"Very good. A very intense aura of intimidation."
Bronya nodded slightly. A flash of radiance glimmered in her hand as her Inherent Gear gradually manifested.
Unlike before, it was a light-blue lance brimming with a technological aesthetic. "But it is still not enough. This time, Bronya will give Morohoshi a lesson."
"Intimidation and killing intent..."
—They were different in the end!
She had clearly done nothing, not even taken a stance, yet a terrifying aura radiated from Bronya. "...Might as well replace everything."
"Silverwing seems unable to bear all of you. From now on, your name will be 'Truth.'"
Bronya gently stroked the lance with one hand, then rotated her wrist. The lance traced a graceful arc, its blade touching the ground at a downward angle as killing intent erupted violently.
The audience could not understand what they were seeing and only felt a shudder run through them, but the contestants were different...
Faintly, Bronya's aura seemed to condense into something tangible, nearly becoming an ink-black phantom holding a lance—how could Marquis Xiaoyao have never set foot on a battlefield?
"Whew~"
Morohoshi Yudai let out a long breath. After overcoming that grim aura, his Fighting Spirit was instead ignited. "You really hid yourself well... Bronya."
"It seems Morohoshi has already adapted."
Before her words had even faded, Bronya dashed forward in an instant, moving so fast that she left an afterimage.
The light-blue spearhead spun as it stabbed repeatedly at tremendous speed, carrying spiraling Invisible Force and targeting several of Morohoshi's vital points.
Clang, clang—!
To the audience, all they saw were sparks flying as Morohoshi swung his lance to block the attacks.
But...
A gash could be seen on his shoulder, dark red soaking through his clothes... Though he had deflected the spearhead, the invisible spear aura was exceedingly sharp.
—Weasel Slash Phenomenon!
Even without making contact, the "vacuum blades" created as the spearhead tore through the air were still deadly. This was not a Supernatural Ability, merely pure technique.
"How does it feel, Morohoshi?"
After all, this was only a match. Bronya did not pursue him and still gave Morohoshi time to react. "Take some time to adjust. After all, Bronya will not hold back from here on."
"Then come."
This time, Morohoshi faced that terrifying killing intent head-on and charged at Bronya.
A series of ultra-high-speed thrusts came one after another, the golden spearhead moving so fast it nearly vanished from reality—Triple Star!
Bronya exerted force through her wrist, shaking her lance in a circle and dissolving the incoming assault.
Then, her right hand gripping the rear section suddenly thrust forward, and the spearhead struck at Morohoshi like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
Clang—
Morohoshi swung his lance to block it while leaning slightly backward, narrowly avoiding the invisible spear aura... A lock of hair drifted through the air.
Yet before he could even marvel at it, Bronya spun her lance and used the rebound to sweep it in a wide arc. Her body moved with the weapon as she swept toward him on a gust of wind.
Clang—!
Morohoshi planted his feet firmly and raised his lance horizontally to block. However... under the tremendous inertia, an enormous force crashed into him. The Lance of Truth trembled incessantly, nearly flying from his grasp.
Immediately afterward, still borrowing the rebound, Bronya spun the Lance of Truth several times before suddenly sweeping it upward and sending Morohoshi flying.
"Kung Fu Is a Killing Art"
"Did you learn anything, Morohoshi?"
Bronya did not pursue him. Instead, she withdrew her stance, leisurely twirling her lance as she slowly paced around Morohoshi.
(This isn't a fight to the death. She's starting to go easy on him.)
On the other side, Morohoshi caught his breath and straightened up. The Tiger King whistled through the air as he swung it, its tip aimed directly at Bronya. "Yes, I have indeed benefited greatly."
Throughout all this, not a sound came from the audience. Even the commentator had forgotten their job and fallen silent.
—Though the fighting had temporarily stopped, that killing intent still hung over the arena, so oppressive that it was almost hard to breathe.
"Koume, aren't you going to cheer for Morohoshi?"
From a seat closer to the front, White Night reached out and rested one hand on Morohoshi Komei's shoulder. The killing intent gradually faded with it. "He has waited far too long."
"..."
Koume said nothing. She merely turned around and quietly looked at White Night. Though the killing intent had intimidated her, putting a trace of fear into her gentle eyes, she still gathered her courage, her gaze filled with hostility.
"Don't misunderstand. Bronya knows her limits." White Night pressed on Koume's shoulder and turned her back around.
"You are his little sister. He is fighting for you. At the very least, you should watch him. Don't look away."
"Trust me! Morohoshi will be fine."
"It seems Morohoshi is ready."
On the arena floor, Bronya moved with her lance and charged toward Morohoshi along the force of its rotation.
A light-blue streak flashed past, brimming with killing intent. Morohoshi quickly raised his lance to block the blow, but in the next instant...
—Bronya leaped with the momentum, swinging the Lance of Truth through most of a circle before following up with a downward chop. It came down like thunder, something Morohoshi could not possibly withstand.
Knowing it was futile, Morohoshi leaped backward and retreated far away.
Boom—!
With a deafening crash, even the arena floor shattered. Savage cracks spread continuously, reaching all the way beneath Morohoshi's feet.
She didn't attack?
Seeing this, Bronya slowly rose as well, efficiently pulling the spearhead embedded in the arena floor free—of course, she had prepared a follow-up, but Morohoshi was sharp enough not to recklessly press forward at that moment.
"A wise choice."
"Obviously. That enormous sense of danger was enough to make me feel a faint stabbing pain just from sensing it."
But...
—He could not lose!
Not only for Koume, but also for the surging Fighting Spirit in his heart, Morohoshi tightened his grip on his lance. "Bronya, your demonstration is over. It should be my turn now, right?"
"Of course. Please."
The Lance of Truth tilted upward slightly, its light-blue spearhead swaying faintly so it could react at any moment.
"Then be careful!"
With a loud shout, Morohoshi charged like a tiger pouncing on prey, a fierce aura rushing toward her.
Ultra-high-speed thrusts, three glints of cold light arriving in succession—in Morohoshi's spear technique, there were no sweeping techniques, only thrusts! Thrusts honed to the absolute extreme!
This was...
In Bronya's eyes, the golden lance stabbed straight toward her, yet seemed to bend, like a hunting venomous snake—Broom Star!
No, was it his wrist?
—At the instant he thrust his lance, the force in his wrist and the changing angle of his elbow altered the thrust's trajectory.
Because the movement was too fast, it created the illusion that the lance shaft itself had bent.
A technique tempered through countless trials... Bronya could truly feel the hardship you had endured. Precisely because of that, Bronya had to answer it in kind!
The Lance of Truth thrust rapidly, crossing paths with Tiger King. Bronya gave her lance a slight swing, knocking aside Morohoshi's thrust.
The three cold stars shifted their trajectories slightly, leaving bloody marks on Bronya's forearm and shoulder.
But Bronya did not care. She sent her lance through the opening, aiming directly at Morohoshi's chest.
Morohoshi took a step back and turned slightly to evade, only to see Bronya flick one arm... The technologically styled lance shaft trembled before smashing heavily into Morohoshi's chest.
Then Bronya swiftly withdrew her lance. She exerted force through her wrist, controlling the Lance of Truth as it spun several times around her waist.
Her body moved with the weapon. Driven by the rotational force, Bronya turned once and swung her lance in a full circle before viciously smashing it down at Morohoshi.
!!!
Before he could even catch his breath, Morohoshi hurriedly raised his lance horizontally, trying to block it. However...
An enormous force came crashing down. It was nothing like a woman's strength—utterly fierce and powerful, as though she had been born for the battlefield.
"Morohoshi's killing intent isn't heavy enough."
After giving that assessment, Bronya continued her relentless pursuit. Following the momentum, she turned and thrust with a return spear. "In Bronya's view, a lance must be overwhelmingly domineering."
???
Was that something a girl should say? Even ancient generals were probably no more than this!
Tightening his grip on his lance, Morohoshi rallied himself and charged at Bronya once more.
His wrist was immensely strong as he opened with Triple Star and followed with Broom Star, the spearhead tearing toward Bronya like a beast.
Clang, clang—
The force behind it was tremendous, and Bronya understood... This time, his target was the spearhead. Was this Tiger Devour, which crushed Spirit Armor?
Because the target was clear, it was instead easier to block this time. Bronya blocked it and counterattacked in turn—Triple Star followed by Broom Star, returning it to its owner.
After all, it was only a technique. She could even learn the Winged Sword, so there was no reason she could not learn this.
Though Morohoshi blocked, he was still struck three times in succession. Another sweeping strike followed, violently knocking Morohoshi back.
How could this be?
Morohoshi gripped the Tiger King tightly, his feet pressed against the ground as he kept sliding backward. Then he suddenly recalled what White Night had said before:
—The Lance of Truth devours Magic Power, nearly nullifying most Blade Dancer abilities.
So that was it. Was that why you said "most"? Tiger Devour had no effect on Bronya at all!
At this point, Morohoshi had essentially lost. His spear techniques and Blade-Cutting Skill no longer posed a threat.
"Bronya knows Morohoshi's conviction, so Bronya will not advise Morohoshi to surrender."
Directly across from him, Bronya approached with killing intent radiating from her body, the lance in her hand producing layers of afterimages... The battle continued.
"He has already lost."
In the audience, White Night leaned against the railing with his arms crossed, watching Morohoshi below grow increasingly disheveled. "Koume, aren't you going to call out to him? There won't be another match this time."
"And everyone has been intimidated into silence. You should shout loudly and let him hear your voice."
"..."
A stretch of silence followed.
"I know you have always blamed yourself. But you are blood-related siblings! In this world, you can cling to Morohoshi as much as you want. No one has more right to do so than you."
"..."
Though Koume still said nothing, White Night saw her little hands... slowly clench.
Back on the arena floor, Morohoshi was sent flying once more. Blood gradually dyed his clothes red, yet he still stood back up!
—Unyielding, with an incomparable will.
"Big Brother—! You can do it—!!!"
At that moment, a frail voice rang out. She had probably poured every ounce of strength into it, and it even cracked slightly.
Before you continue