Chapter 615: Fighting King Tournament (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 615: Fighting King Tournament (2)
Even after unleashing Pluto’s Sovereign Sword, Jin did not immediately collapse from exhaustion as he once had.
This was the result of his growth—the realizations gained while hovering between life and death during the Sword Emperor Holy War, and the heightened senses of Ban he had acquired through the Fighting God Union.
He had defeated the 12th Fighting King of the Pluto Tribe in a single blow, and he hadn't even used his newly mastered Spirit Sword supreme technique.
Yet, Jin was far from satisfied. Having experienced a realm close to the ultimate peak of martial arts, it was difficult to feel much excitement despite such a grand achievement.
Even after the first match of the Fighting King Tournament ended, Jin continued to wear a vacant expression, as if his soul had left his body.
The only moments his eyes regained their sharpness were when the other Fighting Kings were battling. During those times, he would focus entirely on analyzing their movements.
But once the matches concluded, his eyes would turn hollow again, and he would wander aimlessly through Laprarosa like a ghost.
“I’m starting to worry that Brother Jin has truly lost his mind.”
Pop! Tantel uncorked a bottle of Jewel Liquor and sat down beside Jin.
Jin was perched atop a spire near the Fighting God Temple, staring up at the sky.
“Oh, Brother Tantel. You’re here?”
“You didn’t even realize I’d arrived?”
“Wait, what did you just say?”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake. What is wrong with you? Talk to me.”
It was a dilemma, if one could even call it that.
Moreover, it was a privileged one: to feel that one’s own martial prowess was insignificant simply because they had experienced the senses of a Fighting God.
“You have it far too good.”
Tantel shook his head after hearing the explanation.
“Brother, considering your age, you’re practically a newborn. Yet, just a few days ago, you defeated a Fighting King of the Pluto Tribe. Even if the 12th Fighting King is the weakest among them, he is undeniably a Fighting King.”
The fact that Jin had defeated Teto meant he was essentially qualified to become a Fighting King himself.
“I know.”
Jin knew that better than anyone.
However, this training was his final opportunity before the inevitable Great War between the world’s major powers. As he grew stronger, Jin felt an increasing sense of urgency.
He worried whether he would truly be able to protect his comrades and his family from their enemies when he returned.
As Tantel said, his achievements and the power he had amassed were incredible for his age, but his enemies were on an entirely different scale.
If he could bring his brothers into the human world right now, the tide of the war would change in an instant, but there was no telling when that would be possible.
“If you know, then be more careful, Brother Jin. You need to be more aware of how others see you.”
“How others see me?”
“Can’t you feel the jealousy?”
“The brothers are jealous of me?”
“Sigh, why wouldn’t they be?”
Jin had received all sorts of special treatment in Laprarosa. Even before becoming a brother, he had learned the Pluto Sword and received a transfusion of Fighting God blood.
“Of course, since you’ve become one of us, all your achievements are our pride. But the other brothers are only human. Brother Teto trained for over a hundred years to become a Fighting King, and there are many who worked even harder but never reached that rank.”
It was an issue Jin hadn't considered.
Since being recognized as a brother, Jin had received nothing but love from the Pluto Tribe. They had always vied to help him, were the first to celebrate his feats, and took it as a lifelong blessing whenever they were summoned through the Black Ribbon.
The idea that such brothers were now jealous was difficult for him to imagine.
“...I feel terrible.”
“Well, you don’t need to feel terrible for everyone. There are plenty of brothers who don’t feel a lick of jealousy and just think you’re impressive. I’m one of them.”
Jin took the Jewel Liquor Tantel offered. The drink felt sharp and stinging as it went down his throat.
“This Fighting King Tournament is the only chance for the brothers to express that envy and jealousy. Although it’s a competition with a rule against killing, every brother participating is giving it their absolute all, heart and soul.”
As he listened to Tantel, Jin’s face flushed, and his chest tightened.
He felt ashamed.
“So, pull yourself together and face the fights with more focus. When the tournament ends, regardless of the results or the process, the brothers will surely cherish you as they did before… but never forget that they are human. If even a small grudge remains, it will eventually fester.”
Jin met Tantel’s eyes.
Suddenly, he recalled the murderous intent the other Fighting Kings had directed at him after his match with Teto.
“Thank you, Brother Tantel. That really woke me up. By the way, what’s that paper?”
“This? It’s nothing. I said it’s nothing!”
Jin snatched the wrist of the hand Tantel was using to hurriedly hide the paper. The following was written on it:
[7th Match]
8th Fighting King Garmund, Emperor of the Hell Greatsword vs. Brother Jin, Successor of the Gale
Odds: 1.5 : 7
Who will be the victor!
“...Gambling?”
“I-It’s just a bit of light entertainment! We’re betting Jewel Liquor. It’s a secret from the Fighting God!”
Come to think of it, Jin had noticed Tantel carrying around an unusual amount of Jewel Liquor lately.
Tantel had bet on Jin during the first match.
“You don’t actually think the Fighting God doesn’t know about this, do you?”
“Anyway, you have to win, Brother Jin! I’ve bet all my liquor on you. If you win this time, I won’t have to worry about drinks for the rest of my life!”
Jin let out a small chuckle as he watched Tantel scurry away as if fleeing.
* * *
The next day, the Main Hall floating in the sky was once again enveloped in blue lightning.
“We shall begin the 7th match.”
Jin and Garmund.
As the two stood facing each other, the lightning subsided.
Jin had judged Garmund to be around the middle tier among the Pluto Tribe’s Fighting Kings.
He might be lower than that, but either way, he is on a completely different level than Brother Teto.
Normally, Jin wouldn't be able to win.
However, Garmund was not in peak condition. Unlike Jin, who had rested since his fight with Teto, Garmund had engaged in a fierce battle this morning against a group of ordinary warriors who had challenged him collectively.
He hadn't sustained any major injuries, but he looked slightly fatigued.
“Are you underestimating me, Brother Garmund?”
“Think what you like. The result is already decided.”
Garmund showed none of his usual boisterousness. He was filled only with a grim determination to crush his opponent.
Whoosh!
The moment Ban stepped back, Garmund’s greatsword plummeted toward Jin. As Jin blocked it, a bone-shattering shock surged through his blade.
Then, Jin instinctively used his Aura to disperse the impact outward. Garmund couldn't help but furrow his brow.
That’s the feeling!
The sense of a Fighting God.
Effortlessly dispersing a shock that should have caused severe internal injuries was a feat his former self could never have accomplished.
The training he had undergone to awaken Ban’s senses was finally beginning to bear fruit.
Not only that, but the memory of blocking Garmund’s sword while in the Fighting God Union during the opening ceremony came back vividly.
Brother Garmund is slow.
This was, of course, relative. He possessed the monstrous strength to swing a greatsword—which weighed more than several grown men—as if it were a dagger. He left afterimages whenever he used proper footwork, but he could never be called agile compared to the other Fighting Kings.
Instead, Garmund compensated for his lack of speed with sheer destructive power, spraying explosive Lightning Energy and Aura into every opening he created.
If I can dismantle that, I can at least hold an elemental advantage over him.
The dismantling was already complete after their first exchange. He just had to press his advantage while dispersing the impact transmitted to his body.
When Jin immediately executed this plan, Garmund was forced to react urgently. Something he hadn't considered at all had happened the moment the battle began.
Ha! He’s already developed his martial arts to this extent just from a taste of the Fighting God’s senses? I shouldn't have accepted the challenge from the ordinary brothers this morning.
Of course, Garmund did not let his surprise show, nor did he appear panicked. He skillfully pushed back the encroaching Jin and formulated a new tactic.
I need to make this a quick fight. I’ll end it in one go.
Garmund expected Jin to unleash Pluto’s Sovereign Sword. While Jin was doing well at closing the distance and dispersing impact, he wasn’t achieving anything beyond that.
Therefore, Jin would need a decisive blow, which meant he would have to use a technique with sufficient destructive power.
Pluto’s Sovereign Sword, Karma Fire, or a Spirit Sword supreme technique.
As far as Garmund knew, those three were the strongest techniques in Jin’s arsenal.
Karma Fire can’t exert its full power without Tess, and Brother Jin will want to save his Spirit Sword supreme technique as a hidden trump card.
That left only Pluto’s Sovereign Sword.
He must be feeling confident. He personally witnessed Brother Teto being defeated without even being able to lift a finger.
Garmund was confident he could meet Jin’s Pluto’s Sovereign Sword head-on and shatter it.
No, it wasn't just confidence; it was a certainty. His own Fighting King Ultimate Technique definitely surpassed the power of the first form of Jin’s Pluto’s Sovereign Sword.
As expected, Lightning Energy began gathering in Jin’s Heart of Light.
Now, when Brother Jin unleashes Pluto’s Sovereign Sword, I’ll shatter it with my ultimate technique and trigger a Backflow Reaction…
Garmund watched for his chance, but…
Even as their exchange continued for over thirty minutes, the Lightning Energy gathered in Jin’s Heart of Light showed no sign of being converted into a profound technique.
“Ho, so you saw right through me?”
Jin smiled at Garmund’s belated realization.
“There isn't a single brother who couldn't read your mind, Brother Garmund. It’s always written all over your face.”
“Then I have no choice. I’ll have to be the one to move first!”
Even if his plan had been read, it wasn't a problem. Trying to end it by inducing a Backflow Reaction had merely been a consideration to ensure Jin got hurt as little as possible.
Crackle!
Garmund’s energy began to converge into a single point.
Even at a glance, the energy swirling around his greatsword was more than enough to take Jin down in a single strike.
“You can’t handle this sword anyway, Brother.”
But unfortunately for Garmund, there was one more move he hadn't calculated.
Just before he could unleash his ultimate technique, he failed to perceive Jin, who had increased his speed even further to strike from a blind spot.
He hadn't expected that Jin’s swift footwork, which had been neutralizing his destructive power until now, could possibly get even faster.
He could move faster than that?! While cutting through my energy…!
He felt the tip of Sigmund touching the back of his neck.
“It’s over, Brother Garmund.”
Garmund shrugged and dispersed the energy gathered in his greatsword.
“Dammit. I didn’t think I’d lose so pathetically.”
[Exactly! How can another Fighting King lose to that annoying brat? You guys weren't like this when you were ganging up on me!]
Ling Ling chimed in, and Ban brought the match to a halt, announcing Jin’s victory in a low voice.
If Brother Garmund had thought just a little more deeply, I would have surely lost. It’s a relief. I didn't expect to win this way again after Brother Teto…
Just as Jin reached that thought, one of the spectating Pluto Tribe members screamed.
“Goddammit! You’re all just playing around! 12th Fighting King, 8th Fighting King… Can you even call yourselves Fighting Kings of the Great Pluto Tribe after that?!”