Royal Arena had never witnessed such noise.
Thousands of people sat in every corner of the arena, and their shouts merged in one single roar shaking the old stones of the arena. Many flags of kingdoms of the continent hung on the walls creating the picture of unified celebration. The nobles occupied the top places, while knights, adventurers, mercenaries, hunters, citizens sat in the lower stands looking eagerly at the arena.
Tournament started with hundreds of players.
Now there are only two left.
Tournament board showed their names glowing brightly.
RAVEN
VS
KAI VIPER
The announcer lifted his hands; his shout multiplied by the magic of wind echoed across the arena.
"THE FINAL OF THE GREATEST FIGHT TOURNAMENT BEGINS NOW!"
The explosion of noise broke out.
Jennie stood near the entrance into the arena; she wore the same practice sword, which she took with her from the beginning of the tournament—old, scratched. It had the signs of many fights.
There were no Excalibur, Leviathan, Tempest, Astraeus.
Only the wood and the determination.
On the other side of the arena stood Kai Viper. The armor had been restored, but some scratches were still visible, they were silent witnesses of his fights. New weapon lay in his hand—new spear, long, balanced, deadly. Silver tip of it reflected the morning sun.
Kai looked at Jennie; his eyes were sharp.
Jennie looked at Kai, her face was calm.
Neither of them smiled.
The referee placed himself between them.
"Both finalists deserved their place here. Do you know the rules, sir?"—he looked at Kai.
Kai nodded, gripping his spear tightly.
"Do you know them, Raven?"—the referee turned to Jennie.
Jennie nodded, her fingers holding the practice sword tightly.
"No killing. The surrender stops the fight. Any injuries would be treated immediately by the royal mages."
The referee moved backward, raising his hand.
"Begin!"
Kai attacked.
Jennie did nothing.
Spear went toward her with incredible speed; its tip aimed on her throat.
Jennie inclined her head—the spear passed nearby her cheek, ruffling her hair.
Jennie stepped into the circle of influence of the spear.
Kai turned the spear and its shaft aimed at her ribs.
Jennie blocked.
CLANG!
The hit pushed her backward; her feet scratched the floor of the arena.
Jennie’s eyes narrowed.
Stronger.
Kai had been strong earlier—but now he was stronger. He became better, faster, more decisive, more skilled. He studied her in the tournament and analyzed her movements and tactics. Jennie realized one more thing—Kai studied all his opponents, and he understood her skills and tricks, her weakness.
And Jennie understood that he knew that she was not using the Divine Swords.
Kai attacked again; spear moved with incredible speed.
Jennie stepped to the side.
Kai’s spear swept over her chest; the sharp end of it tried to pass into her heart.
Jennie ducked; the spear missed her.
Immediately Kai changed the direction of his attack and aimed the spear at her head.
Jennie blocked, feeling how her sword vibrated in her hands.
Kai started to turn; his spear attacked her from behind.
Jennie jumped over the weapon.
She touched the floor with her feet firmly.
Kai attacked again—he tried to thrust the spear at her; she parried his attack and he changed the direction of the attack, trying to cut her and then made a low attack.
Jennie parried his attacks easily; she used her practice sword skillfully.
The weapons hit again and again.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Jennie moved toward Kai, he moved backwards.
One hit at the shoulder with the sword.
Kai blocked it with the spear, and then he aimed the spearhead to her head immediately.
Jennie ducked it and attacked the armor of Kai; her blade hit the barrier, protecting him.
Gasps of the audience rose around.
Jennie stepped back, looking at Kai.
Kai looked down at the trace on his armor and then at Jennie.
"You are faster than before," he said.
Jennie smiled brightly. "You too."
Kai gripped his spear. "I learned."
Jennie’s smile widened. "Yes, I did."
The swords and spears clashed again.
This time Jennie attacked him; she moved easily.
A blow from above—Kai blocked.
Horizontal stroke of the sword—Kai deflected.
Jennie attacked again, moving closer and trying to thrust the sword.
Kai changed the direction of the spear with one quick move.
The blade changed the angle of the strike at the last moment.
The eyes of Kai widened—she managed to make him change his tactics at the last moment.
The practice sword missed the head of Kai; it passed next to his ear, ruffling his hair.
Kai immediately counterattacked, trying to hit her chest with the spear.
Jennie moved backward and stepped back.
Kai’s spear missed her; he aimed it at her face and then she moved backward.
The scream of the audience rose; the crowd was excited.
It was no longer a tournament—two fighters, who reached a completely different level, fought on the arena now.
Kai’s spear had more reach, giving him the advantage.
The sword of Jennie had more control, making every stroke effective.
Every move had meaning, every mistake was able to change the course of the battle.
Kai started to attack her quickly with his spear—he made one, two, three, four hits.
Jennie blocked the first one, dodged the second one, parried the third one.
The fourth hit was made under her; the spear passed under her legs.
Jennie jumped over it.
Then Kai turned the spear and tried to hit her with the horizontal slash.
Jennie put the sword cross-wise, preparing for the impact.
BOOM!
She was thrown back by the hit of the spear.
She stopped the movement of her body.
Gasps of the audience broke out.
Kai did not waste the time—he attacked her charging with the spear in his hands.
Jennie saw this.
He does not give me any time.
She moved forward instead of retreating and closed the distance.
Kai aimed at her chest; he tried to kill her.
Jennie changed her position and the spear missed her.
She hit his hand; he let the spear go for a moment.
Jennie’s sword missed him by millimeter.
He turned the spear with one hand and tried to hit her from another side.
Jennie blocked; the impact jolted her hand.
Kai attacked her with his foot; he aimed at her ribs.
Jennie jumped backward, increasing the distance.
They were standing apart, breathing hard.
Jennie looked at Kai.
Kai gazed back, his expression serious.
Kai smiled, his words traveling through the silent arena.
"You’re holding back."
Jennie froze, her heart beating rapidly.
Everyone fell silent, muttering quietly.
Kai went on, his tone relaxed. "You’re not using the sword you used in the tournament."
Jennie’s expression turned serious, squeezing the handle of her practice sword. "It’s true."
"Why?"
Jennie raised her practice sword in response, revealing its worn surface. "Because I don’t need it."
Kai’s expression sharpened. "Then prove it."
Jennie smiled, her tone firm. "With pleasure."
Cheers exploded from the audience.
Kai suddenly lowered his spear, changing his stance.
Jennie narrowed her eyes, instinctively warning herself.
This wasn’t the stance Kai had used against Gareth or Mira—it was something different. Something Kai had been keeping in reserve until the end.
Kai took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly.
Everyone stopped talking, including the audience that fell into expectant silence.
Arthur Queens leaned out from the royal balcony, staring at Kai intently.
Lucas was standing beside him, his expression unreadable.
Lilia’s hands clutched the railing, her heart hammering rapidly.
Kai Viper’s spear started to move—slowly at first, creating an invisible pattern in the air. A circle. Another one. The spear point seemed to create afterimages that were more visible with every pass.
Jennie kept watching, tracing all movements.
Kai whispered softly.
"Viper’s Thousand Fang."
He disappeared.
Jennie’s eyes widened.
The spear appeared—becoming an invisible silver blur heading towards her chest.
She blocked, her practice sword clashing with the weapon.
Another thrust was delivered, even faster than the previous one.
Jennie moved sideways, avoiding the spear.
Another thrust was delivered—she stepped away, the blade passing by her cloak.
Another one—she dropped low, avoiding it.
Another one—she blocked, her practice sword meeting the spear.
Now the attacks were becoming faster—and Kai’s spear seemed to multiply, turning into hundreds of strikes. The audience couldn’t see the spear anymore—they only heard sounds of steel clashing with wood.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Jennie was being pushed backwards, her practice sword defending her constantly. She was blocking, parrying, dodging—however, Kai didn’t give her any space. The spear was hitting her from all sides and directions.
A strike on her shoulder—her barrier activated.
She took a step backwards.
Another strike—on her side, leg and sword arm.
Kai was herding her, driving her like a predator driving his prey.
Jennie narrowed her eyes, concentrating with all her might.
He’s trying to control my movements.
Kai wasn’t only striking—he was cutting off all possible escape routes, making every thrust lead to another, trapping Jennie in a spiderweb of steel and technique. His style was like a storm of spears.
Everyone was standing up, screaming their encouragement.
"RAVEN! GET OUT OF THERE!"
Lilia’s heart was hammering, her nails digging into her palms.
"Jennie..."
She didn’t realize that she had uttered this name aloud.
Arthur was staring at her, his eyes narrowing.
Lucas noticed that too—but neither said anything.
Jennie realized. There—small gap. Kai’s left foot moved, shifting his balance. Next thrust was going to be from the right.
Jennie acted, her body moving like liquid water.
Kai changed his attack at the last moment.
Jennie’s eyes widened—her composure shattered.
He was predicting me.
Kai’s spear grazed her shoulder, cutting a small wound.
Jennie took a step backwards, her heart beating faster.
Kai followed, pressing his attack.
His spear was striking again—she blocked, nearly dropping the practice sword from her hands.
She gripped it tightly, her knuckles whitening.
Her eyes became calm—that calm of warrior who realized what she should do.
And then she moved.
Not backwards—but forwards.
Kai’s spear passed by her, his tip missing her by inches.
Jennie’s foot moved behind the other one, her body rotating in a smooth curve.
She suddenly vanished from Kai’s range of attack.
Kai’s eyes widened, his composure shattering.
Jennie whispered, her voice almost unheard.
"Crescent Step."
Her body was moving in a curved arc—one step, two steps, three. She wasn’t moving straight at Kai—she was moving around him, flowing around his defenses like water.
Technique, engraved in her body. Something she hadn’t consciously learned.
Kai rotated, his spear already in motion.
Jennie appeared behind him.
He tried to rotate again—but she had already moved.
She appeared beside him, her practice sword already descending.
Kai blocked—but the power of her thrust pushed him several meters backwards, his feet scraping against the stone.
Everyone screamed, bursting into cheers.
Arthur rose, his eyes wide.
Lucas was looking at Jennie, muttering under his breath. "Crescent Step..."
Arthur’s expression turned pale, his hands gripping the railing tightly. "That movement."
Lucas nodded slowly, his voice filled with recognition. "I’ve seen it before."
Arthur looked at him, his eyes sharp. "Where?"
Lucas didn’t reply immediately, his eyes fixed on Jennie and her movements.
Then he whispered, his voice almost unheard. "The Sword King."
Arthur’s eyes widened, his breath stopping. "Impossible."
Lucas was still watching Jennie, his voice filled with certainty. "The footwork. The rotation angle. The way of entering the blind spot of your opponent..." He shook his head slowly. "Those techniques were supposed to be lost."
Arthur gripped the railing tighter, his knuckles whitening. "Not lost." His voice sounded hollow. "Passed down."
Arthur was staring at Jennie, his thoughts racing. "Are you saying Raven learned from his lineage?"
"I don’t know." Lucas was looking at Jennie, his expression troubled. "But this isn’t ordinary swordsmanship."
Below them, Jennie and Kai were colliding again.
The spear struck—Jennie blocked it with her sword.
Kai pushed—he was using all his strength.
Jennie slid backwards, her feet scraping against the stone.
Kai attacked, his spear becoming a blur of silver.
Jennie used Crescent Step—vanishing from his front.
Kai immediately rotated, acting by instinct.
Jennie’s sword descended—he blocked.
The power pushed him to one knee, his armor squeaking from the strain.
Kai gritted his teeth, using all his strength.
Jennie jumped backwards, her chest heaving.
Both opponents were staring at each other, breathing heavily.
Kai’s breathing was becoming harder, sweat trickling down his face.
There was a small wound on Jennie’s shoulder, leaving a small red trail on her cloak.
Neither paid attention to it.
Kai slowly stood, his body trembling with fatigue.
Then he smiled—a smile full of respect.
"Now I understand."
Jennie raised an eyebrow, her voice curious. "What?"
"You’re not using a Divine Sword because you’re testing yourself."
Jennie didn’t say anything, letting her silence confirm everything.
Kai lifted his spear, his grip steady. "Then I’ll force you to use everything else."
He charged, leading with his spear.
Jennie charged too, raising her practice sword.
The distance between them was vanishing in seconds.
Spear. Sword.
The weapons collided, the final clash was coming.
Kai attacked Jennie’s chest with his spear.
She deflected it with her sword.
Kai turned and attacked again, his spear coming from behind.
Jennie bent down and let it pass overhead.
He used his foot to attack her ribs.
Jennie jumped and avoided the kick.
He tried to turn the spear in the other direction, tracking her movement.
Jennie twisted and his weapon blade grazed her sleeve.
She attacked Kai’s shoulder with her practice sword.
He used the barrier to absorb the hit.
Kai paid no attention to it and attacked again, his spear heading for her chest.
Jennie deflected it.
CRACK!
The practice sword cracked with the hit.
Jennie opened her eyes in surprise.
Kai attacked again, using all his strength.
His practice sword started to crack and splinter.
The crowd screamed and the noise grew.
Jennie tightened her grip on the sword, her knuckles turning white.
Kai roared and his voice echoed in the arena. "RAVEN!"
He attacked with all his strength.
Jennie stepped forward and the spear stopped an inch away from her chest.
Her practice sword became stuck in the spear shaft, cracking further.
They stopped for a moment.
Kai pushed and Jennie did the same.
Both of their weapons trembled under the pressure.
Kai’s eyes burned with determination. "Give me everything!"
Jennie looked into his eyes and smiled.
"I will."
She moved her foot—Crescent Step.
Kai’s eyes opened wide and his composure broke.
Jennie turned and her body passed around him.
The spear slipped past her and the momentum carried it.
Her practice sword hit his wrist and made his fingers open.
The spear fell.
CLANG!
It hit the arena floor making a loud noise.
Jennie stood behind Kai.
Her practice sword was raised and stopped right before his neck.
One move. One hit.
And the fight would be over.
Kai froze and opened his eyes wide.
Everyone in the crowd held its breath as if the whole world stopped breathing for an instant.
Jennie looked at him calmly.
Kai closed his eyes and relaxed.
Then he smiled.
"I lost."
Jennie lowered the sword and her chest was heaving.
The whole arena exploded in sounds as if the ocean of noise crashed down.
The referee ran up and shouted. "STOP!"
He looked between them and raised Jennie’s hand.
"The winner—RAVEN!"
The crowd went crazy.
"RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN!"
Jennie stood there quietly as her heart beat loudly in her chest.
She looked at Kai who was getting his spear.
He looked at her and extended his hand.
Jennie looked at it and smiled.
She shook his hand firmly.
"That was amazing."
Kai nodded and his eyes showed respect. "So were you."
Jennie looked at the royal balcony where Lilia was standing with her hands pressed to her chest.
They looked each other in the eyes and it was hard to understand her expression. It was pride, relief, confusion and something else. Something she couldn’t understand.
Jennie smiled at her.
Lilia’s heart skipped.
That feeling. That warmth. That memory she thought she lost forever.
She whispered softly. "Jennie..."
The announcer walked up to the platform and said. "THE GREATEST FIGHT TOURNAMENT HAS ITS CHAMPION!"
The royal bells started ringing as the peals of victory echoed through the capital.
The crowd cheered and made a thunderous noise.
"THE WHITE SWORD HUNTER!"
"THE MYSTERIOUS RAVEN!"
"THE CHAMPION OF THE GREATEST FIGHT TOUNAMENT!"
Jennie looked around the arena and saw thousands of faces looking at her.
Thousands of people were cheering for her.
But she wasn’t thinking about fame, money and royal attention.
She thought about the simple wooden sword in her hands—cracked, splintered and worn out after numerous battles.
She had participated in the tournament as Raven, the mysterious hunter with unknown background.
She defeated all opponents standing in front of her and did it without using any Divine Swords.
Arthur looked at her from the royal balcony with worried look on his face.
Lucas stood beside him and looked at her.
Neither of them spoke anything but their thoughts were clear to understand.
That move. That swordsmanship. That instincts.
There was only one conclusion they could make.
The Sword King.
Arthur looked at her with worried expression and whispered. "Who exactly are you, Raven?"
Jennie couldn’t hear him.
She just looked at her cracked and damaged practice sword.
Then she smiled.
Right now she was the champion.
Tomorrow she would see what will happen.
But somehow inside her heart there appeared another question—which had nothing to do with the tournament, nothing to do with Kai and nothing to do with Divine Swords.
It was about a name.
Name Rudy told her.
The name of the person who was once Jennie.
Leonis.
The name echoed in her mind promising answers.
As people kept cheering, as the bells kept ringing, as the celebration was going on, Jennie felt the weight of her past returning to her.
Tomorrow she would confront it.
But right now—right now she was simply Raven.
The champion of the Greatest Fight Tournament.
And that was enough.
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