act13side

The raw determination of blood.

Minos is a beautiful place, Blood Knight.

Many knights fight for wealth. Some, for fame.

But we, the Infected, only fight for survival.

Every match I win, I live a day longer. Another day to spend in the dumps. It's not easy.

What about you, Radiant Knight?

You are much stronger than I imagined... What have you been through?

Oh! Nearl is looking over at us?

It seems so.

You can do this, Nearl!

(Wave);(Clap);You can do it!!

Margaret! You've got this––!!

Margaret, you'd better not lose! I swear, if you end up losing––!

Hahaha, it doesn't matter, as long as they have a good rumble.

You bet. It's been so long since I've seen anyone like that Margaret. It's making my hands itchy, old timer.

(Smiles silently) ......

...Tragedy.

I've seen an entire city crumble beneath a Catastrophe. The Infected, slaughtering innocent civilians, stacking their bodies high and burning them as a warning.

I've seen bounty hunters torment the poor and downtrodden for sport, parents selling their young children for uncontaminated food and water.

I've seen unimaginable tragedy I could never imagine in Kazimierz. However, I also met a group of people... clawing their way forward through that suffering.

I am not alone, Blood Knight.

And yet, after seeing all that, you still chose to come back to Kazimierz, to reclaim your narrow-minded ideals?

...Yes.

Then, you are no longer narrow-minded.

This is my last strike, Radiant Knight.

Come. Let's settle this without any further delay. Thinking about anything else... is a right reserved only for the victor!

Blood Knight Dikaiopolis, you truly are a great knight.

And determining which of is the victor... shall bring glory to all of Kazimierz.

My name is Margaret Nearl! My family motto is, 'Fear neither hardship nor darkness!'

(Minoan) From this day forth, I am no longer alone!

So, will the Blood Knight win, and make things easy for everyone... or will the Radiant Knight win, and we get our hands dirty?

Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?

Never thought I'd get to watch the finals on a big screen from the side of the street. What a metropolitan life, hmm?

...Absolutely dazzling.

Margaret shines even brighter than before. Losing her would be a huge blow to the Silverlances.

But when you look at her like this... she really is a rebel after all.

Teams 3 and 4, wait for instructions by the entrance.

Team 5, enter the arena and mark Rhodes Island. Team 6, mark Maria's group.

The Nearl family has a tendency to produce the most incredible, and the most stubborn people.

Wouldn't you agree, Młynar?

Always feels to me like... it doesn't matter who wins.

(Clicks quietly)

This is a duel between knights.

The Blood Knight and the Radiant Knight... they are shining paragons.

But, that's not where our battles are. The things we want can't be found there either.

They opened the way for us... and we must keep fighting.

The two combatants, now without their weapons, are now condensing their Arts to have one last showdown!

What a lengthy struggle! After the light fades, who will be the first to fall?!

Some of the knights at the venue stop their hoarse shouting and cheering.

They slowly rise to their feet, silently waiting for the conclusion.

I...

The Blood Knight... is at his limit.

For a moment, it seems as if the entire Grand Knight Territory went silent.

But, a melodious horn from outside the arena breaks the silence.

It soars through the clouds, up beyond the hole-riddled nightscape.

This is a tribute, Kazimierz.

A hero has risen.

A thunderous roar.

A symphony of clashing sounds.

Each time weapons collide, sparks burst forth and obscure the fight.

The first to fall will be defeated.

...Nngh!

His step falters.

The hero's body has long dried up from his blood-manipulating Arts.

...Radiant Knight.

How long will you remain in Kazimierz? Will you continue... to kindle this land's lighthouse?

When I returned to my homeland––

––I already steeled myself, to never run.

...Good.

Come. We shouldn't leave any regrets behind.

Right.

I'm sorry, Dr. {@nickname}.

This duel... won't have any meaning.

...Salute... Salute the Blood Knight.

...Salute! Our hero!

...Knight.... Knight...

The Blood Knight gazes at the sky.

He can no longer move a muscle.

The sky.

Even if the nomadic city has moved past that lightless night, the Blood Knight still remembers.

He remembers there was never a moment... when the night surrendered to the city.

...It's your win, Radiant Knight.

Fresh blood spills onto the ground.

Though unable to maintain the basic structure of his Arts, the Blood Knight still clutches the weapon that looks like it could dissipate at any moment.

No! What are you doing? The winner... should not be propping up the loser...

*cough*... There is no loser here, Blood Knight.

W-W-We have a winner!!

The one left standing at the end–– No, more accurately, the Radiant Knight is holding up the Blood Knight! The Blood Knight... can't stand on his own!!

The panel is still tallying up the score, and until now, their scores were neck-and-neck! But, based on what we just saw–– if the Blood Knight is unable to continue fighting, then––

Then, without a doubt––

––The champion of Kazimierz's 24th Special Knight Tournament... is none other than––

...THE RADIANT KNIGHT! MAAAARGAREEEET NEAAARRRRLLL!!!

––Execute the plan.

The various teams are moving to strike. The special detachment has entered the arena, targeting Maria Nearl and Whislash Knight.

While the crowd is in chaos––

What a deafening roar of applause.

I really do envy the knights' popularity.

There are some knights who aren't as popular.

It seems like you have some other reason for saying that?

The old knight-lords always remain at the very top. Frustrating, isn't it?