Chapter 193 - Unyielding Blue Flames
A searing pain shot up from her left arm, stabbing into Ashytara's mind.
"Ugh!"
With superhuman endurance, she swallowed the scream that threatened to escape, letting out only a short groan as she stared ahead. The fog began to lift, revealing the arena once more.
"Grk, urgh…."
Suppressing the agony surging through her skull, she gripped her cross greatsword with trembling hands.
'I can't keep relying on Ludenberg forever.'
Just recently, she'd lost to Seia. In the finals of this crucial friendly match, Ashytara couldn't simply concede defeat and leave everything to Ludenberg.
'Until now, I've always been safely protected behind his back.'
Ashytara recalled the events since arriving at Solemnute Adem. Among them, the Solemnute raid stood out most vividly in her scarred heart. She could never forget the sight of that greatsword piercing Ludenberg's chest. If he hadn't been quite so extraordinary, he would have died on the spot.
From that moment, Ashytara had vowed never to be a burden to him.
And yet, here she was now. It wasn't a dire crisis like before—just the finals of a tournament—but that made it all the more reason she couldn't admit defeat. If she became a liability even in small things, she could never stand by his side in the future.
She hadn't confessed to him just to show him this pathetic sight. She couldn't stand equal to him, but she refused to reveal such weakness.
Hot blood, as fierce as the flames cloaking her body, trickled down her arm from her grip.
'Don't worry about it. I've been getting hurt plenty since before.'
Instead, she glared ahead at Seia, who had emerged into view. This was her chance. Hadn't Seia said it herself? Her piercing arrow consumed immense divine power, leaving her drained after one use.
So, now was the time.
Enduring the pain, Ashytara tightened her hold on the greatsword and summoned her divine power. Flames raced along her body, settling into the blade. These weren't her usual red flames. Perhaps due to her sheer tenacity, the already roaring fire blazed even fiercer, shifting to a brilliant blue hue.
Seia must have sensed the danger in those blue flames, for she leaped back and loosed another divine power arrow. But Ashytara's swordsmanship deflected them all.
Ashytara pressed forward. With every step, blue flames bloomed and scattered, propelling her in a charge toward Seia. Her speed far outpaced Seia's retreat, dragging the archer into striking range.
Ashytara swung her groundward blade upward in a ferocious arc toward the Seia right before her.
Watching this, Seia had no choice but to squeeze out her last reserves of divine power, swinging her bow against the greatsword. Moonlight-infused bow met blue flame-clad blade.
Crack!
As everyone expected… Seia's bow shattered. Riding the upward momentum, Ashytara thrust toward her throat.
The greatsword halted precisely at Seia's neck. Of course, the blue flames' heat had scorched the skin there red.
"…I lose."
"Good fight."
"You're strong."
"I have to be."
"…Yeah. But aren't you going?"
"No need. And… I'm out of commission too, senpai."
Seia's gaze flicked to the tip of Ashytara's left hand. Blood trailed down her arm, staining the ground in spots.
"…I see."
Even holding the greatsword was a burden now, so Ashytara switched it to her right hand and stabbed it into the earth. Then she turned to watch Dalia and Ludenberg's battle nearing its end.
* * *
Meanwhile, while Ashytara and Seia clashed fiercely in the fog, Dalia—locked in combat with Ludenberg—felt her grip weakening.
Why did her axe-spear feel so impossibly heavy today? Against ordinary foes, she could swing it effortlessly to dominate. But this monstrous junior unleashed sword strikes heavier than her own weapon, and her axe-spear was paying the price.
Protected by Terra's divine power, its surface had nearly shattered, revealing the core material beneath. Worse, cracks were forming in the shaft itself; at this rate, it wouldn't hold much longer.
And it wasn't just the weapon—the shockwaves battering her body were immense. Dalia poured strength into her buckling legs.
'Haven't faced anyone this tough since Cletta senpai… maybe even stronger.'
Ludenberg, already acknowledged by the Imperial Knights. And he'd grown incomparably since then. Now, only the elite among them could beat him. For Dalia—a solid knight but not Imperial caliber—blocking his strikes was her limit.
Clang!
Their weapons clashed relentlessly. With each one-handed block, shockwaves made Dalia's arms tremble. Her axe-spear quivered in her grasp.
Noticing her state, Ludenberg intensified his assault. Fierce strikes hammered the weapon. As time passed, his momentum swelled while hers waned.
Then, change struck.
"Ugh!"
Ashytara's pained cry pierced the air. Ludenberg's eyes instinctively flicked toward it. The fog-shrouded space had cleared. Inside, he saw Ashytara enduring agony and Seia drawing her bow.
Thoughts flooded him. First, worry.
'…Tara!'
The words nearly escaped. He knew injuries were possible in a friendly match, but seeing her hurt shook him visibly.
'Should I help Tara? The situation here isn't bad, so going to—'
His ferocious strikes faltered ever so slightly.
Dalia caught that tiny lapse and the turmoil on his face.
'Chance.'
Her hands still shook, but it was enough to escape the pressure.
"Hah!"
Clang!
Seizing it, she parried his sword and retreated to a favorable distance.
'Half-measures won't do. I need to end this fast. Time favors him.'
She summoned Terra's divine power—every last drop. She had to press the distracted Ludenberg.
Dalia slammed her axe-spear into the ground.
Krunch.
Earth fragments enveloped it once more.
Crunch, krunch.
As she finished preparing, Ludenberg realized this wasn't the time to worry about Ashytara. He steadied his shaken resolve.
'Trust her.'
Before looking away, Ashytara hadn't worn a defeated expression. She'd gritted her teeth, reaching for her sword. Respecting her will was his duty.
Gripping his sword firmly, he infused it with conviction: no limits. The blade hummed in resonance.
Whummm—
They charged in an instant. Ignoring all else—the crowd, surroundings—the world quieted. Eyes locked, weapons tight.
Dalia's bound red hair whipped as she barreled forward with ferocious momentum. Ludenberg kicked off the ground toward her.
Each step shattered the earth, scarring their path.
BOOM!
The clash unleashed an unprecedented shockwave, sweeping the arena. The ground erupted, hurling rocks.
Ludenberg saw Dalia before him, relieved expression marred by blood trickling from her mouth.
Cracks spiderwebbed her axe-spear, then it shattered.
"I lose."
His sword remained pristine.
"…Good fight."
"Congrats on the win."
With that, Dalia dropped to one knee. Agony racked her body. She'd stayed conscious only thanks to relentless training.
As she knelt, Seia approached with concern. Ashytara, cradling one arm, ran to the beaming Ludenberg with a bright smile.
────!
The crowd's roar erupted. Amid it, the friendly match's victors were declared.
Friendly Match Winners: Solemnute Adem Representatives.
Ashytara Solenute, Ludenberg Lavante.
The cheers persisted post-announcement. Overwhelmed with joy, Ashytara pulled Ludenberg into a tight hug.
He hugged back.
"Your injury… you okay?"
"Hurts, but don't worry."
"…How could I not?"
"Thanks for caring. But unlike last time… we won this one."
Ashytara conveyed her growth. Ludenberg saw no need for more words. To the one who'd overcome pain to defeat Seia, he offered a curt praise.
"Well done, Tara."
"You too."
Heavy trust in those words drew a smile and short reply from her.
At last, the month-long Ortara schedule concluded.