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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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The world was broadly divided into the Eastern and Western continents, and the method of mana manipulation used on the Eastern continent was called Ki Arts.
The Ki of the East was essentially the same as the mana of the West, but Ki Arts and magic were distinctly different.
Ki Arts was a path of self-cultivation, while magic was more of an academic pursuit, a means of understanding the universal truths.
However, since both originated from the same fundamental principles, there had been numerous attempts to combine them throughout history. The first to succeed was my master, Head Mage Esmeralda.
My master, who had been a martial artist in her previous life, created a new discipline called Magic Arts, based on her memories. It was difficult to learn, but its power was immense.
Its fame was such that mages from all over the kingdom flocked to the magic tower, hoping to learn from her.
But my master refused them all, declaring that she would not pass on her knowledge until she found a worthy successor, and she sealed the doors of the magic tower.
Decades passed, and finally, someone emerged who met her exacting standards…
Me, a farmer’s son.
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Internal energy.
Commonly known as the Internal Fist style.
I hadn’t expected a Dragonkin to be so proficient in such an advanced technique from the Eastern continent.
Martial arts were usually learned by the weak to fight the strong. A dragon, born with a powerful body, had no need for such techniques.
Anyway, after the vampire, Ginger, collapsed on the stage, Gav, with a hearty laugh, told her to come back stronger, then turned and left the arena.
“Gav! Gav! Gav! Gav!”
The crowd, still buzzing from the spectacular aerial battle, chanted his name.
Ginger, the challenger, was carried off on a stretcher. I replayed the fight in my mind.
He didn’t use any mana.
A classic brawler, a pure martial artist.
I knew Dragonkin were skilled in physical combat, but I had assumed that was only in their true forms.
Now I knew they enjoyed close-quarters combat even in their polymorph forms.
He’s a mage’s natural enemy.
Similar to Nick Iron.
A hard body that was resistant to most attacks, high magic resistance, and a relentless close-combat style that gave mages no time to cast spells.
At least Nick Iron was slow. Gav, with his wings, could move at incredible speeds.
A tricky opponent.
As I was pondering how to defeat him, the crowd roared again, and I realized the next match was about to begin.
“It’s Princess Ozma!”
“She’s so cool!”
While Ginger had captured the hearts of the male audience, and Gav had been cheered on by everyone, Ozma’s fans were mostly female demons.
She had male fans, but they were a minority.
Well, in her male disguise, she did look like a handsome prince.
And since most of the demons here had never met her in person, they were likely unaware of her true gender.
Ozma, clad in light leather armor, had three swords at her hip.
Her opponent was a Minotaur, a hulking beast with a bull’s head, over three meters tall.
His red fur and imposing size were intimidating. He would have been a good match for an ogre.
Once both contestants were ready, the referee raised his flag.
“Begin!”
As the flag swung down—
The Minotaur swung his battle-axe.
Swoosh!
The massive axe head whistled through the air.
The custom-made battle-axe, wielded by the three-meter-tall behemoth, was over four meters long.
Considering the mere three-meter distance between them at the start of the match, Ozma was already within range.
Clang!
Ozma, reacting instantly, drew two of her swords and blocked the axe, but the force of the blow sent her skidding backwards.
While she wasn’t seriously injured, a ring-out would result in a disqualification.
Stopping just at the edge of the stage, Ozma narrowed her eyes at the Minotaur, who was snorting and taunting her. She twirled her wrists and muttered,
“This is ridiculous.”
Her small frame shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
Purple electricity crackled at the tip of her sword. She had modified her aura to match her elemental affinity.
Having mastered the use of magic through repeated battles in the preliminaries, she had reached the third tier in no time.
If she had been at a magic tower, she would have been hailed as a prodigy.
Reaching the third tier in less than a month was unprecedented.
Of course, she had been a Sword Expert and was already familiar with mana manipulation, but even so, her growth was astounding.
It had taken me a year to reach the third tier. She had done it in a month.
She would likely reach the fourth tier soon. The real question was whether she could go beyond that.
She was already a skilled Sword Expert. She might become the first Sword Master and Archmage in the continent, a true Magic Swordsman.
The Minotaur, surprised by her speed, swung his axe wildly, but Ozma was already behind him.
“Moooooo!”
The Minotaur roared in pain as she stabbed him from behind.
But Ozma was relentless.
She pulled out her sword and cast Ocean Calling, a third-tier spell.
It summoned seawater. Saltwater. On an open wound…
“Ugh.”
I winced at the brutal sight.
Inflicting a wound and then pouring saltwater on it… what a cruel form of torture.
The Minotaur, writhing in agony, rolled on the ground. Ozma, deftly avoiding him, clashed her twin swords together.
Crackle!
Blue electricity sparked between the blades.
She then plunged the electrified swords into the writhing Minotaur.
Bzzzzzzzt!
The Minotaur convulsed, foaming at the mouth, like a frog in a science experiment.
He couldn’t surrender, as the electric shock had paralyzed him, leaving him helpless.
The Minotaur, having paid the price for his earlier taunts with a session of electric torture, finally passed out and was removed from the stage.
“Contestant from Block C, Minotaur, is defeated! The winner is Ozma Zoroaster from Block D!”
“Hmph. Nothing special.”
Ozma muttered, then, catching my eye, she waved casually.
…I might have just created humanity’s greatest enemy.
Well done, Kim Ozma. Go and destroy the human kingdom.
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After all the scheduled matches for the day, the four semifinalists were determined:
Adolf from Block A, me from Block B, Gav from Block C, and Ozma from Block D.
The final matches would be held tomorrow.
Ozma, confident, told me she would see me in the finals and then went to her room.
She was excited to finally be able to fight Gav, her fated rival.
If she defeated him, she would face me in the finals, so I wished her luck.
Ozma then said she had something she wanted to say to Gav after she defeated him, dropping a cryptic hint.
I tried to stop her, but she had already disappeared into her room.
…It should be fine, right?
After parting ways with Ozma, I had dinner and then returned to my room to rest. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
I opened the door and saw Camilla, standing there.
“What is it?”
Camilla held up a basket.
“I heard you’re in the finals tomorrow. I brought you some drinks to celebrate.”
I looked at Camilla’s impassive face and then at the wine in the basket. I sighed and opened the door.
“I’m not drinking much.”
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Thanks Recker!