"NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ARE YOU READY FOR THE OPENING MOCK BATTLE ROYAL OF THE TOURNAMENT OF THE ARIA OF MAGIC SWORD?!!"
Loud cheers are heard when the announcer finally said that line. It's indicate that the tournament is finally going to start for real. While some are still curious about a man named Geheim Nisubelschatt, who's suddenly painted inside their mind, they're quick to push the thought aside and cheers together with the crowd. They're excited. They're all fired up to see every participants in action.
"NOW, THE RULES FOR THIS MOCK BATTLE ROYALE ARE SIMPLE! THERE'S A TOTAL OF FIFTY PARTICIPANTS ON THIS BATTLE ROYALE! YOU CAN TAKE ON ANYONE YOU'D LIKE! OR JOIN FORCES WITH PEOPLE YOU KNOW! USE GRAND MAGIC TO WIPE ALL THE ENEMIES AWAY! ANYTHING IS PLAUSIBLE HERE, AS LONG AS ITS NOT DEADLY!"
Hearing the rules being set to the match, all the chosen participants are getting ready. Some draw their sword from the sheath, some getting their battle stance ready, while some are nervously shaking over because of the sheer level of opponents he'd have to fight against. Lucille draw her sword, which looks like an estoc, but without a cross-guard. A slim, light sword consist of a total length of 120cm, with 15cm of them as hilt.
While Jeanne are using a gala sword, or rapier. It's heavily decorated around the basket hilt with silver metal. The length in total is about is about 123cm, with 20cm used as hilt and it's decoration.
Most of the male participants are using a shortsword, gladius, broadsword or longsword, while some are using claymore and katana. An exception for Darius and his big build, who used a zweihander. Female participants are more popular with estoc and rapier, while some use katana, kodachi (小太刀, is a short tachi <太刀, a traditional Japanese sword, a bit longer and heavier than katana>, shorter than tachi and katana) and chokuto (直刀, usually used by shinobi/ninja).
Amongst all, only Geheim didn't unsheathed his sword. He only straighten his view to the participants in his surrounding.
"Are those seven swords in your scabbard only for decoration? Why didn't you pull out one?"
Some participant are pointing that question to Geheim. While calmly and elegantly, he slowly take his head toward the voice. It's Darius. When he took a glance at him, there's a hint of jealousy and hatred. But, most of the emotions are engulfed in burning passion to win the match.
"You… Not bad. Those eyes…"
Geheim only respond it with something different. Mentioning his passionate eyes instead. His voice are deep, as if its reverberating from inside a pits.
"What are you talking about? Like I said, unsheathed your sword."
"There's no need for it."
"What?!"
"AND! BEFORE WE START THE BATTLE, LET US WELCOME A CHAMPION OF THE TOURNAMENT TEN YEARS AGO! GUSTAV WELCH! AND THE RUNNER UP OF THE TOURNAMENT FIVE YEARS AGO, EDEL GOLKIN!"
The attention suddenly drives from the arena to the VVIP seats where the emperor sat and two other prominent figures stand. One is a man with big stature, such a big body and muscles formed all around his body. A form of a true muscle mania. In earth, he'll be a perfect winning candidates of international bodybuilding contest. He has yellowish hair, with parts of them dyed in white because of his age. A big smile can be seen from his cheek, when he stand to let people admire his muscles. On the other side, a small figure can be seen. She's small enough to be called a child, but she's actually quite old. It can be seen from how she's gracefully accept the cheers from the crowds. Her golden eyes and hair, are shining from the sunray. And despise her small stature, she hold her sheathed greatsword, which length reach her toes up until her neck in front. While holding it to the ground with both hand, as if using it to support her body like a walking stick. The cheers suddenly raise tenfold when she take that big greatsword up toward the sky with only one hand.
"ALRIGHT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUR DEAR COMMENTATORS FOR TODAY, STARTING FROM MOCK BATTLE ROYALE!"
Another round of cheers.
"WELL, EDEL-SAMA, GUSTAV-SAMA? MAY I ASK WHO HAS TAKEN YOUR INTERESTS IN THIS MOCK BATTLE ROYALE?"
Edel Golkin (エデル・ゴルキン), are first to answer. "Who else but Jeanne Sanctia. There's also a few other nominates that could make Jeanne serious, but not strong enough to win against her. Also, I'm more interested in Geheim Nisubelschatt. He never existed in our Empire's before. Just suddenly pop out of nowhere and then joined this tournament. What a fishy looking guy. I can't say he could win or not against Jeanne, because I never know him or seen him in battle before!"
"Yes, that young man is quite a mystery. From the way he move and stand, I can feel that he's a trained gentleman that understand sword arts. But I don't know how far or less he understand it so I can't measure his strength yet. For now."
Seeing his father forgot to gave him a comment, Darius is quite annoyed. While one of his two friend are trying to calm him down.
"AND THAT'S THE COMMENT FROM EDEL-SAMA AND GUSTAV-SAMA! NOW, SHALL WE START??!"
"YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
The crowds of audience are answering in unison. While the participants are pressured by the incoming battle they're about to face. Some of them choose to fight others that stand in front of them, while others are recruiting allies to take out major player first. Five to six participants are surrounding Jeanne, three on one for Lucille, and seven on three for Darius. Most of the rest face one on one, randomly picking up opponent. While Geheim stand still without even moving an inch since he get there.
"NOW! FOR REAL! THE TOURNAMENT WILL START ON THE COUNT OF…!"
"THREE!!!"
"TWO!!!"
"ONE!!!"
"MOCK BATTLE ROYALE, START!"
The crowds are following the announcer leads the counting, and soon after the "START!" swords clashes are heard in every direction on the tournament.
*****
"LOOK AT THE LEFT FLANK! JEANNE-SAMA GRACEFULLY AVOIDED THE STORMING ATTACK FROM THE SIX MINOR CHARACTER ATTACK!"
"THEY'RE QUITE MEAN TO SURROUND SUCH A BEAUTY THREE ON ONE, BUT IT'S JEANNE SANCTIA THE GENIUS SWORDSWOMAN WE TALK ABOUT HERE! IS IT REALLY FAIR?!"
"BOOOOOOOOO"
"NOT REALLY, ISN'T IT? GANGING A GIRL LIKE THAT, SO COWARDLY!"
The announcer and in hype to report the situation in the arena while the crowds would respond to his question. It seems like this announcer are quite mean and is ruthless with his word chooses.
"Damn! That girl is slippery as f*ck! And what an a*sh*ole of an announcer. He's getting on my nerves with his f*cking comments!"
"SAY'S ONE OF THE MINOR CHARACTER! WHAT A BAD LOOKING GUY! FINISH HIM, JEANNE-SAMA!"
"YEEEEAAAAAHHHH!"
"Tch, that son of a b*tch announcer! Hey, don't stop your attack, surround her and pin her down! For god sake, its just a single girl we're taking on right now!"
"OHH! THE BATTLE BETWEEN JEANNE-SAMA AND THE MOBS ARE QUITE AMAZING! BUT DARIUS-SAMA ISN'T LOSING EITHER. WITH TWO OF HIS FRIEND, THEY TOOK ON SEVEN PEOPLE AT ONCE AND ALREADY ELIMINATED TWO OF THEM! LOOKING GOOD!"
"ON THE RIGHT FLANK, LUCILLE-SAMA IS STRUGGLING AGAINST THE FIGHT WITH THREE PARTICIPANTS! AND ALL AROUND THE ARENA IS IN HAVOC RIGHT NOW! WHAT A SCENE!"
"OHH? WHAT'S THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARENA? NOBODY IS MOVING AT ALL! AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT BUNCH OF PARTICIPANTS, IS THE MYSTERIOUS GEHEIM NISUBELSCHATT! WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING THERE!"
The situation are quite savage on each side of the arena. Fifty participants are battling each other and eliminating anyone when there's a chance. But not so for Geheim and a few participants that surrounds him. They just stand there, in guard position. Not a single soul there moves a muscle. They're just silently staring at Geheim. For spectators, it may look weird. But for them, who directly stand in front of him with the sword in their hand, can understand why's nobody moves. Anyone who moves, will have their match over. If I attack him first, then I'm going to be eliminated first. That's the feel they shared with each other when they face Geheim. It's wrong. It's all wrong. This isn't supposed to be like this.
The total number of participants that surrounds Geheim is about double size of people that's engaging in battle with Jeanne. But what is this?
Why does they felt this heavy pressure when they're about to launch their attack to Geheim. They don't even move. They're just thinking on how to get a strike at him, but is immediately stopped midway. It's as if, they know that its won't succeed. What a sheer battle power someone must have in order to reach this level of absurdness.
Finally, one of them moved and attacked. Not at Geheim. He choose to abandon the alliance and go for each other neck because it seems impossible to attack Geheim.
"WHAT… WHAT IS EXACTLY HAPPENING THERE?! THE ALLIANCES TO TAKE OUT GEHEIM HAS BROKEN DOWN EVEN WITHOUT THEM ATTACKING AT HIM ONCE! WHAT AN ABSURD SCENE THIS IS!"
"It's called battle aura. Some people learned to fully utilize their experiences in battle into a presence. With that, all the enemies will feel they'll lose even without confronting each other first. There's few people in this world that can utilize those aura. One of them is the Maiden of Victory."
"OHH! ARE YOU SAYING THAT GEHEIM IS ABLE TO UTILIZE A SKILL THAT HAS BEEN USED BY ESTER-SAMA??!"
"It's not a skill, but more like, a status. And yes, he can. There's no other way to explain the situation we just witness right now."
The explanation from Edel is quite a shock for the crowds, and they're mostly amazed. A man who presence strong enough to make enemy give up before they could start the battle.
What a farce show that is, but they witnessed it with their own eyes, live. There's no way to deny it.
"That explanation intrigued me, you know? Edel? I wanted to feel that battle aura you said. I never had a match with Ester, and I'm really desperate to have one too. If what you say is true, then this guy isn't your everyday regular swordsman. Now, I'm excited to fight him!"
"You can try asking for a match with him, maybe after the tournament ends. Well, don't lose. Fufufu…"
"HAH! GUSTAV-SAMA JUST MENTIONED HE'S INTERESTED TO HAVE A MATCH WITH GEHEIM NISUBELSCHATT! WHAT A NEWS!"
That comment raised up the cheers by hundredfold. It's not an everyday occurrence. For a supreme commander of magic swordsman to be interested to fight someone.
Seeing how the crowds and all the VIP people getting their interest towards Geheim, the crown prince clicked his mouth out of jealousy and anger. While on the arena, Darius snapped at his father comments and swing his zweihander in horizontal line, smashing three participants and sent the unfortunate trio out of the arena after flying in midair for a brief moment. That move cleared out all the alliance that's formed to eliminate him, so now he can take a breath.
"OOOOHH! WHAT A MOVE BY DARIUS-SAMA! HE JUST SENT THREE PEOPLE FLYING OUT FROM THE ARENA!"
"WOOOOOAAAAHHHHH!"
Darius, who is freed from being ganged, now walk his way toward Geheim. The two friend also followed him after finishing their fight.
"OHH? OHHH?!! DARIUS-SAMA IS NOW MOVING TOWARD GEHEIM! ARE WE EXPECTING A BIG MATCH RIGHT NOW?! SAY, WHO WILL YOU CHEER FOR?!"
Half of the crowd scream Darius and half of them scream Geheim. While he's just a mysterious man that no one know about his origin from, he has packed quite a lot of followers just by showing his might using the so-called battle aura earlier.
Darius stopped taking a step about two meters away from Geheim. Which is an ideal maai* for him and his zweihander.
*a term officially used in Japanese martial arts. To simply translate it, the meaning would be, "Interval". Maai refers to a space between two person in combat, formally means "the engagement distance". It is a complex concept, incorporating not just the distance between opponents, but also the time it will take to cross the distance, angle and rhythm of attack. It is specifically the exact position from which one opponent can strike the other, after factoring in the above elements. For example, a faster opponent's maai is farther away than a slower opponent. It is ideal for one opponent to maintain maai while preventing the other from doing so, meaning that they can strike before the opponent can (rather than both striking simultaneously, or being struck without being able to strike back).
For the moment, Darius is calculating Geheim's strength by looking at him.
It seems like Geheim is truly has the strength to boast. Or not. Darius couldn't feel anything at all. Pressure, or whatever aura that Edel is talking about earlier. None of it. Then, with a feeling of confident that he will win the battle, he took a battle stance. Then suddenly… He felt a chills down to his spine. Cold droplets of sweat start to form in his forehead. Just now, he's thinking of swinging his zweihander in vertical line to smash Geheim, but is immediately stopped. In his mind, Geheim disappeared and strike him from his left ribcage. In an inhumanely impossible speed. But, what was that? Illusion? Then he tried once again. Using different technique. But, it's the same. Once again, Geheim disappeared and strike him on his left ribcage. Why left ribcage, he think of it in his mind. On that moment, it's not just droplets anymore. Rush of cold sweats fell from every where on his body, as he look right onto Geheim's left eye. All of a sudden, Darius felt as if he's naked, being stared at hundreds of red eye from every direction.
Those eye knew. They know everything. About his past injuries on his left ribcage. About what his move are going to be. About how much power he'll put into the sword when he perform the move. Darius is now in a state similar to petrified. His entire beings are stiffened, refused to stop from shivering and sweating.
So, using every last amount of strength he had right now, he managed to calm down. Then, he look straight at Geheim. This time, for sure. He'll not stop. Move!
But…
Geheim's left eye changes direction. He looked at the left side of Darius.
Those eye movement, stopped Darius once again. Yes. He know it. To cover from being attacked at his left ribcage, Darius planned to only attack on Geheim's right side. But those eyes know it beforehand. That's why his eyes move to his right side. Now, Darius completely understand what's happening.
That man, has been controlling the entire confrontation between them since the beginning. The reason why he cannot determined this man's maai, is because every spaces in this arena is his maai. He didn't need to do anything. He didn't need to move at all. He can defeat him this very moment. Or anyone in this arena. Seeing and feeling that strength firsthand, Darius couldn't do anything. All he could, is lower his head and give up. That man is not something you can reach. Not in ten years. Not in this lifetime of his. Not even in the next one. Yes. His sheer strength are way beyond humanity. It's a strength only the strongest in this world can have. The match is already over, even before he started it. It's a bitter truth, but is a fact that's undeniable.
While seeing this scene, all the spectators could only wonder. What in the world is happening over there. In their eyes, it seems like Darius is about to engage in a match against Geheim. But he suddenly stopped.
For his father, Gustav, and Edel, they understand. That the match is over. Deep within their mind, they're thinking of how Darius will attack. But it always end the same. Darius will lose sight of Geheim and will be attacked on his left ribcage. Hundreds of simulation has been going on inside the head of both this prominent figures but they only get one result. Darius always lose. In one move towards his ribcage.
"What… In the world…"
"Edel, you're belittling him by saying his strength is on the level of Ester."
"I… I see. So being put in the same level as Ester is a humiliation for him. That's why he show us that."
"Yes. It's a shame, but this tournament is over. We can see who's going to win it already."
"Indeed."
"Isn't that a bit exaggerating? I didn't see how he's going to win the tournament at all. There's still Jeanne Sanctia there. And, Ester is stronger than what you two think of. Don't put a shame to my fiancée."
Those word are uttered by Alexei, the man who will be the future emperor of Makenaria Empire. Seeing how that suspicious looking man being admired like that burn his heart to its limit. To the point that he wants him die. Edel are annoyed because of how Alexei behave and about to get mad at him but…
"Hey! He's about to unsheathed his sword!"
Directs Gustav looking at Geheim's hand motion. Yes. It's indeed holding at the hilt of one of the seven expensive looking swords in his scabbard that located in his back.
Then, the moment he take out his sword. Everything turn into a total darkness…
To be continued…