Turmoil and chaos brewed in the air, fusion and shock adrift amongst the crowd as the clouds tio cruise along the ever so blue sky. It was lively day, the deafening cheers now turned into mutters and chatters.

  Gossip spread like wildfire and the fmes of turbulence were lit abze, boisterous and irritable voices running rampant all over the Grand Colosseum. All other noises were drowned out by such a disturbahe g of swords ceasing to echo.

  Amongst the dozens of thousands of audience, a certain chamber was struck even harder, eyes widened in shod their mouths hanging in agape as they watched the scarlet-haired man standing in the arena. They knew him far too well.

  "I... It... It be... Isn't that... Lionel...?" ［Miranda］

  "E-Elder Brother Lionel?! What is he doing on stage?? Isn't he sick?!"

  "Has Lord Deltran been fooling us all this time...?"

  They were all greatly distraught, watg the man as their hearts were ravaged by a fusing swirl of emotion. The mahought was so sick he couldn't even go outside was now standing before them with a sword in his hands.

  Ead every one of them were worried about him, and to think he erfectly fineー no, to think that he was even a master of swordsmanship who surpassed the best swordsmen of the Kingdom, they couldn't be any less shocked.

  The King was especially troubled, anger, frustration, and fusion brewing in his heart. He was happy that his son was healthy, but also irritated that he hid such a vital fact from them. He felt pyed like a fool.

  BANNNGGGGGGG CRASH CRASH THUD

  "Lionel! You bastard of a son! What are you doing here?!" ［Ar］

  Filled with rage, the King smmed his hand onto the table, bsting it to smithereens and pulverizing it into pieces. He couldn't trol his anger any more, not showing his usual dignity and majesty as he cursed his son in front of everyone.

  "You unfilial bastard! We have been worried about you for all these years and to think you were out here pying with your sword! I will make sure to teach you a lesson you wouldn't fet! Just you wait until we get back to the Royal Castle! I'll make sure to really cripple you with my sword!" ［Ar］

  Well, rather than rage... It was more like an angry father nagging his child. He was so angry, his manner of speaking has bee crude and rough, not even minding the popuce as he made such a loud and attention-grabbing racket.

  His rowdy ruckus was so loud, the people couldn't help but overhear from him. It took them a while to make out what he was saying at first, but when they did, otion struck the crowd once again, even louder than before.

  "D-Did His Majesty just say the Champion is his son...?"

  "I heard that too, and if it's Lionel we're talking about... Isn't that the sickly prince?!"

  "The sickly prino way... It 't be true, right? Just which part of him is sickly?!"

  The rumors spread far and wide all throughout the seating areas and before long, everybody was already talking about Deltranー no, about Liohe "sickly prince" who suddenly appeared before. All eyes gng at him from time to time.

  Two figures watched such a sery unfold, standing still in silend uo utter a single word. It surely was a sight to see, but they didn't know whether they should be amazed or be burdened by it, soon looking at one another awkwardly.

  One was the sickly prince who was the root of trouble in the Grand Colosseum, and the other was the one who broke the ring a all chaos loose. They were both to bme, smiles strained and wry as they scratched their heads and cheeks

  "Haha... This is even more troublesome than I thought..." ［Lionel］

  "Sorry about that, Lionel... I didn't think I'd actually break y... That must have been quite precious, wasn't it?" ［Grey］

  "Don't worry too much about it. It was about time for it to break anyway. No, actually, it sted lohan I even thought it would..." ［Lionel］

  The prince was right. Though it was Grey who dealt the final blow, the ring has been starting to wear down after about decade's worth of use. It was just a Superirade item, after all. It would be breaking dowually.

  Even then, Lionel couldn't help but look at the ring one final time before pig up the pieces and fragments and st it into his ste ring. There was a look of longing aion in his eyes, saying his goodbyes to his longtime panion.

  With his identity now revealed, Lionel could only move forward. He once again picked up his sword and gripped it tightly. His eyes gleamed sharp and his guard was raised. A smile filled with excitement bloomed on his face as he faced Grey.

  "Well, with that, there's o hold ourselves bay longer... Let's tihe duel, shall we?" ［Lionel］

  "I was just thinking the same thing." ［Grey］

  There was o hesitate any longer. Lionel's identity may have been revealed, but it doesn't ge the fact that they still have a match to settle. The furious winds blew and a storm of mana rocked the ground once again, a resounding bang boomed all over the Grand Colosseum as they cshed once again.

  BOOK BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Two figures fshed like lightning and filled the area with life and colors, a chaotic yet strangely harmonious symphony pying in the air. Grey and Lionel's swords cshed and sparks exploded like fireworks, heavy gales sweeping the ground.

  The Grand Colosseum which was once covered in chaotic chatter was now drowned out by the sound of g swords and rupturing shockwaves. All eyes were oage, people only able to sit in silence as they watched the fight unfold.

  "I-It seems the fight is still far from over, folks! Even with the sdal revealed just now, Their Highnesses had resumed their fight and cshed once again!" ［Konan］

  "They aren't the slightest bit bothered by the sight, unbothered by everyo all! Lrey and Lord Delー I mean, Prince Lionel are tinuing the match! What do you think about the situation, Partner?!" ［Terry］

  "If you're talking about the sdal, then I'm afraid I 't answer, but...! If we're talking about the duel, then there is no need for words! It's amazing!" ［Konan］

  The onoisy crowd has now gone silent, listening to the sound of crossing swords and watg attentively as the shockwaves rang out all over the pce. They'd totally fotten about what they were talking about, eyes enticed by the beauty of the duel,

  Soon, a cp resounded in the air, followed by the cheers of dozens and the squeals of hundreds. Thousands upon thousands cmored iement, the audienow even more rowdy and lively than they once were, raising their fists towards the air.

  Meanwhile, Grey and Lionel tinued exging blows. Grey with his heavy and rapid blows and Lionel with his precise and smooth strikes. Tw styles, yet dang in harmony, none superior or inferior to the other.

  ??Blitz Symphony!?? ［Grey］

  ??Bded Tempest!?? ［Lionel］

  Grey fired strike after strike, after strike in rapid succession, his bdes riding along the winds and attag from all dires, rushing towards Lionel's feisty tornado of bdes and piece to break through using the smallest of gaps.

  The match was equal, both Grey's offense and Lionel's defe letting up as they tio brandish their swords. If anythio be caught between their strife, they would surely be torn to pieces and be sent to oblivion.

  'Just a little more... And... There...!" ［Grey］

  A sudden glint shone in Grey's eyes and he halted his strikes. He burst forth with the sound of thunder, leaving deep craters on the ground at his wake. He rushed forth like a bullet, bolting towards Lionel's deadly tornado of bdes aru.

  It was as if time suddenly slowed down, the shing tornado now revealed for what it truly was behind its sheen. Grey's eyes glowed like the starry night, pulling his sword back as he saw a tiny gap in Lionel's defe's tiny, but it was more than enough

  ??Point Bnk: Gale Pierce!?? ［Grey］

  The winds howled and gathered at the tip of his sword ahrusted it with all his might. The bellowing and screeg of the gales followed, a sharp aructive gale rushing forth towards Liohe sound of crag gss soon followed.

  It was a fierce csh, a number of shockwaves resounding in the air. But Grey has the upper hand, his attack striking where it hurts and breaking Lionel's relentless array of swords. Cracks soon started to appear, the whole sword art broken soon after,

  Lionel's attack was stopped and he received a slight backsh. Yet Grey tio rush towards him at breakneck speeds. The ground quaked once more as he pnted his foot, debris flying in the air as he raised his sword, aiming for the former's head.

  ??Cleaving Crest!?? ［Grey］

  It was a massive swing, deserving of its name as it cleaved everything in front of it. Lionel just barely dodged, just the shockwave of the ssh still grazed him, blood trig down his cheeks as a small wound opened up.

  However, there was no time to rest. As soon as he regained his bance, Grey once again unched anressive ssh, the sound of metal gs filling the air as his sword parried the tter's, the winds shing out soon after.

  G G G G

  It was yet another ferocious exge, yet the lohey cshed, the more evident and overwhelming the cshes became. Lionel could barely believe his eyes, but he o face the truth. A wry smile sprouted on his face.

  'Grey... This kid…! He's improving as we csh...!' ［Lionel］

  He wasn't just improving, he was improving at a rapid rate. Every strike they dealt was recorded into Grey's mind and processed into something useless, augmenting his skills and deepening his uanding with the passing of time.

  The smoothness of the flow of his strikes, the uability of his as, the right bawees and speed, the ing of bos, and many more. All were s into an astonishing degree which would make geniuses go pale.

  Grey couldn't improve much before his skills in swordsmanship was better than all his oppos, but now that he was fighting someoer than him, his skills only improved by bounds and leaps, numbers s to an all time high.

  "Don't get too ceited...!" ［Lionel］

  Lionel cried and the ground quaked. Not just one or two, but dozens upon dozens of boulders started hurling in the air and spinning at unimaginable speed. Clouds of dust enveloped the stage, the boulders soon turning ihen swords.

  Such swords flew at insane speeds, all bolting trey as if they had lives of their own. Lionel was simply trolling them via "Telekinesis", but it was as if Grey was fighting against dozens of swordsmen, each skilled as they e.

  ??Deep Earth Rhapsody!?? ［Lionel］

  The swords rallied and the swords darted. A downpour of bdes rained upon Grey, heavy and fast as be. Hundreds of cshes occurred in a single moment, and hundreds more followed in the , the rhythm intensifying as they went.

  Of course, with Grey's cheats, there weren't many problems to think about. He simply brandished his sword to blod parry, dodging the rest with magic by his side. His footwork was unmatched, defending against the most difficult of strikes with ease.

  However, Lionel didn't just rest whilst he coordihe swords. Seeing how occupied Grey was, he bolted towards his "blind spot" and raised his sword towards the sky. A fierce glint shimmered in his eyes awisted his body.

  ??Thousand Bdes Spiral!?? ［Lionel］

  The prince shed out once more, a thousand sshes raining down oage and ripping everything apart. The already tattered are his wrath once more, now being a sea of dust as the storm of ruin brewed even mgressively,

  A thousand sshes using a hundred earthen swords. It was Lionel's stro attack yet, his bdes sshing through with everything they've got. Even with all his cheats, Grey's oppo found it very hard to defend against such a force, some passing through his defense every on a while.

  The storm passed and all that was left was destru, a deep crater carving deep into the ground more than five meters deep. Still, two figures remaianding in such a ruinous ndscape, their heads held high.

  "Haha... You really are one hell of a monster..." ［Lionel］

  "No, not really... You mao wound me, didn't you? Four of them at that... That's not an easy feat..." ［Grey］

  It might look like a small amount to others, but those who have fought against Grey would know how much of an achievement it was. It has been a long time since Grey had received such wounds, and it was something to be proud of.

  "Haha... I will gdly take that as a pliment then... Still, are you really fine on tinuing like this, Grey?" ［Lionel］

  "Hm? What do you mean?" ［Grey］

  "Don't act dumb. I know you still aren't using your full strength. I want you to fight me with everything you've got. Or... Are you looking down on me, Grey?" ［Lionel］

  Lionel's eyes shoh dismay as he looked at Grey, shaking the young man ever so slightly. He never inteo do so, nor did he want for it to e about in such a way. Still, he could uand where the prince was ing from.

  Sure, Grey had used his abilities and also different kinds of magid even uhe limitations of the barrier, he showed an amazing performaill, he himself wouldn't say he was doing his best. He was still fighting half-heartedly.

  "You're right... Sorry about that... I'll be fag you seriously now." ［Grey］

  "Great. That's more like it." ［Lionel］

  The atmosphere iage suddenly ged and tension increased multiple folds. As silence swallowed the arena, Grey's sword shone bright as it disappeared into nothingness, leaving only fragments of broken light behind.

  "Something big seems to be happening folks! Lrey suddenly unequipped his sword... Is he perhaps going to surrender?" ［Terry］

  "N-N-No! That's not it, Partner! L-Look carefully at his hands, folks! He's... He's equipping… gaus!?" ［Konan］

  Everyone was in shock by the sudden ges of equipment, the whole colosseum thrust into utter chaos once more as they watched such a se unfold. Not even Yuna expected Grey's a, eyes now wide open in shock.

  Grey was a brawler, after all. And as a brawler, there was only one way of fighting... To crush enemies with your fist and engage in close quarters bat. To nd a fury of rapid and deadly blows. A smile was afloat on his face.

  "Lionel, you better have prepared yourself. I'll make sure to engrave in your soul what it means to be a warrior. Make sure to remember it." ［Grey］

  "Hahaha. That's quite the big mouth you have there, Grey. Are you sure you won't be the retting it?" ［Lionel］

  "Well, let's see about... That!" ［Grey］

  Lionel couldn't even respond, Grey vanishing before his very eyes. The moment he reappeared, he was already in front of him, his right fist drawn bad trated with power. Power was soon unleashed as he struck Lionel with haste.

  BOOOOMMMMMM FWOOSH SWOOSH WHOOSH

  'Keuk...! Heavy...!' ［Lionel］

  The moment Grey's strike ected towards Lionel, a h shockwave echoed all over the pce. The winds shed out and the ground gave in from the sheer force behind it, Lionel's forced to kneel on the ground. It erfect hit!

  And there wasn't just one, but three howling strikes eg over and ain, the Prince bearing all their weights without a break. Each echo dehe ground even more, Lionel spitting some blood as his whole body screeched in pain.

  It was still the first strike yet Lionel was already on his knees, his whole body numb and trembling as he held on. It was only then that Lionel realized what mistake he made. He challenged a true monster.

  "Oh? You survived that? The's try this one for size..." ［Grey］

  The prince has yet to recover yet Grey was raring to go once again. A storm of mana gathered on his fist, swirling more and more violently, even the clouds of dust got sucked in like a vortex. Another hurrie was unleashed yet again.

  ??Howling Thunder!?? ［Grey］

  Lioried to block Grey's strike, but it was all for naught. The moment Grey's punch ected, a resounding explosioed in the Ground Colosseum, sending heavy tremors all over the Royal Capital, the people feeling the quake.

  The arena was the most affected, rge boulders flung towards the air as ground shook, everything crushed into oblivion. Even the barrier was not safe, small cracks appearing all over it. A little more and it would have shattered like brittle grass.

  The clouds of dust cleared and the pilrs of smoke tio rise. For the first time siheir duel started, only one figure remaianding oage, the other now kneeling on the ground, barely resisting with his now shattered sword.

  "Haha... How powerful... Is this your full prey...?" ［Lionel］

  There was no direswer, only a deafening silening over the arena as dust slowly started to settle down. It didn't take too long before Lionel uood the deal with his silence, a bitter smile blooming on his face.

  "I see... So I'm still far away from the pinnacle, huh..." ［Lionel］

  The Prince's voice slowly faded away along with his sciousness and a subtle thud echoed in the air as he fell towards the ground, vision now engulfed by darkness and mind not in bck out. The match has finally reached its clusion.

  "The match is now diatrey overturhe match with a sirike aed the reigning champion! A first in three years!" ［Konan］

  "Woohoo!! That was an amazing match!"

  "It's my first time seeing a brawler fight! I didn't think they're so powerful!"

  "As expected of the Hero! So this is his full power!"

  A warm reception was received by Grey as the croraises of his hey were all full of smiles as they talked about the battle, some imitating his punches as they tried to recreate what just happehere was celebration everywhere.

  Yet, there was something strange. Despite the entators announg Lionel's defeat, they didn't directly announce Grey's victory either. The entators only discussed with one another, only opening their mouths as they reached a clusion.

  "This is the first time this has happened, and so, following Gdiator Deltran, Prince Lionel's, defeat, the winner is... Her Highness! Gdiator Yuna!" ［Konan］

  """"Eh?""""

  "With both Gdiatrey and Gdiator Lionel out of the petition, Gdiator Yuna wins by default and takes home the !" ［Konan］

  "Her Highness wins the ival of Swords's Senior Division! A neion is bive her a merry round of appuse!" ［Terry］

  """"EHHHHH?!!""""

  A shock, and a sed shock. Such was what rocked the Grand Colosseum as soon as the entators released their statements. It was the most chaotic ival of Swords there ever has been, the crowd in an uproar once again.

  Apparently, both Grey and Lionel have been disqualified from the ival of Swords. The tter because he faked his identity, and the former because he used a on other than a sword. Both rules have been briefed on them sihe first day.

  "Haha... Looks like it's a tie, after all, Lionel..." ［Grey］

  It was a shame, but there was nothing they could do about it. With the rules fair as they are, it would only be foolish to pin about the Grand Colosseum's decision. It is their fault in the first pce, so it only makes sehat they take responsibility.

  Still, Grey couldn't help but feel guilty about it. A certain young dy popped up in his mind along with a certain promise. It was only then that he realized how much he messed up, a sneaking gaze peering at him from the waiting areas.

  Uuu... Grey, you dummy!! ［Yuna］

  A resounding voice, upset and sulky, rang inside his mind and his eardrums almost exploded. It was the voice of his beloved fiancée who was now on the verge of tears, especially upset that he broke their promise.

  The young dy has been looking forward to their mat the Grand Finals, but now, it has bee all but a far-fetched dream. Grey could already imagihe trouble up ahead of him, Yuna pouting all day as she puffs her cheeks. Adorable yet troubling.

  Just like that, the day tio pass and the champions of all the divisions rose victorious. Sih Grey and Lionel had been disqualified, Lionel rose to the ranks of the runner-up, 2nd again this year.

  "Here you go, Lady Yuna. gratutions for winning the ival of Swords. May the swuide and bless you on your path to greatness." ［Ar］

  "I am forever grateful, Your Majesty." ［Yuna］

  The awarding ceremony for the champions proceeded smoothly, ae how upset she was, Yuna still accepted the trophy and rewards with a smile on her face, quite different from the pouting and sulking mess she once was.

  After the ival of Swords, another party was held in the Royal Castle and things were vish as ever, the venue and food grandiose as they e, people merrily chatting over what just happened over the ival of Swords.

  If there was anything different, it was that it was more lively. First, it was lively due to the success of the event and how exg it was. Sed, because of the fresh twist the newly introduced division system. And third, because....

  "e back here, Lionel! Draw your sword if you're a man! You were the previous champion, weren't you?! Hurry up and fight me!" ［Ar］

  "Father, I already said I'm sorry! Five me already!" ［Lionel］

  "Hah! If you talk, then talk with your sword! I will only accept your apology then!" ［Ar］

  A certain King was chasing a certain Prince all over the Grand Hall, brandishing his sword with the i of teag his son a lesson. He wasn't even drunk, he just wao pummel his child and scold him for o was a sight to behold.

  "Haha... They sure are lively, aren't they, Yuna?" ［Grey］

  Grey asked, but there was no respoo be heard. The person iion simply turned her head away when Grey looked at her, drinking her gss e jui silence. She was clearly still pouting, puffing her cheeks cutely.

  "Yuna... Are you still upset about our promise?" ［Grey］

  "Hmph! Figure it out yourself, Dummy!" ［Yuna］

  The night drags on...

  CHAPTER 330 END