Ch.129Mana Amplification

The competition among intermediate members, which had been proceeding smoothly, suddenly halted. This was because all the vice-captains demanded a suspension.

“This isn’t intermediate-level skill. Why not promote her to advanced rank right here and now?”

“Many people are watching. If we continue like this, the honor of the other knight orders will…”

“With both her skill and achievements being flawless, no one could possibly object.”

These were the opinions expressed by the vice-captains of each knight order. The competition had been halted because of none other than Se-ah-rin. Her martial prowess overwhelmingly surpassed the average of intermediate members.

Of course, there were other reasons too. The competition was an event watched by everyone. Political elements couldn’t be excluded. It also carried the meaning of a show of force directed at other nations.

Occasionally, members with overwhelming skills like Se-ah-rin were bound to appear. That’s why there was a system in place.

“Are you requesting an honorary promotion…? Of course, I share the same opinion, but ultimately, it’s the individual’s choice…”

Sephiroth, who had been silently listening to the opinions, responded. With the captain of the Blue Wing and one vice-captain absent, she had to handle all matters related to the competition.

Honorary promotion.

It was a system that promoted knight order members with overwhelming skills and achievements to the next rank without requiring them to take the formal exam. This wasn’t a promotion system that could be casually implemented at any time. For this promotion to proceed successfully, permission from those holding positions of vice-captain or higher in each knight order was necessary.

If even one person refused, the honorary promotion would not proceed.

As it happened, all vice-captains were gathered in one place. Sephiroth asked:

“I request an honorary promotion ceremony. If any vice-captain objects, please raise your hand…”

Silence descended. These were people who had witnessed Se-ah-rin’s match with their own eyes. No one raised their hand.

Unanimous consent.

***

Honorary Promotion Ceremony

This was an unfamiliar system to Se-ah-rin. She asked Flora, who seemed to know everything, but even she appeared not to know. That was shocking. To think there was something even Flora didn’t know.

Shing-

The Ice Dragon Sword, drawn by her small hand, scattered a chilling cold. Se-ah-rin placed her hand on the smooth blade. The cooling warmth of her skin brought a pleasant sense of stability.

With her eyes closed, Se-ah-rin recalled the conversation she had with Sephiroth. The vice-captain of Blue Wing, who had taken on all responsibilities, had sought out Se-ah-rin and explained why the competition had been suspended.

‘Se-ah-rin. We’re halting the competition to proceed with your honorary promotion ceremony. Do you agree?’

‘According to the competition results, the opening of the armory…’

‘It will be provided along with the promotion rewards after the ceremony.’

‘I’ll do it.’

For Se-ah-rin, it was an offer she had no reason to refuse. The timing of her desired promotion had been accelerated. She was also promised access to the armory, which would have been granted for good performance in the competition. What more could she need?

‘I’m curious about who my opponent will be.’

What Se-ah-rin was curious about was who she would face. The advanced promotion test had the same content as the intermediate promotion test. Even for an honorary promotion, the content of the promotion test remained unchanged.

Se-ah-rin would face one of the advanced members.

“Hoo…”

A cold chill accompanied her calm exhalation. A frigid wind swirled around Se-ah-rin. There was no fear. She was fully aware of the extent of her power.

Even if an advanced member came out, she was confident she wouldn’t lose.

At that moment, the direction of the wind changed. It was time to move.

Se-ah-rin rose from her seat. The white wind that had been swirling around her instantly vanished.

Se-ah-rin’s honorary promotion ceremony was decided to be held inside the Colosseum. Since even the Emperor had approved, there were no complaints. The spectators seemed rather expectant.

Originally, the knight order promotion ceremonies in the Karma Empire were not conducted publicly. While not exactly secret, they hadn’t been public due to the limited number of people who could enter the knight order headquarters.

Advanced Knight Promotion Ceremony

The first public one.

As the closed doors of the Colosseum slowly opened, thunderous cheers erupted. The first to appear was the advanced knight who would oversee Se-ah-rin’s promotion test.

Black hair gently swayed in the faint breeze. With his neatly groomed appearance and gleaming full plate armor, he looked like the epitome of a knight straight out of a story.

Blue Wing Advanced Knight

Victor

Victor looked across at his opponent and drew his weapon. What he pulled from behind his back was a bastard sword that combined the characteristics of both one-handed and two-handed swords.

While the sword itself had no special decorations, peculiar rune characters were engraved on its white blade.

Once Victor had finished preparing for battle, the door on the opposite side opened.

A white wind blew in. The wind that poured out as the door opened swept through the arena. As the swirling dust quickly settled, the surroundings became clearer.

White frost had settled in some areas, due to the biting cold carried by the sudden wind.

Step-

A small girl appeared on the white frost. It was Se-ah-rin. The wind enveloping her entire body made her clothes and hair flutter.

Se-ah-rin slowly looked at her opponent standing across from her. Thanks to the previous matches, her body was adequately warmed up. Her muscles were loosened enough to move comfortably, and her senses were exceptionally sharp.

That’s why she didn’t move. Being from the same order, she knew well. The relative strength between Victor and herself. When holding her position, she had an overwhelming advantage.

Se-ah-rin immediately used the Formless Flying Sword technique. Ten swords positioned around her body were simultaneously drawn and gracefully swirled. Having a long-range attack method was an enormous advantage.

Se-ah-rin smiled fiercely with her hands behind her back. The wind spread with her smile. At that moment, the ten swords positioned behind her were fired simultaneously.

Swoosh-!

She controlled the ten swords without touching them. It was a skill no different from magic. As the spectators’ cheers grew louder, Victor moved.

His leg stepped forward forcefully, stomping the ground. The mana that burst forth in an instant pushed away the surrounding air and made the space tremble. Immediately after, Victor swung his sword.

Slash-!

It was visible only for an instant. However, the number of slashes that poured out was in the dozens. The slashes that spread out covering the space shot down the incoming swords. After repelling all ten swords at once, both Victor and Se-ah-rin’s forms simultaneously blurred.

An ordinary person’s motion vision couldn’t keep up with the movements of the two. Massive energy waves erupted throughout the Colosseum, overturning the ground. Occasionally, Se-ah-rin’s swords spinning in midair would fly away as if they had collided with something.

“W-what just happened?”

“This is why I don’t watch advanced knights’ matches. You can’t see anything…”

“Are they even fighting right now?”

Bang-! Bang-!

Massive shockwaves continued to erupt. Se-ah-rin and Victor were visible only for brief moments. Even then, they appeared blurry, disappearing like mirages.

The intermediate knights and above were different. They could concentrate mana in their eyes to enhance their motion vision. They naturally tracked the rapidly disappearing forms of Se-ah-rin and Victor.

“Her breathing is stable.”

“That means she’s not using her full power. But the same goes for Victor…”

Theo and Flora, who were watching the match, exchanged opinions. Their gazes moved left and right without a moment’s rest.

“That movement just now was from the Thousand Thunder Flash, right?”

“It’s a bit different… feels like she’s modified it to suit herself.”

“Is there another knight besides Se-ah-rin who uses swords as stepping stones?”

“Well, if they could just enter the Formless Flying Sword technique…”

“She doesn’t hesitate to discard her swords.”

“Because she can replenish them instantly. The swords fly to her as soon as she extends her hand.”

The two, who had been watching comfortably, naturally placed their hands on their swords. Without realizing it, their bodies had prepared for battle. Flora asked Theo:

“If you were in that position, how long do you think you’d last?”

“If I maintain my Lightning God Body, I think I could win.”

“Hmm…”

While the two were busily exchanging opinions, a large shockwave revealed Se-ah-rin and Victor at the far end of the Colosseum. Each positioned on the left and right sides, they were catching their rough breaths.

Se-ah-rin moved first. She, who had been exhaling rough breaths, let go of even the Ice Dragon Sword she had been holding. The eleven swords that rose flew behind her and began to form a circle with their blades pointing outward.

“What is she doing…?”

“Mana is concentrating?”

The circle created by the swords gradually increased its speed. As mana concentrated, a cold storm swirled around it. It didn’t take long for everyone watching the match to detect something unusual.

When the circle of swords behind her back began to appear as one, blue lightning flared up and a harsh sound erupted.

Keeeeeng-!

Simple but all the more effective. As the rotation speed gradually increased, the amplifying mana grew uncontrollably large.

Crackle-!

Se-ah-rin extended her hand. At this point, having reached the limit of what she could control. If she didn’t release the mana now, the external amplification mechanism she had created would likely explode.

As her small hand pointed straight ahead, starlight poured forth.

Kwaaaaa-!