Only three matches had been held so far, yet the atmosphere in the arena was already heated to a fever pitch.
Starting with the first match, which had moved everyone who watched, the second and third matches as well had been fierce battles.
Because of that, the spectators waiting for the fourth match couldn't hide their excitement, eagerly anticipating what kind of match would unfold this time.
But in the stands, Erik, who was hoping for Ian's victory, was biting his nails as if nervous.
“Can that person win?”
For starters, the difference in physique was overwhelming.
One hundred sixty-five centimeters. It wasn't short for a woman, but her opponent was a giant nearly two meters tall.
Since this was inside a game, the difference in physique didn't mean much, yet the mental image of being crushed beneath that mass wouldn't leave his head.
Moreover, her opponent was the captain leading the Defense Team.
He didn't hold that position for nothing.
Most of the spectators present didn't doubt Malakor's victory.
Even Erik's friend Rosa.
As if comforting him, she patted his shoulder and spoke.
“Honestly, it looks tough. How are you supposed to win against that?”
“R-right?”
“But it's only about 100 gold, after all. I'll... I'll figure out how to cover that much for you...”
But at that moment.
*Boom!*
The moment the match started, Ian stomped the ground.
Her figure became a gust of wind and collided with Malakor.
“Huh?”
At the result that appeared before their eyes, everyone in the stands fell into silence.
***
Honestly, I hold no personal grudge against him.
Political infighting between factions? So what.
Even in this place that had devolved into a death game, conflicts happened; it would be strange if there were none.
However... call it honor, but I am a member of the Search Party, and he is a man of the Defense Team.
How could the valiant Search Party lose to the Defense Team?
So I win. No, I crush him overwhelmingly.
Ever since the bracket was decided, my head had been filled with nothing but that thought.
I stared at Malakor's greatshield, even larger than Emily's.
It looked as sturdy as a castle wall, seemingly impossible to break through with ordinary attacks.
But.
“Match 4, begin!”
The moment the starting signal rang out, I immediately kicked off the ground and sprinted.
Malakor's pupils shook at the speed, which exceeded his expectations.
It was the effect of Haste, the wind support magic I had cast beforehand.
On top of that, I stacked another buff.
A new skill obtained when my Sword Mastery reached 300.
Basic Swordsmanship Skill, Form 6. Single-target buff.
“Sword Enchant!”
A skill that coats the blade with mana to enhance the sword's power.
The mana flowing out from my body created a sharp veil around the blade.
Of course, I didn't think this alone would achieve an overwhelming victory.
To make that shield kneel completely, I needed one more thing.
And now, that very thing was in my hand.
At my charge like a tidal wave, Malakor hurriedly slammed his shield to the ground.
“Iron Wall!”
An iron wall unfolded around him.
But I didn't slow down.
I would break through like this.
I twisted my waist and hips to the limit, pulling my sword taut behind my back.
“Slash!”
A strike containing the maximum speed, power, and strongest attack strength I could unleash collided with Malakor's shield.
*Screech!*
For a moment, sword and shield were locked in a contest of strength.
But no matter how sturdy the shield was, it couldn't withstand my thoroughly prepared strike.
*Crack!*
My sword cleaved the shield in half.
[Tyr's Will]
A sword imbued with the will of the condemner, liberated from a fallen master.
Even after a long time, his will condemns the wielder's enemies.
STR +3 Physical Attack +15
Power of Condemnation: Sword skill damage increased by 3%
A new weapon crafted from materials found on the rocky mountain.
Smiling at Malakor, who was blankly staring at his bisected shield, I sheathed my sword.
“I told you it wouldn't be very interesting. Ah, do you have another weapon? If you do, feel free to draw it.”
Malakor slowly shook his head.
I cast my gaze toward the referee, who was still spacing out.
Only then did he belatedly grasp the situation and declare.
“Th-the winner. Human Swordsman Ian!”
No applause or cheers burst forth.
Because it was never that kind of fight to begin with.
But their silence was more pleasing to me than any cheering.
Leaving the arena and entering the passage, I found the Dark Elf Security Captain Sankaka—a contestant waiting for the next match with a large scar on his face—sending applause my way.
“What tremendous force. I thought you would win, but to cleave a shield in a single blow...”
“It was just a cheap trick.”
“An ordinary person couldn't even use such a trick.”
He wasn't wrong.
If I had been weaker than I am now, or had fewer skills available, I would have thought of another way.
“If this is how it goes, we shall meet in the quarterfinals.”
“You're quite arrogant.”
“It's knowing one's place. Isn't that the same for you, guest? Of course, Damar won't be easy, but... I believe in you.”
I couldn't tell if this was insolence or overflowing confidence.
While I was pondering that and keeping silent, the Dark Elf Security Captain passed by me and whispered in my ear.
“Then I shall see you in the quarterfinals.”
Sankaka disappeared into the arena just like that.
As if proving his skill, not long after, a thunderous roar came from the arena.
***
The main tournament's Round of 32 continued.
While Nasser, who had fought Sankaka, and Yuki the spear user had tasted the bitter cup of elimination, finally Emily—the protagonist of the tenth match—appeared in the arena.
The players in the stands who knew her face cheered loudly, rooting for her.
No matter how much Ian had crushed Malakor with overwhelming power, Emily's existence had become a source of strength for many.
And so Emily's match began.
Her opponent was Laras, a Dark Elf security archer.
A fight between a tanker trying to close the distance and a ranged dealer trying to shake them off and deal damage.
The match progressed with Emily blocking the continuously flying arrows and steadily narrowing the distance.
Laras kept running around the arena, attempting attacks from various trajectories to escape Emily's pursuit.
She drew her bowstring aiming not only at the front but above the head, the sides, the legs, and even the back.
But.
“Ugh! Why is she blocking everything so well?”
Emily's sturdy shield didn't allow a single arrow through.
In the end, with her anger boiling over, she instead closed the distance to Emily, as if her very weapon demanded it.
‘I just need to dodge once.’
She was evaluated as the fastest even among the security team members, so she was confident in her evasion, but.
As Laras dug into Emily's blind spot.
“Huh?”
“Too obvious.”
Emily's shield, having read her intent, struck Laras's abdomen hard.
“Kuk!”
And so the winner of the 10th match was Emily.
And the following eleventh match was between the axe warrior Rohan and the swordswoman Rin.
The first match between humans unfolded far more excitingly than the spectators had anticipated.
“Now just fall already!”
“Give... up!”
The two exchanged attacks and defenses for well over thirty minutes.
Having exhausted all their strength, their match devolved into a childish fistfight.
In the end, the winner of the eleventh match, which gave everyone a huge laugh, was Rohan, who landed a punch on Rin's face at the last moment.
Having received applause from the crowd, he had to crawl out of the arena.
Thus matches 12, 13, 14, and 15 also ended in great success.
Finally, the last sixteenth match arrived.
Under the sunset sky, two warriors warming up were set to decorate the finale of the Round of 32.
One was the level 23 human archer, Naira.
“Sigh... I really have the worst luck.”
The other was the Dark Elf Royal Guard Captain, Ravana, the Sector 4 boss and one of the favorites to win this tournament.
Whether the injury from the day before yesterday had completely healed or not, his right hand swinging the sword looked perfectly fine.
‘If only I were at least one level higher.’
The opponent's level was 28.
She knew better than anyone that there was no chance of winning against a 5-level difference.
But she equally hated accepting defeat helplessly like this.
Naira slapped her own cheek hard to regain her composure.
‘Right. I trained hard yesterday too.’
So she would struggle with all her might.
She would land at least one hit.
Having made her resolve, Naira nocked an arrow to her bowstring.
The announcer's voice rang out.
“Ladies and gentlemen! You have waited a very long time. Now, today's final match, together with your passionate cheers...”
The intensifying atmosphere.
Unswayed by it, Naira tightened her grip.
“Begin!”
And immediately, she drew her bowstring with all her might and released the arrow.
Linear piercing skill, Pierce Shot.
Her arrow soared toward Ravana, trailing a long green tail.
Even then, Naira's hand was already drawing the next arrow.
Just like mages. Even though archers had survival means, close combat with warriors was overwhelmingly disadvantageous.
‘Just keep going like this...!’
The moment she tried to fire the next arrow.
*Clang!*
Deflecting Naira's arrow, Ravana instantly closed the distance.
A blue slash was drawn toward Naira.
“Dodge Shot!”
Thanks to barely using her evasion skill in time to avoid the slash, Naira immediately used another skill.
Basic Archery Skill, Form 4. Rapid-fire shooting skill.
“Double Shot!”
Two arrows soared toward Ravana, who was right in front of her.
But Ravana's sword had already twisted the arrows' trajectories.
Ravana's sword loomed over her head.
With wide eyes, Naira thrust her bow forward.
At her unexpected move, Ravana's eyes widened.
It seemed like a meaningless attempt to buy time.
Indeed, the bow that collided with the sword didn't break, but it left Naira's hand and spun through the air.
But this was exactly what Naira had intended.
Before anyone knew it, a secondary weapon—a sword—was in her hand.
‘When it comes to strength, I'm confident too!’
Those who encountered archers through media knew it as a job requiring agility, but in truth, archers needed tremendous strength.
And in Arcadia, that was very well implemented.
Without strength above a certain stat threshold, the very act of drawing a bowstring was impossible.
Therefore, Naira's current strength stat was 30.
That was a value surpassing most players.
“Hyaaah!”
Single-strike slash skill, Slash.
Her strike, pouring all her strength, struck Ravana's blade.
*Clang!*
At the unexpected attack, Ravana dropped his sword from his hand.
Until he retrieved his sword, he would have no meaningful means of attack.
In other words, this was the first and last chance.
Though she didn't yet possess a thrusting skill, Naira extended her sword with all her pure physical strength.
‘I won!’
Naira was certain of victory.
Her heart raced at the fact that she had not only landed one hit but had overcome the wall.
At that moment, Ravana extended his hand toward the sword's path.
*Thud!*
Naira's sword pierced through Ravana's palm.
Surging blood dyed the sword crimson, but Ravana ignored the pain and gripped Naira's sword.
“Wh-what?!”
Naira's flustered eyes went wide.
Ravana whispered to her.
“Truly impressive. You were Naira, no? I pay my respects. But you were too quick to be certain of victory.”
Before anyone knew it, purple light swirled around his other fist.
This was clearly the precursor to a skill.
Ravana too possessed a secondary weapon, just like Naira.
“A good match.”
But by the time she realized, it was far too late.
Ravana's fist struck Naira's abdomen.
“Kuek!”
Under the fierce impact, Naira spewed saliva and rolled across the arena floor in a mess.
At the last moment, she reached out her hand toward Malakor, but.
*Thud!*
In the end, Naira lost consciousness.
The final match of the Round of 32.
Naira had been defeated by the boss.