The Final Match Begins
The next day, Yusoha and Eclipse made their way to the hospital room where Yu Danha was staying. Under the devoted care of the medical support team, most of her wounds had healed. She greeted the two visitors with a relaxed smile.
“Come on in.”
“Hi, sis. How are you feeling?”
“All better now. I’m just bored out of my mind. Anyway, hello to your Guardian Star as well. I’m Yu Danha, Yusoha’s older sister.”
“I already know.”
“It’s Mr. Eclipse, right?”
“Yes.”
“Please take good care of Soha.”
“I will.”
“He’s rather blunt, isn’t he? That actually makes him seem trustworthy.”
Yu Danha spoke with a gentle smile. Eclipse gave a small nod at her calm reaction.
“You don’t seem very surprised, sis?”
“This kid just doesn’t show it on the outside. She was shocked beyond words.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. But it’s a good thing. The number of people badmouthing you should drop significantly now.”
“I suppose so.”
“I’m glad. You’ve been through a lot, Soha.”
There was no trace of jealousy in Yu Danha’s eyes as she smiled at her sister.
“...Yeah.”
“Do your best in the finals. No matter how strong Shin Seongmin is, it doesn’t look like you have zero chance.”
“It’ll be fine.”
In that moment, Yu Danha caught the confidence shining in Yusoha’s eyes. For her younger sister—who was so often called arrogant by others—to display such certainty could only mean one thing. This finals match was bound to produce quite an interesting outcome.
“Looks like we’re in for a string of upsets this time.”
“That’s the plan.”
“At least it won’t be boring. I’ll leave you to it, Soha.”
“Yeah. Take care of yourself too, sis.”
“I told you, I’m fully healed. I’m only staying in bed because I want to rest.”
“Got it. And...”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
Yusoha didn’t elaborate on what she was thanking her for. She didn’t need to. Yu Danha understood perfectly—the gratitude for having been treated with warmth despite all the jealousy and hatred she once harbored. Realizing this, Yu Danha simply smiled.
“Yeah.”
For the next three days, Yusoha devoted herself entirely to training. Her efforts weren’t limited to improving her own abilities. She believed she could support Eclipse in battle. If she hurled swords formed from her mana toward him during combat, he would be able to showcase his strengths even more effectively.
Eclipse agreed with her reasoning. Having at least one sword would be useful, he decided. So he simply told her to create weapons and throw them to him during the finals against Shin Seongmin. The weapons she produced would be far superior to anything half-hearted he might conjure himself.
Yusoha readily accepted the suggestion, and at last the day of the finals arrived.
The emcee’s booming voice, the crowd’s thunderous cheers and eager anticipation, and the various performances held in honor of the finals. Countless sounds crashed against Yusoha’s ears. When every last ceremony finally concluded, Shin Seongmin stood before her.
“Hello, Miss Soha.”
“Yes. It’s been a while, Mr. Shin Seongmin.”
To Shin Seongmin’s friendly greeting, Yusoha responded with noticeable coolness.
“Isn’t that attitude a bit too cold?”
“After you publicly brushed me aside like that, I’d say this reaction is actually quite mild.”
“Brushed you aside? Me?”
“You compared me to Danha and didn’t even mention my name, remember?”
“You’re really upset about that…?”
Shin Seongmin wore an incredulous expression.
“It’s a big deal to me. Anyway, enough small talk. Let’s just get started.”
When Yusoha glanced at the referee, the official looked briefly at Shin Seongmin. The silent question was clear: was it all right to begin?
“Well, let’s do that.”
At Shin Seongmin’s nod, the referee promptly separated the two contestants and declared the start of the match.
The moment the match began, both sides did the exact same thing. They called forth their Guardian Stars.
“Adein.”
“Eclipse.”
Beside Shin Seongmin, Adein materialized, floating in midair. She had solid horns the same vivid red as her hair and a tail wreathed in living flame. A high-ranking fire spirit—Adein.
The instant she appeared, Eclipse revealed himself as well. His shabby, worn armor, tattered cloak, and broken greatsword looked positively plain next to Adein’s brilliant presence. Yet everyone in the arena knew exactly how strong that battered knight truly was.
As expectation filled every eye, Adein stared at the worn knight before her with a bored expression.
“What the hell is this tin can?”
“Don’t let your guard down, Adein. He’s strong.”
“Oh? In that case, shall I go all out?”
With an eager grin, Adein sought permission from her contractor. Shin Seongmin nodded at his excited Guardian Star.
“Go ahead.”
In that instant, fire ignited across Adein’s body. When the flames completely engulfed her, she became a massive fireball hovering in the air. Shin Seongmin reached out toward it. The fireball rushed to him as if offering everything it had, then began to merge with his body.
A dramatic transformation overtook Shin Seongmin. Crimson armor encased his entire frame, and fierce flames roared from the wing-like structures on his back. In his hand appeared a blazing sword.
Watching the sight, Yusoha swallowed hard, throat tight with tension.
Spirit Unification. It was Shin Seongmin’s unique ability—the very power that had placed him among the top ten S-class Hunters in the entire country.
Having completed all preparations, Shin Seongmin fixed his gaze on Eclipse and kicked off the ground. Violent flames erupted like a storm in his wake, scorching the path behind him.
Eclipse watched the man charging toward him and spoke to Yusoha.
“Soha.”
“...Yes.”
“I’m going to need a weapon.”
“Understood.”
There was no need to ask what kind. Yusoha instantly formed a greatsword and placed it in his hand.
“It probably won’t last long. My mana carries the iron attribute, so it’s weak against the fire attribute Mr. Shin Seongmin possesses. The blade will melt gradually, and a strong enough impact might shatter it completely. I’ll keep sending you new ones.”
Yusoha calmly acknowledged her own limitations.
“Got it.”
Gripping the greatsword in one hand, Eclipse stared down the oncoming Shin Seongmin and charged to meet him.
Boom!
The instant the ground around them exploded, Eclipse appeared directly in front of Shin Seongmin. As if he had anticipated it, Shin Seongmin swung his flame-wrapped blade. Eclipse answered with the golden greatsword Yusoha had created.
Kwaaaang!
A deafening roar far greater than the earlier explosion shook the arena as the shockwave swept across the entire field.
“...!”
At the moment of impact, Shin Seongmin’s eyes flew wide. The sheer, impossible power behind Eclipse’s strike was overwhelming. Even with Adein’s support, he felt that the slightest lapse in strength would send his sword flying from his grasp.
“What the—!”
Argh… What is this?!
A groan escaped Shin Seongmin’s lips while Adein’s scream echoed inside his head.
What kind of power is this?
None of the powerful demonic beasts Shin Seongmin had faced before had ever exerted this kind of pressure. Just how strong was the unassuming knight standing before him?
He couldn’t even dare to pull his sword back. If he did, that greatsword would smash into him. Caught between advance and retreat, bewilderment began to surface in Shin Seongmin’s eyes.
But that bewilderment lasted only a moment. His gaze suddenly dropped to the greatsword pressing down on his own. Despite the overwhelming force, Eclipse’s blade was glowing red-hot and covered in cracks.
Just as Yusoha had warned, the sword she created was melting under Shin Seongmin’s fire-attribute mana. When Eclipse’s raw physical strength was added on top of that, the weapon had sustained severe damage.
Shin Seongmin’s eyes flashed. He endured the crushing pressure and noticed Eclipse had clearly realized the state of his sword as well. If they continued this contest of strength, the blade would snap at any second. Eclipse slightly lifted the greatsword that had been bearing down so fiercely.
Shin Seongmin didn’t miss the tiny opening. The moment his sword regained freedom, he yanked it back, then surged forward again while igniting even fiercer flames.
Eclipse responded with blinding speed. The cracked golden greatsword moved to block the frontal assault. Though the reaction time was astonishing, Shin Seongmin kept his composure and struck the blade with full force.
If he could break it, his opponent would be left without a weapon for a crucial few seconds.
Boom!
Another collision. This time, raging flames engulfed Eclipse’s front. The surrounding air warped from the intense heat.
Just as Shin Seongmin predicted, the golden greatsword could not withstand the second violent impact.
Crash!
The half-melted, red-hot blade shattered with a sharp cry. Shin Seongmin seized the opening. His flame-infused sword came hurtling down toward Eclipse’s right collarbone.
But in that instant, a thin shield formed above Eclipse’s right shoulder and stopped the blow cold.
“Damn it…!”
Shin Seongmin realized he had made a rookie mistake. Overwhelmed by the immense power and skill Eclipse had displayed, he had momentarily forgotten Yusoha’s presence entirely.
Of course, Yusoha’s shield could only hold for a brief moment. The golden barrier was already beginning to melt. But that single moment was more than enough.
Enough for Eclipse’s now-freed fist to slam into Shin Seongmin’s armored torso.
Thud!
A tremendous force swept through Shin Seongmin’s entire body.
“Keuk!”
Aaack!
Screams tore from both Shin Seongmin and the unified Adein. Watching them fly backward, Eclipse kicked off the ground once more, intending to land another blow.
Even while airborne, Adein tried to obstruct him by erecting a fierce wall of flame. Eclipse simply tore straight through the barrier with his bare body and drove his fist into them again.
Boom!
The impact was even more violent than before. Their bodies bounced off the edge of the arena barrier and slammed hard against its boundary.
Everyone watching was stunned into silence.
Thinking it was over, Eclipse turned to look at Yusoha.
“Soha. It’s o—”
His mouth snapped shut mid-sentence. An overwhelming heat surged from behind him—far fiercer than the flame barrier he had just shattered.