GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 34: Lockdown

Vel nodded.

Across the arena, Team Kasano seemed to reach the same conclusion. Valen Heima swiveled her crossbow away from Kein, taking aim at Prince Eldrin instead.

Valen's bolt flew straight toward Prince Eldrin, who didn't even flinch. Just as Vel expected the prince to move, the bolt suddenly curved in midair, veering off at an impossible angle before embedding itself harmlessly in the sand.

"What—how?" Tomas gasped.

Vel's eyes darted to Lysithea, catching the tail end of a flicking motion—her closed fan snapping toward Eldrin's direction.

"A barrier," Vel said. "She created an invisible current to deflect projectiles."

On the opposite side of the arena, Kein and Kasano remained locked in their exchange. But Kasano's strikes had grown desperate, his movements purely defensive now while Kein pressed the advantage with methodical strikes.

Vel's gaze swept across the entire arena floor, taking in the fight as a whole—the pieces clicking together.

His eyes widened.

"No way..." he breathed.

"What is it?" Celia asked.

"This isn't a fight." Vel leaned forward. "It's a lockdown."

His friends' attention snapped to the arena, recognition dawning on their faces as they saw what Vel had seen.

"No magic gets through. No projectiles land." Vel continued, his voice low. "Kasano's the only one who can actually engage, and he's barely holding on. Add the pressure they established from the start..."

He watched Ulmak attempt another spell, only to clutch his head as the harp's disruption hit again.

"Most people would crumble under this pressure."

"So that's why they needed Fairwind," Celia said, watching Lysithea's positioning. "She must be preventing Eldrin's disruption from hitting their own team. Somehow."

Vel nodded. The strategy made perfect sense now—suffocate the enemy while keeping themselves untouched.

"MAGNIFICENT coordination!" Janos's voice boomed across the arena, finally catching on to the strategy. "Team Atherwind has effectively neutralized all options for their opponents! What a display of tactical brilliance!"

Kein locked blades with Kasano again, his mouth moving as he said something inaudible to the crowd. Whatever it was, Kasano's face contorted with anger. He broke away with renewed fury, his dark aura intensifying.

With a guttural shout, Kasano thrust his free hand forward. Serpentine shadows erupted from his aura, writhing tendrils that shot toward Kein like living weapons.

"Cross Flash!" Kein's voice rang out clearly this time.

His luminous blade traced two perpendicular arcs so quickly they appeared simultaneous. The intersecting paths of light sliced through the shadow serpents, vaporizing them on contact. Not a single tendril reached him.

Across the arena, Valen had dropped to one knee, her crossbow planted firmly against the ground. She was drawing energy into the weapon—the same power charge technique Vel had seen Mora use at the outpost, and Miria in her earlier match.