Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 112

113

“Alright, alright. It’s the second team’s turn to go out. Lynn! Violet! Follow me.”

At Bumseok’s call, Lynn and Violet put on their helmets and grabbed their respective weapons. They closely followed behind him, heading towards the entrance tunnel.

‘I have to do well today. So I can get Master’s recognition.’

As it was their first match as gladiators of God’s Knights, their faces were filled with determination. They needed to show their skills to their master, Bumseok. He had spent a fortune to buy them, so they had to perform accordingly. That was the attitude of a professional gladiator and the duty of an elf serving their master.

However, Bumseok didn’t have high expectations for Lynn and Violet today. They were, at best, area-level professional gladiators. He didn’t expect them to live up to their tens of millions of krang [currency] price tag.

“Lynn, Violet. Don’t overdo it today. Just faithfully perform the role of the newly assigned position and understand the characteristics of our team well, so you can figure out what you need to do in the future. If you act recklessly and fall into a disabled state, there’s no point in participating today. Got it?”

Lynn and Violet nodded simultaneously. Having spent two years as professional gladiators, they fully understood what his order meant.

“Yes, Master.”

“Good. Then go back to your respective positions and prepare your fighting spirit before the match.”

“Yes.”

They answered briefly and went to stand in line where their position colleagues were gathered. Bumseok also returned to the veteran’s position and waited for the match to begin. He was participating in the match today to observe Lynn and Violet, so he couldn’t be on the front lines, engaging in fierce battles with the opponents.

Shortly after, the in-stadium broadcast announced the signal to enter.

– Now. Both teams, please come to the center of the arena.

The fans’ relaxed cheers were heard as the God’s Knights gladiators entered the arena in unison.

“God’s Knights. Take it easy. It’s not good to see you massacre the weak!”

“Oh Bumseok! Why are you coming out as the second team! Do you have to discourage the already weak kids!”

It seemed like a request to go easy on them, but in reality, it was a tactic to provoke the opposing team’s visiting fans. The gladiator fans of Lima City were often hot-tempered and frequently provoked the visiting teams in this way.

Bumseok, who was well aware of this, gestured and urged them to restrain themselves. There was no good reason to start a fight.

– Now. All the gladiators are facing each other in front of the central city. The second round of the sixth match will begin with the whistle signal. It remains to be seen which team will win today’s match and advance to the seventh match.

As soon as the announcer’s words were finished, the second round began with the whistle.

Wow! Wow!

‘When are they going to charge in?’

Violet, standing at the front, carefully observed the actions of her fellow front-line gladiators. They were all elves who had been gladiators in Dragon Knights for a long time, making them good role models for Violet, who was new to the front-line position. She gripped the sword handle tightly, looking for an opportunity to follow them across the river at any moment.

However, the other front-liners didn’t seem to have any intention of crossing the city and were only observing the enemy camp.

“Hey. Something seems strange. Let’s assess the situation first.”

“Yeah. It seems like they’re hiding something.”

Violet, who overheard their conversation, examined the formation of Natural Fairies.

‘What? Why are they forming a phalanx [a close-ranked body of troops]?’

The formation that the opposing team was currently forming was surprisingly a phalanx. It was a team tactic that boasted extreme offensive power, even more so than the wedge formation, and was occasionally used when the team had a significantly superior force or when victory was absolutely required. It was definitely not a formation that Natural Fairies, whose power was greatly reduced at the start of the second round, would adopt.

‘Is it really a phalanx? There’s no way they would form such a formation.’

Six gladiators arranged in a triangular shape at the front, followed by four gladiators in a horizontal line behind them. And finally, two sword-and-shield users attached to the tail, forming a complete arrow shape. It was definitely a phalanx. If so, the opposing team would try to cross the river, break through God’s Knights’ formation, and then rush straight towards the leader, Erpina.

However, this phalanx had a major weakness. While it boasted the most powerful attack thanks to the six front-liners, it was vulnerable to leader protection because there was only one rear guard and four midfielders supporting them. If the opposing team’s surprise squad bypassed and attacked the rear guard, their leader could end up being attacked.

Unable to understand, Violet approached a blonde colleague in the front line and asked a question.

“Sister, what are they doing right now?”

“Well, I don’t know either, but one thing is for sure. They haven’t launched an attack yet and are just observing the situation, so they’re waiting for our front-liners to come over.”

“And if we go over?”

“Then they’ll ignore our front-liners, cross the river, and target Captain Erpina. Without the front line, the formation they have to break through will be that much thinner.”

Violet tilted her head. As she said, if the front line went over, God’s Knights’ formation would definitely become thinner. However, they still had powerful forces like Bumseok, Erica, and Erpina remaining. There was no way they would be easily breached as they intended.

“But there’s no way we’ll be defeated, right?”

“Of course not. But there’s no harm in being careful.”

At that moment, Bumseok, who was closely behind, examined the formation of Natural Fairies and stepped forward. It was clear that they were hiding something. They were employing a modified phalanx, not a standard one. When he checked the numbers on their backs, the front-liners were actually in the midfield, and the ones who should have been in the midfield were in the front line.

“Everyone, be careful. They definitely have a hidden agenda.”

The front-liners, including Violet, nodded and carefully watched the front, leading the game loosely. If they moved carelessly without knowing the opponent’s intentions, they could be the ones to be attacked.

However, the Natural Fairies gladiators who were participating now were weak forces belonging to the second team among the reserves of the second team. Since the time for one round was limited to 20 minutes, they couldn’t just drag out the time against them.

Violet looked at Bumseok and said.

“What should we do? They don’t seem to have any intention of moving.”

He looked at the clock on the scoreboard and let out a long sigh. Five minutes had already passed in a stalemate. It seemed that Natural Fairies had no intention of crossing over, so they had to go over themselves. In other words, they had to fall into the opponent’s intentions.

‘I have no choice. We can’t just waste time like this and end up in a draw.’

Bumseok signaled the front-liners to cross the river and shouted to the midfielders.

“Alright. Prepare yourselves. Something is definitely coming!”

The God’s Knights’ front-liners jumped over the city all at once. The Natural Fairies gladiators could have attacked them, but they completely ignored them and crossed the city in reverse. In the meantime, the leader gladiator abandoned all her equipment and ran away, and the only rear guard, number 23, who should have been protecting her, abandoned her shield and joined the attack squad.

A raging charge of 11 people.

Bumseok made a dumbfounded expression and straightened his sword. He couldn’t understand the fact that everyone was attacking, leaving the leader alone. Now, the Natural Fairies’ leader gladiator had to be attacked by three front-liners, including Violet.

“Okay! Midfielders, do as planned!”

As soon as the 7th gladiator shouted, the midfielders of Natural Fairies, who were running at the front, threw all their weapons on the ground. Bumseok scoffed at the incomprehensible behavior, but soon the situation changed drastically. The four midfielders were diving in with their bare bodies, tackling them.

He hurriedly swung his sword and accurately struck the head of the 13th gladiator who was rushing in, but he couldn’t stop the physical force of the charge. He was grabbed by her arms and fell backward. And this phenomenon was happening all over the God’s Knights’ midfield formation. Erica, Mirle, Lilith Emma, Lynn, and others were being attacked by the opponent’s suicidal tackles and were either knocked to the ground or unable to move.

The six front-liners who passed through this gap swung their swords towards the rear where Erpina was located. Polia stood in front with her shield, but she was grabbed by the tackle of the only opposing team’s rear guard, number 23, and pushed aside, falling over like a collapsing tree.

Now, only Venus and Erpina were left. God’s Knights were facing a desperate moment.

Clang. Bang! Bang!

Continuous barrage of sounds. Venus and Erpina, who were being attacked by as many as six front-liners, continued to retreat, but they were holding on. And Bumseok and the other God’s Knights gladiators, who had been tackled and fallen to the ground, got up again and raised their swords to join the fight.

Seeing this, the 7th gladiator shouted to all her colleagues.

“What are you doing! Everyone, rush in!”

Then, the gladiators who had attempted the tackles and had not fallen into a state of incapacitation continued to reach out and grab the feet of the other God’s Knights gladiators, and two of the front-liners simultaneously tackled Venus and pushed her back. This opened the way for Erpina, and two of the remaining four front-liners threw themselves and grabbed both of her arms tightly.

And just as a sharp sword strike was about to hit Erpina’s abdomen, a loud metallic sound rang out and sparks flew in all directions. Bumseok, who had already incapacitated the 13th gladiator before the tackle, had rushed in and blocked it.

He immediately swung his sword at the 32nd and 27th gladiators who were holding Erpina. However, it was not easy. Two opposing gladiators were attacking him from behind.

Clang. Clang! Clang!

While Bumseok was engaged in a fierce battle, Erpina twisted her body and bounced away, struggling to shake off the 32nd and 27th gladiators who were holding her. However, they had even abandoned their weapons and were holding Erpina tightly. Naturally, it was not an easy task.

“Get out of the way!”

Thud! Thud!

The two Natural Fairies’ front-liners who had tackled Venus were knocked back. She had struck the abdomens of the two who were clinging to her with the edge of her shield.

Fortunately, she was covering her body with two large tower shields, which made it difficult to tackle her accurately. Thanks to this, she was able to check the tacklers in a free state, and she was able to seize the current opportunity. And although she was caught off guard and pushed back, she was not someone who could be overpowered by two shabby gladiators.

“Venus! Good job. Come here quickly and help Erpina!”

At Bumseok’s urgent cry, Venus hurriedly ran over. And she swung her shield at the back of the head of the 32nd gladiator who was holding Erpina’s right arm.

As a chilling sound of air being torn was heard, the 32nd gladiator quickly released her arm and stepped aside. Although it was a shield attack, it contained such a strong force that she risked falling into a state of incapacitation if she was hit properly. It was better to step back and wait for the next opportunity. She picked up a short sword that had fallen on the ground and confronted Venus.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

In the meantime, Erpina, whose right arm was freed, swung her sword at the 27th gladiator who was holding her left arm and knocked her away. Then, she immediately rushed in and began to attack.

Bumseok, who glanced at this scene, let out a long sigh of relief. He knew that he had escaped the crisis. Although he was still being attacked by a combined force of six Natural Fairies gladiators, he believed that he, Erpina, and Venus could handle them sufficiently. Moreover, the God’s Knights’ midfielders, who had cleared the surroundings, were quickly coming to support.

“Everyone! Quickly help Erpina and Master!”

Erica, who had defeated the 23rd gladiator who had played the role of the initial tackler, stood by Bumseok’s side with Lynn. Now it was a 5-on-6 situation. Since they were not outnumbered, he was able to fight in a much more comfortable state.

Clang. Clang. Clang. Bang.

“Aaaaaah!”

The 27th gladiator fell with a sharp scream. She had been struck in the back of the head by Lynn’s glaive [a pole weapon]. At the same time, Bumseok also split the waist of the 4th gladiator, one of the final attackers, putting her in a state of incapacitation. This phenomenon was happening all around, and the Natural Fairies’ surprise attack was gradually being suppressed. And soon after, the whistle signaling the end of the match filled the arena. The front-liners, including Violet, had succeeded in capturing the opposing team’s leader gladiator. No matter how much she abandoned her weapon and ran away, she could not escape Violet’s agility, which had a combined stat of over 90.

Wow!

The cheers of the audience spread throughout the stands. Although they had lost, the Natural Fairies gladiators seemed amazing for presenting such a crisis to God’s Knights.

Bumseok felt the same way, and he couldn’t stop a burst of laughter for a long time. No matter how much you can’t know the outcome until the end of the match, it was absurd to be humiliated by the second team of the second team of the lowest-ranked team in the pro league. Fortunately, they had won, but if they hadn’t, they would have recorded a match that would have remained a lifelong shame today.

============================ Author’s Afterword ============================

Ah. I have one apology to make. I have to go to the warm south for an overnight trip tomorrow. It seems that there will be no update for one of those two days. I ask for your understanding.

Then everyone, have a good day. I will see you again next time.