Vale was a Wind type martial artist in the novel.
Here the type just refers to their affinity. Like, my affinity is darkness after all I was chosen as the weilder of the "Moonless Night" katana. But that doesn't mean, I cannot use other elements.
Vale was a side character in the novel. When the Darkstar empire got devoured by the 6th general of the Demon god's army, he wandered around aimlessly across the continent, hunting down Demon worshippers. His past wasn't shown as he died to the protagonist's sword when he tried to kill one of his harem members, thinking them to be a demon worshipper.
Now he was standing across me over the dueling podium in the Training ground. A few knights that were practicing around quickly gathered around the Podium to spectate the battle.
Flora stood at a corner, she had a gentle smile on her face and she cheered on me.
" Zero! Zero! East or West, Zero is the best! "
I felt warm hearing her cheer for me, but I felt a bit embarrassed too. Lets focus on the work in hand.
I gazed back at Vale, and he returned my gaze with a similar determined expression. I turned to face the knight who was acting as our 'referee'. He returned my gaze with a dramatic nod.
While doing so, I channeled the mana in my dantain to my eyes.
" you may begin! " The knight said and jumped out of the podium.
I made a defensive stance with my katana like weapon. I wasn't allowed to use the legendary hero's weapon for a mere duel, or that would come as a heavy blow to my prestige. I was using a similar training weapon for the duel.
" Gale steps-! "
Oi! You chuunibyou! Stop saying the name of the move for god's sake!
I tensed my calves to receive his attack head on and…
'Eyes of providence..'
***
Bam-!
Cracks formed in the place, Vale was standing as he disappeared with his words.
A blurr formed in trail he walked through, leaving behind after images. He was using mana of wind nature to propel his body and attacks to unimaginable speeds and strength. Doing so, he easily closed upon the hero who stood against him, before he could even follow his movements with his eyes.
' Hmmph, you have to try harder Mr. hero! '
His sword cut through horizontally at breakneck speeds approaching the open flank of the hero. All the while the hero's expression was calm and unperturbed, after all this happened too quick for him to even put up his guard.
' its my victory!' he thought so and applied more mana to his magic enchanted blade. But…
" kuh-!" His attack stopped mid-air just an inch away from the hero's body. No. it was more like his body had stopped mid-air like a strangled puppet. He tried to move his body and pulled out more mana from his core to enhance the sword, but it did not budge.
Slowly the shadow of the prince disappeared from his vision. When he looked back ( he could move his head), he the hero smiling at him. The katana was sheathed and held above his right shoulder. His posture spoke of his easy going and relaxed attitude. Seeing the smile, the blood in his face cooled down to an unimaginable degree as cold sweat started to run down his forehead.
" Did you think it would be so easy? "- The hero asked with a smug look, as if toying with his prey
He slowly lowered his katana an walked towards Vale with in a casual stride. Beyond the Boundary of the podium, the audience was already amazed and shouted the name of the hero with much more enthusiasm.
The hero basked in the glory as if it was a natural thing and slowly lowered his face to the level of Vale's face. The grin in his face grew. Seeing the smile, something inside Vale, broke down and a pain he was all too familiar with came back burning his heart. His throat turned sour and he had to look down to suppress his emotions.
" you should have expected this much, when you barged into our sweet conversation "- but what the hero spoke of was completely different to what he had heard while growing up. Throughout his life, he was humiliated by his siblings for being weak, for being the youngest son of the Duke. For the young him from back then, the act of getting looked down upon was already familiar, from both his parents and his step siblings. They looked down at him for overstepping his bounds, and humiliated him with harsh words when he was left tattered in defeat.
So the words the Hero spoke, caused him to become confused. What was he talking about? And while he stayed dazzed, confused of his mind, the wounds from his past started to close up unknowingly. Subconsciously, he was a bit happy upon hearing something new. But…
" W-What are you talking about? " he faced the hero, seriously confused over his wrongdoings.
" You are helpless…" haaa.. the Hero sighed in exasperation as he said and then he turned towards the referee.
" prepare a coffin to escort out our guest! "
Hearing the command, the referee was stunned, while Flora face palmed her forehead.
Vale was stunned and blow away, clearly not in a situation where he could speak.
Meanwhile,
" S,Sir! The Coffin is ready "
A few knights entered the stadium carrying a wooden coffin. The picture of a Kanata cutting through a moon was carved out on the Coffin door.
Seeing the coffin a few knights were shocked, while a few grinned.
The knights who brought up the coffin were clearly grinning from ear to ear.
" Well done, Sir Zenon"
But the hero smiled back instead of showing any sign of being shocked, and appreciated them with a thumbs up.
Flora smiled reluctantly seeing the hero's childish behavior. Though she herself looked like an innocent child, her reaction was justified.
" W-Wait!" meanwhile, Vale had managed to regain his senses and tried to protest. He could see the huge smile in the hero's face and he was certain.
'It wasn't a joke…'
" put him inside the Coffin! " The hero ordered in with a sadistic grin, fully savoring the expression of his prey.
"h,help- "
Before you could so much as scream for help, his body was picked up like a rag by the knights and thrown inside the Coffin.
Bam-! The coffin closed with a bam.
" Don't blame me. You were the one who proposed, this idea of whoever loses shall be escorted out of the Training grounds with a Coffin dance"
"…mmmmphh" The mumbling could be heard across the Coffin walls, but it was muffled enough.
He turned towards the Knights who looked at him as if they were looking at a lunatic.
With a mischeivious and child-like smile, he ordered-
" let the dance begin"
***
[Gale-Steps: Willing wind type mana to your legs to move at inhuman speeds ]
[ Eye of providence: Suppresses the enemy's movement of the mana core is of a weaker rank than the User. Can be used to suppress a single enemy only ]