Chapter 88: World's Best Partner Selection Tournament - Main Tournament (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 88: World's Best Partner Selection Tournament - Main Tournament (6)
“Main Tournament, Match 2—begin!”
Sreng’s voice, announcing the start of the match, echoed throughout the Grand Arena.
However, despite Andrasta having shouted for them to hurry up and start, both she and Helena simply stood there, staring each other down.
Of course, their weapons were leveled at one another.
The tension was so thick that the stadium fell into a deathly silence; not a single cheer, applause, or even a stray whisper could be heard.
Hmm… I wonder who’ll make the first move.
There are pros and cons to taking the initiative.
Moving first naturally allows you to seize control of the pace, but if that movement falls within the opponent's range of prediction, you risk a devastating counterattack.
Taking the reactive approach is the exact opposite.
I glanced over at Natalia, who was already exchanging a few words with Valeria.
“Who do you think will move first?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure…”
Even Natalia couldn't seem to read their intentions; Andrasta and Helena’s stances were remarkably similar.
I don't mean their physical forms were the same, but rather their underlying intent.
Andrasta kept her left arm loose, ready to strike at any moment, while maintaining light, rhythmic footwork.
Helena held a Chudan-no-kamae, her eyes fixed intently on Andrasta’s every twitch.
Both were in positions where they could lunge instantly or respond to an attack from any direction.
I understand they’re being cautious since they’ve never fought each other before, but…
A staring contest wouldn't settle the score.
As if reaching the same conclusion, Helena seemed to take a step forward—but.
—BOOM!
Unfortunately, Andrasta’s resolve was faster.
Kicking off the ground with a sound like a small explosion, Andrasta lunged at Helena like a fired bullet.
True to her reputation as a battle-crazed queen, she wore a bright, predatory smile.
It looked like they were about to clash head-on, but then—
“Oh?!”
Andrasta pivoted so sharply that even Natalia’s eyes widened.
Just as she seemed poised to collide frontally, Andrasta veered off, digging deep into Helena’s right flank.
I can see it because I’m watching from a distance, but if I were the one facing her…
It was as if Andrasta had vanished.
Her movement into the flank was that swift and ferocious.
Having seized the initiative with such an erratic maneuver, she would surely tear into that exposed right side.
But as if mocking my prediction, Andrasta suddenly swerved again, this time to the left.
“What?”
The moment the word left my lips, Natalia answered.
“Lena didn't lose track of her. That’s why she changed direction so abruptly to the left.”
Digging into the right was a move within expectations.
So, she changed direction again to exceed those expectations.
It seemed Andrasta had made that split-second judgment in the blink of an eye.
And this time, she finally fired her left fist toward Helena.
Carrying her full body weight and a concentrated burst of high-density mana, that vicious jab was no different from a large-caliber bullet.
—Pop! Boom!
However, Helena evaded Andrasta’s punches with an expression of utter calm.
She used the bare minimum of movement—a slight twist of the body, a tilt of the head—to dodge by a hair’s breadth.
Andrasta’s fists did nothing but rupture the empty air.
As if to say it was now her turn, Helena suddenly had her sword raised high.
Is she going to use it already?
At a glance, Helena was in a standard vertical slash stance, but I could see it clearly.
Behind Helena’s raised blade, a violent flow of mana was erupting like a jet engine.
An attack combining the acceleration of her entire body's joints with the super-acceleration of mana discharge—this was Helena’s Secret Art.
A single strike intended to decide victory, defeat, life, and death surged toward Andrasta’s head.
“At this rate…!”
By the nature of Helena’s Secret Art, the acceleration is complete the moment the sword begins its descent.
In other words, once you are within its range, it is impossible to dodge.
There were only two choices.
Dodge while accepting some damage, or block it perfectly.
Surprisingly, the choice Andrasta made was the latter.
—Thud.
A blade-catch, the kind you only see in movies or manga, unfolded before my eyes.
Of course, she didn't catch it effortlessly with one hand.
Just before her skull was split open, Andrasta managed to bring her hands together in time to stop Helena’s sword.
Staring at her blade caught between Andrasta’s palms—as if in prayer—Helena couldn't hide her shock.
“…Impressive. I never imagined you would block it like this.”
Andrasta replied, her own joy equally evident.
“I never imagined it either! This is the first time in my life I’ve felt a strike this heavy and powerful!”
The moment the praise was exchanged, Andrasta immediately resumed her offensive.
“Hup!”
Andrasta forcefully twisted her joined hands to the left.
Since her sword was trapped, Helena’s posture was naturally dragged along and broken.
Andrasta then yanked the captured sword toward herself.
At this rate, Andrasta’s elbow would slam directly into Helena’s defenseless face.
“Haah!”
Of course, Helena wasn't about to let her beautiful face be scarred. She gave a sharp shout and kicked off the ground.
Furthermore, mana erupted violently from the tip of her sword like a reverse thruster.
Not only did Helena easily reclaim her sword, but she even managed to leave a shallow scratch on Andrasta’s face.
Wiping away the faint bead of blood, Andrasta smiled at Helena once more.
“I wonder how long it’s been since I was last wounded… Splendid, Helena. It was worth traveling all the way to the Empire.”
“It is an overwhelming honor to hear you say so, Your Highness.”
“Hahaha, good. Now then… I’m sufficiently warmed up… Hah!”
—CRASH!
With a single powerful step from Andrasta, the stone floor of the arena shattered ruthlessly.
Simultaneously, the staggering amount of mana erupting from her entire body was like a volcano.
I found myself swallowing hard, and even Sitri, who had been watching in silence until now, let out a gasp of admiration.
“That amount of mana is absurd. And what’s even more ridiculous is that output. Based on the discharge alone, it’s at the level of a Dragon’s Breath.”
As soon as those words were spoken, the volcanic mana was absorbed back into Andrasta’s body.
Now, Andrasta was quite literally a living natural disaster.
Even so, facing Helena, who stood her ground, Andrasta offered one last word.
“The small talk ends here. Since you’ve managed to fire me up for the first time in a while, you’ll have to take responsibility for it.”
“As I mentioned before, I will go easy on you so you don't get hurt.”
“Hahaha, excellent!”
Immediately, Helena and Andrasta charged straight at each other.
*
—BOOM! CLANG! CLASH!
Every time Andrasta kicked off the ground, the pulverized arena floor flew into the air.
When Helena swung her sword to meet her, a deafening roar and the screech of metal filled the air.
“I can’t see what’s happening at all…”
As Valeria muttered under her breath, the exchange between Helena and Andrasta was occurring at high speeds.
“Haah!”
“Hah!”
Like two blades clashing, Helena’s sword and Andrasta’s leg crossed.
A thunderous boom erupted as a matter of course.
Through the swirling dust and mana residue, I saw a single bead of sweat roll down Helena’s forehead.
Hmm… this isn't good.
Of course, Helena was still holding her own brilliantly against Andrasta.
She was using her Secret Art—which she had revealed from the start—for every attack and defense, meeting the storm-like Andrasta head-on.
However… she was only meeting her.
Andrasta was steadily gaining momentum, while Helena was struggling to find an opening to switch to the offensive.
“Hup!”
“…Ugh!”
Eventually, Helena allowed one of Andrasta’s knee strikes to connect.
Fortunately, she managed to block it with her sword and avoid a direct hit, but she couldn't avoid being pushed back significantly.
There might be a difference in skill and talent… but that’s not the decisive factor.
It was the difference in their means of attack.
Since Helena was a swordsman, her only weapon was her blade.
She mixed in some martial arts occasionally, but they were nothing more than distractions.
Andrasta, however, was a weapon from head to toe.
Fists and legs, of course, but also elbows, knees, shoulders, and even her long tied hair and tail.
Because of this, Andrasta’s attacks were exceeding not only my predictions but Natalia’s as well.
“Oh no…!”
—Thwack…
Finally, Andrasta’s fist buried itself in Helena’s left flank.
Helena had swung horizontally, and Andrasta had dodged by arching her back.
Up to this point, it was something both Natalia and I had expected.
But no one imagined that from that fully arched position, she would twist her waist and transition into an attack on the abdomen.
“Whew…”
Seeing Helena maintain a flawless stance despite the hit, Andrasta tilted her head in confusion.
Helena’s body was an Immortal Body, just like mine.
She would never tire or age, and any injury would heal in an instant.
Therefore, while Andrasta’s attack had landed cleanly, there was effectively zero physical damage… however.
The mind isn't the same…
An immortal body might eliminate physical fatigue, but it does nothing for mental exhaustion.
The speed was such that if she let her guard down or lost focus for even a second, her opponent would vanish from sight.
An infinite variety of attack patterns where she never knew what was coming from where.
Moreover, since she was landing hits, Andrasta’s momentum-driven offensive became even more ferocious and diverse.
“Kh…!”
If Helena raised her sword thinking the head was the target, a low kick followed.
If she focused on the lower body, the attack went high.
If she took a stance to deal with all directions, attacks literally came from every direction.
Watching Helena being pushed further and further back, Natalia let out a pained sigh.
“Haa… I knew she was a strong opponent… but to this extent…”
Whether it was because I didn't want Helena to lose, or because I thought there was still a chance for victory… these words automatically popped out of my mouth.
“It’s not over yet.”
Right, it wasn't over.
Helena’s body was still fine, and Sitri’s mana showed no signs of running dry.
It was true that Helena was on the defensive, but Andrasta couldn't afford to relax either.
Helena’s sword only needed to land properly once.
“That’s true, but…”
Watching Andrasta corner Helena completely, I couldn't help but think:
She’s playing this game like a real piece of work.
—Rat-tat-tat!
Like a machine gun firing, Andrasta rained punches down on the cornered Helena.
They weren't flashy, and they lacked the power to end it in one blow, but the high-speed, short-burst rapid fire was driving Helena further toward the edge.
“…!”
With nowhere left to retreat, Helena gripped her sword even tighter.
She abandoned any attempt to dodge unavoidable attacks, desperately blocked what she could, and waited for a single moment’s opening.
“Hmm…!”
Reaching the conclusion that these rapid strikes wouldn't end it, Andrasta finally paused her onslaught and planted her left foot firmly.
The subsequent movement of her right foot was a clear omen of a kick.
It’s now or never!
As if sharing my thought, Helena raised her sword above her head.
Now it was a contest of speed.
Whoever landed the finishing blow first would win.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Helena swung her sword with all her might.
“Ah…!”
Helena’s sword didn't stop at Andrasta’s head; it cut through the empty air in vain.
Because Andrasta, having predicted exactly that, had easily evaded Helena’s final strike.
In the end, what appeared before Helena’s eyes was Andrasta’s gauntlet.
“Will you concede?”
“…Yes, I have lost.”
Helena and Andrasta shook hands.
Instead of exchanging many words, they shared the heat of their sweat and looks of mutual respect.
Actually, I couldn't even hear what they were saying because of the cheers and applause erupting from everywhere.
“WAAAAAAAH!!!”
The crowd’s roar was so immense that I couldn't even hear Valeria or Natalia right next to me.
Showering both the winner and the loser with applause and confetti, the audience shouted as one.
“Helena! Helena! Helena!”
As Helena offered her greetings and thanks to them all, a single tear welled up in the eyes of Natalia, who was watching her younger sister.
Well… I’m up next.