Chapter 189: A Dance With Monsters (1)

The coliseum quivered with the collective gasp of spectators, a hushed awe that followed Willow's astonishing display of skill. On his floating rock, the [MC], still caught in the whirlwind of recent events, roared with excitement.

"What in the name of the realms just happened?!" the [MC] exclaimed, his voice carrying the disbelief that gripped the entire audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, we've gone from hundreds of contenders to just fifty in the span of an hour!"

The crowd, still reeling from the dramatic turn of events, erupted into a cacophony of cheers and applause. The coliseum seemed to vibrate with the electric energy of anticipation. If a mere thirty more competitors met disqualification, the [1 V 1] stage would be upon them, a threshold to fiercer battles and heightened drama.

Willow, unfazed by the tumultuous sea of emotions that roiled around him, fixed his gaze on the Sage. With unwavering determination, he pressed on, his voice a clarion call in the midst of the roaring tempest.

"Time is ticking, Sage," Willow declared, his tone resolute. "What do you choose?"

The coliseum quivered with the collective gasp of spectators, a hushed awe that followed Willow's astonishing display of skill. On his floating rock, the [MC], still caught in the whirlwind of recent events, roared with excitement.

"What in the name of the realms just happened?!" the [MC] exclaimed, his voice carrying the disbelief that gripped the entire audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, we've gone from hundreds of contenders to just fifty in the span of an hour!"

The crowd, still reeling from the dramatic turn of events, erupted into a cacophony of cheers and applause. The coliseum seemed to vibrate with the electric energy of anticipation. If a mere thirty more competitors met disqualification, the [1 V 1] stage would be upon them, a threshold to fiercer battles and heightened drama.

Willow, unfazed by the tumultuous sea of emotions that roiled around him, fixed his gaze on the Sage. With unwavering determination, he pressed on, his voice a clarion call in the midst of the roaring tempest.

"Time is ticking, Sage," Willow declared, his tone resolute. "What do you choose?"

For a few agonizing seconds, an impenetrable silence hung in the air, the tension almost palpable. Willow's heart quickened as he wondered if his audacious gamble had failed.

But then, breaking the stillness like a sudden bolt of lightning, the Sage erupted into hearty laughter. It was a sound that resonated with genuine amusement, and it caught Willow off guard. In his meta-knowledge of the game, he had never witnessed the Sage's laughter, animated or recorded.

The Sage's mirthful chuckles filled the arena, a rich and melodious symphony that defied all expectations. It was a laugh that hinted at secrets and complexities hidden beneath the surface.

The Sage's laughter, like rolling thunder, reverberated through the coliseum. He slapped his thigh, his amusement unbridled, before gradually reigning it in. When the laughter receded, his blindfolded gaze locked onto Willow, the intensity of his scrutiny unfaltering.

"I accept!" the Sage declared, his voice resonating with genuine admiration. "In all my short years of traveling the lands, I have never met a bold fighter such as you. Perhaps the tales I've heard of the Maiden are not true!"

His words held a tinge of irony, acknowledging the preconceived notions surrounding the role of the Maiden. The Sage's index finger pointed to his blindfold and then to his chest, a solemn gesture that conveyed his oath. "I swear under the Heavenly Fox, I will not require the might of my 'So' or the clarity of my 'Eyes,' and will only proceed forward in this battle with the skill of my sword."

With his blindfold concealing his eyes, the Sage's expression remained inscrutable, but there was an undeniable intensity to his presence. He directed his challenge squarely at Willow, his voice tinged with anticipation.

"How is it?!" the Sage demanded, his unwavering gaze seeming to pierce through the layers of cloth that veiled his sight. "Are you able to fight me now, Maiden?!"

With a surge of satisfaction coursing through his veins, Willow concealed his internal victory dance behind a mask of calm resolve. "I accept as well," he declared, his voice steady, his gaze locked onto the Sage.

The conditions for his victory were now set, and with a sense of determination, Willow shifted into his fighting stance.

Willow couldn't help but repeat himself, the words carrying a note of respect and anticipation. "It might be repetitive of me," he began, "but let us have a good fight."

The Sage responded with an infectious smile, nodding his head in agreement. The Sage shifted his stance. It was a fluid, almost dance-like movement, a prelude to the powerful technique that Willow had anticipated. The Sage's right foot slid back gracefully, and his hand hovered over the hilt of his bamboo sword, and in that moment, it was unmistakable—the iconic pose of the Sage's most renowned and formidable Sword Art: [Quick Draw].

And yet, it was at that moment that Willow’s confidence soared. He could do it. He could win this, , for he held a hidden ace up his sleeve. He could practically taste the sweet tang of victory in the air, like the promise of rain after a parching drought. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that his chances of emerging triumphant were soaring.

It wasn't merely his exceptional martial prowess or his innate talent with 'chi' that filled him with assurance. It was a secret he held close to his heart, a tidbit of knowledge that the Sage himself had unknowingly revealed in a distant future—during the Siege of Lilith's Castle in the game.

The Sage's famous technique, the [Quick Draw], held a hidden quirk that very few were aware of. It was a quirk that Willow had discovered during a future battle at the Siege of Lilith's Castle in the game world, a piece of information that would now play a pivotal role in this very duel.