Reincarnated in the game world ~ A gamer's beginning to [Dungeon job hunting recommendation]-Chapter 606Vol. 11 - - Haku vs. Mert - A heated Clash! Misato, the charmer?

As the final embers of battle had started to erupt from all over, Class-8 arrived in the northern side of the arena. A bit east to the spot 1st fortress used to be.

After their call away from Class-1, Mert's team had decided Class-3 would be their next lamb on the chopping board. However, in a few moments, Mert realised they're not alone as the targeted Class-3.

"Hmm?! Someone's out there!"

"—«Furious Will-o-Wisp»!"

Mert heard what appeared to be an aria, and unfolded his defense spell reflexively.

"We're under attacK! «Magic Shield»!"

"Kyaaa!!"

Burning flames, their hues closer to white, detonated.

The sneak attack caught them off guard, and unfortunately, Mert had no leeway to expand the barrier to everyone. The forerunner at front was completely blown away in the aftermath.

"Oh my, I see you managed to block my attack, huh?"

"......«Hundred Flame»."

"Heya, tis our second meeting, isn't it? How about we do a bit of warmup?"

Landing on the scene with her burning flames, Haku showed herself.

Rumours were that she had already hit level cap, and even among other freshmen, her strength conspicuously placed her among one of the best.

Mert's team fell into a battle formation, and from a glance, it appeared Haku was all alone. If they fought, there were good chances they could bring her down.

But, for an inexplicable reason, Haku was shimmering with a different aura.

"So, err, my business is with Mert out there. Could you leave us alone?"

"What the hell was that then?!"

Haku's words met with a holler from the forerunner girl—the same girl who had to bear the brunt of Haku's initial attack. She was livid. If Mert was all she had cared for, then didn't it mean she got blasted for no apparent reason?

That said, the decision to make was in Mert's hand. He raised his hand to keep the girl from shouting further, and stepped forward.

He was just as confused as to why Haku was out here, alone, and if they clashed here, someone was bound to be put down here. And if they lost too many of their members, their raid on Class-3 might end up in failure. —"And if you fail, then know that I will be claiming Class-3!" Lana's words echoed inside his mind.

With so much at stake, Mert actually found Haku's proposal a win-win deal.

"Very well. Everyone, you all leave for Class-3's base."

"B-but, rrrrhh....."

The earlier girl grumbled, however she didn't insist much. She knew why Mert had made that decision. They also had heard rumours about hers, and if her title, something originating from her unique skill, truly was an insignia of her ability, then there's no way they could deal with her... saving Mert. It's just she felt she should have something more to allow it.

"I know it's a selfish request, but bear with it. This is the decision. «Mega Healing»!"

Mert applied a healing spell to her, recovering her HP. Though the girl's lips were still pursued in a pout, she nodded.

"Ugh... fine. Let's go, everyone."

"Alright then, we shall leave. —That said, «Hundred Flame». Our target is your base, are you sure you shouldn't be chasing us?"

"Don't care. I can still chase after once I am done with this little chat with Mert."

"........."

For one final confirmation, Class-8's member tried to probe Haku, however she quickly dismissed them, her aura flaring up as if to say 'just go away.' However her gaze never left Mert.

It appeared she only had her eyes set on Mert. Though Mert was confused, wondering when he ticked her off. His class members though, their expressions tell they'd a guess.

"Well, err... good luck, Mert-kun."

"Do not go down on us, alright?"

"Uh-huh, such is the woes of popular boys."

"Hmm, Mert-kun is truly in the eyes of many, eh?"

"...Though I beg to differ, I heard you all. I hope you are prepared for punishment later!”

After a light teasing, Class-8's members left the place.

The staring contest between the two continued. Correction—Mert's gaze was rather filled with confusion. He really couldn't remember what he did to have her after him. Had it been about Class-8, maybe he had one or two guesses, but coming to himself? Zilch.

"Can I ask you something?"

"...What is it?"

"Well, it seems you've something to say. Why not just say it?"

"Ooh?"

Mert was already out of his guesswork. Now he just wanted an answer. And it definitely hadn't any connection with each other's classes, or she wouldn't have another pass unhindered. He did think maybe she held a grudge for Keel, but then again, he was defeated by Lacritta and Reglam. There's just no reason for him to be at her hostility.

When he couldn't find any answer, the hostile gaze only irked him. And to his question, he found his answer—even if it was in the ballpark too far away from his guesses.

"Mistao..."

"...What?"

"Misato had praised you quite a lot."

".........Err, and what does it have to do with it?"

"She, she even said you're her to-be m-master! What in the world are you asking her to do?!"

"......"

Mert... his mind suddenly threw up an error when he heard Haku, it was like someone had deleted the associated files, and now the application was throwing 'files not found'!

But, in a corner of mind, he screamed—"Ah, she was tricked by Misato."

In contrast to petrified Mert, Haku side-stepped and changed her position, preparing her spell.

"I, I had been having so much fun fighting Misato, but you robbed all of that moment. Unforgivable! I will not forgive you for that! Come forth, gura—«gura the Fox»!"

"But I didn't do anything though?! How could I interfere when I wasn't there!"

Mert tried to shout back, however Haku had turned a deaf ear to any of his words. Instead, she conjured the avatar of a giant fox, entirely composed of flame. It was a charge skill.

It wasn't mere fire. The materialisation of fox's avatar meant the spell's power was amplified, incomparable to ordinary magic. This was her second strongest spell, right after unique skill.

The fox had to span 10m in height, entirely burning in flames, occasionally jumping. it should've been a familiar sight to any dungeon go-er, and yet, some of the students in the audience flinched at its sight. It was clear only another spell of the same level could defeat it.

Even Mert, who had been eternally stuck in loading mode from the absurdity of Haku's flame, finally reverted to normal function at the sight of the dangerous spell.

"Break for me—«Holy Disruption»!"

Mert turned the tip of his wand toward the burning fox, and launched a light ray of holy attribute.

A torrent of brilliance and melting heat clashed, vying for dominion over each other, but gradually, the torrent of light swallowed the giant fox.

"Wha—no way!"

Haku had thought Mert would go down easily, but the aftermath left her speechless.

"Don't look down on me!"

As Mert's shout rang around, the expanding radiance had completely engulfed the fox avatar, and soon vanished.

It was never supposed to be that easy. Haku's «gura the Fox» was one of the highest grade spells among the basic jobs lineup. Coupling with her INT above 900 from various bonuses, as well the skill being max levelled, any ordinary spell would've been only swallowed into the fox.

However, Mert easily offset that spell.

Though Mert couldn't be compared with Sierra when it comes to basic stats, «Wiseman» job also offered its user «Magic Might Lv10», and it granted a whooping 1.6 times the bonus. He was the top with his INT value in the «Eden». Of course, the spell he used also played a role in it, which was to disrupt the target's spell, but much of the heavy lifting was done by his 850 INT.

He also had passive skills like «Ancient Aria», which raises the grade of a spell. In simpler terms—It was a well known knowledge unique skill was above normal skills. When the two attacks slammed into each other, their grade would decide which spell would dominate which. And of course, unique skills kinch the victory a lot of time.

The second important factor about them was the level of said skill and spell. The grade also changed with the upgrade. There's no way level 1 skill could dwarf level 100 skill. Though if the difference was like, a clash between level 5 and level 10 skill, then there was a good chance to offset each other. In fact, this was the general procedure of Zephyr when it comes to hsi skills.

Back to «Ancient Aria», this passive skill conferred the same adjustment to the skills. Well, though it also depended on the type of spell used, and generally defensive skills do not get that benefit. But aside from that? It was bread and butter for «Wiseman».

And that's how, Mert's level 1 «Holy Disruption» won over Haku's strongest spell.