This tournament was a simple contest where the winner was determined by who collected the highest points. Thus, the crucial strategy was to defeat the ultimate boss-level monsters in each circle to earn these high points. Essentially, the monsters appearing before the final boss were more about adding fun to the process than contributing significantly to the score.
The refreshing sound of knights killing minions with a single shot and the monsters being swept away. The thrill of finally conquering a boss-level monster that seemed indestructible but wasn’t. However,
“Uaargh!”
“Let go of this! Aargh!”
“Kiikiikiikiik!”
As soon as they entered the 7th circle, Benio’s knights were overwhelmed by monsters tearing at them.
“Captain, captain!”
“In this situation, we should aim for the final monster, argh!”
Especially from the 7th circle onwards, the steep cliff terrain left little room to dodge. Fredikia, the boss monster of the 7th circle, flew around with ease, mocking those who couldn’t even get close. It felt more like a human hunting competition than a monster hunting competition.
“…How would they handle this?”
“Hmm, this competition does have its unique charm…”
The spectators watching the scene within the sphere murmured among themselves. Even knights from other families were still struggling in the lower circles. The excitement brought by a comeback victory in the 4th circle eventually had to wane.
“Ha, really now.”
Ash, who had stood up, chuckled in disbelief. He wished he could tear through the sphere and join in. Though today’s outcome didn’t matter much, to be reduced to such a state…
“Aaargh! Won’t you go away?”
“Kiikiikiikiik!”
To think he would see the crest of the Benio family being disgracefully torn apart. It seemed like it would take half a day to face Fredikia, the boss of the 7th circle.
But then. Ash’s emerald eyes carefully scanned the inside of the sphere. Something strange was happening.
Could it be that they’re all scattered?
Unlike the knights from other families who moved in groups, the knights from the duke family were nowhere to be seen. Even the one with the light purple hair had broken through Blawing alone…
“What?”
Ash turned to Siani with a question. “What strategy did you come up with?”
“…”
“Where did you find such people?”
But Siani, sitting with her arms crossed, remained calm and composed. “Who knows.” The way she watched the game even seemed relaxed.
“Waaaaah!” Once again, the arena erupted with cheers.
What now? Ash quickly turned his gaze back to the sphere. Bang, bang, bang!
“Kueeeek.”
“What is that…?”
Fredikia, who had lost its strength, was staggering.
“…”
The bullets were fired by a man with dark hair who had emerged from a gap in the cliff. His black uniform and red epaulets fluttering in the wind symbolized Felicite. Bang, bang!
“Wow!”
“Is he dealing with it alone?”
The audience was thrilled again by the unusual sight. While other knights were being mauled by monsters, the masked man targeted only Fredikia. His movements were fearless.
“Kiiiiiik!”
It meant Fredikia’s only opponent was that man.
“Kiiiiiik!!”
Fredikia became increasingly agitated with each shot fired. The threatening creature swiftly ascended. Its massive wings seemed to push the man towards the cliff edge.
“Oh no, what if he falls!”
The man evaded Fredikia, retreating without hesitation even as he neared the cliff’s edge.
“Oh god, wouldn’t his body be torn apart if he did that?”
Eventually, the standoff between Fredikia and the man reached the edge of the cliff.
“Kiiiiik!”
Fredikia lunged for its final attack, claws raised, stirring up a cloud of dust with its fierce movement.
“Oh no!”
“Kyaak!”
Just as the man seemed to be completely overpowered.
“…Oh, oh, oh! Look at that!”
Suddenly, a roaring cheer erupted.
“Wow! How did he…?”
Even those who had clenched their eyes shut in anticipation were now covering their mouths in shock. The situation inside the sphere had completely reversed.
“How could he do that without wings?”
“That’s amazing.”
The man had not fallen off the cliff’s edge.
“…”
He had leaped across the dark river to land effortlessly on the opposite cliff.
“Wow, when did Felicite hide such skilled knights?”
The man’s dark brown hair fluttered in the wind, his eyes visible through the mask, emotionless. Without hesitation, he lifted his Astra again. Bang, bang!
“Gwaaack!”
The shot was precisely accurate. Yet, it seemed impossible that the final monster of the 7th circle could be defeated alone. Bang, bang!
“Grrrruck!”
Or so it seemed. Bang, bang, bang!
“Gwaaack….”
“Waaaaah!”
A tremendous cheer drowned out the sound of gunfire. In an instant…
“Kiiik.”
The boss of the 7th circle had fallen. All by the hand of a single man who had leaped across the cliff barehanded.
“The knights of the Felicite family have claimed the horn of Fredikia of the 7th circle!”
“Long live the Felicite family!”
Cheers filled the arena with the announcement of the interim results.
“Damn it.”
Ash clenched his teeth as he looked down. Another comeback victory.
All the victories of the Benio family in previous monster hunting competitions were in vain. It seemed impossible, this kind of unbelievable comeback victory without some sort of trick!
How did they manage to climb rocks?
How could a human leap between cliffs without wings?
What kind of monstrous people had they gathered to devise a strategy where a single person could face the final boss…?
Ah, right.
Ash bit his lip, thinking differently. If this is how it’s going to be, then that b*stard will be alone in the final 13th circle.
It didn’t matter how many points Felicite’s knights scored now.
It’ll be worth watching.
The competition would end without completing the last circle anyway.
* * *
At the same time.
“Fredikia was a monster I spent two months to create, staying up all night!”
“How can he possibly face boss-level monsters alone?”
“Did you see? The skill in controlling Astra is completely extraordinary, isn’t it?”
The magicians in the control room were also closely watching the sphere, ready to intervene if the monsters went berserk or lost control.
“Honestly, it’s quite fun.”
But even those magicians were human after all.
“Exactly. He’s not just climbing over rock islands but also leaping over cliffs… Huh, it’s interesting.”
They were utterly engrossed in the dramatic turn of events.
“Where are you off to, Stony?”
“Ah, I’m just tired. I’ll catch a bit of sleep and come back.” Stony responded as he got up. “Now that the 7th circle has been breached, it’s probably okay to relax a bit.”
Especially since the minister was so enthusiastic this time, the magicians had been under a lot of pressure for months.
“You’ve particularly had a hard time this round. Go ahead then.”
Stony had indeed put in a lot of effort, as everyone knew.
“…”
Leaving the control room, Stony hid himself in a secluded spot. Opening his palm, a black orb floated up.
“Ah, is this really okay?” He pondered for a moment. Dropping this orb into the arena would release the monster he created. The problem was…
“You’re asking me to create a monster without a control device? The knight facing it could die.”
This monster had no control device. In other words, no matter how many bullets pierced it, it wouldn’t die despite the magicians’ intervention. Instead, it would become even more ferocious.
“…Sigh.”
Looking at the sphere in the arena, the 9th circle had already ended.
“Wow, this competition is entirely dominated by Felicite’s knights.”
The judges’ hands moved quickly, and the audience was filled with cheers.
“One knight dying in a hunting competition is just an accident, right?”
“But…”
“Until then, our little master will help you to become a minister, so don’t feel guilty.”
Remembering that conversation, Stony finally relaxed his grip.
“…Sigh”
The orb with wings pierced through the sphere’s barrier and entered. Stony couldn’t guarantee how much the small orb would expand.
“Oh, goddess.”
The tournament competition ended without completing the final circle. Whoever faced this monster…
“Please don’t forgive me.”
Would meet their end there.
