Chapter 24 (1/2)

End of The Tournament

“Now then, it's finally semifinal, the first match is partic.i.p.ant Ortemia, who advanced to this stage with her overwhelming magic, vs partic.i.p.ant Miminhotp.”

When the moderator's voices echo inside the Colosseum, Ortemia holds her chest-tall staff in her hand.

It seems that the staff has an effect of raising her magic power. However, since having a weapon makes it harder to move, most people don't use them nowadays.

It seems that the staff has a material that's easy to transmit magical powers such as magic core, however, since its weight is proportional to its size, it tends to affect the movements of those who wield it.

On the other hand Miminhotop is empty-handed.

I stare at the projected image. One of them will be my opponent in the final so there's no reason not to watch it.

When the beginning of the match is declared, the first one to move is Miminhotp. He rises a wall of the earth around Ortemia.

“Partic.i.p.ant Miminhotp suddenly launches a wide range skill! Oh, partic.i.p.ant Ortemia blocks it with water magic! Exactly as textbook, instead of evading she chooses to put up a defense.”

Even so, their magic invocation time sure is short. It's almost zero.

As expected people of B rank sure are powerful.

“Partic.i.p.ant Ortemia, in response to the previous attack, she's forming a dragon with water… Oh, what amazing magical powers density! Will partic.i.p.ant Miminhotp be able to withstand this?”

The water dragon flies toward Miminhotp. It's quite fast.

However, Miminhotp nimbly moves sideways and evades it.

“Partic.i.p.ant Miminhotop decides to evade it!”

However, the water dragon that should've been evaded by Miminhotop, it turns its head toward him.

Its eyes are locked to the target it has to bite.

“This is…. The water dragon is chasing after him!? It hits him! This is… knockdown! Victor, Partic.i.p.ant Ortemia! Partic.i.p.ant Miminhotp, your advances have to come to a stop here.”

The water dragon turns around and bites onto Miminhotp's body.

To be able to chase its target, what an amazing magic. If I haven't seen it before perhaps even I wouldn't be able to evade it.

Rather than evading, would crus.h.i.+ng it head on be better, I wonder?

I still want to consider about it more, but I cease the thought there and head to the Colosseum.

“The next match is, magic sword wielder, Partic.i.p.ant Leonir, vs the savage unchained by rules, partic.i.p.ant Yuri! I'm looking forward to this match as well.”

Who are you calling savage unchained by rules? Isn't my introduction a bit too mean there?

“You are a friend of that elf before, aren't you? I hope you can avenge her.”

Leonir sticks out his tongue to provokes me.

However I'm not perturbed at all. I only think that although his appearance is pretty decent, his personality is simply terrible.

If it was the me until a while ago, I might've been enraged, though. This is also thanks to Firia.

I stare at the creepy man before me and give him my pieces as well.

“Don't talk to me, your mouth stinks.”

“Huh? Don't fvck with me, you gorilla.”

“Compared to you, gorillas are much better.”

“… I've decided, I'll fvcking kill you!”

Veins pop out here and there on his face.

Good grief, youngsters these day are very quick to lost temper.

“I shall have the verbal battle stop there. Well then, with both partic.i.p.ant seems to be eager to fight, looks it'll be another fierce match…. Very well, her we go… the second match, start!”

“Oraa!”

Leonir immediately shoots wind magic toward me.

Instead of avoiding it, I decide to face it head on.

This is a magic that even that frail firia could endure a couple of times, so there's no way I can't endure it.

“Tch, don't you dare to look down on me!”

Leonir wildly swings his sword and shots numerous wind magic my way.

But they worth nothing. They can't even cut my clothes.

I approach slowly and stand in front of Leonir.

“What the h.e.l.l are you! …Eat this!”

Leonir swings his sword with all of his might.

Losing in endurance against my body, the swung sword breaks.

Well, that is the natural result, though. If you want to cut my skin then bring me s.h.i.+nigami or someone on his level.

“Is that your all?”

“… huh?”

“Is that your all?”

I glare at Leonir, who's showing expression as if not understanding what just happened, in front of me.

“A… A….”

“It's my turn then.”

To Leonir, whose sword has broken and is dumbfounded, I put my whole energy into my arm and punch him.

Letting out 'mekyo' sound, Leonir's blown off until the audience seats.

“My word! Partic.i.p.ant Yuri, his body is unscathed even after being slashed directly with a sword! On the contrary, partic.i.p.ant Leonir's sword broke instead! What a very abnormal body he's got there! Partic.i.p.ant Yuri advances to the final!”

I return to the waiting room.

Finally it's the final round. I will fight against Ortemia.

I look around inside the waiting room and eventually spot Firia's figure, I sit next to her.

“… It's finally the final.”

“You're right.”

After exchanging two or three words with Firia, we both fall silent.

And like that the final match time has finally come.

“I'm going.”

“Take care.”

My aim ultimately is the champion. That's all.

In the center of the Colosseum, I'm standing face to face against Ortemia.

The pressure makes my body itches.

Wonderful, I want to fight her as soon as possible.

“At long last it's finally the final, I suppose there's already no need for introductions. Partic.i.p.ant Ortemia vs. partic.i.p.ant Yuri! In a few minutes the strongest person below A rank will be decided!”

To match the stage which is the finals, the moderator is presenting with higher tension.

Just an idle thought, but isn't it kinda strange to give the 'strongest' t.i.tle to someone below A rank?

…But well, now isn't the time to think about that kind of thing.

What I have to think about right now is how to defeat the girl in front of me.

“… Good luck.”

“Yeah, good luck to you too. Let's have a good fight”

“For my brother, I will win.”

Ortemia says so expressionlessly.

Having poker face is good because it makes it harder for the opponent to read what you think.

But that's impossible for me. When fighting against a powerful enemy, smile will inevitably crawl up onto my face.

“Well then… Final match, start!”

First is to close the gap. Against magicians victory follows those who attack first.

I always consider my opponent whenever I use my muscle magic, and against someone like Ortemia with such delicate body, I think using muscle magic is a bit too much.

When I think about such a thing, from the s.p.a.ce I'm heading to, in front of Ortemia, tsunami-like violent water current comes forth.

“Come if you will, with this the match is over.”

Without any chance to evade it, I am swallowed by the raging ultrwide wave.

Water keeps on gus.h.i.+ng out for about ten seconds before it eventually stops.

And then, the one left there is the standing-still dauntingly me.

“That was quite a good magic.”

The flow of water that made me unable to move sc.r.a.ped me of my stamina more than I expected.