The autumn sun hung in a clear sky, exactly as Rei had predicted the night before.
A few clouds drifted by, but none were large enough to obscure the sun. Since it was autumn, the light pouring down was soft and mellow. Amidst this perfect weather, the Live Commentator's voice boomed across the arena once again.
"Now, now, now, now! This Fighting Tournament has raged on for a long time, but only three matches remain! We have today’s two semi-finals, and the grand finals the day after tomorrow! Personally, I’m saddened to see these thrilling days come to an end... Truly, deeply saddened. But I’m also shaking with excitement! Because today, we find out who the two strongest in the Bestia Empire are... and more importantly, the finals will crown the strongest man in the entire nation! You all feel the same, don’t you!?"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The crowd’s roar thundered through the arena and echoed far beyond the stadium walls. The cheers were thick with a mix of excitement and a lingering desire to keep this festival going forever.
"Well then, enough talk from me. Let’s get this show on the road! The fighters for our first match are... these two!"
As the Live Commentator finished his introduction, countless fist-sized spheres of colored light began to dance wildly at the athletes' entrance. It was a fantastical sight fitting for the semi-finals, drawing gasps of wonder from the spectators.
The first to emerge from that kaleidoscopic display was an Elf man.
While there was technically no fixed order for the contestants' entrance, the elaborate light show made it clear this was a special production for the semi-finals. He appeared to be an Elf in his mid-twenties, though his outward age meant little given his race.
He wore leather armor crafted from monster hides, prioritizing mobility, with a longsword sheathed at his hip. His features were refined, as expected of an Elf, but his eyes were as sharp as a raptor’s as he stared toward the opposite entrance where his opponent would appear.
"A-Rank Adventurer and the 'Water Dragon' himself—Digma Rels Lage! His swordsmanship is exceptional, but the real highlight is his Water Spirit Magic! Digma's spirit magic is as beautiful as it is lethal. As you all know, he has cut down every opponent so far with a combination of those water spells and sharp sword skills. Honestly, in any other year, he would have been the undisputed favorite to win the crown."
It was a valid point. Under normal circumstances, Digma would have been the top contender for the championship. However, this year featured two other powerhouse Alias Holders.
One was an adventurer from the Kingdom of Mireana, a nation that had been a long-time enemy of the Bestia Empire. He had achieved legendary feats during the Spring War. The other was an S-Rank Adventurer, one of only three such individuals in the entire world.
To the citizens of the Bestia Empire, the narrative was simple: a clash between a clear villain and a hero of justice. With those two dominating the conversation, and many other famous names participating, Digma had somewhat faded into the background. For his part, however, Digma had no interest in such gossip.
Despite the commentator’s high praise, Digma showed no sign of pleasure. He simply kept his raptorial gaze fixed on the far entrance.
"Now, next up... Honestly, does this person even need an introduction? He carries a Great Scythe and has mowed down every powerhouse in his path. There isn’t a soul in the Bestia Empire who hasn't heard his name. The adventurer from the Kingdom of Mireana... Crimson Rei!"
Amidst another flurry of dancing light spheres, a hooded figure wrapped in a robe stepped into view. In his hand was the weapon that served as his symbol: a massive Great Scythe. Rei watched the dancing lights with a faint smile as he approached the stage.
Then, with a casual effort, he leaped onto the Arena stage.
Digma, who hadn't flinched even under the commentator's praise, let a flicker of surprise cross his face. Rei’s leap was a simple movement, yet Digma could find no opening in it. There had been no preparatory motion—no slight bend of the knees. Rei had kicked off the ground using only the strength in his toes.
It was a Beatless movement.
Digma, being a first-rate combatant himself, immediately understood the level of Rei’s physical mastery.
"I see," Digma murmured, his voice like the ringing of silver bells. "You truly have the skill they say you do."
Had anyone other than Rei heard that voice—especially a woman—they might have fallen in love with its beautiful melody then and there. But to Rei, it was just a voice. Unless it was infused with magic power to act as a Curse Song, it held no sway over him.
"I’m glad to hear you think so," Rei replied. "Now, as an A-Rank Adventurer and the 'Water Dragon,' I hope you’ll show me everything you’ve got."
"Hmph. Likewise. Let us see the true strength of the B-Rank Adventurer known as Crimson."
Returning Rei’s sentiment exactly, Digma drew his longsword from its scabbard.
"Both fighters have their weapons ready, searching for an opening! Digma is a Magic Warrior specializing in Water Spirit Magic, while Rei is a Magic Warrior specializing in Flame-system magic! They are two sides of the same coin—opposites clashing in the ring! Don't blink, folks! If you aren't watching this, why did you even come to the arena!?"
The crowd’s roar surged in response to the Live Commentator's hype.
"Do your best, Lord Digma!"
"Try not to get any scars on those pretty faces!"
"Digma! Show them the pride of a Bestia adventurer!"
The air was thick with cheers and heckling, but the referee’s voice cut through the noise.
"Match, start!"
Rei was the first to move. Wanting to test the A-Rank’s mettle, he kicked off the floor and closed the distance with his Death Scythe. Digma remained calm, holding his longsword as he invoked his Spirit Magic.
"Water spirit, turn into a whip."
At his command, the water surrounding Digma formed a whip-like shape and lashed out at Rei. The attack swept in from the side, aiming for Rei’s torso, but he swung his magic-infused Death Scythe down and severed it in mid-air. Even as he continued his approach, Rei clicked his tongue internally.
(Tch, Spirit Magic is fast. I’ll have to rely on the Chant Shortening Technique I picked up during the fight with Magic Wind.)
Spirit Magic was essentially a request to a spirit, powered by mana. Compared to traditional magic that required an incantation to construct a spell, the activation speed was incredibly high. However, its effectiveness relied entirely on the spirit’s cooperation. If a spirit grew to dislike or abandon a user, their magic would fail entirely. It was a discipline governed by personality and affinity.
Rei’s magic, by contrast, was less dependent on external whims. While Magic Power Quantity and construction speed were still matters of talent, anyone with mana could reach a certain level of proficiency. The stability of not needing a spirit’s favor was a significant advantage.
"Water spirit, fly."
Digma’s next move produced a head-sized Water Ball that hurtled toward Rei. Since it moved in a straight line, it was easy enough to avoid; Rei tilted his body as he dashed forward, letting the orb pass. He swung his Great Scythe at Digma as the Elf came within range.
A high-pitched metallic clang rang out as the weapons met. Rei wasn't surprised; he actually looked satisfied. He had fully expected an A-Rank Alias Holder to possess a Magic Sword of some kind.
They locked blades for several seconds, the Death Scythe pressing against the Magic Sword. Suddenly, Rei sensed something approaching from his blind spot. He shoved the Magic Sword back with raw force and leaped to the side. An instant later, the Water Ball from before zipped through the space he had occupied.
"That Water Ball!?"
Rei retreated, surprised but understanding the logic. A man called the Water Dragon wouldn't be satisfied with a single straight shot. The Water Ball began circling Digma’s body before launching at Rei once again.
"Don't think a trick you've already shown will work twice!" Rei shouted, swinging the magic-infused Death Scythe. He intended to cut it down just as he had the water whip.
However...
"Water spirit, scatter."
At Digma's short command, the head-sized orb split into five smaller spheres.
"What!?"
Rei cried out in surprise, but his reflexes were peerless. Even as he gasped, his magic-infused swing continued. The blade of the Death Scythe managed to shatter two of the five spheres. However, that left three remaining—two on his left and one on his right.
Faced with the converging attacks, Rei leaped back to open up space and began his own incantation.
"Flame, manifest according to my will."
Flames erupted at the tip of the Death Scythe’s Blade. Using the shortened chant he had refined in his previous match, he finished the spell before the Water Balls could reach him.
"Flowing Flame!"
As the magic activated, Rei swung the Death Scythe. The blade left a scorching trail of fire in its wake. When the Water Balls collided with the flames, they evaporated instantly into steam without a moment's resistance.
"Impossible!" Digma’s voice rang out from across the stage.
He clearly hadn't expected his Water Balls to be vaporized so easily. In a clash between water and fire, water usually held the elemental advantage. For fire to win, there either had to be a massive gap in magical technique or a overwhelming disparity in Magic Power Quantity.
(I watched his fight with Magic Wind, but to think he could evaporate my magic so casually...)
Though shocked, Digma kept his expression neutral and tightened his grip on his Magic Sword. As an Elf, he took absolute pride in his Spirit Magic and had believed he would never lose to a human mage. That belief wasn't usually wrong—Elves generally possessed far greater mana and technical refinement than humans.
...Assuming the opponent was a normal human.
Despite the shock of Rei’s mana capacity, Digma gripped his sword and charged.
"Water spirit, pierce!"
Hoping to exploit a gap after Rei’s spell, Digma launched three Water Arrows as a distraction. Even with a short chant, the arrows glinted with a lethally sharp radiance as they zipped toward Rei.
Rei shattered all three with a single sweep of his Death Scythe. However, that split second was exactly what Digma needed to close the distance. The opening created by the swing was less than a second, but for Digma, that was plenty.
Diving into Rei's inner guard, Digma swung his mana-charged Magic Sword. It was a horizontal slash aimed at the torso—a blow that would have been fatal had it landed. For a tournament match, it was a shockingly aggressive strike, but Digma knew that a half-hearted attack would never damage someone like Rei.
His instinct was correct.
"Hah!"
With a sharp exhale, Rei brought his weapon around. He couldn't get the blade back in time, so he struck with the shaft of the Death Scythe instead. Another metallic boom shook the air as the weapons collided. At a glance, they seemed evenly matched, but...
"Whoa!?"
Digma let out a cry of shock as he was blown back. It was Rei's immense physical strength and the pure weight of the Death Scythe that sent the Elf reeling. Digma managed to regain his balance in mid-air and land on his feet, making it look like a tactical retreat to the crowd.
He swung his Magic Sword through the empty air, the sharp whistle of the blade cutting the wind echoing around him.
"I see. You certainly live up to the alias of Crimson," Digma said. "Then... let us begin Act Two!"
With a fierce shout, Digma charged forward once more.