Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 161: Mysterious Boy

Before the third test started, Yur1 told me all about the tropes found in an isekai story's protagonist after encountering the strange boy's unusual power. According to him, most protagonists have what he called a "cheat" power or skill when they first arrive in another world. Something that seems too overpowered for many people to comprehend, or some mundane skill or knowledge that the other world doesn't possess. He guessed that an important NPC might be the former since no player could have an unlimited number of [Masteries] in their arsenal, and that we're portrayed more like natives in <Volo> than other-worlders. It makes sense since there was the whole otherworlder's war in the premise, and they said it's forbidden to summon them to this day. I thought it didn't make any sense that he might be an otherworlder because of the latter. Yet he also theorized that he might be reincarnated from Earth, which was another trope found in some novels and anime. Which also makes sense when I think about it.

But honestly, I don't like those kinds of protagonists in my stories. The novels I read focus on the underdogs trying to prove themselves through training and are willing to get out of their comfort zones to complete a goal and protect their loved ones from evil villains who would dare abuse or hurt them. If I were the protagonist of a fantasy novel, I would rather start from zero than have a "cheat power" to get ahead.

Though I'm getting ahead of myself...

Thanks to Zale, I'm able to watch the whole battle that I had to miss out on, thanks to my strange new power, and I am shocked at what I witnessed.

As Yur1 just told me, he was also facing a rigged [Armored Puppet] as it wielded two large broadswords and could use high-level elemental magic that we couldn't learn in our current state. Some of the proctors were against this and told him to wait until they readjusted the puppets. But that boy insisted on fighting them all because I fought one of them and survived. I don't know what to say about this. I only fought it because my battle test was rigged by jealous participants. But it's because of me that I managed to get some attention from an important NPC who might be an otherworlder or a reincarnation from another world.

But back to the battle recording in question...

As we watch the battle start, the puppet doesn't waste time firing several spells towards the boy. They weren't like the low-level ones we used. They have instead evolved ones from the Level 1 spells like [Wind Sickle], [Lightning Bolt], and [Stone Barrage]. I haven't experienced being hit by them, but I know they're much stronger than those spells. But to our shock, the boy cut them down like it was nothing. It's something you would have seen in a Star Wars movie where the characters deflect the laser blasts with their sabers. But here, he just sliced them up like fruits! I don't think Wind's [Sapphire Sword] or Yur1's magic swordsmanship can copy that same feat as his.

But here's where it gets more shocking. After he deflected those spells, the puppet then charged in with its broadswords. I guess it might use skills like [Aftershock] to overwhelm him, just like the [Test of Courage] Wind was in. But rather than seeing history repeating itself, the boy silently pushed the puppet away with his magic. Then, he cast [Static Stun] at it and charged in to disarm one of its swords. It wasn't a perfect attack, as it managed to get a hit on his gut with its remaining weapon and sent him flying into the wall. However, he managed to get back up and cast several [Mana Blasts] towards the puppet. When they got to it, the boy drew his sword and coated its blade with fire, a similar tactic used by Yur1. The puppet tried to swing its broadsword to finish him off. But in the blink of an eye, he dodged its last attack and countered with a strong slash to its neck.

Once the puppet collapsed from the loss of its head, the battle ended in his favor, and the recording ended there.

I can't believe what I saw. Multiple casting and swordsmanship aside, he can also cast spells without incantations like Zale and I do, and he did it without breaking a sweat. I barely survived a fight against that puppet, but he managed to win his in less than a minute. This guy... Who was he really?