As Ashan moved through the crowd, waves of praise followed him from every direction.
"That was insane!"
"Did you see that fireball?"
"He crushed the battle mage!"
Voices overlapped, excitement buzzing like static in the air.
Ashan, however, felt none of that excitement.
'How troublesome… Now everyone knows about me. This will definitely interfere with my future plans.'
'I'll need to be much more careful from now on.'
A familiar translucent window suddenly appeared before his eyes.
—--------------------------------------
Congratulations..
You have successfully defeated your opponent without violating the given rules.
Reward acquired - Kusanagi Sword
- system points(100)
The item has been sent to your personal space.
Points have been added.
—--------------------------------------
Ashan paused for a moment, then exhaled softly.
'The Kusanagi… That's a decent reward.'
The image of the legendary blade surfaced in his mind, the mythical sword once wielded by Orochimaru.
'At least now I have a proper weapon.'
He turned and walked toward Nevil and Narasha.
"That was a brilliant strategy," Narasha said, her eyes still shining with excitement. "You completely overwhelmed him with unexpected moves."
Ashan gave her a small smile before turning to Nevil.
"I'm really sorry, Nevil. I didn't think your sword would break. Don't worry, I'll get you another one very soon. I promise."
Nevil looked down at the shattered remains, then let out a sigh before smiling faintly.
"It's fine. It wasn't a high-ranking sword anyway. Honestly, I was already thinking about replacing it. I've been using that thing for years."
"You don't have to," Ashan said firmly. "I broke it. I'll buy you one."
"Alright, alright," Nevil laughed lightly. "I'll accept it then. Thanks, man."
Ashan briefly considered the reward he had just received.
'I could give him the Kusanagi… But that would be pointless. Nevil doesn't have chakra.'
His gaze sharpened slightly.
'And the system store still hasn't updated. Why is it taking so long?'
Before he could dwell further, the noise around them abruptly died down.
The massive screen above the stadium flickered, drawing everyone's attention.
"It's time…" someone whispered.
The next duel, A-rank match, was about to begin.
Ashan looked up at the screen, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I think I already know one of the names that'll show up."
Moments later, two names appeared.
[Eirena Greaves (Combat Fighter) vs Solius Winheart (Tanker)]
The stadium erupted instantly.
"No way!"
"That's a guaranteed banger!"
"I'm betting on Eirena!"
Cheers, whistles, and shouts thundered through the stands.
Both fighters stepped onto the duel ground.
Solius carried a massive sword and an equally imposing shield strapped to his back, his build alone screaming endurance and power.
Eirena, in contrast, walked forward with only her sword. Her posture was calm, confident, and unshaken.
They stopped at the center.
Smiles were exchanged.
A handshake followed.
Then, to the crowd's shock, they both stepped back and put their weapons away.
"…What?"
"They're unarmed?"
"Wait.. are they serious?"
"Ohhh.. physical combat!"
"They're going raw!"
The excitement surged again.
The bell rang.
In an instant, both of them rushed forward.
Eirena moved first.
Her body flowed smoothly as she stepped in, sharp and flexible, driving a fast punch straight toward Solius's chest. The strike was clean and precise. Solius reacted immediately, blocking her arm with his forearm. The impact echoed, yet his body barely flinched.
Before he could counter, Eirena spun on her heel. Her leg swung high in a fluid arc, cutting through the air with speed and control. Solius raised his guard again, bracing himself.
Thud!
The impact forced him to take a step back, boots scraping against the arena floor.
Ashan, watching closely with his Sharingan, felt his excitement rise.
'They're reinforcing their fists and legs with mana,' he realized.
'Pure physical combat… but enhanced. Eirena's control is cleaner. More refined than his.'
Solius grinned, clearly enjoying himself, and retaliated with a heavy kick.
His foot slammed down as he struck, cracking the ground beneath him. A shockwave rippled outward, sending dust and loose fragments of stone into the air. The sheer force made several spectators gasp.
Eirena leapt aside just in time, feeling the violent pressure rush past her body.
Solius didn't stop.
He swung again, this time throwing a wide, brutal punch. The fist tore through the air so fast it produced a sharp burst of wind, like a cannon firing.
Eirena ducked smoothly beneath it and drove her elbow into his ribs.
"Guh…!"
A grunt escaped him as his massive body shifted slightly.
The tanker's strength was terrifying.
Every step he took shook the ground beneath him, and every attack carried enough power to shatter stone. His presence alone felt overwhelming.
But, his attacks were heavy.
Wide. Predictable.
Eirena was faster.
Her body bent and twisted with precision, her movements sharp and efficient. She read his swings, dodged cleanly, and punished every opening he left behind.
A punch slammed into his side.
A kick struck his leg.
A knee drove into his stomach.
Each blow landed cleanly.
Bit by bit, she forced him backward.
The crowd began to shout louder, the tension rising with every exchange.
Solius growled, frustration creeping into his expression. He planted his foot firmly and unleashed another powerful kick.
The arena floor cracked open beneath him, shards of stone flying outward in all directions.
Eirena raised her guard and shifted her body at the last moment, redirecting the force. The impact still sent a tremor through her arms, but she avoided taking it head-on.
Again, Solius threw his fist.
Fast, heavy, and explosive, the straight punch blasted through the air like a cannon shot.
But Eirena bent her body low, slipping under the attack. In the same motion, she swept his leg with a sharp kick.
His balance wavered.
He nearly fell.
The crowd roared.
Now Solius understood.
She wasn't just avoiding his attacks, She was guiding the fight.
Steering him, cornering him, forcing him to lose control.
Snarling, he jumped back, creating distance between them. For a brief moment, he thought he could reset his stance and regain momentum.
But Eirena didn't allow it.
She dashed forward, faster than before, closing the gap in a single heartbeat.
Before he could react, she hooked her arms tightly around his waist. Her muscles tensed, veins standing out as she poured mana into her core.
Solius's eyes widened.
With a fierce shout, Eirena twisted her body and lifted him clean off the ground.
Then, with all her strength, she threw him over her shoulder.
Boom!
His massive frame slammed outside the arena, dust and debris exploding into the air.
For a split second, the stadium fell silent.
Afer that, the crowd exploded into thunderous cheers.
Solius lay on the ground outside the arena, stunned and staring upward, while Eirena stood tall at the edge, breathing hard, yet steady and composed.
On the balcony, Silas leaned back, clearly entertained.
"Well, Sheliya," he said with a grin, "to think you managed to take that little dragon under you before me. I'm envious. Mind if I steal her?"
Sheliya closed her eyes and smiled mockingly.
Garrick glanced sideways.
"Silas is right," he said calmly. "I'm envious as well. A tiger's cub is still a tiger. Eirena will only grow stronger."
Eirena stepped out of the arena and extended a hand.
"That was a good match. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Solius grabbed her hand and stood, laughing.
"Haha! What do you take me for? That wasn't enough to hurt me."
Sorin hurried over, concern written all over her face.
"Are you injured? Should I check you?"
Solius shook his head.
"Don't worry, Lady Sorin. Just a few light scratches."
He glanced toward the arena again.
"I think we should move. It's time for the S-rank duel."