🔥🔥 You can find chapters ahead here
Support link: pat_reon.com/Redon1
Also other exciting fanfic available 🔥🔥
----------------------------------------------------------
When Tsubaki saw Gyomei Himejima return, she didn't blame him.
After all, this was only a competition.
And Gyomei hadn't held back at all.
She could see that clearly.
If there was anyone to blame, it could only be Mai Shiranui's strength-
All thanks to Emiya teaching her Nen.
"I'll take over from here."
Tsubaki stood up, stepped into the ring, and looked at the still-breathing-hard Mai Shiranui.
"Would you like a break, Miss Shiranui?"
Mai Shiranui shook her head.
A hammer appeared in Tsubaki's hand.
"In that case, please forgive me, Miss Shiranui."
She swung the hammer straight down.
Mai Shiranui casually tossed several Ko-oh Ken fans to block it.
They were smashed aside instantly.
Tsubaki charged forward.
The two entered close combat.
The crowd erupted.
Cheers thundered through the arena.
Mai Shiranui's earlier one-versus-two performance had already captured the audience completely.
Most of the cheers were for her.
By comparison, Tsubaki was clearly less popular.
She was beautiful too, but not on Mai Shiranui's level.
Still, popularity didn't decide fights.
Strength did.
Tsubaki was a Level 5 adventurer.
She had come into contact with Nen earlier than Mai Shiranui.
In pure strength, she still had the upper hand.
And Mai Shiranui had already expended a large amount of stamina and Ki in the previous two matches.
This exchange was unfavorable for her.
At first, they were evenly matched.
But after three to five minutes, Tsubaki began to suppress her.
A strange scene formed in the ring.
The audience cheered wildly for Mai Shiranui-
While she was being steadily pushed back.
The more she struggled, the louder the cheers became.
Emiya couldn't help but sigh.
"Mai's popularity is really something."
Medusa replied calmly, "She is a great beauty, after all. I only hope Miss Tsubaki won't be affected."
Emiya laughed.
"She won't be. Tsubaki may be a blacksmith, but she's a first-rate adventurer."
"She's been in the Dungeon countless times."
"Life-and-death fights are normal for her."
And that was exactly the case.
Tsubaki's swings were steady.
Unshaken.
Mai Shiranui's situation grew increasingly dangerous.
So she made a decision.
A Super Desperation Move.
Ninja Bee.
Her Ki exploded.
Flames engulfed her body.
With her Emitter-type Nen, the technique was pushed even further.
For an instant, Mai Shiranui resembled a blazing fire dragon.
She lunged at Tsubaki.
A tidal wave of energy swept outward.
Tsubaki showed no fear.
She smiled.
Excited.
She was a blacksmith.
A very good one.
A top-class one.
She worked with fire every day.
So when faced with raging flames, her instinct wasn't to avoid them.
It was to tame them.
To control them.
To forge something greater.
She stepped forward and collided head-on with the blazing Mai Shiranui.
The impact shook the arena.
Flames surged outward like a massive wave.
They even reached the audience stands.
The temperature spiked instantly.
Emiya released his Nen without hesitation.
A massive defensive wall formed, sealing the flames and stopping them from spreading.
After a brief clash-
Mai Shiranui was blasted backward like a cannonball.
She spun through the air and landed on her feet.
Her clothes were badly damaged.
Just as her figure was about to be exposed to countless eyes-
Emiya appeared in front of her.
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
In an instant, a conservative outfit formed around her body.
At the same time, another man appeared in the ring.
Andy.
Mai Shiranui's boyfriend.
It was obvious he'd been watching from the crowd.
The moment he realized what was about to happen, he rushed out.
Unlike Emiya, he didn't have spare clothes.
He was probably planning to use his own.
Mai Shiranui gave Emiya a grateful look.
She turned to Tsubaki.
"I give up."
Then she hurried off the stage.
Andy mouthed a quick thank you to Emiya and immediately chased after her.
Emiya shrugged.
He congratulated Tsubaki.
Then he returned calmly to the audience seats.
The match continued.
King took Mai Shiranui's place.
She stepped into the ring for the final bout against Tsubaki.
Although Tsubaki had won earlier, she wasn't unscathed.
The clash with Mai had consumed a lot of her strength.
King knew that.
She launched a fierce assault immediately.
Relentless.
No breathing room.
Tsubaki resisted with everything she had.
Her hammer swung with force, repelling King again and again.
But every time King retreated, she charged right back in.
She kept pressing.
Grinding down Tsubaki's stamina.
After more than ten minutes-
King landed a powerful kick on Tsubaki's wrist.
The shock surged through her arm.
The hammer flew from her grasp.
It soared off the stage and smashed into an aisle in the audience.
A thunderous crack echoed.
A massive crater formed.
Stone blocks flew outward.
Each fragment carried the force of a bullet.
If they struck someone-
It would be fatal.
Hephaestus acted instantly.
Divine power surged.
The flying stones were seized by an invisible force.
Pulled toward her.
Then incinerated into ash by a flicker of flame.
Tsubaki and King both let out a breath.
If someone in the audience had been hurt-
Neither of them would have forgiven themselves.
Because of this, Tsubaki lost the will to continue.
"I give up!"
She withdrew decisively.
She was a blacksmith first.
Not a martial artist.
King was surprised, but said nothing.
She didn't feel her victory was undeserved.
If the fight continued, her chances were high.
Tsubaki's surrender meant the Hephaestus Team was defeated.
The New Women Fighters Team advanced.
Hephaestus raised no objections.
As a goddess, she wouldn't criticize over this.
She respected Tsubaki's choice.
They were here for fun.
Nothing more.
The Hephaestus Familia wasn't known for combat in Orario.
After the match ended, the host announced a fifteen-minute break.
Then the final match of the day would begin.
Psycho Soldiers Team versus Nen Users Team.
It was clear they intended to finish the first round today.
The audience was still energized.
If anything, they were more excited.
During the break, Emiya went backstage to the Nen Users Team's lounge.
Shizuka Hiratsuka, Nico Robin, and Mikumo Kushinada were sitting leisurely on the sofa.
Relaxed.
Waiting.
"You three look pretty calm," Emiya said lightly.
"Not taking your opponents seriously?"
Shizuka replied calmly, "We're not underestimating them."
"We just don't care that much about winning."
"Winning is nice. Losing is fine too."
"It's just a competition."
Robin smiled and nodded.
"She's right. We just want to experience the atmosphere."
Mikumo took a sip of tea.
"If you want us to get serious, Boss, we can go all out."
Emiya laughed.
"No need."
"Just follow your own pace."
"You're right. It's only a competition."
He'd been slightly worried before.
Now he wasn't.
Since no one cared, he didn't push it.
He chatted with them for a while.
When the match time approached, he stood to leave.
As he passed through the main hall backstage-
He saw King.
He walked over.
"Congratulations on advancing."
"Where's Mai?"
King stiffened slightly.
"Oh, it's you."
"Thanks."
"She should be with Andy."
Noticing her expression, Emiya frowned.
"What's wrong? You look flustered."
"I..."
Before she could finish-
Another voice cut in.
"King, you were looking for me!"
__________________________
🍊 Boost This Fanfic! 🍊
Every 350 Power Stones gets 2 bonus chapters! 🚀
Want faster updates? Show your support by dropping Power Stones, leaving reviews, and sharing your thoughts in the comments! Your engagement keeps the story going strong!