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"Tsugikuni Yoriichi."
That was the name Qi Yan signed on the registration form.
Truthfully, Qi Yan's original plan was perfect: find a seat in the stands, settle in with a bucket of popcorn and a cold beverage, and just enjoy the show. He was here for a vacation, not a brawl.
But sometimes, destiny—or massive amounts of cash—had other ideas.
The moment the person in front of him muttered that the champion's prize was 20 million J, all plans for a relaxing afternoon vanished.
$20 million J. That was enough to complete two high-risk S-Class Mage Quests, or a smooth twenty A-Class jobs. A fortune like that was practically screaming at him. Missing this opportunity would be a regret he'd feel for the rest of his life.
He quickly slipped into an empty corner, retrieved the necessary items for his disguised persona—Tsugikuni Yoriichi—and strode toward the contestant's entrance.
"Here is your participant number."
Qi Yan took the slip: '0556'. Five hundred and fifty-five people already signed up? This is serious.
"The contestant's passage is this way."
He followed the directions and quickly entered the main contestant's lounge. The room was already a sea of muscle, steel, and competitive swagger.
"Hey! That's Seven-Star Swordsman Horn! He's here too?" "Check it out! Eight-Star Swordsman Salt—I heard he single-handedly slayed the Eight-Star monster, the Viper!" "That's Skarlem. They say he's taken down three Eight-Star beasts already." "No kidding. This is the World's Strongest Swordsman Tournament, hosted by His Majesty the King. You can practically smell the prestige."
A coarse voice cut through the chatter.
"Hey! Little lady, if you're looking for a man, go outside. This isn't a place for girls like you."
A burst of laughter followed.
Qi Yan tracked the sound and froze. Wait, I know that hair.
There she was. He hadn't seen her at the hotel, but the sight of the familiar crimson-haired figure made perfect sense. Erza Scarlet. A swordsman to her core, and fiercely competitive—it would be weirder if the Titania of Fairy Tail didn't show up for a tournament of this magnitude.
"So beautiful! Let me cherish her properly!" a leering voice slurred. "Little lady, got a boyfriend? No? Then what do you think of me? Come on, let's have some fun."
A man reached out, his hand groping lecherously toward Erza's backside.
Qi Yan couldn't help but rub his temples. Seriously? Who wakes up in the morning and decides they're tired of living? Teasing Erza? On a Monday?
Slap!
Before the man's fingers could even brush her clothes, Erza's palm shot out, clamping down on his wrist like a steel vice. Then, with a soundless grunt of effort, she swung.
"Haa—!!"
BOOM!!!
The man's body became an impromptu wrecking ball, slammed into the stone floor. The impact shattered the tiles into a spiderweb of cracks. He didn't even get a chance to scream—his eyes rolled white, and he was instantly unconscious.
"Eh—?!" Silence gripped the lounge, followed by a confused uproar.
"Who the hell is that woman?!" "She took him down in a single hit!" "Impossible! That guy was a Six-Star Swordsman!"
"Alright! All of you, settle down!" a voice boomed, cutting through the panic. "This tournament is hosted by His Majesty the King, and makes no distinction of gender. If you're not convinced, save your grievances for the arena."
Everyone turned. A blond man in his early thirties was sitting a short distance away, his posture radiating effortless power.
"It's Nine-Star Swordsman Arthur!" gasps ran through the room.
Qi Yan studied him. A Nine-Star Swordsman. According to the Guild Master, that ranked him as a powerful S-Class Mage equivalent.
"Arthur, I didn't expect you to be here too," a second voice remarked. Another young man approached.
"It's Nine-Star Swordsman Clay!" The crowd inhaled sharply again.
Arthur gave a brief nod. "Clay, you're here for the same reason, I imagine?"
"Of course. The prize money is secondary. Becoming the strongest Swordsman in all of Ishgar? That is an unparalleled honor."
Just then, an administrator walked in.
"Group A battles will begin shortly. Group A participants, please proceed to the arena!"
Clay stood up, a confident smile on his face. "Looks like it's my turn to enter. Arthur, I look forward to seeing you in the final."
Arthur gave a dismissive snort. "Hmph! That's only if you can even make it that far."
Qi Yan glanced at his number plate. It had a 'D' on it—Group D. He spotted the letter on Erza's as she walked past: a 'B'. Group B.
I wonder what kind of bloodbath this format is.
A moment later, a massive Magic Screen flickered to life in the lounge, projecting the view from the main arena.
"Next up is the Group A battle!" the announcer's voice roared. "The rules of this tournament are simple!"
The announcer paused for dramatic effect.
"Over 100 contestants will engage in a survival competition! Only the last one standing will advance to the next round!!"
"What?!" "Only four people can advance?" "That's brutal!"
Expressions soured across the lounge. Many had hoped to show off their skills, gain a few fans, and then get honorably eliminated. They hadn't expected a true, winner-take-all massacre.
"Now, Round One, Group A showdown, BEGIN!!!"
Dong—!!!
The sound of the gong was the only warning. Instantly, the arena exploded into motion.
The weakest participants—the respectable Five-Star Swordsmen—were usually figures of high esteem. Here, they were merely fodder. One by one, they were cut down, their bodies flashing out of the ring as the arena's magic defense system protected them from serious harm.
In a blink, the field was cleared. Only the Seven-Star and Eight-Star ranks remained.
That was when the Nine-Star Swordsman Clay finally moved.
"Hmph! Boring! All of you, get out!"
He shot forward, his entire body enveloped in crackling blue lightning. In a single, blinding flash, he knocked out the nearest Eight-Star Swordsman.
"It's the Nine-Star Swordsman Clay!!" The audience went wild.
Qi Yan watched the screen with focused interest. A Lightning-Attribute Mage... Clay was using his magic to drastically enhance his natural speed and strength. Combined with his superb swordsmanship, his power was terrifyingly S-Class. He was so fast that a standard S-Class Mage might not even be able to track him.
This world is bigger than the anime made it look, Qi Yan conceded.
Even Erza's expression had grown serious. She had armor to counter lightning, but this was a Swordsman's Tournament. Using magic-enhanced armor to win would feel like a cheap victory.
In less than a minute, it was over. Everyone had fallen. Only the Nine-Star Swordsman Clay stood alone in the center of the ring.
"Oh, oh, oh! The winner is decided!!" the announcer bellowed. "The winner of Group A is the pride of the Sobeya Kingdom! The Nine-Star Swordsman, 'Thunder Sword' Clay!!!"
"Strong! Unbelievably strong!!" "Clay! Clay! Clay!"
The stands chanted his name. Clay waved, his arrogance completely justified, and the sound of cheering girls spiked even higher.
Soon, the injured were carried out and the arena floor was cleared.
"Next up is Group B! Contestants, please enter the arena!!"
Erza stood up, her gaze already fixed on the door, a dangerous determination swirling in her eyes. The stage was set for the Titania.
"Erza is about to make her appearance."