On the day before the tournament, Dmitry was crowded with people. Roman held the tournament for the sake of interests in the northeast, but that wasn’t all.
“Are you attending it?”
“Of course! It is a tournament that gives 100 gold, so why wouldn’t I? It will be unfortunate if I don’t go now. I need to show how terrifying the sword of a mercenary that has been polished in wars is.”
“Mercenary, huh? I hope you fall into the group with Chris and lose from the start!”
“You bastard!”
People heard the rumors.
Chris.
An incomparable opponent.
He had a record of defeating a 3-star swordsman and a rumor that his sword was so fast that one couldn’t see it move. If one met Chris in the group of six, it was already decided that they would fail.
Fortunately, in order to not see blood, they said that only a 1-star aura could be used, but still, no one could dream of defeating Chris.
“Kevin is someone to be careful about too. He is a demon. In a tournament with an aura limit of 1, he is more dangerous than Chris.”
“Have you ever actually seen Volcan and Pooky? They are no joke. Just to briefly explain the point of this tournament, avoid the four of them—Chris, Kevin, Volcan, and Pooky. Trying to beat them will get your arm broken.”
Those four names were the subject. People knew who to avoid based on previous rumors. Yet, the reason many showed their will to participate was that if they could avoid those four, they believed that they would have a high chance of winning.
It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Since the other two groups were definitely going to be a battle of chaos, people earnestly prayed to be in them.
“Ahhh, please.”
“Please let it be easy.”
On the next day, the group that the people had been waiting for was announced.
It was a situation of both joy and sorrow.
Even among the Northeast Nobles’ Alliance, there were joys and sorrows.
And one noble had a gloomy reaction to seeing Chris’s name on the list.
“… I will have to deal with Chris.”
One month.
One month of doing everything.
And it was a situation of using just a 1-star aura, but the opponent here was Chris. Moreover, they had a reason to win this. So most of them decided to send out powerful people from their families as representatives.
Baron Rollo, who was chosen as Chris’s opponent, was no different. He was sending 2-star swordsmen to represent the family, but it was Chris’s group that they fell into. The future looked bleak.
A monster who defeated a 3-star swordsman with just a sword technique. The result was obvious, but he didn’t want to send his most favored swordsman to such a dangerous place.
“There is no need to be so desperate.”
“Right. Aren’t the swordsmen of the Baron outstanding? Of course, that doesn’t mean Chris is weak, but if they give up and lose motivation, it won’t work. After all, everyone is human. And one cannot predict how the future will be, so let us not give up.”
The nobles. They were the ones who avoided the subject of carelessness. In particular, Viscount Conrad couldn’t hide his joy that a different person was chosen for Chris’s group.
‘McBurney, I will take that moron out.’
For this tournament, he had researched people, and what he found out was amazing.
Despite being the eldest son of the Baron family, Roman had outstanding talents, including Chris. So, having McBurney felt like a joke to him.
Although he was a skilled warrior and had fought on the Western Front, he didn’t think his men would be defeated by a one-armed warrior. Losing one’s main arm would upset the balance of the body, and that was a lethal weakness in fights.
Yet, McBurney was given the role of Roman’s representative. And the fact that he was assigned that role made Viscount Conrad pleased.
“Everyone. This tournament isn’t an individual thing. If anyone produces a winner here, we will claim our rights against Dmitry. So keep the pride in you. Even against Chris, we cannot show a broken spirit. We will win the title and lead the alliance to victory.”
“Right.”
A noble helped Conrad. This man was in Henderson’s group. He seemed elated at the thought of dealing with an unknown name.
Finally, everyone nodded. In fact, except for Chris, there was a chance to win over others.
“We have been fully prepared for the past month. Roman Dmitry must have also needed time to prepare, but that time proved useful for us. Actually, winning in the group of Mcburney and Henderson is certain. So let’s do our best to win in many more groups. If we can win half of the six, then wouldn’t our status be further improved?”
“Right.”
“Let’s smash them.”
People were now feeling enthusiastic. Their eyes changed except for Baron Rollo, who would have his men against Chris when everyone shouted.
“Take down Dmitry!”
This tournament was an amazing chance. After this, Dmitry would no longer be able to raise his voice against them.
Was it said that when you’re unlucky, you can break your nose from falling on your back?
Baron Rollo was desperate. It felt unfair to be put in Chris’s group, but having him as the first opponent…
‘We cannot even abstain.’
The moment he raises a white flag, the nobles of the alliance will turn their faces away from him. Actually, as a 2-star swordsman from his family had participated, he hoped that the tournament would end with him being safe.
In his heart, he wanted to give up. But knowing he could not do that, he suppressed his disappointment and warned the family.
“Max, keep this in mind. You do not have to push yourself against Chris. Our goal is not to tarnish the name of the alliance. But there is no reason to put yourself in a dangerous situation trying to win.”
“Lord. Trust me!”
“What do you mean?”
“From the moment I decided to participate in the competition, I trained hard to win. I know that Chris is a great swordsman, and I even heard about how great he is, but he is also a 2-star swordsman like me. So there is no reason for me to back away in fear. In the meantime, I prepared everything in the hope of meeting him, so just trust me this once.”
Max.
He spoke proudly, and as he looked at Baron Rollo, he tried to show the spirit of a knight.
“Max…!”
He was shocked at the dignified nature the man was showing. Listening to Max, it didn’t seem like Chris was invincible.
Baron Rollo said,
“I get it. Do your best out there. Do your best against Chris, and if you think of it as impossible, then withdraw without another thought. I will pull up a white flag if I think you are in danger.”
“I understand.”
His emotions were melting. He was a loyal servant, and his Lord cared for him. He thought of a miracle. If Max could defeat Chris, it would be a great chance to leap higher.
‘This is a chance. It will leave a deep impression on the people. Phew. Max, you can do it.’
And he went up.
Round 1.
Believe in him, and like that…
Puak!
In just three seconds, Max fell with blood splashing.
Chris’s appearance was different from usual. He looked at his opponent on stage with fierce eyes like a sharply forged sword.
‘I will be proving myself through this.’
Not just a normal victory but an overwhelming one.
Not hoping for one to win but to stomp on every opponent he faces.
Had he not been trained for this?
In the days of training that reminded him of Roman Dmitry, Chris was confident that he could win against anyone.
Confidence from reality.
The results were as expected.
Flutter.
“Start!”
Came the signal.
One second.
Max kicked the ground to move and narrowed the distance in an instant. He began to raise his aura right away, not wanting to give Chris a chance to react.
Grrrrr.
Two seconds.
He swung the sword.
It was fast, and he believed that Chris wouldn’t be able to react.
Three seconds.
At that fleeting moment, Chris dug into the rushing aura.
Compared to Roman’s aura, it was an attack that wasn’t intimidating, and Chris blocked all the aura around him.
The opponent’s expression changed to shock. Even if there was a chance of avoiding it, he didn’t think Chris would move ahead to block it.
And so, Chris’s sword raged.
Unable to escape from it, Max’s nose was crushed, and he coughed up blood.
Puak!
“Ack!”
It was an overwhelming result.
Even though the opponent was a 2-star swordsman, Chris ended the match within seconds.
“R-Round one is over. Chris of the Dmitry family is done and has qualified for the next round!”
Baron Rollo was shocked. He only had vain hopes, so he couldn’t help but be shocked at the reality.
‘No. Is this the difference?!’
This was just the beginning. The tournament progressed, and soon screams began to be heard.
“Kevin of the Dmitry family wins and advances to the next round!”
“Volcan of Dmitry…”
“Pooky of Dmitry….”
All four proceeded to the next round. And the fights didn’t last more than ten seconds. They showed dignified moves, and their opponents, who looked determined like Max, collapsed after facing reality.
The people were shocked. They knew the people of Dmitry would be strong, but they didn’t expect such an overwhelming force.
“Wow.”
“Is this the class of Dmitry?”
“The rumors about the Southern Front were not false. They are on a whole different level.”
Their hearts plummeted as they admitted it. As initially feared, winning the group with a vigilant target was impossible.
Then, their interest was clear.
‘McBurney and Henderson.’
The moron and the unknown man. People believed that those were the divisions in which Dmitry’s men could be defeated.
Tak!
So people focused on Henderson’s stage.
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