Chapter 132. That’s It. Let’s Just Swing Our Swords (3)

“…Cover me.”

“Yes.”

Right after his subordinates swiftly surrounded the area.

“Keuk….”

Cierion vomited blood.

“Your Highness!”

“Are you alright?”

His subordinates hurriedly checked Cierion’s condition.

His face was pale, and he had vomited blood several times; his condition looked very bad.

One of his subordinates said with a face full of concern.

“You pushed yourself too hard.”

Cierion smiled bitterly and said.

“Because I was so pissed off.”

Originally, it wasn't something he had to go this far for.

Having reached the Arcana semifinals, he had already met the minimum conditions.

It might have been better to hide his skills for the sake of future grand plans.

However….

“I just couldn’t stand it.”

Antorius' expression and tone, full of conviction and confidence, angered Cierion.

Does that person know?

Does he know at the cost of whose blood and death he is enjoying peace and tranquility?

He doesn't know.

If he knew, he wouldn't look at him with such eyes full of a sense of justice and confidence.

He was sick of seeing an ignorant fool thoughtlessly praising the name of God, convinced that he was right.

So he overdid it.

Even using a power that he shouldn't have used yet.

And the price was greater than he had thought.

“It seems you will have to forfeit the final.”

“I suppose so.”

Cierion said, wiping the blood from his lips, in response to his subordinate's words.

He knew better than anyone how serious his body's condition was right now.

If he pushed himself here, he could die or become a cripple.

Having already achieved his goal, he could not afford to damage his body further for an illusory honor.

“Relay my decision to the organizers.”

“Yes. Understood.”

A moment later.

Ahead of the semifinal match, someone with a magical amplification tool came up to the arena.

He, who appeared to be a high-ranking noble of the Magellan Kingdom, said to everyone.

“Ah ah…. I have come out like this because there is an announcement to make before the next match.”

And holding the magical amplification tool, he said to the audience.

“The winner of the semifinal, Cierion Baisus Yusef, has sustained a serious injury to his aura hole due to an overexerted attack.”

The murmuring of the crowd grew louder.

Regardless, the announcer's words continued.

“Therefore, participant Cierion has expressed his intention to forfeit the final match. Accordingly, I announce that the next match between participant Garcia Reynardo and participant Patrick Schneider will proceed as the final match of this Arcana.”

Having said all he had to say, the announcer went down from the arena as if fleeing.

The remaining audience then began to murmur loudly.

“What? So we can’t watch the final?”

“No. It means the next match becomes the final.”

“Isn’t that the same thing? I was looking forward to the fight between the Sword Saint’s grandson and that Prince Cierion.”

“Is that really something to look forward to? No matter how much he is the Sword Saint’s grandson, how can he fight a swordsman who has set foot in the supreme state?”

“No. You never know.”

“Ahem. It's the supreme state. Don't you know what a 7-star knight means?”

“If he’s truly at the 7-star level, yes. But didn’t they say that Prince Cierion injured his aura hole?”

“Ah….”

“He probably forced himself to draw out the Aura Blade when he hadn't reached the level yet.”

“Is that possible?”

“Well… I’m not sure, but wouldn’t it be? If he’s a genius, that is.”

“Hmm….”

“Anyway, if they had faced each other properly in the final, it would have been hard to tell who would win. But for it to end so blandly with the Sword Saint’s grandson winning. Tsk tsk, he’s getting a free pass on two walkover wins and even the championship.”

“Could the Empire be behind this….”

“Would the Empire really do that at the Arcana? What kind of humiliation would they face if they were found out later?”

“But with two walkover wins and now the final being passed over so easily….”

“It is a bit suspicious.”

The audience was disappointed.

Among them, there were those who held suspicions.

Wasn't he the Sword Saint’s grandson who had already won twice by walkover?

And now his opponent forfeits in the final as well?

Honestly, it was a situation that couldn't help but be suspicious.

“For things to get twisted like this….”

Garcia frowned.

In his own opinion, this was the worst-case scenario.

He had already advanced twice by walkover.

And now his final opponent forfeits as well?

Even if he were in the audience's shoes, he couldn't help but be suspicious.*

‘This is why I hated advancing by walkover.’

Garcia let out a deep sigh.

Now, even if he won, there would inevitably be talk behind his back.

“If only my final opponent had been that Cierion, it would have been a picture-perfect scenario….”

A newly emerged 7-star swordsman.

Garcia was also surprised at that moment.

He never thought there would be someone with that much talent besides himself.

His blood was boiling at the thought of being able to fight him in the final, but he had forfeited.

“Tsk, it can’t be helped.”

Now that it had come to this, the only way was to win the final overwhelmingly so that no other words would follow.

There was nothing to hold him back.

Didn’t his grandfather personally order him?

To do his best from the beginning.

‘Though it's a bit unfortunate for the opponent.’

“Garcia Reynardo, forward!”

“Yes!”

Summoned by the referee, Garcia walked up to the arena with a confident stride.

“Patrick Schneider, forward!”

“Coming.”

As the referee called, Patrick also went forward.

From behind Patrick, Alex and his other companions said a word each.

“We believe in you, Patrick.”

“You can win.”

“Don't be scared. Well, it's not like you'd be scared anyway.”

“Good luck.”

Patrick smirked at his companions' words.

Who were these youngsters worried about?

It was funny, but also admirable, to see these chicks, whose fluff hadn't even worn off, worrying about him.

Yes, for some reason….

[Senior Brother. Good luck.]

[You can do it, Junior Uncle.]

[Cheon-ah. Don’t push yourself too hard.]

Memories of the distant past came to mind.

Patrick smirked and said.

“Don’t worry about useless things and just watch. I’ll show you that we’re on a different level.”

And Patrick went up onto the arena.

* * *

The two contestants went up onto the arena.

Garcia first extended his hand with a smiling face and said.

“Let’s have a good match worthy of the final.”

“Yeah. Let’s do that….”

Garcia was slightly taken aback by Patrick’s indifferent attitude.

“It will be a little different from your opponents so far. Don’t think that luck will get you through the final as well.”

“What are you talking about? The guy who had two walkover wins.”

“……”

“What’s with that look? You want me to fix those pretty eyes of yours? Whack! You bastard!”

“Keuheum….”

Garcia was flustered.

And he had a thought that most people who encountered Patrick had.

What kind of person is this?

He didn't show the slightest bit of dignity or honor befitting the glorious stage of the Arcana final.

How could he have reached the Arcana final with such a personality?

‘It's better this way.’

It seemed he could stomp on such an opponent to his heart's content without any guilt.

And fix his manners while he was at it.

If he learned that there was a sky above the sky, wouldn't his unfathomable personality come to its senses a little?

Both contestants stood in their positions and drew their swords.

The referee then shouted.

“Begin!”

The moment those words were heard, Garcia dashed forward.

A light footstep, with almost no sound of kicking off the ground.

But his body reached right in front of the opponent in an instant, with a speed like a gale.

Even the audience was surprised by that amazing move.

And Garcia's first attack began.

‘First, a light probe.’

Garcia’s sword aimed for Patrick’s neck and thrust.

It was a truly fast and accurate attack.

But Garcia didn't think it would succeed.

The opponent was, after all, a skilled person who had reached the Arcana final.

He should be able to dodge this much.

The real aim was the next attack..

The opponent's reaction, having the distance closed and being caught off guard, would be extremely limited.

And Garcia had prepared more than five attack patterns to pursue, depending on how the opponent dodged.

Once the momentum was lost, it was over.

From then on, he could control the opponent like a chess game, driving them into a checkmate.

And Garcia’s sword… Patrick’s neck….

Shuuk!

It pierced right through.

“Huh?”

For a moment, Garcia was surprised for two reasons.

One was that the opponent was stabbed without being able to dodge even this.

The other was….

‘There’s no sensation.’

He had clearly stabbed the opponent, but there was no sensation.

It was as if he had stabbed a ghost.

How could this be….

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

A voice from the side at that moment.

The moment he instinctively answered, Patrick's indifferent voice was heard.

“What are you doing? You idiot.”

It was an instinctive reaction.

The moment he felt danger, Garcia quickly raised his shield.

That nimble reaction saved him.

Kwaaang!

“Keuuuk….”

Even though he blocked it with his shield, it was a pain that resonated through every joint in his body.

Garcia was pushed back by the impact, which felt like hitting a rock.

It was dangerous.

If he had blocked such a powerful attack with his bare body, the match would have ended there.

‘So he does have the skill to make it to the final.’

Straightening his posture, Garcia said towards Patrick.

“Quite… a kick?”

No, he stopped mid-sentence.

He had confirmed that in the direction he was looking, Patrick had one foot raised to knee height.

And when he looked at his shield, a clear footprint was imprinted there.

Garcia's face then flushed with shame.

“A kick?”

“Why are you so worked up?”

“You kicked me?”

“You’re really worked up. Anyone would think you’ve never been kicked before.”

“……”

“Huh? Really never?”

Of course not.

Who in their right mind would kick the Sword Saint’s grandson?

There weren't many crazy people who would do that.

“Keuheum, anyway….”

Patrick cleared his throat to change the atmosphere and then said.

“Do it properly.”

“…Hmm.”

“As you said, it’s the final, right? Even if you lose, you shouldn’t be embarrassed. Right?”

Garcia then frowned and said.

“You seem to think you’ll win for sure.”

“What about you?”

“……”

How could every single word make a person feel so flustered?

Garcia straightened his wavering composure and said.

“I’ll admit you have some skill. But it’s impossible for you to beat me with your skill.”

“The guy who spaced out like he was bewitched by a fox after I showed him a Form-Shifting Position Change sure talks big.”

“Form-Shift...? What?”

“The cloning technique I just showed you.”

“Ah….”

“Did you feel anything after seeing it?”

Patrick said, and Garcia grinned and replied.

“I already know you are a Magic Swordsman.”

“……”

“It seems you are an ancient Magic Swordsman who trained in both sword and magic without using a Soul Weapon, but why such an inefficient… what are you doing?”

“No, that… forget it. Keep talking. I’ll just despair for a moment.”

Patrick's shoulders slumped.

He looked truly pathetic, covering his face with one hand and shaking his head.

In that state, Patrick said in a listless voice.

“His name was so grand, so I had some expectations.”

“What are you…”

“Why did I do that? Why?”

“……”

“Sigh, I’d rather read scriptures to a Little Demon.”

It wasn't just a cloning technique that moved quickly and left an afterimage, but a suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper advanced technique that deceived even one's presence by leaving a trace of ki in the illusion.

In terms of the marvel of its state, it was a transcendent technique that things like the Aura Blade couldn't even compare to.

Even in the martial world, Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon's Form-Shifting Position Change was renowned for its high level.

It was praised as a perfect Form-Shifting Position Change that those who hadn't awakened their seventh sense beyond their sixth sense could never detect.

But that youngster's reaction was just that.

‘Magic Swordsman, my ass.’

No, you have to know something to enjoy showing it off.

After showing a few things like that, when the opponent's eyes started to radiate respect….

[Hahaha. The talent of the younger generation is so outstanding, it is the revival of the martial world.]

I could have shown off a bit like this.

This is like putting a horseshoe on a dog.

A pearl necklace on a pig's neck.

Patrick said in a listless voice.

“Done. Let's just swing our swords.”

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