After the maintenance interval came weightlifting.
"Now, at last, it's the final event of the power category: weightlifting!"
The cheers from the crowd reached a fever pitch, louder than any that had come before.
"To explain the rules once more: competitors will lift a magi-device barbell imbued with Gravity Magic. We'll be testing to see how many kilograms of force they can withstand!"
"By the way, this barbell was co-developed by Jin-sama and Marikka-sama, with assistance from Lordtoss-sama. Furthermore, the floor has been paved with adamantite to ensure it won't dent under the pressure!"
The explanation only served to drive the crowd into a greater frenzy. Once the stadium had settled down, the competition finally got underway.
"We will now begin the weightlifting event. First up is Bib #1, Natalia’s Nave!"
Nave stepped forward and hoisted the barbell. At 1G, it weighed exactly 100 kilograms, a load he managed without any visible effort.
"Now, activating the Gravity Magic!"
"The current gravity value will be displayed on the small magi-screen behind the athlete."
Getting the magic to display the values in clear digits was the part Jin and his collaborators had struggled with the most during construction.
"110 kilograms... 120 kilograms... 130 kilograms..."
Initially, the weight increased by ten kilograms every second. This meant a gain of one hundred kilograms every ten seconds. After ninety seconds, the load would increase by nine hundred kilograms—which, when added to the starting weight, would total one ton.
"500 kilograms... 510... 520..."
"Oh, he's holding steady!"
"850 kilograms... 860... 870..."
Nave was still enduring the strain. The audience watched with bated breath.
"990 kilograms... 1000 kilograms!!...1010 kilograms..."
"He’s still going! This is incredible!"
"1100 kilograms... 1110 kilograms..."
"He’s clearly reaching his limit!...Ah, his grip failed! Watch out!!"
Since the barbell was held high above his head, it would naturally crash down onto his crown the moment he let go. However, Jin and the others had programmed the barbell to activate a negative Gravity Magic the instant contact was broken, reducing its weight to a mere one kilogram.
The barbell rolled across the floor, having struck his head with only a light clonk.
"The record is 1110 kilograms!"
Watching the scene, Jin found himself reflecting on the design.
Hmm. I thought this would save time, but it might have had the opposite effect.
This wasn't strictly "weightlifting" in the traditional sense; it had become an endurance trial of how much weight a frame could withstand. Grip strength was also a major factor.
Since the conditions were the same for everyone, it worked perfectly well as a competition, but Jin couldn't help but feel that calling it "weightlifting" was a bit of a stretch.
Regardless of Jin's private reservations, the event proceeded.
"Bib #2, Shu's Merry! This is spectacular! She’s enduring 1000 kilograms with that small body!"
"That's quite a sight to see..."
In the end, Bib #2 set a record of 1100 kilograms.
"Bib #3, Eugene's Melanie!"
Her record was 1080 kilograms. Every record so far had exceeded the one-ton mark.
"Everyone is performing remarkably well."
"Indeed. Since they're all aiming for Lady Reiko's level, these results are only natural."
"I see."
"Next up is Bib #4, Greena's Shal!"
The record was 1010 kilograms.
Bib #5, Sireen's Allen, reached 970 kg. Bib #6, Sidney's Liddel, reached 1000 kg. Bib #7, Werner's Leila, reached 1090 kg. Bib #8, Florence's Clark, reached 1150 kg. Bib #9, Elvis's Cyrus, successfully lifted 1180 kg.
"Now, the one who is arguably the most anticipated entry of this tournament: Bib #10, Rubina’s Alice makes her entrance!"
The spectators erupted in cheers.
"150 kilograms... 160... 170..."
Alice endured the mounting weight with total composure.
"980 kilograms... 990... 1000 kilograms!!"
"Oh! She’s surpassed one ton!"
"1150 kilograms... 1160... 1170... 1180..."
"She’s done it! A new tournament record!!"
"1200 kilograms... Oh, is she starting to struggle?"
"1220 kilograms... 1230... Ah, she’s reached her limit!!"
Ultimately, Alice's record stood at 1220 kilograms.
"Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Bib #11, Jin-sama’s Lady Reiko! What kind of record will this legendary automata show us!?"
Reiko stepped up and casually hoisted the barbell. The Gravity Magic was activated immediately.
"110 kilograms... 120... 130..."
"Well, we all know one ton is child's play for Reiko-chan," Sion remarked.
Just as she predicted, Reiko held the barbell aloft without so much as a flinch as it neared the one-ton mark.
"990 kilograms... 1000 kilograms!...1010 kilograms!!"
Reiko still looked as if she were carrying nothing at all.
"1190 kilograms... 1200... 1210 kilograms!"
"She’s done it! Another new record high!"
"1290 kilograms... 1300... 1310 kilograms..."
"It looks like she could go indefinitely."
Ah, showing off too much would be bad form.
Jin caught Reiko's eye and gave her a subtle signal. Correctly intuiting his meaning, Reiko set the barbell down once it surpassed 1400 kilograms.
"1400 kilograms! What a staggering record!!"
A thunderous ovation broke out from the stands.
"Next, Bib #12, Lordtoss-sama’s Momoko! Let's see what she can do!"
Momoko, who possessed a similar build to Reiko, lifted the barbell.
"110 kilograms... 120... 130..."
She cleared the early stages with no issue.
"980 kilograms... 990... 1000 kilograms!!"
One ton was handled easily.
"1180 kilograms... 1190... 1200 kilograms!"
It seemed she reached her limit shortly thereafter.
"Momoko’s record is 1210 kilograms!"
Regrettably, she fell just ten kilograms short of Rubina's Alice.
"And finally, Bib #13, Marikka-sama’s Hanako!"
Hanako, also built like Reiko, took her turn.
"110 kilograms... 120... 130... 140..."
We probably should have started the weights higher, Jin mused.
"980 kilograms... 990... 1000 kilograms!!"
Hanako also reached one ton without difficulty.
"1190 kilograms... 1200... 1210 kilograms!"
She still had more in her.
"1290 kilograms... 1300 kilograms!...13... Ahh, that's it! She's reached her limit! The record is 1300 kilograms!"
A storm of applause swept through the stadium.
The final standings were:
1st: Jin's Reiko, 1400 kilograms. 2nd: Marikka's Hanako, 1300 kilograms. 3rd: Rubina's Alice, 1220 kilograms. (1st among official competitors) 4th: Lordtoss's Momoko, 1210 kilograms. 5th: Elvis's Cyrus, 1180 kilograms. (2nd among official competitors) 6th: Florence's Clark, 1150 kilograms. (3rd among official competitors) 7th: Natalia's Nave, 1110 kilograms. (4th among official competitors) 8th: Shu's Merry, 1100 kilograms. (5th among official competitors) 9th: Werner's Leila, 1090 kilograms. (6th among official competitors) 10th: Eugene's Melanie, 1080 kilograms. (7th among official competitors) 11th: Greena's Shal, 1010 kilograms. (8th among official competitors) 12th: Sidney's Liddel, 1000 kilograms. (9th among official competitors) 13th: Sireen's Allen, 970 kilograms. (10th among official competitors)