novelraw #249 - Section 249
#249 - Section 249
When Roger arrived, the registration was already full, but he was a VIP. With a little arrangement from the palace steward, one of the contestants withdrew due to personal reasons, adding Roger to the thousand participants.
As for whether it was the gleam of gold coins or the scent of power, Roger didn't care. Anyway, the elven resources were granting him a privilege; he hadn't asked for anything.
The palace steward clearly wanted to see Roger make a fool of himself because, according to public information, Duke Roger rarely took action personally, and his limited combat records showed mainly magical output abilities.
Although nobles often practiced swordsmanship, it was usually just for etiquette. There was a huge difference between casual practice and a true swordsman.
Moreover, in anonymous challenges, there were often Sword Saints in training who chose to participate in the competition to hone their skills.
Roger gave a faint smile.
Although he hadn't specifically trained in swordsmanship, and magical means were prohibited here, he had the system to rely on.
Although the 'Lying Flat' System hadn't done anything earth-shattering in recent years, and hadn't made any significant contributions since the Source Sea series, it had indeed boosted Roger's personal strength to a considerable level.
Mainly through his tankiness.
Whether it was shield thickness, various resistance skills, plus healing and recovery methods, and the shameless true damage reflection attribute, Roger was now so tanky that even the Night Empress, a damage-dealing monster, wanted to vomit.
An unkillable cockroach, that's pretty much what he was like.
If the Night Empress was the Empire's strongest spear, then Roger was basically the man at the ceiling of the Empire's defense.
Stacking the thickest armor, ready to take the most vicious beating.
However, the system still hadn't rewarded Roger with the magical output methods he had been hoping for, which was strange.
After the initial mental power boost, he hadn't received any related magical attacks, but instead, he got a bunch of close combat skills.
But just relying on this tankiness and reflection damage, those skills combined allowed him to first secure himself in an invincible position, and then slowly infuriate his opponents to death.
If it were a normal battlefield, with the weapons produced by the Arcane Society, relying on etched bullets, Roger could slowly aim and deliver fancy output.
But today's swordplay challenge restricted Roger from using equipment, so he could only rely on his swordsmanship to duel with his opponents?
Even if Roger hadn't deeply studied the Divine Veronica Royal Swordsmanship, he could still hold his own against legendary-level sword skills when using it.
Even more shamelessly, he played a life-for-life tactic throughout the entire process.
Anyway, I have more health than you, so you'll definitely be the one who gets hurt in the end!
Normally, in this kind of gauntlet match, opponents would definitely cherish their stamina and health, relying on skill to win, because the repair time was very short.
But the Empire's Meat Mountain had super strong recovery ability, with something like 'Invigorate' built-in. He started recovering health eight seconds after disengaging from combat, and was directly resurrected to full health in half a minute. He easily advanced round after round, without feeling any tension in the game.
The elves waiting outside to see Roger's joke were both surprised and helpless. Those traditional elves were even more furious when they saw a human rampaging on the arena with such combat methods.
Although he hid his name and appearance, his racial characteristics were too obvious, and Roger still showed them off.
Was this a competition of swordsmanship, or a competition of physique?
But Roger wasn't cheating. He didn't use magic, just had a few more passive skills, which was within the rules!
As long as you weren't blind, you could see that Roger won all the way through, relying entirely on his shameless health.
In a three-minute battle, he didn't need to think about defense at all, just attack.
Others would be countered if they cut him, having to calculate who would lose more health. If they didn't cut him, they would be cut down first.
Later, some elves wanted to use stalling tactics to drag this human who came to disrupt the competition out of the game, but Roger's attack power in this small-scale arena battle was not bad.
His attack power was insufficient compared to the Night Empress, in large-scale battles, where he couldn't play much of a role.
Soon, out of the thousand challenges, only Roger and one other opponent remained, with the battle starting in five minutes.
In the preparation room, several Sword Saints were helping their princess analyze Roger's combat records, and then instructing her on the combat techniques they had written down.
"Although the opponent's recovery ability is very strong, he is not really good at swordsmanship. Princess, you only need to stall for time to be invincible, and then use Moonshadow Transformation to avoid the reflection damage, looking for an opportunity to win."
The beautiful Princess Windsor nodded, appearing obedient, but she actually disliked the tactics arranged by the Sword Saints, but was helpless.
Originally, she was just playing around, relaxing.
But in the end, only she and an Imperial person remained, and for the sake of the nation's honor, she had to use every means to win.
What boring Imperial pride!
The five-minute break ended, and Princess Windsor stepped onto the arena, bowing respectfully to Roger.
Roger's movements were casual. He touched his bracelet and secretly ordered, "Deep Blue, turn on intelligent assistance."
The next second, Windsor rushed towards Roger, and suddenly found that her opponent's swordsmanship was ten times sharper!
Chapter 225: The Seed of Rebellion Has Sprouted
When swordsmanship reaches a certain level, it is no longer just about studying moves, but about matching skills with the corresponding mindset.
A warrior with great courage is suitable for open and close combat, and a cunning old fox naturally has traps everywhere, all illusions.
Elven swordsmen often spend their entire lives with nothing else in their hearts but swordsmanship, tempering skills that match their own state of mind.
Even if the magical world does not emphasize cultivating the mind, the thing that makes humans surpass machines lies in creativity and subjective demands.
Often, it is in an environment pushed to the limit that the mind is used to add variables beyond the limit.
Princess Windsor's teachers are naturally the most outstanding Sword Saints of the Elven Empire. Even if Roger relies on his passives to become an unparalleled blood cow, and masters the divine sword skills rewarded by the system, and can rampage and suppress his previous opponents to the point where they can't even commit suicide, and is often cut down to empty health within three minutes, determining the outcome,
But it doesn't mean he is invincible.
This is a swordsmanship competition, and others can also use the rules.
On a small arena with limited variables, those Sword Saints taught Windsor a set of designs that targeted Roger's previously displayed personality and combat style, using every inch of space to the extreme.
No matter how desperately Roger goes crazy and unleashes his unbridled attacks, he will not be able to catch up with Windsor's footsteps in the end, at least it will be a defeat with time running out.
And Windsor, as a member of the royal family, has a skill called "Moonshadow Transformation", just like the name of the skill, it turns herself into a ray of moonlight, immune to damage for a period of time.
Of course, she herself cannot harm the enemy at this time, how can moonlight hurt people?
But Moonshadow Transformation is very flexible, with a maximum single release time of one second and a cooldown time of one second.
In other words, if used skillfully, grasping the rhythm of attack, it can avoid all damage from the enemy.
It's quite shameless.
But compared to Roger's previous blood cow battle style, it can be said that they are evenly matched, and no one can say that the other is cheating.
Windsor had never used this skill before when fighting on the field, she had reached the final entirely with her own swordsmanship, which made her very accomplished.
Regarding the shameless tactics displayed by Roger, she still wanted to challenge him with her true level.
But those elders and advisors did not allow it.
If a human were to win in the swordsmanship that elves are good at, those who know Roger's identity would not want to see this scene happen.
In a real war, the current elves are definitely not the opponents of the humans, but must the swordsmanship that has been studied for countless generations be ravaged by humans using this method?
No, we don't accept it!
So Windsor was burdened with the mission of winning, at least not losing.
Her swordsmanship advisors, and the Sword Saints who were temporarily called in, looked at the sword skills and tactics that Roger had shown before, and only felt that they were full of flaws. They arranged the most perfect battle plan for Windsor, with each saying a word.
Windsor was unwilling, but as the perfect princess, the heir to the Elven Empire, she had to win this face for the elves.
Although it was a trivial face, a face that could not change the battle situation at all.
Does winning against a duke of the empire who is not famous for fighting mean that the elves are very powerful?
She looked at the expressions of those Sword Saints when they frantically pointed out how to win, and only felt helpless.
People are just here to play, and we are already going all out...
Don't you think such a picture is truly sad?
Unfortunately, she is that perfect princess, she must always maintain the dignity of the royal family, and maintain the face of the elves, and it is impossible to say rude words at this time.
These elven elders who are stubbornly defending their face will definitely not admit their mistakes, they will only think that Windsor has no confidence and is afraid of fighting.
So even on stage, Windsor felt very awkward.
For the face-saving elven compatriots, she must desperately dance and prop up that fig leaf...
It was like this in the past hundred years, and it will be like this in the next hundred years, and it will probably be like this to become the empress!
In such a life, no matter how much praise there is, is it really praising me?
But in the end, she still followed the teachings of her teachers and stabbed that sword at Roger, starting the layout of pulling.
However, Roger's response to her was quite unexpected.
Windsor attacked first with speed. According to the analysis of the Sword Saints, Roger should not defend at all, but counterattack her.
As a result, his crazy sword technique that pierced through the Elven Sword Hall suddenly changed!
Ding!
Perfect defense!
Because Windsor was thinking that Roger would attack against attack, although Windsor's sword was a bit casual, Roger's response was almost perfect, hitting the weakest point on her sword's spine, slowing down Windsor's sword return speed.
Roger slashed smoothly with his sword, and had already attacked.
Windsor instantly broke into a cold sweat and used Moonshadow Transformation.
"Royal bloodline, is it Princess Windsor?"
"Oh ho ho, Princess, cheer up, beat this despicable outsider!"
The elves at the scene boiled over.
Although the bloodline of the Elven royal family may awaken the ability of Moonshadow Transformation, it also depends on talent, not all royal descendants can.
At this age, female, the public knows that it is their perfect Princess Windsor!
Originally, they thought that tonight was a human swordsman flaunting his power, but suddenly their own princess appeared on the stage, igniting their confidence in victory again.
Windsor pursed her lips, Roger's change of style made her feel surprised, but also felt a trace of happiness that she didn't understand.
What should I do if the scene instructed by the advisors does not appear?
Since no one is pointing fingers next to me, can I fight in my own style?
Moonshadow Transformation brings a short gap, Windsor took a deep breath, and attacked again!
Although Moonshadow Transformation cannot attack, it can adjust the posture and regain the opportunity to take the lead, so it is quite a shameless move, which can easily occupy the absolute initiative in battles with similar strength.
But the problem is, the enemy is not "similar in strength" to her!
Roger seemed to have anticipated Windsor's choice, immediately retreated sharply, and timely avoided Windsor's counterattacking sword.
Then he went to the blind spot of Windsor's return defense, but did not advance, but patiently waited for Windsor's attack, but made Windsor's a predicted roll look particularly embarrassed.
But in the shadows, Windsor stabbed out a sword!
The enemy actually gave her a chance out of arrogance, then she must seize it and humiliate him severely with victory!
She saw a smile on the corner of Roger's mouth.
Not crazy, but emotionless coldness, the sword skills he unfolded were also the same cold, once again finding the blind spot in Windsor's attacking route, skillfully breaking it, and then advancing, forcing out her Moonshadow Transformation.
A trace of shame and anger appeared on Windsor's face. It was the first time she had been so easily broken her starting move.
But she had no time to think about things like fighting style and layout, she was now only thinking about one thing...
Fight!
Defeat the enemy in front of you!
He is strong and stinky, I must defeat him!
But this time Roger did not let her wait for her to advance, but seemed to have already anticipated her attacking route after Moonshadow Transformation was unfolded, and pre-emptively countered.
Still blocking at the weak point, causing Windsor's attacking rhythm to be directly cut off, extremely uncomfortable, but she had to face Roger's attack that unfolded like a torrential river, making her feel suffocated, wave after wave of attack!
She defended instinctively, using all her means, Moonshadow Transformation was forced out again and again, but she was always under passive defense.
Even the most powerful Sword Saint advisor in the palace had never given her such pressure.
She seemed to be facing a mountain, a high mountain that could not be surpassed, and could not find any flaws at all!
Because at this moment, she was not fighting against Roger, but against the intelligent assistance that relied on the countless computing resources of the Fearless Space, incorporating all the information in the space into the calculation, and pre-judging all her pre-judgments!
Even if the ability of Moonshadow Transformation was not previously stored in the database of intelligent assistance, but on-site collection, online analysis, in a few rounds, Windsor's new skills have also been included in the calculation!
Then, it was a continuous attack that could not see the flaws, like teasing a child, but always left Windsor a breath.