<h4>Chapter 97 I''m fighting against Garret?</h4>


    Holy Sword Tournament Arc II


    ---


    (POV: Akashic Records)


    "Round 3: ck versus Garret Hoogde... start!!"


    Garret made the first move.


    With a swift motion, he unsheathed his weapon, the Darkfire Edge, its mes igniting with a ze of power.


    Without hesitation, he closed the gap between him and ck in a single, fluid motion.


    "IT''S OVER FOR YOU!!" (Garret)


    The spectators could hardly believe their eyes.


    The dust kicked up as Garret''s figure blurred, giving the illusion of teleportation.


    A skill called [Blink Strike].


    With a mighty swing of his sword, Garret aimed to cleave ck in two.


    However, the air itself seemed to tremble, as if rejecting Garret''s strike.


    To the astonishment of the crowd, ck effortlessly slipped away, leaving Garret''s de to slice through empty space.


    "What?!" Garret uttered in disbelief.


    In a disy of otherworldly agility, ck reappeared behind Garret, a mere blur of motion.


    With a seemingly insignificant kick, Garret lost his bnce and found himself tasting the bitter embrace of the dirt.


    "That speed!" King James shouted.


    King Grey narrowed his eyes. "I''ve never seen anything... (~smolders) like it..."


    "Truly an impressive spectacle." (Arthur)


    "What''s there to be impressed about? I barely saw anything." (Lora)


    "That''s because you''re inexperienced, little sister." (Jericho)


    "Eh? Didn''t you lose to the masked guy?" (Lora)


    Jericho froze. "Not the point."


    "I don''t need to see anything... just my face..." Lloyd smiled at himself on his handheld mirror.


    Blueste however, kept looking at Arthur.


    Ayisha was attached to King Grey as always.


    Geraldine didn''t even seem interested in anything that was going on.


    Lastly, Pasiphae red at the masked fellow. "For some reason, I don''t like him."


    Gasping for breath, Garret''s vision focused on ck as he retreated a safe six meter range in a sh.


    "(It doesn''t make sense, my [Blink Strike] is A+ ranked! How did he?!)"


    His brow glistened with beads of sweat.


    As always, ck was quiet.


    ...


    "Like I said, untouchable!" Skum slicked his hair back. "This guy will help me feed the kids!"


    "I b-barely saw what he did." (Genevieve)


    "Ha-ha! It doesn''t matter what you saw... all that matters is that my money isn''t going to waste." (Skum)


    "Uh, yeah... sure." (Genevieve)


    In the VIP audience seats, Velzar sat in silence.


    His eyes, fixed like a microscope on ck.


    "He?s quick... almost makes me regret not joining this tournament."


    A small grin appeared on Velzar?s face.


    The thought that ck was a Battle God crossed his mind.


    However, he didn''t lean too much into it.


    ...


    In the audience seats.


    "So, did you see him move?" (Ress)


    "Yeah... but barely." (Fanatio)


    "Almost as fast as Lirien." (Ress)


    "Almost? What do you mean?" (Fanatio)


    "Well... when I watched Lirien?s fights, I didn''t see her move or unsheathed or de. But with this guy... I can at least make up a bit of what he''s doing."


    Fanatio?s eyes fixed on ck.


    "I see," she said.


    But the big question on everyone''s mind was, what size was ck?s pee-pee. Or, maybe that was just Fanatio.


    ...


    Garret''s eyes burned with anger as he red at ck.


    "You know what I hate about people like you?"


    Garret seethed, his grip on his sword tightening.


    "You think you''re above everyone else, that you''re some kind of god while the rest of us are mere ants beneath you." (Garret)


    ck remained silent.


    Garret scoffed, frustration coursing through his veins.


    "Hard work is what makes a true warrior, not just natural talent. You may have been gifted with potential, but you''ve wasted it. You''ve never known what it means to strive, to push yourself beyond your limits. All your kind know is how to belittle others... and your silence just proves that! You don''t see me as someone worth talking to, do you?!" (Garret)


    Silent, ck rubbed his chin. Right after, he uttered a thoughtful hum.


    "Well you see... I''m neither talented nor a hard worker... just lucky." (ck)


    "Is that some attempt at a joke?!" (Garret)


    Veins popped up on the sides of Garret?s head.


    ck shrugged.


    "Your time in this tournament ends with my next attack. I''ll show you the true strength of a High Swordsman."


    Taking a firm stance, Garret''s sword gleamed in the sunlight as the air around him began to vibrate with an intense energy.


    The audience were drawn to the spectacle unfolding before them.


    King Grey, unable to contain his excitement, eximed, "Garret, show us the power of a future Holy Knight!"


    Ayisha, ever the voice of reason, gently chided the king. "Your Majesty, shouldn''t you remain impartial?" she asked, though a yful smile tugged at the corners of her lips.


    King Grey stroked his chin, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, Aisha. I shall curb my enthusiasm... (~smolders) for now."


    As the magic energy surrounding Garret intensified, Velzar, keen-eyed as always, raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Oh?"


    Genevieve, grinned and tuned to Skum. "Better get ready to lose all your money, my friend. Garret is about to unleash his ultimate attack."


    Skum sank to his knees and fervently prayed to the gods of sure odds, pleading for victory on ck''s behalf.


    "Give my sugar mommy strength! Please!" (Skum)


    Meanwhile, the magic energy around Garret converged, flowing into his sword like a river of power.


    "FULL POWER EDGE ? GRAND THUNDER AND FLAME ? SLASH!!" (Garret)


    With a mighty roar, he unleashed a sh that sent shockwaves through the very foundation of the coliseum, hurtling straight towards ck.


    But immediately, it disappeared.


    The sound of a sword unsheathed sliced through the air, and before anyone couldprehend what had happened, ck materialized behind Garret.


    "Ngghhhhh!" (Garret)


    A deep gash marred Garret''s side, blood dripping from the tip of ck''s de.


    Garret crumpled to the ground.


    The entire coliseum erupted in a cacophony of awe and astonishment.


    "T-t-the winner is... ck!"


    Genevieve''s face drained of color. "Eh?"


    Velzar, however, wore a cynical grin, clearly savoring the sight before him. "Interesting."


    Fanatio and Ress stood frozen, their breath barely escaping their lips.


    "H-h-he just.." Ress couldn''te up with words.


    "THANK THE GODS!"


    Skum''s voice rang out above all others, his gratitude pouring forth in a river of prayer.


    Meanwhile, the kings themselves were struck dumb by the sudden turn of events.


    "REGINALD!"


    King Grey called Sir Reginald, his loyal knight, to his side.


    "Your Majesty?" (Reginald)


    He was behind Grey all the while, hence, the shouting was unnecessary.


    "Who is that masked fellow?!" (Grey)


    In response, Reginald bowed his head respectfully.


    "I''m not sure how I would know, Your Majesty." (Reginald)


    "Drats! You''re right.." (Grey)


    King James let out a hopeful sigh. "If he proves himself worthy of my daughter''s hand," he murmured, his voice filled with longing.


    The idea of ck, this enigmatic figure, marrying his beloved Aurora seemed almost too enticing to ignore.


    Celese, overhearing her father''s whispered desire, chimed in with a teasingugh.


    "Oh, Father, you are far too captivated by the mysteries of that masked man. I doubt he would be interested in settling down anytime soon," she remarked, a yful glint in her eyes.


    Rena, nodding in agreement, added, "Indeed, Celese, there is an air of intrigue surrounding him that suggests a life of adventure and uncertainty."