Qi Yan Takes the Stage

"First semifinal match!"

"Nine-Star Swordsman, Light Swordsman Arthur VS Super Female Swordsman Erza Scarlet!"

"Now~~~!"

"Begin---!!!"

Clang------!

The bronze gong sounded.

"Flash Sword!"

The moment the match was announced, Arthur launched his attack, shooting straight toward Erza like a beam of light.

Clang──!

A ringing clash of weapons sounded.

Erza was sent flying backward.

Erza drove her sword into the ground with both hands and slid a considerable distance before stopping.

Crack!

The longsword in Erza's hand snapped.

"What?!"

Erza was shocked. She had not expected her sword to be cut in two by her opponent.

"Oohhhhhh!!"

The spectators erupted in cheers when they saw Arthur sever Erza's weapon right at the start.

"That was merely a greeting. If you still won't go all out, then this match should end here."

Arthur looked at Erza as he spoke. He wanted to exchange blows with her, but the person he wanted to fight most was undoubtedly Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Ever since he had begun studying swordsmanship, Yoriichi Tsugikuni had been the person he most desired to challenge.

He had never felt such urgency before. His swordsmanship had not improved for a long time, and he had even believed that he had reached the limit of swordsmanship.

But that man's appearance had completely shattered his understanding. Only then did he learn that swordsmanship had higher realms.

Watching from the sidelines could not truly let one feel another's swordsmanship. Only by truly fighting them could one fully experience it.

"Since you insist, then as you wish."

Erza was not a rigid person. She could also see that the skills Arthur had used in the Group C battles could practically be classified as magic. Her own magic was Knight, and she was also a magic swordswoman. Strictly speaking, it was not against the rules.

"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!"

Erza's body radiated a dazzling light. When the light faded, a suit of adamantine armor covered her body.

Four steel wings extended from her back, making her look imposing and handsome.

"Erza is finally bringing out her true strength."

When Qi Yan saw Erza requip, he knew she was about to show her true abilities. He had seen Erza's magic in the anime, but never in reality.

"What? She changed into another suit of armor!"

"Requip magic?!"

Requip magic was a relatively common form of magic. It allowed one to summon armor, weapons, or equipment stored in a designated space for use.

Many of the swordsmen participating in this tournament used similar magic. In the Fiore Kingdom, many low-tier wizards used magic swords, which were more or less of the same type.

"Heaven's Wheel: Blooming Sword!"

Erza slowly rose into the air and released a great number of magic swords toward Arthur.

"Light's Radiance!"

Arthur used the move that had cleared the field during the preliminaries.

A large number of light swords met the swords Erza had fired.

Boom boom boom──!

The swords from both sides collided and shattered.

"Heaven's Wheel: Circular Sword!"

Several steel swords spun at high speed in a circle as they slashed toward Arthur.

"Flash Sword!"

Arthur attacked rapidly. In an instant, golden light severed every steel sword.

"Requip: Black Wing Armor!"

Erza swiftly requipped, changing into a suit of black armor with a pair of bat-like wings on her back.

"That requip was so fast!"

Everyone in the stands was astonished to see Erza change armor so quickly.

Erza dove rapidly toward Arthur.

"Black Wing: Moon Flash!"

Erza rushed before Arthur and swung out a cross-shaped slash.

"Flash: Cross Slash!"

Arthur swung out a cross-shaped slash of light.

Boom──!

The two slashes collided.

"Requip: Flight Armor!"

Erza changed into new armor. It looked like an animal costume, and she held two short blades. This armor could greatly increase Erza's speed.

"Flight: Sonic Claw!"

Erza's figure instantly appeared behind Arthur, and the two daggers in her hands thrust at him at high speed.

"Flash Thrust!"

Arthur gripped his sword with both hands and rapidly thrust, blocking all of Erza's attacks.

The two fought fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand for a time.

Clang──!

After one fierce exchange, they both withdrew.

"Worthy of the woman known as the Fairy Queen. You are very strong—the strongest female swordsman I have ever seen. But it is time to end this battle."

Arthur held his sword before his chest with both hands as magic power rapidly gathered within the blade.

Erza immediately went on guard when she saw this.

The light on Arthur's sword shot into the sky, forming an enormous golden sword of light.

"Light's Judgment!"

Arthur shouted, and the massive sword of light slashed down at Erza at tremendous speed.

"Requip: Adamantine Armor!"

"Adamantine Barrier!"

Erza changed into her most defensive armor and held two massive shields. As the two shields joined together, they immediately generated a huge green magic barrier.

Boom────!

The giant sword of light collided with the barrier, unleashing a terrifying shockwave.

Crack────!

A crack appeared in the barrier, as though it could no longer withstand the giant sword's attack.

Bang────!

The barrier shattered.

Boom────!

The enormous sword of light struck Erza's shields.

"Aaahhhh!!"

The tremendous force shattered the shields, and Erza cried out as she was sent flying backward.

The giant sword struck the arena floor, carving a massive fissure into the ground.

Erza struggled to rise. When she lifted her head, she saw a sword pointed at her.

"I lost!"

Erza readily admitted defeat. During their fight, she had already felt that his swordsmanship far surpassed her own. If he had gone all out, she might have been defeated long ago.

She did not like the feeling of losing. The stronger her opponent was, the more it stirred her competitive spirit. In this tournament, she had witnessed even more powerful swordsmanship. She would absorb all of it and become stronger.

Arthur sheathed his sword. "You are strong, and you have great talent. Perhaps in a few years, even I will not be your opponent. But that time is not now."

After saying that, Arthur turned and left. His battle with Erza had only been a warm-up. His true target was that man.

"The victor has been decided!!!"

"Winner: Arthur!!!"

"That battle was truly spectacular! Miss Erza from the Fiore Kingdom used requip magic and displayed incredible strength. She is undoubtedly a Nine-Star Swordsman. For such a young girl to possess the strength of a Nine-Star Swordsman is truly amazing! Arthur also displayed the bearing of the kingdom's strongest swordsman. Let us applaud their wonderful battle!!"

"Oohhhhhh!"

"Arthur! Arthur! Arthur!"

"Miss Erza was truly amazing!"...

The spectators cheered and applauded for them both.

"Next is the second semifinal match."

"Nine-Star Swordsman Thunder Sword Clay VS Swordsmanship God Yoriichi Tsugikuni!!!"

Boom────!!!

At the commentator's words, the atmosphere at the venue instantly exploded.

"Sword God! Sword God! Sword God!"...