The entire Sword Sanctuary was gathered, without exception.
All the swordsmen who had traveled from all parts of the world to train at the Sanctuary were there. All had interrupted any training, any commitments, or anything else and had gone to the same place.
The Sword Saints and higher-level warriors were assembled around a wide arena at the center of the Sanctuary.
The place, which normally maintained the constant sound of blades crossing, war cries, and the impact of bodies against the ground, was now silent.
Silent, but charged with tension.
Even the Intermediate and Advanced practitioners, and even the ordinary residents of the surrounding town—blacksmiths, healers, merchants, families—were gathered outside the Sanctuary, waiting for news.
There was an expectancy in the air that made even the wind feel heavier.
Even some visitors from the Magical Triumvirate and from the Asura Kingdom were present. After all, in recent months, Rygar had not tried to hide that he would challenge Gall Farion.
The news had spread like wildfire across a dry field. If it had been any other challenger, no one would have given it much credit. It would have been just another fool wanting to die.
But the Beast Emperor was no ordinary man.
In the last few years, the name Rygar Adoldia had become extremely well-known.
His fame on the Central Continent began when he killed the North Emperor, Larax, something that by itself would attract the attention of the entire world.
On his journey through the Asura Kingdom, he defeated everyone who stood in his way, from arrogant Adventurers to veteran swordsmen.
He even tamed a dragon, which alone would have been reason to immortalize his name in legends.
But it was his time at the Sword Sanctuary that truly changed everything.
Since he arrived, the entire place seemed to change its atmosphere. Trainings intensified. His presence provoked in others the will—or the fear—to become better.
It was as if his spirit pulled everyone around him to their limits.
Over the years, he defeated everyone in the Sanctuary. One by one, the most respected and feared warriors fell before his strength.
The North Emperor, Auber, and the Water God herself, Reida Reia, traveled there to train him.
An unprecedented feat. And even the Immortal Demon King Badigadi appeared at the Sanctuary, interested in challenging him.
His influence there became overwhelming. In the Sword Sanctuary, there was only one person still above him: Gall Farion, the Sword God.
The only one who had not yet been defeated.
But, in the last year... that became an unknown. No one knew for sure. Could he really defeat him? Could the impossible finally happen?
Gall Farion had been the Sword God for a long time, and since taking that title, he had been considered the most powerful swordsman in the world.
Today, the doubt would be answered.
Today, Rygar Adoldia would be challenging the Sword God.
----
Around an arena, standing in silence, were Aisha, Nina, Jino, the other Sword Saints, and various guests who were strong enough to have permission to enter the Sword Sanctuary.
All with their eyes fixed on the center of the battlefield, all waiting for the start of what could be the greatest duel of the last decade.
Gathered on an elevated stone platform, with seven chairs arranged in a semi-circle, were the strongest swordsmen of the Sword God Style, a six-armed demon, as well as two figures unknown to most.
There was a strong, almost overwhelming presence hovering over that platform.
Seated there were: Eris, arms crossed and with a tense expression; Ghislaine, observant, maintaining her serious expression; Timothy and Clint, the most experienced among the style's veterans; the fifth was the Immortal Demon King, Badigadi, laughing as if at a feast.
The sixth was a man with long wheat-colored hair, a thick beard, and eyes as green as a deep forest.
He wore a full silver armor, and his presence was calm but threatening, like the serene surface of a deep lake.
This was the Water Emperor, a noble of the Yellowsnake House of Asura, representative of the Asura Kingdom and of the Water God Style dojo: Vinnar Yellowsnake.
Next to him, seated with dignified posture, was a woman with light purple hair, pointed ears, and a long wizard's robe decorated with symbols of fire and water.
She was of a demonic race, and a King-level mage of both fire and water. She represented the Neris Kingdom, a neighboring country of the Sacred Sword Region. Her name was Melina Lokov, the Court Mage.
In the center of the arena, Gall Farion was already waiting, standing in his position, with a bored expression.
One of his hands rested on his sword, Windpipe, while the other lazily removed dirt from his ear, as if he were just waiting for another routine training session.
The deep, resonant voice of the Water Emperor echoed, laden with displeasure:
"This Beast Emperor is disrespectful... making us wait like this."
"Bwahahahahahaha! The hero always has to arrive last!" replied Badigadi, without any trace of decorum, laughing loudly.
Vinnar furrowed his brow even more, looking annoyed.
Eris turned to the man, her voice heavy with anger: "Who do you think you are, old man?! You came to watch Rygar! He didn't even invite you or anything!"
Ghislaine just smiled, finding it amusing. Timothy intervened:
"Let's calm down, everyone... Rygar said he would be a bit late because he was checking the final details of the dragon's cell. Apparently, the blacksmiths ran a little behind..."
The Water Emperor snorted in disgust: "Hmph! What is more important than a duel with the Sword God?"
Meanwhile, Eris looked ready to leap and attack him right there. Ghislaine restrained her with a simple gesture. Melina Lokov just watched in silence, her eyes alert.
There were murmurs throughout the arena, growing whispers of anxiety, curiosity, and speculation... until Ghislaine lifted her nose, sniffing the air, and a smile formed on her face:
"Here he comes..."
Everyone looked around, but no one seemed to see or hear anything. Except Gall Farion, who lifted his eyes to the sky.
An instant later, a great impact echoed across the field.
The arena trembled. The ground cracked slightly under the force of the landing. When the dust cleared, a man of the beast race appeared in the center of the arena.
He carried three swords, two at the left side of his waist and the other on the right, and wore a black cloak similar to that of the Sword Sanctuary, but with golden details.
Rygar Adoldia.
He raised his gaze and said, in a casual tone:
"Sorry for the delay, Gall..."
Gall Farion replied as a ferocious smile appeared on his face:
"It doesn't matter. I will defeat you in an instant anyway..."
Rygar returned the smile with the same intensity. He looked around, observing the elevated stands:
"It seems we have some new guests..."
He gave a slight wave toward the stone platform, as if he were at home.
At that moment, Aisha stepped onto the battlefield and raised her arm.
A small spark of magic glittered at her fingertips, and then she conjured a reduced lightning bolt, which exploded with a deafening sound, silencing all the murmurs and side conversations.
Those who had come from outside were visibly shocked by the audacity and skill of the girl; she used Chantless Magic to conjure Lightning magic!
But the veterans of the Sword Sanctuary merely confirmed it with glances: this was Aisha Greyrat, Rygar's disciple, and her talent in magic was astonishing.
She faced the two warriors in the center of the arena and, with a clear, firm voice, announced:
"Thank you very much for attending this most auspicious day, everyone! Since the two combatants don't like much ceremony, let's be direct."
She pointed to Rygar:
"Challenging, we have Rygar Adoldia! Leader of the Iron Legion, an Emperor ranked in all swordsmanship styles and in several magical schools! Known as the Beast Emperor!"
And then to Gall:
"And defending his title, we have Gall Farion! The strongest swordsman in the world! Ranked as the sixth world power! Leader of the Sword Sanctuary! The Sword God himself!"
The tension was palpable. Hearts pounded faster. Even the most experienced were standing, unable to relax.
Melina Lokov murmured:
"This little girl speaks very well for being so young..."
Aisha slowly stepped back from the arena, and before leaving, pointed to the sky:
"As soon as the fireball explodes above us, the battle begins!"
She conjured a small fireball, raised her arm, and launched it toward the sky.
Rygar and Gall Farion stared at each other, ferocious smiles on their faces, eyes locked. The world around them seemed to disappear.
The fireball rose... rose... and exploded in a fireworks effect, officially marking the start of the duel.
Before anyone could react, the two swordsmen moved at the same time.
Gall Farion was in the draw stance of the Sword God Style.
Since he conquered the title of Sword God, he rarely needed a second strike to finish his enemies.
His speed was absolute, overwhelming. Unmatched. Until now.
Rygar moved at almost the same speed. Almost.
Even if someone wanted to say that he did not hold the title of Sword God, he had indisputably outpaced all the Sword Emperors in speed long ago.
Maybe he was as fast as the old Sword God? It was hard to make a comparison.
The swords, one a deep blue curved blade, Tsukikage, and one silver like moonlight, Windpipe, sliced through the air at the same time, in a blinding flash.
The clash occurred a bit closer to Rygar. Gall Farion had been slightly faster.
But that tiny interval, that single moment where Rygar did not fall to the first blow, was all he needed.
For the Sword God Style, whose motto was "a single strike", blocking an opponent's blade was considered disgraceful.
But Rygar was not just a swordsman of the Sword God Style.
In the next instant, without hesitation, Gall Farion launched a follow-up strike, even faster and more precise. But Rygar was no longer there.
The ground beneath his feet cracked violently with the impact of his departure—a mixture of superhuman strength and explosive speed.
Using Wild Dash, the Beast God Style's characteristic movement technique, he vanished in a gust of wind and reappeared at Gall Farion's left flank, exploding his Touki and delivering a slash with his second blade.
Gall Farion, however, was nothing less than the Sword God. He spun perfectly, attacking him even faster in a gleam of steel and light.
The battle that unfolded next was impossible to follow with the naked eye.
Only the Emperors, Badigadi, and Eris could see fragments of that insane clash—a dance between two monsters of unimaginable strength.
Rygar was stronger. He moved faster. He was more resilient. In a battle of attrition, the advantage was his.
But Gall Farion had a single superior weapon: his attack speed. And that, and only that, was enough to pressure the Beast Emperor every second.
Sonic explosions echoed as both moved at air-tearing speeds. The arena shattered, even though it was reinforced with Earth magic.
Barrier magics had been strategically placed around the arena.
As long as no direct blow hit the barrier, it would hold firm. Aisha was the one maintaining the structures, monitoring them every second.
No one expected the fight to last. Sword God duels rarely went beyond two blows. But this one was different.
Rygar smiled. A wild, ferocious smile, like a predator mid-hunt. He felt everything. The movements of the air. The slightest intent to attack.
The "Prediction" technique of the Beast God Style amplified his senses to the limit. No strike escaped his vision.
And with his monstrous speed, he countered from unpredictable angles, forcing Gall Farion to retreat.
Gall also smiled. Since he became the Sword God, he had never had a fight like this. Finally, he could go all out.
Rygar believed he could win like this. If he stayed calm, if he made no mistakes, his strength, his resilience, and his speed would guarantee his victory.
But he did not want just to win. He wanted an absolute combat. He wanted to leave a definitive mark. He wanted an uncontestable victory.
That was why he created that technique.
His Touki began to swirl inside his body in a controlled yet violent flow, like vortices about to explode.
His muscles tense like a bow drawn to its limit. His eyes shone intensely, and his presence changed.
The Touki coursing through his body began to change. Savage and chaotic, yet concentrated and sharp.
A perfect balance between ferocity and control.
Gall Farion seemed to sense something different, but that already high-intensity battle was taking everything from him; he could not divert his attention.
Rygar murmured, "Holy Beast Battle Aura..."
And then, Rygar advanced.
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