The Tournament's Climax
The tournament duels had now reached their final stage. Ludenberg Lavante was left with just one opponent: Eden Asta.
Ludenberg recalled the various incidents he'd faced while crossing paths with Eden. They might seem trivial to some, but to him—who had once trusted others too easily—Eden's actions had been utterly vile. Because of them, he'd inevitably clashed with Ashytara Solenute as well. Without her devotion, he might still be keeping his distance from her even now.
Having realized all this, Ludenberg knew exactly what he had to do. And in that moment, he felt a fresh sense of novelty. He'd often clashed with Gawin Greta, Leb Heinz, and Marvin Ashus, who followed Eden's orders, but since enrolling in Solemnute Adem, he'd never once directly crossed swords with Eden himself.
Was it because the opportunity hadn't arisen? Because he wasn't ready? It didn't matter. One undeniable fact remained: today, that bastard would lose to him. There was no scenario in which Eden could win. Even if he'd absorbed a holy relic to grow stronger, even if he'd sharpened his edge through real combat in the recent ambush incident, he could never defeat Ludenberg.
With that conviction, Ludenberg raised his sword. The weight of the hefty training longsword felt as light as a feather. Was it because this was a battle he had to win? Power surged through his entire body. He fixed his gaze on Eden before him. The other's slightly tense expression reflected in his eyes.
Seeing Eden like that, Ludenberg made a firm vow. He'd show this fool who chased after him a true wall. An overwhelming gap so vast he'd never dare pursue again. He'd crush his spirit entirely. Ludenberg had no intention of toying with him using the same petty tricks Eden had employed. He'd do it head-on, more honorably than anyone. By smashing the very ability Eden prided himself on most, he'd drag his pride into the dirt.
Now that the moment he'd anticipated for five long years had arrived, there was no room for hesitation.
And finally, the duel began.
Boom!
Ludenberg kicked off the ground and charged at Eden. Just planting his bare foot shattered the earth, sending debris flying. How intensely must he have trained his body?
The moment Eden witnessed Ludenberg stomping and launching forward, he swiftly raised his sword. The training sword brimmed with Terra's divine power, gradually hardening, while Celioum's power swirled around his body, lightening it.
Clang!
Their swords clashed, and Eden's blade bounced away in an instant. The mere fact that it didn't shatter like the other students' swords proved he was a cut above—but that single exchange alone let Eden instinctively know he couldn't win against Ludenberg. It was on another level entirely.
Even when he'd faced imperial knights before, he'd never felt this pressure. Just blocking Ludenberg's strike once choked the breath from his lungs. Squeezing every ounce of strength from his body and divine power alike, Eden barely deflected the sword and reset his stance, summoning Mare's power as well.
Three divine powers swirled around him, reinforcing his body. From the duel’s outset, he had no choice but to reveal his full hand. Otherwise, Ludenberg's follow-up strikes would have surely shattered his sword in one go.
He barely deflected the blade aimed at his collarbone, then thrust back at Ludenberg with blinding speed. But Ludenberg blocked even that thrust—using the very sword Eden had just deflected—as if it were moving in slow motion.
Even though Eden should have held the advantage after the deflection, Ludenberg parried the thrust at an unbelievable speed. They'd exchanged only two blows so far. Yet Eden already felt like he was slamming into a wall. One he'd never surmount, no matter what he tried or how many lifetimes he spent.
Damn it.
Eden spat curses inwardly as he swiftly withdrew his thrusting sword. But in that instant of recovery, he sensed something off. At the speed Ludenberg had just shown, he could have pressed the blade to Eden's throat before he even pulled back.
Yet... Ludenberg hadn't. As if he were merely toying with him.
Realizing this, Eden gritted his teeth. He's toying with me completely. He could end it but chooses not to?
He knew he could never catch up to Ludenberg's skill, not even in death. But knowing and experiencing it were worlds apart. It was far more humiliating than he'd imagined, and he despised his own pathetic self.
Every thrust was blocked. Despite awakening three divine powers and wielding them all, blocking Ludenberg's bare-handed strikes felt burdensome. Watching every honed technique dismantled before Ludenberg, Eden could only despair.
But he didn't give up. Blood trickled from his clenched lips, his thrusts growing more precise and fierce. Terrifying divine power began emanating from his body—the last dregs squeezed from his depths.
With his sword channeling the fused flow of three divine powers, Eden unleashed the mightiest strike he could muster at Ludenberg.
And—
Clang!
That desperate blow was blocked all too easily. The blade brimming with immense power was halted by an ordinary sword devoid of any force.
"...Haha. No way."
A hollow laugh escaped the dejected Eden's lips, raw despair etching across his face. He couldn't win. The thought forced itself upon him.
Ludenberg felt satisfaction gazing at Eden's despairing expression. Five years was far too long to wait to punish the one who'd wrecked all his relationships.
He briefly pulled his sword from Eden's blade—swirling with three divine powers—then slammed it down fiercely again.
Crash!
A harsh ring echoed as Eden's sword shattered into fragments, shards slicing wounds across his face. But Ludenberg wasn't done. He raised his free hand and unleashed a full-force punch at Eden's face.
In that instant, Eden thought he might die if he slipped up, so he poured every bit of Terra's divine power into protecting his face.
Smack!
Was that really the sound of flesh meeting flesh? The bone-chilling noise spread through the arena as Eden crumpled to the ground like a puppet with cut strings. Only his last-ditch Terra barrier had kept his skull from exploding.
"Winner: Ludenberg Lavante."
Hainkel Hereis, having witnessed it all, declared Ludenberg's victory matter-of-factly.
It was sweet revenge for Ludenberg—exhilarating beyond measure. Of course, it wasn't enough to call the score settled.
This isn't sufficient. I'll shatter every path of glory Eden was meant to walk. I'll always stand in his way, ensuring he can never catch me, no matter how hard he tries until death.
Since his father was a Terra Church knight from birth, Ludenberg had been raised on their teachings too. His way was simple: repay favors and grudges several times over. Far more viciously than Eden had acted, he'd return it all. Not a shred of mercy remained.
And watching it all, a satisfied smile bloomed on Ashytara's lips as well. Her flower-like face turned toward Ludenberg.
Eden awoke in the infirmary. Though he should have been healed, intense pain throbbed in his face.
"Awake?"
Mion Altis sat beside him, looking worried.
"Mion?"
"Yeah. How's your body? Feeling better?"
"...Body's fine."
"Body's... yeah. You did great, Eden."
Eden felt ashamed before her. He'd at least expected to land a scratch on Ludenberg. But he'd been utterly powerless, not even grazing him.
"Sorry. I'm so sorry, Mion. I have no face left for you."
But Mion shook her head.
"It's okay. It's just one loss."
"It's not just one. Probably... I might never catch him from now on. I only realized it after clashing head-on today. A wall. The wall itself. One I can't break no matter what."
"That's fine still."
Mion comforted him, insisting it was okay.
"Walls appear. Truth be told, I feel the same watching Ashytara. But... don't give up. Keep struggling. It might be pointless. But we've already crossed the point of no return—we have to keep going."
"...I've made up my mind."
"About what?"
"No more petty tricks from now on. Instead of wasting time on that crap, I'll train myself. I can't end like this. Somehow, I'll struggle until I can at least wound him once."
"That's enough, Eden."
Mion smiled at Eden, who'd resolved himself anew. There, the two vowed to forsake petty schemes and intrigues, focusing instead on forging themselves stronger.
"How's it feel beating Eden?"
Ashytara asked Ludenberg, beaming at him nonstop.
"Exhilarating. Couldn't feel better."
"No kidding. Even watching made me feel good. You were awesome, Rud."
"Tara."
Ludenberg smiled back at the grinning Tara.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Out of nowhere?"
"Just... had to say it. It's all thanks to you."
"I didn't do much."
Ludenberg shook his head, a relieved smile spreading.
"For the first time in five years, I feel freed from what was crushing me. And that's because you moved for my sake."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Things will change a lot from now on. Thanks to you, I can trust people again. I see not everyone's hostile toward me."
"..."
"You brought that change, Tara. So really, thank you."
Ashytara could only smile silently at the brightly grinning Ludenberg.