Azrael's internal calculations aside, his quarterfinal opponent proved to be significantly weaker than previous challenges such as Vali and Nick. The match ended with embarrassing ease, as his opponent crumbled under Yoriichi's Shikai release without offering any meaningful resistance.
"Well, that was fortunate," Azrael mused, relieved that he had not had to use any additional trump cards as he had in his previous nail-biting encounters.
Back in the viewing area, Azrael waited with growing anticipation for the announcement of the semi-final bracket. Within minutes, the results appeared on the giant screens.
Silverbrook High School - Azrael vs. Crossgill High School - Victor
"Now I'm convinced that there is no corruption in the Greenridge Province Unified Tournament," Azrael muttered, shaking his head in wry amusement.
In commercial tournaments, popular competitors like Azrael and Victor would never be allowed to meet before the finals. Such matchups drew maximum public attention and revenue when saved for the championship rounds.
"Though I suppose that means my early tournament battles were just bad luck," Azrael mused, considering the bigger picture. Victor had enjoyed smooth sailing through each of the previous rounds, while Azrael had been forced to overcome increasingly dangerous opponents at each stage.
"Azrael, I did not expect to see you in the semifinals."
The unfamiliar voice belonged to Victor himself, who had approached during the bracket announcement. As fellow seeded players, they'd known each other since the preliminary rounds, though Victor had only begun to take Azrael seriously during the elimination matches, when his rival's hidden abilities became apparent.
Azrael nodded politely in acknowledgement before asking with genuine curiosity, "Your fighting style is incredibly aggressive. Is it possible to teach these fighting techniques to others?"
Surprise flickered across Victor's features before turning to enthusiastic excitement. "I didn't expect you to be so interested!"
In Victor's estimation, Azrael's question indicated a willingness to engage in personal combat rather than hide behind summoned cards like those "effeminate cowards" who dominated modern Lore Cardian culture.
Had Azrael known Victor's thoughts, he would have protested that such broad generalizations were wholly unfair. Long-range support was the prevailing tactical approach precisely because it maximized survival rates while maintaining battlefield effectiveness.
"I'm just a little curious," Azrael replied diplomatically.
Victor's expression changed to one of genuine regret. "Sorry, Azrael, but the martial arts of the family are not shared with outsiders."
Azrael was disappointed, but understood the situation perfectly. "No problem, I was just asking."
Besides, even without learning specialized techniques, Azrael had alternative approaches. He could always use the overwhelming force method, like a certain bald hero from One Punch Man who solved every problem through sheer physical dominance.
Changing the subject, Victor's eyes blazed with competitive fire. "Let me see you at your best in the semifinals!"
"But victory will be mine!"
Azrael smiled with confident calm. "We'll have to fight to find out."
Without waiting for Victor's answer, Azrael left with Gabi and his other classmates.
"Tsk, what's he showing off for?" came a contemptuous murmur from behind Victor, the same Jinghai student who had confronted Azrael's group earlier.
The follower turned to Victor with an obsequious grin. "Koga, you will definitely crush him."
However, Victor's expression turned to cold rage as he fixed the speaker with an intimidating stare. "Know your place."
The student's body stiffened as the realization dawned that he had massively overstepped his bounds. Memories of Victor's reputation at the school flooded back with uncomfortable clarity.
Victor's respectful treatment of Azrael stemmed from recognizing an opponent of equal caliber. Sycophantic followers, however, valued no such consideration.
Sweat ran down the pupil's forehead as he bowed hastily. "I was wrong, Koga."
"Don't let it happen again," Victor's voice carried an arctic menace.
Time accelerated toward the day of the semifinals. In the meantime, Azrael divided his attention between meditation sessions and... recreational activities involving Heart-Under-Blade and Nami. Fortunately, no emergencies arose, such as sudden mission assignments from the Crimson Oath Society.
"Go get them, Azrael!" his Silverbrook High School classmates shouted in unison as he prepared to enter the arena.
Both competitors stood ready under the expectant gaze of the packed auditorium. Victor, of course, dropped all pretense and strode directly onto the battlefield with confident swagger.
"Azrael of Silverbrook High School versus Victor of Crossgill High School!" the referee announced with a theatrical flourish.
"Begin!"
The starting whistle triggered instant card manifestations from both participants.
Victor blinked in surprise at Azrael's formation. "Why is there an extra woman?"
Indeed, Nami had joined Luffy and Yoriichi on the battlefield.
Quickly analyzing Nami's mental signature, Victor processed the tactical implications. "Black Iron Level? Which card is it bound to?"
Within moments, his analytical mind reached the correct conclusion. After studying the different aesthetic styles of Azrael's cards, Victor's attention focused on Luffy. "There should be a connection to him."
The deduction made perfect sense, Yoriichi's design philosophy differed dramatically from the other two cards, making him an unlikely candidate for thematic connections.
"Although I don't know the specific effects of the bond, removing one component should disable the ability," Victor calculated with tactical precision.
His cold gaze fixed on Nami with predatory intent.
Victor had no chivalrous inclinations to avoid female opponents. Martial arts training had forged his will into tempered steel, eliminating such sentimental weaknesses.
Although these thoughts had consumed several seconds of analysis, hardly an instant passed in real time.
The next moment, Victor lunged at Nami, his massive ringed sword gleaming.
Azrael watched the attack with narrowed eyes. "Figured it out, did he?"
He had never expected Victor to miss such obvious tactical connections. Fortunately, Yoriichi and Luffy would not allow their navigator to be eliminated without fierce resistance.
"Incinerate all evil and burn everything to ashes!"
"Nichirin!"
Yoriichi's Shikai erupted instantly, brilliant golden-red flames surrounding his Zanpakutō as he intercepted Victor's advance. The sun-powered blade sliced through the air with devastating force.
BOOM!
Massive wind bombs collided with the flaming sword strike, creating explosive shockwaves that shook the entire arena.
Azrael sighed in grim recognition from the sidelines. "That tiger demon was definitely holding back before."
Clouds follow dragons, winds follow tigers. The old adage proved prophetic as the spectral predator's wind manipulation exceeded Azrael's previous estimates by orders of magnitude.
"Yoriichi won't be able to defeat it quickly," Azrael concluded with a clinical assessment.
While Yoriichi clearly possessed superior individual combat skills, a quick victory against such a stubborn opponent seemed impossible. His previous easy triumph over Nick's Keemo had only succeeded because of the plant being's natural vulnerability to fire attacks.
Without Yoriichi's support, Luffy should have been able to help. However, a swarm of floating ghost entities had surrounded the rubber pirate, and their constant harassment prevented him from effectively intervening despite his superior fighting skills.
"Tiger demon holding Yoriichi, ghosts containing Luffy?" Azrael analyzed the tactical framework with reluctant admiration. "Clever strategy."
As Victor closed the distance to Nami's position, Azrael's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "But you didn't expect my bond effects to be triggered only after a card falls in battle."
In Azrael's estimation, if Yoriichi and Luffy could prevent Nami's elimination, excellent, he would reveal minimal information while securing victory. If they failed to protect her, that outcome was just as acceptable.
After all, his observation of the remaining semifinalists suggested that none of them had the strength to seriously challenge him or Victor. Today's match was essentially a preview of the inevitable championship match.
Azrael's only regret was that Nami would enter a twenty-four hour cooldown period after her defeat, eliminating any possibility of... exploring her society that evening. Some sacrifices were necessary for strategic advantage.
Victor's sword came down on Nami with bone-shattering force, the massive blade trailing wind currents that spoke of tremendous power. The Navigator raised her metal staff in desperate defense, but the disparity in size made the outcome inevitable.
Just as the blow was about to connect, Luffy's voice rang across the battlefield with fierce determination.
"Don't you dare touch my navigator!"
Steam erupted from the pirate's skin as he activated Gear Second, his entire body flushing pink with increased circulation. Despite the interference of the swirling ghosts, his loyalty to his crewmate demanded action.
"Gum-Gum Jet Bullet!"
Luffy's enhanced punch tore through the spectral beings like a cannonball, his fist leaving afterimages as it rocketed toward Victor's exposed flank.
The martial artist's fighting instincts screamed warning, forcing him to break off his attack on Nami and pivot toward the incoming threat. His massive sword swept horizontally, trying to deflect Luffy's attack with pure timing and positioning.
CLANG!
The collision created another explosive shockwave as Luffy's rubber fist met tempered steel. Both fighters were knocked backward by the tremendous impact, neither gaining a decisive advantage from the exchange.
"Impressive reflexes," Azrael acknowledged quietly. Victor's ability to react to Luffy's increased speed while maintaining his attack pattern demonstrated truly elite combat awareness.
But the brief reprieve allowed Yoriichi to step away from his aerial duel with the Tiger Demon. The Soul Reaper materialized next to Nami with Shunpo, his flame-wrapped Zanpakutō providing protective cover.
"The formation is stabilizing," Azrael noted with satisfaction. "Now let's see how long you can keep up the pressure, Victor."
The martial artist's expression darkened as he recognized the shifting tactical balance. His opening gambit had failed, and a prolonged battle would favor Azrael's superior card quality. Time was becoming his enemy.
"In that case," Victor growled with growing bloodlust, "I'll just have to eliminate them all!"
His armor began to glow with internal light as hidden enhancement systems activated. The massive sword grew even heavier in his grip, its weight enough to crater concrete with a casual blow.
The real battle was about to begin, and neither competitor had any intention of holding back any longer.