Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 31
After that, the twelfth match featured Jaze, the leader of the Polar Drake.
Like us, he was treated as a “select slot,” a testament to the trust placed in him by the Grand Master, Dorozitte.
Jaze was the third greatsword wielder in this tournament. While he lacked the speed of Karma, his Iron Wall defense and incredible physical strength allowed him to easily defeat his spear-wielding opponent.
“It is said that greatswords were originally developed to cut down spears, so their compatibility must have played a role,” Mariane commented, surprising me with her knowledge.
Regardless, if he continued to win, Jaze would eventually face Larni.
As the matches progressed, we finally reached the last match of the day.
With a roar of applause like a tsunami, the stage was graced by Princess Marishielle, clad in pure white armor trimmed with gold.
Her silver hair shimmered like amethyst in the wind, and her gentle features now radiated a dignified presence.
Above all, what caught the eye was the regal aura that emanated from her, a stark contrast to the shy demeanor she had shown earlier.
“The main event of the martial arts tournament, Round 1, Match 16 will now commence! The challenger from the direction of the Rainbow Dragon is Rodick of the Durgar! This is his second appearance in the main tournament, with his highest achievement being the second round.”
His opponent was a young man clad in blue-decorated plate armor, wielding a halberd—a long weapon with an axe blade at the tip.
What was amusing was his expression; he looked less like a fighter and more like a fan in front of an idol, which made me wonder if that was appropriate.
“From the direction of the Dawn Tiger, we have Princess Marishielle of the Water Lily Lion! This is her third appearance in the main tournament, and she has won all three times!”
At that announcement, the crowd erupted into a frenzy. It was astonishing; I feared that many might end up with damaged eardrums.
In response to the cheers, Princess Marishielle drew her longsword and raised it high to the heavens. The blade radiated a sharp light that rivaled even the Purple Wolf. I had heard it was named “Fate Whisperer.”
“Finally, we get to see Princess Marishielle in action, don’t we, Soushi?” Freinir said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Indeed, I’m curious to see what kind of battle she will put on,” I replied, equally intrigued.
If the rumors were true, she was supposed to be the strongest adventurer I had ever seen, overwhelmingly powerful. I was eager to witness her true strength and the nature of her special skills, regardless of whether I would face her or not.
“Begin!”
As expected, the match commenced immediately.
Rodick, with his halberd at the ready, had transformed into a true warrior. He moved slowly in a clockwise manner, gauging the distance to Princess Marishielle.
Meanwhile, she held her longsword, Fate Whisperer, with both hands, keeping its tip barely above the ground, intently watching Rodick’s movements without budging an inch.
Suddenly, Rodick changed his approach. Using Swift Run, he closed the distance rapidly. The halberd reached its target, while the longsword did not, creating a perfect range for him to swing horizontally. The axe blade gleamed, likely enhanced by a skill.
Princess Marishielle lifted her sword slightly. With just a light deflection, Rodick’s halberd strike was redirected, sailing harmlessly over her head.
Rodick, undeterred, unleashed a second and third strike. Thanks to his Honshin skill, his continuous attacks had no openings. Yet, Princess Marishielle’s sword seemed to repel them all as if by magic. Even strikes aimed at her torso were easily deflected, veering off course in a manner that felt profoundly unsettling to witness.
“Is she deflecting those attacks purely with swordsmanship, or is there something more at play…?”
“Fufu, does it seem mysterious to you?” came the voice of Grand Master Dorozitte, who had somehow appeared behind us.
“Yes, it is quite puzzling. No matter how skilled one is, I can’t believe she could deflect those attacks so effortlessly.”
“That’s true. Rodick is a formidable fighter in his own right. It wouldn’t be possible to achieve that with mere swordsmanship and standard skills.”
“So then…”
“Well, don’t rush it. Look, it’s about to end.”
I shifted my gaze from the enigmatic smile of Dorozitte to the stage.
Rodick’s attacks continued, but the distance between them was subtly closing. I thought he might be getting impatient, but it seemed Princess Marishielle was naturally advancing while skillfully parrying his strikes.
As Rodick realized he had closed the distance too much and attempted to retreat while swinging his halberd, Princess Marishielle blurred into motion. With minimal movement, she activated Swift Run, slashing Rodick’s torso as they passed each other. That speed was indicative of a high-level Flash Step skill.
Rodick fell to the ground, exclaiming, “I give up!” His torso had been deeply cut, but attendants rushed in swiftly to provide aid.
“The match is decided! The winner is Princess Marishielle of the Water Lily Lion!”
Once again, a wave of applause engulfed the arena, marking the conclusion of today’s martial arts tournament.
“That last move was so fast I could barely see it. What an incredible princess we have in Marishielle,” Karma, the tiger beastwoman, said, her hands clasped behind her head, a hint of disbelief in her tone.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be facing her, but if Larni does, it could be quite the challenge,” she added.
“Hmm, in terms of speed, she might be just a bit faster than Mariane. But her sword skills could be troublesome. I feel like all my attacks would be deflected,” Larni said, her expression sour as she glanced at Dorozitte, likely eager to learn more about the princess’s skills.
However, Dorozitte merely smiled and shook her head.
“Unfortunately, I cannot disclose anything about her skills. All I can say is that to overcome her abilities, one must possess the power to defy fate.”
“Defy fate? Is it really that grand a notion?”
“Indeed. Larni, you are undoubtedly strong and have likely overcome several fateful challenges. But whether that is enough remains uncertain. Rodick, being A-Rank, has certainly faced his share of crises.”
“Hmm, that’s true. Still, I can only fight with all my might. But someone who can defy fate… I wonder if such a person truly exists.”
“Fufu, I believe those who have known you the longest, like Larni, would know best. Now, was there anything unusual during the tournament today? If there is, it would likely be in the finals or just before that.”
With that, Dorozitte departed.
As I stood up, Freinir took my arm and said earnestly, “Soushi, you have overcome many fates until now. Therefore, there is no way you could lose.”
“Thank you. I will fight believing in your words, Frei.”
As I patted her head, she squinted her eyes and smiled, looking genuinely happy.
Feeling somewhat comforted by her expression, I began to grasp a little of what Princess Marishielle’s skills might entail.