act13side

As for Margaret... Hmm...

What's wrong?

I thought your eyes on this would be sharper than mine, Grandmaster.

She's far too different... from what she used to be.

Haah...

Hff—

The exhilarating exchange of blows has ground to a halt! This is the first time the storm of battle has paused!

Don't these two need to breathe?! Are these moves even possible for mere mortals?!

Beautiful swordsmanship, pegasus.

Likewise.

You... excite me.

Did you know? According to legend, the Khagan once lost to a pegasus with golden blood, in his younger years.

I'm curious... Is there really a Kuranta in this world with golden blood in her veins?

Sorry to disappoint, but the blood on my face is red.

Warmup is over, Radiant Knight.

You live up to your name. And so—

The air is starting to freeze.

It isn't until the audience come back to their senses that they notice they forgot to breathe.

Is it fear?

Why are they afraid?

The entire audience... including all the knights feel a strange sense of repression.

—Let reality give way to me.

This is the first time Margaret has used her Arts subconsciously in the arena.

The intense radiance is almost like that of the sun, lighting up vast night sky.

Despite the blinding light, the young Nightzmora stands unflinching as ever.

Just as the name implies, a knight competition is nothing but a competition.

However, in this instant, Margaret feels something. It's the same aura that she has felt from her strongest enemies.

Catastrophes, the wails of the Infected, and their roars, the blood of the Infected, and their last struggles on the brink of death.

The young Nightzmora has never seen any mountains of corpses or seas of blood for himself.

Yet his lineage taught him how to control fear the moment he was born.

His pure lineage.

...(Ancient language) The young hunter sets out on his Khaganquest ♪ From dreams he goes, towards the shores of gold ♪

(Ancient language) A halberd in hand, stained red with blood of kin ♪

A tragic yet heroic song...

...telling an ancient story.

Hah!

—Ugh!

Wh-What just happened?

Some kind of Arts?! He used some Arts, and everyone in the arena is feeling a—uh, sensation, I guess!

But! With a single step, Nightmare Knight roused up a blast wave that slammed right into the artificial boulders!

What a fierce strike! The Radiant Knight had no choice but to fall back!

A strike that pushes back a champion! A strike that dispels her light! Even the most radiant of lights cannot stop the Nightzmora's conquest!

There's no applause...

Everyone's immersed in... these emotions.

That strike...

Did you notice something?

Any other knight... would be dead by now.

Uhh...?

He's doing this for real.

He's the real deal...

Just a lost child.

Poor kid.

What's going on?

(What?! So sudden? You sure? Uhh...)

This just in! The Arts that Nightmare Knight just used have been deemed an adverse effect on our audience members and judges!

This is a clear violation of Articles 3 and 7 of the Major's rules!

'Competition knights may not harm or threaten the safety of the persons or property of the audience' and 'Competition knights may not in any way interfere with the judges' ability to make subjective rulings!'

(Dammit, this is way too much of a stretch! Couldn't they have at least picked a better time?!)

This match is now over—! So—

—Come!

Light...

Gather round.

W-What's going on?! It's like the knights didn't hear our ruling!

The match is over! Separate immediately and wait for the judges!

Hah!

Ah! What beautiful swordhand!

In the blink of an eye... Right before my blade could slice your skull, you countered my attack...

You've witnessed death. You've witnessed cruelty. You tremble in the face of neither fear nor me!

...Huff...

Strong opponents and insurmountable difficulties do not frighten me.

On the contrary, the paralysis and degeneracy this city shows even right this moment are much more terrifying than you.

Somebody, stop these two! Pull them apart!

Modern Kazimierz is indeed sickening—

—Come, let fear open the eyes of these spectators. Show them just what it is they are watching.

That's enough.

—What?

A figure reminiscent of blood fissures the earth.

The ground between the two is cleaved apart by a giant axe appearing from thin air.

I said: that's enough.

The match is over...

It's you... The Blood Knight.

Who could have known?! No one could possibly have anticipated that the one who would finally put a stop to this unstoppable battle would be—!

'Kazimierz's Crimson Goblet', the hero, Dikaiopolis! It's not an easy name to remember, but be sure not to take your eyes off this—

That's the champion of the Kazimierz Major, undoubtedly the most popular of them all, the god of war from Minos! THE—BLOOOOOOOOOD—KNIIIIIIIIIGHT!!

(Man, thank goodness he showed up. Guess I put on a decent enough show today? Hey, one of you, go check on the spokesman and tell me how he's reacting!)

Dikaiopolis... A Minoan name. So he's the Infected who took the title three years ago.

This is my first time seeing the Blood Knight fight in person too... What a potent aura.

Hmph...

Whoa! The Blood Knight leaped into the arena! And he's walking toward our brawling contestants!

It's been years since Kazimierz has seen something like this!! Two champions! We have two champions on the same stage! What a sight to behold!

Of course, of course! The man standing on the other side isn't exactly your average Józef either, having just demonstrated his immense strength. What's more, that's Kazimierz's last Nightzmora we're talking about—

This here, everyone, is a million dollar marvel! Do not ever forget this moment! This is one for the history books!

You... another champion...

Your next opponent is me, Nightzmora.

And my next opponent is you.

Hah... hahaha... I sense you imply I will lose to you.

Absolutely.

How will a phantom who lives in the past possibly defeat me?

You, Infected, I look forward to the day I fight against you.

Do you think you can just walk away?