Right after match ends, I went to the treatment room to find Eva. There were several beds there with some students from the other tournament, I guess. There was smaller tournament like a sports tournament for student that studying in normal courses. She was resting on one of the beds provided there and I can see Quinn is also resting on a bed next to her. Looks like they have been given treatment.
"Sister, are you okay?" I asked her while trying to sit on the side of her bed.
"Yeah, they performed a S-rank spell, 'Restore' is the spell was called. They said the damage was quite extreme, my leg totally crushed to the level I already lost one of my legs. Fortunately, the spell restored the crushed bones back to normal," She explained.
"So, you can walk now?"
"Yeah, but your friend here, talk to me just now about you… you have a good friend here. He also asks me to keep him company until he awakes," she said while pointing to Quinn.
Quinn was hurt pretty bad but now looks like he's fine.
"I see, then I will go first, alright?"
"Hey Evans, about that…"
"Hm? Oh, of course, make sure watch me at the final stage, alright?"
So that's how it went, I also get some treatments there and came right back to the arena to watch Elea's battle. Looks like the stage has been repaired completely. The battle can start anytime now.
"Now, we will introduce the heroes for the third match, the first one is Hero Frostbite!!"
--- [Hero Frostbite] ---
[Name: Helena Frosty]
[Age: 22]
[Program: Core Technology Program]
[Weapon type: Wand, dagger]
[Weapon name: Frost Warden(wand), Iron dagger(dagger)]
[Number of Spell: 2]
----------------------------
The crowds started to talk between themselves.
"Eh, Frosty?"
"The same as the first user of Ristorea?"
"Eh, that's amazing…"
Helena Frosty. Actually, I've thought about the same thing. The first wielder of The Endless Rapier, Alisa Frosty. She was said to live the longest life among the legendary heroes which was about 120 years and after that, she died from an unknown disease. She lived alone after the victory, sometimes she spent her single life with the wielder of The Everlasting Sword, Dominia, which is the emperor at that time, Emperor William Maximillian Stardust since they two were best friends from the most prominent battle with Dragorath. But after her death, her family came to the Azaria to find her claiming to be her family, but it was too late. As the royal family checked that their blood to ensure their identity were valid, the royal family invites the whole family to stay in the Azaria with full of support from the royal family. They accepted the offer and chosen to live their live in the northern city of Azaria, Nyssa.
Hearing the name of Frosty is not that shocking but it's pretty rare to meet even one here. Helena is one of them, but people should have known about her since she entered this tournament last year… perhaps the tournament system didn't display the real name as this year…
"Next, A merciless lady who penetrates through her foe with unstoppable thrust of her rapier, Hero Nightlady!!"
--- [Hero Nightlady] ---
[Name: Lilith Midnight]
[Age: 20]
[Program: Magic Analysis Program]
[Weapon type: Rapier]
[Weapon name: Nightingale]
[Number of Spell: 0]
----------------------------
Lilith…is a rapier user? Nightingale? Never heard of it. To reach this stage without any spell, she is strong and her weapon must be incredibly powerful. Even I was shocked with the Laevatain power, I never thought it will be that powerful. A power that could kill… but for Lilith, I think this will be hard because Elea is there…
"Argh!!! Who should I be rooting for!?"
"The last one, the one that stars today's match with her incredible skill and power, Hero Princess Eleanor!!"
--- [Hero Princess Eleanor] ---
[Name: Eleanor Maximillian Stardust]
[Age: 20]
[Program: Magic Analysis Program]
[Weapon type: Spear, Short sword]
[Weapon name: Splitting-Ground Thunder-God Spear (Spear), Rainbow Dragontooth (Short sword)]
[Number of Spell: 1]
----------------------------
"We will not delay the battle any second so, LET THE MATCH COMMENCED NOW!!!" Carl and Hana announced.
This will be a long fight. Looks like Helena is the first one to move.
"Wand skill: Ice Stalagmite!!"
Multiple stalagmites of ice emerged from the stage, moved directly towards Lilith and Elea with a great speed but they both successfully dodge it. Honestly, this battle does not favour to Helena in lot of way because…
"Activate Flash Step. I will finish this now."
Elea activated her 'Flash Step' and went directly for Helena. Helena tried to activate another skill, but Elea is already behind her, she closes the gap between them in a just a blink.
"What?!"
"Spear skill: Thunder Thrust."
"ARRGHHH!!!!"
Helena collapsed in just a second after being hit by the skill. That was a lot quicker than I expected. But I guess this is within my calculation, her opponent is far too strong to be compared and it's already the worst match up for Helena. She would be best for support after all.
"Hero Frostbite is already fall!! Now we only have Hero Princess Elea and Hero Nightlady on the stage! But be wary, cause Frostbite could get up any moment!" Carl commentated.
I pretty sure she won't. Elea knew that this had happened for two straight matches, so she decided to give a decisive strike and make sure her opponent won't be able to get up. Thunder Thrust is a one-hit critical attack if directly hit by it. But it's still early in the game, why the rush though?
"You are Lilith right, it just you and me now, but I won't wait!"
Elea instantly moves behind Lilith trying to strike.
"That attack is too obvious princess!"
The moment Elea throw a thrust towards Lilith, Lilith take a step backward and thrust her rapier to Elea at the same time, but her rapier thrust won't reach Elea because of the rapier is not long enough.
"Sword skill: Revenge Thrust!"
Instantly, the rapier blade extended continuously and directly striking Elea, pushing her to the back for about ten meters. Before the point of the blade landed to Elea's chest, she quickly guards herself with her SACRED device which is also functioned as wrist guard. Despite that, the force from the blade is able to lift her body at the same time flings her to fall over the ground. Later, the rapier blade gets back to its normal length.
Elea rises to her feet and cleans the dust on her outfit.
"That's a good force," Elea said.
"W-well, t-thank you p-princess!!" she replied while rubbing her back hair.
"What a humble person you are but we both are here to fight after all. No grudge even if you lose!"
Elea went straight for Lilith and they fought an intense battle. With every clash of their weapon, a loud clanging metal sound created. Their steps were fast enough to push each other to go all out with magnificent display of weapon handling. The battle continues on like there are no ending.
"I will not let you win!" Lilith exclaimed.
"I see, then I will go all out now! Splitting-Ground Thunder-God Spear Ultimate: Divine Thunder Guardian!"
"Sword skill: Melancholy of the Night!"
Elea directly goes in front of Lilith with her spear being thrusted to Lilith at a high speed, but Lilith seems compose as if she has calculated that. She swings her rapier and block Elea's attack. At the same time when the rapier and the spear clashed, it produces a high-pitched ringing sound to the surrounding, strong enough to make me close my hear with my both hands. But Elea suffered it worse than the audience.
"ARGH!!" Elea shrieked.
She falls on her knees with both of her hands closing her ear tightly,
"This skill of mine, 'Melancholy of the Night' produces a loud ringing sound effects to the surrounding every time my blade clashed with another object. The nearer the opponent, the stronger the effect. And of course, it will not affect me."
"Thank you… for telling me that…" Elea replied.
She gets up and jumped far to the back.
"I don't usually use this technique but… I guess I will do it for you."
Lilith seems a little bit troubled because perhaps she doesn't know what the princess is a planning for right now. Elea stood in some sort of posture, soared her spear upwards. Slowly, yellow particles of magical energy appeared around her and congregating at her spears, making it brimming with bright yellow lights and flashes of electric sparks which were getting condenser and intimidating by each second. Basically, she's like charging her spear with magical power. Lilith troubled face is getting more visible and so she starts sprinting to Elea while tapping her rapier to her SACRED device purposely to produce the ear-piercing sound. Elea doesn't look bothered with that since she was quite far away from Lilith, so she could endure it.
"I guess it's almost enough now."
"I won't let you!! Nightingale Ultimate: Lance of Darkness!!"
Right after Lilith declared her skill name, multiple large magic circles appeared from above Lilith's head and each of it was summoning a tremendously sharp Lance covered in black energy. With her eyes gleaming with determination, she pointed her rapier towards Elea and instantly fires all of the lances.
"I don't have a name for this technique but…"
In a moment, I realised she is looking at me.
"I need to have a cool name for my skill, isn't it?" She said while averting her gaze to my location.
Is she referring that question to me? Oh my god, I'm so happy! Everyone is kind of wondering what and to whom she actually referring. But it is me!!
"THUNDER STRIKE OF DEVASTATION!"
Elea propelled her spears towards Lilith thus unleashing a condensed beam of energy and lightning along with a cracking thunder sound. The lances are pushed to the sides after clashing with the forces of the beam which finally hit Lilith straight to the body. Lilith is lifted simultaneously flings to the back for several meters. She landed on the ground with visibly severe burns and her uniform is torn. She is no longer moving. The whole arena starts cheering for Elea and Carl is about to announce the winner of the round.
"L-LOOKS LIKE HERO NIGHTLADY HAS FALL…" Hana is about to announce Lilith's defeat.
"WAIT!!"
Everyone heard the shouts and directed their eyes to Lilith. She slowly moves her body.
"I… still not lose… I still can… fight…."
Lilith is struggling to stand on her feet. Her rapier is thrown quite far from here location.
"You can't fight in that condition, Nightlady," Elea make it clear to Lilith by judging her bad condition after the deadly attack.
"I… have… been in… a lot harder situation… than this… This is… nothing…"
"Nonsense."
"I will… win this… and… release… my mother…"
"What are you talking about?"
Lilith embarked her trembling steps towards Elea with burns and wound on her body.
"If you still insist to fight, I will seriously end your consciousness right now!"
I stood up with this uneasiness in my heart for what about to happen next. Elea was charging towards Lilith, trying to give her a final, decisive attack for the closure.
"Spear skill: Thunder Thrust!!"
This time I can't hold back my worries.
"ELEA!!" I screamed.
I pretty sure she heard me, but she doesn't stop the strike. Suddenly, just before her strike hit Lilith, an immensely bright flash of purple light appeared blinding the eyes of everyone in the arena.
"What the hell happened…"
I talked to myself in wonder of what happened. Where was the blinding purple flash coming from? Later when my sight has come back to me, a miracle is occurred in this vast, grand arena. An unexpected occurrence.
"What…" Elea said as when she received her vision back from the flash.
The flash appeared right in front of her eyes. The moment she looks at the object that cause the light, her eyes opened wide with her mouth gaping upon the structure of the object. A long blade with handle much like a rapier, floating in front of Lilith while emitting purple light but with lower intensity from just now.
"Impossible…" Elea said.
One of the sacred blades from the legendary heroes, has finally showed itself in front of its chosen wielder. The Endless Rapier, Ristorea… has chosen Lilith, as its new wielder. This spectacular moment was more than enough to make everyone standing in awe including me. Several seconds later, the purple light dissipated. Slowly, Lilith reached the handle of the legendary blade. Suddenly, an extremely strong gust of wind force bursts from the rapier, pressing the ground strong enough to leave a crater, at the same time pushing Elea to fall over the ground. Lilith body was covered with purple lights, all of her burns and wounds were already healed. While she was taking a good look to the rapier, sound of a person hand clapping was heard. The one who clapped his hands was none other but Prince Richard. Then, the prince stood and go to the rostrum.
"Forgive me Carl and Hana, I'm want to say something," he declared.
Carl and Hana just nodded as they were also in surprise for what was happening.
"I didn't expect this to happened, and today, we have seen a grand and extremely majestic moment, the birth of another sacred blade wielder. My fellow citizen, be proud! Stand and give a round of applause upon the arrival of another sacred blade wielder who will become the sword that will cleanse the world from the monster!"
The whole arena was boomed with applause, screams and cheers right after Prince Richard finished. Everyone's face was expressing their utmost admiration and joy upon the declaration but not the princess and of course, not me too. Elea face outwardly marked how shocked that she couldn't even stand up. She was in total disbelief. Even me, I couldn't think what face I am making right now. But I just felt so… lost… even I did succeed to reach the final stage, but I think like I have bear an absolute lost.
"SHOW US THE POWER OF THE LEGENDARY SWORD!"
"OUR HERO! DEMONSTRATE YOUR POWER FOR US!!"
The crowd screamed.
"Everyone! Please calm down, even we have been surprised with this unanticipated turn of events, there are still some rules of the tournament that we have to follow!" Carl tried to calm the crowds.
"Yes! Within the official rules of the Hero Armament Championship, a participant that is a user either before or during the battle will be automatically disqualified from the match!" Hana clarified.
Lilith is shocked from the sudden turns of event, but she looks like not going to debate against the announcement because she maybe has known about that from the start. She just walks away out of the ring with the sacred blade and several people from the tournament management team go to Lilith to escort her.
"The winner of this round goes to… HERO PRINCESS ELEANOR!!!!"
Once again, the arena filled with continuous applause and cheers from the crowds. Elea still standing on the stage looking down. Her synthesis skill is disappearing slowly and later, she leaves the stage.
"Dear audience!! The last battle of Hero Armament Championship will begin tonight at 8.00 pm as well as the closure for Blade Festival this year here, in the Azaria Prominent Heroic Academy Grand Arena!" Hana announced.
"Yeah, that's right, we'll be eager for you all and I hope tonight will be the best match ever between Hero Ace, Hero Arch-Sabre and Hero Princess Eleanor!"
-------------------- [Magic Analysis Program Building Block] --------------------
"Ah, there you are!"
Right after the announcement, I ran outside of the arena to search for Elea. I take about an hour and finally found her here, in a lecture room, crying alone.
"H-how do you know I am here?!" Elea asked while sobbing.
"I just… you know… try and error… I have been searching for you for an hour and luckily, I find you here. This is my first time in this block. How are you doing?"
"I'm just… okay…" she tried to calm herself.
Damn, she's so cute when crying too. I am totally in love with this girl now.
"Um… I won't ask why you are crying but… I want to tell you that…"
I took a seat beside her.
"I also want to have Ristorea in my grasp. Honestly, when I know that you want that sword, I was kind of… regretted that I have you helped me because I… may be in the way of your objective. But I can't neglect it either because… I need that sword… to save my family… and my friends. I thought I could explain to you sometime but, I can't. This thing is a private and serious matter to me and my family. I couldn't tell just anyone, or my family will lose their lives. You may not know but, my father still in the hospital, the doctors don't know what caused him to continue sleeping but, it just that. Now that the sword has chosen its new owner and it's not me, I was really frustrated, lost my way of thinking and… and…"
"Evans… are you crying?"
"O-of course not…" I tried to hold my tears.
She stopped sobbing and finally calm down. She looked down.
"Evans… I didn't know you also need that sword…"
"It's okay princess… the thing happened is fate… we can't turn back the time…"
"Yes… you are right…"
"May I know… why Elea want to have that sword?"
"Hm…okay… I will tell you the reason why I want that sword so badly…"
"Alright, I am all ears for you."
"You see, my brother has finally possessed Dominia in his grasp. Of course, my reason would be a little bit ridiculous and childish but, I want that sword mostly for my personal gain. I want to be the one who protect, I want people to rely on me as the first-born child of the empire emperor. When that day, Dominia chooses Richard as the wielder, I couldn't help but being irritated and envious to him. I fall from my main desire to protect. I trained every day, improving myself mentally, physically and sought the Ristorea to help me carry the jealousy and create the me that one to be revered as the empire's diamond in the rough. But Ristorea chooses someone else. I thought when I go through all the hardships of training is enough but, I guess, that girl may possessed something that I don't have…"
Her eyes began to become watery again.
I see… that's why she has been acting weird the whole day…
"Well, maybe it is true that she has something that we don't. But that doesn't mean we aren't special too. We also have our own specialties, our own uniqueness. So, however she is different from you, you are you, and she is she. No one can replace you."
She looked at me for a while before wiping off all of her tears from her eyes. Then she carved a soft smile and nodded several times.
"Hey Elea, so, I think we both have lost our objective in this tournament but… we still have the last battle to get on, what do you think? We have about three hours to prepare. Will you be able to fight?"
"What are you talking about? This is Princess Eleanor Maximillian Stardust, the first-born daughter of the emperor! Of course, I will fight whenever or wherever needed!"
"Yes! That's how it should be!"
Then we both burst into small laughter.