[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 35

    Before watching the semifinals, Kaylen didn’t have a high opinion of the current era''s martial prowess.

    “Mana Suits exist, but the lack of mana is too severe.”

    In this era, where mana is scarce, even elves cannot summon higher spirits. Swordmasters had disappeared long ago, and the highest level of magic was capped at the 5th Circle. Compared to the past, it all seemed lacking.

    However, that notion changed entirely after witnessing the semifinals.

    "The Princess and Sir Lioness are entering."

    "......"

    Princess Violet walked in, donning her icy mask. Lioness ascended the arena, his hair ablaze. As they stood face-to-face, the clash of their mana—fire and water—filled the entire arena with rising steam.

    The stage became shrouded in mist. Watching this, Alkas couldn’t help but exclaim:

    “What an incredible display from the very start.”

    “The steam seems intentional. They’re having a private conversation, it seems.”

    “R-Really?”

    Their voices, inaudible to Sword Experts, seemed deliberately shielded to prevent eavesdropping. Yet Kaylen clearly heard their exchange:

    "...Today, I will melt that mask and prove myself, Princess."

    "How arrogant of you, with just an A-rank Mana Suit."

    "Prepare yourself to join my household. I will treat you well."

    "Hah. I’d rather die than step foot in your duchy."

    Suddenly, the arena floor froze solid. Princess Violet’s body began to transform into ice. As the steam condensed into water and fell to the ground, it instantly froze into solid ice.

    This frost was entirely different from when she froze a tutor in the past.

    “As expected of an S-rank. Glacia... Frost Assimilation.”

    Lioness smiled as he activated his A-rank Mana Suit, Inferno. However, it was insufficient to resist the encroaching cold.

    The arena froze in an instant, with only the ground beneath Lioness’ feet barely spared from icing over.

    “So this is Glacia...”

    “In a battle of ice and fire, fire is utterly overwhelmed.”

    “The difference between S-rank and A-rank is this vast.”

    “Still, both of them exhibit mana of an entirely different caliber.”

    Although both were Meisters, their magic power was capped at the 4th Circle. But once fully equipped with Mana Suits, their bodies transformed, aligning with their elemental attributes like spirits, unleashing unimaginable power.

    “Is this what Spirit Assimilation looks like?”

    Spirit Assimilation—a feature of A-rank or higher Mana Suits—allowed the Meister’s body to transform into a spirit-like form. For Meisters who focused entirely on a single attribute, this was the ultimate way to maximize destructive power.

    Even without casting any spells, their mere presence altered the atmosphere of the arena.

    “Just by emitting mana, they can rival the power of a 5th Circle mage.”

    The arena felt like winter, the air growing increasingly frigid.

    To safeguard the spectators, a hastily reinforced protective magic circle was immediately activated. It worked to suppress Lioness’s energy while also shielding the arena and stands from the overwhelming cold emanating outward.

    The mana of water was absurdly powerful.

    "Should we even be watching this?"

    "The atmosphere feels... ominous."

    The audience began to stir in unease.

    "Hmm... Should we stop the match?"

    "The difference in power seems stark."

    As the referees deliberated, Lioness, now fully transformed into a brilliant yellow flame, let out a confident laugh. Despite his body entirely aflame, his beauty was undiminished, drawing gasps of admiration from the women in the audience.

    "You are as formidable as I expected. However, my goal isn’t victory—only to prove myself."

    With a roar, the intensity of Lioness’s flames surged, and in an instant, he vanished.

    As his flames extinguished, his pale body gradually emerged, starting from his fingertips. For a moment, he let out a bitter smile.

    "Princess, please don’t leave me frozen for too long..."

    Before he could finish his words, his body froze completely.

    "How dull."

    The duel ended as simply as that.

    Unlike the straightforward conclusion, the arena was left in ruins. Lioness’s explosive attempts had devastated the structure, and all the protective magic circles had been destroyed. Only a few sections, such as Kaylen’s area, remained intact due to self-cast protection magic. The spectator stands were entirely empty.

    "Is... is it over?"

    "Yes. That was entertaining."

    Perhaps hearing his remark, Violet, still in her elementalized state, glanced briefly in Kaylen''s direction. She gave a faint smile before leaving the arena.

    As Violet descended from the arena, the aftermath of her battle became evident. Lioness, frozen solid in an ice sculpture, stood as a stark reminder of her overwhelming power. The semifinal match had ended with her flawless victory.

    Watching the Fire Shield fade and the full extent of the arena''s devastation, Alkas commented, his tone a mix of awe and disbelief:

    "I’ve heard that S-rank mana suits are powerful, but this... exceeds all expectations."

    ***

    Kaylen surveyed the arena thoughtfully as Alkas stood by.

    "And to think, she didn’t even allow anyone to get close. It’s as if Princess Violet has no weaknesses."

    "Haha, is that so?" Kaylen replied, his gaze sweeping across the arena.

    From north to south, east to west, the ice spread in an evenly distributed pattern, its influence apparent.

    "Look at the range of the ice field. It’s almost symmetrical, isn’t it?"

    "Yes, my lord. It is."

    "And what of the Princess’s temperament? Is she cruel?"

    "Not at all. From what I’ve heard, she’s fair and just in her judgments."

    "Exactly. That’s the impression I’ve gotten too," Kaylen said, gesturing toward the frozen Lioness and the desolate scene beyond him.

    "The disparity in strength between the Princess and Lioness was clear. With such a gap, there was no need to freeze the entire arena to this extent."

    "Indeed..."

    "And yet, she did. The ice spread in a controlled radius, even reaching the spectator stands. This suggests... a lack of precision in controlling her power."

    "You’re saying the Princess has trouble controlling her strength?" Alkas asked, incredulous.

    "Precisely. Against a strong opponent, she likely finds it harder to restrain herself."

    "Still... even without perfect control, her power is almost flawless, isn’t it?" Alkas glanced again at the scorched and frozen remnants of the arena.

    Kaylen smiled.

    "Even so, flaws exist. That’s what matters."

    He felt a surge of excitement well up within him. Witnessing Violet’s power had ignited a warrior’s passion, a longing for a challenge.

    "I’ll make it to the finals."

    He wanted to face her. For the first time since stepping into this body, Kaylen felt a genuine desire—to test himself against Violet’s icy might.

    "You’re aiming for the finals, my lord?"

    "Yes."

    "Are you thinking of using... that power?"

    "No," Kaylen replied firmly. "It must be strictly through magic."

    Alkas referred to the power of the Swordmaster, but Kaylen had no intention of revealing it. No matter how much he desired the duel, exposing his true abilities was unnecessary. The Swordmaster technique was his hidden trump card—a revelation reserved for when the time was right.

    "Then... how will you prepare?"

    Kaylen’s eyes gleamed.

    "There’s somewhere I need to go."

    The following day, Kaylen found himself standing before Myorn’s research lab, ready to take the next step in his plan.

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]