The Brute-Force Knight.
His name suited him. As he walked out of the tunnel, even the surrounding audience could hear his heavy footsteps, like a small earthquake.
*Thud, thud, thud.*
Accompanied by the tremors, a 'beast' over two, nearly three meters tall appeared before everyone.
The monster was covered in pitch-black armor, with savage spikes... but one could vaguely see crimson, bloodthirsty eyes through the gaps in its helm. His entire body was covered, not a bit of skin exposed... people could imagine the muscles knotted beneath it like boulders.
The sense of oppression was like a tide.
It made many spectators in the audience feel short of breath.
And in the Chamber of Commerce's meeting hall, numerous directors sat together, watching the live broadcast screen.
Historically, the Chamber of Commerce had never held meetings this frequently. Even with the Radiant Knight, meetings only became frequent after she reached the Top 8 of the Championship Major. They probably never imagined... that the great Chamber of Commerce would one day be repeatedly slapped in the face by a little Infected knight in the spring season, a minor competition nobody cared about. ...One director was even hospitalized from anger. This was likely a first in the Chamber of Commerce's history.
Czarny, as the Chamber of Commerce's external spokesperson, was respectfully explaining to the directors.
Generally speaking.
The directors didn't have time to meddle in the trivial affairs of the Chamber and the Knight Major. They just needed to give orders. ...As the spokesperson, Czarny had been given significant power. ...However, this power didn't make Czarny happy.
Because he knew.
This power was granted by the directors. As long as he proved incompetent, or if they needed a scapegoat, he would be easily discarded and the power given to someone else.
But, even knowing this, what could he do?
He couldn't change anything, much less fight against the massive Chamber of Commerce.
"Honored directors, the one we've sent to fight the 'little squirrel' is the Brute-Force Knight. ...He isn't actually a knight, but a relatively mature experimental product from Shaw-Ranke Biotechnology."
"This test subject used a strong Sarkaz as the base. ...Afterward, genes from Originium creatures outside Kazimierz were injected into the base body... allowing these two different creatures to fuse and self-perfect. After fusing with the Originium creature's genes, he not only gained a physique far superior to ordinary people, but his skin, muscle, and bone hardness, as well as his vitality, have all been greatly enhanced. ...In comprehensive test data, its strength, endurance, and defense have even surpassed the three-time champion, the Black Knight."
The Chairman was absent. Director Barton, sitting in the main seat, was still a bit uneasy.
After the lesson of being slapped in the face last time, Director Barton no longer dared to be 100% confident.
"Rest assured, Mr. Barton. Our company's 'artificial monster' technology is very mature. We've even had academic exchanges with Columbia's Rhine Lab."
The director speaking was precisely the Chairman of Shaw-Ranke Biotechnology.
"Moreover, we have also analyzed the 'little squirrel's' actual combat strength."
"In her previous matches, the 'little squirrel' has shown three combat styles. The first is ordinary knight combat. ...The second is using Originium Arts to wrap her sword in flames. ...As for the third, it's a burst of terrifying speed to finish the job."
"The first two are easy to deal with. Even against that Pincerbeast, the 'little squirrel' couldn't kill it with just the first two styles. ...The third should be her trump card. ...And according to frame-by-frame analysis by the combat analysis department, although her speed is terrifying, after using that move, she should be unable to fight back. ...We can reference the hallway surveillance after the Swift-Sword Knight match. Although she left the arena calmly, when she reached an empty area, she was so exhausted she almost collapsed."
"Therefore, as long as she uses that move, she'll be a spent force. ...We just need to withstand that move head-on, and that's it."
"And the Brute-Force Knight fits this requirement perfectly. He has three hearts, two brains, plus the Originium creature genes. ...Even if his head is cut off, he won't die."
After hearing the Shaw-Ranke Chairman's analysis, Director Barton and many other directors felt it made a lot of sense and nodded in belief.
Indeed.
There was still a huge gap between the 'little squirrel' and a champion knight.
The Swift-Sword Knight lost only because he was countered. The Swift-Sword Knight specialized in speed, and the 'little squirrel' was even faster. ...If it were someone with a thicker hide, she would be helpless.
Since her weakness had been found, she should be much easier to deal with.
——————
"He's a big one. It seems the Chamber of Commerce people did their homework."
Lucas Reeve controlled Sona's body, his expression calm. Although compared to Sona's 1.6-meter height, the nearly 3-meter-tall Brute-Force Knight was like a small mountain, Lucas Reeve didn't treat it as a big deal at all.
"Sona, if it were you, how would you defeat this person?"
Even at a time like this, Lucas Reeve didn't forget to teach Sona how to fight on the spot.
Sona thought for a moment, her soul's voice echoing in Lucas Reeve's mind.
"Mr. Reeve, if it were me, with a body that big, he must be relatively inflexible. I could use my agility to keep my distance. ...If I could learn the Honoikazuchi no Kami that you used before, Mr. Reeve, I should be able to cut his head off instantly."
Lucas Reeve smiled. "Good answer. But if you had done that, you'd already be dead."
Sona paused. "Mr. Reeve, can this big guy's reactions dodge Honoikazuchi no Kami?"
"No..."
"Besides, this guy isn't just a person. He's a fused-gene creature produced in a lab. He has three hearts and two brains, and his vitality is incredibly tenacious. ...Even if you cut off his head or pierce his body, he still won't die. ...And would you have any strength left to fight after using Honoikazuchi no Kami?"
"So, Sona, remember this: unless it's a last resort, never exhaust your stamina. Always reserve enough stamina to escape. ...And don't rely on your feelings. You *feel* like you can kill him, but that feeling isn't necessarily correct. It might just be an illusion the enemy created to deceive you."
Sona was shocked. "Three hearts!!"
She looked at the big guy in front of her in disbelief.
"I understand, Teacher. But... is that still human? Kazimierz labs are actually conducting human experiments?"
"Not surprising. I've seen plenty."
Lucas Reeve drew the knight's longsword from his waist.
Immediately, the announcer's voice rang out from the broadcast.
"The 1095 Knight Major Spring Season Playoff Semi-Finals!! Our Flametail Knight versus the Brute-Force Knight!! And now... begin!!!"
When the starting bell rang.
The Brute-Force Knight, trembling all over, was like a hungry monster whose cage door had suddenly been opened. ...He charged out instantly. His massive body and heavy black armor made him look like an iron tower running across the field.
Even far off in the stands.
...many ordinary spectators still felt immense pressure. ...If they were put on the field, they probably would have fainted or pissed themselves in terror.
Almost everyone's eyes, and even the camera lenses, were focused on Sona. ...Many wanted to see how Sona would take down this monster, while others wanted to see her easily crushed by it.
The Brute-Force Knight had already crossed midfield and would reach Sona in a moment.
Yet Sona still hadn't moved an inch. She wasn't even in a fighting stance. ...Her hands were still hanging at her sides. It looked just like she had given up.
"Arrogance?"
A director sneered. "Is the 'little squirrel' planning to rely on that same move to end the fight instantly again?"
"I was afraid she *wouldn't* use it," the Shaw-Ranke Chairman snorted, his expression full of confidence in his company's creation.
"Sona."
Lucas Reeve spoke slowly, giving a live combat lesson.
"Breathing techniques are comprehensive... they cover almost all aspects of combat. If you face this kind of enemy, you should fight like this."
As Lucas Reeve finished speaking.
The giant hammer in the Brute-Force Knight's hand had already smashed down in front of Lucas Reeve, carrying gusts of wind pressure. ...Even the surrounding audience could clearly hear the whistling sound of the air pressure.
She still hadn't dodged!!
The enemy's attack was right in front of her, and she was still standing there!!
What was the Flametail Knight thinking? Was she trying to...
Huh?
She disappeared?
Suddenly.
Lucas Reeve's figure vanished from under the giant hammer. ...When he reappeared, Lucas Reeve was already behind the Brute-Force Knight.
"Watch closely, Sona."
[Noble Phantasm: Knight of Owner] Added property: Sharpness
The moment the Noble Phantasm was released, Lucas Reeve's palm instantly turned black. ...And this blackness flowed like liquid, spreading over the knight's longsword.
"Sun Breathing!!"
Lucas Reeve's footwork was like a dance, seemingly chaotic, but with a hidden pattern. ...The motion of his hands wielding the longsword didn't look fast. ...yet one could vaguely see countless afterimages surrounding his hands as they moved. ...In that instant, the flames of the sun twisted and turned back and forth across the Brute-Force Knight's body.
The entire process took only a second.
Lucas Reeve, just as in his previous matches, flicked the longsword, not a single drop of blood on it, producing a sharp ringing sound. ...He then fluently sheathed the sword and turned to leave without looking back. ...As for the Brute-Force Knight, he was frozen stiff, motionless.
The giant hammer in his hand was still held in its downward swing. His huge body was like a statue.
The entire arena was as quiet as a library.
No one spoke. No one even knew what had just happened.
In the eyes of these ordinary people... ...they only saw the Brute-Force Knight swing his hammer, then the Flametail Knight disappeared, reappeared behind him, and waved her sword. ...and then flames traced a circle around the Brute-Force Knight's body, and it was over.
So what exactly happened??
"Uh... um..."
The announcer was also dumbfounded.
He quickly called out to the departing Lucas Reeve.
"Please wait a moment, Flametail Knight! The match isn't over. ...Are you leaving now to forfeit? If so, the victory will be awarded to..."
The announcer hadn't even finished.
Lucas Reeve turned his head, just in time to meet the gaze of a nearby camera. ...That cool and confident look appeared on the screen.
"It's already over."
With those few words.
Lucas Reeve turned and left. ...Just as one foot was about to step off the arena floor.
Suddenly!
In the center of the stage, the Brute-Force Knight, who had been motionless like a statue just a second before, ...his black armor suddenly cracked open. ...sharp pieces of armor fell to the ground like plastic.
*Pshht!!*
Countless gashes split open all over his body. ...Blood gushed out from these wounds like fountains. ...Immediately, the Brute-Force Knight collapsed to the ground, motionless.
And with the Brute-Force Knight's sudden collapse, Sona's figure, just about to disappear into the tunnel, suddenly seemed incredibly cool and mysterious.
Audience: "????"
Chamber of Commerce Directors: "????"
Holy shit, showboating!!