A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 380 - 295 Vulnerability_1
Chapter 380 -295 Vulnerability_1
Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.
After defeating two consecutive opponents, Duanmu Huai successfully obtained the qualification. He then returned to the hall to await the news from the other two.
Not long after that, Duanmu Huai saw Ogis and Lorena appear before him, reporting their results to him.
Lorena had played three rounds to secure her victory due to her unfamiliarity with the rules at first.
However, Ogis’s result was beyond Duanmu Huai’s expectation — Ogis had actually lost!
“Eh? Miss Ogis lost? How did that happen?”
“You lost your match?”
Hearing Ogis’s answer, Duanmu Huai and Lorena were both taken aback. They simply couldn’t imagine, and Ogis merely nodded her head, saying nothing — although her facial expression hasn’t changed, the low pressure surrounding her revealed her current mood was far from good.
Indeed, Ogis had not only lost all her matches but she hadn’t even managed to defeat the first opponent. She stubbornly tried several times, only to lose, until the person she fought felt there was no point in continuing and left. Then Ogis left too.
“Hm… Let’s watch the video.”
After some thought, Duanmu Huai decided to first watch the video to ascertain the situation. Fortunately, every match in Duel City was recorded, so Duanmu quickly got a copy of Ogis’s battle video and began to watch it.
Ogis’s first opponent was a woman with purple short hair, wearing a black bodysuit, and holding two short knives. The moment he saw her, Duanmu immediately knew who Ogis’s opponent was.
Mist Illusion Divine Ninja — Ayin.
Wait… Ogis couldn’t beat Ayin? That shouldn’t be the case, should it?
With questions in mind, Duanmu Huai began to carefully watch the video. However, as he watched, he discovered what the issue was.
At first, Ogis could fight evenly with Ayin, even gaining a slight upper hand using her silk thread manipulation technique. But Ayin, a veteran warrior, swiftly adapted her strategy. She would often disappear using ninjutsu, suddenly appearing next to Ogis, and then launch an attack.
However, to tell the truth, Ogis didn’t understand hand-to-hand combat.
So, when confronted with Ayin, who used grappling and close combat tactics, Ogis was immediately at a loss.
“So that’s how it is.”
After watching the battle video, Duanmu Huai finally understood why Ogis had been defeated. Ayin’s chosen strategy counteracted Ogis’s tactics effectively. Like a ranged expert being forced into hand-to-hand combat, you may be able to take out an enemy from 800 yards away, but if they get up close and don’t give you the chance to step back, you’re just a sitting duck.
Additionally, the settings of Duel City were not particularly friendly to Ogis.
In Duel City, killing wasn’t allowed. Duanmu’s previous battles could’ve resulted in him smashing his opponents’ heads or tearing an athletic man in half, but in Duel City, the most he could do was knock them unconscious.
The same was true for Ogis. In day-to-day battles, her silk threads could stop most enemies. Those who were hit by her thread would either lose limbs or meet a horrifying end.
Had Ayin fought Ogis in the outside world, not to mention getting close to her, Ayin would have been sliced into pieces by Ogis just for putting up a defense.
But in Duel City, Ogis didn’t have that ability. Ayin’s defense could withstand Ogis’s thread attack, therefore Ogis had lost her greatest threat. Given that Ogis herself didn’t know how to fight in close range, it was no surprise that she was continuously defeated by Ayin — she mostly spent her time on Duanmu Huai’s shoulder in outdoor battles, leaving the close combat to Duanmu Huai while she used her thread and puppet to deal with long-range opponents.
“I really didn’t anticipate this…”
After watching the video, Duanmu Huai scratched his head. When he initially brought Ogis over, he was only thinking about how well they coordinated with each other; little did he expect to unintentionally discover a weakness of Ogis.
Although this weakness wasn’t particularly…well…
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Ogis.”
Duanmu Huai reached out a hand and patted Ogis’s head.
“This isn’t about you, it’s about this place.”
“………”
However, in response to Duanmu Huai’s consolation, Ogis only shook her head silently.
“You don’t intend to give up?”
She nodded.
“Hmm… then training is needed…”
Duanmu Huai was pleased with this, clearly, Ogis was unwilling to accept defeat so easily. However, the question was how to train her. Even Lorena had learned some self-defense techniques and close combat tactics at the Cathedral Church, but Ogis knew nothing about it.
Duanmu Huai scratched his chin, pondering. His combat experience came from street fights and training, and after a long period of game wars, Duanmu Huai had formed his own combat style. However, this style didn’t suit Ogis, simply because Ogis was not a creature standing 2.5m tall that weighs under 400 kg, was she?
Wait a moment… If this is the case…
Thinking of this, Duanmu’s eyes lit up. He then opened the game system and quickly began to look for something.
Found it!
Seeing that familiar name, Duanmu Huai slapped his thigh and got up.
“Let’s go, Ogis. I have found a teacher for you!”
“A teacher??”
Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Ogis tilted her head in curiosity, while Duanmu Huai nodded in agreement.
“Yes, she should suit you quite well.”
Duanmu Huai checked the price, luckily he could afford it and indeed, the teacher was very suitable for Ogis.
Soon, Duanmu Huai led them away from the registration desk. They took a carriage out of Duel City and headed to a forest outside of it.
Following a small forest path forward, they soon arrived at a petite, yet rather exquisite mansion.
Duanmu Huai walked up and knocked on the door. After a moment, a voice rang out.
“What is it?”
“We’re hoping you could take this young girl as your apprentice. She needs your guidance.”
Duanmu Huai answered. After hearing his response, a moment passed, and the mansion’s grand doors slowly opened. Soon, a young girl emerged.
She had short golden hair, wore a red headband and dressed in a blue dress with a white shawl, she looked like a character straight out of a fairy tale. But this delicate, pretty girl wore no expression, she just stared at Duanmu Huai, slightly furrowed her brows.
“Who?”
“Her.”
Duanmu Huai led Ogis to the young blonde. She stared at Ogis for a moment, her eyes subtly shifted afterwards.
“You’re a puppet?”
“………Yes.”
Ogis nodded. After hearing Ogis’s reply, the golden-haired girl pondered for a moment then turned back to Duanmu Huai.
“3000 points.”
Oh man, she’s asking for all my savings, seems I’ll have to sleep on the streets of Duel City.
Despite the astonishing cost, Duanmu Huai clenched his teeth and agreed. After all, in Duel City, she was the sole available match to Ogis’ fighting style. Therefore, Duanmu Huai didn’t hesitate, transferred the specified amount immediately. Upon confirming the receipt of points, the golden-haired girl diverted her attention towards Ogis.
“Come in.”
Having said that, she turned around and headed back into the house, leaving behind some words.
“Come back for her in ten days.”
“Understood.”
Duanmu Huai nodded and then turned to Ogis.
“Well, now you put in your best. See you in ten days.”
“Master?”
“Don’t worry, although she looks young, she is nevertheless an exceptional Puppeteer Master. I’m sure she’ll teach you some combat techniques and strategies.”
“Yes.”
Having heard Duanmu Huai’s response, Ogis fell silent for a moment then nodded vigorously.
“Next time, I won’t lose.”
“Then, see you in ten days.”
Duanmu Huai waved at Ogis, who turned and went into the mansion, closing the door behind her.
“Well, that concludes it for now.”
Watching Ogis enter the mansion, Duanmu Huai breathed a sigh of relief. What she could learn next, depended on Ogis herself. However, in Duanmu Huai’s view, Ogis wasn’t the type to dawdle, it should be okay.
But they wouldn’t be idle either.
“What are we doing next, Sir Knight?”
“We’re going to cause a ruckus!”
“Huh?”
Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s response, Lorena was taken aback.
“Cause a ruckus?”
“Yes, we’re going to search for opponents to challenge and enhance our fame.”
Passing the qualification matches meant that both Duanmu Huai and Lorena could sign up for the Duel Tournament. However, only registration did not guarantee an official invite from the tournament organizers. To receive that, one had to increase their renown—meaning, going around Duel City and picking fights. As long as they chalked up enough victories and gained sufficient fame, they would receive an invite from the tournament organisers.
Now, apart from gaining fame, these one-on-one challenges could also win Duel Points. Duanmu had spent all his points on Ogis’s tuition fee; if he didn’t fight a few matches now, he would indeed have to sleep on the streets tonight!
