Chapter 207: Chapter 188 : Comparison (Part 4.1)

The match didn’t kick off immediately, and for a minute or so, it was questionable whether it would happen or not. As Ralf and Charlotte would quickly be informed, the Academy heavily restricted direct Psi clashes between first-year students, especially during the first three months, so their bout wasn't readily accepted.

That said, the Academy did approve their match in the end, mostly due to Ralf's special identity, with the condition that the match had to be recorded. The pair agreed and everything was set in motion.

Now, Ralf and Charlotte stand on opposite ends of the large training hall, each with a sword in hand, eyeing each other as a countdown clock ticked away.

‘Should I toy with him a bit before finishing him off?’ Charlotte’s lips curled up as she entertained the possibility, picturing Ralf at her mercy, being knocked around the room, helpless before her attacks. ‘Mmm, that would feel pretty great…but that might invite trouble, so better not.’

While extremely confident in herself and her victory, the Onic Master remained cautious. Everything she had seen from Ralf told her not to underestimate him, ever.

‘He’s a Rank 3 but not just any Rank 3. I’ll stick to the script and eliminate him as quickly as possible, and then drag out my revenge for as long I can, yes nice and slow. Ahaha, that ass is mine.’

As such thoughts crossed Charlotte's mind, her Second Sight drifted to a certain section of the balcony. There, she found a paintball gun and enough bullets to give Ralf several coats of red. The sight stirred her imagination and she couldn't help but snicker as various images of Ralf's stained posterior flashed through her head.

On the other end, Ralf watched on with a wry smile, his opponent's thoughts couldn't be more transparent.

[[She looks to have something diabolic in mind,]] Ray said, echoing Ralf’s thoughts. [[Best not lose, red doesn’t suit us.]]

[[That’s easier said than done,]] Ralf replied, staring at his opponent with a troubled look on his face.

[[No doubt, you’re completely outmatched.]]

Ralf agreed wholeheartedly.

The stat difference between them and Charlotte was stark. Usually, this wasn’t a problem as they could accelerate themselves to increase their speed/attack power by several times, but her oppressive aura made doing so fatal. Not just that, it killed off most of their techniques and tactics. The mental spike tactic was off the table too, with Charlotte even equipping herself with a netherian stone necklace just in case.

The cubic training hall also didn't lend Ralf any favours. At 20 metres wide, high and long, the venue was massive for a norin fight, but for a psionic battle between the likes of Ralf and Charlotte, it wasn't especially large, and at this moment, the Transmigrator felt it was no different than a closet he was trapped in. His feelings were valid given Charlotte's Blinking technique and projectiles' speed.

If there were a few pillars or obstacles up, his feelings would be different but there were not. The emptiness of the venue didn't allow for any meaningful environmental exploitation, and the large light panels on the ceiling were useless to him against Charlotte, who fought using a combination of her Second Sight and Psi Scan. Colourful World was out, and so was pretty much everything in their arsenal. The icing on this cake of doom was his opponent knowing about Oscillation Waves; Charlotte's knowledge about the technique all but cemented her victory.

The Onic Master's combat style which perfectly combined close and long range was a bad match for the duo. Her projectiles were incredibly quick, powerful and versatile, so not something Ralf could avoid forever or for too long. Even as telegraphed as they were, the Transmigrator couldn't see him surviving five seconds of continuous fire.

[[...as soon as one is let off, the match is basically over,]] Ray concluded from his couch. [[So, any bright ideas floating in that head of yours? You didn't just leap down without a plan did you...ah, you're hopeless, Ralf,]]a bitter smile overcame Ray's expression as he correctly interpreted his other self's silence.

[[Haa, I am...my body moved with a mind of its own, something that's been happening a lot lately, especially around her, and before I knew it, I was down...bad. Well, it's not totally hopeless, there's still a chance.]]

Ray nodded; there indeed was a chance, a very slim chance, but a chance nonetheless.

The duo simulated all kinds of fights, against all types of opponents, with Onic Masters being one of them. They had a tactic that could clench victory in this situation but it required a very particular set of circumstances.

'How do you beat a super boss whose stats are so far above your own? That's right, you cheese them...and that's exactly what I'll have to do here. Either I win in the first few seconds or I lose. I'll have to bank on Charlotte's identity, intentions and intelligence.'

Thinking this, Ralf moved to better his odds.

[Hey Charlotte,] he called out.

[What’s up?]

[Let’s add a condition.]

[I’m listening.]

Ralf drew his katana from its scabbard, slowly and elegantly, garnering impressed gazes from Charlotte and the crowd alike. Fully drawn, he tossed the scabbard aside before letting the handle rest in both hands, horizontally.

[Very cool, so what's the condition?]

[The condition is…you can’t lose hold of your sword.] He shut his eyes as he tapped into a pearl of profound wisdom. [To a swordsman or swordswoman, a sword is an extension of oneself,] he said sagely, even nodding to himself, [so, for this match, we’ll treat it as such. Should your sword lose contact with your hand or hands at any moment, you lose, instantly. What do you say?]

[So no sword throwing, basically,] Charlotte said with a wry smile.

[Ah, yes, basically that,] Ralf said, doing a fake cough.

[Okay, fine, let’s do that then. Anything else you want to add?]

[Nope, that’s all.]

[Are you sure? I’m open to adding more, given how mismatched this is and all.]

Ralf dropped his regal stance at the words and placed the sword on his shoulder before shaking his head.

Seeing the expression he wore while doing so, Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

[What’s with that look?]

[Sorry, it just overcomes me every time I hear something foolish.]

[Foolish,] she squinted as she repeated.

[Yeah, this match is mismatched as you say, but not in the way you think. You truly think you have a shot at winning this, ha ha ha…it’s ridiculous, you really are a goldfish. Don’t worry though, I’ll remind you of your place soon enough,] he said with an arrogant grin.

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[Oh, really,] Charlotte responded listlessly, all smiles vanishing from her expression as agitation flooded into her system.

[Yep really,] Ralf didn’t back down and returned a cheeky smile. [In fact, I’ll beat you with my opening move. Just one swing of my sword will do the trick.]

Charlotte didn’t respond any further, merely simmering in silence, her emotions boiling over.

Only as the ten seconds mark was hit did she finally snap out of her frenzy, reminding herself of who she faced. ‘Tsk, getting frazzled like this, I’m playing right into his hands. Stay cool Charlotte. As long as stay cool, victory is assured.’

With this reminder, her aura and grip over her sword relaxed. She found her balance and readied herself for the upcoming bout.

Ralf watched the transition with approval. He then began walking forward. Charlotte did the same. Five seconds later, the Psi curtain that separated them fell.

[Charl, are you ready?]

The Onic Master ground to a halt and assumed a sideways sword stance, before snapping the telepathic link bridging the two's minds and sending a nod.

Ralf smiled and then made his move. To everyone’s surprise, he broke out into a sprint using only his limbs. Then, a few steps in, he leapt high with the aid of Psi.

Watching him glide through the air in a parabola, most couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. With his sword held over his head with both hands, he cut a majestic figure, but more importantly, a very slow one.

'Wha...'

Staring at his descending form, Charlotte was baffled. Her mind ran through dozens of thoughts as she captured his nonsensical action. ‘This makes no sense, what? He wants to lose? Him? That was his plan all along? Wait, maybe he wanted to be stepped on? That could be it, I’m damn sexy after all. Maybe he’s developed a fetish?...either way, time to win!’

Running through these thoughts in a flash, Charlotte jolted into action. Her mind's eye had seen a clear path to victory and she would take it, uncaring about whether it was cheap or not.

The black cloth that covered her eyes was blown off her face and her shut eyes snapped open with the light of victory swirling within. A moment later, her oppressive aura exploded out, filling the room in an instant, turning Ralf into a norin effectively.

Of course, Charlotte was also reduced to that of a norin in the chaotic sea, but this didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Between the free-falling Ralf and her grounded self, she held an unmistakable advantage, and she made sure to use it to its fullest.

Following the Psi release, Charlotte slid forward, lowered her posture then turned around before thrusting her blade out into the empty air. She had calculated where Ralf would land in the passing seconds and positioned herself just behind him to the side.

At this position, he couldn’t hit her but she would be able to hit him just fine. Her outstretched blade was in the path of where his left leg would pass. Of course, she knew that with his physical prowess and skill, he would be able to shift himself in the air somewhat. Still, this was accounted for.

She tensed up her muscles for that expected last-second movement. She wasn’t worried though; given his momentum, there was no manoeuvre that he could perform that would be too quick for her second slash to handle. A tap was all that was needed after all.

‘Time for my payback, gotch- ah?!’

*Tap*

Charlotte's mental cogs instantly derailed as she registered the blade in contact with her shoulder.

After a mid-air twist, Ralf made his landing before pulling the blade away. Having secured a victory, he wore an expression to match, a smug smile.

“...How?” Charlotte muttered incredulously.

True to her expectation, Ralf had indeed attempted a last-ditch aerial movement. She didn’t panic and performed a second slash. Again, true to her expectations, the slash was faster than Ralf’s movement. But then...things went awry.

As her blade was inches away from hitting, the space around Ralf’s body seemed to distort as his whole figure flashed blue. Following the phenomenon, he regained Psi-use, avoided her swing with a twisting motion and then swung the back of his sword at her.

To Charlotte, the sequence was incomprehensible; he was a Rank 3 after all. He should have been powerless in her oppressive aura, and yet he managed to briefly escape it.

To her question, Ralf happily explained, via telepathy. In short, he used Chaotic Disruption to temporary beat back Charlotte’s aura, and then in the inch of breathing room he opened up, he had his Psi quickly manipulate his body to perform the aerial manoeuvre and subsequent 'attack'.

Using Chaotic Disruption in this way was first thought up during the Outer Ring qualifications before his match with Iwan, an Onic. He didn’t attempt it then due to the number of eyes on him, but the duo did end up testing the possibility later on, with the assistance of the Duke and his Onic soldiers.

These tests confirmed the duo’s assumption about Chaotic Disruption's ability to temporarily push back an Onic's oppressive aura, which allowed Ralf to now claim victory against the much stronger Charlotte. Chaotic Disruption had its limits though; the duo couldn't do the same to Rank 6 Onics and above.

[I see, so that’s how you did it.] Hearing it all, Charlotte sported a bitter look.

[Yep, that’s how it is. This was basically the only way I could win, glad you took the bait, guess you are a goldfish after all.]

Charlotte’s face twisted into a wicked pout at the comment, causing Ralf's face to break out into a wide grin. He found the Onic Master downright adorable at this moment.

[Now what? You've won fair and square, so what will it be?] Charlotte crossed her arms before her chest, enhancing an area that needed no further enhancement, before continuing. [What perverse act will you ask of me, Ralf?] Charlotte asked, but didn't get her hopes up.

While she reckoned the two were similar in their approaches to people and relationships, Ralf, for some reason, was holding himself back. At this point in time, she held no expectations that he'd request anything perverted, and in her mind, she was certain that he'd just ask for a hug.

Ralf read her thoughts and shook his head. [You underestimate me, Charl...and now you'll pay the price.]

[Price?]

The Transmigrator's face welcomed a mischievous smile as he took in her befuddlement. Then, with slow and deliberate movements, he twisted his free hand into a gun, brought it to his lips and blew at the tip.

[No, don’t tell me...] Charlotte’s eyes widened in realisation.

Ralf nodded to her horror before confirming her fears. [Yep, exactly what you're thinking. While I’m Silver, the golden rule appeals to me. Since you wanted to treat me like a doormat, I’ll return the favour. We’ll recreate our encounter in the Dreadfall Forest, one-to-one, that is.]

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