Chapter 53: The Outcome!

Since we were still in the middle of battle, I didn't wait until Marley regained her focus and instantly attacked her with a Heavenly scar in combination with my sword aura, increasing its power significantly. As my attack neared Marley's position, she broke out of her stupor before quickly stopping my attack by stabbing at the incoming sword wave, though compared to before, I could tell Marley had to truly try to stop my attack.

'Sword aura is indeed powerful.' Thought Elif, feeling surprised and excited at the power his attack displayed.

I was about to follow up my attack with another one, but I saw an angry Marley rapidly approaching my position before I could. She unleashed numerous high-speed attacks with her spear when she arrived near me. Even with my incredible agility, I still couldn't evade them all, as a few of them managed to pierce into my already injured body. The pain was intense, but I fought through it and continued to evade each attack until I launched another Heavenly scar at her, using this chance to back away from her and gain some distance while also attacking with a couple of Heavenly scars to keep her at bay.

Quickly gathering my breath, I took a deep breath and began performing the Fairy Sword Dance as I made my way to the incoming Marley; the moment we collided, we both unleashed an onslaught of attacks. Marley, with the rapid attacks of her piercing spear that's also coated in what I believe to be spear intent, while I'm sending out wave after wave of real and illusory sword attack, with Hokori also being covered in sword aura. Every time Marley thrust her spear at me, my own attack would always intercept it before it managed to get too close to me. In contrast, every time I attacked, it would similarly get blocked by an attack of Marley's spear, resulting in us getting stuck in this never-ending cycle of attacks with neither of us capable of besting the other. Every time our weapons clashed, the amount of power released from each exchange caused the entire coliseum to shake violently, making it feel like a realm quake was constantly taking place.

This even exchange of battle went on for far longer than I honestly anticipated it would, but it had to come to an end eventually, and unfortunately, me being the reason why it was forced to end in the first place.

As I was locked in focus against Marley and her attacking spear, I swiftly pulled back Hokori that was just blocked by Marley's spear and prepared to strike out again, though from how this exchange has transpired, I figured I would be forced to stop one of Marley's attack, and I wasn't wrong either. Right when I was about to position Hokori to block Marley's spear, I suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded, causing me to become slightly sluggish, which ultimately resulted in me not managing to block Marley's spear, allowing her spear to slip right through my defense and stab me right in the chest, and exiting out my back.

Even though I was feeling dizzy and lightheaded, the sudden sensation of immense pain shook me out of my daze, allowing me to quickly grasp my situation. Still, the dizziness I felt just a second ago returned, this time with it being much more severe, to the point where everything became blurry. Lethargically, grasping Marley's spear, I try attacking Marley with Hokori, but currently, I'm in no state to fight, so she was able to easily block my weak attack after she yanked her spear out of my chest.

Feeling cold air flow through the hole where the spear was just at, I reach up and clutch the bleeding hole while still trying to actively fight against Marley; however, I've already scanned my body with my divine sense, and even knowing that my chances of winning were now zero, giving up never once appeared in my head, definitely not when my family was watching me, especially Elaine.

With blurry vision, I focused on Marley as she stood before me while arrogantly looking down at me, only sporting a moderate amount of injuries.

"You've lost Prince Elif, might as well admit defeat to save yourself from further humiliation." Commented Marley arrogantly with a nasty smirk on her face.

"I may have lost, but I would only ever admit defeat before someone superior to me, and since no one like that exists, I'll never be admitting defeat." Responded Elif, with even more arrogance and pride than Marley, causing her to get furious. However, toward the end of his speech, he began coughing up blood, and the usual radiant star emblem on his forehead was slightly dimmer than usual.

Before I could react, the angry Marley appeared immediately before me. She pressured me with her cultivation base, and while I would usually be fine as she wasn't much stronger than me, I'm currently not at my peak, and getting weaker by the second isn't helping the situation either. Being sent crashing to the arena below, I stand with trembling legs as I try resisting her attempt at making me kneel to her, which disgusts me by just the thought of it alone.

Yet, when Marley landed back onto the arena, Illumia stood before me, protecting me from Marley's pressure.

'This needs to get taken care of quickly; I'm getting very sleepy.' Thought Elif, as he did his best to stay conscious even with such injuries.

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While watching his highness fight against his opponent, I must say he is putting up a decently good fight for someone weaker than his opponent, though he is still obviously on the losing end. However, what shocked me was while he was in the middle of an intense fight, he once again achieved an epiphany; something considered so incredibly rare that even knowing someone who achieved it is highly unlikely to happen. Yet, his highness has achieved two of them in merely two years. While he was going through his epiphany, the sword intent that coated Hokori began changing; first, its power and density started rapidly increasing, then, it began to become visible to the naked eye, allowing anyone to see the purple aura surrounding his sword, yet even while these changes were taking place, it seemed like his highness wasn't aware of any of it.

At least not until they suddenly separated from each other, both of them taking a quick break before they again began battling, this time with his highness displaying power just below his opponents. While his highness was capable of matching his opponent for some time, with the state of his body and low amount of Qi, his loss was already a certainty, especially when his highness didn't manage to block one of his attacks in time, causing him to be run through by her spear.

"Oh my, that seems quite brutal for merely a tournament, don't you think so, Ms. Illumia?" Asked Lynda with slight hints of sorrow in her voice, since Elif and she have gotten somewhat close from visiting her regularly after the sparring sessions with Illumia.

"I also agree with you, but sometimes you must strike when given the opportunity." Answered Illumia, as a frown accompanied her ever-stoic face as she watched Elif come crashing to the ground after Marley pressured him.

"If you'll excuse me, Ms. Lynda." Said Illumia, as she quickly disappeared from her spot before appearing standing just before Elif.

"Move, servant; you're interfering with the match!" Said Marley arrogantly when she noticed Illumia, though what's funny is that not even her father would dare speak like that to Illumia so easily; however, that's what they mean by ignorance is bliss, I suppose.

"I must decline your offer, but I shall congratulate you since his highness has lost the match, resulting in you winning the tournament." Said Illumia without a hint of anger as she tried to quickly get everything over with when she sensed Elifs condition; unfortunately, things didn't go as smoothly for her.

"Your words mean nothing; you're just a mere slave to the Royal family, now move out of the wait and let me finish this match, or-" Said Marley. However, she was forced to stop talking as Illumia pressured her, causing her to instantly lay on the ground while grunting in pain, though luckily for her, Nordan quickly came to the rescue.

"Don't you think your actions are a bit extreme, Illumia? She is just a kid who made a mistake, after all." Said Nordan with slight anger as he stood before Illumia, protecting Marley while taking the brunt of the pressure, though he looked completely fine.

"I'm his highness's personal servant, and by mocking me, you indirectly insult his highness along with the Royal Family, so I believe my actions are justifiable." Replied Illumia as she stared deeply at Nordan, causing him to clutch his fist in anger before releasing a sigh.

"Yes, you're correct, Ms. Illumia, my daughter had grievously spoken out of line, and I would like to formally apologize on her behalf." Said Nordan as he gave a deep bow to Illumia and Elif; behind him, Marley stood and looked furious while one was on the verge of losing consciousness.

"His highness accepts your apology, and now we must leave, as his highness has important things to attend to." Said Illumia as she rested her hand on Elifs shoulder before disappearing and reappearing in his private booth.

"Haa, finally, it's over; now I'll be taking a nap for some time." Said Elif before losing consciousness and practically collapsing, but with Illumia standing beside him, she quickly caught him and carried him in her arms like a princess.