Epiphany

The two slashes collided, unleashing a terrifying shockwave that shattered the surrounding ground.

"Flash Thrust!!"

Arthur stomped his foot and shot toward Qi Yan, raising his sword to thrust at him.

"Sun Breathing, Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust!!"

Flames coiled around Qi Yan as he raised his sword with both hands and launched a fierce thrust.

Clang—!!

The tips of their blades collided, light crashing against flames.

Boom boom boom boom—!!

The ground beneath their feet and all around them exploded apart as the shockwave rapidly spread outward.

"Flash Sword!!!"

Arthur's sword attacked with the speed of light.

Qi Yan swung his blade, blocking every one of Arthur's attacks.

"Sun Breathing, Eighth Form: Flying Wheel Mirage!"

Qi Yan's blade tip wavered like a heat haze. Arthur immediately retreated to evade it, and just as he thought he had dodged it and was about to counterattack—

Suddenly, his expression changed. The blade, which had seemed short, appeared to lengthen without warning. Arthur had no time to dodge.

Slash!

A wound was cut across Arthur's body.

Arthur swiftly swung his sword in a horizontal sweep.

"Sun Breathing, Ninth Form: Setting Sun Turning!"

Qi Yan leaped into the air and spun, evading Arthur's attack while slashing horizontally with his blade.

The unexpected attack made cold sweat break out across Arthur's body. He quickly ducked, and the long blade passed over his head, taking a lock of hair with it.

Before Arthur could react, Qi Yan's next attack had already arrived.

"Sun Breathing, Sixth Form: Scorching Bone, Blazing Sun!!"

The spinning fiery slash struck Arthur directly.

"Aaargh!!"

Arthur cried out in pain as the slash sent his entire body flying.

Boom—!!

Arthur crashed into the inner wall, smashing it apart.

"Whoa whoa whoa!! Arthur was sent flying by Yoriichi Tsugikuni!! Is the battle about to end just like this?!"

Arthur forced himself to his feet.

"Not yet!! Arthur has gotten back up!!"

"As expected of Mr. Yoriichi Tsugikuni. I originally wanted to settle this in close combat, but it seems I overestimated myself." Now that he was truly facing Qi Yan, he finally understood why Clay had run around hiding like a frightened rabbit.

Before Qi Yan made every move, Arthur seemed to see an illusion of himself being killed. Relying on his powerful will, he kept himself from being disturbed by those illusions.

He even used those visions to predict Qi Yan's attacks in advance.

But he realized that he had still overestimated himself. He had thought he was competing with Qi Yan through skill, yet Qi Yan's attack just now seemed to be telling him exactly how enormous the gap between them was.

"..."

Qi Yan said nothing. To be honest, the moment Arthur had closed in, Qi Yan had already had the chance to kill him instantly. But that would have been somewhat disrespectful. Arthur was, after all, the strongest swordsman in the Sobeia Kingdom. If Qi Yan defeated him that easily, it would be rather discourteous to their host.

One should go easy on those whose food one had eaten and whose gifts one had accepted.

He intended to make a show of it and end the battle.

Arthur's swordsmanship was not weak, but Qi Yan's was stronger.

"But I also want to see just how great the true gap between Mr. Yoriichi Tsugikuni and me really is."

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

The glow around the sword shot into the sky, forming an enormous golden sword of light. It was the very move he had used against Erza, except this time, Arthur had clearly condensed even greater magic power.

Qi Yan greatly disliked people who casually unleashed their ultimate moves. They were supposed to be competing in swordsmanship, yet it had ultimately become a contest of magic.

This move had such a long windup that, honestly, he would have had enough time to kill Arthur several times over.

Even if he did not kill him, Qi Yan could easily evade it.

But he could not do that. Interrupting him at this point would be rather beneath him. He could neither attack nor dodge, so he could only meet it head-on.

Qi Yan poured magic power into his blade.

But the instant the magic power entered the blade, a strange sensation rose in Qi Yan's mind.

Using the Transparent World to observe the magic power flowing from his palm into the blade, combined with his body's perception of magic power, made him feel as if he were encountering magic power for the first time.

His mind became incomparably active, countless thoughts and insights surging through his head.

Qi Yan did not know what this feeling was, but he could sense that it was an immense opportunity. If he missed it, he would definitely, absolutely regret it for the rest of his life.

Qi Yan chose to forget everything and immerse himself completely in the ocean of his consciousness.

Arthur had also finished charging his attack. A massive sword of light dozens of meters long, formed from golden energy, stood in the arena like the legendary holy sword.

Seeing Qi Yan standing there in a daze, Arthur had no idea what he was doing or why he was not taking a fighting stance. Whether he intended to dodge or clash head-on, there should have been some sign.

Yet Qi Yan simply stood there rigidly.

But Arthur had no time to consider what Qi Yan intended to do. His move had finished charging, and he had to attack.

"Light's Judgment!!"

Holding his sword with both hands, he roared and slashed downward.

The enormous sword of light was like the blade of a god. Following Arthur's swing, it cleaved down at Qi Yan as though splitting heaven and earth apart.

Qi Yan seemed to have no time to react—or perhaps he had forgotten to react, or simply paid it no heed.

He neither dodged nor charged up a defense. He merely stood motionless where he was. Only when the sword was about to strike him did his body instinctively and leisurely raise the blade in his hand to block.

But how could a single sword possibly withstand such an attack? When Arthur had attacked Erza, she had deployed a magical barrier, yet it had been torn apart. Even her shield and armor had shattered.

This attack was clearly stronger than the one Arthur had used against Erza. Just as everyone thought Qi Yan was finished and could not bear to watch him be split in two by a single strike—

Clang—!

A crisp sound rang out, followed by a sight that left everyone shocked, stunned, and unable to believe their eyes.

The blade of the enormous golden sword met Qi Yan's blade. The scene everyone had expected—Qi Yan's blade being easily cleaved apart—did not occur. Instead, Arthur's enormous golden sword snapped in two.

That was right! It had broken cleanly, as though sliced apart by something incomparably sharp. Then, the enormous golden sword dissolved into specks of light.

"..."

The entire venue fell deathly silent. Arthur himself stood frozen in place, his eyes vacant.