Chapter 441: Integrated Ranking (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 441: Integrated Ranking (8)
The day of the finals.
Watching Chris bring Kevin to his knees, the spectators felt utterly overwhelmed.
Drip. Drip.
Blood dripped from Chris's forearm. His sweat-soaked hair hung limply over his forehead. Raising his head with a slightly strained expression, he looked toward the spectator stands. He was met with eyes full of sheer shock. Those who had fiercely debated the outcome of this duel could only gape in astonishment at a one-sided result that defied all expectations.
The stadium wasn't just filled with ordinary commoners. Among the experts eliminated in previous rounds and the key figures from various nations watching this historic stage, not a single person had been able to track the speed of the Single Flash that had defeated Kevin.
Goosebumps broke out across the crowd.
On the stage, the man commanding everyone's absolute attention was not Roman Dmitry. If it were Roman, a man who had already penned countless legends, they could have easily accepted his defiance of common sense. But realizing that even Chris had reached an untouchable realm left them with complicated feelings.
This was exactly as Roman Dmitry had intended.
This tournament was never merely a stage of opportunity. On the surface, it seemed to grant every nation a chance to prove themselves, but in the end, it was flawlessly designed so that Dmitry would inevitably steal the entire spotlight.
The walls of an iron fortress were being built.
The achievements of Dmitry's swordsmen were undeniable: Kevin had crushed Edwin Hector, and Chris had utterly subdued that very Kevin. The people looked on in awe. Though they physically looked down at Chris from the stands, mentally, they had been completely subjugated.
Step. Step.
Chris walked forward, paying no mind to his bleeding forearm. The duel with Kevin had taken a significant toll on him as well, but he refused to show weakness in the very moment he was being recognized as Dmitry's second-in-command.
Finally, he stopped. As he raised his head to look at a specific spot, Roman Dmitry rose from his seat. His voice commanded the entire stadium.
"With this, the standings of the Integrated Ranking have been decided. I declare that Chris, by defeating Kevin, has become the number one ranker of the Salamander Continent."
"Waaaaaaah!"
"Chris! Chris!"
"Chris! Chris!"
Enthusiastic cheers erupted from all directions. The crowd, having held its breath in tense anticipation, exploded into a roar to celebrate the birth of the number one ranker.
However, everyone knew the truth. The position of the number one ranker did not mean he was the true strongest.
Roman Dmitry spoke again.
"While preparing for this tournament, you made a request of me. You asked that the one recognized as the strongest on the Salamander Continent—excluding myself, the Emperor—be granted the chance to challenge me. Chris. Do you intend to challenge me now?"
The crowd held its breath.
Would he? Would Chris really challenge the impossible?
Chris answered without hesitation.
"Yes, I will challenge you."
* * *
The duel did not take place immediately.
Since Chris needed time to recover, it was scheduled for the second day, allowing him to fully recuperate. His wounds were quite deep. Fortunately, they were mostly external injuries that could be easily healed with recovery potions.
Having restored his body, Chris prepared for his clash with Roman Dmitry.
The continent was in an absolute uproar. Upon hearing the news that Chris—now officially recognized as the number one ranker—was challenging the Emperor, people who hadn't attended the tournament frantically set off for Dmitry.
Night fell.
Chris remained alone in the training ground, swinging his sword until he was completely drenched in sweat.
Can I defeat my liege? No, will I even be a match for him?
This was the moment he had long anticipated. He had finally brought his ultimate goal right before his eyes, but to his dismay, Chris felt a creeping sensation of fear.
The battle with Barco. From that very first conflict all the way to the founding of the Empire, he had stood right beside Roman Dmitry and witnessed firsthand what a monster the man truly was. He knew it better than anyone. He was no match for Roman Dmitry. He might be utterly crushed. He might even lose his life. But Chris knew this process was absolutely necessary.
Heaven Beyond Heaven.
His liege resided there. To see just how high that sky was, he had no choice but to experience it and clash with it directly.
This duel is only the beginning. From now on, I will defend the number one spot every year. Using this experience as a foundation, I will strive to narrow the gap between my liege and me. Just as Kevin expressed a fierce desire to defeat me one day, I too need a clear, visceral experience to set my goal.
Chris fell into deep thought. Whenever he doubted whether it was right to target a monster like Roman Dmitry, he shook his head and steeled his resolve. If it had been a mediocre goal, he might have compromised. But as someone who aspired to be the best swordsman on the continent, he could not tolerate compromising with himself just because the peak was impossibly high.
Think about it. Even if he won this tournament, would people truly recognize him as the continent's best swordsman?
No. Whether one year, ten years, or a hundred years passed, history would only speak of Roman Dmitry. Knowing that truth, Chris had requested this duel, willingly pushing himself to the edge of a cliff.
"Chris."
"...Master."
It was Knight Commander Jonathan. He stepped into the training ground and looked at his sweat-drenched disciple.
"To immerse yourself in training to the point of looking like that right before the duel... Though I am an inadequate master to you now, I wish for you to get sufficient rest. You know it well, don't you? The duel with His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry is not something where the outcome will change just because you work hard for another day or two. What you need right now is not to harshly whip yourself, but to calm your mind and seek the best possible result."
"I understand."
Chris nodded. It was the right advice. He had come out to the training ground out of sheer impatience, but he knew swinging his sword right now wouldn't change anything.
Knight Commander Jonathan smiled softly.
"To be honest, I was truly in awe watching your duel with Kevin. I taught you the secret technique, but you created a new level of skill that far surpasses it. Frankly speaking... I couldn't even see how you attacked at the decisive moment of the match. You have already entered the ranks of great swordsmen. Keep in mind that no matter what result comes from your duel with His Majesty, that fact will not change."
Both of them knew the outcome of tomorrow's duel. They knew who would win, and who would lose. Because Knight Commander Jonathan could not bring himself to speak that harsh truth aloud, he chose to remind his only disciple of his worth.
This duel held meaning in the very act of challenging.
Listening calmly, Chris's eyes filled with renewed determination.
"Thank you, Master."
* * *
He had no idea how the time had passed.
The sun set, the sun rose again, and by the time he snapped out of his daze amidst the deafening cheers of the massive crowd, Roman Dmitry was standing right before his eyes.
For a moment, Chris felt breathless. Though he had spent his life chasing Roman Dmitry's back, the reality of facing him as an opponent made it impossible to hide his nervousness.
The day before, Knight Commander Jonathan had given him one last piece of advice.
"His Majesty is a man of clear boundaries. He is not someone who will hold back out of consideration for your past relationship when you stand on the stage as a challenger. Give it your all from the very start. Only then will you have no regrets, regardless of the outcome."
He agreed. Roman Dmitry was exactly that kind of person. And Chris neither expected nor desired mercy.
Grip.
He tightened his hold on his sword. How long had he anticipated this moment? Ever since his defeat back when Roman was still called the Fool of Dmitry, Chris had grown tenaciously, desperately chasing after the man standing before him.
The Flash of Dmitry. The number one ranker of the Integrated Ranking. He hadn't obtained such titles because he craved fame; they were simply natural byproducts of pursuing his ultimate goal.
He stared straight ahead. Seeing Roman Dmitry standing casually without taking a stance, Chris's mind raced.
How will my liege act against me? Given his personality, he won't drag things out, but he might take his time to demonstrate the overwhelming difference between us. What is certain is that I have no chance of winning either way. Calculating moves in a duel against my liege is meaningless. Since it's a fight I'm bound to lose, I must go all out from the very beginning to seize the momentum.
It would be difficult. Even though he knew victory was impossible, he had no choice but to trust the destructive power of the Single Flash, which had just entered a new realm.
He swallowed hard.
He still felt no particular signal from Roman Dmitry. Usually, swordsmen gave off subtle tells of how they would approach a duel, but Roman didn't even take an offensive stance. That meant he had no intention of striking first. He was going to let Chris make the first move and observe his reaction.
At least, Chris could deduce that much.
He gritted his teeth. The tension was suffocating. As the arbiter raised the flag and the crowd roared, Chris's senses sharpened to a razor's edge.
His mana boiled. He prepared for a single, devastating explosion. Just as he had cut down Kevin in a single stroke, he intended to unleash the Single Flash right from the start to seize the initiative.
Flutter.
The flag dropped. The signal was given.
Mana exploded, and Chris's sword pierced through space.
And that was...
Slash!
"Gah?!"
...the last memory Chris had before he collapsed, spraying blood.
* * *
The tournament came to an end.
Following a series of shocking results, the people of the continent reached a single, unified conclusion.
"All the legends regarding His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry were true. Because he is a man who achieved such great feats, he was able to defeat even Chris in a single blow."
"...I am truly ashamed of having ever doubted his achievements. To be honest, since I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I suspected the stories were exaggerated, much like how history books inflate the deeds of heroes. But not anymore. His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry is a living legend."
"The significance of this ranking match isn't simple. The experts of every nation challenged Dmitry's swordsmen and were utterly defeated. And yet, it was proven that even the exceptional Chris and Kevin cannot dare to be compared to His Majesty. What does that mean? It means the era of Dmitry has truly begun. This annual tournament will make Dmitry's position completely untouchable."
It was different from the past. While Kronos and Valhalla, once the two great pillars of the continent, had suppressed other nations through political checks and balances, Roman Dmitry chose to boldly display absolute power.
It was a clear message: Watch and judge for yourselves.
If they still wished to challenge him after witnessing this power, he would gladly accept. But if not, they were to bow their heads and submit to Dmitry's system.
The world had changed. Just as Roman Dmitry intended, public opinion toward the Empire became unshakable after the Integrated Ranking tournament ended.
A few days later, Chris finally woke up.
Kevin had already been discharged. Left alone in his hospital bed, Chris spoke to Knight Commander Jonathan when he came to visit.
"I knew this would happen."
Contrary to expectations, Chris looked relieved. After regaining consciousness, he had endlessly reflected on the duel. Although he couldn't clearly see how Roman Dmitry had defeated him, Chris had gained something profound in that split second.
Roman Dmitry had treated him with utmost sincerity. The moment he directly experienced the unfathomable depths of his liege's power, a thrilling shiver had run down his spine.
This was it. Such a transcendent being was his goal, and he would continue to move forward toward that peak without ever stopping.
Of course, the probability of achieving his dream of surpassing Roman Dmitry felt extremely slim now. Yet, Chris was satisfied simply by the fact that he had firmly cemented the direction of his life. Just like Kevin, who had recklessly challenged him back when he was a nobody, Chris believed that he, too, had just taken his first reckless step forward.
The Integrated Ranking!
The grand stage that had caused such a massive stir across the world finally came to a close. The people accepted the new order ruled by Dmitry, letting the turbulent eras of the past drift away into history.
Another month passed.
Just as the people of the continent were settling back into their peaceful daily routines, an urgent communication arrived in Dmitry.
* * *
The recipient was the Dmitry Communications Department.
The sender was the Odelia Special Intelligence Department.
Operating under special imperial orders, they finally delivered the long-awaited news.
[We have found the passage to the Demon Realm!]
The Demon Realm.
It was news that threatened to shatter the hard-won peace they had barely managed to find.