Chapter 158 - Top 32! 2

Lucia's match was announced so she went up to the stage. Her opponent, the Warrior Faction Leader, Gus August was already waiting for her. He was large golden haired dogkin.

He had a large sword strapped on his back along with a large kite shield. He had an eager look on his face.

When Lucia was finally in front of him, he quickly got his weapons ready and waited for her. Lucia stretched a little before pulling out her Shirayuki and Butterfly. Just like Cecil, Lucia always had her weapons strapped onto her waist instead of storing them inside her spatial rings.

She quickly got into stance and it was very much similar to Cecil's martial form. It was much different from Fina's stance when dual-wielding. When Fina saw this she couldn't help, but question Cecil.

"How come Lulu's stance is different from mine even though we dual-wield our weapons?"

"Oh, that's because she doesn't need to be in the Silvaria Sword Stance anymore," Cecil answered.

"Eh? How come?"

"That's because she's long since passed that stage. She's mastered the Sword Arts, Knife Arts, and Dual-wielding arts to the point where she's capable using them instinctively in whatever form she's in."

"Ah?"

"Right now she's using the Silvaria Fierce Tiger Stance. It's my family martial arts' most aggressive stance. Watch, she'll use the attacks in this stance while at the same time incorporating all of the sword and knife arts into it."

"...She's strong."

"Yeah, she is. It also shows just how much of a genius that girl actually is, a genius in both magic and martial arts. You know, it hasn't even been a year since she's started learning my martial arts."

"..."

"Now, all she needs to do is build upon that foundation and further hone her technique and battle sense. I can't wait for her to reach my level..."

Fina smiled at this. Even when Cecil was as strong as he was, he never once looked down on his friends nor his opponents for being weaker than him. For his opponents, he would just simply beat them down.

For his friends however, he would sincerely guide them forward and strengthen their combat prowess. Fina was really glad to have such a friend, mentor, and party leader.

"Then I can finally have a full on bout with her! Hahaha~ you guys too! Hurry up and reach where I am!" Cecil brightly said.

"...I take that back." Fina began to cry inwardly. All her respect and sentiments...please return them! This idiot only wanted to guide them to his level just so that he could fight with them!

The referee saw that they were in combat form and raised his hand and announced the start of the match.

"FIGHT!"

Just as Lucia was about to dash forward, Gus August called out to her.

"Hey, Apocalypse Queen!"

"Euh...what?"

"How about we put some restrictions on our fight, just to spice things up, yeah?"

Lucia frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that we should limit ourselves. Look, you and I can use magic spells yes? So, how about we limit ourselves to using only combat skills and strengthening skills?"

Lucia smirked at his proposal, "Sure, why not? It's not like it's going to change things...HAAAAHH!!!"

She gave a loud shout and a large crimson aura began flaring around her body. Lucia lowered her body into her previous stance once more and waited for Gus to use his strengthening skills.

Gus was surprised seeing the mana fluctuations coming off of the girl in front of him. He grinned and began activating his skills. Multiple combat skills were activated all at once and his mana fluctuations rose in response.

Once they had properly strengthened themselves, Lucia was the first to attack. She disappeared from her spot and quickly arrived behind Gus. She was fast and Gus was surprised at the speed that she used to arrive behind him.

Gus jumped forward and swung his shield behind him on instinct. Lucia's katana only managed to cut into his shield before it recoiled back.

"Heeh, nice reflexes–"

"!"

Lucia hadn't even finished speaking. She had already flashed right in front of Gus and swung her Shirayuki at him once more. Gus stomped his feet and blocked Lucia's strike with his sword and repelled her follow up hit with his shield.

Lucia kicked Gus' shield away, she spun her body swung her Butterfly at his face. Gus bent his body back and narrowly dodged it, but then Lucia planted a kick on his open body and sent him stumbling a couple of meters back.

The foxkin girl didn't relent and pressed her attack, sending kicks, slashes and thrusts at her opponent. She was overwhelming him. The stark contrast between their height and build was almost like David vs. Goliath, but this time, David was overwhelming Goliath.

A storm of attacks assaulted Gus August and it seemed that he couldn't break free from it. He was the leader of the Warrior Faction, but he was being overwhelmed in terms of combat techniques.

The audience could scarcely believe their eyes. The Apocalyptic Queen that they thought was a mage was actually warrior with combat prowess that put even the strongest of knights to shame.

Up in the Royal Family's private room, the Sword Saintess was observing the fight in awe. The ingenious sword arts and martial arts that Lucia used in her flurry of attacks astounded her. Just where did this girl learn to fight like this?

There was also a faint resemblance to the martial arts that the foxkin boy, Combat King Cecil, used.

"Hmmm...It seems—"

"Familiar?" Headmaster Elufied finished.

"Yeah...there are faint semblances of the Combat King's movements and techniques in her sword arts."

"Well, that's true. Since the person who taught that little missy her sword arts was apparently the Combat King himself~"

"Oh? No wonder. I've never seen that kid pull out his sword from his waist, so I've never seen his sword arts before...so his and this girl's sword arts are the same then?"

"Exactly," Elufied affirmed.

"Hmm...It really looks powerful." The King added.

"Yes, it is indeed. As you can see, she doesn't only use her sword, but that little dagger in her left hand is moving in sync with her sword as well. She also uses every part of her body as a weapon. Even if she has to temporarily drop or throw her sword or dagger and punch with her fists, the girl utilizes every part of her body to the utmost efficiency."

"Yes...it doesn't follow the norm in the way we wield our weapons."

"The creator of these... martial arts?" Celia said, not sure of herself.

"Yup, that's what Cecil calls it."

"Well, the creator must be a grandmaster in the art of body refinement. To think that even a child at her age is able to exert such an incredible amount of power and technique. It's scary to think what would happen when she grows older! I doubt many in my Knights Order could even contend with this young girl."

"..."

The King remained silent. He quietly spectate the ongoing fight; his thoughts were unknown to everyone around him.

In the Golden Fox Clan's private room, all the youngsters inside were exclaiming in awe and admiration at Lucia's fight.

"Can you believe this?!"

"She's not only a powerful mage, but she's even a skilled fighter!"

"A Sword Master!"

"She's practically on par, if not stronger than all the Sword Maidens in the Kingdom, right?"

"Woah, doesn't this mean she could even rise up to be the next Sword Saintess Candidate?"

Their excited discussions didn't escape the elders and other family members of inside the room.

"Brother, Sister-in-law...your daughter, she's just like the both of you!" The Chieftain, Azaki Aurielle exclaimed.

"Well~ we have to thank Cel for that!" Anna hummed delightedly.

"Yes...our foster son was the one who taught her those martial arts."

The other members of the family began to voice their admiration to the couple. Many even wanted to know if Lucia would be willing to teach a thing or two to their own children and grandchildren of the opportunity presented itself.

"OH NO!"

The exclamation from one of the Golden Fox clan's younger generation caused everyone to turn their attention back onto the fight. Gus August had activated the battle skill, Punishing Howl. The skill focused mana into the user's vocal cords and when they shouted out, it emitted a large sound wave that would push back and disorientate their opponent.

Lucia was just about to smash her foot into Gus' face when the Faction Leader had suddenly used this battle skill. The sound wave pushed her faraway from Gus and it caused her ears to ring.

Lucia began shaking her head to re-orientate herself, but Gus had already rushed up and slammed his shield at her.

The shield slam smashed her back and Gus followed it up with a Vorpal Slash, a battle skill that infused wind elemental mana into one's weapon. When they slashed out the mana would form a wind scythe that would cut at their target.

Lucia felt the approaching danger and quickly infused her aura into Shirayuki. She tossed her Butterfly into the air and grabbed Shirayuki with both hands. When she felt the katana tremble from the aura being infused into her weapon, she slashed out powerfully.

"Ascending Blade!!!"

It was the same Sword Skill that Cecil used. Her shout alone caused every student in the stadium to cheer out loud. The visual of the Ascending Blade that Cecil used during his party's Demon Hawk extermination video was awe-inspiring.

Gus paled when he heard Lucia. He quickly activated Shukuchi and flickered away. All thoughts of a follow up attack were thrown out the window since the large crimson beam of death had just passed by his earlier position.

Lucia's attack missed her opponent, but she blew away the Vorpal Slash. She had executed the skill in a panic, so she hadn't properly adjusted the power. So when the sword beam smashed into the protective barrier it caused large numerous cracks to form.

The audience grew pale when they saw this, but the cheers didn't stop. The barrier quickly began to mend itself and down on the fighting stage, Lucia had finally orientated herself. She took a look at her 'masterpiece' and stuck her tongue out.

"Oops!"

She then refocused her mind and tried to look for her opponent. The entire stage was a wreck and it was quite befitting for her title, Apocalyptic. An attack launched in a panic had caused so much devastation. It was a good thing that Gus August had quickly decided to dodge away. If he hadn't then there was no doubt that he would have lost then and there.

"...this girl...she panicked and almost lost control of her skill..." Cecil said with a grimace.

"...Ascending Blade...isn't that your skill Cecil?" Eli asked.

"Yeah...apparently she can use it now too. She didn't spend her time in the Time Formation for nothing."

"...Teach it to me next time, okay?"

"Sure, I'll have you learn it before the National Tournament!"

Eli smiled and turned her attention back to the stage. Lucia quickly spotted Gus and had already flashed in front of him. Gus looked a bit pale, but he still put up his guard and once more received Lucia's onslaught of attacks.