Raon stepped onto the dueling ground for the first time and gazed at his opponent.
'That child is...'
The blue-haired girl who had opened the door when he first arrived at the Unyielding Blade stood before him.
"I am Bellua, disciple of the Unyielding Blade. It is an honor to duel with you, Sword Emperor."
The blue-haired girl bowed respectfully as she introduced herself.
"I will fight using the True Phantom Variable Sword."
Her green eyes sparkled as she placed her hand on her sword.
"I am Raon Zieghart."
Raon showed proper dueling etiquette by introducing himself without looking down on his opponent.
"That one is my disciple."
Brigitte nodded slightly with her arms crossed.
"Though she's young and her martial prowess isn't much, her talent for swordsmanship is exceptional. Give her a proper beating."
She grinned as she asked him to thoroughly defeat her disciple.
"The Queen of Swords' disciple..."
Raon nodded as he looked into Bellua's calm green eyes.
'I had a feeling about her since I first saw her at the main gate of the Unyielding Blade.'
Despite her young age, Bellua's eyes held a bright light, and she exuded an aura of noble talent. Though he would need to face her to know her exact level of ability, she seemed to possess talent on par with Burren, Martha, and Runaan.
"Bellua. Fight him as if he were your mortal enemy!"
Brigitte ordered Bellua to fight with everything she had.
"Yes!"
Bellua nodded vigorously, showing her intent to faithfully follow her master's words, and drew her sword.
"I'll give you three moves."
As a senior practitioner of the sword, Raon drew his Heavenly Drive as he offered to let her make three attacks.
"You're drawing your real sword?"
Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise, as if she hadn't expected him to draw his actual sword.
"Couldn't you go easier on a child like her?"
She tilted her head, suggesting that he could use practice techniques instead.
"As a magician, you don't understand the way of the swordsman."
Martha snorted dismissively.
"The way of the swordsman?"
Evelyn narrowed her eyes, showing interest in learning more since it concerned Raon.
"Th-that's proper dueling etiquette."
Dorian shook his head slightly as he looked at Evelyn.
"This is a dueling ground, not a training ground. For swordsmen, it's more respectful to defeat an opponent decisively than to fight half-heartedly."
He nodded, explaining that Raon drew his sword out of respect for Bellua.
"I see."
Evelyn smiled, showing she now understood.
"Indeed, even a lion uses its full strength when catching a rabbit."
She clasped her hands in front of her chest, murmuring about how admirable Raon was.
"Here I come!"
Bellua charged forward with a battle cry. Her sword flashed like blue starlight and dropped before Raon's chest. With a resounding clash, Raon deflected her first true strike with his Heavenly Drive, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Not bad."
Bellua's sword contained the mysteries of the phantom sword technique. Though it seemed to drop toward his chest, her true strike had been aimed at his waist.
"Once more!"
Though her first attack was blocked, Bellua didn't give up. She charged again, aiming for Raon's neck. Blue flames erupted from her sword, spreading magnificently like a phoenix's wings. With a sharp clash, Raon blocked not at his neck but at his shoulder, breaking through her phantom sword technique.
"Were you hiding your skill?"
This time, Bellua's sword contained both illusion and variation - an ordinary swordsman would have lost their shoulder without even sensing the attack.
"Not bad for a kid, huh?"
Martha exclaimed in admiration of Bellua's performance.
"Wow, at her age I was just trying to hide..."
Dorian gaped in amazement at Bellua's talent.
"Here comes my final attack!"
Bellua stomped her foot fiercely and thrust her sword forward. As her sword flew forward sharply, the energy within it transformed into various animal shapes. The air rumbled with power.
The animal shapes created by her sword showed different movements as they dove toward Raon's vital points. Though her mastery was still low, her technique contained not only phantom and variable sword techniques, but also the mysteries of the severing and precision swords.
"Hyaaah!"
Though a thin line of blood trickled from her mouth from exertion, Bellua's sword hand remained steady.
'Not a bad combination.'
Raon licked his lips in satisfaction as he observed how the phantom, variable, severing, and precision sword techniques flowed together smoothly like rivers joining the sea.
'Excellent swordsmanship.'
Though Bellua's skill was still too low to display the full potential of the True Phantom Variable Sword, if she properly developed her abilities, this entire area would have been covered in her illusory sword strikes. With a fierce roar, Raon slashed his Heavenly Drive diagonally. Bright red flames erupted, burning away all of Bellua's illusions. (E/N: I thought it was a competition without aura or energy)
The sacred flames seemed to erase all traces of her energy.
"Let me show you. How that swordsmanship should truly unfold."
Raon gently extended his still-burning Heavenly Drive forward. Countless butterflies rose from the reddened blade. These butterflies, wreathed in crimson light, fluttered with various wing movements around Bellua before slowly rising into the air. A tremendous roar filled the air.
The butterflies slowly gathered together, becoming a massive storm of flames before gradually fading away.
"Ah..."
Bellua dropped her sword, her eyes reddening with emotion at the sight.
"So this is the completed form of the True Phantom Variable Sword..."
She picked up her sword with trembling hands, saying it was incredibly beautiful.
"Actually, rather than the completed form, it's my own variation."
Raon shook his head with a smile.
"The combination of sword techniques is quite good."
The True Phantom Variable Sword was both similar to and different from the Fire Spirit, the sword technique he often used with his Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. The advantages he gained from studying this technique could help further develop his swordsmanship if applied to the Fire Spirit.
"Th-thank you."
Bellua bowed, saying that thanks to Raon her eyes had been opened.
"I think you can go much further. Probably..."
Raon started to give Bellua additional advice but closed his mouth.
'She might become the next head of the Unyielding Blade.'
Bellua's talent and eyes seemed superior to those of the Unyielding Blade swordsman he had met at the Five Divine Orders' festival. If she continued to grow like this, she could truly become the strongest in the Unyielding Blade. (E/N: Considering she's the only onbe you've properly met, it's technically true)
"Isn't, isn't that the True Phantom Variable Sword?"
"Did the Sword Emperor already know the True Phantom Variable Sword?"
"N-no. He clearly seemed unfamiliar with it at first."
"So he copied it after seeing it just once? And even perfected it?"
"In-insane. Is this why he's called the Sword Emperor?"
The Unyielding Blade swordsmen widened their eyes in shock at Raon's talent.
-Those ones will surely forfeit now.
Wrath clicked his tongue, saying he could see surrender in the eyes of the Unyielding Blade swordsmen.
-You should have held back. What are you doing showing off that absurd talent of yours?
He waved his hand, saying Raon had done something foolish.
'I don't think so.'
Raon smiled and pointed to the Unyielding Blade swordsmen.
"Please try to copy my swordsmanship next!"
"I'd die for the chance! Please show me the future of my swordsmanship!"
"Sword Emperor! No, Sword God! Me first!"
Far from being discouraged and forfeiting, the Unyielding Blade swordsmen became even more enthusiastic, rushing forward and begging to be taught swordsmanship.
-Th-this is...
Wrath shook his head in disbelief.
'I've figured out what kind of people they are.'
Like the Holy Sword Alliance, the Unyielding Blade swordsmen are people who dedicate their lives to the sword techniques they've learned. After being shown an advanced form of their technique, they couldn't help but feel great interest and goodwill.
'That's why this will help me too.'
If the swordsmen had forfeited or swung their swords half-heartedly, it wouldn't have helped him at all, but if they put their lives on the line like Bellua did, it would definitely benefit him despite the difference in skill level.
In fact, after sparring with Bellua, he could feel a slight improvement in his mastery of the variable and phantom sword techniques, and his Fire Spirit's breath had clearly lengthened.
"Next!"
Raon called for his next opponent with rising excitement, but no one stepped forward.
"Um..."
Dorian carefully approached Raon and lowered his voice.
"This isn't training at the fifth training ground - it's a scheduled match, so you need to come down now."
He waved his hand, urging Raon to come down quickly.
-Puhehehehe!
Wrath held his stomach, laughing at the scene.
-After all that posturing, look at you now!
'...'
***
"Huff!"
Dorian exhaled roughly as he dodged the sword of a martial artist who, though middle-aged, had a white-streaked beard.
'Why is this so complicated!'
The sword technique of the Unyielding Blade's Elder was far more complex than expected, making it difficult to dodge or block even when reading his opponent's thoughts with Mind's Eye.
'Does he really have over 100 sword forms?'
Unyielding Blade swordsmen spend their lives training in a single sword technique. Though this man should be the same, strangely, his forms changed with each strike.
"You dodge well."
The Unyielding Blade Elder smiled as if impressed by Dorian and pressed his attack with yet another new form. With a resounding clash, Dorian deflected the Elder's sword while furrowing his brows.
'It changed again.'
The Unyielding Blade Elder targeted his neck with yet another new form. The swordsmanship was becoming so complex that his hands were starting to feel confused.
"Unfortunately, it seems you've reached your limit."
The Unyielding Blade Elder lowered his chin as he unveiled another new form.
"Well, I suppose no one could withstand the Waterfall Sword's ever-increasing forms."
He nodded, saying it was natural to get tired.
"The Waterfall Sword?"
Dorian frowned as he looked at the Unyielding Blade Elder.
"The Waterfall Sword is a technique that completes itself during battle. It creates a map to perfectly subdue the enemy by adding one form after another."
The Unyielding Blade Elder shook his head, explaining that this was why the technique grew increasingly complex and no two forms were the same.
"This is the end."
He lowered his eyebrows as if demanding surrender and extended his sword in a new form. With a sharp ring, Dorian took a deep breath as he watched the Elder's sword coming at him from a bizarre angle.
'Now that I understand the sword technique, I can see how to break it. However...'
With his current strength, he didn't think he could break through. Dodging had consumed too much of his stamina and energy. Even though he could now see how to counter it, he didn't think he had the strength to do so.
'I held out well enough. Time to give up...'
As he was about to give up, thinking he had fought well enough, his eyes met Raon's. Raon nodded at him with a serious look, as if telling him to see it through to the end.
'That's right.'
I'm the one who received power from the demon king because of that damned man! With a thunderous sound, Dorian bit his lip and kicked off the ground with all his might. In that moment, his body and sword moved far faster than he had expected.
'Why, why am I so fast!'
No, it wasn't just speed. His sword was overpowering the Elder's blade, which had grown stronger through countless forms. With a resounding clash, the Unyielding Blade Elder was thrown back by the sudden counterattack, dropping his sword in surprise.
"Th-this..."
He tried to pick up his sword that had fallen to the dueling ground, but Dorian's blade was faster.
"Th-this is the end."
Dorian took a breath as he held his sword to the Elder's throat.
"So you were hiding your strength all along. I lose."
The Unyielding Blade Elder raised both hands, saying it was truly remarkable patience.
"Woaaaah!"
"As expected of the Sword Emperor's subordinate!"
"To think he'd defeat the Elder!"
"We thought he was just a stutterer, but his swordsmanship is the real deal!"
The Unyielding Blade swordsmen applauded Dorian's impressive performance. However, Dorian had no time to pay attention to them.
"Really..."
Dorian let out a sigh as he looked at Gluttony's bracelet on his wrist.
'Did I become stronger because of this bracelet?'
Just moments ago, he had been exhausted and lacking in strength and speed. But when he charged forward with the determination to overcome his limits, power greater than his usual best surged forth, allowing him to defeat the Unyielding Blade Elder. This power clearly came from the demon king's bracelet.
'Didn't they say I could become stronger beyond just training if I focused on supply like I've been doing?'
If what Gluttony and Raon said was true, it meant he could become much stronger than he was now.
"Good! Just like this."
As Dorian raised his fist, determined to keep winning, Raon stood opposite him and nodded silently.
"Did you come to praise me? As expected, only Lord Raon..."
"No?"
Raon shook his head as he looked at Dorian.
"Huh? Then why..."
Dorian tilted his head in confusion.
"I'm your next opponent."
Raon smiled, saying he had been waiting a long time.
"While you were fighting for 30 minutes, I finished long ago and have been waiting."
"Ah..."
Dorian's jaw trembled as he looked at Raon's cold gaze.
"I'll give you 10 minutes to rest."
"W-wait! I for..."
As he tried to say he forfeited, Raon vanished like a ghost and reappeared to cover his mouth.
"A Light Wind Palace swordsman doesn't forfeit."
Raon pointed his Heavenly Drive's cold blade at Dorian's neck.
"Hnngh..."
Dorian nodded with tears in his eyes - tears he hadn't shed even while being pursued by the Unyielding Blade Elder.
"You embarrassed me earlier, didn't you?"
Raon licked his lips, saying he remembered everything.
"N-no, that was because it wasn't your turn..."
Dorian shook his head, protesting his innocence.
"Whatever. Let's have a good match."
Raon smiled coldly, his expression showing he hadn't listened at all.
-Hah, he's truly insane.
Wrath shook his head in disbelief.
"Ugh...
Dorian tried to beg for mercy, but his words remained trapped in his soul.
"Ten minutes are up."
As soon as the ten minutes were up, Raon swung his Heavenly Drive fiercely, and Dorian fled the dueling ground with a scream.
"I don't want to get stronger! Just let me live as I am!"
***
With heavy steps, Raon flicked his sword against the unconscious Dorian's forehead several times before ascending to the central dueling ground.
"It seems there was no manipulation of the tournament bracket."
He curled his lips as he watched the person ascending from the opposite side.
"Since we're meeting in the quarter-finals."
He rotated his wrist as he looked at Queen of Swords Brigitte standing proudly before her disciples.
"The Divine Sword Assembly is a competition, but it's also a festival. We can't manipulate such an event." (E/N: Isn't that the reverse? It's during a festival you should manipulate things to make it more interesting...)
Brigitte shrugged her shoulders as if it were obvious.
"To think the duel between the Head and the Sword Emperor would happen in the quarter-finals..."
"It's too early. But I want to see it now!"
"Who will win?"
"Of course it'll be our leader!"
"No, even though blood is thicker than water, the Sword Emperor will win this."
The Unyielding Blade swordsmen watched Raon and Brigitte with eyes full of anticipation.
"Then let's begin."
Raon drew his Heavenly Drive and leaned forward like a wolf.
"There's no need to go easy on me as your senior."
As he spoke of fighting fairly without concessions, he ignited the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation's fire along his silver blade.
"Of course."
Brigitte raised her chin as she drew her sword. Her gaze turned cold and steady.
"I'll show you what we sisters have been working on all this time."