After the battle with Dante, Ciana, Iwa and I trained to become prepared for the upcoming battle with God [Sagittarius].

The [Soldier Challenge] is the only way to become a soldier of [Katzenschatz]. By defeating the first [Constellation Deity] [Sagittarius] in battle, a [Katzen] can immediately become an official soldier with the lowest rank [6th rank]. As you defeat more [Deities] in the duration of the challenge, your rank will go up. The highest rank is [1st rank] and you can only become one by defeating all six [Deities]. Of course, the participants in the [Deity Tournament] will also be based upon the achievements of the [wielders] here in this challenge.

And after days of training, we finally decided to challenge God [Sagittarius].

“This castle…is huge!” I commented with a surprised face after arriving at the venue of my first [Soldier Challenge].

“This is [Archer Castle] after all,” Ciana said.

It is a big castle made of big bricks. Even though its sole color is light red, it is still majestic in appearance.

“Is our training...enough?” I asked nervously.

“Jeez, don’t be so nervous. Let’s win this,” Ciana replied with a smile.

“Sh-she’s right,” Iwa replied with a sudden nervous face.

“Look, you even influenced Iwa,” Ciana whispered with a sigh.

“S-sorry about that,” I replied in an apologetic tone.

“Just believe in the two of us, Raiki,” Ciana said with a smile.

“Th-that’s right. I will try my best,” Iwa followed, trying her best to encourage me.

*ruu!* Ruby also encouraged who is currently on my right shoulder.

I then lightly slapped both sides of my face and with a smile, I said, “Yeah. Let’s win this!”

“Are you Mr. Raiki?” a [castle soldier] asked after the big door of the castle opened.

“Y-yeah. That’s me,” I responded seriously.

“Then, please follow me towards the [Battle Arena],” he continued with a poker face.

“Sure,” I replied.

We then followed him inside the castle. There are some rich guests in the first floor, chatting with each other but when we ascended to the second floor using the grandiose stairway, the one who welcomed us were different expensive furniture and decorations made of rare [loots] that costs millions of EC. There are lots of expensive-looking things that I don’t know where to look anymore.

“As expected to a Deity,” I whispered while looking around.

“Please follow me this way,” the soldier said.

“Y-yeah,” I replied and followed him.

After walking for a couple of minutes as we look at different paintings hanged in the walls, we finally arrived at a big door made of metal. When the butler opened it, we immediately saw the [battle arena] with someone standing in the middle.

“Welcome, [wielder],” he said with an excited smile.

It is no other than God [Sagittarius] wearing his usual light green armor. In appearance, he has a blonde hair and a very handsome face. His lower body is also that of a horse, making him really tall in height.

I then went before him and Ciana and Iwa stayed on the standby area.

“The battle you showed me in the [Wielder Dome] is really entertaining. I just hope that you’ll do the same here,” he said with a smile.

“I’ll try my best,” I replied with a serious face.

“So…how about we start the battle now? It looks like you’re already ready to fight,” he followed with a serious smile.

“Please do,” I said and sharpened my senses.

“As usual, I won’t use these legs to run. You guys are still a beginner after all so please don’t take it the wrong way. Is that okay with you?” he asked in a friendly tone.

“Of course.”

I’m sure that if all Deities took the challenge seriously, no one can pass the challenge. That is why they’re giving us a handicap.

“The [Soldier Challenge] will now commence. God [Sagittarius] and the challenger, Raiki can only use two [weapons] respectively. The one who will make all of the opponent’s [weapons] unable to battle, make the opponent [wielder] lose consciousness or make the opponent [wielder] admit defeat will be announced as the winner. Are both sides ready?” the judge asked.

“Yeah,” I replied and made a fighting stance.

“Let’s start,” he said and smiled at me.

“Battle….commence!”

“[Ciana]!”

“Leave it to me,” Ciana replied with a serious smile.

“[Joan]!” God [Sagittarius] called.

“Yes, Sir.”

After a sickle appeared on my left hand, I immediately looked at God [Sagittarius]’s [beast weapon].

“As expected. It’s a level 30 bow and arrow that uses [ice magic] just like Ciana told us,” I whispered.

Ciana is now at level 30 so the result of the battle will be decided by the strength of the [wielders].

(Just like I thought, Sagiru is still using his usual style of challenge. If that’s the case, the other one will be a level 30 [beast weapon] that uses [fire magic].)

This is my first time battling a [wielder] with a long range [weapon].

“Let’s go!” I said and dashed towards God [Sagittarius].

The faster I get, the lesser the damage I can inflict but I’m clearly at a disadvantage here because of [Ciana]’s range. I have to get closer or I won’t even land an attack.

“So that’s your plan. [Icicle Arrow],” God [Sagittarius] said and fired his arrow to my direction.

(Raiki, stop!)

I immediately turn on my brakes and after I stopped skidding completely, the arrow landed right before me and formed three conjoined ice pillars in an instant.

“That’s close!” I reacted with a shocked face.

“If I were you, I won’t attack carelessly. If you got hit by that, I’m sure that your whole body will freeze and you’ll lose by default,” God [Sagittarius] explained confidently.

As expected to an [Constellation Deity]. Dante is too weak compared to him.

(What should we do, Raiki?)

“Increase our speed!” I said and ran towards God [Sagittarius] in my max speed.

(But with this…your attack damage will become…zero!!!)

“What?” God [Sagittarius] reacted after I instantly appeared before him in point blank range.

“[Switch]!” I shouted and swung my weapon to God [Sagittarius]’s bow.

*boom*

(Raiki! This is--!)

[Switch], my newest [physical attack]. It enables me to max my [weapon]’s worst status (in this case, [attack]) instantly and make its best status (in this case, [speed]) completely zero. The condition in order to activate this is my best status should be max first. With this new [physical attack], I can deliver the maximum damage I can inflict to the opponent but…it will make me unable to dodge the opponent’s next attack because my [speed] just became zero. A gamble attack perfect for a situation like this!

When the smoke lifted, the bow is still present. God [Sagittarius] gave me a smile and said, “Impressive, but…”

I’m planning to finish his [weapon] in one attack but it didn’t work! I’m dead!!!

He then held a single arrow like a knife and shouted, “[Ice Stab]!”

“Ahhhh!!!”

When I got stabbed by the arrow, a freezing sensation exploded inside my body, very different from a [fire magic]’s [Flame Burst]. It made my whole body numb, making me hit the floor.

“Gahaaa!”

“Raiki!!!” Iwa shouted with an extremely worried expression in the standby-area.

“Did you think that just because this [weapon] of mine is a [long range] type, it can no longer attack in point blank range?” God [Sagittarius] asked with serious eyes.

Darn it! I have to get up or I’ll lose!

(Raiki, can you get up?)

Don’t worry, Ciana. I can still…continue.

“Hmmm~,” God [Sagittarius] reacted with an amused expression after I got up with shaking legs.

“Then...how about this!” I shouted and circled around him, fast enough for God [Sagittarius] to have a hard time following my movements.

“Does that [weapon] uses [lightning magic]?” he asked with a smile.

I then jumped up and shouted, “[Wheel Blade]!”

“Naïve! [Icicle Arrow]!”

*pew*

When my [weapon] and his arrow collided in mid-air, I immediately rotated like a wheel.

*clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang clang*

Our attacks tried to push against each other and after a while, it created an explosion.

*ka-boom*

After I landed on the ground, God [Sagittarius] gave me an amused smile.

“Not bad, [wielder].”

Darn it! I can’t even land a hit! How can I even beat this guy?

“You see, attacking head-on won’t do you any good. You should always outwit your opponent in a battle. This [soldier challenge] is not just about strength but also about strategy, you get it?” he explained with a gentle smile.

So I should outwit him using my own strategy.

(If only we can use my [special attacks]…)

If we do that, he will learn your true identity. That is why we can only use…

(Raiki?)

I got it! I hope ‘this’ will work!

I can only maintain the effects of [switch] for a couple of seconds so it already deactivated earlier. If I want to increase my attack to the maximum again, I have to use [switch] again. First, I have to get close to him as much as possible with my speed at maximum.

I then charged towards God [Sagittarius] and prepared to slash him.

“You can’t beat me just by charging blindly, [wielder],” God [Sagittarius] said with a smile and fired an arrow to me.

*pew*

I managed to dodge it by jumping up. Because his arrow missed, it hit the ground, making the area around it freeze.

“That’s close!” I said after landing on the ground.

“It’s too soon to let your guard down,” he said and fired his arrows repeatedly.

*pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-pew-pew*

All of it was so close on hitting me but I managed to dodge all of it by running around. Before I know it, the battle field got covered completely by ice.

“Ice…”

This will work!

I then ran around and because the floor is now slippery thanks to the new ice floor, I slid very fast that I’m now heading towards an ice pillar.

(Raiki, watch out!)

“Increasing your [speed] in this new battlefield is a failure of a strategy…” God [Sagittarius] whispered with a disappointed face.

But this is all part of my plan!

Just before I hit the pillar, I braced myself and drew out my free hand.

“What is he planning to do?”

What hit the pillar is my hand and before I completely crashed on it, I used both of my feet to shift the direction of my momentum. Before I know it, I am now heading towards my desired location.

(I see! You used the pillar to change direction without losing speed!)

And now, I’m heading towards the bewildered God [Sagittarius]!

“What the…” God [Sagittarius] reacted with a surprised face.

“Here I come!” I shouted and prepared to cut him. Because I’m sliding towards him very fast, there’s no time for a counter-attack. I can do this!

“[Swit--]”

Just before my blade touched him, an arrow generated on his hand in a split second.

“Too slow! [Ice Sta--]”

If my [Switch] and his [Ice Stab] clashed, the two attacks will just cancel out each other! I have to abandon using [Switch]!

I immediately turned on the brakes to deliver a move that will stop his attack.

“[Counter Kick]!” I shouted.

*pow*

“Ugghhhh!!!”

Because of my sudden kick on his leg, he lost his grip on his arrow.

A bow without an arrow can’t do anything! With this slash, it’s the end!!!

“Haaaa!!!”

Just before my blade reached his bow, he managed to hold his bow like a bat and gave me a victorious smile.

“[Gold Smash]!!!” God [Sagittarius] yelled.

*slam*

Without landing an attack, [Ciana] became unable to battle and transformed back into the standby area.

There’s no time to waste!

“[Iwa]!!!” I screamed.

“At your service!” Iwa responded with a serious face.

In an instant, a bronze kite shield appeared on my left arm and because God [Sagittarius] is just exactly on [Iwa]’s attack range, I managed to land a hit.

“[Bronze Smash]!!!”

*boom*

After being hit by my shield, God [Sagittarius]’s [beast weapon] transformed into a blue light and went back to the stand-by area. I immediately ran some strides away from him and made a defensive stance.

I finally defeated his first [weapon]! Thanks to that, [Iwa] is now at level 23.

“Not bad, [wielder],” he muttered with a wry smile.

“Without [Ciana] and [Iwa], I won’t reach this far. It’s all thanks to them,” i replied seriously.

“I see. Then, are you ready for my second and last [weapon]?” he asked with an amused expression.

“Bring it on!” I responded.

“Then, [Christine]!” God [Sagittarius] called.

“Yes, sir.”

Suddenly, the last girl on his standby-area transformed into a red light and became a bow on his hand.

So it is really another level 30 long-range [weapon], huh. This is the worst match-up. [Iwa] is just a kite shield and the only [physical attack] I can do is [Bronze Smash], a point-blank range attack. This situation is bad! But despite that...

“We’ll win this...” I whispered with serious eyes.