Chapter 9 - The Lightning Princess

Later in the afternoon...

"Now, let's begin the afternoon match between the representative from the Revided Kingdom, Luna Astertina von Crissfade, and the representative from the Oswald Kingdom, Tristwin Dukedom. "

Ryuji and the others sat in the audience to watch Luna's match. Tristwin Dukedom has a big body, a fierce face, and also have some mustache. He looks like an old knight.

"Tristwin Dukedom will be using his sword, <> while Luna Astertina von Crissfade will be using her sword, <>, " said the referee.

"— <>!?, " Ryuji and the others shocked.

"Isn't the <> was the legendary sword ?" Ryuji was surprised.

Out of the blue, someone answers Ryuji's question.

"— Yes, It is. "

Ryuji has heard the voice before. It is Her Highness Crissfade voice!

"Your Highness?! — "

"It's been a while, Ryuji. You have grown so much and your match yesterday was splendid, " said King Crissfade.

"Thank you, Your Highness, " Ryuji replied.

"May I sit beside you? " ask King Crissfade.

"Yes, you can, Your Highness. "

Tristwin's <> was a long greatsword and its color was purple and red. While Luna's <> was a long one-handed sword full of golden color. Luna drew <> from its sheath.

"Let the match begin! " shouted the referee.

"I don't care if you're a princess or you're using that legendary sword, but with that small sword you will never win against me, " said Tristwin arrogantly.

"Are you sure? " replied Luna.

Without saying much, Tristwin charged forwards with an intense speed and swung his sword with strong force at Luna. Blocking Tristwin attack, Luna swung back her sword. She took a few steps back.

"Did you know why they called me 'The Lightning Princess' ? " asked Luna.

"Like hell, I know! " answered Tristwin while ran with an intense speed.

"Then, I'll show you, " muttered Luna.

While Tristwin swung his sword again at Luna, Luna suddenly disappeared from Tristwin's view. As fast as lightning, Luna was already behind him and she swung his sword at Tristwin's back. It caused a scratch on Tristwin back.

"— What a speed! " Ryuji surprised.

"She has the same speed as Ryuji..." said Hotaru.

"Because of her speed, she was called 'The Lightning Princess', " said King Crissfade.

"Well, that name suits her, " said Ryuji.

"You indeed caused a scratch on my back but my body is as though as steel, " said Tristwin.

"Time to find it out, " said Luna.

As she declared, she points up her sword to the sky. <> started to shines.

— Manifest,

— Ancient Dragon Within This Holy Sword,

— I Commend Thou to Serves Me,

— <>!

As she declared, <> appeared in front of her. All the audience was shocked to see the big dragon. It is the ancient Nine Head Dragon, <>!

"That's a dragon... " muttered Ryuji.

"It is the Nine Head Dragon, <>, " said King Crissfode.

"But how did she!?—"

"— <> has the ability to seal a dragon and absorb its power. That is another reason why she was called 'The Lightning Princess', " explains King Crissfode.

"Now, Freezing Burst! " Luna shouted.

<> released ice breath on Tristwin.

"Not so fast, <>! " said Tristwin.

Swinging his sword to cut off <>'s ice breath, <> has completely turn into freezing ice.

"By freezing my sword, did you think I will not be able to use it? " ask Tristwin.

Luna didn't answer Tristwin question. Instead, she snapped his fingers.

"—What! My sword?" Tristwin shocked.

<> that was frozen by <>'s ice breath has now shattered to piece.

"No..way..." muttered Tristwin.

"Huh, did you say something? " asked Luna.

"There's no way that I'm gonna lose to you! " shouted Tristwin.

"— O Light, I Call Upon Thee, Provide me a light-graced sword! "

A sword that made of light element appear on Tristwin's hand. Without thinking much, Tristwin started to charge forward.

With immense speed, Luna swung her sword at Tristwin's chest.

"I lose? " muttered Tristwin.

He then collapsed after receiving Luna's attack.

"Tristwin Dukedom has collapsed. The winner is...Luna Astertina von Crissfade! " said the referee.

Luna put <> back to its sheath. All the audience gave Luna a round of applause.

"S-S-She so strong—" muttered Ryuji.

"You are a match opponent for Luna, Ryuji, " said Hotaru.

"Ryuji, " called Rissa.

"She was strong, that's mean if you're gonna fight her, you will need to use the <> right? " whispered Rissa.

"I don't...know, " muttered Ryuji.

"I shall go back to my place, " said King Crissfode.

"Ah, yes, Your Highness, " Ryuji replied.

The match ended with Luna's victory. It seems that some of the contestants were feared by Luna's power and the <>.

"Luna, congratulation on winning the first match, " said Ryuji.

"Yeah, thank you, " replied Luna.

"Come on Riss, you have to say it also, " Ryuji said while putting his hand on Rissa's shoulder.

"What—?! Well, if it's what you want, congratulation! " said Rissa.

"Yeah yeah, "

"Don't get the wrong ideas! I'm just doing this for Ryuji's sake, " said Rissa.

"Well, I appreciate it. "

"Hey Ryuji, I am hungry..could we go eat lunch together? "asked Rissa.

"Sure, why not. You'll come too, Luna? "

"I'm okay with it, " Luna replied.

"Are you okay with it? " ask Ryuji to Rissa.

"Hm! You don't even have to ask about it, " replied Rissa.

— What's wrong with her?

"Okay, then I will call my assistant too. "

The four of them go get lunch together at a restaurant. While there were eating, Ryuji begins to spoke.

"Luna, how did you get the <>? "asks Ryuji.

"I get the <> when I was still a high schooler, " said Luna.

"That day, I was fighting a dragon...no, it was the Nine Head Dragon <> at a lake. "

"Isn't that the dragon that you summon earlier? " asks Ryuji.

"Indeed, my sword shattered to piece when I am trying to cut its last head. I have almost lost my hope. But at that time..."

Luna was thrown into the lake by <>. She doesn't have the energy to swim back to the surface. In the deep of the lake, she saw a sword that was stuck into a stone. She doesn't have any choice but to use the sword in order to defeat the <>. With all of her might, she succeeds in pulling the sword out of the stone.

She quickly swims to the surface. Suddenly, the sword begins to shines and a woman appeared in front of her.

"Who...are you? " Luna asked.

"I am the Lady of the Lake, Nimue. I have come here to congratulate you on success on pulling the <>," answered her.

"<>? Isn't the <> was a Holy Sword? "

"Yes, it is. You can only defeat the <> using the <>, " said Nimue.

As she said, she slowly disappeared from Luna's view.

"Hey, wait! —"

The tail of <> suddenly aims at where Luna was standing. Luna quickly jumps to dodge <> tail's attack. Luna grasps the holy sword in her right hand.

She kicked the ground and jumped high up.

"— O Ancient Holy Sword, Lend Me The Power to Defeat the Ancient Dragon <>! "

The <> started to shines again. Luna cut off the last head of the <>.

"Fuh, I did it.. " muttered Luna.

The whole body of <> slowly permeates inside the <>.

"Wait...What is going on? " muttered Luna.

Luna suddenly heard that someone is whispering in her ear.

"That is the abilities of the <>, <>. It can seal a dragon and its power."

"Hey, where are you? Nimue!!! " Luna shouted.

Luna then returns to the palace and tells Her Highness about what was happening...

"That's how I get the <>, " explained Luna.

"Wow, it must be hard for you, " said Ryuji.

"Yeah, a little bit. As long as I could control the dragon's power, it should be okay, " said Luna.

"Hey the two of you, don't forget that I'm here, " Rissa suddenly spoke.

"That's right! You once said that Rissa is your partner during the tournament, " said Luna.

Ryuji was choked when he heard what she said.

"Hey, are you okay? " asked both of them.

"Yeah, I'm okay. "

"You should be careful when you're drinking, " said Claire.

"Anyway, why did you took part in this tournament? " asked Luna.

"Hm, I think it's because King Aershield choose me as the kingdom representative and Riss said that she wants to join it too. "

"That's all? " Luna curious.

"I think...yeah, that's all, " Ryuji reply.

"Seriously! Just because of that?" Luna shocked.

All the contestants who join the tournament accept Ryuji, they only have one will, and that is to get the title of 'The Strongest Swordsman'.

"How about you, Luna? " Ryuji asked.

"I'm gonna win this tournament so I can get the title of 'The Strongest Swordsman'. One who gets the title will be recorded in the of 'World History'. I don't know why did they suddenly give it as the prize for the winner, " said Luna.

— Maybe because this year was the first time that the <> visit.

"And..."

"And? " Ryuji curious.

"It's nothing, " muttered Luna.

"Sorry, I should probably go now, let's go, Claire. "

They both left the restaurant quickly. Ryuji and Rissa felt strange about Luna's behavior.

"What's wrong with her? "

"I don't even know, " said Rissa.

"Ryuji-sama, "

Someone was calling his name. It was Forster.

"Excuse me, may I sit over here? " asked Forster.

"Yes, you can. "

Forster sat on the chair where Luna sat earlier.

"Actually Ryuji-sama, we need to talk. "

A serious face was shown by Forster.