The Tournament's Grand Finale
After the match ended, Jinun sent me a mental transmission.
"I'd like to see you privately after the tournament ends."
It felt just like a teacher back in school days saying, "Stay after class." For some reason, it made me nervous.
"...Guess I should watch the next match first."
I reopened the chat window.
Yeah, I definitely benefited a ton from the hat again this time. Thanks to its effect reducing cast times for magic and curses, I could endure and use even long-cast skills.
"It's Unique-grade for a reason... totally broken."
"Let's watch the next match. I'm curious who my finals opponent will be."
After repairing the arena's barrier and damaged sections, the second semifinal began.
WAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!
"Haha! It's been ages since I've felt this thrill!"
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!!!
"..."
"Whoa..."
"Who do you think wins this one?"
"Obviously Harin-noona! Officially it's a tie, but unofficially she's overwhelmingly superior!"
Their rivalry was even more famous than I'd thought. From what I'd heard, official matches were 7:7, but unofficially, Harin dominated.
They approached each other and exchanged a few words. For some reason, Gangho's expression hardened. What did they say?
.
.
.
"Hahaha! I knew we'd meet in the finals no matter what. Anyway, looking forward to a great fight today!"
Gangho laughed heartily and extended his hand to Harin.
Harin took it and said coldly, "I don't have time to waste on trash like you. I need to win quick and advance. The finals look like they'll be fun."
"...What?"
Harin turned and headed to her corner. Gangho stared blankly for a moment before moving to his.
"Cheong Binghwa."
The complete opposite of Jeok Yeomhwa, this technique symbolized the Azure House. It gathered ice energy to the blade's limit, freezing everything it touched.
"Haha! All-in from the start? Then I must respond."
"Jeok Yeomhwa."
The blue-energized blade and red-energized blade drew a line toward each other at blinding speed.
"...Cheong Harin wins."
Clang—!
Their blades stuck together unmoving, as if they'd always been one. Probably a clash of ice versus fire.
"...Mana difference is too huge?"
Crack— Crackle—
Soon, frost formed on Gangho's blade, freezing his hand solid.
"...Huh?"
Gangho stared blankly while Harin, expressionless as if she'd predicted it all, pressed her blade to his throat in victory.
"...I've never gone all-out against you before."
Harin sheathed her sword upon hearing the call and looked my way.
"Haha... this'll be tough."
.
.
.
In the end, my finals opponent was Cheong Harin, eldest daughter of the Azure House.
The problem was her battles had all been overwhelming victories, leaving scant samples of her techniques or style.
I might have to use curses and magic here first—stuff I'd saved for Lilith.
As I brainstormed counters bit by bit, the finals arrived far too quickly.
WAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!!
WAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!!!
As Noel and Harin drew close, Harin offered her hand first.
"Show me your full power. Otherwise, you'll lose."
"We'll see."
The handshake was brief, and both headed to their corners.
"Cheong Binghwa."
Ice energy gathered on her blade just like in the semis, but the intensity was worlds apart.
"...This calls for my full power too."
"Full throttle from the start."
.
.
.
Whoooosh— Whoooosh—
"This is... insane...!"
Each swing unleashed whistling winds and ice sword qi aimed at me.
Snikt— The ice qi grazed my cheek, instantly freezing the wound.
Objectively, this wasn't something Hojeopjimong alone could handle, so I mixed in magic and curses.
"Hojeopjimong Form 4: Dancing Butterfly."
"Attribute Grant: Flame."
The butterflies ignited, spinning wildly toward Harin like a grinder.
"...Yes. Come at me like that."
Harin focused energy on her blade tip, tracking the butterflies without fear.
"Cheong Bing Swordsmanship Form 3 - Snowflower Bloom."
Her figure vanished, slicing all butterflies and bursting ice energy.
"Kuh?!"
Harin pointed her blade at me, expressionless as always. "This isn't the end. Trying to trick me?"
'Didn't think you were this lame lol,' her words pissed me off, so I decided to stop holding back.
"...Haha, got it. As you wish."
No more inefficient Hojeopjimong. Back to what I did best originally.
Curse: Debilitate
Haste
In an instant, Noel's figure vanished.
Harin spread her senses to find me, but they dulled inexplicably.
Curse: Flame
Flames erupted on Harin's body.
She hurriedly focused ice energy to extinguish them, but they wouldn't go out.
"Too late."
Noel appeared before her eyes, fingers crossed.
Curse Explosion
Snap—
BOOM—!
"Kehuk?!"
The massive internal shock left Harin dazed momentarily. The lingering burn inside brought agony, but she rose laughing.
"...Heh... yes... cough, this... is more like it."
She spat blood, slammed her sword into the ground, and focused ice energy throughout her body.
"Cheong Bing Swordsmanship Form 5 - Array of Absolute Freeze."
Crackle— Crackerack—!
The arena froze instantly, azure ice covering the floor.
"...What the—"
Standing on the frozen arena, my feet began freezing too.
"A prolonged fight favors you. Guess I'll lose."
I summoned butterflies, placing them one by one around the arena.
Harin slashed some to approach, but it didn't matter.
As she closed in, I focused mana in my eyes to read her movements maximally.
"Blink."
"?!"
My remaining mana: 50%. Calculations checked out perfectly.
Curse: Paralyze
"Hrghuk?!"
Harin struggled to rise under paralysis. Remaining mana: 40%.
Curse: Flame
Target: not Harin, but the butterfly at my feet. Remaining mana: 32%.
Curse: Metastasis
Pre-placed butterflies blazed, melting the ice arena into water.
Remaining mana: 23%.
"Wait... what are you—!"
Time for a flashy finish, as always.
Lightning magic's long cast time was no issue now. Ice insulates electricity, but water conducts it perfectly.
I gathered all remaining mana into one point.
Rumble— Rumbble—
The sky suddenly darkens?! Is this Noel's sorcery?!
"Can't... let that happen..!"
Stab—
Harin barely lunged, thrusting her sword into me.
But I'd mastered these situations.
Impaled, I grinned and finished casting.
"It's... cough... already... too late..."
Some call it stupid, others reckless—a mutual destruction gambit.
But I had faith I'd claim victory from it—
Falling Thunder
Rumble—!!
KABOOOOOM—!!!
"Urghghgh...!"
"Kyaaaaaaaah!"
Remaining mana: 0%. Remaining HP: 2%.
"Haa.... haa....."
Harin lay collapsed before me.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!!!
"Haha... what a... spectacle."
Ears ringing with deafening cheers, I let out a hollow laugh and collapsed atop Harin.
The Flower of the Festival, Bimu Tournament
Mana fully depleted: Exhaustion
Most Bicheon Kingdom NPCs' affinity adjusted to Friendly.
War God Jinun's affinity greatly increased.
War God Jinun: Friendly (50%)