Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 27
At last, the day of the tournament had arrived.
We set off for the arena in a carriage from early morning, but even at that hour, the area surrounding the arena was bustling with an incredible crowd. There were likely tens of thousands of people gathered. Moreover, since the seating capacity of the arena is said to be close to 100,000, this number would surely swell even further.
In fact, the area around the arena had already been in a festive state for several days. The tournament itself would take place over twelve days, but the festivities would begin three days before and continue for three days after. Naturally, the streets were lined with over a thousand stalls, contributing to the lively atmosphere.
Navigating through this crowd to reach the arena was no small feat, but as participants in the main event, we were treated as nobles of the Empire. The carriage we were riding in was arranged by the Imperial Court and bore the royal crest, allowing us to enter the arena without any issues—rather, we were prioritized for entry. Upon entering the arena, I, Larni, and Karma were guided to the athlete’s waiting room, while the others proceeded to the VIP seats.
To my surprise, the waiting room was composed entirely of private chambers. There were 32 participants in total, competing in a tournament format without any seeds.
Of course, the number of applicants was even higher, with nearly 300 people vying for a spot this time.
Among them, individuals like Princess Marishielle and myself, who had clearly distinguished achievements, were registered directly into the main tournament as “selected candidates.” This time, there were ten such slots, with the remaining 22 being contested in preliminary rounds. The first six days of the tournament were dedicated to these preliminaries, during which tickets were relatively easy to obtain, leading to a significant amount of excitement.
Additionally, both Larni and Karma were registered directly into the main event due to their titles as “Dragon Slayer” and “Twilight Slayer,” along with their accomplishments in conquering uncharted A-class dungeons.
Today marked the first day of the main event, and after the opening ceremony, the first half of the first round matches would take place. Incidentally, I was scheduled for the very first match. Karma would compete in the eighth match, while Larni, being in a different bracket, would not have a match today.
As I was lightly warming up in the waiting room, the door opened, and Freinir entered.
“How are you feeling, Soushi-sama?”
“I’m fine, just like always. I’m not feeling nervous at all.”
“I believe you will win every match, but please be careful not to get injured.”
Freinir clasped her hands in front of her chest, her expression filled with concern.
I gently patted her head to reassure her.
“If I do get hurt, Frei will heal me, right? So there’s no problem.”
“Of course, I will do my utmost to heal you then. But before that, I don’t want to see you get hurt, Soushi-sama.”
“You’re so kind, Frei. If it comes to it, I’ll just use ‘Shockwave’ to blow my opponent away, so don’t worry. Just watch with peace of mind.”
“Yes, Soushi-sama. I wish you good fortune in battle.”
With that, Freinir softly hugged me before shyly exiting the waiting room. I noticed Mariane had accompanied her, and the two left together.
After a while, an attendant came to call me. It was finally time for the opening ceremony.
Following the attendant, I walked down the corridor alongside the other fighters as we entered the arena. Emerging from the dim passageway into the sunlight, an overwhelming roar erupted from the audience, crashing over us like a tidal wave.
The excitement was beyond my imagination. The presence of 100,000 spectators created an immense pressure. I never expected to enter such a colossal arena as a competitor at this age. Any thoughts of doubt were swept away in that moment.
The 32 contestants ascended to the octagonal stone stage. Among them were Princess Marishielle, Larni, Karma, and Jaze from the “Polar Drake,” whom I had met on my way to the Imperial Capital. There was also Momental, the son of Marquis Fulcrum, and Somyule, the sub-leader of “Water Lily Lion.”
As the contestants lined up, they faced the VIP seats.
Unlike the tiered seating for the audience, the VIP section was a three-story building, with the Emperor’s throne situated on the top level, complete with a balcony in front.
Now that all the contestants were assembled, the Emperor appeared on the balcony.
At that moment, the previously roaring arena fell into a profound silence.
The young Emperor began his address through a magical amplification device.
“Citizens of the Empire, I am Aeneas Borealis, Emperor of the Aldebaron Empire. It is my utmost joy to welcome you all on this day. Now, gathered in this sacred arena are 32 brave warriors, each one a champion of the Empire. For the next six days, they will engage in a sacred battle, competing with all their might and skill. I have the duty to witness this holy contest until the very end. Citizens, engrave their battles into your memories for future generations. Glory to the victors, and respect to the vanquished. All battles shall be dedicated to the gods and will serve as the foundation for the Empire’s prosperity. I hereby declare the opening of the martial arts tournament. Now, warriors, show your strength to the fullest. That is all I wish for.”
As the Emperor spread his arms wide, a cheer erupted that was tenfold greater than before, shaking the very earth and sky. It was overwhelming. The sheer volume of the crowd felt as if it could crush me.
In response to the cheers, the contestants raised their hands and one by one descended from the stage, returning to the waiting room. I followed suit, waving as I made my way back.
So, it was finally happening. Yet, strangely, I felt no exhilaration. My body was warm, but my mind was cool. It felt good. I never expected to enjoy the martial arts tournament this much. It seemed I had completely transformed into an adventurer. I had to avoid any fights that would embarrass me in front of the members of “Soul’s Guidance.”
About ten minutes after returning to the waiting room, I was called by the attendant.
I retrieved “That Which Equalizes All Things” and “Immovable Fortress Wall” from my Item Box, holding one in each hand. The attendant’s eyes widened at my appearance, but he managed to maintain his composure and led me onward.
Entering the arena, I stepped onto the stage. The swirling cheers sounded strangely distant. It was a good sign if I was able to concentrate, but it could also be due to the effects of my Skills.
My opponent for the first match stepped onto the stage. He was a large man of the human race, with a well-proportioned physique. His buzz cut and rugged face gave him a warrior-like appearance, and he wielded a massive double-headed axe with blades as tall as he was. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a power fighter.
We both stood facing each other near the center of the stage.
“Now, we will commence the first match of the main tournament. Contestant from the Rainbow Dragon faction, Yozam of ‘Tyrfing’! This is his third appearance in the main event, with his best record reaching the second round.”
The announcement began through the magical amplification device. When his party name and contestant name were called, the cheers grew even louder.
“Contestant from the Dawn Tiger faction, Soushi of ‘Soul’s Guidance’! This is his first appearance in the main event.”
As my name was announced, the cheers resonated through the arena like an earthquake. It seemed I had already become a topic of conversation among the audience.
Once the cheers subsided slightly, my opponent Yozam spoke to me.
“I’ve heard the rumors about you. I’ll be going all out from the start, so be prepared.”
“Understood. I won’t let my guard down either.”
“I wish you good luck.”
“And I wish you the same.”
We greeted each other by tapping the heads of our weapons together. This seemed to be the custom of the martial arts tournament.
Afterward, we both stepped back to our designated starting positions, about 30 meters apart.
I checked my mental state. There was indeed no tension. The voices of the audience felt distant, but I could clearly see the faces of the VIPs. Freinir appeared to be praying with her hands clasped in front of her chest. I needed to win to reassure her.
As we both took our stances, the announcement rang out.
“Begin!”
With the command, I slowly advanced forward, taking one step at a time. My body was slightly turned, shield held in front, while I rested my mace on my shoulder, gathering my strength.
Yozam mirrored my stance, gripping his massive axe horizontally behind him. Neither of us moved; it seemed we were gauging the distance.
I took another step forward.
“Muuh…!”
Yozam swung his axe horizontally. We were still over 20 meters apart. Was he using the “Flying Blade” Skill to launch a cutting attack?
I braced myself with “Immovable Fortress Wall” to absorb the massive blade of light that soared through the air. It was a heavy strike. Perhaps it also carried the effects of the “Heavy Impact” Skill. However, that single blow only caused my shield to tremble momentarily.
“Nuuaah!”
A second and third “Flying Blade” struck against “Immovable Fortress Wall,” shattering upon impact.
Immediately afterward, Yozam moved again. With high-level “Swift Run,” he dashed to my right, the side without my shield, and swung his axe in a reverse horizontal arc.
I activated my “Honshin” Skill to its fullest, spinning my body to the right, bringing my shield forward to absorb the blow from his axe.
A deafening metallic clash followed by a shockwave. Yozam’s axe strike had a destructive power that could rival that of the “Rampaging Demon.” So this is what the competitors in the main tournament are like.
“GUOAAAH!”
Yozam transitioned into a series of relentless attacks, swinging his axe in all directions. He was likely wary of my mace, employing a strategy that left me no opportunity to counterattack.
I continued to absorb his strikes with “Immovable Fortress Wall,” waiting for the right moment. Yozam swung his axe down in a diagonal cut. This was it.
I deflected the descending axe with my shield, pushing it back. Yozam’s massive body spun around in mid-air, leaving his side wide open.
I swung “That Which Equalizes All Things” upward from a low angle, the multi-faceted hammerhead embedding itself into Yozam’s exposed side. However, I felt resistance. Naturally, he possessed high-level “Steel Body,” “Immovable,” “Stability,” and “Steel Core.” I put a bit more force into it. Yozam’s body lifted off the ground. As I completed my swing, Yozam’s massive form flew off the stage.
“…!? Victory is decided! The winner is Soushi of ‘Soul’s Guidance’!”
After a brief moment of hesitation, the announcement declared my victory.
Following a moment of silence, a thunderous cheer erupted throughout the arena.
I raised my mace in response to the audience. Lady Dorozitte had told me, “You must perform at least that much to be courteous.”
Looking towards the VIP seats, I saw Freinir with a look of deep relief on her face. Beside her, Sfenia appeared entranced, while Shizuna and Sakurahime embraced each other.
Outside the stage, I noticed Yozam rising to his feet. As expected of an A-rank adventurer, he was tough.
“I concede. I couldn’t even lay a finger on you. You’re even more impressive than the rumors suggest. Make sure to reach the finals.”
“I’ll do my best.”
We shook hands, praising each other’s efforts as applause mixed with the cheers. It seemed that such exchanges and reactions were unchanged in this world as well. Feeling relieved by that, I descended from the stage.