G G G

  Heavy metallic sounds screeched in the air, fierce fmes chasing after its tail as loud and deafening explosions riddled the air. The winds boomed and bellowed, a tornado of fmes birthed along with shockwaves, flogging out in the arena.

  There was not just one or two, but three bdes g, two ganging against one, not leaving the oppo even room to breathe, his bdes rushing towards her and aiming for the kill. A ferocious and violent csh was what it was.

  "Just to be expected of Lord Elian! Lady Agatha is forced into a defeh hie fury of blows! Is this the end of the duel?!" ［Konan］

  "Hohoho! It's still too early to judge, Partner! Lady Agatha still has determination burning in her eyes! She won't easily go down without a fight! She didn't climb up towards the quarterfinals on mere luck alone!" ［Terry］

  "What do you think, folks?! Cheer as loud as you ! The battle is getting more heated up as we speak!" ［Konan］

  It was the third round of the quarterfinals for the Senior Division, a match between the runner-up of the previous three secutive years, Elian, and a challenger who was at the higher ends of B-rank, Agatha.

  Elian wielded two longswords by his side whilst Agatha wielded a rapier. Both were masters of the swords, not letting up as they poured out strike after strike, after strike, sshing and thrusting faster than lightning, their strikes thundering across the arena.

  ??Double Cross!?? ［Elian］

  His hands were swift and precise, sshing at the same time and creating a cross of mana which darted towards Agatha at breakneck speeds. A cross sharp enough to cut through steel without a problem, cutting it like tofu.

  ??Wild Thrust!?? ［Agatha］

  Agatha didn't just let the attack rush at her. She quickly pulled herself together and gathered mana at the tip of her sword. She thrusted towards the middle of the cross, shattering it tments, a beam of pierg silver rushing out from her rapier.

  The duel tinued and st csh tinued, Agatha pushed back slowly but surely by Elian's dual wielded barrage. Her reflexes and maneuvering were very endable, but Elian's cascade of bdes were even much faster, battering the dy without showing any signs of mercy.

  He raised both of his bdes and Agatha parried it with her sword, but at the same time her hands were full, Elian unleashed his other bde, thrusting towards Agatha at breakneck speeds. Blood illed as her fnk was wounded.

  Pained as she was, Agatha still mao pull herself together and increased the distaweewo of them. She covered her wound with her left hand, her right hand charging mana towards her sword, the winds howling at her and.

  ??Bded Gale!?? ［Agatha］

  She shed out her sword and the winds ran rampant, bdes of wind rushing towards Elian like galloping stallions, stampeding all over the stage. They left rge gashes on the ground, scarring the newly repaired stage.

  Yet Elian could only smile at the sight before him. He crouched oage, leaving a rge crater as he pounced, his bdes crossed as his eyes glowed sharp. He then brandished both his swords, ripping apart everything in his path.

  The bdes of wind and mana were all shattered like brittle gss, Elian closing in on the wounded Agatha as the chimes of time tio py. Panic struck the dy's heart, withdrawing her bde of a and stoppiracks as he unleashed her mana.

  ??Wi Spring!?? ［Agatha］

  Her sword fshed and rode the wind, a raging storm rushing towards Elian at insane speeds, aiming towards his heart. A loud g reverberated in the air as the tter used both his swords to deflect su attack.

  However, that was not the end of it. Rather thaerminated, Agatha's swift and deadly thrust tio sh out, hitting the barrier and ricocheting towards Elian once more, now even faster and powerful than before, the winds howling louder.

  BANG BANG BANG BANG

  Elian deflected the swain and agai every time he did, it only bounced back, rushing faster at him again. Even with two of his swords, it was still difficult to parry, the blow getting heavier as the hurrie brewed wilder with time.

  The man ran, but the persistent bde tio chase him. Such a se occurred until such that a thunder boomed throughout the stage, the thrust breaking through the sound barrier, leaving shockwaves in its wake.

  Left, right, above, and from below, the rushing winds tio strike Elian without a shred of mercy. It got so fast that Elian's eyes couldn't keep up anymore, only a blur appearing on his peripheral. A wound soon appread, blood trig down his arms.

  'Tsk! So annoying...' ［Elian］

  Elian's eyes finally glowed a serious glint. He was about to unleash his ability, when he caught a quick glimpse of a certain sight. Agatha was now panting heavily, sweat streaking down like bullets from her forehead whilst blood trickled from her side.

  The attack was overwhelming, but it was also one which devoured Agatha's mana like a starving dragon. It hasn't even been half a mi she was already panting, legs trembling ever so slightly, evidently struggling to stay on her feet.

  'I see... So that's how it is... The's he who will st longer!' ［Elian］

  A sudden ge of pns, a smile of mischief blooming on Elian's face. He braced himself for one more time ahe fmes devour his whole being, his bdes the hottest of fme, erupting like that of a disastrous volo.

  ??Dual Winged Phoenix Fsh!?? ［Elian］

  The fmes burst forth and a thunderous shockwave rocked the whole arena, scarlet fmes running rampant all over the pce, a burning streak cruising across the stage like a lightning bolt which fell from heaven.

  Elian, which was slowly ered by the persistent bde of Agatha, was now s through the stage at inparable speeds than before. A trail of fmes were left at his wake, the occasional shockwaves as his bdes cshes with Agatha's

  All Elian did was run and defend, blowing away Agatha's attack as he dashed all over the stage. He was clearly enjoying the same, but the same couldn't be said about the dy, clearly out of breath as she tried to maintaitack.

  'Jus... Just a little bit more...' ［Agatha］

  Agatha thought as she breathed in and out in rapid succession, pushing herself over her limit, pain, fatigue, and drowsiness creeping in on her. She blinked her eyes for a quient, and the very moment she opened her eyes two bzing bdes were already aiming for her neck.

  She closed her eyes yet again, brag herself for the worst and the pain that's about to e, yet nothing happened. She opened her eyes once more and the scorg, scarlet fmes were inguished, only two bdes poi her.

  A short distance was her bde, frozen in time just a couple inches away from Elian's neck. She had run out of mana, her bde shattered intments of light as they vanished into thin air, dim sparkling carried away by the wind.

  "Looks like it's my win, My Lady." ［Elian］

  The man smiled with a bright expression on his face, the tour of his atuated by the golden brilliance of the sky behind him. The battle was finally atha's legs giving out from pain and relief, uo keep herself from standing any longer.

  "Hohoho! What a swift and fast-paced duel! His Grade, Gdiator Elian has grabbed victainst Gdiatatha! He takes the third spot of the semifinals!" ［Terry］

  The annous rang loud, and the crowd cmored with excitement as the victor punched his fist towards the amber sky. All her smiling brightly, only a single figure down in the dumps as she sat on the ground, eyes filled with a bit of disappoi.

  "Now, now, don't be too sad, My Lady. That was a good matd I really enjoyed myself. There's o be so sad." ［Elian］

  "Easy for you to say... You weren't even serious, were you?" ［Agatha］

  "Hahaha. I wonder... Well, first... Let me help you up a bit. I'm sure your sides still hurt from your wound." ［Elian］

  "Ah, thankー Fuweeh?!" ［Agatha］

  The dy couldn't even finish her words when Elian did the unthinkable. She thought he would just lend her a hand, but the man suddenly crouched and scooped her up from the ground, his hands on her bad legs. He carried her, bridal style!

  "Wh-What are you doing?! L-Let me down, you beast!" ［Agatha］

  "I was the one who gave you that wound, so I should at least do this much. And as far as I know, you don't have a lover so there shouldn't be any problem, right?" ［Elian］

  "There are a lot of problems here! P-Put me down already, you fiend!" ［Agatha］

  Agatha protested as much as she could, but there was only so much she could do when she was exhausted as be. Elian tinued carrying the dy and brought her to the medical staff to be healed, golden light shining soon after.

  It wasn't the first time he had done so. Though he usually just lends his shoulder, he also carries people wheuation calls for it, carrying them in her arms when they're a dy, and on his shoulders they're a man.

  Regardless of which, it was always an iing sight to behold, the crowd enjoying the little extra ugh to break away from the tension. Two figures in particur were glued to the se, peeking a little ways from the waiting area.

  "Ohh～! So that's my oppo, huh... He's quite the pyer, isn't he? Quite... Umm... Iing to say the least! Un! Iing!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. That may be so, but you should still be careful. He hasn't shown his full power yet. I'm sure it will be totally different tomorrow." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! That makes me look forward to it even more!" ［Yuna］

  There was oement and anticipation in her eyes as she gnced over Elian once again. Though, the match she was most excited about was the oween Grey and herself, a soft chuckle esg her soft and plump, red lips.

  The clouds tio drift and the repairs were finally finished. With the setting of the sun, the arena lights lit up and graced the Grand Colosseum with sight. It was finally time for the final match of the day, the audieed as be.

  "Folks! Grab your snacks and refreshments, a yourselves properly! Keep your eyes peeled and your hearts ready! Let the drums py out!" ［Terry］

  "This is the match we have been waiting for! Aing match to clude the sed day of the ival of swords! Are! You! Readyyyy～?!" ［Konan］

  There was no need for a sed try. As Terry and Konan's voice echoed throughout the evening sky, a pandemonium of boisterous cheers and joyous appuse danced in the Grand Colosseum, two figures making their entrance.

  On one side was the Reigning Champion of the ival Swords, proving his worth three secutive times. The other was a Lt. General who wasn't any less famous, his name known all over the Kingdom. Swordsmen who stood at the top.

  "To think I would duel with you again against you in the ival of Swords... It must be fate, Yrace. I'll show you how much I've grown." ［Gahad］

  "Sure. I will be the oo judge you. I hope you won't disappoint me." ［Lionel］

  The Champion's words were as cold as ever, his eyes and expression unging in the face of Gahad's words. There was only tension in the air betweehe two shaking one another's hands with firm and immense grip.

  The two soon separated, heading off to their respective sides of the stage, a grand introdu following as per usual. A wave of cheers rang out once again, the stars watg them from the night sky, a cascade of starlight befalling on the arena.

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

  Both swordsmen uhed their swords and brandished them in the air, the ground trembling before them as they darted towards one aheir white and blue hairs fluttering in the wind as shockwaves filled the nightly breeze.

  The cold nightly air only became more chilly as Gahad brandished his sword, pilrs of ice appearing with every stride and the sparks immediately extinguished every time they cshed, streaks of blue glowing uhe night sky, bright as the moon.

  ??Frosted Tiger's Cw!?? ［Gahad］

  He leaped and he sshed, the frozen silhouette of a blue tiger appearing behind him, waving its fs and sshing away with its cws, four deadly and massive bdes of frost bearing down on the Champion's sword at the same time.

  The bdes ected to his sword, yet his facial expressions remained unged. He simply pnted his left foot firmly on the ground, brandishing his trusty longsword and defleg it with a heavy swing, showers of blue exploding in the air and snow falling soon after.

  His first attack may be deflected, but there was o falter. Taking the ce, Gahad quickly luowards Lionel and put all his strength into his sword. The winds quivered and bellowed as his eyes glimmered blue.

  ??Freezing Crest!?? ［Gahad］

  A massive bde was maed from nothingness, the moisture in air freezing into snowfkes as the sound of crag ice rustled in the wind. Yet another fierce csh thundered across the Grand Colosseum, crystals of ice exploding rather than sparks.

  It was all too sudden. Befahad could even notice, the Champion's bde was already covered in rocks, blog both the frost and the impact of his attack without much trouble, the former's body shuddering a little from the rebound.

  However, even that didn't stop Gahad from attag. With the failure of his sed attack, he braced himself yet again and poured much mana not just on his sword, but ti his body as well, the wind freezing as the night went deeper.

  ??12 Deadly Strikes: Winter March!?? ［Gahad］

  Streaks of blue shone from his bde, the soft ale moonlight refleg on it. He suddenly disappeared from sight, his shadow creeping in oage like a free eagle reigning over the night sky.

  BOOOMMMM FWOOSH CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE

  A strike came from above, a shockwave filled with power and frost shing out on a beautiful night. Crystals of ice maed from thin air, swallowing the Champion's sword whole, crag even the heavy rocks ad it.

  But Gahad didn't just end there. After the first strike, he rebounded from the bde and nded on the ground, poung towards the Champion once again, now aiming from a different angle, his sword moving fast as lightning.

  BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Aride, arike, all ing from different angles and flowing in different patterns. Gahad soared all over the stage, leaving trails of ice with every step. The symphony of the freezing winds pying as their swords cshed again and again.

  Eight... Nine... Ten... Eleven... And owelfth and final strike, Gahad's sword was enveloped in azure and brilliant light. He then drew his sword and poured all his strength towards his legs, all the frost building up finally bursting forth, trating at the tip of his sword.

  He thrusted with all his strength and albeit subtly, Lionel's expression finally ged, painted with a bit of shock. He finally poured mana to his sword ahe ground to his will, rushing out towards the sky and gathering towards his sword.

  ??Falling Rush!?? ［Lionel］

  The ground quaked at Lionel's words and his sword rode an avanche of rocks. It soon ected with the pierg cold, tremors reverberating again and again as the downpour of boulders tio pour, the ground shattered as Lionel's sword fell.

  The tremors didn't just stop there. After obliterating the ray of blue, it then id waste to the stage and made both the boulder and gciers rise in the air. The whole arena was a mess, not a siile untouched and free from harm.

  "How do you like my present, Yrace? Did it disappoint you?" ［Gahad］

  "No... On the trary, it was amazing. You have clearly gotten stronger pared to st year, frighteningly so." ［Lionel］

  "Hahaha. I'm gd to hear that, so... Here's another one, free of charge...!" ［Gahad］

  Gahad once again vanished from sight, appearing in front of the Champio aime. However, pared to before, the blue shine in his sword was o be seen, only a silver glimmer like the reigning moon above them.

  ??Executioner's Rush!?? ［Gahad］

  His eyes glowed white and so did his bde. Gahad unleashed a fury of sshes towards Lionel and slowly chipped away on his defenses. All his strikes aimed were deadly, aiming for the most vital of spots, swift and heavy as be.

  It was a skill born from swordsmanship alone and one Gahad had polished over the months, making sure its pattern was uable and hard to defend against. Surely enough, it was worth the effort, the Champion finally taking a couple steps back.

  "O... Ohhh...! His Grace is being pushed back by Lahad's fury of swords! His relentless attacks had driven our Champion into a er! Are we witnessing history here, folks?!" ［Konan］

  However, the entator couldn't be any more wrong. Though Lionel was being pushed back, it was simply because he's measuring the extent of Gahad's growth and openly receiving his strikes head on. It was rude to dee a present, after all.

  The csh of swords tinued and even fiercer sparks exploded like fireworks. Both Gahad and the Champiohat it was only futile, the tter easily parrying the former's furious age, not breaking a single sweat.

  Every strike was filled with all of Gahad's might yet the Champion was barely fazed by them. He had gotten much strohan he was before, but so did the man before him, only a sihought ringing in his mind...

  'Haha... Looks like I'm still far from the pinnacle...' ［Gahad］

  The Champion was like an immovable mountain before him. No matter how much he sshed, he could never hope to strike him down, his volley of bdes soon ing to a halt, arms now riddled with fatigue and pain.

  "That was a beautiful dispy, Lahad... So in respoo such a great present, let me show a bit of my siy as well." ［Lionel］

  The look in the Champion's eyes ged and the air became even more tehan it already is, a storm of mana brewed oage for the final time, violent bursts of winds shing out all over the Grand Colosseum.

  An ominous premonition creeping in deep in his heart, Gahad hastily tried to lu Lionel in order to stop him on his tracks, but it was all in vain as it was already far too te, the ground trembling below their feet from the raging storm.

  He struck down with his sword, pag all his might, but it was easily deflected away by an invisible yet heavy foro, rather, it arried by Lionel's sword. It was so fast and precise, the former could barely catch a glimpse of it.

  ??Thousand Bde Spiral!?? ［Lionel］

  Once... Twice... Five times... A dozen times... A huimes...

  Lionel sshed and sshed, bdes of mana p out from him and creating a massive aating tornado. The more he sshed, the bigger the tornado became, spinning ever so viciously as it tore everything in the arena apart.

  Gahad tried to defend himself, but it was all for naught. When the bdes reached the t of hundreds, his sword was flung away from the heavy force, wounds riddling his body as his blood graced the already ruiage.

  Lionel unleashed the thousandth strike with all his might, the tornado of bdes rapidly expanding as if there was no tomorrow. It cshed with the barrier, irritable screeches filling the air as it bore its cws, sshing everything in sight.

  The tornado of bdes soon dissipated and everything was id bare. The arena was totally destroyed, not a trace of the stage left behind. All there was to be seen was a lone man, eyes cold as the night as he heaved a sigh nation, eyes gng towards a certain dire.

  "W-What was that?! If I'm n, that should be the 'Thousand Bde Spiral' I only heard about in legends! Am I wrong, Partner?!" ［Konan］

  "No! You're totally right, Parthat was the power of an 'Advanced' level sword art! We just witnessed history here, folks!" ［Terry］

  "Hahaha! With this, the four semifinalists of the Senior Division have been decided! After a crushing victory, His Grace, Gdiator Deltran, joins the ranks!" ［Konan］

  The audience was thrusted into utter chaos, a mix of fusion, shock, disbelief, aement brewing in the Grand Colosseum, everyonessing the power of an Advanced-Level swordsman before their very eyes. Ovati aloud.

  It was truly terrific, to the point that if it weren't for the barrier, Gahqd might have also been ripped to shreds along with the arena. It was fortuhat his body was only riddled in wounds, life not even close to danger.

  Yet in that joyous night, two figures stood in silence, trary to the boisterous crowd. They looked at the devastated arena, the gentle moonlight grag them as the night tio unfold, starlight refleg in their eyes.

  "Grey... He just looked at you, didn't he?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, I think so too... Haha... Couldn't he be any more obvious?" ［Grey］

  The "Thousand Bde Spiral" wasn't just a way to finish the matd annouo the world the level of his swordsmanship. It rovocation from the Champion to his challeelling him to prepare himself.

  Lionel's swordsmanship really was a cut above the rest, Grey's not even matg up to him in that front. However, the young man couldn't help but look forward to the match to be held tomorrow, his blood boiling iement and anticipation.

  "Fufufu! Someone sure is excited～!" ［Yuna］

  "Hm? Did it show on my face?" ［Grey］

  "Mmn... Not really... Others probably wouldn't be able to tell. But, have you fotten already, Grey?... I'm your fiancée... I could tell at a single gnce." ［Yuna］

  "Haha... Looks like I'm really not a match against you, Midy." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! I'll take that as a pliment, Sir Grey." ［Yuna］

  Laughter and giggles resounded in the air, carried along by the drifting, nightly breeze as the stars tihe night sky. The world was already asleep yet the Royal Capital couldn't be any livelier, excitement brewing all over the pce.

  The Grand Finals draws nearer.

  CHAPTER 327 END