GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 31.3: Perturbation Vector

From above, Janos roared with approval. "Brilliant tactics! She's using their own weapons against them!"

But Renn's troubles were far from over. His evasive maneuver had barely finished when Jana descended upon him, twin blades flashing in the sunlight. The fire caster's face contorted with panic as he scrambled backward, hands frantically trying to conjure a defensive spell.

"Someone! Help!" Renn shouted, his voice carrying across the arena.

Eldon immediately abandoned his defensive position, sprinting toward his endangered teammate. Without missing a beat, Marcus gave chase, trying to cut him off before he could reach Renn.

"They're breaking formation," Tomas observed, his voice tense with excitement. "Look at Merin!"

Vel's eyes darted to Merin. With opponents now focused on saving their caster from Jana's assault, Merin had free rein to cast without interruption.

Her hands moved in complex patterns as water began to swirl around her.

"That's exactly how you exploit a defensive formation," Vel said, unable to hide the admiration in his voice. "Force them to protect their weakest link, then strike when they're disorganized."

Sylwen, the bow user, recognized her team's desperate situation. With both her teammates in danger, she abandoned her previous strategy. Instead of firing quick rescue shots, she drew her bow all the way back, gracefully kneeling to one side as if bracing for the recoil, her arms trembling with the tension.

The bow began to emit a soft humming sound as magical energy coalesced around the arrowhead. Sylwen's eyes narrowed, focused entirely on Merin, who remained unharassed on the far side of the arena.

Merin completed her incantation. The massive wave she'd been forming solidified into dozens of ice spears, hovering menacingly in the air. Her arms thrust forward, sending the deadly barrage flying toward Renn, who was still retreating from Jana's relentless assault.

The charged arrow split the air with a sound like tearing fabric. Sand erupted in its wake as it streaked toward Merin. She was too focused on her own spell and noticed the incoming projectile a moment too late.

The arrow struck true, hitting Merin squarely in the chest. She stumbled backward, shock written across her face.

But her ice spears had already been released. They flew unerringly toward Renn as he backpedaled from Jana. The fire caster raised his hands in a futile gesture before the magical ice slammed into him, sending him sprawling into the sand.

Both casters collapsed almost simultaneously, their protective charms shattering with audible cracks. Glowing fragments scattered into the air like broken glass catching sunlight.

Vel watched as barriers of shimmering light immediately materialized around both fallen students, cast by officials stationed along the arena's perimeter. The shields isolated them from further combat, signaling their elimination.

"INCREDIBLE!" Janos's voice boomed across the arena. "Both casters eliminated in the SAME MOMENT! What timing! What drama! This match has been reduced to a test of pure martial skill, ladies and gentlemen!"

With both casters eliminated, the match shifted dramatically. Eldon stood at a critical disadvantage, having failed to save his teammate and now finding himself outnumbered. He faced both Marcus's sword and Jana's daggers while Sylwen maintained her distance with her bow.