Chapter 52: Final (1)

Thud

The prince, battered and bruised from Leighton’s slashing magic, collapsed to the ground. Behind him, a colossal demon also crumbled, defeated in a similar manner.

Leighton, with trembling hands, adjusted his shattered glasses that had begun to slip off his face.

“The winner… Leighton, the Executor of the Republic.”

A duel between the symbol of the Republic’s might, the Executor, and the noble blood of the Empire’s prince had taken place. 

After a bloody battle that lasted an hour, Leighton emerged victorious.

“Executor Leighton advances to the finals.”

Ding!

Victory! You will be transported to the winner’s waiting room shortly.

Flash

Returning to the waiting room, Leighton collapsed onto the sofa as if all his strength had left him.

Previously

Having used the special power passed down through his lineage, Leighton had discovered the ability to stop time. 

However, he had resolved not to use that power and fight with his own strength alone, understanding his clear limitations.

“But to win against the Empire’s first princess in the finals…”

Having defeated the prince and secured his spot in the finals, Leighton’s next opponent was the Imperial Princess, Rebecca, who had already advanced. 

She was a formidable adversary, comparable to the monstrous woman ranked first among the Executors.

Leighton had received a message from a guild member stationed at the academy, confirming the safety of his younger brother, Wald. 

With Wald safely out of their father’s clutches, Leighton no longer had a reason to hold back, yet…

“Is this an act of disturbing the order?”

Leighton recalled the message he had received from the GM before his duel with the prince. 

It had accused him of disrupting the natural order by using the power to stop time and warned that his ability would be erased as punishment.

“If I lose this power…”

To escape from his father and his subordinates, and to gain ‘freedom’ from their twisted plans, Leighton needed this asymmetric power, the ability to stop time.

***

It was an act conducted under the gaze of a god, Leighton knew that much. 

He would have no choice but to surrender his power. 

But then, the GM made a proposition:

“If you are nothing without that power, then you should not possess it… Show your true strength in the finals against the princess without using it.”

Leighton was certain after his duel with the prince: it was impossible to defeat the princess without that power. 

So then…

Leighton slowly raised his index finger, placing it just above his right eye.

“This is a gamble… A human’s gamble under the eye of the gods.”

Crack

When Leighton removed his glove, a unique symbol appeared in the bloodied socket of his eye.

“To abandon reason… that’s the true gamble…”

Thanks to Rudera’s healing system, Leighton’s eye socket began to regenerate, a new eye forming within it.

He would deceive the gods.

He would defeat their apostle.

But Leighton was unaware.

Unaware that Albus had already marked him as a potential code-breaker. 

Whether he won or lost in the finals, his fate was sealed.

If only he had known, he would have fled without looking back.

***

In the waiting room, the first princess, Rebecca, sat cross-legged on the sofa, her eyes closed. A sacred aura swirled around her.

“So, he’s out.”

Rebecca knew from the cheers of the spectators in the arena that the prince had fallen to Leighton. 

Of all her siblings, the only one who could still challenge her in the competition for the throne was now gone.

Unlike her, he was born from the Empress, of noble blood, and had everything handed to him—a fortunate one. 

But losing his mother at a young age, and suffering such traumatic experiences had twisted him into a pitiful soul.

Rebecca had always harbored complex feelings toward the second prince, Linder. 

Unlike her, who had no strong backing or noble birth, she had to fight desperately to survive in the royal court. 

She honed her skills in spear and magic, demonstrated extraordinary talent, and worked tirelessly to build a support base.

She studied endlessly, managed her allies meticulously, and maintained her position as princess through sheer willpower. 

She even begged the very master who scorned her for her lowly origins to take her under his wing. 

Rebecca’s life had been a relentless struggle for survival.

In contrast, Linder, who had everything, chose to shut himself away in his room. 

Rebecca despised him for it. 

She envied him. 

Of course, those feelings had changed after she was chosen by the gods.

Now, the most important thing to her was not Linder, but her opponent in the finals.

“Executor Leighton.”

A human who possessed the strength to split apart that powerful elven queen in one strike. 

A strong man, different in kind from the Sword Emperor or the Beast King.

Rebecca couldn’t gauge Leighton’s power. 

She didn’t know how strong he truly was or how to counter him.

But still, she had to win.

No matter what her opponent was hiding, no matter how powerful they were…

The weight of the GM’s blessing rested on her shoulders.

“I am the queen chosen by the GM.”

As she meditated, focusing her mind, the princess opened her eyes.

***

Title: The Princess’s Victory Once Kept the Community Clean

Content: Now that Leighton keeps winning, housewives are muddying the waters. We worship you, the true king chosen by the GM.

Comments:

• “Your prince just got smacked by Leighton!”
• “The truth is the community has been healthier ever since Leighton started winning.”
• “You’re still clinging to outdated ideas of rank and status inherited by blood.”

Title: The Princess Cannot Lose Now Even If She Wants To

Content: With millions of GM’s followers supporting her, there’s no way the princess can be defeated.

Comments:

• “Sounds like Leighton’s going to win.”
• Title: Mr. Schneizel Analyzes the Finalists’ Strengths at a Press Conference!

Content: Schneizel, the Republic’s second-ranking Executor, analyzed both sides and concluded that Leighton has a 98% chance of winning!

***

As the final match approached, the Demon King, who managed the community, realized just how overheated the atmosphere had become.

“When did it come to this?”

After commentating on the matches from the round of 16 to the semifinals, the Demon King had failed to notice the gradual shift in the community’s tone. 

Extreme devotion to the contestants had escalated into vicious mudslinging between their fans.

“GM… was this your intention?”

Such fanatical obsession, bordering on religious fervor, could give rise to a dangerous form of divinity—a corrupted form of worship.

The GM was terrifying, using the community and the tournament in such a way.

“But still, I must manage the community.”

The Demon King identified the two most frequent users who were instigating the fights. 

Their posts and comments were responsible for most of the toxic behavior. 

The intensity of their actions was alarming.

“Hmm… The Emperor and the Fuhrer?”

These were none other than the fathers of the finalists.

“My, how devoted they are to their children,” the Demon King muttered, chuckling as he permanently banned the two users.

***

In the Fuhrer’s Office

“So, it has come to this,” the Republic’s Fuhrer murmured in his deep, solemn voice.

“Sir, is something the matter?” asked Executor Schneizel from across the desk.

“It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

The Fuhrer couldn’t exactly admit he had been banned from the community. 

“I’ll consider your proposal positively. You may leave.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Schneizel bowed and exited the room.

Once he was sure Schneizel was gone, the Fuhrer pulled a hidden viewing device from his pocket.

Buzz

The image of the arena appeared before him.

“You must win, Leighton!”

For the first time, the Fuhrer’s expression softened, filled with pride and affection for his illegitimate son.

***

In the Emperor’s Chambers

“Let no one enter, Schmidt. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! I shall guard the door with my life!”

Bang, clunk

The Emperor closed and locked the door to his bedroom. 

He then activated several layers of defensive magic.

“Hah… It’s finally ready.”

The Emperor stepped further into the room. 

It wasn’t his ideal location, but with the first Emperor residing in the most sacred chamber, this was the best he could manage.

Buzz

Activating a viewing device, the image of the arena appeared.

Snap

The Emperor held glowing support wands in both hands.

“Go, Rebecca! Avenge our Linder by defeating that man!”