Victory Against Three Opponents at Once (5K) (continued)

Even the crowd couldn't understand how Yotsuba Mahiro did it; they only knew that his demeanor completely lacked the elegance of a demon swordsman.

Like a raging beast, a bloodthirsty killer.

The methods used were ruthless.

All their actions seemed solely aimed at strangling and tearing the enemy apart.

It's that simple.

Even Nelson was dumbfounded.

Olivier and Lili, were they just wiped out like that?

But it's okay, we still have Aurora. That woman isn't so easy to deal with.

Nelson consoled himself with this thought.

At this moment, the blood-red tentacle spears had almost completely covered the entire dueling arena; almost everywhere that people could see was covered by those blood-red spears.

It looks like a dense forest of guns!

Long spears wear each other down and break apart, and new spears are born from the wreckage, then vie for control.

Repeat this process.

Mahiro strolled leisurely through the dense forest of gunfire.

Aurora continued her crimson dance, gracefully moving as countless red threads danced at astonishing speed, manipulating her spear, which could freely change shape, at will.

Sometimes it transforms into thick, winding branches, and sometimes it splits and changes into the shape of a gaping maw.

It felt as if that was part of my own body.

The airtight attack, like a spider's web, sealed off all entrances and exits, as well as every possible place to hide.

However, Mahiro always manages to pinpoint the hiding spot with pinpoint accuracy.

With no way to avoid it, he swung his sword and swept away the thousands of needle-thin spears.

I carved out my own destiny with my own hands!

"Beautiful lady, your two companions have left the stage. Now it's your turn."

Mahiro murmured to himself, as if talking to himself.

However, it was quite obvious that a hint of joy seemed to appear on Aurora's face when he mentioned the beautiful lady.

Although they cannot communicate with words, this slight emotional fluctuation is enough to prove it.

She is completely different from Olivier and Lili before her; she is a living, breathing being.

"That's amazing..."

"Truly worthy of being..."

"Yotsuba Clan..."

Alexia's soft murmurs and Rose's whispers overlapped with Natsume's.

The swordsmanship is so skillful that it can sometimes display the ferocity of a beast, and at other times it can demonstrate meticulous dodging.

A mortal's sword?

Using such words to describe exceptional swordsmanship is an insult.

Even without using any magic, and even though the moves didn't look particularly flashy, it was indeed a swordsmanship that surpassed that of ordinary people.

"What is that witch doing?! Get rid of her already!"

Nelson's tone began to reveal his anxiety, and large beads of sweat covered his smooth Mediterranean Sea.

Just who is this guy?!

The strength they've displayed so far is already on par with the Knights of the Rounds!!!

However--

Aurora was at her wit's end and could no longer withstand Yotsuba Mahiro.

"Let this all come to an end, beautiful lady."

Mahiro murmured to himself again, abandoning all defense, and tucked the Demon-Slaying Holy Sword into his waistband, slowly arching his back.

The moment the spear attack arrived, his figure vanished from his spot, and thousands of crimson spears pierced the ground.

In the blink of an eye, Mahiro was already standing in front of Aurora.

The latter raised her hand, and blood rapidly condensed into a giant scythe in her palm, but it was too late.

Mahiro's figure bears the shadow of Kisara Tendo as he unleashes a sword strike imbued with immense magical power.

"Tendo-style Iaijutsu, Three Forms, Eight Chapters--"

A flash of white light.

"--'Cloud Ridge Pique Heroic Star'-- Gallop forth, Demon-Slaying Holy Sword!"

A sword strike identical to that of Kisara Tendo, both reaching the level of mastery Menkyo, but with far greater power.

With a single sword strike, all things came to a standstill.

As if space itself had been cleaved open, the field of vision appeared to be divided into multiple segments. Accompanied by a crisp cracking sound like shattering glass, countless crisscrossing cutting lines were imprinted on the battlefield.

Then, the world collapsed.

To be precise, it was Aurora's world that was captivated.

Countless lines of blood spread across her body, and the giant blood scythe in her hand instantly crumbled.

Her body transformed into starlight; she was disappearing.

But a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"Are you satisfied with this?" Mahiro asked.

Aurora nodded to him, her violet eyes looking exceptionally beautiful and radiant.

It even gave him a sense of déjà vu.

I saw the shadow of an old friend in Aurora.

However, he could clearly feel that the layers of chains binding Aurora were gradually pulling her back into the Sanctuary.

Those were chains separated by space, chains he couldn't directly touch at the moment.

"Looks like the time has come..."

Aurora still smiled, a relaxed smile.

However, as she vanished, Mahiro spoke again:

"But it's alright, we'll see each other again soon."

As Aurora was about to dissipate, she seemed to have clearly heard his words. Her slightly parted cherry lips revealed a hint of surprise, and also seemed to carry a profound meaning.

She eventually disappeared from the dueling arena.

In other words, this trial, in which he Yotsuba Mahiro.

The entire venue fell silent.

That final sword strike was completely beyond their comprehension, like a dream. However, the sword marks left on the ground, like Abyss and still radiating terrifying magic, tearing through the earth, and the hemispherical barrier that was also destroyed by that sword strike, told them something.

Everything that just happened was real.

"Aurora... she lost? And Olivier... Lili, they all lost, how is this possible!"

Nelson shouted.

Throughout the match, he remained convinced that Aurora would win, until that final, all-or-nothing strike.

It was like a sword that shattered the world.

It wasn't just him.

In fact, almost every audience member in the venue doubted whether they had misjudged the winners and losers on the field.

Beta was sitting in the VIP section, pulling out a notebook from his chest and writing furiously and rapidly.

"As expected, he truly lives up to his reputation..."

Rose began, her voice tinged with a sense of wonder.

Surprisingly, even the legendary witch was no match for him.

For some reason, she felt a mixture of joy and disappointment.

Having witnessed such swordsmanship, she felt that Yotsuba Mahiro was becoming increasingly distant from her, and how could she possibly catch up with him?

However, at that moment...

A sudden change occurred.

After Aurora dissipated, that ominous crimson magic reappeared, forming a magic circle.

Everyone thought the goddess was about to unleash another trial.

But only Nelson understood what it was.

Even though I had never activated it, the gate from the Sanctuary opened naturally at this moment!

It seemed that some force, beyond Nelson's control, was forcibly breaking through the shackles that sealed everything.

A halo of black and red light, surrounded by countless runes, spread outwards and eventually formed a doorway.

This is a response from the Sanctuary.

It was also the will of the calamity witch Aurora that forcibly manifested, calling upon him.

"I thought it would be later. Is it because my attack shattered the barrier, weakening its sealing effect on Aurora?"

Mahiro wore a thoughtful expression as he pondered the matter carefully, but his hand had already touched the magic circle.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a beam of white light and vanished into the black and red gate.

"How so..."

Nelson muttered blankly, slumping into his chair.

Everything that happened today has exceeded his expectations.

The trial, originally intended to screen potential individuals, was disrupted by the sudden appearance of an unknown powerhouse, and now even the gates of the Sanctuary have been lost under control!

No, this can't go on any longer!

"Now that the Sanctuary has responded, let's end the 'Goddess's Trial' here! For the safety of the audience, let them leave in an orderly manner and do not let anyone approach that door!"

Nelson immediately issued the order.

The crowd had already begun to be evacuated, but Rose and Alexia looked at the acting archbishop with expressions of utter incomprehension.

Is this door dangerous?

"That's right, the Sanctuary will change the door it opens to greet people depending on who knocks."

There are doors that don't keep guests, doors that summon, doors that welcome... You have to step inside the gate to know what kind of door it is."

Nelson offered an explanation that was not an explanation at all.

So much so that Alexia still didn't understand what this meant.

"Then, please stay where you are and don't make any rash moves."

Just then, a melodious voice, as sweet as a silver bell, rang out.

Turning around, they saw a row of men in black standing behind them.

"You... could it be...?"

Rose's eyes widened slightly as she pointed at the person in the lead.

Because she knew that person.

Among the members dressed in black combat gear, only this woman wore a long robe that resembled a formal dress, her long golden hair swaying gently, and she wore a mask on her face.

She walked gracefully toward the edge of the railing.

However, as he passed Rose, he held up one finger to her, signaling her to be quiet.