NOVEL NEXT Chapter 100: Use of the Forest’s Eye
"Now… let the fight begin!" the emissary declared, his voice booming across the arena.
Linda leapt back lightly, her bow already in hand. Across from her, Tessa drew her blade with a sharp metallic ring, her movements sleek and precise. A few ninjas in the audience chuckled at the sight, their mocking laughter mixing with the roar of the crowd.
The air was heavy with tension—there was no escape now.
I can do this. I can do this. I believe in myself. I can win. Linda repeated the words in her head, steadying her breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly.
Tessa smirked, her stance firm, her eyes locked on her opponent. "A long-range fighter, huh? An elf, right? An elf doesn't stand a chance against a ninja."
"I have to keep my distance. If I do, I'm going to win," Linda whispered to herself as she slid back across the arena floor. She nocked an arrow, wind mana swirling around its shaft, and released. The arrow screamed through the air, faster than the eye could follow.
But Tessa reacted in an instant. She flicked her wrist, three darts flashing between her fingers. With a sharp throw, one dart struck Linda's arrow mid-flight. The two projectiles shattered apart, scattering fragments across the sand.
"Precise…" Nolan muttered, eyes narrowing from the stands. "She didn't miss by an inch."
"Is Linda going to be okay, Master?" Celia asked, worry in her voice.
"I'm sure she will," Nolan answered, though his gaze never left the arena.
Tessa wasted no time, sprinting forward with blinding speed. Linda loosed arrow after arrow, each infused with her affinity, but Tessa wove between them with deadly grace. A pair of shuriken spun from her left hand—one sailed wide, the other veered close.
Linda dodged the second and laughed. "Is that all you've got?"
But Tessa only smirked. "You're just a common elf. You don't understand what's happening."
The first shuriken—the one Linda had dismissed—curved back like a predator finding its prey. It sliced into her back, drawing blood.
"Ah!" Linda gasped, clutching at the wound. I let my guard down. Stupid! I can't make that mistake again.
Her thoughts burned, but Tessa was already upon her, blade flashing. Linda leapt back, dodging slash after slash, her bow raised desperately to parry. Each strike rang with sharp metallic cracks as she deflected with the wooden frame, careful to avoid the edge that could snap it in half.
"Impressive," Tessa admitted, her voice cool even as she pressed harder. "For an elf, your reflexes are sharp."
What am I going to do? I didn't plan to use this yet… Should I reveal it? Linda bit her lip, bow trembling under the clash. No. Not yet. There's another way.
Her eyes hardened. Wait… I have one more trick up my sleeve.
Instead of retreating, Linda lunged forward, knocking Tessa's sword aside with her bow. With a swift motion, she cracked the bow against Tessa's cheek.
"Ugh!" Tessa stumbled and hit the ground before springing back to her feet, clutching her face.
Linda didn't hesitate—she drew another arrow, loosing it in a flash, then another, concealing the second shot within the flow of mana.
The first arrow whistled forward. Tessa smirked and sliced it cleanly in half. But too late she realized something was wrong.
The second arrow, hidden in the shadow of the first, pierced her abdomen with a dull thud.
Her eyes widened. She looked down at the shaft protruding from her stomach. "When…? When did this…? I didn't even see it." Her thoughts swirled in disbelief. Is she really… just an elf?
The crowd erupted into noise, half cheering, half gasping at the sudden reversal.
Tessa gritted her teeth, hand pressed against the arrow lodged in her stomach. If I pull it out, I'll bleed more… but leaving it in will slow me down. Her jaw tightened. "Fine. I'll do it anyway."
With a sharp tug, she yanked the arrow free, blood spurting briefly. Folding her hands into a seal, she muttered an incantation. A faint glow surrounded the wound as her ninja healing technique activated, stopping the bleeding almost instantly.
Linda's eyes widened. "The blood… it stopped. Just like that?"
Tessa straightened, her hand still resting on her stomach. Her eyes burned with renewed focus as she glared at Linda. "How did you do it? Tell me."
Linda raised her bow, meeting her gaze with steady defiance. "You looked down on me because I'm an elf. Do you really think all we can do is shoot arrows?"
A faint smile curved Tessa's lips. "You stood your ground against me in close combat… and long range too. Seems I underestimated you."
She slid her sword back into its sheath and flexed her fingers. Suddenly, darts appeared between them—three in her left hand, three in her right.
Linda's breath caught. Where did she even pull those from?
"Now prepare yourself," Tessa said coldly. "I won't hold back anymore."
In a blur, she sprinted forward, her speed nearly doubling.
"She's faster now…" Linda muttered, quickly backing away. She reached for another arrow, but Tessa flicked a dart straight at her hand, forcing her to withdraw before she could nock it.
"The gap between us is closed," Tessa hissed, hurling the rest of her darts in a deadly spread. Linda twisted, dodging narrowly, but Tessa was already upon her. A steel knuckle glinted on her fist—she swung hard, the blow cracking across Linda's cheek.
"Ah!" Linda staggered back, but Tessa pressed the assault, fists slamming again and again.
If I don't use it… I'll lose. Linda clenched her teeth as she fell to the ground, vision swimming. I didn't want to reveal this, but I have no choice.
"This is over," Tessa sneered, drawing her blade. She raised it high, ready to strike the finishing blow.
But before it could fall, Linda inhaled sharply. Mana surged into her eyes, flooding her senses. She let it flow through her nose, her veins, her entire body also awakened as she heightened her senses.