Chapter 266 - The Finalists
Finally, the main tournament has begun. This is where the excitement truly starts.
The battles among the top sixty-four contenders have captivated the audience, delivering intense and thrilling matches.
Although there are far fewer matches compared to the preliminaries, the stakes are much higher, with enormous bets placed on each fight. From the main tournament onward, the wealthy start placing serious wagers, ensuring that revenue does not drop. It's a real economic boom!
However, personally, what I'm most interested in is the lineup of winners.
The local unknowns were eliminated by the time the field was narrowed down to thirty-two. Those who remained were all professional fighters, and by the time the top eight were reached, it was a clean sweep of foreign invited contestants.
The matches are intense and of high quality, so the audience has no complaints. But the success of local fighters will eventually be crucial.
Today, the final three and the championship match will take place, but I haven't been able to watch much of the main tournament. I've only caught glimpses here and there.
This is because the presence of important figures on the days of the major matches and today's final has led to a series of unavoidable meetings. As a result, I haven't had much time to relax and watch the matches at the arena.
But today, I'm determined to watch carefully. I missed the third-place match due to handling a VIP, but I can't miss the final. I'm personally interested in it too.
Members of the Kikyo Society who are free are gathered in our dedicated viewing booth, eagerly awaiting the moment.
"Is Xenobia watching today? That's unusual."
"The vice-commander and the Security Bureau have been considerate. I'm grateful to them."
"Xenobia, you've been the greatest contributor so far. You should forget about work and enjoy the final match."
Ziegrune, ever the considerate one, has taken on the role of a behind-the-scenes supporter. The deputy heads and assistants of the Security Bureau, other than Xenobia, have been working hard, so I think it's fine to leave things to them. But Ziegrune's willingness to step in is what made Xenobia feel comfortable enough to watch the match.
"Onee-sama, who do you think will win?"
"Hmm, that's a tough one..."
The two finalists enter the stage to a thunderous applause. The familiar announcer's voice rings out, just as it did during the exhibition matches.
"Hear the incredible cheers! The applause speaks of the intense battles that have brought us to this point!"
Margaret's commentary, familiar from the exhibition matches, resumes. The preliminary rounds involved four simultaneous matches, so there was no live commentary. The Public Relations Bureau's other members handled the announcements of results.
Margaret has only taken over the commentary for the final, likely to add a sense of special occasion.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's introduce the two finalists! First up, we have Fighter Shamrock, known for his trademark black attire. He was once a renowned adventurer who ventured into the uncharted territories of the western continent. Since then, he has been a prominent figure in the Berliza Championship, winning his first title two years ago!"
Shamrock is a muscular and warrior-like figure, with a slightly roguish charm. The western uncharted territories are known for being a challenging place where even the Clad Family's Cloud Cutter honed his skills. Shamrock's experience in such a place, combined with his victories in the Berliza Championship, speaks volumes about his strength.
Margaret then introduces the next contestant.
"Opposing him is the rising star, Fighter Garcia, who made a meteoric rise in last year's Berliza Championship, securing second place! This year, he did not participate in Berliza, but both he and Shamrock are based in the Berliza Arena. This is their first confrontation, and what a dream match it is!"
While Shamrock exudes the seasoned warrior's aura, Garcia has a larger build, youthful energy, and a friendly demeanor. He greets the crowd with a performance, swinging his large sword and flashing a smile.
"I'm definitely rooting for Shamrock. He's a straight-up strong fighter. I might even be in trouble if I faced him in a sword fight."
"Indeed, his strength is evident just by watching. However, I've heard that Garcia's magical abilities are still a mystery."
Gradena is backing Shamrock, while Xenobia seems intrigued by Garcia.
The two finalists have already started enhancing their physical abilities with magic, engaging in a battle that isn't visible to the eye. It's a good show of spirit.
Members of the Kikyo Society, especially those from the Combat Unit, possess combat skills far beyond the norm. Comparing the two finalists to our standards, they are still quite impressive.
I haven't seen any of their matches in the main tournament, so I don't know what kind of battles they will have. Based on their magical enhancements, I'd say they are almost evenly matched. The outcome will likely depend on experience, skill, and a bit of luck.
"Either way, it's going to be an excellent final. I can't even guess who will win. It's going to be a great match, no doubt."
"Even Onee-sama finds it hard to predict?"
If I could buy wagers, I might watch with more enthusiasm. But as long as they put on a good show, it won't matter who wins the championship between these two who are based in the Berliza Arena. If one of them were a local, I'd definitely root for them.
The Chief Umpire Greens is giving the contestants their final instructions.
"The final match is shaping up to be a thrilling one, Grand Master."
"Indeed, this is a final that the Berliza Arena might regret. There were many strong contenders, but this is the hand we've been dealt."
It seems that the Grand Master has also made a special appearance, taking on the role of commentator with enthusiasm.
The final is heavily influenced by Berliza. Both finalists and the Chief Umpire Greens, who is a former Berliza Arena official, are connected to Berliza. The Grand Master himself is a former Berliza Championship winner.
The northern superpower of the continent continues to exert its influence, even here.
I do have some thoughts, but the most important thing for this tournament is the excitement. As long as we have a fantastic final match, I'm happy to award the title of the Exembra Championship's First Champion.
As the commentary and analysis come to a close, the arena's atmosphere reaches a fever pitch. Just as the anticipation reaches its peak, the moment arrives.
"And now, the Exembra Arena's First Champion will be decided. Which of these men will claim the glory? The two finalists draw their weapons and take their positions. The Chief Umpire Greens raises his hand... and brings it down! The match begins! The stage is set for a legendary battle!"
The two combatants stand apart on the sandy arena. Shamrock immediately charges, kicking up a cloud of sand.
Garcia, on the other hand, retreats while firing a rapid succession of fireballs.
The fireballs, which appear as small orbs of light, are incredibly powerful. They are about the size of ping-pong balls and are fired at a rapid rate, about three per second.
Shamrock, a finalist, isn't one to be easily defeated. He changes his trajectory just before impact, circling around to close the distance. He narrowly avoids the fireballs, which explode upon hitting the protective shields that guard the audience, thrilling the crowd.
Shamrock moves in a counterclockwise direction, closing the distance at high speed. Garcia, perhaps disliking the close range, creates a massive wall of flames to block his advance. While the flames are visually stunning, Shamrock also uses magic.
Shamrock's body is enveloped in a blue wind, allowing him to break through the wall of flames and slash with his glowing silver sword. The series of movements is a testament to his remarkable skill.
Garcia, who has been forced into a defensive position, shows no signs of panic. He anticipated the attack and meets Shamrock's sword with his own, countering with sheer force. He then quickly creates some distance.
"What an intense exchange! Both magic and swordsmanship are at a level befitting the final!"
"Indeed, Shamrock's timing and distance judgment, along with Garcia's magical and close-quarters combat skills, make for an evenly matched fight from the start."
It's a great match.
The initial exchange was likely an attempt to end the match quickly, but it was also a way to gauge each other's abilities.
Their physical enhancements are top-notch, and their skills and combat experience are impressive. They are worthy of their success in the renowned Berliza Championship.
"Look, Garcia is taking the initiative!"
The two fighters, who had momentarily separated, quickly resumed the action.
As Margaret notes, Garcia advances, but this time, he fires his fireballs indiscriminately.
It's harder to dodge when attacks are spread out randomly. If you know they are targeting you, you can evade or defend. You can even fake out the attack.
But when attacks are scattered randomly, it's harder to predict and react. While this strategy is less efficient in terms of mana usage, it can be effective if the attacker has a lot of mana or wants to end the fight quickly.
"Perhaps Garcia is aiming for a quick win. He doesn't seem to be preparing for a long fight."
"He's likely aiming for a short, decisive battle. If Garcia continues his attacks and Shamrock keeps dodging, Garcia could overwhelm him with mana exhaustion."
"So he's already read the situation in just one exchange?"
After a single exchange, fighters can usually gauge each other's strength, especially when they are both skilled. This applies to both magical and sword skills.
But combat isn't just about what you can see. I noticed that...
"Shamrock is skillfully dodging the numerous magical attacks while wrapped in a blue wind! It's an incredible display of agility!"
"Is he also attacking while dodging?"
"It's hard to notice because he's using the blue wind consistently, but Shamrock is also using wind magic for his attacks. He's engaging in a hidden battle that we can't see."
"So Garcia is also defending and dodging? I didn't realize that."
"Garcia is using wind magic to counter Shamrock's attacks while casting fire spells. They are engaged in a hidden battle as well."
"Ladies and gentlemen, did you hear that? There is another battle taking place behind the scenes, in addition to the visible one! It's an incredible display of high-level combat!"
The audience is electrified by the Grand Master and Margaret's explanations, even though they can't see the hidden battle.
The Grand Master is sharp, noticing something that only a highly skilled fighter could detect. A magical battle between those with strong mana perception skills is always exciting.
Shamrock uses wind magic for both dodging and attacking, likely aiming to finish the fight with close-quarters combat.
Garcia, on the other hand, is primarily a mage. While he uses a large sword, it's more of a showpiece. His true weapon is magic, and his ability to use both fire and wind magic at a high level suggests a unique racial trait.
Garcia reminds me of our Albert, who is skilled with both a bow and magic but prefers to use a hammer. Perhaps Garcia has a similar affinity for large swords, regardless of their practicality.
In close-quarters combat, Shamrock would likely win. However, Garcia's magical abilities are formidable, and his mana reserves are overwhelming.
The continuous barrage of fireballs makes it difficult to close the distance. If Shamrock forces his way through, he will likely be hit head-on.
The blue wind enveloping Shamrock glows brighter, and his movements become sharper. However, Garcia's attacks become even more intense, continuously hitting the sand and protective shields, creating spectacular explosions.
"This is intense! Garcia's small fire spells are creating a series of powerful explosions in the arena!"
"Shamrock is in a tough spot. He might be overwhelmed if this continues."
"Could this be the end?"