As soon as Hikaru saw Rasla emerging from the gate into the battle arena, he understood why Rasla was the least favored combatant in the betting booth. Despite having ideal body proportions for a regular human male, Rasla’s body is marred by physical imperfections, including the absence of his left hand and scars that mark his face. Nevertheless, he maintained a composed demeanor as he strode toward the battle platform, while adorning a simple light armor and a steel gauntlet.
On the opposite side, Masaki’s figure contrasted sharply with Rasla’s appearance. Clad in light armor that covered her chest and shoulders, adorned with leather bracers on her forearms, and carrying a bow with a quiver of arrows strapped to her back, she exuded grace as she made her way toward the battle platform.
The referee waited in the middle of the ring as both Masaki and Rasla stepped onto the battle platform. He then gave each of them a solemn nod, raised his hand to signal the imminent start of the third match, and dropped it down to commence the match.
After the third match began, Masaki immediately activated her [Phoenix Wings], but before she could take off, she was interrupted by Rasla, who swiftly approached.
*Boom* Rasla dashed forward toward Masaki, employing a special skill that left a slight impression on the surface of the stone platform, closing the distance between them in a flash.
Instinctively, she raised her hands in a boxing guard position to shield her head, but to her surprise, Rasla targeted her unguarded stomach area.
*Bam* Rasla punched her stomach with his chi-covered hand, utilizing the momentum to inflict more damage and propel her backward.
Seeing Masaki in trouble, Hikaru tensed up and jumped from his seat without even realizing it. After a moment, he collected himself and plopped back down.
“Bwaaakh…” Masaki gasped involuntarily as she was propelled backward. She was pushed more than a meter away before touching the stone platform with a heavy thud. But once she touched the ground, she managed to use the momentum to roll backward and rising back to her feet in a crouched position.
Seeing that Masaki was already on her feet, Rasla dashed toward her once again, employing his previous technique. However, she was ready this time, swiftly dashing away by employing a similar technique to evade him.
After putting some distance between them, she ascended swiftly into the sky. Once there, she spat out a mouthful of blood, hastily wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and caught her breath. Then, from her aerial vantage point, she swiftly notched an arrow and aimed it at Rasla.
[Quick Shoot] x3 (Common Skill)
*Swoosh –Swoosh –Swoosh* Masaki channeled chi into her arrows before rapidly shooting them. She first started shooting from approximately 10 meters away, then progressively moved closer before finally retreating.
Rasla could anticipate the trajectory of her arrows as she shot them in front of him, but as she got closer, her arrows became faster, requiring him to react more quickly.
Rasla barely avoided the first arrow.
*Clang* the second arrow was deflected by his armor.
*Thump* the third arrow managed to lodge into his unprotected left shoulder.
Afraid that she had exceeded the allowed one-minute airborne time limit, Masaki briefly landed on the stone platform before taking flight again. With a calm demeanor, she repeated her previous shooting strategy, launching another round of arrows starting from a distance of approximately 10 meters.
[Quick Shoot] x2 (Common Skill)
Rasla avoided the fourth arrow.
The fifth arrow missed as he approached her in a zigzag pattern, causing her arrow to veer far to the left.
As Masaki prepared to notch another arrow, Rasla was closing in too quickly. Reacting swiftly, she elevated her floating height from approximately 3 meters from the ground level to 4 meters, before swiftly changing positions. However, Rasla continued his pursuit, leaping towards her with his previous dashing technique.
*Boom* Rasla leaped toward Masaki trying to attack her using his chi-covered hand.
But alas, Masaki was too far away to be caught in his attack. As Rasla approached closer, she deftly maneuvered around him, while simultaneously shooting an arrow at his unprotected left thigh as he descended to the ground.
*Thump* the sixth arrow lodged into his unprotected left thigh as he descended to the ground. *Thud* upon landing, Rasla lost his balance and fell flat on his face.
As the referee observed Rasla’s condition and thought that he had only slim chances of winning the match, he approached him and asked: “Do you want to continue?”
Rasla looked at the referee and nodded his head, but as he struggled to even find his footing, the referee hesitated to allow the match to continue.
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Meanwhile, Masaki, who was in the air, also heard what the referee was asking. Seeing Rasla persisting in wanting the match to continue, she looked worried. She dreaded the thought of causing him more harm, knowing it could lead to lasting damage.
The referee allowed the match to proceed due to Rasla’s insistence. However, as he attempted to take a step forward, he immediately stumbled and fell in his first step. Blood was also slowly gushing out from both of his wounds, making the referee increasingly more worried.
Masaki decided to land on the battle platform, thinking that the injured Rasla didn't pose any threat to her. Rasla could barely stand while panting heavily due to all the injuries he sustained during the match.
Masaki placed her bow aside and approached Rasla with caution. As she drew closer, Rasla attempted to strike her with his chi-covered punches, but his movements were sluggish and his footing unsteady due to his injuries. Masaki dodged his attacks with ease and retaliated with a swift low kick to his wounded thigh, using her chi-covered leg.
“Aaaarrrgggg,” Rasla howled as the kick landed on his wounded thigh. He fell down once again, grimacing in pain. Masaki didn’t continue her attacks even though she could have. In her mind, she cursed the referee for allowing him to prolong the fight unnecessarily and hoped that the referee would just stop this pointless match already.
Shortly after, the referee stepped in and decided to stop the match.
*TWEEEET* the referee sounded the whistle to indicate the match was over. Rasla glared at the referee and protested his decision while panting and bleeding. Ignoring his protests, the referee allowed the medics to promptly usher him to the healing formation while he cursed and screamed.
The referee then proceeded to announce Masaki as the winner of the third match. After the announcement of her victory, Masaki was also escorted to the healing formation for a brief healing session. Subsequently, the referee decided to call for another recess in the tournament to clean up the battle platform.
In the Royal Seating Box, Prince Clay rose to his feet and applauded Masaki as the referee declared her the winner of the third match. After settling back into his seat, he commented on the match. “Rasla lost because he couldn’t handle your sister’s relentless bow attacks,” he remarked. “But I’m not sure the other contestants will be that easy to deal with. Especially since her next opponent in the semifinal is Sarya the High-elf. What's your take on it, Hikaru?”
Hearing Sarya’s name mentioned by the prince, Hikaru was taken aback as he suddenly remembered the scene where she ruthlessly crippled her opponent by destroying his fingers. He then silently thought, his concern for Masaki’s safety biasing his judgment: ‘If only the referee were firmer in upholding justice, she should have been disqualified already!’
Hikaru thought for a moment before responding: “Well, Sarya became the crowd’s favorite for a reason, but I believe if Masaki does her best, she could overcome her, even though she is a formidable opponent.”
Clay then proceeded to ask another question: “By the way, it seems both your sister and Rasla are already eligible to graduate. If I’m not mistaken, the dashing technique they both employed is a level 2 leg arts skill. The fact that your sister still enrolled in the university and joined this tournament suggests she either needs money or aims to be hired by aristocrats. If her goal is to be hired by aristocrats, why not have her join my Royal Guard? That way, she wouldn’t need to risk her life in this tournament or, worse, live as a mercenary.”
Lydia then chimed in: “Besides, your sister is already in her fifth year, so next year is her last chance to join this tournament. Only students from the third to the sixth year can participate in this annual event. If she hasn’t been hired by then, she won’t have another opportunity to showcase her capabilities and will have to seek employment with the aristocrats through the formal channels.”
Hikaru deliberated on the matter: ‘Hiring Masaki... It feels like holding her hostage, doesn’t it?! What if I fail to secure the Orb Converter? On the other hand, considering the high mortality rate of adventurers, being Clay’s royal guard might be safer than becoming a mercenary. Still, let’s first figure out his true motives and make sure Masaki stays out of our deal.’
Hikaru expressed his concerns to Clay: “Your Highness, if you were to hire Masaki, wouldn’t she become entangled in the matter concerning Kaito? Furthermore, forgive me for my impudence, but I need assurance from you. If I exert my utmost effort but still fail to retrieve the Orb Converter, I implore you not to hold my family, particularly Masaki, accountable. After all, the matter regarding the Orb Converter was only between the two of us!"
Clay reassured him: “Don’t worry, as long as you’ve done your best for me, not only will I not hold your family accountable, but I also won’t hold you accountable even if you fail your mission. Besides, I’ve long presumed that your relationship with your family isn’t favorable, considering they sent you to the Aran war as a military trainee. I also wouldn’t drag her into the matter concerning Kaito, even without you mentioning it. The matter regarding Kaito is a top-secret affair known only to a select few of my trusted royal guards. So, what do you say?”
Hikaru breathed a sigh of relief and replied: “Then I don’t have any problem with it. As long as Masaki agrees, I’m okay with it.”
Clay stretched and stifled a yawn before speaking up: “You know, just sitting here and twiddling my thumbs is making me antsy. How about we shake things up a bit? Let’s swing by the infirmary and pay a visit to Masaki! After all, the tournament is still on recess.”
Clay instructed Lydia to remain in the Royal Seating Box while he and Hikaru made their way to the infirmary within the arena. They followed a special pathway guarded and accessible only to aristocrats.
Inside the infirmary, Masaki had just finished her healing session and was about to head out outside, but she suddenly heard someone calling her.
She looked toward the person who had called out to her and recognized him as the individual who greeted the crowds by waving his hands from the Royal Seating Box during the tournament’s opening ceremony.
Masaki greeted Clay with a bow: “Your Highness.”
Clay stopped her from bowing and replied warmly: “Please, no need for formalities. Congratulations on your victory. It was truly a spectacular fight!”
Masaki responded with gratitude: “Thank you, Your Highness. If I may ask, why were you looking for me?”
Clay got straight to the point: “I’ll be direct; I’m interested in your abilities. Would you consider becoming one of my royal guards?”
Masaki bowed once more as she declined Clay’s offer: “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I prefer the life of an adventurer. I value the freedom it offers.”
Clay followed up with curiosity: “Interesting. I noticed your mastery of level 2 leg arts during your last match. Why continue studying at the university when you’re eligible to graduate? Didn’t you enter the competition hoping to join the royal guard or become a knight?”
Masaki explained her perspective: “Yes, I achieved mastery of level 2 leg arts this year, so I’m set to graduate soon this year. But honestly, I entered the competition to gain more battle experience rather than to pursue a career as a knight or royal guard.”
Clay responded thoughtfully: “Interesting. Well, don’t worry about it then.”
As Clay knew her answer, he decided to return to the Royal Seating Box as the fourth match was about to start. He headed back with Hikaru, feeling a bit disappointed.
After Clay returned to his seat in the Royal Seating Box, he told Hikaru: “Let me know if your sister changes her mind and wants to pursue a career as a knight or royal guard. My door will always be open for her! Just be sure to maintain your cover, your mission takes priority.”
Hikaru the replied: “Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll keep it in mind!”
Shortly after the tournament was resumed. The referee came to the platform and announced the start of the fourth match. The match was between a male Suncian named Teeios, the most favorite combatant from class 4-B, and a female Bamborean named Runi from class 6-B.
Clay exclaimed: “Finally, the most anticipated match of the day has begun!”
Hikaru inquired: “Why is this match the most anticipated, Your Highness?”
Clay responded: “Ah, both contestants participated in last year’s tournament. Teeios emerged as the winner, while Runi, a mage, was eliminated early on. Despite being one of the superior combatants on paper, Runi struggled when her opponent closed in on her. So I’m eager to see how they’ve improved compared to last year.”
Hearing Clay’s insight, Hikaru got excited as the fourth match was about to begin. He watched as Teeios appeared from the west gate and Runi appeared from the east gate.