The entire Colosseum fell silent. Even the High-ranking officials never expected Kyu Kazumi to descend to the arena herself.
Kyu Kazumi stared sharply at Nic and asked, "First of all, your name is Nic, right? Where do you come from?"
Nic replied casually, "Correct, I'm Nic. I'm from the Western, and I'm just a traveler."
Kazumi smiled. "I will remember that."
Then, Kazumi prepared to fight Nic.
The spectators grew ecstatic. It was rare to see Kyu Kazumi fight in public, and they were finally getting a chance to witness her prowess again.
Nic activated his supplementary skills: God of Speed and God of Analyst. This allowed him to analyze and match Kazumi's incredible velocity.
The battle began. And what did the spectators see? Nothing... only the occasional flash of a katana blade.
Their movements were so fast they were nearly invisible to the naked eye; only the high officials could truly track the exchange.
"I didn't expect that boy to be able to keep up with Kyu Kazumi," said one official.
"I wonder what his true background is... the West has never been interested in our customs," remarked another.
Meanwhile, Kazumi was impressed. Nic's extraordinary speed proved he was no ordinary person, and every single one of her slashes was being parried.
Eventually, Kazumi got serious. She stopped relying solely on her katana and began using her entire body.
As Nic parried her blade, she suddenly kicked his hand, sending Nic's katana flying.
Kazumi immediately seized the opening to strike, but Nic evaded with blinding speed and turned the tables. He grabbed Kazumi's wrist and disarmed her as well, flinging her katana away.
Both katanas lay on the ground. A hush fell over the crowd; they were shocked to see Kazumi's katana forced from her hand.
"Not bad... but you only have one katana, right?" Kazumi said as she drew another katana she had prepared.
Nic smiled. "I just need to take mine back."
However, Kazumi had already swept up all the fallen katanas. She held three blades between her fingers.
"Now what?" Kazumi asked with a cold gaze.
Nic felt even more challenged. Kazumi wasn't afraid of being called "unfair," and in reality, it wasn't cheating it was strategy.
Nic didn't retreat. He stepped forward and took a stance similar to when he fought Kenji. The difference this time was that he wasn't pointing a katana; he was gesturing with his bare hand for Kazumi to come at him.
Kazumi smiled. Her battle lust was ignited, just like when she fought Meilin.
"ENTERTAIN ME!!" Kazumi shouted as she moved with impossible speed, utilizing her Wind Technique.
Nic could no longer simply evade. Every time he moved, Kazumi attacked again without a pause, forcing Nic to block her blades with his bare arms.
Nic was slashed multiple times. His arms were covered in blood, yet he did not fall.
Kazumi paused for a moment. Nic was covered in severe gashes, but he stood tall, smiling.
"You really are an anomaly..." Kazumi muttered.
Then, it was Nic's turn to go on the offensive. He activated God of War and God of Immunity, and his eyes glowed a deep red.
Nic stopped defending. He chose to overpower Kazumi's strikes, slamming into her until two of her katanas flew out of her hands, leaving her with only one.
The audience held their breath. This was no longer a mere match; it was a clash between a Phenomenon and an Anomaly.
Kazumi was genuinely thrilled. Despite being covered in wounds, Nic continued to fight like a madman.
Nic gave Kazumi no room to breathe. He lunged forward, and though Kazumi's reflexes took her behind him, Nic reached back and grabbed her blade with his bare, bleeding hand. He wrenched the katana away and tossed it aside.
As Kazumi stumbled, Nic prepared to deliver a punch. But suddenly, Nic slipped and failed to land the hit.
Kazumi was stunned. She couldn't believe Nic had actually slipped, but since he fell right in front of her, she punched him, sending Nic flying across the arena.
Kazumi was panting, exhausted. She looked toward the edge where Nic had landed, and he raised his hand in surrender. He smiled, but there was a sense of emptiness in Kazumi's heart.
The crowd erupted in cheers. It had been an incredible fight. They chanted Kyu Kazumi's name repeatedly, reaffirming her status as the Pillar of the Kyu region and the inspiration of its people.
Kyu Kazumi immediately left the Colosseum.
Meanwhile, Yami and Marin rushed to the severely injured Nic.
"My god... are you okay? Your wounds are terrible," Yami said, trying to help him up.
Nic looked at her and laughed. "Haha, relax... I'm just so embarrassed that I slipped during that fight."
Marin facepalmed. "Honestly, Nic... it's a good thing Kazumi wasn't holding her katana when you fell, or you'd be more than just bruised."
Before receiving his prize, Nic was taken to a recovery room. His body was now covered in bandages.
Afterward, Nic received his reward: a ticket to enter the Cherry Blossom territory and permission to meet Kyu Kazumi privately, as the officials concluded she was interested in him after their duel.
A few moments later, a Kyu guard approached the resting Nic.
"Are you Nic? Kyu Kazumi wishes to see you. Alone."
Yami begged to come along, but the guard stopped her. Kazumi wanted a one-on-one conversation.
Nic looked at Yami. "Don't worry. I'll ask her to meet you."
Yami went silent and smiled, her heart fluttering at his words. Marin, who had initially been afraid of Yami, saw a different side of her.
"I guess I shouldn't be so quick to fear someone..." Marin thought to herself.
---
Nic followed the guard to the Cherry Blossom territory.
Kyu Kazumi was sitting under a massive Cherry Blossom tree, casually eating an apple while bandaging the bruises she had received from Nic.
Seeing Nic arrive, she finished her apple, stood up, and dismissed the guard.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Kazumi said coldly.
"On purpose? No..." Nic replied.
Kazumi stepped very close to him, her gaze icy, before finally letting out her frustration.
"I know you did! There's no way you just slipped! I saw how you fought you're clearly not normal and you could match me! THERE IS NO WAY SOMEONE THAT GREAT WOULD DO SOMETHING THAT STUPID!" Kazumi yelled.
Nic was surprised. The girl rumored to be calm and cold was actually quite the chatterbox.
"You say 'no way,' but it actually happened, right? That's me... I really did slip because I lost my focus," Nic said, looking away.
"Lost your focus? Where were you focusing, huh?" Kazumi looked annoyed.
"I was focusing... on your face. It went from being excited to being worried."
Kazumi went silent. She remembered that when Nic had almost defeated her, she had felt a flash of worry not just about losing, but about being seen failing by the citizens and the officials.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't come here to tear anyone down. I'm here for my studies and to find unique things around the world. I know you have high pride... you can hit me again now if you want," Nic said with a smile.
"Hmph... thank you..." Kazumi crossed her arms and thanked him, offering her congratulations for winning the tournament.
"Ah, thanks. By the way, I have a request. Can you meet Kyu Yami and talk to her? She's the one who brought me here, and she really wants to meet you."
"Huh? Sure, fine. I'll go now. Enjoy the Cherry Blossom territory," Kazumi said, waving as she walked away.
Before she got too far, Nic shot her with the Cupid Arsenal.
[ Ding! Congratulations! Kyu Kazumi is 100% in love and loyal to Master Nic! ]
[ Ding! Hearth Claim active! Kyu Kazumi has been added to the girlfriend list. ]
"Right... now let's see this Cherry Blossom territory." Nic headed deeper into the area to find the Chief Guardian.
To be continued...