Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Finals (1)
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A sword that poured out strands of jet-black energy, looking as if it had been carved from obsidian itself.
It didn't have the beautiful golden form of his own, but Yuri recognized it at a glance.
That was Kwonter's holy sword.
'More like a blade obtained through a deal with a demon than something holy.'
Regardless of its appearance, there was no doubt it had reached the saint realm.
Yuri's brow furrowed slightly.
'Last time I saw that guy was early September, so he's saying he broke through to the saint realm in nearly four months?'
The Kwonter he'd seen before was certified fifth dan.
Even if he was at the peak of fifth dan back then, that meant he'd shattered the wall and reached the saint realm in just four months.
Countless people wasted years or even decades failing to cross that single wall, so it was easy to grasp the level of Kwonter's talent.
However, the fact that he'd broken through as if tailor-made for this Martial Dragon Tournament left Yuri with an inexplicable unease.
'Did he pick up some miracle drug somewhere? Or get one-on-one tutoring from Daddy?'
Unbeknownst to himself, Yuri had hit upon an answer close to the truth.
In the meantime, Kwonter, having sent Goetz flying, turned toward where Yuri was.
Kwonter's back was completely to Goetz, buried in the debris of the arena wall.
With an attitude that showed he couldn't care less about Goetz, he raised his sword toward Yuri in the stands.
"Come down."
His low voice carried to the stands on the flow of mana.
Those seated in the audience swallowed dryly.
Rumors had long swirled that Kwonter had lost to Yuri Holland ages ago, but few had actually witnessed it.
So they'd hoped to see Yuri's true power in this Martial Dragon Tournament, but what was this?
Not content with consecutive byes, he'd effortlessly claimed victory in the semifinals with humiliating ease.
Then came Kwonter's provocation—not quite a provocation—which was more than enough to amplify the crowd's curiosity and anticipation.
'This is... the real deal.'
'This time, we can finally confirm if Yuri Holland's strength is genuine.'
Many alternated glances between Yuri and Kwonter, their eyes gleaming.
Meanwhile, meeting the fierce gaze of Kwonter head-on, Yuri casually crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand.
Kwonter looking up at him from the arena.
Yuri looking down at him.
The positioning made it crystal clear who was issuing the challenge and who was receiving it.
Yuri wagged his foot lightly and waved his hand with a grin.
"Hehe, getting impatient, are we? I'll come down when the time's right, don't you worry."
"Come down. Now."
"Why the rush? And isn't the finals the day after tomorrow?"
The Martial Dragon Tournament spanned nine days total.
Even after the semifinals ended today, there was a day of rest before the finals the next day.
Despite Yuri's point, Kwonter maintained his overbearing tone.
"I can handle that much schedule adjustment myself. So... come down, Yuri Holland."
"Wow, I always thought this place didn't give a damn about family or bloodlines—only strength mattered—but apparently not entirely?"
If that family and bloodline belonged to the Sword Lord, it seemed to carry weight even here in Yoram.
Enough for a mere knight to tweak the tournament schedule.
Yuri, who had been sharply rebuffed by the Black Sword Guard when he suggested advancing the schedule before, pouted his lips.
But he quickly composed himself and smiled slyly.
"Well, if that's what you want, I'm more than happy to come down, but first..."
Yuri nodded toward Kwonter's back.
"Shouldn't you finish your match properly before telling me to come down or whatever?"
No sooner had Yuri pointed it out than a heavy aura erupted from behind Kwonter.
His face hardening, Kwonter whipped his head around.
Rumble.
From the piled-up debris, Goetz was rising to his feet.
Covered in dirt and dust, nose bleeding, but Goetz seemed mostly fine.
Swipe.
He wiped the blood from his nose with his sleeve and stepped out of the rubble.
"Hey, Kwonter, we've known each other face-to-face for a while now... You really thought one hit would take me down?"
"......"
"I told you earlier. There's someone I want to impress, so I can't go down easily. And besides..."
Cling.
Goetz aimed his rose-ornamented sword at Kwonter.
Intense heat blazed in his eyes.
"...a man of the Roetern family grows even stronger when he meets a woman worthy of his heartfelt rose."
Thud!
Kicking off the ground fiercely, Goetz charged at Kwonter.
He gritted his teeth hard.
'It hurts.'
He'd stood up pretending it was nothing, acting fine, but his condition was the worst.
Cracks in his arms, legs, and one rib.
In dispersing the impact, he'd taken internal injuries, blood surging up his throat repeatedly.
But he feigned composure as best he could.
A man of Roetern couldn't show weakness to the woman he'd truly given his heart to.
'Can't let her see me embarrass myself like before.'
Grinning through the throbbing pain, Goetz ignored it and poured more power into his legs.
Charging headlong as if to swing at Kwonter, Goetz unexpectedly chose differently.
Sizzle.
Instead of clashing swords directly, he began circling Kwonter.
Swish.
Goetz's sword roamed not at Kwonter, but around him.
Soon, it absorbed varied demonic energies.
Whoosh.
Countless red rose buds began forming hazily around Kwonter.
'In my current state... no, even if I were at full strength, directly facing Kwonter's attacks is impossible.'
He'd realized that fully this time and last.
Moreover, what Kwonter had used just now was undoubtedly saint-realm power.
He had no means to block Kwonter's holy sword head-on.
So he had only one choice.
'Bewitch him...'
Bewitch Kwonter over and over.
'If you lose your way in my garden, drunk on the rose scent...'
Then, he would make a rose's grave for him.
With that vow, Goetz unleashed his sword dance.
Roetern family secret demonic sword art.
Rose Garden.
Pop.
The red rose buds slowly began to open one by one.
Pop, pop.
The red rose illusions bloomed one after another.
As their number grew, the audience felt as if they'd stepped into a rose garden.
An illusion so vivid it was as if they could smell the thick rose fragrance.
The crowd marveled.
'As expected... Goetz Roetern.'
'Such intricate and lifelike illusions!'
His swordsmanship had long surpassed graduate level.
Not for Kwonter Raider, the title of strongest would have been his—proven once more.
As the crowd admired, the red roses swirled seductively around Kwonter.
Red roses scattering petals gracefully.
A mesmerizing dance, as if asking if he could withstand touching something so beautiful.
"......"
Had he fallen for the allure?
Kwonter gazed fixedly at the roses circling him, then extended his sword.
And then.
Pop.
Finally, Kwonter's sword touched a red rose.
A glint flashed in Goetz's eyes, as expected.
'Got him!'
Boom!
The red roses adorning everywhere burst simultaneously, countless petals scattering in all directions.
The thick flurry of red petals poured down on Kwonter in an instant.
The intertwining petals engulfed him completely, his figure vanishing in a blink.
Seeing this, ecstasy gleamed in Goetz's eyes.
'It's done!'
Kwonter, perfectly trapped in his sword strike.
Even Kwonter couldn't easily escape illusions mixed with feints and bluffs.
Goetz tightened the sword dance imprisoning him even further.
To make those rose petal husks his tomb.
But at that moment.
Hiss.
Jet-black smoke began seeping through the gaps in the red petal husk enveloping Kwonter.
At the same time, the pressure on Goetz's sword hand increased.
'No way!'
Gritting his teeth, Goetz poured more mana to maintain the illusion sword.
But.
Crunch.
Regardless of Goetz's efforts, more black energy leaked from the red husk's cracks.
Then the husk split thinly.
Rip.
It started as a tiny fissure, but spread across the entire husk in seconds.
Black spiderweb lines etched over the red husk.
Ominous black leaked through the cracks.
And finally.
Crack!
Black energy burst through the top, slicing the red husk vertically.
Boom!
The petal husk shattered to pieces.
The shockwave hit Goetz full force as he desperately tried to contain Kwonter with more roses.
Bang!
"Puh!"
Internal injuries struck the instant the husk burst; Goetz vomited blood.
With the deafening explosion, he was flung back again.
Skid, scrape.
Goetz tumbled across the ground.
"Cough!"
Twitching faintly, he spat blood repeatedly, his internal wounds severe.
"Urk!"
Refusing to give up, he tried to stand, but vomited blood and collapsed each time.
Goetz's state was utterly pitiful.
In contrast, Kwonter stood before him.
Emerging by shredding the red husk, black veins bulged across his body.
Roooar.
Silently, he aimed his holy sword at Goetz with overwhelming presence, instilling dread in the audience.
No one could utter a word under the heart-crushing pressure.
Clap, clap, clap.
Yuri stood from his seat and clapped lightly.
The sound shattered the silence, making Kwonter turn.
Drawing all eyes, Yuri stepped to the front of the stands and looked down at Kwonter.
He applauded him again toward Kwonter.
Clap, clap, clap.
"Congratulations on advancing to the finals! You've finally earned the right to challenge this Yuri Holland!"
His tone uncharacteristically polite and friendly.
Turning Kwonter into the challenger so naturally with brazen cheek— the lower years, now used to it, wore "there he goes again" faces.
Most upper years, still unaccustomed, looked dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Yuri stepped on the railing and leaped down into the arena.
Thud.
As most wore puzzled expressions at his sudden action.
Shing.
Yuri drew his sword and shouted.
"Alright, I'm here like you wanted so bad. Let's fight!"
His voice bold and resolute.
Hearing it, Theresia's, Arin's, and Poppi's faces hardened.
"That guy..."
"No way..."
"Hungry..."
Sensing something, they looked like "Nah, no way?"
But as the saying goes, never say never...
"What're you waiting for? Let's get to it! You said we could start right away earlier? Come on, you're not gonna pull some 'I just used energy, gimme a sec to rest' crap now, right? Right? O great Kwonter Raider?"
Hearing Yuri's spirited shout, Theresia and the other two clutched their faces.
"...It was real?"
"...You're the one pulling crap!"
"...Hungry."
Their heads bowed in secondhand embarrassment, Jerry finally caught on and blinked.
"So, he's..."
Jerry stared at Yuri, muttering in disbelief.
"...picking a fight with Kwonter Raider right now 'cause he looks drained?"
"......"
The other three couldn't respond to Jerry's words.
Because it was true.
And as if confirming his guess, a booming shout rang out.
"Goddamn it, decide already! You in or what? Huh? Sleeping? You dragging this out on purpose to recover stamina, aren't you? Aren't you?"
His friends bowed their heads deeper at Yuri's taunting, cheeky voice.
He was the one doing something embarrassing, so why were they the embarrassed ones?
Bewildered, the three kept their heads down for a while.
Of course, friends' states be damned—Yuri's provocations continued.
"You in or out? Scared? Chicken? Bawk bawk?"
...Trash-talk so lowbrow it screamed lack of class, the kind neighborhood kids or street punks would spew.
Surprisingly, did Yuri's taunts work?
"...If that's what you want, I'll make you pay for wagging your tongue. Right now."
Kwonter's sword, aimed at Goetz moments ago, now pointed at Yuri.
Finally getting what he wanted, Yuri grinned and yelled.
"You said it yourself? And all these people are witnesses."
His weird shout—question or confirmation?—amplified by mana for all to hear.
Unnecessary? His next move proved it essential.
Flash!
No sooner had the words left than lightning-wrapped Yuri vanished.
He reappeared instantly before Kwonter.
"Eyaa!"
Drawing his sparkling golden holy sword, he swung with all his milky might at Kwonter.
KABOOM!
"Huh?"
"Wha?"
"Eh?"
"Gasp?"
No one saw the ambush coming.
Dazed sounds erupted from the stands naturally.
Meanwhile, watching Kwonter fly back with the explosion, Yuri smiled in satisfaction.
"First strike wins!"
Seeing his grin, Theresia, Arin, and Poppi each muttered.
"...Sneaky."
"Wow... so sly."
"Hungry..."
Even Gunther, still hazy from lingering poison, mustered eye-straining effort to speak.
"C-C-Cowardly! (Coward!)"