Cheers, claps, and whistles. Such commotions brewed in the air, people jumping up and down as they yelled with pride and excitement. The clashing of swords continued and so did the echoing of shockwaves, wild winds lashing ever so violently.
The sun continued to sink down the horizon and the sky of blue was slowly tinted with hints of gold and red, clouds drifting ever so slowly, turning and tossing time and time again like the waves in the vast and peaceful ocean.
"Ohh! Lord Jinkins wins the match with his sword held high! He advances towards the next round! To the semifinals!" ［Konan］
"Hohoho! That's the Intermediate Division, for you! With that, the four semifinalists have been decided! A round of applause to our rising stars!" ［Terry］
Konan and Terry shouted to the top of their lungs, slamming their hands on the table from excitement and the crowd cheered with them. A wave of applause echoed in the Grand Colosseum, people in ovation as the victor waved his hand.
With Jinkin's victory, the quarterfinals of the Intermediate Division have finally closed its curtains, the contestants heading out as the repair team took their place. A time of peace enveloped the arena, the audience happily chatting about how wonderful the matches were so far.
"That's the end of their quarterfinals... Yuna, it's your turn next, isn't it? Have you warmed yourself up already?" ［Grey］
"Un! I'm ready to go! I'll make sure to win without a scratch!" ［Yuna］
"That's some big words you got there, and no, I won't be making you any sweets no matter whether you win or lose the duel." ［Grey］
"Ehh～? But I haven't said anything yet～..." ［Yuna］
... Was how she put it, but with how things are flowing, Grey already knew how things would go, Yuna wanting for some sort of reward the moment she wins. It was better to put a stop to it before the young lady gets any funny ideas.
Well, her next match wouldn't be like any other. Yuna's opponent would be another Hgh-Ranker, and not just any High-Ranker, but one who holds the highest authority in Graystone. It was none other than the Kingdom's very own King, Archen!
He had always wanted to have a duel against the two, but never got any reasonable excuse to do so. However, now was completely different. He could finally go all out and duel to his heart's content. One he would never forget.
The same also goes for Yuna. Her main weapon may be a dagger, but her skills in swordsmanship weren't any less than the King's. It would be a good time to test how far she can go and how far she can push her opponent. It was exhilarating.
"Fufufu! I've never fought against a King before! This is exciting!" ［Yuna］
"Yuna, we've fought against the Azure Sword Emperor before, you know?" ［Grey］
"Un, that's true... But! He's an Emperor, not a King so it doesn't count! They're totally different, silly." ［Yuna］
Her logic was... unique. Though she wasn't entirely wrong, it was so silly, Grey didn't know whether he should laugh or cry at his fiancée's remarks. All he knew was that she was excited, ears flapping up and down as her face beamed a smile.
All that mattered was that she was happy, and Grey was satisfied. He also has his own match to worry about, and like Yuna's opponent, he would be clashing against one of the highest ranking personnel in the country, the General. A duel to behold.
"Then, without further ado...! Let's welcome our first pair of quarterfinalists!" ［Terry］
The stage was repaired and the commentator's voice rang out flamboyantly in the Grand Colosseum, another cacophony of cheers and chaos resounding towards the sky. It was finally time for the two to make their entrance.
"Fufufu! Looks like the fun is about to begin! I'll be going now～!" ［Yuna］
"Yeah. Break a leg. I'll be cheering for you." ［Grey］
"Fufufu! Un! I'll do my best!" ［Yuna］
Pride and excitement brewing in his heart, Grey watched Yuna's figure enter the arena, tuning around as she waved her hand. The skylight graced the waiting area and she basked in its glory, heading off into the stageー or so, she was supposed to.
There was a sudden change of plans, Yuna kicking the ground as she rushed back towards Grey. Not a single warning whatsoever, she then kissed Grey, her soft and plump lips pressing against his. Grey was baffled.
"That one is for good luck.... I can at least have that much, right?" ［Yuna］
Lisandra was around before, so Yuna couldn't even ask for it, but now that she was recuperating, she allowed herself to be a little bit more selfish. A mischievous smile bloomed on her face, a rosy tint painted on her contour.
"Geez... Really, you... You really keep on surprising me..." ［Grey］
"Teehee! That's payback for all the times you kept on teasing me!" ［Yuna］
A blush on her face, Yuna finally turned around and headed off towards the arena, the audience yelling and lauding her name as she made her entrance. A wave of her hand and they were in an uproar, fans in a craze.
Meanwhile, Grey remained in a daze, watching her figure shrink away. They have already kissed many times, but a sudden surprise attack like that was still unfair. He could barely keep his heart from racing, now beating along the sound of drums.
The young elf hopped on the stage with a single leap and the King's smile greeted her as she looked up. She didn't even need to guess. It was plain obvious how excited the King was, ready to cross swords with her.
"I've kept you waiting, Your Majesty." ［Yuna］
"No problem. Compared to how long I have waited to have this duel, a few seconds is nothing. I hope we have a good match, Gladiator Yuna." ［Archen］
"Fufufu! I hope I will live to your expectations, Your Majesty." ［Yuna］
"Haha. We will see about that soon enough." ［Archen］
The two exchanged words and shook their hands with friendly smiles on their faces. They then headed to their respective sides and the commentators introduced them yet again, even louder and even more boisterous than before.
One was a King who was an idol in both the pen and the sword whilst the other was a young heroine whose name has resounded all over the continent. There was no better match up, the crowd riled up in anticipation, rowdy as can be.
""Let the duel... Begin!"" ［Konan and Terry］
FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH SWISH
The winds howled at the signal, a storm of mana brewing immediately, lashing more and more violently as the crowd cheered. The match had just started yet the King already started with something big, a strike to get a grasp of Yuna's strength.
The ground quaked aggressively and gargantuan boulders rose from the ground, all cluttering towards the King's sword. It grew bigger and bigger until it was bigger than the stage, a golden glint enveloping the Grand Colosseum.
Yet despite the brewing and thundering storm of rocks before her, Yuna remained calm, watching such a beautiful sight unfold. She only held her sword tightly, not a hint of worry on her face. Rather, she was humming, excitedly so.
⟨⟨Falling Rush!⟩⟩ ［Archen］
Violent tremors shook the earth, the winds bellowing at his words. The King gripped with sword, irked veins popping out of his shoulders as he brought down his sword, a flood of rocks and boulders following, devouring the stage whole.
Boulders fell like rain and clouds of dust brewed like mist, a golden and earthy gleam laying waste down the stage. Yet Yuna remained smiling, bringing one of her legs back and pouring strength towards her legs, eyes sparkling brightly.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOOOOMMMMMM
Her steps resounding like thunder, Yuna leaped from off the stage, leaving a massive crater behind as she hopped from boulder to boulder, leaving explosions of dust and pebbles at her wake, soaring towards the sky.
The massive sword crashed towards the ground and the stage was cleaved in half, massive rocks flying towards the air as a storm of dust whipped and lashed around. There was barely anything to see, the whole stage veiled in darkness.
The young lady was high up in the air, the sun shining a brilliant gold behind her. Her eyes swam like cruising lightning, watching the abyss of dust and darkness for any strange movement. And surely enough...
⟨⟨Wild Thrust!⟩⟩ ［Archen］
... A deadly glimmer shone from the depths, darting towards and aiming for Yuna's neck. It cruised along the fog of dust, parting the beige cloud and boring a massive hole through it. All in less than a single second.
Unfortunately for the King, Yuna's eyes were sharper than her sword, seeing the King thrust his sword before the stream of silver rushed towards her. She twisted her body midair, pouring strength into her blade as she waved it towards the light.
⟨⟨Heavy Slash!⟩⟩ ［Yuna］
The two forces clashed and an explosion of dust and light boomed in the air. Yuna easily defended against the attack. She landed softly on the ground, dispersing the cloud of dust with a wave of her trusty sword.
The very moment she did, all were unveiled for the audience to see, another deadly glimmer shimmering under the sunlight. The King rushed towards her, his sword clad in mana, ready to land yet another heavy blow.
CLANG BOOM FWOOSSHHH WHOOSH WHOOSH
He struck the ground firmly with his foot towards the jaded stage, raiding his sword towards the sky, a deafening shockwave running rampant as his blade clashed with Yuna's, accompanied by violent winds and the cracking of the ground below them.
Clash after clash, after clash, gales and gust left deep gashes in the ground. The already jaded tiles were riddled with even more scars as the King and Yuna's swords clashed ever so ferociously, not letting up their barrage even when the stage was already completely devastated.
The King thrusted her sword and Yuna docked as swiftly as she could. The moment the former missed, she didn't miss a beat and retaliated with a thrust in kind, the King barely dodging it after twisting his body to the right.
However, Yuna was a master of combos. After her attack missed its mark, she used her nimbleness and flexibility to her advantage, rotating her hips with her left leg as the anchor. Her sword rotated the same, slashing ever so swiftly.
The King had no other choice but to fall back, falling towards the ground and using his hand to spring away, using his sword to extend the distance during the second springing, soon landing softly on the shattered stage.
⟨⟨Flash Rain!⟩⟩ ［Yuna］
Yuna was relentless. The King just got back on his feet and she immediately rushed towards him, letting out a torrent of thrusts, each one ready to cripple the King at the slightest mistake. She advanced closer and closer, striking faster and faster.
"Wh-What an amazing display from Her Highness! With her endless thrusts, His Majesty has been forced into a defensive position!" ［Terry］
"His Majesty could barely defend against the merciless strikes! No wonder she is called the Hero of Oiros! Her Highness is simply amazing!" ［Konan］
"This could very well end the match! Truly thrilling...!" ［Terry］
It wasn't just the commentators. The crowd was also in awe at Yuna's destructive prowess, landing strike after strike without fail. The King could barely keep up with her movements, grunting as he gritted his teeth.
⟨⟨Cease your movements!⟩⟩ ［Archen］
His Majesty tried to use the "Terrorize" ability against Yuna, but it was futile. He might be able to encroach in the hearts of other High-Rankers, but Yuna was the one who stood at the pinnacle of S-rank. It would take a dragon to make her flinch.
Yuna's torrent continued, and after defending endlessly, the King's defense was finally breached. Yuna grabbed the opportunity and blasted an even fiercer fury of blows, her sword grazing and wounding the King, blood trickling down all over his body.
A fury of blows in front of him and the edge of the broken stage behind him. The King was stuck between a rock and a hard place, elimination encroaching on him from both fronts, only a risky solution popping inside his mind.
FWOOSSHHHH BANG RUMBBLLLEEEEE
Ignoring Yuna's attacks, the King raised his sword and brought it down towards the stage. Yuna easily dodged it, but he wasn't aiming for her. The King's true purpose was the stage itself, cracks running down the ground as he cratered it.
The ground quake at his strike and debris flew towards the air. The once flat terrain had become highly uneven and unstable, yet Yuna maneuvered with ease, rushing towards the King without missing a beat, her sword ready to slash again.
"Heh..." ［Archen］
Yet rather than brace himself for the worst, the King only smiled, kicking up a storm of dust. He rushed backwards at breakneck speed, rushing recklessly out towards the stageー or so it would seem at first.
But just as he was nearing out of bounds, debris from his previous strike fell down from the sky. He easily maneuvered his body and planted his foot against it. He put all his strength to his legs, blasting off towards the sky and escaping Yuna's grasp.
RUUUMMMBLLLLLEEEEEEEE
He flew like a soaring falcon and the ground trembled below Yuna. The King's sword glowed golden once again, titanic boulders rushing at his call. His sword grew more massive with time, a hurricane of destruction brewing in the light of day.
Soon, not just the earth, but the winds also started growling and the Gran Colosseum roared like a rampaging lion. The once golden glint had turned scarlet, looking much more intimidating with the King's "Terrorize". A sword of ruin.
⟨⟨Heavy Slash: Meteor Strike!⟩⟩ ［Archen］
The King soared high and his titanic sword started to roar along thunder. A scarlet and golden sheen painted the Grand Colosseum, his descent making the ground tremble in terror and the winds screech in fear.
Yet Yuna didn't falter. Her once merry attitude faded like drifting mist, eyes glowing cold like ice as she changed her stance. The winds also started to howl from below, the afternoon breeze turning cold as she opened her mouth.
⟨⟨Mountain Cleaving Frost!⟩⟩ ［Yuna］
Frozen crystals of ice bloomed from her feet, spreading like wildfire on the tattered stage as she brandished her blade. A wave of blue and frost appeared at her tune, deep blue ice devouring everything in sight along her sharpened blade.
A massive slash from above rushing like a falling star and a wave of deep blue from below bringing frost along with it. Two disastrous forces clashed with one another, the sky and earth thrusted into chaos as the most powerful of shockwaves laid waste to the Grand Colosseum.
Light and explosions swallowed all there was to see, utter chaos raging in the arena, quaking wilder and wilder until an earthquake rocked the whole of Avalon. If it wasn't for the barrier, a large portion of the capital would have already been pulverized.
"Brace yourselves, folks! Don't worry, the barrier will protect us!" ［Terry］
"This is the highlight of the century! Make sure to keep your eyes peeled!" ［Konan］
Light soon faded away and two figures remained standing despite the stage already destroyed beyond words, massive blocks of ice and boulders littered the ground, the boundary of the stage now nowhere to be seen.
The King didn't rest and so did Yuna. As soon as their clash ended, they gripped their swords once more and more a massive amount of mana into them, twisting their bodies as they unleashed yet another devastating sword art.
⟨⟨ ⟨⟨Bladed Tempest!!⟩⟩ ⟩⟩［Archen and Yuna］
Two voices, two tornadoes of blade. Their swords collided again and again, sparks flying everywhere as they clashed. They were equal in speed and power, neither bending towards the other's will.
Such a fierce clash continued, only blades of mana seen by the audience. The King was already nearing exhaustion yet Yuna could still keep a calm expression. Only a single thought rang inside his mind.
'This is going nowhere...' ［Archen］
A massive and resounding clang echoed in the air with their final clash, the tornadoes of swords halting soon after. The audience couldn't help but forward to what's next, Yuna about to rush towards the King, when out of the blue...
"Yuna, don't you think it's gotten quite a bit boring?" ［Archen］
... His Majesty suddenly suggested such a thing. His guard was now down and his shoulders were free of tension showing he didn't mean any harm. Gestures which only made Yuna tilt her head in confusion.
"What do you say we end this match with a big bang? That ought to make it a lot more interesting, wouldn't it?" ［Archen］
"A big bang... Fufufu! I like the sound of that, Your Majesty!" ［Yuna］
"Great! Just as expected, I knew you would understand me!" ［Archen］
The two smiled with delight and a storm of mana brewed the most violent it ever did, attributes of earth and frost clashing in the winds, tremors running along the ground as they imbued their swords with all their might.
⟨⟨White Dream: Fluttering Snowflakes!⟩⟩ ［Yuna］ ⟨⟨Falling Rush!⟩⟩ ［Archen］
The ground quaked at one side, a massive blade of earth rushing down with an avalanche of boulders. On the other side was a wave of snowflakes riding along a blade of blue. Yet another disastrous clash laid its wrath, destroying the already ruined stage yet again.
The light faced away once more, the King's body riddled with wounds and ice, his whole being quivering in cold and pain, barely able to move. However, the same couldn't be said for Yuna. There was not a single wound to be seen.
'Seriously... What a monster...' ［Archen］
His thoughts carried by the freezing breeze, the King could only stand and watch as Yuna drew even more mana. Her eyes glowed bright and sparkled with frost, her silver blade now shining blue. The King could only smile ever so nervously.
⟨⟨Mountain Cleaving Frost!⟩⟩ ［Yuna］
Yuna passed her judgement and waved her sword, gales of winter lashing out a final time as a blade of frost and mana bolted towards the King. A frozen beast opened up its maw, swallowing the King whole.
The latter managed to brandish his sword one more time, but there was only so much he could do. He blasted away some ice, but most of his body was still devoured by the frozen maw of death. A silver glimmer shone in front of her, the young elf's sword pointed towards him.
"What a devastating performance!! Her Highness ends the match with a destructive combo and moves on to the semifinals! Gladiator Yuna rises victorious!" ［Konan］
"Waahhh～! That was an amazing match!"
"Your Majesty! Your Highness! You rock! You're both fantastic!"
"Hey! Did you see that?! Wasn't that amazing?!"
The young lady's victory had been declared with enthusiasm and the people received it well. What was once quiet as the cold winds brew was now filled with energy and excitement as the audience's cheers drowned out the howling winds.
Meanwhile, the two figures on the stage could not put down their swords. The tension which brewed like a storm was now gone without a trace, the two letting their hearts loose and sheaving lengthy sighs. The young lady was especially radiant.
"Fufufu! That was quite a lot of fun, Your Majesty." ［Yuna］
"Fun, huh..." ［Archen］
Archen was risking his life on the line as she battled against Yuna, but to the young lady before him, it was just another game. Just another battle she had experienced during her travels. He couldn't even get mad even if he wanted to.
The pinnacle of swords he has been chasing ever since he was a young prince was much farther than he thought. He was a little disappointed, but at the same time, an even stranger flame burst forth in his heart. He could only laugh at the thought.
"Haha... Hahaha... Kuhahaha! You really are something else, Yuna! You're right, it really was fun! We should do this again some other time!" ［Archen］
"Fufufu! If time permits it, then I will gladly accept." ［Yuna］
"Great! That's settled then. I'm looking forward to it!" ［Acrhen］
There was no time to be depressed. While it was a bummer that he couldn't even reach the semifinals, there was only so much he could do about it. He didn't dwell too much on his defeat, deciding to march on towards the bright future.
"Oh, but first, could you maybe... melt away this ice? I still can't quite move my body because of it, you see..." ［Archen］
"Ah, right..." ［Yuna］
He could talk and he could laugh, but other than his head, he couldn't move his body at all. It was still encased by Yuna's field of ice, unmoving despite him trying his best to break out. She truly was on another level.
"Sorry, Your Majesty! I totally forgot!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha! It's alright, it's alright... Just make sure to be careful when doing it. My wounds hurt quite badly..." ［Archen］
"U-Un! I'm really sorry!" ［Yuna］
CHAPTER 325 END