IDLE Database - Chapter 60

Around three minutes later, the duel between the two women was still raging on.

It appeared as if Irina’s opponent couldn’t dodge her Concept whenever she would unleash it. As for the result, her opponent would stop at times similar to being stunned.

On the other hand, Irina was agilely dodging the blurry projectiles being shot by her opponent as she tried to close in on her.

Irina was an Attack-type while her opponent was a Support-type according to the onlookers from the same group as her.

Aldrin thought that the fight would continue for a longer time considering the two appeared to be in an even matchup. However, after a few more projectiles that were keeping Irina at bay, her opponent’s refined energy reached near-exhaustion, resulting in the Energy Refiner making an error in judgement because of the slower release of her incomplete Concept.

Using that as her chance, Irina closed in and overwhelmed her opponent with her techniques in close-quarter combat, throwing her out of the circle.

“Irina wins!” The referee immediately shouted as soon as her opponent landed on the ground.

It was followed by claps from the surrounding Energy Refiners. Clark, the one chasing after her skirt, was even shouting from his seat, making those who saw it look at him with slight disgust.

Just how much of a simp is he?

“Her Concept is kind of scary. If you’re not careful, it can stun you and you will be vulnerable!”

“That’s right! What kind of Concept is that?”

“She’s from Alpinecloud, she probably picked something psyche-centered.”

“That’s not just ‘probably’. It’s definitely what she picked. Either way, it can’t be that it’s unavoidable, it’s just hard to do so in close quarters. She picked a suitable Concept for her, being an Attack-type in the assessment.”

Frederic, who was next to Aldrin, couldn’t help but join their discussion amidst the claps, seemingly annoyed by their idle chatter.

A while later, a new set of two Energy Refiners stood up after being called by the referee.

Irina, who appeared as if she’s not tired from that duel, returned to their group.

“Congratulations. I think I need to be wary of your Concept by now.” Aldrin said upon noticing that the girl stopped in front of him, clearly waiting for him to say something.

“I doubt you need to be. We’re allies after all.” Irina responded with a bright smile as she squeezed to her seat between Aldrin and Clark. Following that, instead of watching the next match, she closed her eyes to meditate, recovering the refined energy she used and bringing herself back to her optimal condition.

As time passed, the duels among the new Energy Refiners continued.

And soon, Aldrin’s turn arrived.

He was waiting for it but at the same he somewhat dreaded standing in front of the crowd, showing off his current strength.

Compared to these young Energy Refiners, he could no longer be called to be at the same level. His strength had already surpassed all of them. In fact, in the Small Insect Colony, killing a horde of ants led by a Giant Head Ant was something he could now do at ease, or for closer comparison, he can now kill a Very Hard Difficulty insect without purchasing the multiplier alone or relying on the other Dimensional Clones.

Although only Striker had a Level 5 Weapon and was the only one that could use a Skill, the other three Dimensional Clones’ equipment slots had all reached Level 3 while some pieces reached Level 4.

If he used 100 IDLE Points to summon one of them here in the form of his Shadow Clone Concept, he believed that it could defeat all of his batchmates in a duel.

In any case, he had no other choice but to step forward. And ironically, his opponent this time was the guy next to him.

“Funny how they pick who will be against each other. Do you think this is fair?” Frederic smilingly questioned as he confidently stood in front of Aldrin. His refined energy made his whole body glow slightly.

They claimed that the matchups were randomly picked but Aldrin had to digress. With Janet’s wink at him, hinting him at what the instructors had in mind, it’s easy for him to guess that it concerned him and his spherical Energy Quintessence.

He guessed that it’s simply too rare to see someone without any leaks of refined energy during their early days of being an Energy Refiner.

“It’s a friendly duel. Happens a lot.” Aldrin answered as he stood his ground, opposite Frederic.

With the training they had undergone for the past three days, even if most of their time in the camp were spent on their chosen Concept, Aldrin managed to learn a thing or two.

However, what he developed as his own fighting style was already ingrained in his mind after days of battling against those insects in the Lower Dimension.

“Is that it? I will not hold back then. Show me the strength of someone who can also withstand the pressure of those officials.” With Aldrin’s somewhat nonchalant answer, Frederic’s fighting spirit surged.

He remembered what happened. In his eyes, Aldrin wasn’t an ordinary Energy Refiner who only got lucky. He had skills and he even had a confident posture most of the time.

However, instead of showing off his skills, he’s making himself out to be the odd one out. That’s why when he’s paired up with Aldrin this time, Frederic eagerly wanted to test him out. To see the extent of his skill.

Aldrin, on the other hand, still had the thought of being low-key in his mind. He’s aware that compared to the young Energy Refiners here, his experience was more abundant. He successfully honed it from day-to-day combat, fighting against those insects that were as deadly as Rift Monsters.

It’s way ahead of the training they received through their families.

Even if Frederic was going all out against him, with the information he had about his groupmate, Aldrin had already guessed what his opponent planned to do just by the expression on Frederic’s face. On top of that, he could definitely overpower him with his raw physical strength alone.

“Fight!” Seeing that the two had readied themselves, the referee shouted and immediately took a step back, finding himself a better spot to watch the so-called rare and lucky Energy Refiner.

A split second later, Frederic disappeared from his spot leaving only a trace of his footprint as if he kicked the ground hard and swift.

Before everyone could even take a breath, a loud thumping sound of a fist hitting something rang out!

With their eyes pinned to the ring, most if not all of the new Energy Refiner released sighs of amazement.

“Great!” Frederic excitedly laughed when he saw his fist blocked by Aldrin’s palm without that much change in his expression.

“I see. No wonder Irina told me to watch out because you’re somewhat of a battle-crazy maniac.” Aldrin responded as he stared at his arm that was currently tingling from slight pain. He did perfectly catch Frederic’s fist but the refined energy he used to cover his hand got blown away by his opponent’s strength.

With that, he found out that he somehow underestimated his opponent’s strength.

Noticing the slight difference in the energy covering Frederic’s arm, Aldrin nodded inwardly.

Frederic used his Concept right off the bat!

Upon hearing his words, Frederic’s laugh intensified. “She’s not wrong. Now fight me with all you got, Aldrin!”

“If that’s the case…” As his words trailed, Aldrin ducked, dodging Frederic’s follow-up kick.

A split second later, his refined energy focused on his feet conceptualizing Shadow Steps.

“What?!”

Compared to how Frederic did it earlier, he found himself at an impasse when even Aldrin’s presence disappeared.

Before he knew it, he felt a strong force hitting him from behind.

Aldrin reappeared behind Frederic with his feet outstretched after that kick, sending his opponent rolling away.. He had to clutch the ground with his fingers just to stop his body from rolling out of the ring.