Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 33
Karma’s next match ended in an instant.
Her opponent was a conventional warrior wielding a one-handed axe and shield, but against Karma’s storm-like flurry of attacks, he was pushed out of the ring without a chance to retaliate.
Although Karma was a greatsword user, she had trained her dynamic vision and reflexes to an extraordinary level, typical of a tiger beastman. Moreover, she had even acquired a higher-tier skill called Herculean Strength, allowing her to crush her opponent’s attacks while unleashing a barrage of strikes. To top it off, she was also using a self-enhancement skill known as Lion’s Roar, the terror of which could only be understood by those who faced her.
“That tiger girl is definitely strong. What was that combo attack?”
“Plus, she counters her opponent’s attacks with precision. It’s not just about strength and speed.”
“This year has too many surprises. Betting is going to get wild!”
The voices of the spectators were a delightful background. As one of the upsets, I felt a twinge of guilt, but it was hard to ignore the excitement.
After the first four matches concluded, a brief intermission began.
As I relaxed my tense shoulders, Karma approached the VIP seats.
“Ah, the martial arts tournament is just so much fun! It’s not every day you get to swing a sword like that!”
“That was a great fight. It looked one-sided, but how was it really?”
“Well, I think it was more evenly matched than it appeared. My opponent was no slouch either. There were a few moments where I felt a bit threatened.”
“I see. Even so, you made it look overwhelming, so your skills are certainly impressive.”
As I praised her, Karma blushed and playfully slapped my shoulder, saying, “You’re overdoing it, Soushi-san.”
“By the way, did you watch the match before yours?”
Karma had been grinning, but her expression turned serious when Sfenia spoke to her.
“That was an incredible match! Just when I thought it was over, that guy unleashed magic out of nowhere!”
“What did you think of that magic, Karma?”
“It gave me a bad feeling. You know, that shiver down your spine. That guy is definitely not someone to underestimate.”
“We share the same sentiment. Be careful tomorrow.”
“Of course. I have no intention of losing until I face you, Soushi-san.”
The atmosphere grew slightly tense, but the intermission ended, signaling the start of the second half.
The fifth match was Larni’s turn.
On stage, she was completely composed as usual. Her opponent was a tall female warrior wielding a long-handled hammer. This would be Larni’s second consecutive match against a woman.
“Let the match begin!”
With the call, Larni launched her Flying Blade.
Almost simultaneously, she closed the distance with Swift Run, but at that moment, the female warrior swung her hammer wide.
It was just outside the range of impact. However, in that instant, Larni’s body was sent flying backward as if repelled by something.
“That was a Shockwave. It’s a rare skill, but it’s not uncommon for others to possess it besides you, Soushi-san,” Mariane explained. I had never seen it used by someone else before, but it was indeed a troublesome skill.
The Shockwave itself was completely invisible. Moreover, its area of effect spread out in a fan shape, making it difficult to evade. The only saving grace was that one could sense it through the weapon’s swing.
Larni attempted to close the distance several times, but each time she was thwarted and sent flying by the Shockwave. Still, she managed to minimize damage by propelling herself backward.
Larni sent out another Flying Blade, and as her opponent dodged, she closed in with Swift Run. But once again, she was pushed back by the Shockwave, creating more distance between them. After about ten exchanges like this, Larni’s stance subtly shifted.
“Looks like she’s planning to finish it now,” Karma remarked just as Larni made her move.
With a crescent-shaped slash from her Flying Blade, she followed up with Swift Run.
The opponent tried to evade sideways, raising her hammer.
In an instant, Larni corrected her trajectory with Honshin, locking onto the female warrior.
The warrior swung her hammer horizontally. The slight distortion in the air was evidence of the Shockwave being used.
At that moment, Larni leaped. Utilizing Swift Run and Jump, she executed a high-speed jump, escaping the Shockwave’s range, and then descended with a Space Kick.
It seemed the female warrior had anticipated Larni’s aerial attack, quickly retracting her hammer to intercept. However, Larni’s movements were faster.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she activated Swift Run again. This time, her speed was exponentially greater than before. It was a clever ambush, taking advantage of her opponent’s momentary adjustment. I was slightly surprised that Larni could pull off such a tactic.
The female warrior tried to create distance by stepping back, but in a pure speed contest, she was no match for Larni. She allowed Larni to close in and was subjected to a flurry of strikes.
Despite holding her ground with her heavy hammer, once Larni’s Purple Wolf cut her arms several times, the warrior could no longer swing her weapon and raised her hands in surrender.
“When Larni goes all out, it’s tough. Her opponent did well to respond, but in close combat, it becomes a battle of numbers,” Karma said, nodding thoughtfully with her arms crossed. Since the two were childhood friends, her joy was palpable.
“I’ve never seen anyone evade a Shockwave like that before.”
“Usually, it’s either a long-range exchange or waiting for the opponent to tire out.”
“There aren’t many adventurers who are that fast and have such powerful sword techniques. Today has had some great matches.”
The audience seemed highly satisfied, and as the leader, I felt a sense of relief.
Afterward, Jaze, the Polar Drake user, also advanced to the next round without any trouble.
His opponent was a tricky dagger user who also employed magic, but Jaze’s ability to break through head-on showcased his true strength.
“I knew Jaze would be consistent. He always makes it to the top four. But he’s also the unfortunate guy who can’t reach the finals because of Princess Marishielle being in the same bracket every time,” I overheard a spectator remark.