Wind White Swordsmanship
Wind White Swordsmanship. A sword art based on the wind attribute. At its pinnacle, it becomes the storm itself, capable of tearing the world asunder—a supreme technique!
Before my regression, I had reached the realm of peering into its ultimate depths. Of course, not quite the pinnacle. Just one step short. I couldn't bridge that final gap to perfection.
'Even so, it was the sword art that made me the strongest.'
I circulated my now-stable Wind Qi Gong, drawing my ether to its peak.
Shaaaah—
It felt like a faint whisper of wind emanated from my blade.
"……!"
Zadan, still shaken from the shock of my iron weights, stiffened his face. He had sensed the power gathering in my sword.
Wind White Swordsmanship
First Form: Gentle Breeze
Before a typhoon strikes, a refreshing gust blows first. This opening form, which I'd used constantly since regressing, now carried qualitatively greater destructive power than before. Because it was infused with Wind Qi Gong ether.
Chwaaaak!
"Kuhk."
Zadan hurriedly tried to block the Gentle Breeze form, but it was futile. Without the iron weights, my body felt incredibly light—and correspondingly faster than ever before. My speed had already surpassed Zadan's by leaps and bounds, and the boosted power was now on par with his. Add the Wind Qi Gong ether on top...
All of Zadan's attacks missed, while every one of mine landed as solid hits on his body.
"Kuhuuut!"
A stifled groan escaped Zadan's lips. My blade strikes relentlessly battered his upper body from all angles, like a sudden gale whipping mercilessly across him.
Tak.
After unleashing the barrage, I reset my stance.
Wind White Swordsmanship
First Form: Gentle Breeze
Variant: Raging Gale
Chwahaaaah—!
An even fiercer gust ravaged Zadan's upper body once more. His armored exterior showed no major visible damage yet. But beneath, the accumulated shock must have been mounting.
And so, I continued chaining Wind White Swordsmanship forms, utterly dominating Zadan. A few more rounds like this, and even if his armor held outwardly, the internal damage would fell him.
"Kruuuuaaaah!"
Zadan, brutalized, let out a roar. A howl refusing to go down without a fight.
Bwoong—
The arc of Zadan's swinging blade etched clearly through the air, laced with a faint purple glow.
'Hoo.'
I dodged his sword and murmured in quiet admiration. This was proof he'd instinctively channeled ether into his blade, however faintly.
Normally, ether awakening begins in the Growth Stage, with true control coming only upon reaching Maturity through training. But rare prodigies, blessed by innate talent, wield it unconsciously even before then.
Zadan, still in Juvenile Stage, manifesting visible aura. Truly dazzling talent, shining blindingly.
'As expected, crisis breeds growth.'
But still insufficient against me.
Wuuung—
In that instant, the aura surging from him after briefly pushing me back changed. He'd unleashed the full power of that rune without restraint.
'But not just the rune's power.'
The surge was too massive. Ironclad's rune alone couldn't boost his stats that much.
'I see.'
Glancing at Zadan, I deduced the cause of his explosive growth. Not the rune's effect. Likely a skill that detonates latent potential.
Skills like that demand ever-greater tolls on the body the longer they're sustained. Especially for one barely Juvenile Stage... the aftereffects could haunt him for life.
'Time to end this.'
I sensed the moment to decide the match had come. Dodging his blade once more, I assumed my stance.
Wind White Swordsmanship
Fifth Form: Gale Divine Sword
My blade became a single streak of gale, savagely raking Zadan as it passed.
"Kruuuuaaaagh……."
As I crossed him, a scream laced with agony burst from his mouth.
Thud.
The heavy impact from behind needed no glance to identify.
"M-Match over! Aleck wins!"
It was Zadan collapsing to the ground.
"Woooow!"
"Insane—!"
"Whiiiistle—! Epic!"
"Whoa! They're really both Juvenile Stage? This final was nuts."
"I got chills when Aleck ditched those iron weights. He climbed here with those on...? That guy's a monster!"
Thunderous cheers engulfed the arena. Amid the massive roar, a shiver raced up my spine. My first time basking in such adulation from the arena stands.
Not bad. No—a thrilling high that might prove addictive.
"Aleck—!"
"Aleck niiim—!"
The door to our team's waiting room burst open. Robed, Kind, Ruslan, and Bishier charged me in unison. They hugged me tight, bounced around, then hoisted me up for a celebratory toss.
"Kuhuhu! Truly electrifying, Aleck! A perfect comeback kill! This reverse sweep is the most thrilling I've ever commentated—first time feeling this rush!"
"Right?! I'm hyped too! Oh yeah, that laugh earlier? Total confidence in the comeback!"
"Exactly! When Zadan went full armor mode, I thought it was over... But those heavy iron weights? Chills! If he hadn't armored up, Aleck would've pulled it off still wearing them? Mind blown!"
"Maybe we just witnessed a boy ascending to the great heights of future warrior Norton!"
"Indeed, could be! Anyway! The Infant-Juvenile League champs are Team 32! Here we gooo!"
Waaaah—!
Whiiiistle—!
Clap clap clap—!
The announcers' excited voices rang in my ears even as I was tossed. Followed by fresh waves of crowd cheers and applause.
I'd left an even stronger impression than expected, lifting the winner's cup high.
* * *
After our tournament ended, the Growth Stage league kicked off immediately.
"Awesome, Zayton!"
"Kya, Tarantula as expected."
"Baekshio's no slouch either."
The Growth Stage league was fiercer than Infant-Juvenile. Likely because gaps widen more in Growth than Juvenile.
Thus, over two days, Growth Stage wrapped smoothly. On the final day, the near-exhibition Maturity league closed out the five-day Mantis Unity Tournament in grand style.
It fully redeemed the botched prior Sama Battleground games, a massive success.
"Now, let's proceed with the awards ceremony."
The finale: awards time.
All participants gathered center arena. Trophies awarded personally by lord Karimru, starting with Infant-Juvenile.
Third place went up first, receiving cheers, plaques, and prizes.
Next, Zadan's second-place team. Everyone but him looked grim.
'Not even glancing our way.'
They'd stood beside us waiting, yet never turned. Shame and fury, probably.
Zadan, conversely, seemed relieved. Our eyes met briefly... his gaze sparkled more than before.
'What’s this weird feeling.'
Familiar yet unpleasant, like the guys who'd stalked me in admiration pre-regression...
No way Zadan's that type.
I shook off the ominous thought, watching his team receive plaques.
"Next, Infant-Juvenile League champions: Team 32. Please come to the podium."
At the announcer's call, we rose. All eyes locked on us—admiration, envy, longing, curiosity. A mix poured in.
"Heh."
Kind, loving the attention, puffed his chest and strode proudly. His excitement drew a chuckle from me.
Atop the podium, we faced Karimru.
"I watched the matches closely. Kind, Bishier, Ruslan, Robed, Aleck. Your shining talents make Sama Battleground's future blaze bright. Keep refining yourselves into warriors who honor the mantis name."
He met each of our eyes in turn. Kind and Bishier beamed with overwhelming emotion just to stand there. Ruslan stayed stoic. Robed grinned sweetly at her father.
Karimru's lips twitched upon meeting her gaze.
'Holding back a smile.'
Only a few knew their father-daughter bond yet. But after purging spies, her identity was exposed fact. One threat passed, but Craig's shadow loomed. Soon, their relation might go public.
'Sometimes, flaunting is safer than hiding.'
Their eye exchange ended; Karimru turned to me.
'Hoo.'
His gaze had shifted from initial curiosity to... longing. A flicker deep in his eyes, desiring something from me.
'He'll summon me soon...'
Intuition told me so.
Anyway, the lord eyed us once more before continuing awards.
Plaques came with engraved winner's cups bearing our names. We raised them together, bathed in cheers and congratulations.
"Next, Growth Stage league awards!"
Ceremony continued through Growth and Maturity. Finally, the moment I'd awaited.
"Now, MVP selections and Chung Hak Gwan dispatch candidate announcements."
Here it was. Chung Hak Gwan dispatch candidates. The flower path to wing my growth!
I had to snag it.
'Mentioning MVP and candidates separately... maybe distinct?'
Tension gripped me after ages; I watched the announcer closely.
"First, Infant-Juvenile MVP. The winner is..."
He paused dramatically, then grinned.
"Aleck! Congratulations. Infant-Juvenile MVP!"
"Ooh!"
"As expected—!"
"Kya—!"
No surprise. Applause and cheers erupted.
I nodded calmly in thanks. MVP wasn't priority. The candidates next mattered most.
"Now, straight to the Infant-Juvenile Chung Hak Gwan dispatch candidate."
Tension coiled anew.
The announcer spoke.
"Takwin! Congratulations."
"Yesss!"
Damn.
Takwin's name. He pumped fists skyward.
Fair—he shone this tourney. I'd figured he had a shot... but my bad feeling proved true.
'Gotta overhaul plans now.'
I bit my lower lip, face hardening.
That instant.
"Next candidate: Zadan! Congratulations."
"Ooh!"
"Not just one?"
"Ah, 'candidates' for dispatch. They pick several, then finalize, right?"
"Seems so."
'……!'
Zadan's name snapped me alert. Not over yet. With him called... maybe.
Hope flickered; I stared intently.
The announcer spoke again.
"And finally......"