Chapter 23. Geumseong Branch (8)
Episode 23. Golden Star Tournament (8)
As if to prove this wasn't mere coincidence, Sion continued firing sword auras.
Whoosh— Whoosh—!
Sylvia countered with blade winds of her own. Their exchange alone proved both were at least Intermediate Knights.
Screech! Screeeech!
The collision of crimson and deep blue auras. The reverberating force hung balanced in the air without favoring either side.
Kwaaaa—! Kwaaang!
Heat and cold swirled chaotically, creating turbulent currents before erupting into a massive steam cloud.
Swoooosh—
Mist enveloped the arena, followed by a shockwave that mercilessly whipped through the spectators' clothing.
A momentary silence. Then. A roar that shook the earth erupted.
Waaaaah—!
"Who dared call Young Master Sion a failure?"
"How could a half-wit exchange sword auras with monster genius Knight Sylvia!"
"No idea what's happening, but this is incredible!"
The audience erupted in shock and admiration without distinction.
From one section, the obnoxious clicking of camera flashes filled the air.
Reporters clutching fans scribbled furiously.
Meanwhile, Roman watched the spectacle with trembling hands clenched around a handkerchief.
Memories flashed by—days when the young master was pointed at and called a "failure."
His eyes reddened as he struggled to contain his overflowing joy, desperately trying to imprint the young master's transformed appearance in his mind.
In the competitors' section, Louis Dykken shuddered.
Watching the finals while still bandaged, he realized his defeat wasn't accidental—no, Sion hadn't even shown his full strength during their match.
'Was he really this strong all along?'
He felt ashamed of being called a genius. His past pride in working harder than anyone now seemed pathetic.
What kind of genius couldn't even draw out Sion Carsen's true strength?
Though this was a misunderstanding.
Louis had no way of knowing the truth.
Yet. He didn't despair. Only resolved to train even harder, his determination steeled.
At the arena's edge, another storm of emotions raged.
Midgal Lau—Inspection Bureau Director, longtime vassal of the Carsen family, the so-called "Iron-Blooded Knight."
He silently observed the two warriors, their childhood selves superimposed over their current forms.
'When did they grow so much?'
He suppressed the pounding passion in his chest—lest it burst out immediately.
And. He remembered one man. His lord, Sion's father, Sylvia's adoptive father—the giant.
Grand Master, the so-called Emperor of the North—David Carsen.
"My lord. Look."
Your children have grown.
At the storm's center within the arena, my mind had never been more complex.
Engaged in combat while maintaining [Mana Detection], I processed the flood of information at full capacity.
Deep within my heart, the divinity of Lumen Chronos pulsed.
Thump— Thump—.
Through the steam mist, Sylvia's movements as she adjusted her grip were crystal clear.
Which muscles contracted in which direction, how much pressure her toes applied for the next leap, how much freezing mana flowed from her core into her blade.
I analyzed Sylvia's combat data. Impossible without the divinity's aid, yet it cooperated as naturally as my own body.
Crunch. My feet dug into the ground. Using the rebound, I leaped. Maneuvering through suspended time.
Strangely, my movements kept improving. Exploding flame mana from my soles boosted speed, maintaining velocity with flawless motion.
Straight toward Sylvia's front. As if expecting this, she slashed sharply at me.
Screech!
Of course, I'd anticipated her attack—I had the data. Twisting at the last moment, I narrowly avoided her blade and slipped behind her.
Without hesitation, I swung. A strike targeting vital points from her blind spot. Any Beginner Knight would have ended here. But.
Clang!
Sylvia reacted instantly.
Truly a knight with exceptional instincts.
Undeterred by her block, I pressed on without slowing. Accelerating further.
———Clangclangclangclang!
Our fierce exchange crisscrossed the arena. Her blade grazed my hair as mine barely missed her neck.
Where blue aura passed, ice formed; where red aura passed, flames erupted.
Even without direct contact, flesh was cut. Blood flowed from torn skin. Bodies creaked under impacts.
The fiercer the battle, the louder my body screamed.
Clang!
Whenever our blades clashed head-on. Frost and heat waged war between the steel.
Grrrrrr—
Sylvia seemed superior in skill and physique, but my aura held the advantage.
Sssss—
As heat pressed down frost, overwhelming Sylvia, she couldn't hide her shock. Since when did he possess such power? Her expression screamed.
Judging she'd lose like this, Sylvia twisted her wrist rapidly.
Clang!
A mana storm erupted between us, during which Sylvia pushed her aura to its limits—her gamble.
Her blade tip quivered, then split twelvefold.
Meyer-style Ancient Sword Art.
December Snow Wind Flower.
From the sword trails she wove, blue aura shimmered as twelve snow blossoms bloomed.
Then a fierce gale arose, unleashing a waterfall of icy petals.
Try blocking this!
That was the technique.
Of course, I wasn't just taking hits. How much had I trained for this moment?
Not just post-regression efforts—but pre-regression struggles all condensed into this blade.
I painted the air with sword strokes. Layered flaming auras formed tidal waves.
Wind blew.
Burning waves surged.
Modified Carsen-style Ancient Sword Art.
Fire Wind Flame Wave.
———Kwaaaaang!
Two opposing slashes collided. Ice petals melted away as fiery waves cooled to nothing.
Another mist formed.
Several times larger and faster than before.
Pshhhh—
Naturally, Sylvia and I never stopped moving. This instant was our only chance to seize victory.
Through the mist, red and blue auras flashed. Their clashes resembled firework explosions—truly dazzling swordplay.
Kaboom! Crash! Kabang!
No breathing room given.
When Sylvia leaped skyward, I followed to attack. When she created distance, I doggedly closed in to exploit openings. Sylvia grew visibly flustered.
Her expression seemed to say:
'Relentless.'
Naturally. She didn't know my pre-regression self—battle-hardened through countless warzones.
I pressed on ruthlessly, again and again. With vision obscured by mist, [Mana Detection] shone—allowing me to cling even more tenaciously.
Kaaang!
Though Sylvia countered with innate talent and reflexes, she grew increasingly frantic.
Unaccustomed to such combat, she eventually cracked under pressure and unleashed her aura's full might again.
Swinging her sword, she released frigid mana that began freezing the mist particles.
Crackle!
I didn't miss the opening created by her massive technique.
Withdrawing aura.
Erasing presence.
Focusing mana in both legs.
Like a beast silently stalking its prey before striking the throat, I leaped at supersonic speed without a sound.
As the mist cleared. I reached Sylvia's face. My blade touched her neck, its chill transmitting to her.
"......!"
The match was decided.
I smiled gently.
Returning her earlier words:
"Was that proof enough?"
Sylvia's pupils trembled violently before gradually calming.
Honestly, I expected more frustration from losing to me. But her expression was surprisingly composed.
Her voice rang softly:
"You've really... changed. No, have you returned?"
She smiled. I smiled back. Then, simultaneously, we walked toward the arena center.
Stopping at a set distance.
"I concede."
"I've learned much."
Midgal Lau raised his right hand and bellowed:
"The Golden Star Tournament champion is Sion Carsen!"
A beat of silence. The shocking spectacle left everyone speechless. But soon—
Waaaaaah!
Clapclapclapclapclapclap!
Thunderous cheers erupted.
The names echoing through the arena—Sion Carsen and Sylvia Meyer. Neither name was chanted more than the other.
This was respect for the young warriors who'd delivered a spectacular duel, regardless of victory. This was the North the Carsen family built.
'Yes. This is enough for now.'
I felt deeply satisfied. What mattered now were the witnesses themselves.
I wanted them to feel my transformation. To sense I'd bring waves of change.
Approaching Sylvia, I extended a hand.
"Sharp swordsmanship. It was close."
She clasped my hand and replied:
"Mocking me?"
"No. I mean it."
Truly. Without analyzing her and training until the last moment, I'd have lost.
"Sion, you've changed."
"Time to grow up, isn't it?"
Sylvia chuckled, not forgetting to tell me to stop spouting nonsense.
"Sion. I thought you'd gone astray from inferiority toward the eldest young master."
"...What? Ah, haha."
My mind blanked at the mention of my eldest brother. Speaking of which—where might he be looking now?
The Carsen family's first son, the genius called heir to our father's legacy—Shien Carsen.
A prodigy who reached Knight Expert at 28, the very future of the Carsen family.
Revered by all territory citizens, the embodiment of Northern knights' respect.
Currently a hero supporting the monster wave in the western continent.
Admittedly, pre-regression me harbored intense inferiority toward him. Now, I felt none of that.
Compared to what's coming, both he and I remain woefully inadequate. If anything, I must make him stronger.
"How can you casually say such hurtful things?"
"Because it's not true, and I'm grateful for that."
"Tch. Not even listening?"
We bantered informally like childhood friends.
"Next time, I won't lose."
"Won't be easy."
As if truly returned to younger days.
We faced each other and laughed.
Then.
Midgal Lau approached:
"Congratulations. Both Young Master Sion and Sylvia. You've grown splendidly. The lord will rejoice."
"Thank you, Director."
I smiled wryly at his words. Coming from a vassal who'd served Father since childhood, it was reliable—yet I couldn't quite picture Father being pleased.
"Thank you. I truly hope so."
A brief award ceremony followed.
As champion, I received:
- 3 billion Jeni prize
- Qualification to join [Platinum Knight Order]
- Right to make one request to the lord
Among other rewards.
Thus concluded the North's summer festival.
The August Golden Star Tournament.
'I've finally achieved the initial goal.'
But the road ahead remains long.
This is just the first step.