"Well, now that the audience has placed their bets, let's begin," said Ryushin Tenku with an extremely calm voice.

Thus, a blue line oscillated without hesitation.

Suzuki Kyōi, who was blinking while standing still, turned around belatedly.

However, Ryushin Tenku's strike was much faster than expected, so much so that he could barely see it.

A burning pain radiated from his chest. A gash had appeared on his chest, and blood was oozing from it.

Because of this, there was a strong smell of blood that tickled his nose.

Suzuki Kyōi decided to take a few steps back and, uncertain, looked at Ryushin Tenku with a stunned expression.

He, who thought he was stronger, had proven to be weaker. Or rather, Ryushin Tenku was stronger than he had expected.

As if nothing was wrong, Ryushin Tenku stared at Suzuki Kyōi with a calm gaze that was difficult for him to handle.

"It's a shame. I made too superficial a cut," said Ryushin Tenku dissatisfied.

As he said, the wound caused by the sword was superficial. There was only a slight scratch on his chest, but apart from that, there were no other injuries.

However, the injuries Suzuki Kyōi sustained did not limit themselves to those on the tissue, which were healing rapidly.

Meanwhile, Suzuki Kyōi, perplexed and discouraged, began to think, "He seems to be much stronger than Jin Gensō. But even so, how did I manage to defeat him in such a humiliating way?"

As if he could read his mind, Ryushin Tenku said with a clear sneer, while about to launch another attack, "It doesn't take much to understand what you're thinking."

He paused, while a strange cold energy began to swirl around his sword, freezing the blade, and continued saying:

"You're surely wondering why you managed to humiliate Jin Gensō in that way."

Indeed, Suzuki Kyōi was not the only one wondering that at the moment. Many in the stands of the arena had become curious about the answer to this question.

"The truth is that I mortally wounded him a few days ago," he said in a heavy voice.

This left everyone in the arena astonished, the shock was so great that they all forgot what they were doing and remained silent.

In that single instant, everyone listened to Ryushin Tenku's words, and with them, everyone began to change their opinion of Suzuki Kyōi.

Ryushin Tenku, with his confession, deeply shook the arena and the people inside it. The revelation of his previous action against Jin Gensō cast a shadow on Nakamura Kyōi's reputation and drastically changed the public's perception of him.

Suzuki Kyōi, surprised and bewildered by the revelation, tried to maintain his composure. However, his expression clearly reflected the shock and disbelief in the face of what he had heard.

It was clear that this revelation would have a significant impact on the duel's outcome and his reputation within the imperial palace.

In the arena, the silence was deafening, broken only by the heavy breathing of those present and the attentive gaze of the spectators waiting to see how the events would unfold.

Lady Amari Yui, observing from her position in the stands, was silent and thoughtful. She had feared that this duel would lead to unforeseen consequences, but she had not anticipated such a shocking revelation from Ryushin Tenku.

She now had to carefully evaluate how to act in the face of this new situation and the implications it would have for the stability of the empire.

After those words, Ryushin Tenku, with a malicious smile, quickly approached Suzuki Kyōi, with his sword still charged with that cold energy that had frozen the blade.

He had laid all his cards on the table, revealing the reason why Suzuki Kyōi had won, putting him in an extremely vulnerable position due to his shock and loss of confidence.

Moments later, Ryushin Tenku's strike came, a perfect combination of precision and power.

With it, the tension in the arena grew.

Suzuki Kyōi, still incredulous at what Ryushin Tenku had said, could not remain in that state.

Thus, faced with the prospects of such a rapid and humiliating defeat, he decided to gather his strength and regain control of the situation.

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So, he decided to make a direct attack, clashing his blade against Ryushin Tenku's.

However, Ryushin Tenku had already anticipated that would happen, so he chose to shift slightly to the side after his feint had succeeded.

Thus, his blade ended up next to Suzuki Kyōi's throat.

Ryushin Tenku, with cunning and skill, had deceived Suzuki Kyōi with the slight movement and his feint, demonstrating his total control of the situation. While the blade of his sword was positioned next to Suzuki Kyōi's throat, Ryushin Tenku showed no sign of mercy or hesitation.

In the arena, the atmosphere was charged with tension and anticipation. The spectators held their breath, unable to take their eyes off the duel unfolding before their eyes. Every move, every gesture, was observed carefully, as the fate of the two swordsmen and their families hung by a thin thread.

Suzuki Kyōi, despite having been deceived, did not give up. With one last spark of determination, he tried to counterattack, but Ryushin Tenku was one step ahead of him. With a swift and precise move, he disarmed Suzuki Kyōi and forced him to surrender.

In the arena, the spectators were suspended between astonishment and admiration for Ryushin Tenku's strength and pity for Suzuki Kyōi's downfall.

In the arena, as the clamor of the victors mingled with the lament of the losers, the bets had been overturned.

The people belonging to the Ryushin family and a few others who won a large sum of money were rejoicing and laughing with joy.

RETURNING TO MC

Seeing the end of this duel, Schadet Oporitorc was impressed by how easily Ryushin Tenku could win and decide the life and death of his opponent. "I want that power," he initially thought, then changed his thoughts to something else: "No. It's not enough. I want a power that is superior to that, and to that of the people who manage the Underworld and the cycle of reincarnation."

This duel strengthened his determination to become stronger.

Additionally, after the end of it, he also understood other things.

Like the fact that the Ryushin had won all the bets that had taken place, both those within the stands and the bet Ryushin Tenku had made.

However, even though he did not understand the language of this place, it seemed clear to him that all this was planned.

It was as if they knew he would challenge him, made a bet to encourage the audience to bet on the clash.

Given that from their expressions, it's easy to understand they won because they bet on him, and the confidence he showed while starting the bet, it's clear they were certain he would win.

The problem for me now is understanding where that certainty comes from and how strong he really is.

***

Alliances had to be reconsidered, and the entire balance of power within the imperial palace was in the balance.

**

"Fortunately, I stopped in time, otherwise I would have ended up worse. I really have to be grateful to the seniors who advised me."

Returning to Ryushin Tenku

Once he won, Ryushin Tenku decided to further mock and embarrass his opponent by saying, "It seems you have lost, Suzuki Kyōi. I hope you won't go back on your word."

At that point, with a tone full of nervousness and anger, Suzuki Kyōi said, "How could I go back on my word given in front of so many people, after we even made an oath?"

So, he looked in the direction of Lady Amari Yui, who immediately descended from the stands of the arena to reach the center of the arena.

Lady Amari Yui approached the center of the arena with a determined step, maintaining her composure despite the tension in the air, and said, "Since His Highness, the second prince Suzuki Kyōi, has lost, I have come here to fulfill part of his oath."

At that point, Ryushin Tenku nodded and said, "Good, Suzuki Kyōi, you can go now."

So, he left without replying; the humiliation he had suffered today was enough. He did not want to make himself even more ridiculous.

With a new duel about to take place, the tension inside the arena was charged once more.