"hat a sudden turn of tides!! In just a single moment, Her Highness had turhe table against His Grad id waste on the arena!!" ［Konan］

  "Who could have seen it ing?! To think that she, who was covered in blood and wounds, could easily crush His Grace without much effort! An unbelievable feat! This is a first, I'll tell you that much, folks!" ［Terry］

  "It was a duel with a number of twists and turns. But the one who rose to victory was Her Highness! Gdiator Yuna advao the Grand Finals!" ［Konan］

  There was fusion and there was disbelief, but such emotions soon turo a h cacophony of excitement the moment Konan's annou echoed all over the Grand Colosseum, people yelling to the top of their lungs.

  They uood little to nothing about what just happened, but they knew full well that Yuna domihe match. A throne of iveloped the arena, a beautiful young dy reigning over it, eyes cold as the pierg chills.

  A certain chamber in particur was especially excited. There sat the Royal Family, appuding both Yuna and Elian for their wonderful performanow in standing ovation after witnessing su awe-inspiring sight.

  "Haha... And here I thought Yuna would lose to Elian... Just as you would expect from the one who defeated me." ［Ar］

  "Dear, you're putting quite a bit much fiden yourself. Lady Yuna is simply bright and powerful." ［Miranda］

  "Sure, sure, let's go with that. Still... She really is a monster..." ［Ar］

  The Ki no harm in his words, only holding awe and admiration in his heart for the lone young dy standing oage. Had she used such a skill against him, he could only shudder at the thought of his own demise. Truly tightening.

  His Majesty already accepted how far the gap between his and Yuna's skill was, but it seems that he was far too ceited. It was much wider than he imagined, a massive wall rising before him, s towards the heavenly clouds.

  He may not be able to reach the fabled pinnacle of swords in this lifetime, at least he could witness someone who held the potential to. The way her swords fluttered in the air was graceful and mystical... Beauty amidst the violence.

  "Dear, you're smiling..." ［Miranda］

  "Hahaha. I'm just looking forward to what the future holds..." ［Ar］

  The crowd tio appud, uding Yuna's name over and ain. There was o the excitement, people talking about what just happened without a break, chatting merrily as if there was no tomorrow.

  Soon enough, the medical and repair team headed ihe arena and fixed up all the mess. Yuna helped out in thawing the id repairing the stage, also healing her wounds while she was at it. She has bee quite dependable.

  "Thank you very much, Yhness. We will now escort His Grace out of the arena. Please enjoy your rest."

  "Un. Thank you. I will be taking my leave now." ［Yuna］

  With everything done and dusted, Yuna then headed back to the stage, the audieill ting her wo figures greeted her by the other side of the arena gates, faces filled with pride and joy as they weled the young dy back.

  Well, they were happy now, but when Yuna was getting pushed back, they were both pale as be, looking as if they had seen ghosts. One could only feel the relief aement they felt after seeing Yuna turides of the duel.

  "gratutions, Yuna～! I knew you could do it! I knew you could beat Lord Elian! I always believed in you! As expected of my teacher～!" ［Lisandra］

  "Fufufu! Is that so? I'm sure I saw you panig just a little while ago though? You were so close t, you know?" ［Yuna］

  "ahh! F-Fet that already! H-How did you evehat?!" ［Lisandra］

  "Fufufu! Have you fotten already? I'm an S-rahere's only a couple of things that could escape my eyes." ［Yuna］

  The young dies were ughing and giggling, oh a face beet red like a ripe tomato, flustered and fidgety as be, and the other with a rosy tint on her cheeks, clearly having fun teasing her dear friend.

  As for the third figure, he only looked at them with warm eyes. He looked quite calm and posed now, but he was the one who pahe most back then, almost rushing towards Yuna's side when Elian pummeled her with his bdes.

  He had already sworn to himself that he wouldn't act as impulsively and overprotective as before, but he still couldn't help it. Oh, the sweet tradis of love... He once again realized how much of a fool he was... Just a fool in love...

  "Grey, what do you think? How did I do?" ［Yuna］

  "You did well... I'll make sure to make you something as a reward tomorrow. Just tell me if there's anything you want to eat." ［Grey］

  "Oh? We didn't agree on this though? Is that really okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Hm? Why are you asking for a reason...? Is there something wrong with wanting to reward my hardw fiancée?" ［Grey］

  Grey's sweet and sappy words shot like a heart-tipped arrow towards Yuna's heart, hitting it where it hurts, and making it ratrolbly. Her heart skipped a beat, Grey sparkling with stars and roses in her rose-tinted vision.

  The young dy's light rosy blush turned into a fierce red color, now blushing fervently and profusely, face feeling hot all the way to her pointy ears. The atmosphere quickly turned pink, love drifting in the air as two eyes gazed deeply at one another.

  Amidst the rosy room was a young dy, her mouth wide open as cold chills ran down her spine. She may be friends with the two, but sometimes their sweetness was too much. She just wao curse them, a terrifying smile blooming on her face.

  "Ahem! Are you two done now?" ［Lisandra］

  It was only when Lisandra cut them off that the two returo reality. Yuna hid her fad Grey cleared his throat, the tw to hide their embarrassment. A sight which would only make any lovesick singles irritated.

  "A-Anyway! Grey, it's your tur, right? Are you sure it's fio be that x? Yoing up against the Champion, you know?" ［Yuna］

  "Hm? Are you worried about me now? You should know how my skills are." ［Grey］

  "That's true... I guess that's true..." ［Yuna］

  Just like Yuna, Grey's swordsmanship proficy rose from 71% to 72%. It may only look insignifit, but that single pertage increase was something swordsmen would need months of training to achieve. He has grown quite a bit.

  Well, pared to the Champion's 76%, it was still not quite there yet. He could only rely on his elemental magic, abilities, and battle seo make up for the rest. All in all, it would be a fairly equal battle, both having the same ces of winning.

  "With that said... Grey, I've kept my promise... It's time to do your part..." ［Yuna］

  The young dy looked at Grey with eyes full of expectations and the young man iion replied with a bright smile. With her w so hard, it's only right that he replies in kind, fmes of determination surging abze in his heart.

  "Sure. You t on me." ［Grey］

  "Let us wele back the final semifinalists to the arena! Give a round of appuse to His Highness, Gdiatrey! And His Grace, Gdiator Deltran!" ［Terry］

  Just in time, the entator's decrati out in the whole Grand Colosseum, the audien a craze as they ted their names. It was time frey to head out, his eyes beaming with excitement as he watched the stage before him.

  "Then, I'll get going now. See you in a bit." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! Good luck, Grey! Don't fet our promise, okay～?" ［Yuna］

  "I'm really flicted right now, but I will also cheer on you! Good luck!" ［Lisandra］

  Heavy, metallic creaks resounded in the air, the arena gates closing with thrill and exhiration. The ever so gentle sunlight graced his figure once again, the sound of his footsteps subtly eg as he walked towards the freshly restored stage.

  It was already the third day, but the cheers of the crowd wasn't any less warm. They have yet to run out of voior energy, still screaming with vigor ahusiasm. A cacophony of cheers not eveivals could hope to rival.

  He walked up the stage, and in front of appeared the Champion. All one would need was a single look, and one could tell that they wore the same expressions on their faces, excited smiles extending from ear to ear as they faced one another.

  "To think I could finally have a bout against you on this lovely day, you really didn't disappoint me, Grey." ［Lionel］

  "I could say the same... And it seems like you smile like this, huh? I thought I heard Avalon's Champion was a cold-hearted person." ［Grey］

  "Well, who wouldn't be able to smile in front of such a strong oppo?" ［Lionel］

  They shook one another's hands and the ground trembled ever so slightly. The mood in the air suddenly shifted into one filled with pressure and tension. They have yet to cross swords yet the Grand Colosseum was already quivering in fear.

  As per usual, the entators did their introdus and the crowd showered them with praises. They soon separated ways, heading to opposite sides as they readied themselves to strike at the ring of the bell, eyes glowing sharp,

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

  Their voices rang out and the gongs were struck. The very moment the signal turned green, Lionel uhed his sword and rushed trey without a moment's hesitation. He was so fast, all the audience could see assing blur.

  G BOOOOMMMMMM FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH

  The first strike was nded, an explosion of sparks bsting through the air, violent shockwaves following it as the air boomed like thunder. It was still the first csh yet they already made an impa the Grand Colosseum, literally and figuratively.

  G G G G BOOM

  They exged blows again and again, streaking all throughout the stage and filling it with life. It was like watg a beautiful fireworks show, only that it was currently daytime and the sparks came from crossing swords.

  With swift hands, Lionel lunged his sword trey's aide, and the tter evaded with ease. Grey then terattacked from below, aiming towards his jaws. An attack the Champion dodged with ease with but a simple sidestep.

  A downwards ssh, a thrust towards the heart, a horizontal ssh, a pierg volley of bdes and many mrey and Lionel's exge only got fiercer and fiercer with the passing of time, her of them giving in with from the other's strikes.

  G BOOOOMMMMM

  They cshed with all their might, a shockwave sending tremors to the ground. The two were bsted away from one another, both nding on their feet with a bit of flipping and maneuvering midair, not breaking a sweat from their cshes.

  There was n whatsoever. As soon as they nded, streams of mana shed out violently as they were sucked in towards their vortex, turbulent storms brewing iage as the two poured their will and resolve into their swords.

  ?? ??Bded Tempest!!?? ?? ［Grey and Lionel］

  The strew more turbulently and aggressively as they brandished their swords, bdes of mana revolving with them as the ter. Two massive tornadoes formed in the arena, g ever so devastatingly, sparks flying out everywhere.

  There was no mercy betweewo, the freshly repaired arena once again ripped to shreds as long, deep gashes left their marks. Not even the walls could survive, a gring cw-like pattern engraved on it as the tornadoes tio spin.

  It didn't take too long before the tornadoes of bdes dispersed, yet there was no time to be relieved. The end was far from near, the two drawing back their swords as they once again poured copious amounts of mana to their swords.

  ?? ??Fsh Rain!?? ?? ［Grey and Lionel］

  Destructive torrents came from both sides, the ter peppered with shockwaves as their thrusts collided with one ahey were perfectly in sync, the stage cleaved in half as the shockwaves tio flog out, bearing the brunt of all their attacks.

  Some attacks did mao pass through, but with their insane reflexes, it didn't take too much effort to evade them, using magic to augment their strides, making what is thought to be impossible by others, possible.

  "What an intense duel! It hasn't even been a minute and the whole arena is already destroyed! This is beyond amazing! This is terrifying!" ［Terry］

  "You're totally right, Partner! And it doesn't seem like it's dying down anytime soon! I already anticipated something great, but this is beyond my expectations!" ［Konan］

  "Hohoho! What do you think, folks?! Who do you think will prevail in this violent fury! Will it be ning Champion, or would it be the young Hero of Oiros?!" ［Terry］

  "Keep your eyes peeled! I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss a se!" ［Konan］

  Unlike Yuna and Elian before them, the match between Grey and Lionel was not one which started off retively gently then building up more excitedly. From the very first csh, they already gave it their all, fighting with smiles on their faces.

  The torrent soon stopped and the clouds of dust finally settled dowhe same couldn't be said about Grey and Lionel. Despite their already over the top cshes, they were still far from satisfied,

  The Champion's bde glowed golden, the ground quaking before him. He raised his sword and boulders soared towards the sky, tg onto his sword until a massive sword extending 20 meters ih was reached.

  On the side of the stage, the winds howled and bellowed at Grey's and, then gathering towards his sword, a furious tornado ad it afterwards. The winds ran faster and sharper until the ground below him was filled with scars and diced up into oblivion, only dust remaining.

  "Wait! That stand pattern...! Don't tell me..." ［Ar］

  There was no mistaking it. As soon as he saw Grey's movements and the stahat he took, he immediately reized what the tter was trying to do. He has cshed with such teiques tless times, after all... It was Eliazar's...

  ??Heavy Ssh: Omega!?? ［Lionel］

  ??Blitz Symphony!?? ［Grey］

  Lionel brought down his sword and the ground trembled ever so violently, a golden shine swallowing the arena as a massive shadow was cast over it. The winds rang in terror, the ground already ag itself for impact.

  Yet Grey remained unfazed. He simply sshed and thrusted, the winds carrying his strikes, eg towards Lionel's attack from all angles and dires. He struck it where it was weakest, cracks eg time and time again.

  Crack Crack CRACK CRACK CRAMMMMM

  The cracks started out small, but after repeated peppering, it grew bigger and bigger, running along the surface of Lionel's sword until it was totally ed. A massive explosion of dust and rocks thundered in the arena.

  Lionel's attack was shattered into bits and pieces, thuds eg across the Grand Colosseum as the debris fell like rain. Even the remaining force of the attack was ralized, only leaving small craters peppering in the ground.

  The Champion's attack may have been shattered, but the same couldn't be said frey's. He tinued his deadly torrent, his bdes carried by the rushing winds as they bolted towards his enemy, destroying everything in their path.

  ??Raging Thunder Fsh!?? ［Lionel］

  Lionel didn't just let himself fall prey trey's curtain of swords. He quickly poured strength and mana into his feet and bde, darting like a thunderbolt as he rushed trey, swlimmering brightly.

  The rushing bdes were cut and the ground was ced with scars. He swiftly evaded all that rushed towards him, leaping towards the air as he raised his sword. Another metallig resounded in the air as he struck Grey's sword

  G G G G G

  Left, right, from above, from below, and from all angles. As he cruised like a bolt of lightning streaking across the sky, he nded fierce blows trey without stopping, making sure to strike the most vital of spots without making any fws.

  However, his efforts were all for naught. With Grey's eyes, no matter where he struck, Grey would always ready without a sed beat and defend against it. He parried all of them perfectly, even ung terattacks at Lionel's gaps.

  A final g resounded in the air before the Champion bolted away. With things as they are, it oio tinue on pressing Grey. He would only be wasting time and effort, time going against him in a battle of attrition.

  "I already khat you are oough oppo, but to think you would be able to defend against my attacks... You never cease to amaze me, Grey." ［Lionel］

  "The feeling is mutual. Though, you're not giving up, are you?" ［Grey］

  "Me? Giving up? Hahaha... Rather, I'm just getting started!" ［Lionel］

  The winds screeched with his scream and the ground quaked mgressively than before. Mana gathered and densed into Lionel's sword, every fiber of Grey's body screaming of danger as he watched such a se unfold.

  Lionel sshed and sshed again, each bde pag power to cleave everything in sight in half. The once clear arena was now littered with a storm of dust and debris, only getting strohe mote Lionel brandished his trusty bde.

  ??Thousand Bdes Spiral!?? ［Lionel］

  There it was again! Lionel's most powerful sword art was unleashed in the arena, the advent of destru fshing before everybody's eyes. It was a downpour of bdes, not a single p the arena safe from its reach.

  A thousand bdes id waste upon the arena, loud and irritable screeches filling the air as its cws scratched the barrier. It was merciless aless, ripping everything to shreds, vicious and ferocious like a demonic beast on a rampage.

  Grey shouldered the full brunt of the attacks, remaining calm as ever as he watched such a beautiful cascade of bdes. Lionel's skill was overwhelming and all his blows were also sharp and precise, but there was something Grey possessed that he did not... Grey possessed cheats. Divine cheats, that is.

  ??Executioner's Rush!?? ［Grey］

  With his eyes and mind, he copied Gahad's sword art from the day before. He also used the "Eyes of Destiny" to see ahead into the future and "Heaven's Eye" to see everything around him, tying everything with "Multitask" and "Autopilot".

  Lionel's fury tinued, and so did Grey's defe was a teique supposed to be impossible to defend against unless one was of higher level in swordsmanship, yet Grey broke such a principle, fending off everything without batting an eye.

  His hands moved fast as lightning, his strides accurate and effective as be, and his body maneuvering with the use of wind magic. The sound of shattering gss rang in the air as Grey broke the bdes time and time again.

  The storm soo up and a se of ruin was revealed to the eyes. Just like the day before, there was not a trace of the stage nor the arena anymore, only the barrier to be seen proteg the people. It was a se of the apocalypse.

  "What the... Impossible..." ［Lionel］

  Yet in that apocalyptic se, not just one, but two people remaianding. One was the harbinger of destru whht forth such destru and the other was his target, perfectly unscathed, eyes remaining sharp and calm.

  "Then... It's my turn, right?" ［Grey］

  There was n whatsoever. Before Lionel could even recover from shock, Grey had already closed the distaween them, his eyes glowing ahyst glow as he raised his sword towards the Champion.

  ??Raging Thunder Fsh!?? ［Grey］

  ??Cleaving Crest!?? ［Grey］

  ??Wild Thrust!?? ［Grey］

  One... Two... Three... Four... And many more...

  Grey juggled sword art after sword art as he unleashed his fury towards Lionel, all the while imbuing them with different attributes and striking from different angles, making use of feints and illusion while he was at it. An explosion of colors!

  Lionel had already fought tless battles and duels but it was his first time fighting such varied and fusing styles. Let alone terattack, he could barely defend himself from Grey's insane rhythm. It was simply too uable.

  "hat an unbelievable style! His Highness is attag His Grade with various sword arts and using different elements! I've never seen anything like this before in my life! This is simply a marvel to behold!" ［Konan］

  It wasn't just Liohe entators, the audiehe Royal Family, and all that were present were i Grey's dispy, speechless and frozen at the same time. Only one person was different... It was her than Yuna.

  'Fufufu! He sure is fshy, isn't he～?' ［Yuna］

  The Champion was able to hold up, but the same couldn't be said for his ring. The mrey attacks, the more impact it received. Not to mention the shing out of different elements. Cracks started to appear on it until...

  Crack Crack Crack Shatter

  It was a subtle sound, but both Grey and Lionel heard it loud and clear. The former suddenly stopped in his tracks, halting his sword, a pale expression painted on his face. Expression just as pale as the man before him.

  "Ah... I'm in trouble..." ［Lionel］

  He was in trouble, indeed. As soon as the ring broke, the illusory magic cast on the Champion was instantly dispelled. With the effect fading, Lionel's face slowly started ging shape and so did his color... Slowly but surely.

  His white hair turned a fierce scarlet color and his greeurned a deep blue like the ever expanding o. He has returo his inal colors, his expression only spelling trouble no matter whigle one reads it.

  "Huh...? Who is that...? Is that Lord Deltran...?"

  "It 't be, right? Was he just faking it this eime?"

  "Hey! What's happening here?!"

  fusion brewed all over the Grand Colosseum and the audience was thrust into chaos as they tried to figure out just who the scarlet-haired man andemonium spelled all over the pce as the people argued.

  Amidst all the chaos, a couple certain figures quickly identified who the man was. A certain princess in particur was in disbelief, eyes wide open in shod hands trembling ever so slightly as she poi the man. A few words were spoken...

  "E-Elder Brother?!" ［Lisandra］

  CHAPTER 329 END