TRPG Rule Breaker

Chapter 10 : One-on-One(?) Duel - 1

Chapter 10: One-on-One(?) Duel - 1

At last, I had set all the necessary conditions and strategies to take on Galanuel.

§§{Stats}

Strength: 6 → 7

Perception: 6 → 6

Intelligence: 12 → 14

Health: 12 → 13

Mana: 12 → 15

Dexterity: 5 → 6

Charm: 27 → 27

Bonus Points: 8 §§

First, thanks to three weeks of relentless training, Dicendel’s stats had increased significantly even without using any bonus points.

Since you normally get 3 bonus points per level-up, it was essentially like gaining almost three full level-ups for free.

§§{Skills}

Ranged Weapon Mastery Lv.2

Soul Assimilation Mastery Lv.2 (new)

[Patron] World Tree

Summon Plant Lv.3

└ Lv.4 Tree Vines

└ Fertilizer Supply

└ Lv.2 Celestial Fruit

Sap Synthesis Lv.1

└ Pine Resin

Leaf Blade Lv.1 (new)

… §§

Next, I had gained two new skills.

In particular, had appeared naturally without me deliberately learning it, and its level had even risen by one.

It seemed likely that my use of to mimic a spiritual link with a water spirit had contributed to this.

On top of that, there was the knowledge I had gained through my research with Medes, the favor I had asked of Holy Knight Commander Lotendar, and even my deal with Achelian.

These were the keys that would overturn the power gap with Galanuel.

“All weapons, magic, and summoning techniques are permitted. However, you cannot prepare your skills in advance before the duel starts. Both students participating in the duel will be lent this necklace. This necklace carries a protective shield spell that activates when a certain amount of damage is taken. The one whose shield activates first from the opponent’s attack or who declares surrender loses.”

While Medes explained the duel rules, I began winding the crank of the crossbow I had prepared in advance.

At the same time, I quietly gathered some small stones scattered around the area so no one would notice.

It was inconvenient since the gloves I wore made it hard to bend my fingers.

“The first pair is Achelian Paladeltion and Bagwell Schinken. Please step forward.”

At Medes’ call, Achelian and a male dwarf student stepped reluctantly to the center.

Achelian was the one who had spoken to me during the first botany class, and was Galanuel’s rival in the family succession.

His opponent, unlike most dwarves, had a gentle face and a carefully braided beard that still hadn’t fully grown in.

“Why would the head instructor put those two together? They’re the president and vice-president of the riding club.”

“Right? I was expecting a match between the Paladeltion cousins…”

Not just the participants, but the other students also seemed puzzled.

“Both students, to your designated positions… Face each other and bow! Then, ready—duel start!”

Twang!

The duel began with Bagwell pulling the trigger on a state-of-the-art dwarf-made crossbow.

“Gyaaah! I surrender! I surrender! Spare this dwarf!”

Bagwell screamed while his short arm was caught in Achelian’s grip, locked in a joint hold.

“Enough! The winner is Achelian Paladeltion!”

The first duel ended much more quickly than expected.

While part of it was Bagwell’s timid nature despite his abilities, the bigger factor was Achelian’s superior skill.

“As expected, Galanuel should’ve been the one to face Achelian.”

“Bagwell’s just ended up looking pitiful.”

“Then, who’s Galanuel going up against?”

Questions of curiosity spread again among the students.

Amidst that atmosphere, Galanuel walked toward me.

“Ha, don’t tell me… it’s you?”

“What about it…?”

“…Forget it. Just make sure you wipe that pale neck of yours beforehand.”

The reason I had gone so far as to coax and persuade Instructor Medes to let me face Galanuel this early…

Wasn’t just to lower his practical exam score.

According to the information I’d gathered, Galanuel and Achelian were evenly matched—but that was when Achelian, with his Rider class, was mounted on a horse.

In reality, over the past three years, Galanuel had overwhelmingly dominated their duel record.

In other words, I also aimed to give the relatively disadvantaged Achelian some momentum.

But more than anything else, the biggest reason… was that I had learned this was the perfect time to strike.

“Hm? Did Galanuel just say something to that freshman?”

“Don’t tell me those two are going to face each other?”

“Those two…? Sure, I’ll admit that massive of his is impressive, but he’s still just a freshman! What in the world is the head instructor thinking?”

“Still, this freshman is the one who made blood gush from both of Galanuel’s nostrils the moment he entered the academy. Doesn’t that make him worth watching?”

“Right. I heard that even then, Galanuel only barely won after bringing out all his summons.”

The students began chatting away, ignoring the duel currently unfolding in the arena.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, another match came to an end.

“The third pair is Galanuel Paladeltion and Dicendel Lio. Please step forward.”

At the call, Galanuel and I stepped into the center of the arena, standing side by side before Medes.

We then received the necklaces enchanted with protective shields and hung them around our necks.

I couldn’t understand what the Game Master was thinking, letting such absurdly powerful necklaces be used for something as trivial as a school exam.

“Now, both students, to your designated spots.”

I walked to my starting point, facing Galanuel with my large crossbow in hand.

He had drawn a whip and was holding it.

§§…

Immersion: 70.5%

…§§

I had saved up plenty of immersion for today.

What’s more, by mixing in Dicendel’s skills here and there, the immersion consumption would be almost negligible—meaning I could use Daisu’s skills to my heart’s content, as long as my MP allowed.

‘.’

My mind sharpened like a honed blade.

Using a skill before the match started was against the rules, but as long as I didn’t get caught, it was fine.

And based on previous experiments, no one had ever noticed when I used .

“Face each other and bow! Ready…”

The “Turn Order” stat, which indicated speed, heavily favored Galanuel over me.

So before the match began, I cast another skill.

‘!’

[Target’s Dice: 90, 4]

[Notice. Target difficulty is 94.]

[Player’s Dice: 60, 6]

[Notice. Adding skill’s base modifier: +137]

[Notice. Adding Willpower modifier: +28]

[Notice. Relationship is hostile: -20]

[Notice. Adding difference in Intelligence scores: +10]

[Notice. Adding difference in Charm scores: -5]

[Notice. Subtracting target’s resistance: -81]

[Notice. Dice roll result: 41, success.]

[Notice. Skill successfully used.]

I had been repeatedly using on Galanuel every time I encountered him.

By stacking up base modifiers in advance, I could pierce through his high resistance and any possible bad dice rolls like this.

“Begin the duel!”

The thought I sent to Galanuel struck at a certain background weakness of his.

So, even though Medes declared the start of the duel, Galanuel froze in shock and couldn’t move.

‘!’

[Player’s Dice: 50, 1]

[Notice. Dice roll result: 51, success.]

[Notice. Skill successfully used.]

Kwaaaang! Shururururuk—.

[Target’s Dice: 70, 0]

[Notice. Target difficulty is 70.]

[Player’s Dice: 30, 9]

[Notice. Adding situational modifier: +10]

[Notice. Adding difference in Perception scores (summon vs. target): +14]

[Notice. Adding summon’s Dexterity: +22]

From beneath my feet, massive vines surged forward toward Galanuel.

Quickly regaining his composure, Galanuel used to summon a in a line before him, like a row of dominos.

Crash! Crack! Snap!

[Notice. Subtracting additional modifier based on target’s ability: -20]

[Notice. Dice roll result: -5, failure.]

[Notice. Attack missed.]

My smashed through Galanuel’s but eventually became entangled with them and came to a halt.

Through my soul synchronization, I could sense that there were barely three elf-hand spans left between the vines and Galanuel.

‘A pity, but this was within expectations.’

I was already out of Galanuel’s direct line of sight, crossbow loaded and ready.

Meanwhile, Galanuel had lost track of me, his view blocked by the and .

Thunk—.

[Target’s Dice: 40, 8]

[Notice. Target difficulty is 48.]

[Player’s Dice: 20, 3]

[Notice. Adding situational modifier: +30]

[Notice. Adding difference in Perception scores (player vs. target): -3]

[Notice. Adding player’s Dexterity: +6]

[Notice. Adding effect of : -10]

[Notice. Adding effect of : +10]

Swaeek—!

The crossbow bolt shot toward Galanuel like lightning.

However—

[Notice. Subtracting additional modifier based on target’s ability: -10]

[Notice. Dice roll result: -2, failure.]

[Notice. Attack missed.]

Nyaang!

Galanuel’s shadow surged up, transforming into something like a cat, and snatched the bolt out of the air.

‘A shadow cat? That’s a summon I didn’t know about.’

The shadow cat was a creature that lived by parasitizing the shadows of other beings, a close relative of the shadow leopard that had attacked me at the breeding grounds not long ago.

With an average total level of about 11, it would have been easy for it to block my attack, which was only level 4.

But I had already accounted for the possibility that Galanuel might have unexpected defensive measures.

Swaeek—.

Nya?

[Target’s Dice … … … Inflicts 18 damage. Additional Effect: Dizziness]

Thwack!

“Kyaaak!”

Even the agile shadow cat couldn’t react to the immediate follow-up attack.

Right after pulling the crossbow’s trigger, I had taken out a sling hidden in my sleeve and swung it furiously.

While the shadow cat was focused on the bolt, a stone flew toward Galanuel.

It struck his unprotected temple.

The damage wasn’t enough to activate the necklace’s effect, but I had succeeded in physically rattling Galanuel’s mind.

“Uwaaah!”

“Galanuel actually took the first hit!”

While Galanuel was stunned, I poured mana into both my hands.

On each of my hands, I wore I’d gotten from Achelian.

Three layers on each hand.

These gloves allowed the user to summon and control a level-10 “Wooden Golem” once per day.

The best part was that they consumed no MP or control points from the user.

Since AaA was a game, most equipment could be shared among all races.

That meant there were no size restrictions—armor worn by a small goblin could be used by a huge troll.

But here, where the game had become reality, things were different.

Each race crafted equipment to fit their own body type.

So on my hands, I was wearing, in order, human, elf, and troll gloves layered over each other.

Thanks to Dicendel’s penalty trait , my hands were smaller than those of a typical elf, making this bizarre setup possible.

Woom— woom—.

Six large, spherical, translucent dimensional gates opened behind me, and wooden golems a head taller than elves stepped out.

Creak-creak—.

I picked up the crossbow from the ground and leapt back behind the golem squad.

Then I began cranking the winch again with effort.

“Heh— ahaha. So you layered ? You really came prepared.”

Whip— smack!

By then, Galanuel had recovered and lashed out with his whip.

Dozens of large and small dimensional gates instantly formed around him.

Woom— woom— woooom— woom—.

Seen from the enemy’s perspective, it was an incredibly overwhelming sight.

The reason Galanuel could handle that many summons all by himself was because of the power of the “Controller” class.

A Controller was a class obtainable only by having over thirty summons at once.

It allowed you to learn the overpowered skill , which reduced the control cost of each summon by 1 point.

Galanuel had obtained the Controller class as early as total level 2, and since then, he had been able to command that many summons simultaneously.

“Of course, you do know that such tools are inferior to direct summoning in both command precision and battle endurance, right? Especially with puppets like these.”

From beyond the gates emerged all manner of familiar beasts, creatures, and spirits.

The supposed “one-on-one duel” was turning into an all-out “many-on-many battle.”

However—

“…Huh? What’s this?”

Out of the dozens of dimensional gates Galanuel had created, all but eleven remained silent.