Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 81: Names, Part Ten

"Well done," the administrator praised Lianna as their opponents faded away, extracted from the simulation.

Lianna heard a couple of loud beeps, sounding off throughout the virtual space, like notifications on her phone she couldn’t turn off.

[Uh, was that an announcement or something? Probably the names of the people we just beat. Wish we could see it.]

Looking through Enverna’s perspective again, Lianna found that the camera was focused on someplace else as a fight was breaking out elsewhere.

Zura and her partner were engaging a duo themselves.

[Well, I sure hope she loses.]

Lianna turned toward her partner who looked strangely relieved.

"We did it," she said with a proud smile.

"Indeed," the administrator responded. "Don’t lose sight of your goal, though. One victory is nothing. I won’t have my partner getting anything less than the gold medal."

"Right. Well, I’m ready."

"If that’s the case, then let us continue."

The virtual arena buzzed with excitement as Lianna and the Administrator prepared for their next battle. The duo stepped through the designated combat zone, surrounded by an ever-shifting, immersive environment.

"Stay sharp, Lianna."

"I know, I know."

As the next opponents came into view before them, a duo of formidable warriors, Lianna examined their statuses.

Lennon Crowe

MP: 80/80

---

STR: C

END: C-

DEX: B-

MYS: D+

L: C

---

Martin Manson

MP: 350/350

STR: B-

END: B

DEX: C+

MYS: C

L: D

[These opponents seem well-balanced. Another archer like me and a mage.]

The announcer’s voice echoed. Lianna could hear it as loudly as though she were outside the simulation. It signaled the beginning of the battle.

Lianna quickly scanned the terrain, assessing potential advantages. The environment shifted, forming rocky outcrops and sporadic vegetation that acted as walls.

The opponents wasted no time. The archer fired a volley of arrows, while the combat magic user conjured arcane energy, preparing for an attack.

"Well then, Lianna. What shall we do?" the Administrator asked calmly.

She leaned out of the way of a couple of arrows casually.

"W-What!? You’re asking me???" In between jumping out of the way of explosive, magical bolts.

"The best Supports also often make for the best leaders. So, tell me, what’s your plan?"

Apparently, the audience was listening in on this, as Lianna heard people laugh in response.

"Uh... G-Go for the archer! I’ll handle the mage!"

"Truly?" Again, leaning out of the way of another couple of arrows.

"Yeah, trust me!"

Lianna activated {Reconnaissance} to identify the opponents. The archer’s position was revealed.

"... Alright then."

The Administrator agreed, and they moved with coordinated precision. Lianna, using her {Camouflage}, blended into the surroundings, making her nearly invisible.

The archer struggled to pinpoint her location, having to turn his attention to the administrator.

As the combat magic user sent a barrage of arcane projectiles toward the Administrator as well.

Lianna seized the opportunity. Emerging from her camouflage, she unleashed {Ambush}, delivering a surprise attack to the mage with her dagger.

The knife struck his back. The Administrator capitalized on the opening, engaging the disoriented opponent with swift and calculated strikes.

Lianna, now visible again, dodged incoming arrows from the archer.

At the same time, she tried to keep her eyes on the mage, who was currently spamming those magical bolts.

The archer, feeling the pressure, switched to close-quarters combat, drawing a blade. The combat magic user intensified his arcane assaults.

Soon, Lianna got what she was looking for.

[Yes!]

"Admin, switch with me!"

Lianna opted for a defensive approach, backing away from the incoming attacks to block and evade them, until the administrator came and stepped in.

The Administrator, with blades swirling in a graceful dance, engaged both opponents simultaneously. Lianna seized the opportunity.

"Keep your focus on the archer, Administrator. I’ll handle the combat magic user," Lianna communicated.

Closing the distance, Lianna dodged arcane projectiles and closed the distance to the combat magic user. She unleashed a series of well-timed arrows, disrupting the opponent’s spellcasting.

The Administrator, heeding Lianna’s advice, intensified her assault on the archer. Their coordinated efforts began to wear down the opponents.

The battle reached its climax as the opponents, battered and fatigued, tried to mount a final counterattack.

The mage unleashed one of those same bolts directly at Lianna’s face.

And, the girl took it head-on, suffering no damage at all from it, and planted her dagger in the mage’s neck.

His form faded instantly.

With a final, synchronized effort, the Administrator and Lianna incapacitated the mage, leaving only the archer standing.

"Your persistence is commendable, but this ends here," the Administrator declared, her blades poised for the finishing strike.

And, with a proud smile she was clearly trying to hide, she delivered it.

The announcer’s voice resonated through the virtual space, declaring Lianna and the Administrator as the victors once again. The cheers from the external crowd echoed their triumph.

"Well fought, Administrator," Lianna praised, panting slightly from the exertion.

"Same to you, Lianna. We make quite the team," the Administrator acknowledged with a hint of approval in her eyes. "Also... That was a nifty trick. I don’t know what you did, but that just made your stocks shoot through the roof!"

"You think so?"

"I know so. Now, come. We need to keep moving."

---

{Zura}

The digital arena pulsed with energy as Zura and her partner, Rylan, faced off against another duo themselves.

The opponents materialized, ready for the impending clash. Zura, clad in her low-tier Paladin armor, gripped her mace tightly, and Rylan, a skilled warrior, flexed his muscles in anticipation.

"Confidence is key, brah!" Rylan said, flexing in between each syllable. "Let’s do this!"

The announcer’s voice echoed through the virtual space, signaling the beginning of their battle.

The opposing duo wasted no time, with the enemy mage user launching arcane projectiles and the blade-wielder charging forward.

Rylan met the charging adversary head-on, clashing blades with a display of formidable strength.

Zura positioned herself strategically, her instincts guiding her focus on countering the combat magic user’s spells. The battlefield became a symphony of clashes and magical bursts as the virtual environment mirrored the intensity of the fight, with Rylan trading blows and Zura shielding herself from spells.

Zura watched Rylan out of the corner of her eye.

"Watch for the feint, Rylan!"

"Gotcha, brah!"

Rylan, with a nod of acknowledgment, adjusted his stance, ready to counter any deceptive maneuvers.

As the battle unfolded, Zura’s defensive capabilities shined through. She made sure her partner wouldn’t fall periodically intervening in his fight by blocking some hits for him before turning her attention back to the mage and continuing to distract him.

The virtual environment echoed with the sounds of spells colliding and blades clashing.

The opponents, recognizing the skill of their adversaries, fought with determination. Zura, focused on the battle, felt the adrenaline surging through her virtual veins. Her instincts guided her actions, and she executed precise movements to counter the opponents’ attacks.

The battle reached its climax, and Zura and Rylan emerged victorious, with Zura crashing her mace down on both opponents’ heads.

The digital opponents dissipated. Rylan, catching his breath, turned to Zura with a grin.

"Duuuuuude, that was, like, awesome, brah!"

"Thanks. Teamwork makes all the difference," Zura replied, a genuine smile breaking through the digital representation of her avatar.

However, as the digital cheers of the spectators echoed, Zura’s elation was tinged with a sense of guilt.

She couldn’t shake the weight of the decision she had made before the tournament began. The illegal potions she had consumed to boost her stats were taking a toll.

Internally, Zura grappled with the consequences. The potions, while providing a temporary advantage, came at a cost. Her body felt strained, and the artificial enhancements created a discomfort that lingered beneath the surface.

[Well... It is what it is.]

The digital arena shifted once more, and now, Zura found herself standing across from Lianna and the administrator.

"..."

Both Lianna and Zura shared some wry smiles.

[Ah... Shit. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad that this is happening so soon. Honestly, I was hoping they’d be taken out before I saw them.]

The air hummed with tension, and the weight of the upcoming duel settled heavily on Zura’s shoulders. Her eyes met Lianna’s, and a mix of determination and regret clouded the atmosphere.

"Zura, hey!" Lianna’s voice cut through the virtual space, friendly as ever but tinged with concern. "So... We’ve gotta fight, huh?"

"Seems like it," Zura replied.

The administrator and Rylan looked at each other awkwardly, feeling like they were intruding on something.

Zura nodded, her fingers gripping the handle of her virtual shield.

"Lianna... No hard feelings, right?"

Lianna offered a reassuring smile as she brought out her bow.

"Agreed. Come on, let’s do this!"

The administrator, dual blades gleaming, regained her composure.

"May the best duo prevail."

Lianna readied her bow, Zura raised her shield, Rylan put forth his sword, and the administrator poised herself for the oncoming battle.

"Ready, Zura?" Lianna’s voice reached Zura’s ears, and the anticipation tightened its grip.

"I am."

And, with that, the fight began.