abcnovels
Chapter 189: Team (9)
Chapter 189: Team (9)
Jake was lying flat on the ground.
He couldn't move.
It wasn't because his stamina had fallen so low that lifting a finger was like a herculean effort. His limbs were pinned to the ground by arrows lining up each limb like bolts.
He was also getting sober.
'I remember the start and the end of this spar with Viktor. I have a few foggy memories in between, but if I practice my movements while trying to blow them away, I'll be able to turn all my skills into a muscle memory!' Jake thought. His disrespectful attitude toward Viktor didn't weigh on him because it couldn't be entirely pinned on him.
He was drunk when he said those mean things.
Viktor should have expected that, and he also punished Jake enough for this insolence. Just looking at Jake showed that he'd been beaten to a pulp and punished more than enough.
Those arrows hurt him, and he was sentenced to think about his behavior until he was entirely sober.
'I don't know if I will be able to learn other skills as fast as The Rapid Release, but I'll be much faster than others by turning my other skills into muscle memories. It feels awesome to bring out arrows on command!' Jake also didn't bother himself with what his drunk self had done.
He was in his own world.
'That was some crazy movement, though,' Jake thought as he recalled glimpses of his moves against Viktor. His new bow seemed to have facilitated his drunk self much more.
But even that wasn't enough against Viktor, as he could push Jake away with kicks.
If that wasn't possible, he'd change his spot with his movement skill.
The gap was like a canyon, but Jake didn't get unmotivated by that in the slightest.
'I'll have to practice while sober now… when will he take off those arrows?' Jake thought.
Viktor was nowhere to be seen, and so was Master Aaron.
It was cold, way too cold by them!
Jake summoned his companions to eviscerate from this predicament. The four of them weren't confused by Jake's appearance, as the drunk self had used their power against Viktor.
These little ones could understand that Jake was different because of something…
…and that he had pissed Viktor beyond boundaries. Even Medusa didn't mention Viktor and only focused on helping Jake.
It was difficult to free him as Viktor used a lot of strength and unique arrows to imprison him.
The power of friendship, however, soon proved to be enough to free Jake.
Jake stood up, healed his wounds with a potion, and waited for his stamina to refill before starting the second phase of his new training routine.
'Let's do it,' Jake thought.
-
The next day, Jake received a call from SWalker.
These two met outside the Last Night.
They walked on the main road whose one of ends ended in the capital's mouth.
It was sunny, warm, and pretty nice.
SWalker smiled, "I'll join your team."
"Will that be okay?" Jake asked.
It wasn't easy to imagine SWalker's problem, as Jake's family was very different. His father even accepted that the game positively impacted Jake and offered him his support.
SWalker's case was completely the opposite.
It could be said that these two families were like fire and water.
SWalker faintly smiled, "I'll be fine because we will win. We'll win the tournament and become the first team to win the lowest division of The Legend Enigma Online's Esports scene."
He didn't want his family to hinder his happiness.
His upbringing caused him to be so uptight and formal, but deep inside, SWalker was like a caged bird, waiting for his chance to spread his wings and be free.
He'd been momentarily freed once.
It was during his battle against Jake.
He shouted, smiled like a beast, and threw himself into the fervor of excitement and battle.
It was fun.
"I don't fault my parent's upbringing. It taught me a lot. I want to find that balance and be content with myself. I reckon that taking this risk is the first step to that happiness. I'll be in your care, Captain."
"I am a captain?" Jake asked, wearing a faint smile.
"It can't be anyone else," SWalker said. "Others will agree with me."
"Well, so far, we have you, Shaw, and El Boss Queen," Jake said. "I'll contact a tank and a healer soon."
"You have really taken that lawless woman?" SWalker asked, bewilderment written on his face.
Jake nodded. "She's a mad dog who will create opportunities for us. She should be a dangerous asset against physical-related classes."
"I see," SWalker nodded after hearing Jake's explanation. "What about Coin?"
"He's being held back… by himself," Jake replied.
"Leave him to me," SWalker said.
-
"You want to participate," SWalker said.
Last Coin sat on the chair in his workplace, his head hanging down. He was looking at the floor, seemingly absentminded and lost.
SWalker's words were correct.
Last Coin wanted to participate. But it was so difficult to overcome the trauma.
He imagined thousands of viewers turning into those bullies from the middle school and them pointing their fingers at him. They'd use the same words and level him with the ground.
"It will happen," SWalker said, "You will get overwhelmed by the crowd. I think the announcer will say the exact number of viewers before the battles."
Last Coin paled.
SWalker continued, "And I believe you will conquer that fear at the scene and turn it into your weapon. You will conquer it not once but often because we plan to win everything. We believe in that."
It would have been better for SWalker to say that this mental fortitude wouldn't be enough against Archer in the future.
Archer didn't seem to have problems with the crowds and even talked back to them. His charisma was so much different that he was clearly confident in himself.
SWalker didn't want to stoop over to this level, though.
He understood how difficult it was to change.
That was why he'd decided to spend much time with Last Coin and build his confidence.
"Let's spar," he said.
Last Coin weakly nodded.
At the end of that day, Last Coin squeezed those words from the bottom of his heart.
"I'll participate."
"I look forward to working with you, Coin."
"We'll win."
"Of course."