Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: The Ultimate Martial Tournament Begins
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The inside of the martial hall in <Terbenopl> was crawling with ronin.
At each of the twelve registration desks, more than thirty ronin were lined up long, hands tucked into the sleeves of their robes, chattering noisily.
The sects' uniforms were so varied that just the types and colors of the robes made your head spin.
"Looks like every ronin scattered across the two continents has gathered here."
Selene responded to my mutter.
"Of course. The Ultimate Martial Tournament starts in five days."
Amid that massive crowd of ronin, Aki hid behind my leg, then straightened her shoulders with a determined face and stood alone, only to hide again, repeating the cycle.
"Auuu...."
She still wasn't used to being surrounded by so many people.
I stroked her head to reassure her, but there were quite a few young ronin besides Aki.
Some kids were trembling, while those in uniforms from major or mid-tier sects were overflowing with overconfidence.
'Hmm, something smells off.'
It reminded me of the ranking exam in my past life and the <Delaiten> entrance exam in this one.
Those who've lived off their own talents always end up with personalities that pick fights with someone....
To avoid drawing those gazes, I placed a bamboo hat on Aki's head, and she visibly relaxed.
"Looks like it'll take longer than expected."
Valensidis spoke, her unique cold and murderous aura—probably from black magic—preemptively blocking any heckling from the idlers.
"We'll split here. I'll join you on the day of the tournament."
"Got something to do?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
"Got some things nagging at me. Need to scout the city for info. And eliminate any potential threats in advance."
No need to explain what those threats were to Selene.
She's a reliable one.
Of course, I'd never say that out loud.
I nodded, and Valensidis pulled her robe hood down before heading to the hall entrance.
"So that's why I last time that...."
"Not even worth my fist...."
Wherever she passed, the commotion died like rats in a trap... only roaring back after she was completely gone.
'Hmm, kinda hurts my pride?'
Should I unleash the true dragon's presence full force?
Just kidding, of course. That'd cause total chaos. Most would foam at the mouth and collapse.
Then the witches would swarm... thinking about it already exhausts me.
"Yawn."
After about thirty-seven yawns from the boredom of waiting, my arm finally reached the registration desk.
"Yes, welcome! You've arrived at the Ultimate Martial Tournament registration headquarters! How can I help?"
At the receptionist's greeting, Selene showed the necklace she always wore around her neck.
It was a branch from the enemy commander's tree at Fire Cloud Peak, carved into a burning wood shape—the symbol of the Heavenly Fire Sect.
The receptionist immediately covered her mouth with one hand, her attitude turning far more deferential.
"Ah, from the Heavenly Fire Sect! No need for separate ID verification!"
The receptionist was like that, but the ronin strutting around and sniping weren't.
Someone snickered.
"Heavenly Fire Sect? Didn't they get wiped out by that fake shrine maiden?"
"Wiped out, yet how's she still alive?"
"Can't fight, but top-tier at running, I guess."
Republic or Empire, people are the same everywhere.
So childish.
With a sigh, I turned to crush a few as an example and shut them up—when Selene shouted.
"I am Selene, first-generation disciple and Heavenly Fire Dragon of the Heavenly Fire Sect."
A roar infused with mana heart power, so intense it made eardrums throb and shocked the brain—the technique called the lion's roar among ronin.
"If you're gonna insult me, don't yap from behind—do it to my face. I'll smash that flimsy pride and your worthless sect's prestige to bits."
I plugged my ears and looked up at her in surprise, but the impact on the ronin was even greater.
"Selene...?"
"That Heavenly Fire Dragon...."
"What? That monster's alive? How'd the sect get wiped...?"
Her reputation must be huge among ronin, as the riffraff paled and shut up instantly.
But every field has its blowhards with absolute confidence in their skills.
Someone appeared, laughing, flapping his fresh blue robe threateningly.
"Hmph, no idea where you get the confidence to still flaunt that 'Heavenly Fire Dragon' title."
The emblem on his blue robe, embroidered fiercely in silver thread, was a waterfall.
Ronin sects used nature symbols like this; if memory served, that waterfall was the emblem of the Water Cloud Sect, one of the Six Great Sects like Heavenly Fire.
The burly guy in that robe was even taller than me—a match for Selene's height, quite intimidating.
"Moreon, it's Moreon...."
"Water Cloud Sect's Green Water Azure Dragon...."
Every Six Great Sect gave dragon titles to heirs for next sect leader.
As ronin murmured, Moreon grinned.
"Why couldn't that mighty Heavenly Fire Dragon do anything when her sect got smashed? Too busy seducing that gigolo from the Empire?"
"...."
"I'd be too ashamed to use a dragon title. Ha."
As Moreon laughed, his fellow disciples—easily over fifty—giggled too. A massive entourage.
Selene was unusually silent, just curling her lip in disdain first.
Offended by that, Moreon's fake smile vanished, cold killing intent overwhelming the hall.
"Is that brat your daughter?"
"Disciple."
"Whatever. In the adult division, I'll smash your smug nose. My disciple'll rip your kid so she never fights again."
Moreon snapped his fingers, and a ten-year-old-looking punk stepped out from the group, cupping hands in greeting.
Pretending maturity beyond his years, but his eyes glaring down at Aki screamed mischief.
As Aki tilted her head and tried to return the greeting, I grabbed her wrist.
"Don't greet him, Aki. That's for humans worth the courtesy."
"Aba...?"
"Wanna bet? Your disciple goes down in one hit to Aki. One hit. If he lasts, I'll give you five gold coins."
This Empire punk mouthing off to my disciple... As Moreon grabbed my collar—
"You'd better let go."
"Good, good, good, good."
Just a tiny bit, for the briefest instant, I released the presence of the Yeouiju in my soul.
Moreon's eyes snapped shut in primal terror, and he instantly released me, leaping back.
Hmm, impressive reflexes... still weaker than Selene.
"Better listener than you look, Moreon."
As all eyes turned in shock at the sudden turn, Moreon straightened his clothes and turned away.
"Ronin speak with strength, not words... Let's see if you strut like that on match day."
As Moreon slunk off, Selene burst into delighted laughter at his back.
Tears welled in her eyes; only after a while did she turn to me.
"He looks like that, but he's my rival. We've competed nonstop in tournaments as our sects' heirs."
"Who won more?"
"What, you need me to spell it out?"
Selene winked gratefully and returned to the desk.
The hall, chilled by top ronin mind games and fallen silent, slowly grew noisy again.
Probably because they're still Six Great Sect members—application, registration, approval all instant. Soon Aki and Selene got number 3 tags.
"We're about third among Six Great Sects now. Third seed. Skip prelims, straight to finals."
"Prelims?"
"Just sieving out the nobodies. In Teritos's cargo hold—underground."
"Finals?"
"On deck. Up to 30,000 spectators. Win a match, ascend a floor of the Palaseiom Lighthouse for the next."
Heading out to the inn, cool sea breeze made Aki's red hair flutter as she beamed.
"Aba, good wind!"
Her hat flew off once; Pipi snatched it midair and brought it back....
<Terbenopl> had hotter sun than central Empire, clearer breezes—easy to get excited.
With the tournament imminent, ronin everywhere in the vast city; even cheap inns full.
Without Selene's connections, we'd be in the stables.
"Four days from today to matches—special training, Aki."
"Aki, train! Train train! Train!"
"Good! To the communal training ground then."
As they unpacked at the inn and Aki grabbed Selene's hand to head out, I stopped her briefly.
Of course, pretending to see them off while following with Pipi.
Karen said it's fine, but biggest human city—better safe.
"Aki, remember today?"
"Remember!"
"No matter how much you hate opponent, don't use power for violence. Just show what you've achieved so far, whoever it is."
No confidence in saying it cool like the chancellor auntie, but had to.
Come to think, she taught mage mindset more than spells....
Regret not drilling that into Tureina properly. Won't repeat.
"Power's true strength when used to protect, not harm. Got it?"
Aki tilted head, then hugged my leg, rubbed face, looked up beaming.
"Aki, get Aba words good!"
"Get, get, get it. Actually don't."
That heart-stopping cute smile she saves for me.
Watching Aki, I forget all sorrow, grinning foolishly.
Soul wounds from vast solitude healing warmly.
Maybe Aki's gift from Karen via Alakish for this comfort....
* * *
Tournament day dawned cloudless, sky high and blue—like celebrating Terbel's Day, sun of clear heavens.
'Truly massive.'
Drums beat lively as I ascended to Teritos's deck via the gangway, unable to hold back awe.
'Is this really a ship?'
Harbadonia's wrecked fleet base didn't impress like this....
Duels on deck, spectators at rails.
This giant ship's rails tiered twelve levels down like benches for natural seating.
Crowds packed sides: ronin, merchants, mages, witches, swordsmen, escorts, archers from continents' ends.
Republic's Seven Cities notables in bridge VIP seats.
Six Great and mid-tier sect leaders/elders, Martial God Alliance reps mostly at closest first rail.
"Countless crowds. Perfect day to assassinate VIPs."
As we grabbed seats far from bridge, familiar voice—Valensidis sat beside me.
"When you say it, it doesn't sound like a joke, so cut the wordplay."
Young vendors hawked sausages, chicken skewers, wine, fruit baskets between benches.
Valensidis ordered melon, pomegranate, jujubes; plates soon before us.
"Valen, Valen, jujube, jujube."
Valensidis fed jujubes to Pipi on her shoulder.
"Yours?"
"On deck with Selene."
"Makes sense—Six Great, skipped morning prelims."
Spearing melon, I asked.
"So, learn anything in four days?"
"City's safe inside. As top Seven City, no room for Black Church meddling. Barriers and guards perfect."
"Good."
Aki's hyped for today.
"But better find way bypassing Tershy Isles to continent."
"Ships avoiding Tershy?"
Melon flesh melted happily in mouth, smile automatic. Must feed Aki post-tournament.
"That's what we gotta find."
"But why? Why avoid?"
"Black Church base there, Slay—"
Then a gong's heavy thrum overwhelmed deck, silencing all instantly.
Soon three robes fluttered from sky; three witches on brooms descended gracefully to bridge.
"Yellow Command, Blue Command, Red Command witches."
Old witches with Teritos crests on chests—<Terbenopl>'s governors. Valensidis nodded.
"Proof <Terbenopl> values republic traditions most."
<Terbenopl> has independent council; old consul power split among three like Three Divine Dragons.
Yellow: executive, Blue: civil, Red: defense.
Candidates only blue-blood witches; elected by citizen voters only.
"We sincerely welcome you foreigners to the holy site of the Sun of Clear Heavens."
"Joy unspeakable to see so many following Terbel's words: 'Gain dragon spirit through body tempering.'"
"All gathered in <Terbenopl>! Proclaim this year's Ultimate Martial Tournament opening to the heavens with your cheers!"
Witchcraft amplified voices crystal-clear over vast deck... 30,000 roars shook skies.
Amid roar waves, dozens of big drums drove dynamic beats, gongs and cymbals slashing sharp melodies.
Presidents sat primly on brooms as emcee strode to deck center.
"Long wait over! From today, spring skies heralded by Ultimate Martial Tournament—youth division starts!"
Without farsight spell magnifying, he'd be a black dot—Teritos's scale hit home.
"First match youth ronin: Player Pei! Disciple of storied Great Blue Sect!"
Bald boy in scarlet robe, fierce face, stepped out and greeted crowd—cheers swelled.
"Opponent! Six Great Sect rooted in Crimson Mountains—Heavenly Fire Sect's Aki!"
Cheers boiled... then froze, or rather ignited hotter inferno.
Hair dancing like seductive flames, slender and petite yet exuding provocative poise from tiny frame.
Red true dragon's eldest daughter, Alakish's legacy to this world: Akilea.
"......?"
"......?"
"......?"
Even I doubted my eyes.
What happened? Aki's long hair transformed into... adorable twin tails tied up on sides.
Matched Heavenly Fire Sect's flame-orange robe perfectly....
"That hair suits Aki insanely well?"
Facing massive attention, no tension—face full of ease.
As I smiled warmly unwittingly.
Aki spotted me rolling eyes at crowd, waved wildly, jumping, twin tails flailing.
"Daddyyy, Aki here laterrr!"
Why's she suddenly like that?
Too flustered, hid with hat... nah, shot up waving both hands back. Pipi joined.
"Yeah! Go Aki!"
"Fight, fight, fight."
Warm scene left normal crowd grinning dazedly.
"That Heavenly Fire Dragon's disciple?"
"Can't even basic courtesy."
"Sect fell, grabbed blessing of fire kid in panic."
"Yes. Papers say initiated just 4 months ago. Great Blue easy win."
"Pitiful. This how Six Great change?"
Sect reps sighed in pity or smirked.
"Both players, forward!"
Emcee's call: two youth ronin faced on deck arena, cupped hands greeting.
Great Blue's Pei sighed weakly.
"Sheesh, first match stuck beating girl who doesn't know 'martial'?"
"Aki not girl."
"What, boy?"
"Aki is Aki."
"?"
"???"
Pei assumed fist stance.
Rushed disciple from fallen sect? End with Thirty-Six Heavenly Fists.
Daaaaang!
Gong boomed huge, signaling start—Pei stomped forward, charging Aki head-on.
- Listen well, Aki.
As his form blitzed her front.
- Our fists have no fancy stuff. Joints? Taiji? Counters? Kicks? All useless.
Aki's eyes of dragon pierced every move; Selene's voice echoed in her head.
- Heavenly Fire uses only this: one fist decides true heroes.
Step leg forward.
Twist waist slight.
Thrust bound power of advance and twist full force.
- For sure-kill, always chant name: Heavenly Fire Sixty-Eight Thrust Flash Fist.
Aki's thought: too wordy. So shortened.
"Aki punch."
Thus began the legend of "Aki Punch"—famed over Heavenly Fire's ultimate technique.