LRAB Chapter 19 - 19
Chapter 19 - 19
Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Chapter 19 – A Dance with the Scarlet Blade
Alden Blackwood exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling as he stood in the middle of the dense virtual forest. His smart-watch beeped as he glanced at the glowing display.
Time Left: 17 Minutes.
"Seventeen minutes... I just have to survive."
Easier said than done.
He had been dodging fights, conserving stamina, and avoiding unnecessary confrontations while taking down just enough monsters to secure a respectable score. His plan had been to stay just within the top 40 rankings, ensuring he'd get into S-Class without drawing attention.
But then, fate—or rather, the game's ridiculous sense of drama—decided to throw Alicia von Rosenheim right in front of him.
The red-haired, golden-eyed noble stood with her blade drawn, her piercing gaze locked onto him like a hawk sighting its prey. The air around her practically crackled with anticipation.
"Why her? Of all people, why her?"
Alicia was ranked D+ at this point in the game, while Alden was barely scraping by at E-. The gap was monumental. If she wanted to, she could cut him down in seconds.
But she wasn't attacking just yet.
She tilted her head slightly, studying him. "You've been avoiding fights."
Alden shrugged. "Call it strategy."
Alicia smirked. "Or cowardice."@@@@
"Oh, she's enjoying this."
"Well, I prefer to call it 'selective engagement,'" Alden said casually, loosening his stance. "You don't always have to fight to prove a point, you know."
Alicia's smirk widened. "Then fight me, and prove that point."
Before he could argue, she vanished.
But he still had his 2-Star Sword Art.
Taking a deep breath, Alden adjusted his stance. His movements became fluid, precise. He redirected her blade instead of blocking it head-on.
He wasn't fighting to win.
He was fighting to last.
Alicia's eyes narrowed. She noticed the shift immediately. "You're stalling."
"Of course I'm stalling!"
But instead of backing off, she increased the pressure.
Alden gritted his teeth as he barely dodged her next attack. Ten more minutes. Just ten more.
His stamina was draining fast. His arms burned from the repeated impacts. His mind raced for an escape. She wasn't even using her full strength yet.
Then—
BEEP!
The world around them froze.
Alicia's sword, inches from Alden's throat, halted mid-strike. The artificial sunlight flickered. The trees and grass wavered like a mirage.
Then—
Darkness.
Alden gasped as he was yanked back into reality. His senses reeled from the abrupt shift, his vision adjusting to the dimly lit academy chamber. The Virtual Reality Capsule hissed as it opened, releasing a cool mist into the air.
He blinked rapidly, his body still tense from the fight.
It was over.
He had survived.