Cheers, cps, and whistles. Suotions brewed in the air, people jumping up and down as they yelled with pride aement. The g of swords tinued and so did the eg of shockwaves, wild winds shing ever so violently.

  The sun tio sink down the horizon and the sky of blue was slowly tinted with hints of gold and red, clouds drifting ever so slowly, turning and tossing time and time again like the waves in the vast and peaceful o.

  "Ohh! Lord Jinkins wins the match with his sword held high! He advaowards the round! To the semifinals!" ［Konan］

  "Hohoho! That's the Intermediate Division, for you! With that, the four semifinalists have been decided! A round of appuse to our rising stars!" ［Terry］

  Konan and Terry shouted to the top of their lungs, smming their hands oable from excitement and the crowd cheered with them. A wave of appuse echoed in the Grand Colosseum, people in ovation as the victor waved his hand.

  With Jinkin's victory, the quarterfinals of the Intermediate Division have finally closed its curtains, the testants heading out as the repair team took their pce. A time of peaveloped the arena, the audience happily chatting about how wonderful the matches were so far.

  "That's the end of their quarterfinals... Yuna, it's your tur, isn't it? Have you warmed yourself up already?" ［Grey］

  "Un! I'm ready to go! I'll make sure to win without a scratch!" ［Yuna］

  "That's some big words you got there, and no, I won't be making you any sweets no matter whether you win or lose the duel." ［Grey］

  "Ehh～? But I haven't said anythi～..." ［Yuna］

  ... Was how she put it, but with how things are flowing, Grey already knew how things would go, Yuna wanting for some sort of reward the moment she wins. It was better to put a stop to it before the young dy gets any funny ideas.

  Well, her match wouldn't be like any other. Yuna's oppo would be anh-Ranker, and not just any High-Ranker, but one who holds the highest authority in Graysto was her than the Kingdom's very own King, Ar!

  He had always wao have a duel against the two, but never got any reasonable excuse to do so. However, now was pletely different. He could finally go all out and duel to his heart's tent. One he would never fet.

  The same also goes for Yuna. Her main on may be a dagger, but her skills in swordsmanship weren't ahan the King's. It would be a good time to test how far she go and how far she push her oppo. It was exhirating.

  "Fufufu! I've never fought against a King before! This is exg!" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna, we've fought against the Azure Sword Emperor before, you know?" ［Grey］

  "Un, that's true... But! He's an Emperor, not a King so it doesn't t! They're totally different, silly." ［Yuna］

  Her logic was... uhough she wasirely wrong, it was so silly, Grey didn't know whether he should ugh or cry at his fiancée's remarks. All he knew was that she was excited, ears fpping up and down as her face beamed a smile.

  All that mattered was that she was happy, and Grey was satisfied. He also has his own match to worry about, and like Yuna's oppo, he would be g against one of the highest ranking personnel in the try, the General. A duel to behold.

  "Then, without further ado...! Let's wele our first pair of quarterfinalists!" ［Terry］

  The stage was repaired and the entator's voice rang out fmboyantly in the Grand Colosseum, another cacophony of cheers and chaos resounding towards the sky. It was finally time for the two to make their entrance.

  "Fufufu! Looks like the fun is about to begin! I'll be going now～!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah. Break a leg. I'll be cheering for you." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! Un! I'll do my best!" ［Yuna］

  Pride aement brewing in his heart, Grey watched Yuna's figure ehe arena, tuning around as she waved her hand. The skylight graced the waiting area and she basked in its glory, heading off into the stageー or so, she was supposed to.

  There was a sudden ge of pns, Yuna kig the ground as she rushed back trey. Not a single warning whatsoever, she then kissed Grey, her soft and plump lips pressing against his. Grey was baffled.

  "That one is food luck.... I at least have that much, right?" ［Yuna］

  Lisandra was around before, so Yuna couldn't even ask for it, but now that she was recuperating, she allowed herself to be a little bit more selfish. A mischievous smile bloomed on her face, a rosy tint painted on her tour.

  "Geez... Really, you... You really keep on surprising me..." ［Grey］

  "Teehee! That's payback for all the times you kept on teasing me!" ［Yuna］

  A blush on her face, Yuna finally turned around and headed off towards the arena, the audience yelling and uding her name as she made her entrance. A wave of her hand and they were in an uproar, fans in a craze.

  Meanwhile, Grey remained in a daze, watg her figure shrink away. They have already kissed many times, but a sudden surprise attack like that was still unfair. He could barely keep his heart from rag, now beating along the sound of drums.

  The young elf hopped oage with a single leap and the King's smile greeted her as she looked up. She didn't eveo guess. It in obvious how excited the King was, ready to cross swords with her.

  "I've kept you waiting, Your Majesty." ［Yuna］

  "No problem. pared to how long I have waited to have this duel, a few seds is nothing. I hope we have a good match, Gdiator Yuna." ［Ar］

  "Fufufu! I hope I will live to your expectations, Your Majesty." ［Yuna］

  "Haha. We will see about that soon enough." ［Ar］

  The two exged words and shook their hands with friendly smiles on their faces. They then headed to their respective sides and the entators introduced them yet again, even louder and even more boisterous than before.

  One was a King who was an idol in both the pen and the sword whilst the other was a young heroine whose name has resounded all over the ti. There was er match up, the crowd riled up in anticipation, rowdy as be.

  ""Let the duel... Begin!"" ［Konan and Terry］

  FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH SWISH

  The winds howled at the signal, a storm of mana brewing immediately, shing more and more violently as the crowd cheered. The match had just started yet the King already started with something big, a strike to get a grasp of Yuna's strength.

  The ground quaked aggressively and gargantuan boulders rose from the ground, all cluttering towards the King's sword. It grew bigger and bigger until it was bigger thaage, a golden glint enveloping the Grand Colosseum.

  Yet despite the brewing and thundering storm of rocks before her, Yuna remained calm, watg such a beautiful sight unfold. She only held her sword tightly, not a hint of worry on her face. Rather, she was hummiedly so.

  ??Falling Rush!?? ［Ar］

  Violent tremors shook the earth, the winds bellowing at his words. The King gripped with sword, irked veins popping out of his shoulders as he brought down his sword, a flood of rocks and boulders following, dev the stage whole.

  Boulders fell like rain and clouds of dust brewed like mist, a golden ahy gleam ying waste dowage. Yet Yuna remained smiling, bringing one of her legs bad p strength towards her legs, eyes sparkling brightly.

  BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOOOOOMMMMMM

  Her steps resounding like thunder, Yuna leaped from off the stage, leaving a massive crater behind as she hopped from boulder to boulder, leaving explosions of dust and pebbles at her wake, s towards the sky.

  The massive sword crashed towards the ground and the stage was cleaved in half, massive rocks flying towards the air as a storm of dust whipped and shed around. There was barely anything to see, the whole stage veiled in darkness.

  The young dy was high up in the air, the sun shining a brilliant gold behind her. Her eyes swam like cruising lightning, watg the abyss of dust and darkness for any strange movement. And surely enough...

  ??Wild Thrust!?? ［Ar］

  ... A deadly glimmer shone from the depths, darting towards and aiming for Yuna's neck. It cruised along the fog of dust, parting the beige cloud and b a massive hole through it. All ihan a single sed.

  Unfortunately for the King, Yuna's eyes were sharper than her sword, seeing the King thrust his sword before the stream of silver rushed towards her. She twisted her body midair, p strength into her bde as she waved it towards the light.

  ??Heavy Ssh!?? ［Yuna］

  The two forces cshed and an explosion of dust and light boomed in the air. Yuna easily defended against the attack. She nded softly on the ground, dispersing the cloud of dust with a wave of her trusty sword.

  The very moment she did, all were unveiled for the audieo see, another deadly glimmer shimmering uhe sunlight. The King rushed towards her, his sword mana, ready to another heavy blow.

  G BOOM FWOOSSHHH WHOOSH WHOOSH

  He struck the ground firmly with his foot towards the jaded stage, raiding his sword towards the sky, a deafening shockwave running rampant as his bde cshed with Yuna's, apanied by violent winds and the crag of the ground below them.

  Csh after csh, after csh, gales and gust left deep gashes in the ground. The already jaded tiles were riddled with even more scars as the King and Yuna's swords cshed ever so ferociously, not letting up their barrage evehe stage was already pletely devastated.

  The King thrusted her sword and Yuna docked as swiftly as she could. The moment the former missed, she didn't miss a beat aaliated with a thrust in kind, the King barely dodging it after twisting his body to the right.

  However, Yuna was a master of bos. After her attack missed its mark, she used her nimbleness and flexibility to her advantage, rotating her hips with her left leg as the anchor. Her sword rotated the same, sshing ever so swiftly.

  The King had no other choice but to fall back, falling towards the ground and using his hand t away, using his sword to extend the distance during the sed springing, soon nding softly on the shattered stage.

  ??Fsh Rain!?? ［Yuna］

  Yuna was relentless. The King just got ba his feet and she immediately rushed towards him, letting out a torrent of thrusts, eae ready to cripple the King at the slightest mistake. She advanced closer and closer, striking faster and faster.

  "Wh-What an amazing dispy from Her Highness! With her ehrusts, His Majesty has been forced into a defensive position!" ［Terry］

  "His Majesty could barely defend against the merciless strikes! No wonder she is called the Hero of Oiros! Her Highness is simply amazing!" ［Konan］

  "This could very well end the match! Truly thrilling...!" ［Terry］

  It wasn't just the entators. The crowd was also i Yuna's destructive prowess, nding strike after strike without fail. The King could barely keep up with her movements, grunting as he gritted his teeth.

  ??Cease your movements!?? ［Ar］

  His Majesty tried to use the "Terrorize" ability against Yuna, but it was futile. He might be able to encroa the hearts of h-Rankers, but Yuna was the one who stood at the pinnacle of S-rank. It would take a dragon to make her flinch.

  Yuna's torrent tinued, and after defending endlessly, the King's defense was finally breached. Yuna grabbed the opportunity and bsted an even fiercer fury of blows, her swrazing and wounding the King, blood trig down all over his body.

  A fury of blows in front of him and the edge of the broken stage behind him. The King was stuck between a rod a hard pce, elimination encroag on him from both fronts, only a risky solution popping inside his mind.

  FWOOSSHHHH BANG RUMBBLLLEEEEE

  Ign Yuna's attacks, the King raised his sword and brought it down towards the stage. Yuna easily dodged it, but he wasn't aiming for her. The King's true purpose was the stage itself, cracks running down the ground as he cratered it.

  The ground quake at his strike and debris flew towards the air. The o terrain had bee highly uneven and unstable, yet Yuna maneuvered with ease, rushing towards the King without missing a beat, her sword ready to ssh again.

  "Heh..." ［Ar］

  Yet rather than brace himself for the worst, the King only smiled, kig up a storm of dust. He rushed backwards at breakneck speed, rushing recklessly out towards the stageー or so it would seem at first.

  But just as he was nearing out of bounds, debris from his previous strike fell down from the sky. He easily maneuvered his body and pnted his foot against it. He put all his strength to his legs, bsting off towards the sky and esg Yuna's grasp.

  RUUUMMMBLLLLLEEEEEEEE

  He flew like a s fal and the ground trembled below Yuna. The King's swlowed golden once again, titanic boulders rushing at his call. His swrew more massive with time, a hurrie of destru brewing in the light of day.

  Soon, not just the earth, but the winds also started growling and the Gran Colosseum roared like a rampaging lion. The once golden glint had turned scarlet, looking much more intimidating with the King's "Terrorize". A sword of ruin.

  ??Heavy Ssh: Meteor Strike!?? ［Ar］

  The King soared high and his titanic sword started to roar along thunder. A scarlet and golden sheen paihe Grand Colosseum, his dest making the ground tremble in terror and the winds scree fear.

  Yet Yuna didn't falter. Her once merry attitude faded like drifting mist, eyes glowing cold like ice as she ged her stahe winds also started to howl from below, the afternoon breeze turning cold as she opened her mouth.

  ??Mountain Cleaving Frost!?? ［Yuna］

  Frozen crystals of ice bloomed from her feet, spreading like wildfire otered stage as she brandished her bde. A wave of blue and frost appeared at her tune, deep blue ice dev everything in sight along her sharpened bde.

  A massive ssh from above rushing like a falling star and a wave of deep blue from beling frost along with it. Two disastrous forces cshed with one ahe sky ah thrusted into chaos as the most powerful of shockwaves id waste to the Grand Colosseum.

  Light and explosions swallowed all there was to see, utter chaing in the arena, quaking wilder and wilder until ahquake rocked the whole of Avalon. If it wasn't for the barrier, a rge portion of the capital would have already been pulverized.

  "Brace yourselves, folks! Don't worry, the barrier will protect us!" ［Terry］

  "This is the highlight of the tury! Make sure to keep your eyes peeled!" ［Konan］

  Light soon faded away and two figures remaiandie the stage already destroyed beyond words, massive blocks of id boulders littered the ground, the boundary of the stage now o be seen.

  The King didn't rest and so did Yuna. As soon as their csh ehey gripped their swords once more and more a massive amount of mana into them, twisting their bodies as they unleashed yet another devastating sword art.

  ?? ??Bded Tempest!!?? ??［Ar and Yuna］

  Two voices, two tornadoes of bde. Their swords collided again and again, sparks flying everywhere as they cshed. They were equal in speed and power, her bending towards the other's will.

  Such a fierce csh tinued, only bdes of mana seen by the audiehe King was already nearing exhaustio Yuna could still keep a calm expression. Only a sihought rang inside his mind.

  'This is going nowhere...' ［Ar］

  A massive and resounding g echoed in the air with their final csh, the tornadoes of swords halting soon after. The audience couldn't help but forward to what's , Yuna about to rush towards the King, when out of the blue...

  "Yuna, don't you think it's gotten quite a bit b?" ［Ar］

  ... His Majesty suddenly suggested such a thing. His guard was now down and his shoulders were free of tension showing he didn't mean any harm. Gestures whily made Yuna tilt her head in fusion.

  "What do you say we end this match with a big bang? That ought to make it a lot more iing, wouldn't it?" ［Ar］

  "A big bang... Fufufu! I like the sound of that, Your Majesty!" ［Yuna］

  "Great! Just as expected, I knew you would uand me!" ［Ar］

  The two smiled with delight and a storm of mana brewed the most violent it ever did, attributes of earth and frost g in the winds, tremors running along the ground as they imbued their swords with all their might.

  ??White Dream: Fluttering Snowfkes!?? ［Yuna］  ??Falling Rush!?? ［Ar］

  The ground quaked at one side, a massive bde of earth rushing down with an avanche of boulders. Oher side was a wave of snowfkes riding along a bde of blue. Yet another disastrous csh id its wrath, destroying the already ruiage yet again.

  The light faced away once more, the King's body riddled with wounds and ice, his whole being quivering in cold and pain, barely able to move. However, the same couldn't be said for Yuna. There was not a single wound to be seen.

  'Seriously... What a monster...' ［Ar］

  His thoughts carried by the freezing breeze, the King could only stand and watch as Yuna drew even more mana. Her eyes glowed bright and sparkled with frost, her silver bde now shining blue. The King could only smile ever so nervously.

  ??Mountain Cleaving Frost!?? ［Yuna］

  Yuna passed her judgement and waved her swales of winter shing out a final time as a bde of frost and mana bolted towards the King. A froze opened up its maw, swallowing the King whole.

  The tter mao brandish his sword one more time, but there was only so much he could do. He bsted away some ice, but most of his body was still devoured by the frozen maw of death. A silver glimmer shone in front of her, the young elf's sword poiowards him.

  "What a devastating performance!! Her Highness ends the match with a destructive bo and moves on to the semifinals! Gdiator Yuna rises victorious!" ［Konan］

  "Waahhh～! That was an amazing match!"

  "Your Majesty! Yhness! You rock! You're both fantastic!"

  "Hey! Did you see that?! Wasn't that amazing?!"

  The young dy's victory had been decred with enthusiasm and the people received it well. What was once quiet as the cold winds brew was now filled with energy aement as the audience's cheers drowned out the howling winds.

  Meanwhile, the two figures oage could not put down their swords. The tension which brewed like a storm was now gohout a trace, the two letting their hearts loose and sheavihy sighs. The young dy was especially radiant.

  "Fufufu! That was quite a lot of fun, Your Majesty." ［Yuna］

  "Fun, huh..." ［Ar］

  Ar was risking his life on the line as she battled against Yuna, but to the young dy before him, it was just aname. Just another battle she had experienced duriravels. He couldn't eve mad even if he wao.

  The pinnacle of swords he has been chasing ever since he was a young prince was much farther thahought. He was a little disappointed, but at the same time, aranger fme burst forth in his heart. He could only ugh at the thought.

  "Haha... Hahaha... Kuhahaha! You really are something else, Yuna! You're right, it really was fun! We should do this again some other time!" ［Ar］

  "Fufufu! If time permits it, then I will gdly accept." ［Yuna］

  "Great! That's settled then. I'm looking forward to it!" ［A］

  There was no time to be depressed. While it was a bummer that he couldn't even reach the semifinals, there was only so much he could do about it. He didn't dwell too mu his defeat, deg to mar towards the bright future.

  "Oh, but first, could you maybe... melt away this ice? I still 't quite move my body because of it, you see..." ［Ar］

  "Ah, right..." ［Yuna］

  He could talk and he could ugh, but other than his head, he couldn't move his body at all. It was still encased by Yuna's field of ice, unmovie him trying his best to break out. She truly was on another level.

  "Sorry, Your Majesty! I totally fot!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha! It's alright, it's alright... Just make sure to be careful when doing it. My wounds hurt quite badly..." ［Ar］

  "U-Un! I'm really sorry!" ［Yuna］

  CHAPTER 325 END