The excitement of the final match in the Combat Tournament was unlike anything seen in the previous rounds. With Tiferia’s popularity soaring, waves of LOVE erupted from the crowd. While many had come to see Tiferia, the dark horse, Lua, was also a contender capturing attention.
“At last, the final match has arrived!
How could the Master Knight Tiferia not emerge victorious?
And here stands the girl who has surged through the ranks with unstoppable momentum, Lua!
Whether you laugh or cry, the champion will be decided right here, right now!”
Standing in the arena, Tiferia was different from her previous battles; she wielded a sword. The thrill of this fight had driven her to retrieve her weapon from home. The Twilight Bringer—that was the name of her weapon. Crafted from the finest materials by a master artisan, it was a sword made solely for her, the only one of its kind in the world.
Lua felt a twinge of anxiety as she gazed at Tiferia. Though she knew little about swords, her Mithril Sword had been damaged by Amane and was in poor condition. Could she withstand Tiferia’s weapon with a sword riddled with cracks? As Lua focused on Tiferia, she was met not with the usual smile but with a piercing gaze.
“That sword of yours doesn’t seem to be in good shape.
Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Is that so…”
The air around Tiferia seemed to ripple, creating a powerful gust that swept through the Coliseum. With screams, the personal belongings of spectators were blown away. The repaired arena began to crack under the pressure emanating from Tiferia.
“Um, I don’t really understand.
I’ve never experienced being… underestimated, I guess.
I never thought it would feel this infuriating.”
Was it pride as a Master Knight or an S-rank? Ignoring her opponent’s demeanor, Tiferia quietly seethed at Lua’s calmness. Though she appeared gentle, she was, in truth, incredibly self-centered. Lua could sense this without needing to articulate it.
“Tiferia, you didn’t even try to fight Inoro properly.”
“That’s not true.”
“You’re lying.”
“It’s not.”
When she asserted this with a flat expression, it was clear she would not tolerate further retorts. The referee was about to announce the start of the match. The noisy commentary faded from Lua’s ears as she slowly prepared to face Tiferia.
The match began, and Lua only heard those words. The power of her opponent was on a whole different level. Lua realized this the moment Tiferia closed the distance in an instant. It wasn’t an uncatchable speed, but Lua understood that Tiferia wasn’t giving her all just yet.
If that was the case, Lua decided to probe, swinging her sword toward Tiferia. However, it was met with a high-pitched metallic clang.
“That’s heavy.”
There was no hint of urgency in her voice. For now, it was merely an acknowledgment.
“Weapon Break!”
Even without the words being spoken, Lua instinctively dodged the attack. She had accumulated enough experience to understand the implications of what had happened to Queed’s weapon.
“Burst Braver!”
As Tiferia swung her sword, a barrage of explosions surged forward. Lua chose not to evade this time. She had only one option.
“Sonic Ripper!”
A slicing wave, akin to a vacuum, tore through the arena, shattering the explosions in its path. The momentum carried it forward, striking Tiferia, who had been momentarily unguarded. But her vulnerability lasted only a heartbeat.
“Reflect Parry!”
The slash was extinguished by a barrier that appeared before Tiferia for just an instant. The barrier vanished as soon as its purpose was fulfilled.
“…You can match me to this extent with that sword?
I never thought I’d have to use Reflect Parry against you.
Such power that even reflection is impossible…”
“Tiferia, just how many techniques do you possess…?”
“Who knows? I stopped counting after I surpassed a hundred.”
Tiferia had let her guard down, not fully grasping Lua’s capabilities. It was an uncharacteristic blunder for a Master Knight, yet it simultaneously proved Lua was a worthy opponent. Lua silently observed Tiferia, who licked her lips, exuding an alluring charm. The spectators, who had previously been munching on snacks, now sat in rapt attention, their hands frozen in place.
Everyone in the arena was convinced of Tiferia’s victory. But as the match unfolded, the tension thickened, and curiosity about Lua intensified.
“S-Seigel, Tiferia is incredibly strong, isn’t she…?”
“Of course! Honestly, I’m more surprised that girl is holding her own against her.”
As time passed, the pile of drink containers around Roel grew, but it had stagnated since the final match began. Cynthia, too, had become fixated on the fight, seemingly praying for the outcome.
“Ugh… I should have worn armor for this…
But with that sword, I guess it’s a fair match.”
Even now, Lua couldn’t bring herself to fight seriously. This wasn’t a new development; she struggled to unleash her full strength against humans. Perhaps due to her childhood experiences, she instinctively held back. Even her Sonic Ripper was significantly weaker than when she had unleashed it against Vandalsia, the King of Destruction.
If this continued, there would be no resolution. Lua decided she would push herself just a little harder.
“Tiferia.”
“Yes?”
“Next time, it won’t go like this.”
“Hehe, it’s been years since I’ve received a warning like that…
Hehehehe…”
Once again, she licked her lips. Tiferia stood her Twilight Bringer upright, signaling her readiness to engage. With a firm stance, she pushed off the ground, and this time, Lua closed the distance in an instant.
“…!”
“I’m coming!”
Lua’s slight resolve was worlds apart from her initial strike. Tiferia’s expression shifted to one of shock, revealing her momentary lapse in judgment.
For many years, she had faced no one who threatened her life. Since childhood, not even her father or any adult had posed a challenge. The thrill of growing stronger had been exhilarating. The more she swung her sword, the more her skills developed, and she could mimic the techniques of legendary swordsmen just by observing them.
By the time she surpassed ten, she had even defeated those who were considered sword saints. No matter the technique or opponent, there had never been anyone she couldn’t dominate. By the time she realized this, she had already become a Master Knight.
—When did fighting become so dull?
As Lua’s Mithril Sword cleaved through the Twilight Bringer, Tiferia reflected on her past. At the same time, her Mithril sword shattered, sending fragments spinning and clattering to the arena floor.
The Coliseum, once filled with heat and excitement, fell silent. Lua, having lost her weapon, showed no signs of pursuing Tiferia, who remained transfixed on the broken Twilight Bringer.
“To break a Mithril sword like this… it’s absurd.”
In front of Tiferia, who had lowered her arms defensively, Lua readied herself once more.
“It’s not just raw power… to establish this absurdity, something beyond that is required. Hehe…
I sincerely apologize for fighting you without armor.”
“I can still fight without my weapon.”
In stark contrast to Lua’s determination, Tiferia let go of the shattered Twilight Bringer, allowing it to fall.
“I want to fight you again, properly.
I concede.”
Tiferia bowed politely. Lua was left speechless, her mind racing to comprehend the situation. The referee, too, was at a loss, unable to make a judgment.
“I admit my defeat. I concede.”
Tiferia bowed once more, and the entire arena began to murmur in confusion. Gradually, the audience recognized Tiferia’s declaration of defeat and began to stir.
“It’s getting noisy. Referee, hurry up.”
“Uh, um… is that really alright?”
“No need to confirm anything.”
“Then the winner is… Lua!”
Had Tiferia won, the arena would have erupted in cheers. Instead, a smattering of applause and faint admiration enveloped the Coliseum.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted…”
Lua felt the most unsettled. This person hadn’t even fought seriously, and it was only natural for her to feel frustrated. The term “unfulfilled” came to mind, perfectly encapsulating her current state.
“Why… just because my sword was broken?”
“Next time, please bring a proper weapon.
I’ll also don that armor and come as the ‘real Master Knight.’
Besides, neither of us can truly fight here… hehe.”
Tiferia’s playful laughter was a stark contrast to the intensity she had shown moments before. The usual dazed woman, Lua, felt her tension ease.
“Did you know I wasn’t fighting seriously?”
“Oh dear, you’re underestimating me.”
“This certainly won’t make them go all out… Hehe.”
With a misplaced response, Tiferia chuckled softly. Rua nodded to herself, realizing that neither of them could truly unleash their full power. If Rua were to go all out now, she could easily cleave through the audience seats. During her fight with Vandalsia, if the battle had dragged on a little longer, there was a real risk of the cave collapsing. Considering that, it was possible that even in that fight, Rua had unconsciously held back her strength.
“Well, it seems to be over.”
The king rose from his throne. He had no intention of reprimanding Tiferia for her defeat. On the contrary, he seemed satisfied just to understand Tiferia’s purpose for wanting to participate in the tournament, which was rare compared to previous years. Of course, there was also the exhilaration of discovering a talent like Rua.
“Just as I thought, it was Rua-chan’s victory!”
“Y-yeah.”
Seigel still couldn’t believe that Tiferia had admitted her defeat. However, beside him, Roel, Cynthia, and the girl soldier named Ritta were oblivious to such thoughts, celebrating Rua’s victory with cheers of joy. The three of them were so animated, shouting “Hooray! Hooray!” that the older Seigel and Gantetsu felt compelled to play along.
“Well… I hate to say it, but it just shows how young they are.”
“Yeah… Have I become an old man?”
///
Soon, the Combat Tournament was heading towards its closing ceremony. It was to be held in the arena, which had been battered by the legendary warriors. A grandly decorated podium awaited, with the king standing at the back.
“I-I think I’m getting nervous.”
“Come on, come on, hurry up!”
Tiferia, half-teasing, pushed Rua’s back, but then she swayed unsteadily. Just as Rua thought it might be a moment of dizziness, Tiferia collapsed.
“Eh…?”
When Rua turned around, she saw Tiferia, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. The Coliseum erupted into chaos in an instant.
“Hah… Hah… Ah, ugh…”
Tiferia struggled to stand, but once again, she swayed and nearly fell. It was only with the support of Amane and Rupie, who had healed from their injuries, that she managed to regain her footing.
“W-what’s going on?! She’s burning up with fever!”
Amane placed her hand on Tiferia’s forehead. Despite Rupie casting a spell to cure her status ailments, the situation remained unchanged.
“Well, thinking about it, this is pointless… There’s no way someone with her resistance to status ailments would be affected by something like this.”
It was one of the spectators who quickly realized “that.”
Pointing to the sky and shouting, they drew attention to the countless shadows of what appeared to be winged creatures spreading across the sky. Though they shared wings, there were also entirely different forms mixed in.
“H-His Majesty! A horde of monsters!”
“Don’t panic! Everyone present, prepare for battle! As planned, those on standby, ensure the evacuation routes for the audience are secured! Move quickly!”
Kirkton, who was serving as the king’s guard, issued commands. Following the plan, a large number of soldiers emerged from behind the audience seats, quietly guiding the spectators before the chaos escalated further. However, it didn’t take long for the Coliseum to be filled with screams. Once that happened, guiding the crowd became a monumental challenge, as people pushed past soldiers in a desperate attempt to escape.
“Monsters! Monsters! Get out of the way!”
“Stop pushing!”
“What the hell is that?! What’s going on with the kingdom’s security?!”
Amidst the turmoil, the archers’ counterattacks were in vain as the creatures descended. Soldiers were crushed under the sharp claws and massive bodies of the beasts, their blood splattering everywhere.
【A horde of Wind Dragons has appeared! HP 4339】
【A horde of Dragon Blazes has appeared! HP 3471】
【A horde of Red Scissors has appeared! HP 1755】
【A horde of Kaiser Eagles has appeared! HP 3210】
Dragons, insects, birds. Though they belonged to different species, they shared the commonality of having wings and a ferocity that left no living creature in the Coliseum unscathed. Furthermore, three figures were mounted on one of those monsters.
“It seems the signal was delayed quite a bit…”
“Isn’t that fine? As long as we can seal the Master Knight, the rest are just fodder. More importantly, I’m itching to cross blades with the rumored Dragon Hunter.”
“Ah, quiet down, quiet down, quiet down. I can’t hear the lovely sound of my cute little bugs!”
Among the three figures, one directed the Red Scissors towards the panicking audience.