Kai stood while brandishing his blade and leaped forward at a speed enough to produce a sonic boom. The floor he had kicked off with that much strength caved in—he wasn't holding back in the slightest.

The Blind Swordsman faced his assault with minimal movements and blocked him like they were nothing. Accompanied by that momentum, Kai couldn't gain his footing in time and the Blind Swordsman used that opportunity to attack.

Left with no room or capability to dodge, Kai's artificial limbs moved on their own again and did inhuman reactions to block. Although Kai was still sent flying, the damage done to him was evidently way less than it would have been. He had really chosen the right runes to inscribe.

He had taken a lot of time creating the countermeasure to deal with the Blind Swordsman, and this was one of the biggest reasons. He had to find the right runes to create a system that would help him sense his own and his target's capabilities.

Kai looked down at his metal arm. That single attack was enough to dent the metal he had to use Hell Flame at its full power to even make a scratch.

But, he didn't continue to think and launched himself back at the Blind Swordsman like an arrow being released from a bow.

Kai swapped his blade and retrieved one with a lustrous black shine. It was made of the same material as his arm and it wasn't an exaggeration to say that it was the toughest sword in his arsenal. It took him a long time to make it, its value was undoubtedly enough to even buy several countries.

"Pitiful Thorn," Kai muttered the name of his Enchanted Gear and met the Blind Swordsman's katana.

When the blades clashed, another destructive shockwave destroyed the arena's already damaged state. With that, the walls that had been covering the two of them were destroyed. Kai's cloak and mask had long since been broken and their battle was open to the eyes of many.

Kai could feel that with his Soul Call, people from Aubrey Academy had arrived. Anne was there and she was accompanied by a couple of S-class. The emissions created by the short confrontation between Kai and the Blind Swordsman was enough to warrant that reaction.

They were very fast, it was obvious that they had used magic to get here.

Kai turned his attention back to the Blind Swordsman who hadn't even stepped back from the last attack.

"You should really focus on the enemy in front of you."

The Blind Swordsman exerted more power into his blade and forced Kai back. Then, before Kai could regain his footing, he used his specialty, speed. He used a movement technique similar to Flash Step and moved behind Kai then struck out with his blade.

At this angle, even his artificial limbs wouldn't be able to react or so the Blind Swordsman thought.

Surprisingly, the thrusters that had been placed behind Kai's arm and leg stopped emitting flames and new hatches opened on the front.

His sword was deflected once more.

Seeing as how his artificial limbs had saved his life once more, Kai inwardly sighed in relief.

Was it a blessing or a curse that he had lost his limbs?

"I had taken you for the type to not rely on external power. I sensed pride hidden deep within your bones, was I mistaken?"

The Blind Swordsman asked while leisurely walking around with a sheathed blade.

Kai shook his head, "no, you're right. I don't want to rely on external power. I'm also quite the prideful man."

"Then why are you relying on them now?"

Kai raised his blade and pointed it at the Blind Swordsman.

"Because there are things more important than my pride. My family, my friends, and this world that I've been reborn into—twice."

He began increasing the output of his magic power. It wasn't that he was limiting himself before, it was just that he couldn't exert it to the fullest.

"[Body Enhancement: Max Output]. Al, initiate 'no-chant'."

> Initiating no-chant.

>

> Complete.

All of a sudden, the magic power in Kai's body spiked even further and his body that seemed like it was already towering over everything became even tougher.

"I can't have that pathetic excuse for a hero looking at my trump cards before our battle after all."

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Veins protruded on the Blind Swordsman's forehead as he gripped his sword.

"You dare insult the lord again!"

This time, it was the Blind Swordsman's turn to attack first.

Kai normally wouldn't be able to react but he had used everything he had. Limit Break and Blood Rush, he even removed his pendant. Although the Blind Swordsman was mad, he still hadn't used even half of his power yet.

If a single general was strong enough to tower over Kai while sealed, what would the power of four generals unsealed together be? What about the hero that stood above them? They would only need to sneeze to remove a mighty S-class off the plane of existence.

Kai received the Blind Swordsman's attack and used his increased speed accompanied by Flash Step to attack past the speed of sound.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

With each swing, an explosion resounded. More and more of the area began breaking apart under the pressure of their swings.

"What is with that power?!"

Anne yelled out while covering the area with a barrier of light. She couldn't get too close but she could at least minimize the damage done to the still intact houses. Strangely enough, there were no people inside them as if the ones fighting knew this would happen beforehand.

"Today is the finals for the Tournament of Swords! Those two must be the final competitors!"

The two S-class reported while helping Anne with the barrier. Even juust the aftermath of the attacks were too much for them to deal with alone.

"There are several cloaked figures trying to contain the damage, they must be the ones I've heard about! There were seven cloaked figures that appeared in the tournament and each of them contained unimaginable power!"

Anne was only half-listening to the two of them but after mentioning the seven cloaked figures, her ears perked up and when he mentioned their power, she widened her eyes.

It couldn't be... No, it's possible. Although Kenji told me that he'd meet me again in a few years, he never said that he'd leave immediately.

Following that line of thought, Anne immediately recalled the barrier and charged towards the source.

"Miss Anastasia?!"

Although the two of them wanted to follow her, they had no choice but to hold the barrier.

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"Ugh..."

Amelia stopped moving and removed her mask to cover her mouth.

"Are you okay?!"

Erina floated beside her and quickly went to check up on her.

"I'm fine... It's just that this is my first time carrying a child inside me and I feel nauseous..."

Amelia answered while raising her head to help contain Kai's attacks but Erina stopped her.

"Go ahead and rest. I'll take care of your share as well."

"No, I can't leave that much burden on you..."

"Amelia, you aren't allowed to think only of yourself anymore. You have our husband's child inside you, please."

Amelia bit her lower lip and could only nod in response. She didn't want to be a burden but it was true that if she didn't take care of her body, then she's not the only person who would be affected.

"I'll be going now—"

Just as Erina turned around to create more walls of ice to surround the arena, she saw a white-haired girl rushing towards Kai.

"That's... the president!"

Erina used her magic power to sprint towards Anne as fast as possible. She wasn't allowed to see Kai at all costs. Although Kai and Kenji's magic power fluctuations were different, there was always a chance that she could find out the truth.

She wore her mask again and blocked Anne's path with a giant ice wall.

"Don't approach the arena."

Erina spoke coolly. It was as if it was a matter of fact and Anne was the one breaking the rules.

"Who are you stop me? I just have to see something!"

Anne obviously wasn't going to heed her words. Even if she was reformed by Kai, she was still someone who had the disposition to butt heads with him in the first place.

She gathered her mana and was prepared to break through Erina's ice wall.

Naturally, Erina was prepared to retaliate at a moment's notice.

Before they could begin to fight, a huge shockwave—far bigger than what had been created so far reached them and they were both sent flying.

"Kah!"

Erina's mask flew off and she coughed a few times. The shockwave had hit her back directly.

Anne was in front of her in better condition. The two of them looked at each other. Anne's eyes widened and recalled her name from the records she had seen, "Mariko Erina from Soaring Eagle... Then, the one fighting really is Kenji!"

Her face was ecstatic and she began to get up.

"Wait! Don't distract him! He has to pay full attention to the battle or else he might die!"

Erina's plea stopped Anne in her tracks. It was true that she wanted to see him but if it would cost him his life, what was the point?

"If you really feel that way towards him, then please don't come near the arena. Instead, help us contain the damage that they're doing. At this rate, the entire town will be reduced to rubble by the end of today."

Anne looked at the arena in longing before turning back to Erina.

"Fine, I'll help. Where do I go?"

Erina pointed at Amelia's spot.

"Thank you."

She muttered while Anne disappeared from her spot.

Erina looked at the arena before gathering more of her mana. She wouldn't be able to keep it up for long and at that point, Kai would change locations. She just had to last until then.

----------------------------------------

Kai had blood leaking out the corner of his mouth. Even if his arm and leg could nullify most of the damage, some of the shock still managed to transfer to his body and disrupt his organs.

"The anger of the sea, swallow those who dare oppose you."

In just the fraction of a second, the Blind Swordsman's power multiplied. Kai felt like he saw a giant tsunami threatening to swallow him whole. He channeled the mana in his body and used his golden flames. He covered his entire body and leaped towards the Blind Swordsman.

When he clashed with the Blind Swordsman this time, his eyes narrowed.

"Pitiful Thorn: Blood Thorns!"

A rune on his Enchanted Gear suddenly glowed and thorns began rising from beneath the Blind Swordsman. The thorns were the color of blood and they wrapped around the Blind Swordsman's body.

"...Blood. You are a vampire, no wonder you have yet to succumb to your wounds."

Kai bit down on his lower lip and spoke.

"I'm not just a vampire...!"

Six wings sprouted on Kai's back. Four of them were made of feathers, one pair was light while the other pair was dark. The last pair of wings were bat-like wings and were even larger than the other two.

He flapped his wings once and forced the Blind Swordsman to take a step back.

"A mixture of three—no, four races? What in the world are you?"

The Blind Swordsman furrowed his brows for the first time. If it was what his lord had truly said, then the man in front of him was the greatest threat to their plans and he had to be removed at once.

Kai gave a slight chuckle and retreated several steps back.

"That's what I'd like to know myself."