Chapter 22: Training Before the Fire
Dan's POV
Only an hour and a half remained before the preliminary rounds for each Sector district began. Unfortunately for us, there was another guild registered under Central City—meaning we had to defeat them first to officially become the representatives of our area.
Our opponent? A guild known as Black Pantheon.
Their lineup consisted entirely of long-range players—snipers, gunners, elemental casters, and even artillery-type summoners. Notably, the guild was led by a rising star in the PvP community, a female player with the IGN: Amaterasu.
She was a human race gunner, wielding the rare Ultimate Sub-Class Speed Shooter, and had built her character around Dex and Int, maximizing evasion, accuracy, and sheer firepower. In just a short span since she joined Enigma Online PH, she'd skyrocketed to Rank 25, defeating many of the current rankers in PvP one-on-one matches and stealing their titles.
She's the kind of player who lives and breathes PvP.
And I know her.
Not just in-game.
Her real name? Canon Summers—daughter of a high-ranking officer in a Central City military facility. We've crossed paths before in real life... not friends, not enemies—just familiar strangers.
Knowing that our first match would be against a guild full of long-range damagers, our party started preparing accordingly. That meant adjusting stats, fixing builds, and assigning roles strategically.
I personally reset my build to maximize my role as both an assaulter and killer.
My updated stats were as follows:
IGN: Slicer_DM
Level: 200
Race: Human
Class: Blademaster
Ultimate Sub-Class: Holy Blader
Stat Points Earned: 995
HP: 37,400
MP: 6,540
SP: 4,085
DEF: 6,615
STR: 120
DEX: 525
INT: 335
VIT: 125
ATK: 24,900
Dodge/Evasion: 5,410
Movement Speed: +50% (Total: 1,675)
Elemental Resistances (All): 100 base + 2,075 bonus
Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Wind, Electric, Poison
My primary attributes were Dex and Int—so I had high evasion, solid long-range attack coverage, and surprisingly good magic resistance. I was built like a frontline assassin hybrid, capable of dashing in and out while tanking elemental damage.
To squeeze out even more potential, I took on a few small-time NPC quests solo for bonus stat points. Most players ignore these, but I wasn't about to waste any free advantages.
Quest list:
Defeat 50 Lone Lions (Lv. 20)
Defeat 100 Desert Scorpions (Lv. 40)
Collect 50 Blue Magical Herbs
These were beginner-tier missions, sure, but each one rewarded extra stat points. I had skipped these in my early grind and focused on leveling instead. Time to cash in on what I missed.
The plan? Funnel everything into Dex to make myself even more busted. Everyone in the party was optimizing right now—either for damage, survivability, or speed.
I walked into a newbie training house nearby to level up some of my underused—but essential—skills.
Skills I planned to grind:
Black Dragon Flame (Lv. 2) – Long-range, dark flame elemental, 1-hit skill.
Vanishing Strike (Lv. 6) – My first weapon dash skill.
Regolus Impact (Lv. 5) – Heavy long-range ultimate attack.
Guardian Push (Lv. 6) – Breaks enemy field magic.
Sword Explosion (Lv. 4) – AOE with restraining effect.
Holy Stab (Lv. 3) – Another 1-hit finisher.
Out of 30 usable skill slots, most of mine were already maxed or buffs. These were the ones I needed to polish before the match.
"How may I help you, young warrior?" asked the NPC trainer, Aguitar, as I entered the lobby.
"I just want to train," I replied.
"Good timing! We've got multiple fields available," he said cheerfully, gesturing toward rows of training dummies in a straw-filled yard.
Perfect. The place was filled with low to high-level players grinding like crazy. I summoned my weapon—Black Flame Sword+7—and took position.
"Vanishing Strike!"
In a blink, I dashed toward a cluster of five straw dummies, vanishing mid-air, only to reappear behind them with five clean slash marks. One-hit kills.
Whispers started around me.
"Wait… isn't that Shadow?"
"That's Slicer! It's really him!"
"Woah, he's fast..."
Great. Now I had an audience.
Still, I ignored them and focused. Next skill.
"Black Dragon Flame!"
My blade erupted in seething black fire, drawing gasps from onlookers. Like I was putting on a stage show. The infernal flame swept across the field, vaporizing 30 dummies in a single strike.
I followed it up with a flurry of chained skills—aiming to hit 500 kills within 30 minutes, which would earn me a hefty bonus.
I pushed hard. By the time the dust settled, I'd taken out 673 dummies.
Not bad at all.
Aguitar approached me, handing over my training rewards.
Stat Rewards:
STR +7
DEX +5
INT +3
VIT +5
SP +50
That was 20 stat points—roughly equal to four levels. Totally worth the sweat.
"Not bad," I muttered, sheathing my blade with a satisfied smirk.
"Show-off much... tss," came a sharp, cold voice from behind.
I turned, and there she was. Canon Summers—Amaterasu herself.
So she was watching.
Good thing I had my mask on. No way she'd recognize me.
"Excuse me?" I said coolly as I stepped closer.
"I said, you're such a show-off," she snapped.
Rude as always. Some things never change.
"You think so?" I replied with a raised brow. "FYI, Miss Amaterasu—I'm grinding my skills and stat points before a major fight. If you think that's showing off, then maybe you shouldn't be watching."
I leaned in a little closer, eyes locked.
"The training area door is wide open. You're free to leave anytime."
Let her stew in her own irritation. She was the one who started it. I don't take hits without throwing one back.
---
Ayana's POV
Only an hour left until the preliminary matches per Sector. Everyone was busy preparing—adjusting stats, grinding skills, optimizing builds. For my guild we're just killing time and will regroup at the Village of Light when it's time for the matches.
Right now, I was online with Slicer, Shion, Verillion, and Accel, but we each went our separate ways to focus.
My current stats:
IGN: Ayana
Level: 200
Race: Human
Class: Caster
Ultimate Sub-Class: Summoner Mage
HP: 30,150
MP: 10,140
SP: 4,130
DEF: 5,665
STR: 220
DEX: 120
INT: 685
VIT: 60
ATK: 26,800
Evasion: 1,250
Movement Speed: 360 + 50% + 30%
Magic Resistances (All): 100 base + 3,570 bonus
Fire, Ice, Water, Wind, Earth, Electric, Poison
I went for a full Intelligence build—perfect for high damage spells and summon support.
Right now, I was wandering around the Frontier Village Plaza, just enjoying the virtual breeze and taking a walk. I wasn't in the mood for farming or PvP. I needed peace.
I passed by the training tavern where Slicer was supposedly grinding. From outside, I noticed a huge crowd forming.
Naturally, I eavesdropped.
"Seriously?!" gasped a female archer nearby. "Amaterasu challenged Shadow to a duel?"
What?!
Slicer versus the Guild Leader of Black Pantheon?!
Without hesitation, I pushed past the crowd, heart racing.
"Excuse me, let me through!" I called out, weaving between Black Pantheon guild members.
---
Chapter Continuation: Duel of Shadows and Thunder
Amaterasu was clearly a gunner-type player—agility and intelligence-based. It was obvious from her movements. Her skill casts were lightning-fast, and she dashed around the battlefield with ease, evading even the tightest attacks. She mercilessly unleashed her long-ranged skills on Slicer, but he dodged them effortlessly.
It looked like Slicer's dodge stats had improved significantly with his new build. Not bad! His dodge rate might've even surpassed Zaphro's, and Zaphro was a Strength/Dex type.
"Rapid Fire Strike!" Amaterasu shouted as she fired off another fast skill toward Slicer.
I thought she was aiming directly at him—but no. She targeted the terrain around him, causing controlled explosions that boxed him into a corner.
"Magnetic Discharge!" she followed up with a lightning-element skill. Because of the first attack's terrain damage, Slicer couldn't escape in time.
Amaterasu was around 50 meters away, and yet her skill struck with perfect accuracy. I saw Slicer fly back at least ten meters, lightning sparks crackling around his body as he stood up. His HP had dropped to about 80%. But instead of backing down, Slicer charged straight at Amaterasu without hesitation.
He darted through her rain of bullets, avoiding most of them except for the weapon skills. His movement was faster than hers, allowing him to close the distance and land two clean normal attacks.
But... why only normal attacks?
Then it hit me—Slicer's body was still wrapped in residual lightning energy. That must've been an effect from Amaterasu's previous skill, disabling his ability to use active skills temporarily. However, Amaterasu made a mistake—she underestimated Slicer's weapon. It reduced elemental resistance by 50% on hit and had a 25% chance to deal a critical blow. Plus, Slicer's passive skill slowed enemy movement when in close range.
"My turn!" Slicer said with a grin.
As a ranged type, Amaterasu needed distance to effectively retaliate. But Slicer stayed glued to her, making it hard for her to fight back.
He landed several strikes while keeping the pressure up. When the lightning debuff finally faded, Slicer moved even faster. His black blade lit up, and in an instant—he vanished from Amaterasu's sight.
Boom!
A shockwave ripped through the air. A series of slash marks carved into Amaterasu's armor. She let out a strained scream from the damage. But Slicer wasn't done yet.
"Regolus Impact!" His left fist glowed with golden light—a Holy Blader skill that resembled a caster-type beam attack.
It struck Amaterasu squarely, sending her flying toward a wall. But before impact, she managed to release another skill—three mini missile-like projectiles that pursued Slicer relentlessly.
She crashed into the wall, hit the ground hard, and didn't get up right away.
Meanwhile, Slicer dodged two missiles, but the third caught him off-guard. He barely raised his Seismic Barrier in time to block it.
Ding! A loud bell rang.
Duel Result: Draw.
The time limit expired. Neither player had fallen.
Whew… My heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest.
"Hey! You wandered off on your own and picked a fight!" I called out as I approached Slicer. He was sitting on the ground, catching his breath.
"Asus. You were worried about me, weren't you?" he said with a smirk.
I raised a brow, then shoved him back down. "You're lucky you're still breathing."
"Hey! You!" Amaterasu's voice cut through the moment.
I frowned and turned to her. "Can you not yell?"
"I'm not talking to you, so get lost!" she snapped.
This girl was seriously pushing it.
"You were fighting my guildmate! I have every right to step in. And if you're looking for a fight, save it for the tournament!"
"Tch. What are you, Shadow's girlfriend? This was between us. The guild has nothing to do with it. Or do you want to fight me next?"
Oh, that's it. That's the second time she's called me that. I'm really going to—
'Who are you to Shadow?'
'Who are you to Shadow?'
Wait a second… Why does that keep echoing in my head?
Ugh. So annoying.
What am I to Slicer? Easy—friend, guildmate. Nothing more, right? Haller! He's not even my type! Che!
I can't believe I got dragged into a fight because of that idiot.
Flashback...
"Excuse me!" I said, raising a brow at Amaterasu. "I'm his friend. And if you're looking for a duel, I won't back down."
"Very well then. Let's fight." Her eyes narrowed, and she sent me a duel request.
"What type? Aerial, land, or both?" I asked while eyeing the invite.
"Both. Doesn't matter." she said, confident.
I accepted.
"Hey Shadow! Get out of the way unless you want to get caught in the crossfire!" I yelled.
"Fine, relax!" Slicer raised both hands and slowly walked off. Before leaving, he whispered to me:
"You got this. I'll give you a reward if you beat her."
...A reward? What reward?!
The countdown had started.
9... 8... 7... 6... 5...
I summoned my Arcana's Scepter +10 and cast defense and speed buffs.
4... 3... 2... 1...
Fight!
Amaterasu immediately unleashed a barrage with her dual rifles. Her speed was no joke—I couldn't dodge everything, but my defensive buffs absorbed most of it.
Her weapon's lightning-based, but lucky me—I had high lightning resistance.
I summoned Sol and Aquanos, elemental spirits of fire and water, to act as decoys.
"Raging Fire!"
"Water Bullets!"
As expected, Amaterasu darted away from them—totally ignoring me. Perfect. I blinked behind her.
"Poison Ivy!" I cast a nature-based poison skill aimed at her back. But just as I did—
"Percussive Slug!"
Six bullet-like slugs fired from her rifles. Two of them curved—locked onto my position!
Crap! They hit me, just as my poison skill hit her. Her skill also neutralized my summons' attacks.
Aghhh…!
I gritted my teeth. My back and leg stung from the hit.
She wasn't unscathed either—my poison skill wounded her arms and legs.
"She's wide open…!"
"Sol! Aquanos! Full Strike!" I commanded.
My summons charged in with their ultimate skills.
I took to the air using flight mode, my legs numb from her earlier attack.
I watched as Amaterasu stood firm, waiting—then her body glowed.
A self-buff.
QuickSilver.
She blurred forward. In an instant, she closed the distance between her and my summons.
"Hyper Soul Shot!"
A powerful shot exploded from behind them, vaporizing them both.
Then she zipped toward me like a lightning bolt. Thankfully, my blink was off cooldown—I blinked away just in time.
"Lightning Strike!" I shouted, sending an elemental blast at her.
She dodged again. Still too fast.
"Got you!" I gasped—she was suddenly in front of me.
What the—?! She's too fast!
She combined her dual rifles into one long rifle.
"Pinning Shot!"
A shot rang out, and I couldn't avoid it—
(Duel of Fate — Ayana vs. Amaterasu)
My HP had dropped to 47% from the damage I'd taken…
"You really talk big for someone who's losing!" Amaterasu said with a smug smile. "I'll end this now!" she declared, her hands already charging up a skill.
"Bloody Shot!"
A crimson beam surged toward me from her weapon like a lance of death. If that skill hit, the duel was over—I'd lose for sure.
.
But I'm not the type to go down that easily. Sorry, Amaterasu.
"Grand Summon: Twin Guardian Pisces!" I cast the incantation in an instant.
Two elemental spearmen made entirely of water materialized in front of me, forming a defensive wall. The beam collided with them, dispersing into harmless sparks.
"Grand Summon: Guardian of the Scale, Libra!"
A shimmering zodiac warrior emerged behind me, holding a massive golden scale. Libra's presence alone felt heavy—as if the battlefield shifted with the gravity he commanded.
"Libra, use Gravity Bind on Amaterasu!"
.
Libra's eyes glowed a faint indigo as he pointed the sacred scale toward my opponent.
Gravity Bind!
In the blink of an eye, Amaterasu collapsed onto the ground like she'd been struck with an invisible weight. The force pinned her hard enough to partially bury her in the earth.
.
"Arcana's Curse!"
I activated my weapon's special effect, paralyzing her with a burst of cursed energy. Her movements froze instantly.
Her HP was still at 72%, but now… the momentum had shifted in my favor.
A player who can't move? That's practically a target dummy.
.
"Dark Bloom!"
I unleashed my next skill without hesitation, a surge of dark energy bursting from my hand and hitting her dead-on. The explosion tore through the terrain around her.
.
"Pisces, go for a frontal assault! Libra, keep up the pressure!"
My twin spearmen charged forward, their tridents aimed at the immobilized Amaterasu. Libra stood back, his scale still aimed at her, maintaining the gravitational lock. She couldn't dodge. She couldn't counter.
.
As for me, I couldn't use any more skills. That was the restriction of this particular combo—after summoning both Pisces and Libra, I could only cast one S-class skill during their three-minute summon window. The rest of my offense would have to come from standard attacks.
.
I didn't waste a second.
"Hyahhh!" I rushed in, gripping my scepter like a baseball bat and swung it with full force into her side. It wasn't elegant, but it was effective.
"Libra, cast Focal Point now!"
Libra's eyes gleamed once more as he raised the golden scale high.
Focal Point—the ultimate technique of Libra.
It consumed 50% of his MP and turned the target into a gravitational epicenter. Everything within range—rocks, earth, debris—was pulled in at immense speed, forming a crushing mass over the target.
.
Because I was standing within Libra's neutral zone, I wasn't affected. I watched as the mountain of debris rose around Amaterasu, burying her under an avalanche of massive boulders.
The ground shook, and soon, a gigantic floating sphere of rock hovered above us.
Then—cracks formed. The sphere slowly began to break apart.
From within the cracked stone prison, a figure emerged.
.
DING!
A bell rang loud and clear across the battlefield.
Duel Result: Ayana Wins!
I froze for a moment, unable to believe it.
I thought I'd lose—honestly, I was sure of it. Her speed was unmatched, and I couldn't keep up in a direct fight. But in terms of pure resistance, damage output, and summon synergy… I had the edge.
Good thing I'm a summoner.
.
I dropped to my knees, finally feeling the pain I'd been ignoring during the fight. I clung to Libra's leg for support.
Now that the duel was over, my stats were recovering fast, but the aftershock of her focused bullet-like hits still lingered. It seriously felt like I'd been hit by a real gun.
.
"Hey! You alright?"
I heard a familiar voice beside me—Slicer. He rushed to my side and caught me just as the last of my summons disappeared into thin air.
"Thanks, but I'm fine," I said, pulling away and standing up straight, though my body protested with every movement.
I turned to look at Amaterasu's direction. Her guildmates had surrounded her now. Even from a distance, I could tell—she was hurting too. My combo had done more damage than she'd expected.
.
A few minutes passed before she approached us.
"You just got lucky," she said coldly. "You caught me off guard with your abilities. Don't expect that to happen again."
Without waiting for a reply, she walked past us, her guild following close behind. The way they glared at us, you'd think we had started the fight.
Excuse me? Your guild threw the first punch! Bunch of hypocrites.
.
"See you at the tournament, Slicer," Amaterasu said with a loaded tone, casting one last glance at us before walking off.
.
End of Flashback…
.
I still don't know what's up with those two…
Do they know each other in real life?