<You certainly seem quite pleased>

Well, yeah.

I just defeated an Ace Hunter with relative ease, and check this out, people are going on an absolute frenzy on social media. I'm seeing a bunch of crazy theories about me too.

Heh, this is nice.

Now that I don't need to hide my power and pretend that I'm weaker than I am, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

<Yes, that's nice and all, but shouldn't you pay attention to the next match?>

<The outcome will determine your next opponent>

Yeah, true. Let's pull up the stream and have a look.

I tapped on my I-Watch, opening up the display before clicking on the browser and going to the site the tournament was being streamed in. Let's see...

Oh, hey, it's the Lancer guy from the Academy! I didn't know he was participating.

Let's see, his opponent is also a K-Rank, though he's a more experienced Hunter. But my former classmate seems to have the advantage, he's a bit faster than his opponent.

<Do you still not know his name?>

I mean, I never really did.

I have his info stored in Appraisal, so if I need to know it, I can just look it up real quick.

Hm, this fight's getting pretty intense, looks like the more experienced Hunter is putting in more effort, though he's still at a disadvantage.

Huh, the Lancer's really improved since I last saw him, he wasn't this strong during our final exam.

Well, it has been nearly five months since graduation, so I suppose that's only natural if he's been working hard on improving.

By the way, it's been all Combatants so far...I know this is only the second match, but I wonder, do Mages participate in this tournament at all?

<Based on past records, less than twenty percent of the participants in the Hunters Championship Clash have been Attack Mages, the rest have all been either Combatants or Arcane Hunters>

<Also, a Support Mage has never participated in any edition of the tournament>

Yeah, makes sense, they'd be at a serious disadvantage against Combatants.

Oh, the Lancer guy just won, looks like I'll be fighting him next.

This is a pretty good start to the tournament, both the first two matches had rookie Hunters emerging victorious over more experienced Hunters.

Ariella's first match is the eighth of the round one, so there's still some time before it's her turn. Think I'll just chill and take it easy till then, I don't feel like watching all the fights.

Yeah, maybe put on some anime or something while I try out some of the snacks they've provided in this room. Mhm, that sounds like a plan, should be a nice way to kill some time.

Hey, Ai, mind paying attention to the announcer and let me know when it's Ariella's match?

<...>

<Fine>

<I suppose I can do that>

Thanks, you're the best!

<Uh-huh, sure>

...

...

<It's time, Ariella Velle's match is about to begin>

Huh?

Oh, right. Damn, talk about bad timing, I was just getting to the best part!

<You have already watched this series, so does it really matter?>

I know, but it's been a while since I last watched it, so-...

<It was less than eight months ago, Kai>

Okay, okay, I get it.

I let out a sigh as I paused the episode, before bringing up the live stream of the tournament, playing the feed right as Ariella stepped onto the arena, along with her opponent, the announcer introducing them and amping up the crowd.

Cool, looks like she's grown her hair out a bit, it looks good. She seems to be pretty pumped up, she's got that gleam in her eyes.

"It's time for the eighth match to begin! We've got the rising star of the Diva Guild, the newest Ace Hunter of Sanctuary Theta, Ariella Velle! And her opponent...!" The announcer's voice rang out.

Damn, sounds like she's pretty popular, the crowd's going wild.

And according to the announcer, her opponent is K-Ranked. He's carrying a sword, so he's presumably a Saber.

As the barrier formed around the arena and the countdown began, he said something to Ariella, a determined look on his face.

She smiled in response, slamming her fists together with a look of anticipation on her face as she said something back.

The chants of the crowd rang out across the stadium as they counted down, Ariella getting into her stance and raising her fists as she let out a slow exhale.

Right as the countdown ended, both she and her opponent shot towards each other, her opponent drawing out his sword, a burst of wind erupting around the blade as he closed in on her and swung his sword across towards her neck.

She ducked under the slash before taking a swift step forward and unleashed a sharp strike to the solar plexus, her fist slamming onto the middle of the Saber's torso, his feet skidding back across the arena as he grimaced in pain.

He gritted his teeth and raised his blade as she shot towards him, swinging his blade down with another burst of wind swirling around the blade as she closed in.

She shuffled across to the left in the blink of an eye as the sword came whizzing down towards her, the blade missing her right arm by a few centimeters, before she whipped her right hand across, striking her opponent's wrist with a swift chop.

He lost his grip over his sword, tensing as it hit the floor, right as Ariella grabbed his arm and yanked, pulling him off-balance as she drew back her left fist, intense flames erupting around it.

She drove her arm forward with immense speed, the flames intensifying as her fist closed in on her opponent's head, who disappeared before she could connect, getting teleported outside the barrier.

Well, now...the fact that the barrier got triggered means that Ariella's attempted strike had enough force to kill that guy in one shot.

She was always strong, but I'm pretty sure she didn't have the kind of brute strength you'd need to pull that off against a K-Rank.

"And the winner of the eighth match is...Ariella Velle!"

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