But Morohoshi recognized it!
He had waited far, far too long for this moment. Gripping his lance tightly, he raised it high. "Aaaah—!!! Pierce through everything—Tiger King!!!"
With all his strength, Morohoshi hurled his lance at Bronya, his surging will seeming ready to burst into flames.
"A thrown lance? Then bring it on."
Bronya spun her lance and raised her right hand behind her. Her entire body was like a fully drawn bow.
A pale blue streak flashed past like a meteor across the sky, colliding head-on with Morohoshi's Tiger King.
Clang—
As expected, both lances were knocked away. But Bronya still had strength to spare. She leaped up smartly, caught her lance, and then... hurled it down.
"..."
The arena nearly fell silent.
—The pale blue lance pierced through Morohoshi, seemingly nailing him brutally to the arena floor!
"All right, Morohoshi. How did that feel?"
Bronya walked over and pulled out the Lance of Truth. Her distinctive voice was especially clear in the silent arena.
"Ah, I thought I was going to die..."
For the final strike, Bronya had switched to Fantasy Form, so it had merely drained his stamina without causing any fatal injuries.
"Isn't controlling your strength the most basic thing? Go reassure Koume. She looked a little frightened."
With a flash of Magic Power, Bronya dismissed her Spirit Armor and walked past Morohoshi.
"Morohoshi, it isn't just lances. No matter the weapon, whether someone carries killing intent makes a completely different result."
◆Just as Feng Yuxiu said:
Kung fu is a killing art.
—From Kung Fu Jungle
Reflect on Yourself Properly
"So didn't I tell you? It's fine."
In the spectator stands, White Night wore a miserable expression as he explained himself. Tears glimmered in Koume's eyes—she had genuinely been frightened.
"All right, all right~"
As he spoke, White Night reached toward Koume, intending to comfort her, only for her to swat his hand away without mercy. "Fine, let's go backstage. Morohoshi should be waiting for you."
White Night did not need to say anything more. The moment Morohoshi was mentioned, Koume immediately took off running, rushing from the stands toward the backstage area.
At the same time, with Bronya gone, the oppressive killing intent finally dissipated, and the atmosphere gradually recovered.
"T-The match is over!!!"
The commentator finally came back to his senses and announced Bronya's victory in an excited voice. "To everyone's surprise, contestant Bronya has claimed victory with an absolute advantage!"
"She hid herself too deeply! Though she had gained some fame in the past, most of it came as an attachment—as Yakushi Kiriko's subordinate."
"But after this battle, I believe everyone will remember her name—Bronya!!!"
(The following string of praise shall also be omitted.)
Then there was Morohoshi Yudai.
Though he had been defeated in the first match, his unyielding will still earned people's respect. When he was carried off the arena, he was greeted with thunderous applause.
Of course, the most important thing was this.
—After being carried backstage, Morohoshi finally saw the person he had been yearning to see: Morohoshi Koume!
"Big brother, you already did very well." Koume hurried to Morohoshi's side, her little hands clasping his rough, large hand as she spoke softly.
"Koume..."
Hearing his younger sister call him again, Morohoshi smiled happily despite losing the match.
It was then that he saw...
—Behind Koume, White Night was leaning against the corner. He raised two fingers of his right hand to his forehead, then gave Morohoshi Yudai a light wave.
Without disturbing the two of them further, White Night leisurely turned around and soon disappeared around the corner.
Thanks for this, White Night... Morohoshi silently remembered it. Once he had recovered, he would definitely treat him to a proper meal.
Only...
Where Morohoshi could not see, White Night's expression turned somewhat terrifying after he turned around.
Among today's matches, one was special to both him and Bronya.
—Yakushi Kiriko VS Shinomiya Amane!
"How far along are they?" (White)
"Almost at the hospital. Should we tell Sister Kiriko what is about to happen?" (Duck)
"...No need." (White)
An ability that almost made wishes come true was troublesome even for White Night. Even if he dealt with the hospital situation, who knew what other accidents might occur?
In the following matches, Stella was absent just as in the original story. But White Night did not need to concern himself with that—she was one of the favorites, so it was the organizers who needed to worry.
Next, Kurashiki Kurato had good luck this time and got matched with Ikki as he wished, only to be defeated without surprise.
The matches continued as scheduled until this one... Due to a collective outbreak among the hospital patients, Yakushi Kiriko was absent.
"Bronya, why are you here... I see. Did you see something again?"
At Yakushi General Hospital, Bronya had arrived early. She handled the symptoms alone and barely managed to calm everyone down.
"You're here, Sister Kiriko."
Seeing Kiriko arrive, Bronya silently stepped aside and let Kiriko take charge while she assisted from the side.
—She had known from the beginning and understood that the patients would not be in serious danger. They would only suffer some pain before quickly settling down. Sure enough, once Kiriko forfeited, the outbreak ended.
"Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt."
After everything was over, Kiriko manipulated water to wash her hands, then turned her gaze toward Bronya. "So, Bronya, do you know something?"
"Nothing much. Just a brat relying on his ability to cause trouble."
Bronya shook her head and explained Shinomiya Amane's ability to Kiriko in detail. "Luck is part of one's strength. In a sense, that kid is pretty strong."
"Only, it's a pity..."
Shinomiya Amane had not received the proper guidance. Luck itself was the manifestation of his ability, but no one had ever acknowledged it, leading him down a twisted path.
In an alley, Shinomiya Amane walked with light steps, looking utterly unconcerned about the person following behind him.
Goddess's Excessive Grace was powerful. Amane had absolute confidence in himself... or rather, in the so-called "goddess"! That was why he was unafraid.
"This place should do, right? Aren't you coming out?" A cute smile appeared on Amane's face as he greeted them amiably.
Boom—!
Abruptly, the old building reached its limit and collapsed in a certain direction.
"Causality interference? You're strong, Amane."
A detached voice rang out. White Night appeared behind Amane as if by Teleportation. "At least, I think you're strong enough. After all, this so-called luck was your ability from the start."
"..."
Amane fell silent.
He had always hoped that someone would acknowledge him, rather than merely his wish-fulfilling ability.
He never imagined that the first person to acknowledge him would be in a situation like this. What White Night said was true, but the other man himself radiated malice.
"Unfortunately, you grew up a little crooked."
Sure enough, White Night calmly looked at him, his eyes holding nothing but coldness.
"I know about your past, Shinomiya Amane. Or rather... Amamiya Shion."
!!!
At that moment, a savage expression surfaced on Amane's cute face. The past he had long buried had been exposed. "Impossible! Why do you know that name?!"
"Blade Dancers' Supernatural Abilities were never scientific to begin with."
White Night manifested Myriad Phenomena and walked toward Amane step by step. Buildings over a large area collapsed along with him.
Clang, clang—
A burst of icy sword light flashed, pulverizing every chunk of rubble. White Night did not change his pace and continued closing in on Amane. "I know that no one has ever acknowledged you as a person."
"Goddess's Grace? Ridiculous. Since when was a Blade Dancer's ability classified as something so vague and illusory?"
"Shut up! You don't know anything!"
His false mask torn away, Amane roared angrily, his features becoming increasingly twisted.
"The one who knows nothing is you."
"A goddess? There is no such thing. The power you have always wielded was your own. It's a pity you never realized it."
"I said shut up!"
Faintly, the power of misfortune almost materialized, black arms stretching out from behind Amane.
"See? This was your power all along."
White Night slowly wiped his blade, not even putting up a defense as he allowed that power to strike him.
Life Chronicle's powerful adaptability and explosive vitality let him withstand it head-on. Even with his heart stopped, he said, "Not bad. That's why I said you were strong."
"At least in my eyes, your only flaw is that your mind is too weak."
"The outside environment made you begin doubting yourself and blaming everything on the goddess. Shinomiya Amane, you're pitiful."
As he spoke, White Night suddenly stepped forward. In an instant, he appeared before Amane and drove a fierce front kick into him.
Boom—!
Amane flew backward and slammed heavily into the wall behind him, crumpling to the ground.
Crunch, crunch~
White Night stepped over the rubble and approached him one step at a time. "Your past is indeed pitiful, but that has nothing to do with me. If you do something wrong, you must pay the price."
"Perhaps someone in this world can give you redemption, but that person was never destined to be me."
Then White Night reached out, grabbed Amane, slowly lifted him up, and smashed him hard against the wall. "No matter what, the hospital patients were innocent."
"It's only because nothing happened in the end. Otherwise..."
Having vented his anger, White Night released Amane's collar and let him fall to the ground before turning away. "Reflect on yourself properly, Amamiya Shion."
The Tournament Continues
The matches were still ongoing.
"What? A format change?"
After one round of matches, White Night, Ikki, and the others gathered together to review the day's schedule.
Before you continue