The Final Match: Geum Taeyang and Arthur's Ulyssis Sword Dance Championship!
“Such a crude trick, trying to deflect my strikes while parrying! It won’t work!”
—Thududududududat!!!
Mateo’s relentless assault showed no sign of ending. At one point, Arthur managed to turn his attack aside. Judging her response as a mere deflection, Mateo pressed forward with even greater force.
—Shraaaaaak!!!
Instead of blocking, Arthur used the momentum to execute a backstep, creating roughly five meters of distance between them.
‘Luciel’s momentum has shifted!’
It was clearly a defensive retreat, yet Mateo hesitated instead of charging in with his usual aggressive style. Her posture was defensive, but her heart was not. Arthur’s previously scattered and overwhelmed state of mind had changed.
‘Her inner turmoil has settled!’
Geomhu, who had been watching Arthur’s distracted performance, sensed that her disciple had overcome her internal conflict. The flow of energy and fighting spirit now felt unified.
‘It’s over,’ she concluded.
Geum Taeyang, however, had already moved ahead in his assessment. He was certain the match had been decided.
—Flash—!!!
Along with Geum Taeyang’s conclusion, a brilliant white light burst from Arthur’s heroic sword, Elias.
‘White flash????’
The Emperor, who had been carefully observing Arthur based on the shifting tide of battle, was startled by the sudden radiance. A white flash meant mana infused with holy power.
‘Arthur Lucien Elias’s ultimate technique, Divine Flash, has awakened here.’
Arthur’s psychological breakthrough had naturally unlocked the finishing move suited to her. Its name was Divine Flash. Even after drawing Excalibur, she could still use it, for Elias possessed a unique affinity for holy mana unlike other heroic swords.
—Paaahhhhhht!!!!
The heroic sword Elias, now dyed in sacred white holy power, thrust forward like lightning toward Count Mateo, who stood in for her grandfather Charles Lucien Elias.
‘Light of radiance!’
It was a flash. To Mateo, Arthur executing Divine Flash appeared as the very embodiment of radiant light.
—Clangclangclangclang!!!
Mateo instinctively raised his guard, but—
—Kwaaaaaang!!!
—Crackcrackcrackcrack!!!
Before the light of radiance, even a top-grade treasured sword looked pitifully fragile. The moment Mateo’s blade met Divine Flash, a thunderous roar rang out and cracks spread across it. With a sharp—
—Shatter—!!!
—it exploded into countless fragments like shattering glass.
“Ooooooh!!!”
“Uwooooooh! Look at that!!”
The sight of Mateo’s treasured sword shattering after Arthur’s lightning-fast Divine Flash strike reminded the Colosseum crowd of a legendary scene from myth. The stands erupted in thunderous cheers and gasps of awe.
—Tap tap tap tap!!!
Arthur halted with the tip of Elias, now glowing with white holy mana, aimed precisely beneath Mateo’s chin.
“Do you acknowledge your defeat?”
The outcome was clear. Arthur suppressed her rising excitement and asked Mateo to concede.
“I lost. I have lost, Swordswoman Luciel. Your sword was stronger than mine.”
Though stubborn and old-fashioned, Mateo was a respected swordsman and role model to many. A true warrior who accepted victory and defeat with grace, he openly admitted that Luciel’s new sword had bested him.
“Swordswoman Mateo acknowledges defeat! Swordswoman Luciel advances to the finals!!!!”
The head referee confirmed Arthur’s victory, and the Sword Dance Tournament herald declared it with a voice trembling with excitement.
“Waaaaah!!! Luciel! Luciel! Luciel!”
“All the established powerhouses have fallen! The finals will be between young rising stars!”
“A new wave is coming! A fresh current is sweeping through the continent’s sword dance!”
The Colosseum crowd roared as though the entire arena might burst. Veterans who had dominated the first and second tournaments had all been eliminated. The finals now belonged to unknown warriors in their early twenties. It felt like a generational tsunami, and the audience welcomed it with open arms.
“Waaah…! She was being pushed back the whole time, then her eyes suddenly changed and the match ended in one move, Master! Just like you predicted, it’ll be Swordswoman Luciel and you in the finals!”
“You suspicious little slave, how insolent. It seems you’ll need another round of loving spanking from your master once we return to the lodging. I told you not to doubt me, yet you still have no answer.”
“I’m sorry, Masteeeer…”
Amid the roaring crowd, only one man remained perfectly calm—Geum Taeyang, who had foreseen every outcome.
‘Excellent growth, Arthur. I planted the seed, but achieving such a perfect awakening is all thanks to your own talent.’
Geum Taeyang looked genuinely satisfied. He truly cherished his junior like a caring senior—or perhaps even a mentor watching over her progress.
‘However, Arthur, you’re still lacking. You haven’t experienced true combat yet. This strict senior, Geum Taeyang, will make sure you taste real battle in the finals.’
Because he cared for her so deeply and acted as her de facto teacher, he had no intention of going easy on Arthur, who had barely clawed her way to the finals. He would defeat her decisively—coldly, relentlessly targeting every weakness she still possessed.
‘Through our battle, you will take one step closer to Excalibur.’
She had gained confidence and overcome the trauma of her grandfather Charles. Yet Arthur still had more to conquer. Geum Taeyang, the senior who loved her, would personally administer that trial.
“A white flash… Remarkable. To think someone would wield white flash not as healing magic but as a swordsman’s blade.”
Leaving the herald’s enthusiastic commentary behind, the Emperor and Geomhu headed backstage under the escort of the imperial guard. On the way, Emperor Antoinette mentioned Arthur’s white mana energy.
White mana itself was something high-ranking priests could use with relative ease. However, channeling it for offense rather than healing was an entirely different matter.
“She also experienced psychological turmoil during the match. It seems she possesses a far purer heart than an ordinary warrior.”
Holy mana required extreme precision. When used offensively, it risked backlash before it could even manifest. That was why it was typically reserved for healing or magic. The rare exceptions were heroes and holy knights, who relied on special artifacts to wield white holy mana. Manifesting it directly on a sword without any artifact meant her heart was so pure that even an aggressive application produced no backlash whatsoever.
“My disciple Josephina once used it briefly in the past, but not to this extent,” Geomhu remarked.
“Yes, I remember you mentioning that. That was when you judged that Josephina might be able to learn the Snow Flower Sword technique well.”
Such individuals occasionally appeared, and Geomhu’s disciple Josephina had been one of them.
“It’s an honor to face you in the finals, Dark Knight.”
The next day, the minor division finals took place, followed by promotional events for the major division finals scheduled two days later. The herald personally introduced the two finalists. Backstage, Geum Taeyang encountered Arthur and greeted her with his usual relaxed demeanor.
“The honor is mine as well. From the round of sixteen onward, I watched your matches intently. There was so much to learn that I couldn’t take my eyes off any of your movements.”
“I’m sure you did. My sword is rather special, after all.”
Arthur responded with impeccable courtesy, praising her final opponent. Her words were sincere. Among the sixteen finalists, Geum Taeyang’s sword had resonated most with her own style, so she had studied his every move with great focus.
Geum Taeyang, upon receiving her heartfelt compliment, immediately began boasting.
“In any case, thank you for the high praise. However, I must declare it now—my victory is certain. I can see a massive opening in your stance, Miss Luciel.”
He even announced his win outright. What kind of opening had he spotted? Geum Taeyang was already waging psychological warfare before the finals even began.
‘An opening?’
Arthur’s eyes showed clear signs that Geum Taeyang’s psychological attack had struck home.
“I agree with the Dark Knight’s assessment. Yes, you’re right. I still have far too many openings. But I won’t lose.”
Yet there was no hesitation in Arthur’s reply.
‘Very good, Arthur. What a splendid look in your eyes. The kind of gaze that makes tormenting and crushing you all the more enjoyable. I’ll trample you properly.’
Geum Taeyang’s lips curled into a grin. Though she had wavered for a moment, Arthur’s eyes overflowed with confidence—the confidence of having overcome the trauma surrounding her grandfather Charles. Geum Taeyang drooled like a pervert at the sight of the self-assurance he himself had helped create.
“The long journey of the third Ulyssis Sword Dance Tournament, spanning fifteen days, comes to an end here today.”
Two days had passed. The day of the major division finals had arrived. Emperor Antoinette Darmirna once again stood upon the golden podium and delivered her opening speech.
“Countless warriors from across the continent have displayed their formidable skills before you. As a result, two young warriors now stand on the final stage. After two previous tournaments, we are welcoming a new era.”
The keyword the Emperor emphasized for the finals was “new wave.” The Pangea continent was currently experiencing a new wave in culture, society, and politics. In a sense, the young Emperor Antoinette herself was at the forefront of that wave. Thus, the winner of this tournament would receive even greater imperial support and trust than ever before.
“Let us all witness together, with passionate cheers and heartfelt encouragement, the birth of the hero who will lead this new age!”
With Emperor Antoinette Darmirna’s declaration, the third Ulyssis Sword Dance Tournament finals officially began.
“Watch closely, Bianca. This is what real combat looks like. This match will be a great asset to you as well.”
“Y-yes, Master! Please win!”
The herald began introducing the contestants. Geum Taeyang stepped onto the stage at the call of his name. At the same time, he declared his resolve to his youngest slave, Bianca, who was watching him with a worried expression from the stands.
“An intriguing matchup, Geomhu. Both swordsmen favor freestyle styles, yet they’ve only faced orthodox opponents until now.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. Since it will be a clash between two freestyle swordsmen, even I cannot easily predict how the battle will unfold.”
Geum Taeyang and Arthur stood at opposite ends of the finals stage. Despite their youth, the two finalists radiated an overwhelming presence and charisma that dominated the entire Colosseum. Even the Emperor and Geomhu focused intently.
“The finals of the third Ulyssis Sword Dance Tournament begin now!!!”
With the herald’s high-spirited declaration and the head referee’s signal, the match started.
‘Now then, shall I show Arthur what it feels like to face an even stronger senior?’
—Paaahhhhhht!!!
Geum Taeyang closed the twenty-meter gap in a single bound using True Mana Step.
—Shuaaaaaat!!!
The moment the attack range was reached, Geum Taeyang swung Luciena. Arthur reacted with perfect timing, blocking the first strike with her heroic sword, Elias.
—Kwaaaaaang!!!