The sun was high above the world, the sky blue as be, clouds littering its every edge and er. The bdes of grass rustle in the meadow, the rivers tinuing to flow, and the forests breathing in and out as sunlight graced its verdant opies.
The world eaceful and quiet, however, the same couldn't be said iies where people hustle and bustle. A certain venue in particur was especially lively, h cheers and thunderous appuse eg towards the heavens.
It was the final day of the ival of Swords, and so the clusion was near. The semifinals of the Junior and Intermediate Divisions had just finished, and now, it was time for the Senior Division, the audieed as be.
"Fufufu! Someone sure looks excited." ［Miranda］
"Hahaha, how could I not be? After all, would be Yuna's match... I have high expectations for the one who defeated me." ［Ar］
The King decred with a bright smile on his face, extending from ear to ear as he eagerly watched over the arena. His blood was bubbling from excitement, hands trembling ever so slightly as he tried to rein in himself from anticipation.
Ihe waiting area, it wasn't any less quiet. Three figures stood just behind the arena gates, a silver-haired elf sheathing her swords as she peeked at the sery outside the waiting area, ready to sh out and cross swords with her enemy.
"Yuna, you must win, okay?! You must win for me! Don't let Lord Elia you! Show him what you've got!" ［Lisandra］
"Fufufu! Thank you, Lisa, though... Are you sure you aren't just cheering on me because Lord Elian is Lord Deltran's rival?" ［Yuna］
"What?! How could Lord Elian be Lord Deltran's rival! Lord Deltran is clearly strohan him! And by a long shot at that!" ［Lisandra］
"Sure, sure, let's just go with that～!" ［Yuna］
She was bawling her eyes out yesterday, but now, she was full of energy, puffing her cheeks as she argued with Yuna. She gave her one final and tight embrace food luck, wishing all the best for her victory, a sweet smile afloat on her pretty face.
Letting go of Lisandra, Yuna's eyes then shifted to a certain bck-haired youngster. She wanted anood luck charm", but with Lisandra around, she couldn't just ask for something so embarrassing, eyes now filled with expectations.
'Really now... Haah... What am I gonna do with you...' ［Grey］
Such a thought revolved around Grey's mind, sighing to himself as he looked at his beloved. With her looking like an abandoned puppy, how could he have the heart to ignore her. He sooended his hand, patting her head ever so softly.
"Good luck, Yuna." ［Grey］
His hand was warm ale, filled with a stream of affe and siy. It was ly what she thought of, but it wasn't any less f. fidend determination filled her heart, her lips breaking into a smile of satisfa.
"Un! I'll do my best, so you better look forward to it!" ［Yuna］
"That's the spirit, Yuna! Show that geezer what the Heroine of Oiros os made of! Beat him with everything you've got! Crush hiー" ［Lisandra］
"The's wele our semifinalists! Lord Elian and Lady Yuna!!" ［Terry］
Laughter and giggles in the air, the annou rang loud and clear all over the Gran Colosseum, cutting the princess off and a wave of deafening cheers followed after it. It was finally time for the fuel, the audience ting their names.
"Then, I'll be going now! Please watch me closely!" ［Yuna］
She ched her hands into a fist and decred such words with her chest puffed with pride. Her footsteps soon resounded in the air, drowned out by the heavy creaking of the arena gates and soon, by the thundering cmor and chatter of the audience.
Yuna was filled with determination, however, the same couldn't be said frey. He has full trust in Yuna's skills, yet he still couldn't help but have worry brew in his heart, ed about his beloved. After all, her oppo was...
-----------------------------------
[Salferine]
[Name]Elian
[Race]Human
[Sex]Male
[Age]29
[Status]Healthy
[Mana Capacity]2,135 [Mana Quality]B
[bat Power]3,672 [Threat Level]A
[Attribute]Fire [Magic Proficy]High (55%)
[Css]Swordsman [on Proficy]High (54%)
[Physical Enha]77%
[Ability]Asura (4☆)
-----------------------------------
... Quite powerful. It was no wonder he had been often referred to as the Champion's Rival. He has the skills to back it all up.
During the weeks they have been fighting in the Gran Colosseum, Yuna's profi the sword has risen from 62% to 65%, a massive increase sidering it has only been a couple of weeks. She was worthy of being called a prodigy.
However, even that 65% was still far from 74% which was almost at the "Advanced" level. The only way Yuna equal her was to effectively use ice magi jun with swordsmanship to overpower Elian. An easy-sounding fear which couldn't be any more difficult to pull off.
'Hmm... I wonder... Am I being overprotective again?' ［Grey］
There was not a o worry so much. With the bright face she made whilst she stepped foot into the arena, he could only put his trust on her, his eyes glued on her as she went up the stage, heart now at rest.
"Wh-What's this, folks?! Am I just seeing things or is Her Highness now has two scabbards by her side?!" ［Konan］
"You're n, partner! And not just her, His Grace also has four more bdes hanging on his back! It seems like things are getting serious!" ［Terry］
"We have said it before, and we will say it again! This match will go down in the history of the Kingdomー No! The world! This match will be legendary!" ［Konan］
The entators weren't exaggerating. Along the usual "Divine Sword", Yuna also now held the "Silversky Decapitator" in her hand, one of the Mythical-Grade swrey got as a prize for clearing the Labyrinth of fmes. It ecial sword which empowers the ice attribute, perfect for Yuna.
Oher hand, Elian was equipped with six swords. Two were hanging by his sides and the other four by his back. All were of the Superirade, costing dozens of millions of kiels. He sure was rich, I'll tell you that much.
"Whew～! This is the first time I'm seeing you use two swords, Yhness. So you were a dual wielder as well?" ［Elian］
"Well, you could say that... Though, this is the first time I'm wielding two swords at the same time. I was inspired by your style yesterday, you see." ［Yuna］
"That isn't something you decide on willy-nilly, you know? Dual wielding is much harder than it seems. You might regret ag so recklessly." ［Elian］
"Fufufu! We shall see about that..." ［Yuna］
There was only fiden her eyes as she shook Elian's hands. After all, she was an assassin, and she has been dual wielding ever since she learnt how to fight. Be it swords gers, everythi natural in her hands.
Though... there was o say it out loud. Elian and Yuna soon separated and headed to their respective sides. Their usual introdu followed, the entators now more hyped than before as they riled up the crowd.
"Let the match... Begin!!" ［Konan and Terry］
BOOOOMMMMMMM
The signal rang and a shockwave followed soon after. Before everyone could even notice, the tiles were already broken, two streaks of light g with one another. Excitement boomed soon after, eyes sparkling with excitement.
G G G G G
Sharp and violent screeches danced in the air, Yuna and Elian hurling rapid shots towards one another, both of them dodging and parrying with eyes as their eyes cruised like bolts of lightning, their cshes following it like thunder.
The previous cshes were already fierce, but with both testants wielding two swords, it was now even faster and even more violent, twice the devastation razing the arena and twice the enthusiasm drifting afloat the crowd.
?? ??Double Cross!?? ?? ［Yuna and Elian］
Their teiques are just as fast, only needing half the time to unch such powerful strikes, the air quivering in fear and the ground quaking in terror as they exged blows time and time again, turbulent storms of mana brewing askew.
Elian bolted towards Yuna and raised one of his swords to the sky, another rushing from below. He brought the two of them together, rushing towards the young dy like the pincers of a crab, only more deadly and at breakneck speeds.
The streaks of his bde glimmered uhe bright sky, Yuna's eyes following it close. She easily dodge the attack by pnting one of her swords in the ground and propelling herself upwards with a little bit of help from wind magic.
Elian's attack was over, so it was now time for Yuna's terattack. She gripped her remaining sword with both her hands and preat amounts of mana towards it, glowing bright as it streaked towards Elian like a bolt of lightning falling from heaven.
??Heavy Ssh!?? ［Yuna］
Yuna's sword crashed like a falling star and ected with Elian's crossed swords. A tremendous shockwave rocked the stage once more, whilst Elian's knees were forced to bend. Another shockwave followed as he deflected Yuna away from him.
The young dy was bsted a couple distances away, but she easily nded on her foot, rushing towards Elian once again, all the while grabbiher sword with a sharp glint glimmering inside her eyes.
??Raging Thunder Fsh!?? ［Yuna］
Her steps exploded like thunder and she bolted towards Elian at breakneck speeds. Like Grey the day before, she imbued the power of wind, fire, and lightning ts and rushed at speeds unimaginable ihe barrier.
??Dual Winged Phoenix Fsh!?? ［Elian］
Elian's steps also shattered the tiles as she dashed towards Yuna, fmes enveloping his whole body and his swords. An explosion of sparks erupted as he crossed his swords, rushing towards Yuna with the io win.
Elian was fast, but Yuna was even much faster. Every step the man took, Yuna could take two, not giving him any ces to escape her grasp. She chased after him time and time again, fmes razing the stage as two streaks cruised all over the pce.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
The g of metals ceased to exist, thundering explosions then taking their pce. Yuna struck as aggressively as she could and Elian defended against her ferocious blows, craters f oer another every siime their bdes cshed.
'Kugh... As expected of an S-ranker... So powerful...!' ［Elian］
Each of the young dy's blows were heavy, Elian clearly pushed back. Their physical prowess may now be equal, but with such explosive power bag her, Elian could only grunt as he bore the brunt of her furious cascade of bdes.
Unlike Agatha from his match before, Yuna wasn't showing any signs of fatigue nor rapid mana exhaustioher, looking rather calm if anything. It was only then that it dawned on him that he couldn't simply py around and do things half heartedly.
The glint in Elian's eyes finally ged. Yuna's flurry of sshes tinued, yet Elian halted his steps in rebellion and bore down on of her attacks with a single bde, a bit of pain cruising in his veins, hand trembling from the impact.
Yet Elian didn't falter. He didn't waste the opportunity and poured mana into his other sword and thrusted it towards Yuna, twisting his arms a little bit as he aimed for the young dy's neck without hesitation.
??Wild Thrust!?? ［Elian］
The thrust parted the air and pierced through the st torrent. Yet another loud crash danced in the air, a metallic csh eg as his sword ected with Yuna's, an explosion of mana following, a cloud of dust brewing iage.
His thrust wasn't able to wound Yuna, but it was able to bst her more than a few meters away. It gave Elian more than enough room to prepare his terattack, a scarlet glimmer burning abze in his eyes like the fmes of hell.
Of course, Yuna didn't just stand by and no nothing. As Elian's fmes raged, the air arouarted to freeze and snow started to fall. Ice slowly crept oage, a storm or blue brewing all over the arena at her and.
?? ??Scorg Crest!!?? ?? ［Elian］
There wasn't just one, but two waves ing fmes rushing towards Yuna. One rushed from above whilst the other one from below. They paihe stage red, the winds bursting forth with rage and the tiles melting from the heat.
?? ??Mountain Cleaving Frost!!?? ?? ［Yuna］
Oher side, two waves of blue burst forth from Yuna's bde, leaving trails of id frost in their wake, cruising like sharks in the oic depths. The m breeze turned into freezing winds, shing out all over the pce.
BOOOOMMMMMMM
The bdes of frost and fmes cshed, a shockwave of destru razing the ground and ripping the whole stage without mercy. It resounded louder than thunder, people forced to cover their ears despite the barrier proteg them.
Light soon faded away and all there was to be seen was destru, the boundaries of the stage erased from existe again. Only a single figure could be see standing oageー or rather, only one could be seen.
??Double Cross!?? ［Yuna］
One of them was veiled by the rge pilrs of steam, smoke, and dust, only revealing herself as she unched yet atack towards Elian. Such thick clouds were parted by her ssh, a massive hole bored through in the shape of a cross.
Elian didn't let his guard dowher. With his quick rea time, he quickly jumped away from Yuna's bdes, the already jaded stage destroyed even more the moment it crashed towards the ground, another pilr of smoke rising to the air.
"Haah... You really are relentless, aren't you?" ［Elian］
"Fufufu! Then I'll take that as a pliment. I feel honored, Lord Elian." ［Yuna］
"Haha... So you still ugh in such a situation, huh.... The's see if you still keep on ughing after seeing this...!" ［Elian］
The air tensed up all of the sudden, the winds brewing eerily and the ground quaking ominously. A terrifying premonition struck Yuna's heart, instinctively fixiance, her guard raised to the highest level. A shog se unfolded before her.
There was n whatsoever. Shadows suddenly crept all over Elian's body and his whole being underwent a transformation. Two pairs of shadowy hands appeared on his bad two dark faces grew beside his face, his muscles growing stronger and tougher than they had ever been.
The four scabbards were finally released, four longswords uhed as two pairs of arms drew from them. Each bde glimmered with sharpness and intimidation, ready to ssh away the moment Elian wills it.
Asura (4☆)... Such was Elian's ability whiot only grants him extra strength, but also grants his four extra limbs and two extra heads in the form of shadows. This allows him to attack much faster in a wider range, all the while the whole battlefield and multitasking with the use of his extra heads.
"H-Here it is, folks! The moment we have been waiting for! His Grace has finally shown his trump card and has transformed into the great terror of Avalon! The Six-Bded Asura!" ［Konan］
"Hohoho! And here I thought I won't see it again this year, Partner! It looks like things are getting serious! The battle is gettied up, folks!" ［Terry］
"What will Her Highness do?! Will she be able to keep on fighting or would His Grace finally take victory with his trump card?! Ohh! Things are gettiing!" ［Konan］
The crowd's excitement rose up to cloud nine, yet one figure couldn't be any more different. It was her than Yuna, her eyes now filled with worry and trouble, hands trembling a little bit, not from fear, but uneasiness.
Grey had already warned her before about Elian's ability, but standing in front of the now-transformed Elian, it was much more ing thahought. Two swords were already troublesome, and now there were six. It couldn't get any worse.
"Then, here I... Go!" ［Elian］
There was no need for sed thoughts, Elian quickly poung towards Yuna. He may have gaira heads and limbs, but sihey were all but shadows, they didn't weigh him down at all. He was still just as fast.
BOOOOMMMMMMMMM
The first csh echoed, two bdes bearing down towards the young dy. Yet there was no time to be relieved. Whilst both her bdes were busy, Elian's other swords thrusted towards her, lunging from four different dires.
Yuna's eyes were fast, able to see them perfectly, but her body couldn't keep up with her reflexes. She was able to deflect two, but the other two tio rush towards her, albeit shallowly, wounding her left arm and her right leg.
Elian didn't just stop there. Before Yuna could even recover, he quickly lunged his other swords towards her and trapped her in a torrent of swords, wounds appearing all over her delicate figure as Elian tio pour out a cascade of swords.
G G G G BOOOOMMMMMM
It didn't take too long before Yuna cluded how disadvantageous close bat was. When she did, she immediately poured all her strength towards her legs and increased the distaween them with explosive steps.
In an instant, she was on ane of the stage, mana brewing like a storm with her at the ter of the vortex, freezing winds shing out as her eyes glowed as deep and frosty color. Winter gales screamed all over the pce.
?? ??Mountain Cleaving Frost!?? ??［Yuna］
Yet awo bdes of frost bolted across the already devastated stage, crystals of id gciers running rampant towards Elian. Yuna poured even more power in that strike, pag enough power to sweep away entire vilges.
Of course, Elian didn't just sit still ahe storm of ice devour him. He ignited his fmes once again, all his swords raging fmes. He unleashed all of them at once, rag like stampeding buffalos in a ge.
?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??Scorg Crest!!?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ［Elian］
Six whole waves of fmes dyed the arena a scarlet hue, shing out without mercy as they rushed towards Yuna. Two collided with Yuna's bdes and booming like thunder as an explosion of heat and steam id waste on the arena once more.
But such thick veil didn't st too long, dispersed by the other bdes of fme which rushed towards Yuna. Explosions thundered once more as bdes collided with the ever so sturdy barrier, not a trace of the young dy to be seen.
She appeared soon enough, but not where she was before. She was now behind Elian, a silver glimmer sparkling ever shtly as she thrusted both her swords towards Elian, boosting it with the explosive powers of the elements.
G G
However, it was all too unfortunate. With two more heads on his person, Elian quickly saw the sparkle in her swords and parried it with two pairs of swords, then twisting his body to unch a terattack with the other two.
Yuna immediately exploded her steps and bolted away from Elian as soon as she saw her attack fail. Blood trickled down her wounds and dripped towards the stage, her remaining sharp as she evaluated the situation again.
Close quarters bat was already a no go from the start, yet now, even led attacks and sneak attacks are nullified by Eliara heads and arms. The only way to win was to maximize the input of ice magic to her sword and ssh with all her might.
'The problem is the rebound... I could o about 60% now. If I exert more than 70%, it might bee aー' ［Yuna］
"What are you thinking so deeply about?" ［Elian］
Yuna couldn't even think properly, when Elian's swords once agai her. All she could do was dodge and parry, using a bit of magic to aid her strides and trying to ehe heavy curtain of bdes as much as she could.
A series of cshes echoed in the air once more and fresh wounds appeared on the young dy's body. She was fully suppressed, the suffering only ending the moment she escaped with all the strength she could muster.
"Hey... Yhness... I don't know you that much, but I could tell that you're still not giving it your all. Why don't you use 'that' already?" ［Elian］
"By 'that', you mean..." ［Yuna］
"The one you used against Lord Lazareth. That was your ability, wasn't it?" ［Elian］
Elian was totally right. Sihe first round, Yuna had sworn to not use her ability as it was too unfair for the other testants. Not only does it ceal her, it could also make her practically invincible against any sort of attack.
To make matters worse, the ival of swords is a petition to measure one's skills with the sword. Using su ability would deter its very meaning useless and could be taken as an insult to the Kingdom's history. She was hesitating.
"No... That ability is too unfair..." ［Yuna］
"Unfair, you say... Well, suit yourself. Though, you might regret it now if you don't use that card. It would be your loss, you know?" ［Elian］
Loss... Such a word resounded clearly inside Yuna's mind. Ever since she started training, she only sidered herself losing to two people, and they were her than the Azure Sword Emperor and Grey, two people who are truly strong.
To tell her that she would be losing against another, a swirl of emotions stirred her heart. It was not a matter of losing or winning, nor was it a matter of fidend pride. It's just... She had a promise to keep.
"Haah... Sorry for showing you such a sight... Then, I'll get serious too. Don't regret it when you lose." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. Now that's more like it! Bring it on!" ［Elian］
Yuna's eyes suddenly ged their glow. As Elian's voice rang in the air, the hot winds fueled the fmes. It rose and danced, c Yuna's figure. The moment it lowered down, Yuna was o be seen, only the crag of fmes to be heard
All of Elian's heads turned and surveyed the arena, not missing a single spot and not letting go of any little disturbances. He was fully on guard, his six bdes in a defensive position and ready to strike Yuna down the moment he saw her.
"Huh...?" ［Elian］
It was all too sudden. Before he could even notice, a wound had opened up on his left leg and a crystal of blood and ice bloomed from it. He couldn't even stop and think, another wound opening up, now in his cheeks.
Legs, torso, back, arms, chest, and all over his body. Wounds opened up again and again, ice starting to devour him whole. He tried to swing his bde, but he only sliced air, a silent whistle resounding in the air.
Not just her body, but eveeps araces. Yuna activated her "Nihility" to the highest and utmost degree, only deactivating for shorter than a split sed to attaot even giving Elian time to terattack.
??Silver Rush: Blizzard!?? ［Yuna］
She rushed all over the pce, inflig wounds all throughout Elian's body. The tter tried to terattack, but it was all in vain, only receiving stinging and freezing paiime he moved his body.
Dozens... Hundreds... Thousands... The number of wounds slowly grew, Elian slowly but surely swallowed by ice as time tio pass. The tides of the battle had finally turned, Elian bearing the full brunt of Yuna's fury.
??White Dream: Fluttering Snowfkes!?? ［Yuna］
A cold voice rang out in the midst of chaos, a storm of white and blue brewing along the h winds. Two bdes of ice appeared as the snowfkes danced in the air, the once burning breeze now dropping into shivering chills.
Elian couldn't move his swords from the restraining frost engulfing his body. A smile appeared on his face as he accepted his fate. The bdes of blue engulfed him whole, massive gciers appearing on the arena. All fmes were extinguished at its wake.
As the whistling winds blew and silened over the Grand Colosseum, the silver-haired elf once again appeared on the jaded arena, her eyes cold as be. She opened her mouth, only a few words esg it.
"See? I told you you'd regret it." ［Yuna］
CHAPTER 328 END
