Chapter 73 – Tyrant
The fight between the two, which I thought was a match in my own way, turned out to be a fight with Gav left behind.
He vaguely ranks as the Four Heavenly Kings… It’s ambiguous to even describe it as, out of the four heavenly kings I’ve met so far, there’s not a single one who shows as overwhelming majesty as Gav.
I don’t know because I’ve never fought against the Demon King or Walter Leonheart, who is said to be the strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings, but if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that he’s incredibly strong.
To the point where I can’t even guarantee victory or defeat.
After the match, Ozma, who had fallen in the semi-finals, trudged down the aisle with a half-fazed expression.
Gav went the other way, so you probably won’t run into him along the way.
When she met my eyes, she smiled dejectedly and lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Kaldrash. I don’t think I can keep the promise to meet you in the finals.”
Then he put his trembling hand to his chest and murmured.
“I was foolish. Acting like I won without even properly assessing the difference in skill with Gave.”
I nodded.
“I can’t say it was bad luck… I can’t say it. I’ve already fought enough to fight 35 times.”
“…You’re right. I just misunderstood myself. This is enough to catch up.”
Unexpectedly, Ozma readily admitted that he was lacking.
“But I found out about it today. There is a gap between me and Gav that can’t be bridged. He’s strong. The next demon king will definitely be Gav.”
I asked Ozma after hearing that there was some resignation.
“Are you giving up?”
“Yes. To be honest, I’m exhausted. To keep challenging an opponent I can’t win over and over again.”
I stared at Ozma like that.
What scared her?
In fact, it was not difficult to come up with the reason without thinking deeply.
A technique that Gav showed at the end after cutting his arm with the sword of Purgatory.
It was only one stomp.
However, with that simple act, everyone in the stadium at the time was overwhelmed.
An overwhelming presence that seems to reign over everything.
One great step instilled in the minds of the weak that Gav was the overwhelmingly strong.
I stared at Ozma in front of me.
“Then would you like to make a bet with me?”
“…What bet?”
“If I beat Gav, next year Ozma-sama will challenge Gav again.”
Then Ozma stared straight into my face, as if he had heard something he couldn’t understand.
“Why do you care about me so much? What’s the use of you?”
I smiled when I heard that.
“Because the one and only disciple is dead.”
“What?”
“Didn’t Ozma-nim call me a teacher? At first, I didn’t really like it, but I still have a disciple who learned magic from me, so I have to show dignity as a teacher.”
As I said that, I abruptly snapped my finger on Ozma’s forehead, who was looking at me with a stupid face.
Right!
“Oops!”
Ozma, holding her forehead in pain, looks up at me with a slightly teary face.
“Keep an eye out for the finals. We’ll show you a great side.”
Saying that, I patted Ozma on the shoulder and began to walk towards the arena as if crossing each other.
I felt her strong gaze on the back of my head, but I deliberately pretended not to know.
Sometimes an action speaks louder than a thousand words.
***
The finals were played about 30 minutes after the semi-finals.
It was a time when injured participants couldn’t get enough rest, but the organizers didn’t mind that.
Well, the audience’s time is more important than the participants’ time.
Even if I was in the waiting room for players, there seemed to be nothing to do, so I went to the entrance of the stadium in advance and waited.
In the distance, I noticed Nick Irons sitting in a special seat on the second floor of the stadium.
There were old demons sitting around, probably the VIPs who attended this exchange meeting.
In addition, I wanted to find a seat where Camilla was sitting, but unfortunately, it seems that she was sitting on a seat that was not visible from inside the doorway.
I put the Orihalcon Knuckles, which had been active throughout this tournament, into my bag, and took out the Stormbringer from my backpack.
It seems like it will be a fierce battle, so I thought it was right to try everything I could at the moment.
After putting his white handcuffs on both arms, I clenched his fists as confirmation.
Perhaps because it was custom-made to fit my hand, it fit snugly without any irritating parts.
Unlike Gav, who was mortally wounded by a fighter, I made it through the semifinals unscathed.
If you simply look at my physical condition, I am in a much better condition.
However, there must be at least one trick Gabe hid, and the qigong technique he showed at the end was truly unconventional, so I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stop it.
Even if you want to bomb indiscriminately from the sky, it’s difficult because he has wings.
While waiting for my turn, I spent time thinking of and simulating various strategies.
Yet-
“Hey! You’ve been waiting for a long time! Finally, the long-awaited final match! Two warriors who have risen after overcoming numerous strongmen appear!”
The voice of the presenter standing on the stage brought me out of my thoughts into reality.
“All or nothing.”
If Master was by my side, he would tell me to come this far and win the championship anyway.
I also thought it would be better to acquire a certain level of fame if I was going to work as a demon king army in the future, but I couldn’t guarantee that I would be able to beat Gav.
‘Still… ‘
There’s something I promised Ozma, but I’ll have to try.
Even if I lose when I lose, I don’t want to make excuses that I lost because I didn’t do my best.
Match!
I made up my mind by slapping both cheeks.
He even wears a mask over his bare face.
Now was the time to fight.
***
As I walked out of the doorway with my mask on, I heard enthusiastic cheers.
“Waaaaa!”
“Patrash! Patlash! Patlash!”
It’s literally a crucible of enthusiasm inside the arena.
Most of the enemies were finished in a short time of less than 5 minutes, so the audience’s reaction was not bad despite the awareness that it was just a boring fight.
No, maybe he likes it because a monster rookie appeared in the ancient martial arts competition.
Demons basically have a long lifespan, and because their physical prime lasts a long time, the generational change is quite slow.
I showed off my showmanship, waved my hand appropriately, and went up on stage.
After my entrance, Gav, my opponent for the final match, appeared from the opposite doorway.
With the appearance that the wound he suffered from Ozma earlier had not healed, he walked towards the stage confidently.
When he met my gaze, he smiled and raised his hand.
“Hey, I finally met you.”
I shrugged.
“That’s it.”
Gav must have liked the way I looked, so he laughed hahaand took off the long robe that was on his shoulder and threw it away.
“I’m sorry for Ozma, who really jumped in, but you were the only person I wanted to fight in this tournament from beginning to end.”
I glanced sideways at the scar on his forearm.
“It’s a pretty big wound for something like that, right?”
Gav then scratched the back of his head shyly.
“I never imagined that that strange looking knife would pierce my membranes.”
In fact, I agreed with that sentiment.
If I hadn’t been wearing the Stormbringer, my wrist would have been cut during the match.
Anyway, we formed a consensus in an unexpected place, shook hands in the middle of the stadium, and then spread our distance again.
“I’d like to talk more, but I don’t have time.”
“Let’s talk over a drink after this game.”
“That’s nice. I’ll listen to the complains of losers over a drink.”
“Isn’t it me who is complaining about the losers, not Gabriel-sama?”
We clenched our fists tightly as we provoked each other.
In fact, it is quite rare to have a fistfight like this in the western continent.
Since Qigong itself is rooted in the East Continent, it is a skill that only a very few people can learn, and it is stronger to wield a sword or spear normally in a half-learned state.
“Sue-“
Oh oh oh ──
Mana fluctuates inside with virtual magical power.
I slowly waved my arms and extended my fists straight forward.
Spell Armament – Whirlwind Sword Bone
A fierce whirlwind surrounds the Stormbringer.
Gav, who had been watching my preparations, smiled and said,
“In my heart, I want to deal with the same qigong technique.”
As you can see, the arm is in this state, so it can’t be done.
“What?”
I suddenly tried to ask what that meant, but a beat faster than that, Gav’s muscular body began to glow.
Gav’s body rapidly grows in size.
The creature that appeared before long had an overwhelming majesty worthy of the name of the Heavenly Demon Dragon.
Big, massive chin.
Sharp tail.
Menacing teeth.
Thick legs.
Short arms.
… Short arms?
By the time I realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
A blue lizard that looks completely different from what I thought-
To be precise, the strongest creature on earth, called Tyrannosaurus Rex, howled in front of my eyes.
“No, fuck. This is against the rules.”
