Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: I'll Go First, Then
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A massive hologram floated above the vast arena.
Vega, whose face appeared on the screen, swept her gaze across the stands filled with Constellations before sending a cold look toward Deneb, who was seated in a place of honor.
Oh-jin followed Vega's gaze to where Deneb was.
*So those are Deneb's Apostles.*
Behind Deneb, who sat on an ornate chair, a total of ten men and women stood in a line.
The two of Deneb's twelve Apostles not present were, like Allen Oskar, Awakeners belonging to the 'Seven Stars'.
Whether they had their reasons or simply didn't think it was worth coming, Allen Oskar was the only Awakener from the Seven Stars to show up.
*Well, there's no need for all of them to be here anyway.*
The rule for this proxy war was that he only needed to defeat three of Deneb's twelve Apostles.
Since Deneb herself had declared she wouldn't send out Awakeners from the 'Seven Stars' like Allen as opponents, there was no reason for them to fill the seats.
*Let's see.*
Oh-jin activated the Stigma of Canes Venatici and examined the ten Awakeners lined up behind Deneb one by one.
As expected of Awakeners who had inherited the Stigma of Polaris.
A scent of mana so thick it was almost suffocating emanated from Deneb's Apostles.
"Is that the Thunder Wolf?"
"For Vega's Apostle, he doesn't look like much."
"Right? The energy he's giving off is pretty ordinary."
While Oh-jin was observing them, Deneb's Apostles were also examining him, their eyes gleaming with interest.
Deneb's Apostles looked slightly disappointed by Oh-jin's unremarkable appearance.
"Well, I heard it's only been a year since he awakened."
"But does it make sense to reach the 7-Star rank in just one year? Maybe he's not really a 7-Star and is just lying?"
"Well, we'll find out once we face him."
Deneb's Apostles chattered as they sized Oh-jin up.
"Quiet."
"Hk."
At the ice-cold voice that came from Allen Oskar, the chattering Apostles of Deneb flinched.
"It's about to start. Focus, unless you want to tarnish Lady Deneb's reputation."
"Yes, sir."
Following Allen's command, Deneb's Apostles shut their mouths and gathered their mana.
As this silent war of nerves unfolded between Oh-jin and Deneb's Apostles.
[Ah. Can everyone hear me?]
A voice that resonated directly in his head, much like Vega's.
It was the voice of Spica, the Constellation of Virgo he had met at the arena's entrance.
She flew through the air, circling once above the arena.
Bringing a round orb in her hand close to her lips, she shouted in her characteristically fresh voice.
[Nice to meet you all! I'm Spica, and I'll be your host for today's proxy war~!]
It was a frivolous way of speaking, hard to believe from a Constellation of the Zodiac.
But as she bounced in mid-air, her fluffy pink hair swaying, her appearance transformed even that frivolity into cuteness.
[Today's proxy war is between Lady Vega and Lady Deneb! A proxy war between the Apostles of Polaris, no less!]
Her cheerful cry elicited a roar of applause from the Constellations.
A proxy war between none other than the Constellations of Polaris.
There wasn't a single Constellation who wouldn't be excited by such an unprecedented big match.
[The rules are simple! Lady Vega's Apostle wins if he defeats three of Lady Deneb's twelve Apostles!]
"Three of them?"
"Hmm... Isn't that too harsh? He'd have a hard time with even one."
A murmur spread through the Constellations upon hearing the rules of the proxy war.
They had all heard of the rapid growth of Vega's Apostle, the Thunder Wolf, but the general consensus was that he was still no match for Deneb's twelve Apostles.
And yet, he had to defeat not just one, but three of them in a row.
The condition was excessively harsh.
[Regarding this, it was decided this way to maintain fairness, as Lady Vega only has one Apostle!]
"Mmm. True... the number of Apostles is also important."
"Still, isn't three a bit much?"
Though not entirely convinced, they all nodded in partial understanding.
The number of Apostles was also an important factor constituting divinity, so it couldn't be considered entirely unfair.
[Now! Before we begin the proxy war, will both Constellations please come forward!]
Deneb, who had been sitting in the place of honor, leaped up and landed on the floor, while Vega, her silver dress rustling, walked to the center of the vast arena where the proxy war would take place.
[Will you both please swear in the name of the stars that you will approach this proxy war with a pure heart and accept its outcome.]
As if her previous fussing and flitting about had been an act.
Spica looked at the two with a solemn expression.
[I swear.]
"I swear."
Vwoooom!
A blue radiance emanated from Vega's and Deneb's bodies and began to intertwine.
[You are both aware that you must resolve your feelings for each other with the end of this proxy war, correct?]
Vega and Deneb nodded.
Spica beamed and flew high into the sky.
[Alright! Let's not drag this out and get started right away! First, in the blue corner! Lady Vega's one and only Apostle! The Awakener famous by the name of Thunder Wolf, right? Awakener Kwon Oh-jin!]
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!!
Amidst a shower of applause, Oh-jin walked up onto the arena.
The gazes of the Constellations filling the stands focused on Oh-jin.
The Thunder Wolf.
They watched Oh-jin with excited expressions, as if anticipating what kind of performance Vega's Apostle would deliver.
[Next, in the red corner! He was the youngest of Lady Deneb's twelve Apostles, right? It's Liu Yihao, famous by the title 'Silver Sword'!]
A young man with skin as white as a snowflake lightly kicked off the railing.
The young man descended gracefully, like the beat of a swan's wings.
Liu Yihao slowly stepped onto the arena, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Hm."
Standing on the arena, Liu Yihao shot a sharp glance at Oh-jin.
"I heard your Star is at the 7-Star rank, young warrior. Is this true?"
"That's right. I hit it a month or two ago."
Oh-jin nodded lightly.
Hearing his answer, a sound of admiration escaped Liu Yihao's lips.
"A month or two ago... That is indeed an unbelievably fast pace."
It had only been about a year since he'd heard that Vega had an Apostle, and now he was a 7-Star.
Of course, being the only Apostle, he would have inherited a much denser Stigma than himself.
But even taking that into account, reaching 7-Star in just one year was an achievement worthy of being called miraculous.
However.
"You do know that not all 7-Stars are the same, don't you?"
There was bound to be a gap between Liu Yihao, who had reached 7-Star long ago, and Oh-jin.
Especially since they both possessed the 'Stigma of Polaris'.
"Of course, I know that well."
Oh-jin smirked and nodded.
Liu Yihao smiled faintly at Oh-jin's composed demeanor, which showed no hint of tension.
"It seems you've grown quite arrogant from facing Awakeners with miscellaneous Stigmas until now."
He nodded as if he understood completely.
"I was the same at first. Seeing Awakeners of a higher Star than myself fall so easily filled me with arrogance and vanity."
He looked up at the sky with distant eyes, as if reminiscing about the past.
"But."
He soon let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"I learned there are skies above the sky."
"What are you, a liberal arts major?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Go on."
Liu Yihao, slightly frowning in displeasure at being interrupted, continued.
"I realized it when I met Allen. Everyone I had faced until then... was nothing but a fake."
The arrogance that was inevitable for a Polaris.
The miraculous sword strike Allen had shown him had easily shattered the vanity Liu Yihao held.
"Perhaps you, young warrior, will soon realize that fact as well."
Looking at Oh-jin with calm eyes, as if gazing at a child, Liu Yihao took his stance.
[Alright, are you both ready?]
Spica asked as she descended to the middle of the arena.
Oh-jin pulled the iron rod from his waist, transformed it into a spear, and nodded.
Liu Yihao also performed a fist-and-palm salute and bowed his head deeply.
[Great! Looks like you're both ready!]
Clap!
Spica clapped her hands and spread her arms wide.
Vwoooom!
A light pink radiance flowed out of her body, covering the arena.
[I've put up this Sanctuary just in case! There aren't any special healing effects, so keep that in mind!]
Spica continued her explanation with a cheerful smile.
[It's over when one of you loses consciousness or is rendered unable to fight! It's also over if your opponent admits defeat!]
She emphasized this by raising her index finger like a teacher instructing a young student.
[Of course, you won't die inside the Sanctuary... but you should still try to end it without killing each other! Got it?]
"I will keep that in mind."
"Yes."
Although it was a proxy war held to resolve conflicts between Constellations, if it turned into a brutal massacre, it would inevitably leave behind ill feelings in many ways.
It meant they should fight in a manner closer to a spar than a real battle, to avoid deepening those emotional rifts.
*'Though I doubt it'll be that easy.'*
Knowing they wouldn't die inside the Sanctuary, neither could know to what extent the other would hold back their killing intent.
[Now! Don't forget that the ultimate goal of this proxy war is to resolve the discord between you!]
Spica flew high into the sky again.
[Staaaaaaaart!!]
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Like fireworks, streaks of light pink light decorated the sky.
The Constellations in the stands erupted in cheers and applause.
"Hmph."
Shing.
Liu Yihao slowly drew the sword from his waist.
Befitting his title, 'Silver Sword', a sword shining with a graceful silver light revealed itself.
The moment he drew the sword, a frosty white energy swirled around him.
Liu Yihao turned to Oh-jin with a gentle smile.
"Seniority may not be important in the hierarchy among Awakeners."
He slightly lowered his drawn sword and continued.
"But as a senior, I shall grant you the first move, young warrior."
"Oh, really?"
Yielding the first move in a fight was tantamount to openly disrespecting your opponent.
"I'll go first, then."
Oh-jin grinned and lowered his stance.
There was no reason to refuse when the other side was willingly offering him the first move.
*'Charge.'*
Crackle!
He condensed lightning in his legs.
The lightning, condensed so densely it created the illusion that his legs had become pure blue electricity, blazed like fire.
"Indeed, I can feel a powerful energy befitting the Stigma of Polaris."
Liu Yihao looked at Oh-jin with surprised eyes.
Looking back at him.
*'It's a bit early to be surprised.'*
Charge, Charge, Charge, Charge.
Lightning, condensed a total of five times, coiled around his legs.
Oh-jin smiled brightly and shot up from his low stance as if on a spring.
And then.
-Crackle-crackle-crackle!!!
A single streak of blue lightning.
Shot across the arena.
"—What."
A look of shock spread across the arrogant face of Liu Yihao.
Before he could even react, Oh-jin's body appeared right in front of him.
-Crack!
He grabbed Liu Yihao's face with his right arm and swept his legs, kicking out his opponent's feet from behind.
As his legs flew up and he started to fall backward, Oh-jin held onto his face.
-Kra-koooooom!!!
And slammed the back of his head straight into the ground.
Dust billowed up thickly.
Liu Yihao lay unconscious on the brutally shattered arena floor, the whites of his eyes showing.
[…Huh?]
"W-What just happened?"
"What in the...?"
The Constellations froze, unable to comprehend the situation.
Oh-jin left the unconscious Liu Yihao and slowly straightened up.
He gestured with his finger toward Deneb, who was staring at him with her mouth agape.
"Next."