Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 37
Afterward, Karma and I made our way to the VIP seats together.
The members praised me, while Karma received words of comfort as we settled into our seats.
Next up was the match between Larni and Jaze, the wielder of the “Polar Drake,” but it seemed there would be a brief intermission first. In the back, Shizuna and Sfenia were conversing with Karma in between them.
“Karma’s earlier battle was a bit nerve-wracking at the end, wasn’t it?”
“Indeed. If he had pursued the attack there, it would have been considered intentional murder. If he’s aiming for the top, that would be an unwise move, but still, it wasn’t a pleasant sight.”
“Given that it’s a martial arts tournament, a bit of roughness is to be expected, but it’s not something I’d want to participate in willingly.”
“However, it seems both sides understand their limits and are fighting accordingly. I don’t think it’s as reckless as it appears.”
Karma had fully regained her composure and responded lightly. Seeing this, Shizuna and Sfenia seemed to relax as well.
“That’s good to hear. If Larni can communicate well with her opponent, it should be fine, but that Momental seems rather unpredictable.”
“That magic he used was indeed perplexing in terms of its activation speed. Geshura, did you notice anything?”
Sfenia’s question prompted Geshura to sway her tail and murmur, “Hmm.”
“It certainly appeared to have some strange power mixed in. From what I observed, it seemed he had pre-activated magic held in check by that peculiar force, which he then released at will.”
“Is such a thing even possible?”
“I can’t say for certain. However, there are techniques to delay the activation of magic, so it wouldn’t be entirely out of the question.”
“I see…”
Indeed, there were competitors using magic that launched multiple spears in succession. Considering that, Geshura’s theory might hold some truth.
As I pondered this, I unconsciously nodded, prompting Geshura to leave her seat and slither over to me.
“By the way, Soushi, that magic seems to be a poor match for you. Do you have any countermeasures?”
“Not really. I can only keep moving. If I know where the explosion will occur, I could block it with a shield.”
“Anticipating it in advance might be quite difficult. Still, I doubt that level of explosion would deal significant damage to you.”
“Getting caught in an explosion up close would be tough, though.”
“Such precise control is likely impossible. However, a short, decisive battle would be the safest approach.”
“That may be true, but I’ve already revealed my ‘Shockwave’ technique. Naturally, he will be on guard.”
“Indeed. Until we try, we can’t say for sure. He hasn’t shown all his cards yet.”
To be honest, I felt that if I unleashed ‘Shockwave’ at full power, the match would end in an instant. However, if I did that, it would surely spell disaster for the young man, if not outright death.
While the rules state that as long as it’s unintentional, there would be no issue, my moral compass isn’t so brutish. If I could be certain he was just a mud doll from the “Candlestick of the Netherworld,” it would be a different story, but that was something I would have to ascertain on the stage tomorrow.
As I contemplated this, Larni and Jaze appeared on the stage.
Larni wielded the longsword “Purple Wolf,” while Jaze carried a massive sword of exceptional quality.
“The main event of the martial arts tournament, Round 3, Match 3! In the Rainbow Dragon Direction, we have Larni of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ making her debut in the main event! In the Dawn Tiger Direction, we have Jaze of ‘Polar Drake,’ a four-time participant with his best record reaching the semifinals!”
The two greeted each other by crossing their blades before stepping back to create distance.
“Begin!”
With the call, they both rushed forward in unison.
Both possessed the ‘Flying Blade’ skill, but it seemed they had no intention of starting with a ranged battle.
Their combat styles were both front-line fighters, yet distinctly different. Larni attacked with speed, mobility, and a flurry of strikes, while Jaze excelled in reach and destructive power.
Larni aimed for hit-and-run tactics using ‘Swift Run’ from a distance, waiting for the right moment to close in for a series of attacks.
On the other hand, Jaze responded with precise defense, striking at a perfect distance where his massive sword could reach, but Larni’s longsword could not.
The clash of their swords continued for about ten minutes, showcasing a level of skill that would impress even seasoned veterans.
“Jaze has certainly been through a lot of battles. His fighting style is something I can learn from as well. If Larni wants to break through that, it will be quite challenging,” Karma remarked, leaning forward to watch intently.
“Larni’s speed won’t be fully utilized if she stops to think. Since she can’t win through sheer strength, she’ll have to close in and overwhelm him with numbers,” I added.
“That’s true, but Jaze’s swordsmanship might be superior. After all, Larni has only been an adventurer for just over a year.”
“The difference in experience… that is significant.”
The battle between Larni and Jaze seemed to be reaching its climax.
Larni ceased her ‘Swift Run’ attacks and appeared to have completely switched to close-quarters combat, stepping in rhythmically. Jaze, recognizing this as his territory, stood firm to meet her.
As the distance closed, Larni unleashed a storm of rapid strikes, while when the distance widened, Jaze retaliated with powerful slashes like a tempest. This exchange was made possible by their A-Rank adventurer physical abilities, which surpassed that of ordinary humans, including dynamic vision and reflexes.
However, in a pure swordsmanship contest, it seemed Jaze had the upper hand by a considerable margin. Gradually, Larni found herself on the defensive more often. Given Jaze’s overwhelming pressure, the flow of battle was decidedly unfavorable.
“This isn’t good. But if she’s going to do something, it has to be now,” Karma murmured.
I was about to ask what she meant when—
Larni’s “Purple Wolf” slashed diagonally, meeting Jaze’s massive sword. In that instant, the blade of “Purple Wolf” ignited fiercely. It was the fire attribute bestowed by ‘Advanced Attribute Bestowal.’
Yet, Jaze pressed forward with his massive sword, undeterred, likely due to his accumulated experience.
At that moment, Jaze probably lost sight of Larni amidst the sudden flames before him. He quickly scanned left and right.
But Larni was not at the same height as him. Utilizing ‘Swift Run’ and ‘Jump,’ followed by ‘Swift Run’ and ‘Space Kick,’ she descended from above.
Larni struck Jaze’s shoulder with a powerful slash, and as he fell, she pressed “Purple Wolf” against his neck.
“I concede!”
“The match is decided! The winner is Larni of ‘Soul’s Guidance!'”
In the end, it was Larni who triumphed by bringing the battle into her area of expertise, securing victory in a fierce contest.