”

A cold light flashed, and Pond averted his head from Cohen. A bloody line appeared on his nose.

“Tch—he even knows swordsmanship?”

When Cohen charged towards Pond, he had taken a sword. Jumping towards Pond, he used “Flash”.

This move was a powerful technique in swordsmanship. It involved focusing one’s Qi and attaching it to the sword to deliver a powerful blow.

Compared to Haste, “Flash” didn’t consume as much stamina.

However, Cohen’s Qi was still too weak, and he wasn’t skilled enough, so the attack wasn’t very effective.

“Petty tricks, take this!”

Pond roared again, focusing his Qi on his fist and unleashing a shockwave-like long-range attack at Cohen.

Cohen defended with the sword, but his technique was clumsy. His swordsmanship was not up to par, and the sword soon broke like the spear.

Pond’s attacks didn’t stop because Cohen lost his weapon. Continuous shockwaves flew towards Cohen.

Cohen then grabbed a staff and swung it in a defensive martial arts technique called “Staff Dance.”

After the staff broke, he picked up a short sword and used assassination techniques to block the attacks.

More and more weapons were used and broken by Pond’s attacks.

Cohen looked at the weapon fragments on the ground, panting heavily.

Pond was also breathing raggedly from releasing so many shockwaves.

Neither of them had much strength left.

“You actually know a hundred martial arts? That’s amazing, but I can see that you haven’t mastered them well, right?” Pond complimented.

“Just some old tricks, a smattering of everything, nothing to pay attention to.”

“But you don’t have any weapons left.”

“…”

Yes, the situation had returned to square one. He had no final means left, and he still owed the princess a huge debt.

This is really troublesome.

Little did he know that in the stands, the princess was staring intently at Cohen’s every move, her narrowed eyes now fully open, revealing deep gray irises.

“”Wild Dance”, “Flash”, “Haste”…”

They were all high-level martial arts techniques, and “Flash” had been lost since the Sword Emperor’s death.

How does he know them?

Cohen, you’re making me deliriously happy. (Licking lips)