Bare Fists and Relentless Blades
Zone 1.
Gate Name: [Hunter's Night]
As the name implies, the enemies in Zone 1 are more often "hunters" than monsters. Unlike mindless monsters, the opponents are humans. Zien glanced back and forth between Isabel and Kua.
"So, training all the way up to the virtual gate will be one-on-one spars."
"Fine by me. I'll win anyway."
Whoosh!
Flames wrapped around Isabel's hand, transforming into gloves. Kua simply smiled brightly.
"Yes! What an honor!"
Kua looked utterly delighted.
As Kua's stigmata glowed blue, pop! A refreshing burst of water droplets turned into blue gloves.
No matter how cutting-edge Arcana Academy's training grounds were, they couldn't handle the scale of Isabel and Kua's power.
Isabel eyed her prey.
Kua gazed back with innocent cheer.
The two faced off, but Zien shook his head.
"No. Put your magic tools away."
"Huh?"
Question marks practically floated over Kua's confused face. But Isabel seemed to sense something, shooting Zien a look that said no way. And that's exactly what Zien meant.
"Kua. Why do you think you lost to Isabel?"
"Well......"
Kua sneaked a glance at Isabel beside her, apparently having forgotten the brutal memories of fireman's carries and full mounts.
"Because Isabel is strong!"
"Because you're vulnerable in close quarters. Your roles are like mages in Zone 4."
In Zien's eyes, both Isabel and Kua were glass cannons.
Tremendous firepower, but the instant the enemy closed in...
The fight was over. Isabel had patched that weakness during her special training for battle survival, but Kua hadn't. That was the gap between victory and defeat.
"So, Isabel and Kua—you're sealing your magic tools and mana. Get used to close combat. Gates throw all kinds of handicaps at you. No prep, and you're dead."
Kua gulped at the chill in Zien's eyes.
"Y-yes, sir!"
Kua clenched her fists tight, vowing resolve.
Isabel eyed such Kua with open scorn.
"Then let's start right now?"
"Yeah."
At Zien's word, Isabel cracked her knuckles with a sharp crunch.
Isabel advanced.
Kua backpedaled.
"Huh? You haven't taught me anything yet..."
Isabel dropped into stance, eyeing the flustered Kua.
"You learn in the thick of it."
"Wha—wait! Z-Zien party leader! Wh-where are you going?"
"What's wrong? Your opponent's me."
Kua, snatched by the scruff by Isabel.
With the opening fireman's carry, Kua's world spun wildly.
Not a virtual gate—no deathmatch like the tournament—but Kua was already a mess.
"Wa-wait! Oof!"
Isabel's high kick slamming into her upper body.
Electric pain racing up her arm—tears welled in Kua's eyes.
Kua retreated. Isabel charged relentlessly. As the gap closed, she planted her left foot and threw a straight punch with her right.
Crack!
Flawless form, dead-straight punch—but Kua blocked it effortlessly. She'd used mana.
"Huh, mana too? Works for me."
"No! I just panicked!"
Subpar by Saber standards. A drawn-out brawl where only the fighters took it seriously. That's when Amy burst into the training ground.
"Viewers! For today's content dive, our first guests are Fire Girl and Water Boy! Ahaha! You guys didn't forget, right?"
Break time made the academy perfect for broadcasting. And Amy? Sponsored to the hilt with top gear.
Drones whirring overhead.
Smartwatch holograms popping chat feeds. Subtle pro makeup. Amy was one of the tournament's biggest winners.
Broadcast or no, Isabel and Kua kept scrapping—kicks, throws, rolls. Sprawled Kua sprayed pleas in terror.
The sloppy fight went live. The sheer unexpectedness lit the chat on fire.
Amy beamed at the chat.
30k watching this scrap... I'm blowing up! Hype 'em till the virtual gate!
How many for the main event? She bit her lip to stifle a grin.
"Ee, heehee."
Viewers cracked up at the sight.
High on the hype, Amy kicked off the stream with Isabel and Kua brawling in the background.
"Just two weeks left till the 5th-rank gate, right? So~ our awesome strategy team's grinding day and night!"
Problem was, if you nitpicked, live-streaming Amy counted as strategy team too.
Amy rubbed her hands in mock flattery at the questions.
"Ah~ our revered party leader? Training hard, of course! You guys are all so impatient~ ahaha!"
Topic shifted to Zien—chat flooded with his praise.
Behind: Kua getting crushed by Isabel. Front: Amy streaming. A bizarre training ground scene.
Plenty of footage from the pair—Amy pointed toward the forest.
"Ah~ you guys are so impatient! Fine, let's go see the party leader! Coming!"
Viewers spiked hard. Amy trotted off lightly—only Kua's screams echoed in the training ground.
Forest by the academy lake.
Clang! Shing!
Sword strikes sparked flames; metal rang sharp. Lucia's black hair whipped as her elegant sword dance—like a deadly ballet—pressed Zien. Silver Diana surged forward.
Zien held his breath steady, blocking with minimal motion.
To Lucia, Zien felt like an iron wall.
A steadfast barrier no rhythm or technique could crack.
Strong.
No other word fit. Or was needed.
The pinnacle of pure swordsmanship.
Lucia's blade sharpened fiercer.
...What fraction of his true skill is this?
Lucia pondered relentlessly.
How much power can I draw from him now?
Without her Crown magic tool? Sixty percent? No—even fifty felt out of reach.
Shaking off stray thoughts wasn't easy.
Clashing blades.
Stance faltering.
Lucia's breaths grew ragged.
Zien's swordplay outshone any swordsman she'd faced. Flawless.
Mastered that at his age. How?
Lucia burned with curiosity.
What mindset? What fuel drove him to this strength?
His goal? Why crave power?
Her questions chained endlessly.
Clang! Shing!
Lucia's focus slipped.
She peered at Zien over their locked blades. But in that standoff, their swords synced rhythm again—echoing across the lake.
And why do I...
Clang!
Lucia lost her grip.
Diana spun skyward.
Thud.
Lucia impassively yanked the blade from the earth.
"That's 46 losses out of 46."
"Rest if you're worn out. It's fine."
Zien's consideration.
Lucia shook her head firmly, thrusting her sword forward again.
"I can still go."
Serious expression.
Lips pressed thin.
Those steadfast blue eyes nearly drew a smile from Zien.
She takes after him.
Talent, gaze—even that overthinking streak. Lucia was Peil's spitting image. No words needed; swordsmen spoke through steel.
Doubts. Curiosity. Worries—all woven into her blade. Unlike Lucia, her sword had been downright chatty.
But.
Swordsmen banished thoughts the same way. Zien raised his sword.
"Alright. Have at me."
The softly glowing blade and pitch-black steel faced off once more.
Meanwhile, Amy streamed from a safe distance away from Zien and Lucia.
"Ta-da! Sneaky cam vibe, but no worries! Party leader gave full legal thumbs-up."
Swordplay leagues beyond other students.
Fearful of stray slashes, Amy kept her spot far off.
High-spec drone cams handled the rest fine.
One snag: the chat.
Mood veering weird.
Viewers wanted it? Streamer delivers. Nixing it tanks the vibe—not pro. Better eat dirt and charge. And that "1 million coins" lit Amy's eyes.
"Heh, heheheh."
Swish!
Amy's stigmata flared—her whip magic tool materialized in her right hand.
"Guess you all forgot."
Big twist, stretching wide.
"I'm rank 4. Rank. 4."
Her plus Lucia ganging up—Zien'd have to sweat, right?
Fail: lols. Win: glory. Zero downside for Amy.
"Ahem, sorry party leader, but 1 mil coins calls..."
Left hand tautened the whip. A vicious crack through empty air. Locked and loaded.
"Mission accepted! Incoming!"
Amy charged straight at Zien.
My Previous Life was the Strongest Sword God