Volume 11 Chapter 17 Beast King Martial Arts Tournament Finals I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Lakia bowed respectfully and left the waiting room.
”Sir Kent, it’s time to enter the match venue.”
As Lakia left, an official came to call us.
The other members were too focused on boosting their concentration to listen to my conversation with Lakia.
”Kent… you really plan to fight Nokin seriously?”
”Yeah, but I value my life, so I plan to surrender before I die. Besides, with everyone here, we can beat even a tough opponent, right?”
Milly’s face darkened at my words.
”But Nokin is our opponent. Even if we have more people, the chances of winning are not high.”
”Still, we have to fight Nokin… I can’t keep being scared of the guy’s strength after what I saw in Capital City.”
”I understand… I will follow the Master’s instructions.”
Milly had a habit of calling me ‘Master’ when she disagreed with what I was doing.
I noticed this and hurried to talk to Milly, but she had already gone out into the hallway.
I rushed after Milly toward the arena, and finally caught up with her, but the team introductions had already started, leaving no time to talk to her.
* * *
*Nokin’s Perspective
Since Hendric announced our relationship, I couldn’t go out or train.
I felt the presence of reporters always lurking outside my mansion, and I hadn’t slept well for 2 days.
Geronimo and Garo also looked sleep-deprived, struggling with the reporters just like me.
In this state, when we entered the arena for the finals, a loud booing erupted from the audience.
It seemed some spectators believed the rumors and were booing me as a beast, throwing jeers and insults my way.
”Lord Nokin… are you okay?”
”Yeah, I want to say I’m fine, but my condition is terrible. Back in my Monster Hunting days, staying up for 2 days was easy…”
”Well, being surrounded for 2 days by those know-it-alls who love to get on my nerves left me no chance to relax…”
Garo’s eyes were red and swollen from lack of sleep.
”Sir Nokin should step up like Kent. If you make Hendric your concubine, everything will be fine. Just have Porcha or Bartram convince Lady Alonsa.”
Geronimo really liked Hendric, who was stronger than him, and kept insisting that she should be made a concubine.
But increasing concubines without Alonsa’s approval was something we had agreed could not happen.
As for Terry, she was being taken care of because Alonsa recommended her.
So, to make Hendric a concubine, I needed Alonsa’s permission, but I had no idea if she would agree.
”Geronimo… what an impossible request you make…”
I gave Geronimo a resentful look.
”Anyway, I need to focus on the match first. Winning this match and becoming the first fang of the Ten Elite Garuda will be the time to think about Ms. Hendric.”
Garo called out to me to concentrate on the match.
I almost forgot about the side issue with Hendric, but I remembered I came to the South District to win the Beast King Tournament.
Right… I can’t get distracted by women before a fight.
I’ll think about Hendric after the battle…
”Now, we will start the final match of the Beast King Tournament. In the final, it’s Garuda Clan Leader Nokin Wolffang versus Margrave South District King Kent Blackdagger!”
As the announcer finished introducing, cheers from the crowd spread through the packed arena like thunder.
”Let the match begin!!!”
The announcer dramatically struck the gong to signal the start.
Right from the start, Miriallia’s presence vanished, and the arena was covered in thick fog, blocking our view.
I felt a killing intent ahead and crouched down a bit.
Suddenly, a pure white beam of light zipped past above me.
Is that the Black Dragon’s breath attack? Kent is trying to keep us away…
It seems like they want to blind us with illusion mist and attack us from a distance.
”Geronimo, Garo. Let’s break through the mist! Kent and the others shouldn’t be able to get close!”
Geronimo and Garo couldn’t tell where they were because of the fog, but I could hear their voices nearby.
”Got it!”
”Understood.”
We started to run to get through the mist, but during that time, pure white beams kept grazing past our bodies.
Eventually, we reached a spot where the fog thinned out.
I thought I saw a shadow in the distance, and then 3 shockwaves were released in quick succession.
At the same time, I noticed about 5 fireballs falling from above.
Damn it!
It’s a trap!
The Black Dragon’s breath attack was a decoy to make us move in a straight line… This is bad…
At that moment, Garo and Geronimo stepped in front of me.
”Sir Nokin, leave those shockwaves to me. I’ll deflect them!”
”The fireballs above are my responsibility.”
”Got it! I’ll leave it to you two!!”
Trusting my 2 warrior friends to handle it, I focused on finding the enemy I needed to defeat.
Considering that the magic bullets still hadn’t come flying, it seemed Kent was hiding in the rear guard, focusing on defense as usual.
Meanwhile, Geronimo successfully absorbed the incoming 3 shockwaves with his big shield, while Garo showed off an amazing skill by deflecting all 5 falling fireballs with his spear.
I sensed the shock and confusion in Kent’s team as we were prevented from launching our deadly full-force attack.
”You two hold back the vanguard of the Black Dragons; they’re the most troublesome. I’ll handle the rest.”
I give instructions to Garo and Geronimo to hold back the strongest combat species, the Black Dragon tribe, Dragonia.
Those 2 Dragonia, who became Kent’s concubines, have very high combat power.
If I let them roam free, they could surround me from behind and wipe me out.
So, I ask them to hold them off, and in the meantime, I plan to take down Kent quickly.
”Understood. Lord Nokin, please go ahead.”
Garo and Geronimo rush to subdue the Black Dragon tribe’s female warrior.
”Leave it to me!! I’ll take down Kent right away!”
”Not so fast!!”
A woman from the Asura Clan with 6 arms stands in my way as I try to move forward.
This woman, who blocks my path, is Kent’s concubine and a former noble from the Klaushten family, Aurelia.
Rumor has it she is a collector of Dalmoth’s swords and already owns about 4 of them.
”Aurelia… I’ve always wanted to fight you seriously. I hear you’ve inherited Dalmoth’s Sword Technique from Master Belholt.”
”To say I’ve inherited it is too much. I’ve only learned the basics. After that, I just honed my skills with Dalmoth’s swords here in the South District.”
As Aurelia readies her sword, a killing intent rapidly increases in density, pressing down on me.
My master, Belholt, had apprenticed under Dalmoth but lacked magical talent and was from the Majin Clan.
He established his own style by refining the Sword Flash technique from Dalmoth’s basics.
So, Belholt’s style is quite different from Dalmoth’s swordsmanship.
Dalmoth’s style is based on the Asura Clan’s swordsmanship, specializing in multiple simultaneous attacks with many arms and summoning sword spirits by slaying numerous monsters, using their power for large-scale area attacks.
To summon a Sword Spirit, one needs rigorous training and an unusual love for the sword.
Lately, I’ve heard there are almost no swordsmen who can handle it.
Yet, the woman before me, Aurelia, is rumored to have successfully summoned a Sword Spirit.
”Don’t be modest. Your skills are quite something. But remember, as Kent’s dog, you better not let those skills go to waste.”
Aurelia’s face turned red with anger at my provocation.
”Don’t you dare mock my master!”
With a leap, Aurelia closed in on me and unleashed multiple strikes.
I caught them all with the belly of my greatsword and pushed back with all my might.
”Your cuts are still too weak. But you have the potential to become a fine warrior. However, it’s a loss for the nation to have a warrior like you as Kent’s she-dog.”
”Shut up! If you say another word to insult my master, I’ll crush you with all my strength!”
As Aurelia’s fighting spirit swelled, it was absorbed into her sword.
Then, the sword, now in human form, surrounded me.
”Is this the Sword Spirit Summoning…?”
The sword, now shaped like a person, unleashed a series of strikes with its blade, each one as sharp as Aurelia’s own.
I was barely able to defend myself.
”Nokin, don’t run! Fight! Become the prey for my soul-infused Sword Spirits!”
I was on the defensive, constantly blocking the attacks of the Sword Spirits and Aurelia.
At this rate, I’ll be worn down… I have to make a move…
With my sleep-deprived body and poor condition, I felt like I would be overwhelmed if I kept fighting Aurelia properly.
So, I decided to force my way through.
”Sorry, but next time I’ll give you my all. Let me repay you for showing me such a rare technique. Take this!”
After parrying Aurelia’s strike with my greatsword, I aimed a thrust at her exposed chest.
”Ughhhh! What?! Ah! Ghh!”
I took advantage of the moment when Aurelia was shocked by suddenly having her chest grabbed, and I punched her in the stomach.
The punch hit perfectly, and when Aurelia fainted, the sword spirits surrounding us vanished too.
The audience erupted in loud boos, watching what I had just done.
Normally, I would have had the confidence to get close to Aurelia without such tactics, but unfortunately, I was feeling really unwell today and had to rely on that crazy move.
After I defeated Aurelia, a bullet from Kent finally came flying at me.
I quickly deflected the bullet with my greatsword and dashed toward Kent.
”Kent! How long are you going to hide back there? If you’re a king, come out and fight!”
I taunted Kent, who kept shooting from the rear guard without changing his expression, calmly continuing his attacks.
Just as I was about to attack Kent, a woman from the True Demon Clan cast a spell.
I saw an ice storm coming for me, the area attack magic swirling closer.
”How dare you speak to my lord like that! A beast like you should be frozen solid!!”
The woman from the True Demon Clan hit me with another ice storm.
No one else in the South District could cast advanced-level magic like this so easily, except for Carlamia, known as Blizzard Storm.
Kent had Carlamia as a concubine, and they already had children.
When I was out hunting monsters, she was part of ‘Hand of Glory’ and had a high number of monster kills under her belt, holding her own against the strongest solo hunter, Lady Miriallia.
”Grrr!! Do you think I will just submit to such a storm?”
Ice completely stuck to my face as the storm hit me, and my body became coated in white frost.
If this keeps up, I won’t be able to move…
I gathered all my strength into my greatsword and unleashed the ‘Great Wave’.
The shockwave from the swordpoint, which I swung out, swept up the surrounding ice and flew straight at Carlamia.
Panicking, Carlamia quickly deployed a Physical Guard, but the shield was helpless against the
”No… to reflect my magic… can that even happen… Ughh!”
”Haha, too bad… with me, it’s possible!! Now, Kent. It’s your turn.”
I pointed my greatsword at Kent.
But Kent kept firing his gun endlessly, never moving a muscle, no matter what, missing every shot.
Next to Kent, Lana, the healer, was standing alert, ignoring Carlamia who had fainted.
…What… is this strange vibe… could this really be that Kent Blackdagger…?
Feeling a strange sense of unease from Kent’s actions, I hesitated to attack.
”Lord Nokin!! Our time for holding him back is nearly up!”
”Sir Nokin!! These guys are really strong!! My power alone can’t hold them!”
The two who had been restraining the Black Dragon clan were crying out in alarm.
They were pushed back by the Black Dragon, wounded all over.
The time left for me to defeat Kent was getting almost 0.
Damn, nothing I can do now.
I’ll break through this trap or die trying!!
Realizing there wasn’t much time left because of their struggle, I shook off the strange feeling and charged at Kent, who kept slow shooting.
When I got within reach, Kent grinned.
”Gotcha. Lord Nokin, I’ll take your head now!”
Suddenly, from the figure that seemed to be just slow shooting Kent, a black mist spilled out, revealing a woman with black skin.
”Mana dwelling within me! Become the force that shakes the ground and stops my enemies! [Grand Knock]”
As the woman finished her chant, a local earthquake centered on her erupted.
The ground’s shaking left me unable to move.
”Damn it! This must be a trap! Where’s the real one!”
Then, unexpectedly, a murderous intent swelled up from behind me.
I managed to turn around just as Kent, with a dagger in hand, lunged at me.
”Take this!”
Despite the shaking ground, I managed to draw my greatsword towards the lunging Kent.
But the blade only lightly grazed Kent’s cheek.
From the graze, a black mist flowed out, revealing Miriallia’s face.
”Miriallia!”
”Got you! Nokin! Eat this! [Venom]”
Miriallia’s dagger was glowing with a suspicious light.
The strange, glowing tip of the blade sliced across my cheek.
The moment the blade touched me, a searing pain shot through my body.
~New Skill~
[Venom]
If you take any damage or injury, there’s a chance of contracting a status abnormality:
Poison, Severe Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, Confusion, Delusion, Fear, or Petrification.
The chance is based on the user’s [Agility].
> ! If you’re attacked while petrified, it’s instant death.
Cost: 15 Skill Points
Type: Combat Skill
—
[Summon Sword Spirit]
A Dalmoth-style combat technique.
Imbues a sword with magical elements and fighting spirit, transforming it into a humanoid duplicate of the user.
- Has the same abilities as the user
- Attacks enemies independently
- Lasts until the spirit runs out or the user faints
Cost: 20 Skill Points
Type: Combat Skill, *Rare Skill*
—
### ~New Magic~
『Grand Knock』
Incantation:
*”Rest within my body, oh mana! Become the power to shake the earth and still all movement!”*
- Attribute: Earth
- Target: All within 15m radius
- Effect: Creates a super-local earthquake, immobilizing everyone in range.
*(No effect on floating/flying targets)*
—
『Illusion Mist』
*”──gather mana! It turns into a thick white fog, blocking the view!”*
- Attribute: None
- Target: All within 50m radius
- Effect: Generates a wide area of dense fog.
Makes visibility poor, but doesn’t blind the caster.
Can be used even during daytime.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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