I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life - I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life chapter 65

part 65

The news that the Battle Survival final was underway had pierced the ceiling once again. The event was about to end. The spotlight shone on the stage, and Vorn raised his voice, which was thicker than usual.

“Thirty-three academies have sent their top players, and 99 of them have gathered.”

Bluma smiled with her characteristic sly smile.

“Now, only two are left.”

“Arkan’s shield! Zhen Russell and Selia’s genius! Lucia Elquines! The two students will compete on a map that has just been decided!”

[Map – Circular Colosseum]

The map was revealed as Vorn’s signal was given.

However, what was important was not that.

The G-channel’s surveillance system, which had closed the dome’s ceiling, still remained.

Flash!

The holographic projection device that had been prepared for the final match began to emit light.

Hey!

A gathering of scientific forces from Sector 1.

As the holographic projection device turned on, the audience’s cheers erupted. The screen was no longer needed.

The arena had transformed into a colosseum where gladiators would appear, and the floor had turned into dirt.

And in the center, Jien and Lucia were staring at each other.

Although it looked real, it was just a hologram.

-Waaa!

-It’s Jien!

-What’s going on?

-Celia Academy wins!

However, the audience was thrilled to be able to watch the final match in a real-like manner.

A box office hit that exceeded expectations. Mesit watched the scene with a delighted expression.

“This is the impact of the students, right? What do you think, sir?”

Mesit’s words made the secretary next to him adjust his glasses.

“As you said, sir, students from a specific academy have skills that are comparable to those in the active service. They can be deployed immediately without any problems. And the stars are even more impressive.”

“It’s the appearance of students at the star level. This will be a good sign for this public promise.”

“Then… I will assign the 4th-grade gate to the winning academy beforehand.”

The secretary’s words made Mesit shake his head. He was looking at Jien and Lucia with sharp eyes.

“No, my thinking has changed. I’ll put Celia and Arkana, the two academies, into the same gate.”

“Two academies in one gate…?”

The secretary’s eyes widened in surprise, paused for a moment, and then regained his calm expression.

“Understood. Then, the gate difficulty will be 4th-grade…”

“No.”

Mesit cut off the secretary’s words.

This policy needed to be justified and supported, and 4th-grade was not enough. It was time to take a bigger risk and achieve greater results.

“Ah, a virtual gate. I won’t die, so what are you so scared of?”

Unlike the flustered secretary, Metis spoke calmly.

“And… the catalyst has arrived, hasn’t it? The Arcana side is not just strong, there’s something else.”

Metis, a high-ranking saber expert who had reached the peak of his career, was the leader of the Gate Management Agency. His track record was unblemished. Ultimately, the secretary nodded in agreement to Metis’s firm decision.

“Understood. We’ll proceed as planned. When should we announce the results?”

“I’ve already given the students a hint, so we’ll announce it when the issue blows up after the competition ends.”

Metis gazed out at the arena again. In the center of the transformed Colosseum, Jean and Lucia were facing each other, swords drawn.

* * *

Jean gazed up at the countdown timer dwindling above his head.

[30]

[29]

[…….]

‘Is this the Colosseum?’

The Colosseum where 1st Zone examiners had fought to the death, with no escape or terrain to exploit. The Colosseum was nothing but a flat, empty space.

So Jean was satisfied.

This place was where one could prove oneself through skill alone, without relying on tricks or luck.

There was no room for error.

Sssss.

Lucia drew her sword from the scabbard at her waist. Her sword, adorned with a diamond, reflected the light and shone with a faint glow.

Like a knight about to begin a duel, Lucia drew her sword with dignity and spoke.

“Craven.”

Declaring her opponent’s name was a sign of the highest respect.

“Black Flame.”

Jean smiled in response to her words.

And anyway, facing Lucia like this made Jean feel strange.

‘……Hmm.’

The eyes that seemed to be made of sapphire, the black hair that seemed to be woven with darkness, and the smile that seemed to be woven with silk all made him think of Cynthia.

‘Is it still Elquines?’

Lucia is a distant relative of her colleagues.

It was natural for her to resemble them. Even though her colleagues are no longer around, the will of Searber, which was like a pale that had been left behind, continued to be passed down to the next generation.

The foundation that maintained this peace was one.

“Strength.”

Saa-ahk.

The residual aura shone, and the black phoenix took shape.

Jien silently drew her sword.

There were only two left in the Colosseum, and the sword was the entirety of justice. However, this was not a fair fight.

Before the test even began, Lucia had seen Jien’s test video. The beautiful sword. She could understand it at once because she also used a sword.

“Strong.”

With just this first impression, Jien became her rival, and now they were about to meet at the finish line. Lucia’s eyes were accurate.

At first, she wanted to compete purely.

This was a heart that anyone who wielded a sword as a Searber could have.

But.

“I will not be defeated.”

Lucia reminded herself.

What she wanted was to win. She wanted to win just as much as Jien, and even more. She wanted to prove to the lord who was watching her in this arena that she was the one who would become the sun. She wanted to prove that she was the one who would become the material that would surpass the sun.

This was Lucia’s new driving force, which had lost its goal.

She was not a saint.

Lucia’s admiration for Jien, which had been until now, had turned to jealousy.

So she had to win.

She had to use all the power she had, whether it was an artifact or a special ability.

And that was what Jien wanted too.

The greatest talent in history, shown by a genius among geniuses. As a single Searber, she could only be expected to do so.

[Start!]

As the game began, various mana surged through Lucia’s body.

Lucia’s innate mana, which she had cultivated since childhood by drinking elixirs and training, was explosive.

In addition, the three artifacts responded to her mana, each emitting different powers.

This was Lucia’s strategy.

With all the might I can muster, I’ll grip my sword.

Since I know my opponent’s abilities, I didn’t bother to look for an opening.

Tzuzu!

Mana was flowing out of Lucia’s body.

Mana continued to strengthen her physical body.

It reached her legs, thighs, hips, and arms.

“…?”

Only by maintaining this state, mana was seeping out like water. It was an incredibly remarkable physical strengthening.

Mana was swirling and soil was flying, and her cloak was fluttering.

“It’s incredible.”

Zhen held his sword and lowered his stance.

Lucia was not disappointing, for she was able to naturally handle mana like it was her own body. It was beyond the realm of mere talent.

The only way to achieve such a skill was through continuous effort and burning one’s bones.

“‘Effort is genius’.”

The opponent across from her was a formidable monster.

Shack!

Lucia shot out a swift sword, her physical strengthening and artifact [Wind’s Thread] having buffed her speed, making her seem like a flash of light.

Zheuang!

As soon as she exchanged sword strikes, Zhen attacked Lucia.

Lucia raised her sword to block Zhen’s attack, and then brought it down.

Chang! Zheuang!

Zhen’s sword was imbued with an Ougi (mysterious art) in every movement. Without the buff, she might have been hit by a sneak attack.

However, it was not a hopeful situation.

On the contrary, Lucia’s physical strengthening was powerful enough to block Zhen’s technique. Mana was swirling and her mind was accelerating its judgment.

“This can be blocked.”

If I just let things flow as they are, it’s dangerous.

The longer the battle goes on, the more unfavorable it is for Zhen.

Despite this, Zhen was becoming increasingly calm.

As the battle repeated, Zhen was gradually recovering his past swordsmanship skills. Although his body was different, it didn’t matter. Swordsmanship adapted to his current body and became a part of it.

“Hah!

Lucia was strong, but her body was swaying. She had lost her center due to Zhen’s inside attack.

From noble mtl dot nete

Zhen’s sword skills were getting stronger, faster, and sharper. Lucia felt a sense of crisis and quickly retreated.

Crap!

‘That just happened.’

Lucia felt a shiver for the first time when Zhen’s sword struck. The storm of speed from the sword was about to engulf her. Complex emotions were bubbling up in Lucia’s chest.

‘I want to win.’

That’s just hubris.

Lucia, who was once undefeated, had forgotten her emotions. She didn’t need to say anything to the two of them. Swordspeak is spoken with swords.

Clang! Kaka!

The moment the swords clashed, Lucia could pour her complex emotions into the sword.

Lucia smiled faintly.

What kind of life did I live, and what kind of mindset did I have to wield a sword like this?

The answer was clear.

This person is crazy. He’s crazy for swords and can only see swords, a swordsman from birth.

‘A middle-of-the-road determination is no match for this opponent.’

Lucia struck Zhen with all her might. With the mysterious artifact Diana shining, Zhen was pushed back several steps.

During that time, Lucia stretched out her hand, and her essence shone for the first time.

aaah!

The transformed magical tool was a giant crystal throne. The light passed through, and the throne sparkled beautifully with multicolored lights. Lucia slowly climbed the crystal stairs and sat on the throne.

A landscape too dreamy for the Colosseum.

But it fit Lucia’s appearance too well, and Zhen had no choice but to accept it.

‘That’s why the nickname “Emperor” is so fitting…’

Zhen thought Lucia’s nickname was pretentious, but now it didn’t seem that way. The Lucia sitting on the throne, looking down at the bottom with an air of grandeur, seemed like a being born to rule.

“…The king’s summons.”

Lucia’s cold, blue eyes pierced Zhen, and three crystals erupted beside the throne.