-------------------- [Standby Room] --------------------
"Fufu… Okay! I got this!"
I am so nervous now. The moment that my name is called, I will be entering the stage. As I have been informed, the stage has been changed from a long rectangular shape to triangular which will have us the finalist to enter the stage from each corner. I will be informed through a speaker in the room. It has no cameras whatsoever to provide privacy.
"You've got bad luck huh…"
I turned to my back and replied.
"Yeah, I guess you are right… shadow."
"Oh, I guess you already can relax a little bit even with me around now huh," he mentioned.
"I believe you won't hurt me in whatever situations given that I'm your so-called hero."
"Exactly. You are our beacon of light, our hope of survival."
There he goes again.
"But now the Endless Rapier, Ristorea had fall to the other person hands. What will you do?"
"I don't know, just give me time, I'll figure something out."
"Ristorea have chosen it's master and you will not be able to obtain it by simply steal it."
"We still have the other choice."
"You don't mean…"
"Yes. The Eternal Sabre, Atroxia."
Shadow takes a slightly long sigh.
"That's impossible. Evans. The sword whereabout is unclear and it has been ages since the one person was chosen to be its wielder."
"Even so–"
"You do have other choice though."
"What?"
Shadow comes to me and whispers to my ears.
"When a legendary sword wielder died, the sword will once again seek its new master."
"NEVER!"
"…"
"Pay heed to my words young man, if you don't get the sword later, your loves one will be in danger…" he warned as he walked pass by me.
"…"
"Including that girl you loved," he continued.
"Girl that I loved? Who?"
"Don't play dumb. I told you I watch every of your moves. Even when you try to find her after she run away from the stage–"
"NO!" I screamed.
"…"
"Don't get her involved into this matter," I pleaded.
"I don't care about what you want to say Evans, this is all, for the emergence of the truth but still, what a bad taste, for you to fall for a royal princess…"
"It's not any of your concern now get out!" I barked at him.
"…"
"I wish you the best luck."
Then he vanished into thin air. I still don't get how he'd do that or how he even enters this room without using that door.
"Calling for Evans Reinhard, please be ready," The announcement is heard from a speaker at the corner of the room.
My turn. I turned to the large automatic door behind me and several seconds later, it opened. I see the grand stage that have been rebuild for tonight and grand applause and screams of supports from the audience. I walked through the stairs to my beginning spot which is the corner of the stage that I am currently setting my foot on. Since now is the night-time, they used the arena spotlights to brighten the stage with wonderful colours but…
"isn't this too bright…"
"Now the last one, with unlimited surprise and style, the one who hides his true ability with the sword and now he is the one who rise above others, one of candidate to be winning the tournament, HERO ARCH-SABRE!!!"
The spotlights go to me. That's a very nice description Carl, you've got my gratitude for that. Looks like I am the last to be called since the other two have been on the stage. I wave my hands to the crowds. I can see my mother, Eva, Quinn, Helena, and Lilith are sitting together. I wave my hand to them. Quinn and Eva stand up and replied to me.
"Make sure you win Evans!!" Quinn shouted.
"Win and I will give you a kiss!!" Eva followed.
"Eh!?" Quinn was shocked upon hearing Eva.
Hahaha… you better not Eve… Mom, Helena, and Lilith just waving their hand back to me. Ah… I'm so nervous…At each corner, I can see Ace and Elea is looking so prepared to fight. Looks like Elea have the short sword on her right waist. I wonder what the ability of the short sword is. Our academy principal himself tonight will be announced and commenced the final match.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have assembled the best among the best student in the academy or perhaps in entire Azaria, thus I as the principal of the Azaria Prominent Heroic Academy, will now commence the final battle as well as the closure for the Blade Festival for this year!!!"
The whole arena is roaring with continuous loud applause and cheers but at the same time, they are encouraging. It always is. This is my final battle. This moment…
"LET THE BATTLE…"
I will win this!
"BEGIN!!!"
Three of us run to the centre of the stage altogether with our primary weapon in hand. Ace is holding his Dainslef, Elea is holding her Thunder spear, while me, holding my bow of course. I need to take advantage as I am the only one who capable of long-distance attack physical!
"Activate Enhanced Jump!"
I activate my skill and jump over both of them which currently clashing their weapon. I take a deep breath, enhances my focus to them and…
"Bow Skill: Multi Arrow Technique, Scarlet Rain!!!"
They both choose to retreat and guards themselves with their weapon.
"Activate Flash Step!" Elea activated her spell.
"Activate Sharper Sense and Fortify Body!" I also activated my spells.
The moment I landed onto the stage; Elea instantly changed her target to me. I tried to dodged every single one of it but it is damn fast! She rises her spear and swing it swiftly to me, but it missed as I take a quick backward step. In an instant, a blade runs through my back but successfully evade it thanks to my skill 'Sharper Sense', I could sense my surrounding better than usual. My sense may get sharper, but my reflex is wholly on me myself to evade or guard against it.
Just before I thought I am saved from the slash, Elea appeared in front of me.
"Spear skill: Lightning Enchant."
She strikes me with a thrust straight to my chest but once again, I am able to dodge by jumping a little bit further to the left. Ace went to her direction, striking her with his sword and they are trading blows with each other.
Now is the time to charge my bow. Precising target location. Release!
"Scarlet Slayer Piercing Bow Ultimate: Amazing Astral Arrow!!"
Ace realises before I release my ultimate bow skill unleashed his skill to counter.
"Sword Skill: Whirlwind!"
Elea who almost caught in the middle quickly take a quick step to the side with her skill, 'Flash Step'. Both my ultimate arrow and Ace's whirlwind destroyed each other upon engaging. Elea takes the chances and try to strike me.
"Spear skill: Multiple Shock!"
"Urgh!"
She got me. That 'Multiple Shock' fired five lightning spears and one of it just grazes my left arm. While the other spears were missed, it blasted off the spot it hit, leaving a crater about 1 meter radius. What power! Even my left arm is almost paralysed.
"I can't move my…"
She come to me again to finish me. I need to dodge. But Ace is coming from behind me. This is getting hard! I might become the first to fall if its keep on going like this!
"Okay, I get it now! I will use my sword if you want to!"
I hold my bow and quickly unsheathe my sabre and deflect both strikes both from both sides. I stopped Ace with the sabre while Elea with the blade side of my bow.
"You are good with swords, aren't you?" Ace asked to me.
"Well, actually only sabre type."
"Fight me with that sabre, Evans!" Elea joined the small chat.
"Sure. This time, I will entertain both of you."
They both come at me, but Elea is faster with her 'Flash Step'.
"Elea, you have good movement speed with the spell but…"
I slashed on the spear shaft, strong to push her a little further to the back with the help of the sabre's magical energy force.
"You lack focus."
Ace swings his sword to my back, and I quickly guard against it.
"Your stroke is very good, Ace!"
"Yours too!"
We are trading blows for a little while with each other. I can feel the force and strength from Ace which slowly pushed me to the back. His swordplay is top-notch and on top of that, his strength is ridiculous! He may have practice swinging his swords from early age and within every strike, I can feel the intensity and accuracy far stronger than Elea.
"I've been seeking someone who good enough to spare with me and you, you are that person! Evans Reinhard!!"
"Well thanks, I'm happy that you like it!"
"You won't leave me out of the battle!" Elea said.
Elea jump and gives a strong swing of her spear blade from top of our head but we both evaded it by retreating.
"Get blown away by the wind force! Sword skill: Whirlwind!"
"You better dodge this Elea! Sword skill: Incinerate!"
"Who do you think I am?! I am the princess of Azaria! Splitting-Ground Thunder-God Ultimate…"
The wave of flame and whirlwind almost engaged with each other with Elea at the middle. But…
"DIVINE THUNDER GUARDIAN!"
Of course, she activated her ultimate skill. Both of the skills are negated with a super strong force from Elea's synthesis process.
"Well then, I won't hold back anymore! Windstorm Dainslef Ultimate: Sacred Gale Gear!!"
This could be bad for me. They both came at a great speed to me.
"Sword skill: Slash of Fire!"
Right after the slashes get to them, I quickly jumped out from the confrontation. I let them trade blows with each other. I don't think I will get out unscathed after fighting with two people with synthesis skill at the same time.
Their battle is intense. All clashes of their strikes produce a magnificent, strong wind forces pushing me back with loud clanging sound. The ground on their footing already becoming a large crater and keep enlarging by every pounding of their weapons. I think this is a good chance for me to take them down.
"Draconic Laevatain…"
"I WON'T LET YOU!"
Elea gives a powerful stroke with an effective paralysing effect to Ace by an extended electric shock. She come straight at me, leaving Ace that is currently lying down on the ground with inability to move for a while.
"PRINCESS ELEA GOT THE ACE LYING ON THE STAGE!!!" Carl said utmost excitement and shocked in his voice.
The audiences went so crazy where the whole arena is echoed with tremendous sounds of claps and voices.
I have no choice but to clash my sabre with her spear. Her thrusts are getting faster because of her ultimate skill. She is giving a very hard time for me to dodge and guard against her attacks.
"Didn't you just said I was not focus enough? Then what about this!"
"It is… not focus!!"
I pound my sword hard on her chest armour, sending her flying to the back.
"You are just striking with violence, princess. You can't beat me with that."
Elea is coughing a little bit from the hit. I do feel sorry for that, but she needs to learn. I go to her, lending her my hand to stand.
"Come on."
Elea is shocked by my action. She was hesitant at first but then she tried to accept my aid. Her face is a little bit red.
"If you both have time to be lovey-dovey on the stage, how about you defeat me first!!" Ace interrupted the moment.
"WE ARE NOT!!"
Elea and I denied in perfect sync. Ace just barely recovered from the paralysing effect but there he is standing in front of us.
"Damn, I was careless for that small attack of yours, princess. But this time…"
Ace hold his sword to his waist, in a stance ready to unleash his strongest skill. I and Elea retreat at opposite direction making a triangle with each stand on every corner. Elea charged her spear like before until the spear brimming with bright yellowish light.
"I guess I have to do this to huh…"
I take my own stance by soaring my sabre.
"Let's do this!"
They are both ready to unleash their final, decisive blow to end the match.
"DRACONIC LAEVATAIN SABRE ULTIMATE…"
"ULTIMATE FORM SWORD SKILL…"
"ULTIMATE FORM SPEAR TECHNIQUE…"
Each of our weapons are shining with every own unique light representing our own magical energy to be unleash. Ace's sword is discharging a bright light-green colour with swirling wind force around his blade. Elea's spear is brimming with dazzling yellowish colour added with sparks of electric shock on the whole spear and inconsistent sharp buzzing sound. My sabre is producing an intense heat, emitting a brilliant orange and red colour with addition of white flashes on the blade.
"THUNDER-GOD STRIKE!!"
"QUADRA WHIRLWIND!!!"
"ARCANE DRAGONOVA!!!"
Three of us releases our strongest magical attack simultaneously. I can tell both Elea and Ace unleashed their full energy into their skill. I realised that their synthesis skill even become undone after their fired their skill. The impact from the collision between the magical energy is producing a resounding sound of destruction with enormous strong wind force, forcing me to impale my blade into the ground to ensure my body aren't pushed back by its immense forces. Not only that, the unimaginably strong forces already crushed almost the entire stage and also cracked the tournament safety wall to an extreme level that could shatters at any moment. But the battle of power doesn't end there, my flame dragon is fiercely ravaging against the other skill which almost decisively crushing them. Looks like the battle result is decided. I can win this—
"Evans! I know from the first time I see your ability, it's different from the rest I have seen so far. But I will bring this battle flow to my favour!" Elea screamed.
She takes out her short sword and go to the point that my flame dragon about to headed after destroying the other skills. She holds her short sword in front of her, ready to face with the raging flame dragon.
"This is the true might of a dragon power! RAINBOW DRAGONTOOTH ULTIMATE: SEVEN-COLOURED DIVINE MIRROR!!"
Instantly, Elea creates a gigantic gleaming crystal-clear mirror in front of her. As the name described, the crystal mirror has several soft shades of gleaming and shining colours of rainbow which is mesmerizing. Despite the beauty of the mirror, it then absorbs all of the ravaging mixed wave attack including the flame dragon into it and unexpectedly, it released all of the magical attack back to my direction. The exact fierce flame dragon I unleashed, come back straight to me.
"STOP!!!" I commanded like I did before.
The dragon doesn't disperse. It's impossible for me to dodge that… I already used ultimate so, how can I counter that…
"EVANS!! YOU CAN STOP THE DRAGON RIGHT! STOP IT BEFORE IT GETS TO YOU!!" Elea shouted to me.
"I CAN'T!! I'VE TRIED!!" I replied.
"EVANS!!!" Elea screamed. Her face was full of shock and worried.
Shit. My mind went blank at this moment as the intense force and sound of crumbling sound becoming louder to me.
Fear… started to engulf me.
Suddenly, I heard a voice inside my head. A calming, low voice of a man.
"Raise your sword, and slice through it."
That voice drags me back to my awareness. Immediately, I raised my sabre and slice through the attack the moment it runs through me.
"ARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!"
I endure the excruciating pain and intense heat with every ounce of strength, screaming my lungs out to the end of my consciousness.