Chapter 1014: Joystick and Juggernaut ( 1014 )
Meanwhile, back in the Armand estate.
Javier sat in his chair, watching the sleek glass display.
"Aw, man... this is hard to control with just the bracelet."
He tapped the glass, directing several scout drones toward the nearby forest, then slipped the control bracelet off his wrist.
With a snap of his fingers, his dimensional storage shimmered open. He reached in and pulled out...
A joystick.
"Yosh! Time to have some fun!"
The intruder saw the knight standing motionless and launched into a frenzied assault, cackling with manic glee.
"Not so strong now, are you?!"
Barrage after barrage of fireballs and searing dark magic slammed into the motionless knight, erupting into a continuous chain of explosions that swallowed its form in smoke and flame.
"Weak! You’re weak, you armored fool! You can’t even fight back! My speed! My magic! My blade that you called disgusting! See how tough you are now, huh?!"
He smirked, gripping his fleshy blade tighter.
"Don’t worry! This blade will land on your neck next! After that, I’m going to cut your head off and take off the helm so I can see your dead face!!!" The intruder threw his head back, laughing out loud.
Back at the estate, Javier just grinned, watching the chaotic feed on his display.
Man, this weirdo really thinks there’s a guy inside the knight.
He leaned forward, eyes fixed on the sleek glass display. "Alright... the adjustments are done. The scout drones are in perfect position for a third-person fight."
A playful smirk spread across his face. "I think I should test out my gaming experience from back in the old world."
He slowly placed his fingers on the joystick, settling into a familiar grip.
"Don’t mess with a master gamer here~"
"Here we go~" Javier smirked, his thumb hovering over the controls.
The maids watched Javier as he tapped and pressed the strange device, completely absorbed.
"What is Prince Javier doing?"
"Don’t know... don’t ask. He’s always like this when it comes to his inventions."
"But he’s laughing out loud over there."
"Yeah... better leave him be."
"I wonder what’s got him so excited."
All they could hear from his direction was a rapid, rhythmic clicking of buttons and sticks, punctuated by his triumphant muttering.
"X, X, O, O, X, O, Square... downward kick, repel... bwahahaha!"
Meanwhile, back at the lake.
The intruder was getting pummeled by a relentless barrage of combos, punches and kicks landing on him from every angle without pause.
Shit!! How is this full-armor freak move this fast!?
One of his blades was knocked from his grip, skittering across the ground.
Now facing a storm of blows in midair, unable to block or dodge.
All he could hear through the chaos was a faint, distorted muttering and laughter coming from the knight’s helm, peppered with strange words.
"X, O, and Square."
Guh! I have to find a way to end this!
But all he felt was wave after wave of pain as the barrage of kicks and punches continued without stopping.
How the hell is he moving so fast in that heavy armor!?
"Oi, oi, oi! I’m not even using full power yet!" The knight’s voice was a playful taunt as another flurry of blows rained down. "Come on now~ You said you were going to cut my head off. And I’m just using basic punches and kicks. I haven’t even touched the magic or weapons yet~"
Guh! This armored freak is toying with me!?
"Don’t you dare mess with me, asshole!" the intruder shouted. "I am the strongest warrior of the Vampire Clan!!!"
He glared at the armored knight, eyes burning with fury.
"You asked for it, you armored bastard!!!"
A surge of violent, crimson aura erupted from him, a shockwave of raw power that blasted the knight back several meters.
The knight landed with a heavy, deliberate clank, completely unfazed.
"Wooo~ Scary~ Getting serious now, huh?" The knight tilted its head mockingly. "Anyway, thanks for the intel about being a vampire. Now I know where to look if you somehow slip away~"
The vampire warrior’s eyes widened with fury.
"You tricked me!!"
"Hmm?" The knight tilted its head and scratched the side of its helm.
"I don’t think I tricked you at all. You’re the one who shouted it out loud."
"Now you’re gonna die!!!!" The vampire warrior roared, unleashing another burst of energy and shockwave, tearing up the ground around him.
The armored knight just yawned.
"Again with the super-power-aura thing. Do you think shouting makes your magic stronger? Pfft. What a joke."
The knight settled into a relaxed fighting stance, raising one hand and curling its fingers in a clear, mocking ’bring it’ gesture.
The vampire launched his attack, unleashing his strongest magic burst directly at the armored knight.
Javier smirked. The knight raised a hand, repelling the attack back toward the vampire in a shimmering arc of reflected energy. It exploded around the vampire, who barely managed to evade his own assault.
Enraged, the vampire hurled his blade and another wave of magic, then charged straight at the knight, knowing ranged attacks wouldn’t land.
Javier caught the vampire’s wrist mid-swing, twisted it aside, and drove a punch straight into his face, connecting with a brutal crack against the vampire’s jaw.
"Strength doesn’t just come from speed or magic power," Javier’s voice carried through the knight, calm and steady. "But from technique, too."
He lifted the vampire into the air and slammed him into the ground, again and again.
"Range and melee require different styles. Different footwork. Different instincts."
The knight’s grip tightened. "But the most important thing... is keeping a calm mind. Panic makes you predictable. Rage makes you sloppy. And in a real fight? The winner isn’t the strongest. It’s the one who controls the pace, reads the opponent, and never loses focus."
He threw the vampire to the ground and pressed a boot firmly against his chest, leaning forward with an arm resting on his knee.
"Now... care to tell me who you are? And what your purpose is for coming here during the Armand King’s wedding? Hmm?" The voice from the helm was a low, amused smirk.
"Surely you didn’t come to pay a visit or attend the ceremony, did you?"
The vampire snarled but said nothing.
"You really don’t want me to get serious. Let me tell you something, I haven’t even used a fraction of this armor’s full power yet."
The vampire laughed, a ragged, defiant sound. He pulled the bottle from his pocket, smirked, then forced the lid open and hurled it into the lake.
"This is what real strength is, you armored bastard! Talk all you want about focus and calm, you’re not gonna defeat this alone!"
( End Of Chapter )
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