Finale
Mina signals her teammates. Kil readjusts his grip on the shield and Eden draws her rapier.
Mina draws her sword and points it at me.
?????
Wasn't she supposed to surrender? But instead, she's going a bit serious?!
Flames engulf Mina's sword. A magician swordswoman... Only those who have mastered both swordsmanship and magic can become one.
However, Mina's cultivation base is still suppressed, she doesn't want to reveal her true strength just yet.
Kil charged at me with his shield held up high. Behind him is Eden following.
I grab the shield at the left edge at the perfect time when he is two feet away and pushes the shield to the right, changing the direction of momentum.
!!!
Eden takes the chance to attempt a thrust towards my chest but I duck and proceed to kick her heel with my right foot.
"Uck!"
She lost her balance and I take the chance to attempt a slash at her chest.
However, Mina blocks my attack and parried my sword away.
!!
Tch.
I jump back as Mina's team recovers.
I have dealt with shields and rapiers in the past life, but a magic swordsman? I've only fought against two and lost miserably.
Mina takes the lead this time and slashes down. A curve wave of fire created from her sword rushes towards me.
I dodge to the side but the explosion that resulted from that attack behind threw me off balance.
Shit!
Eden takes the chance to attack. Her pointy rapier is seen only by my right eye as I shift my head to the left in time to only receive a cut on my cheeks.
"Tch." Eden clicks her tongue
I grab her arm holding the rapier and strike her elbow with my leg.
"AHHH!!"
Kil, enraged, rams my body with the shield.
!
However, he did not attempt to follow up an attack but instead helped Eden up.
I take that chance to plunge my sword into the ground.
!!!!!
"Mina!" Kil shouts.
"I know!" She replies. However, they are too late.
I've already activated the sword array.
A huge shockwave threw kil and Eden to the side of the arena. They cough out a bit of blood as they drop limp on the ground.
!!
"You bastard!" Mina shouts and she raises her sword. Mana quickly accumulates as the arena becomes hot.
A large flame Phoenix dives towards me.
"A Phoenix?!"
I force a large chunk of earth to protrude in front of me. The Phoenix dissipates and explodes as it hits the stone. The heat is no joke, I feel like I'm standing on a grill.
I wipe the sweat off my forehead as I attempt to distort the ground around Mina.
However, whatever I throw at her, she just melts it away.
Her black hair is starting to become red at the tip of the strands. The heatwave emitting from her is similar to the desert.
She points her sword at me. "Any more tricks?" She says.
I smile. "Yeah. I have one more."
If I can't beat her using the array, I will have to beat her using swordsmanship. My sword is strong enough to withstand her heat after all.
Suddenly, I appear behind her.
!!
Mina turns around swiftly and attempts to block the attack but I suddenly appear beside her and slash her arm.
!!!!!
The onslaught not only stops there. I appear behind and slash her hips, I appear to the right and slash her shoulder.
Instantly, I appear from 16 different angles and slash Mina at once.
"T-This style... How..."
I pant heavily as I land beside Mina. My heart is beating very fast with my body becoming increasingly sore.
Surprisingly, Mina is still able to stand with all that injuries. However, she is dragging her feet and trudging toward me.
"That style... Are you a disciple of my master?! No... This isn't the Seven Star of Swords, you are using an improved version of that." Says Mina.
"..."
I have no idea what she is talking about so I decided to stay silent.
"I see." Mina says.
?
She finally collapses as a puddle of blood ooze out.
"Amazing!! We have our final winner!! The boy who is at the bottom of the rankings has instantly gone to the first and made history!!" The emcee says.
The entire Colosseum was filled with cheers and joy. My mother was sobbing as my siblings start to jump in joy. My father, well, he is smiling but... I feel something off.
Threatening aura, my father is emitting a "where the fuck did you learn all of these?" intent.
Fireworks were set off in the sky with bits and pieces of colour paper flying in the air.
...
Ha...ha...
I walk back to my room and wait for the results to be announced.
As I lay on the couch, I look at my hand. I seem to have lost control of it. It's trembling and my grip refused to loosen from the sword. My right arm is numb.
After a while of resting, I was finally able to let the sword go.
...
My entire body hurts...
Looks like my body is too physically unfit to unleash all of the techniques properly.
Judging from Mina's reaction. It seems that the spell and sword style is skills that Mina possessed. Yet why didn't she use it against me?
-------------
Inferno is not a skill anyone can use just because they know how to. It requires a large capacity of mana to unleash for [Inferno]. [Seven Stars of Swords] can only be used after your body gets used to moving vigorously.
The reason you can use those skills is due to extraction. The skills are directly implanted into you.
---------------
So in a nutshell, I'm making do with whatever I have. The inferno I cast is not as powerful and flashy as the original inferno, probably due to the lack of mana in me.
------------------
Congratulations! You have completed the quest:
-Secure first place in the monthly swordsman tournament. (1/1)<Irina>
-Secure first place in Akatski Academy. (1/1)<Irina>
Plot armour rank: 5->6
Obtained:
-Ice affinity rank B
-Nelson family ice style.
--------------------
Nice...
Afterwards, a stage is set up in the arena. The King is on the stage and he gives out the rewards to the participants individually.
When my name was called, I walk up to the stage and the king placed the strap of a circular gold medal over my neck.
On the outside, he is smiling, but on the inside, well...
The King is emitting a tremendous malicious aura. He doesn't intend to kill me but is wary of me.
The rewards are 100 platinum coins and a Neptune shield, an artifact.
I store the rewards in my storage ring.
--------------
After the festival was over, I return home with my family. It was an awkward trip back. Once we step into the cabin, my mother says "Loi..."
"Hm?"
"Don't pretend. Tell us honestly, what happen to you? Where did your strength come from... did you..." my father says.
"I did not use any forbidden technique whatsoever. I can tell you my reason for strength but you may not believe me." I say.
My mother and father sit on the chair of our dining table and stare at me firmly. My siblings sat on the floor beside my parents as if they are going to watch a play unfold.
I start by telling them I am from the future. I then went on to my journey as an adventurer and how I have experienced countless fights with both humans and monsters alike as well as my hunting for artifacts including the Artifact of Life. The only thing I left out was that I've gained a system to extract plot armour and father's death. I...am afraid that the future will stray too much, it's foolish I know but...
"Why did you go to the Region of Death, you silly boy!" My mother exclaims.
"Haha... well the thrill of adventure took me there..."
My mother frowns. "Are we in a dire situation? Such that you have to go to that extent..."
"What? It's just my curiosity." I say.
How is my mother's instinct so sharp?!
...
My father sighs. "You are not going to tell me you want to become an adventurer again aren't you?"
"Haha...well... That's the only thing I'm good at... Besides, you've seen my strength, I'm strong enough to defend myself." I say.
...
"Then promise me, you will never go to the region of death." My mother says
I smile and nod. I do not have a reason to go there for now.
I sat down opposite my parents, my siblings went to shower.
"So? What are you planning to do next?" My father asks. "There is no reason for you to continue staying at that place."
My father knows the nature of the Academy.
"Let me stay as an Academy student for a little longer. However, I do not want to attend any more lectures, it's a waste of time. Instead, let me join the army as a newbie squire when I apply."
?!
"You want to become a squire while staying as a student, what are you up to... wait." My father smiles. He knows that I can use my position as the best student in the Academy as protection.
"You are smart, but why do you want to join the army?"
"Just as a bit of experience. Never hurt to gain some right?" I say.
The truth is, I need to stop my father's death. I already knew who betrayed my father but the matter may not be as simple as it seems; I need to dig out the roots and find out if there is anyone behind my father's assassination.