Chapter 105

[Third Person's PoV]

As Iris reached for her sword after the announcement was made, she immediately jumped back with sweat dripping down her back.

She looked around confused, unsure why she had reacted that way before attempting to reach for her sword once more.

But as she did, she jumped back even further, causing greater confusion. She quickly realized that she was breathing heavily, patting her forehead and seeing the sweat on her palm.

Looking up towards Julius, who maintained an indifferent facial expression, she felt a surge of frustration.

"So, are you going to attack any time soon, princess?" Julius asked, his tone unchanged.

"I'm trying to," she muttered, her annoyance evident.

Taking a deep breath to calm down, she focused her senses on her body and reached for her sword, willing her body to stand still.

However, as she started to draw her sword, her whole body began shaking uncontrollably.

'I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die,' she repeated in her mind, her fear overwhelming her.

Slowly dragging out her sword, she glanced towards Julius, who hadn't moved an inch since the match started. Despite his blindfold, she could still feel his gaze on her.

"What's wrong, princess? You're shaking, you know?" he taunted with a smirk, adding to her distress.

'W-W-What is that!?!?' She inwardly screamed, frightened beyond belief. Behind Julius loomed a giant grim reaper, its long scythe pointing down directly at her neck as a warning.

"Any sudden movement and you're dead…" she could practically hear its ominous message. She bit down on her lip until it drew blood before rapidly drawing out her blade and slashing her own palm, drawing even more blood.

With crazed determination in her eyes, she looked towards Julius, breathing heavily. "I don't know how you're doing it, but don't think you'll be able to frighten me that easily."

Julius lifted an eyebrow slightly, surprised. 'I didn't expect her will to be this strong. I'm kinda impressed,' he thought.

She charged towards Julius, amplifying herself with magic, her sword pointed towards him, ready to strike.

As Julius lifted up his walking stick and put his hand around the top, images started appearing inside Iris's mind, multiple ways she would be cut, killed, or maimed.

Although she should have taken them as a warning, she chose to use them as motivation to make a suicidal attack.

"If I'm going to die, I'm going to go all out!!!" she screamed out as she charged her sword with magic. Her blade started brimming with power, and she swung it down, sending a wave of magic power that destroyed everything in its path.

As the wave of power made its way towards Julius, he calmly drew his sword and effortlessly cut the wave in perfect halves.

The split power continued forward, hitting and destroying the walls behind him, narrowly missing the audience. Seeing him unscathed caused Iris to grind her teeth in frustration. She closed the distance and swung her sword, but Julius let out a sigh and transformed his sword back into a walking stick. He blocked her attack with the back of his hand, effortlessly redirecting the force of her blow.

"I was impressed with your will before, but now you're just swinging your sword mindlessly, trying to hit me. How can you be so impressive and disappointing at the same time?" Julius whispered so only Iris could hear. With a swift motion, he thrust his palm into her abdomen. Her vision blackened for a moment as she arched back, coughing up blood before being sent flying and crashing into the arena walls.

The crowd fell silent, unable to react, as Julius approached the coughing princess attempting to stand up. She struggled to get to a kneeling position before Julius drew his sword again, lifting her neck.

"Come on, princess, impress me some more. After all, you haven't managed to land a single hit yet," he taunted.

Iris tightened her grip on her sword as she looked towards Julius, who was suddenly grinning widely. She assumed he was enjoying looking down on her, but he was smiling for a completely different reason.

'She's here,' Julius thought, noticing his two added connections to him. He grew confused.

'What's this? There's a third one that's forming. It's not instant like the other ones; this one is slowly growing… I'll have to investigate that when I have the chance.'

…

Watching Julius defeat Iris left most of the audience in shock; they had expected a hard-fought battle, not a complete beatdown.

Beatrix looked ahead and muttered, "I want to fight him as well."

Veins started protruding from Perv Asshat's head. 'Impossible! If he defeated Iris, then he's one of the strongest spellswords I know of!' he thought as he heard the crowd starting to get rowdy.

"Didn't she lose too quickly?"

"She barely even did anything."

"Though that one attack seemed pretty great."

Perv Asshat started to get agitated. 'The fight finishing this early wasn't part of my plan, damn it! Rose isn't here yet, but I have to do as warned and get the King…'

His thoughts stopped midway as he heard the crowd start to chatter some more.

"What? There's someone on the arena."

"What's she doing down there?"

Rose walked towards the VIP seats where the King of Oriana sat, on her way to greet her father.

"My apologies for interrupting the tournament, but I'm back, Father."

"O-Oh, Rose, my beloved fiancée! You came back just as you promised me! I can't put into words my joy… Please come closer."

Rose ignored Perv Asshat as if he didn't even exist and bowed her head slightly towards her father.

"I've come before you, Father, to apologize. Please forgive me for everything I have done and for what I'm going to do, both as a princess and as a daughter. I have decided to walk through the path I believe in."

Perv Asshat just looked at Rose with contempt as he believed the king wouldn't be able to hear her rambling.

"Now, Your Majesty, please stand in front of Rose," Perv Asshat commanded the king, who followed due to the effects of the drug.

The king started mumbling slightly as he fought the control of the drugs and spoke his final words to Rose.

"You… have my… forgiveness. I forgive all… your sins."

Perv Asshat was shocked while Rose thanked her father before closing her eyes and executing the King right in front of everyone, leaving Perv Asshat bewildered.

"This is simply my duty as a princess," Rose said with tears in her eyes.

Perv Asshat's bewilderment quickly turned into anger, which he couldn't contain. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO? HOW DARE YOU KILL THE KING AND RUIN MY PLANS!"

Rose looked defiantly towards Perv Asshat, which caused him to shout towards his guards in anger, "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? CATCH HER!"

They all rushed towards Rose, but before they had a chance to attack, they heard laughter from the back, followed by an oppressive power.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Julius pulled down the cloth around his eyes, revealing his dragon eyes, before being surrounded by shadows.

"Y-Y-You're Shadow!?" Iris couldn't help but shout as she stood up, but Shadow completely ignored her and disappeared from where he was standing, reappearing behind Rose.

"Your resolve is simply beautiful, Rose. I couldn't help but laugh in admiration!" Shadow declared before swinging his sword and killing all of the guards rushing towards her.

The crowd was in shock; they hadn't expected Julius, the contestant they watched, to be Shadow, the mysterious leader of an organization hidden so well some people assumed it was a myth. But feeling his oppressive power and aura, they simply knew he was the real deal.

"Impossible!" Perv Asshat shouted, having heard of Shadow and how he was after the cult.

"Princess Rose, Shadow is a dangerous individual; please stand back! I'll call the Knights in as reinforcements."

Rose and Shadow both ignored Iris, as Shadow turned towards Rose. "Go, your time will come."

Rose nodded and ran away, causing some of the guards to chase after her. But Shadow didn't let them go far as he waved his sword, cutting them all apart.

Shadow looked over to the side where the soul of the King of Oriana watched his daughter fleeing with a worried look.

Shadow secretly used Rulers Authority and pulled the king's soul close to him. Thanks to taking hold of him, Shadow was able to speak with him mentally. 'Worry not, your daughter is going to be alright. I'll revive you later, but for now, rest, and leave this to your daughter. You named her Rose, after all, so watch her blossom beautifully.'

The King was shaken, but he could feel the sincerity of Shadow's words, so he nodded his head hesitantly before Shadow stuffed him into his shadow.

Perv Asshat started to panic as his guards did nothing. "IS THERE ANYONE WILLING TO FIGHT HIM? THE TOURNAMENT WILL END AT THIS RATE!"

"I keep meeting such powerful people in this country; I can't help but want to test myself against you," Beatrix said, appearing before Shadow, throwing away her cloak.

As she exposed herself, thunder rumbled in the back, while clouds started gathering, causing it to grow dark, making the atmosphere even more tense as a prelude to their battle.