Translator: Kazumi
Editor: Silavin
The arena thrummed with electric anticipation. This was not mere metaphor—the excitement had reached fever pitch for this rare championship match. The crowd’s energy was palpable, and rightfully so.
Cory, who had delivered remarkable performances over the past month, was about to face Gianna, the fourth-ranked fighter. Since the match announcement, arena fans had engaged in heated debates about how Cory would fare against a top-five opponent.
The betting odds slightly favored Gianna. So-called ‘experts’ attributed this to Cory’s beauty and current momentum rather than pure skill assessment. Until now, Cory had only faced lower-ranked opponents, so the prevailing question was how long she could hold her own against the higher-ranked Gianna.
However, this was merely surface-level analysis. Those who knew Kouhi’s true nature wondered what these experts were really talking about. Of course, those in the know didn’t go out of their way to spoil the excitement surrounding this match. They would answer if pressed, but even then, their responses made opponents look uneasy, so they had stopped being forceful about it.
The battle would take place in the same venue where Kouhi had previously fought Yana and Petr—the oldest and largest arena in Seichun. This venue possessed a unique feature that set it apart from all others: a dome-shaped barrier capable of preventing fight aftereffects from reaching the spectators.
This barrier function was a legacy from the distant past, with some scholars claiming it was a type of sacred relic. Because of this protection, the top five ranked fighters could unleash their full strength without concern for collateral damage. However, the function was reserved for very limited situations—typically when top-five fighters battled each other, as in this case.
The Arena Guild had recognized that Cory’s skills were comparable to those of the top five, enabling this function for the first time in one of her matches.
Beyond its protective capabilities, the barrier served another crucial entertainment purpose: it prevented sounds from the spectator seats from reaching the battle area. Originally installed to block outside interference, this feature had an unexpected benefit for arena management. Commentary could be broadcast to the audience without the fighters hearing it, allowing the Arena Guild to provide live analysis during major battles.
This commentary system would be used for the first time in one of Cory’s fights.
…
“Well, everyone, sorry to keep you waiting. Hosue will be providing commentary today!!!!”
When Hosue’s magically amplified voice resonated throughout the venue, the crowd’s excitement surged. The beginning of commentary signaled that battle was imminent, but the crowd’s enthusiasm also stemmed from Hosue being one of the most popular commentators.
“I’m thrilled to see everyone as excited as ever!”
Hosue’s provocative energy sent the venue into a frenzy. Just as the excitement reached its crescendo, the two fighters entered the arena.
“Now, our fighters have finally arrived! First, we have Gianna, renowned as one of the top four! And second, we have Cory, who appeared like a blazing comet!”
When both fighters’ names were announced, the crowd erupted in cheers for their respective favorites. Most cheered for the fighters they had wagered on, though genuine fans supported their preferred combatants regardless of betting odds. Despite Cory’s recent emergence, she had already gained a substantial following, matching Gianna’s supporters in vocal enthusiasm.
“The match begins shortly, and I was so excited when I heard about this fight that I couldn’t sleep! That’s how much I’m anticipating this clash. Who will be the last one standing? It looks like Gianna is saying something—what could she be discussing?”
The crowd’s excited voices merged with Hosue’s commentary as anticipation reached its peak.
In this charged atmosphere, the battle finally commenced.
Kouhi and Gianna walked to the arena’s center, stopping at an appropriate distance from each other. While Kouhi was comfortable at any range, Gianna specialized in magic and required space to operate effectively. Kouhi accommodated this preference—if this were a close-quarters specialist, they would have positioned themselves much closer. Fighter positioning was entirely at their discretion, with no official rules governing engagement distance.
As they waited for the starting signal, Gianna suddenly addressed Kouhi.
“Well, it’s finally beginning. Did I keep you waiting long enough?”
Despite the distance between them and her conversational tone, Gianna’s voice reached Kouhi clearly—she was using magic to project it. Employing magic before the official start demonstrated considerable confidence.
Kouhi simply regarded her opponent with her usual impassive expression.
“I suppose we don’t chat before battle? Well, either approach works for me.”
Gianna laughed with a relaxed expression, showing no doubt about the outcome.
…
Gianna maintained her casual demeanor while Kouhi’s expression remained unchanged. Without regard for this preliminary exchange, the battle began.
Kouhi made the first move, approaching her opponent with the incredible speed that had characterized her previous arena victories. Her strategy was to close distance before Gianna could establish her magical advantage.
Gianna allowed the approach, wanting Kouhi to believe she wouldn’t attack at that range. However, as Kouhi charged forward, no counterattack materialized.
When approximately two meters remained between them, Kouhi suddenly stopped.
“Oh, you noticed it.”
Gianna’s expression brightened with approval. She had anticipated Kouhi’s frontal assault and erected a powerful barrier. Had she continued her charge, she would have collided with it and sustained damage.
“My turn now!”
Gianna launched her counterattack, targeting Kouhi during her momentary pause. She cast her spell without incantation—a display of advanced magical skill.
Seeing this, Kouhi didn’t deflect the spell with her bare hands as she typically did, instead stepping back to avoid the attack entirely. If Kouhi had deflected it normally, Gianna suspected she would have absorbed some residual damage. Kouhi was feigning limitation by retreating.
Gianna continued her relentless magical assault. Each spell surpassed anything from Kouhi’s previous matches in both power and casting speed. This chain of attacks had earned Gianna the moniker ‘Lightning Mage’.
She cast spells with unimaginable velocity, keeping close-combat fighters at bay through sheer magical pressure. This represented the fundamental principle of wizard combat, and Gianna had perfected the technique.
Kouhi remained on the defensive against Gianna’s onslaught.
Finally, Gianna unleashed her most devastating attack of the battle.
“Explosive Flames and Scorching Wind!!!!”
A searing windstorm accompanied by explosive fire erupted toward Kouhi.