[Vol. 6] Chapter 194: Momentum
Violet's actions and demeanor quickly caught the attention of both the spectators and the nearby contestants.
It was hard not to notice her. Women were already a minority in the martial art competition, making up less than a fifth of the hundred participants in this round. Violet, with her doll-like face inherited from the game, was absurdly flawless. Her unique long black hair, priestess robes, delicate appearance, and slender limbs made her stand out even more in a crowd dominated by burly fighters, armored warriors, or at the very least, weapon-wielding combatants.
What made her even more eye-catching was the way she moved. This seemingly frail, defenseless girl wandered casually through the chaotic battlefield, unarmed and unbothered, as if strolling through a garden.
Whenever she casually kicked someone off the stage, sometimes even breaking their weapon in the process. It sent waves of gasps through the audience and drew stunned, almost breathless looks from the surrounding contestants. The stark contrast between her petite frame and her overwhelming performance was simply too shocking.
Even so, the more capable contestants, those in small groups or strong enough to hold their own in the chaos, didn’t gang up on her or attempt to eliminate the most threatening competitor first. Instead, they scattered like frightened animals, avoiding Violet as if she were a plague. They steered clear of any confrontation with her and kept their distance as much as possible.
Even the random or hidden weapon and crossbow flying across the arena were deliberately controlled and moved away from her so as not to anger someone. This wasn’t accidental, contestants were intentionally avoiding provoking her. As a result, an area with no people or objects formed around Violet, drawing even more murmurs of amazement from the audience.
Of course, this didn’t mean the contestants were so scared that they lacked the courage to face her. It was just that this was only the preliminary round, and there were ten slots available to advance.
No matter how strong Violet seemed, she was still just one person. It made more sense to focus on eliminating weaker participants rather than risking a confrontation with such an unpredictable powerhouse.
Smart people understood the simple logic of targeting the easiest prey first, regardless of their own strength.
But... there’s always an exception to everything.
At some point, a sword-wielding young woman appeared in front of Violet, standing as if she were the brave hero from a storybook, facing a demon lord alone.
The black-haired priestess paused, looking at the girl with curiosity.
Violet had already noticed her earlier. This young woman was quite impressive. Among the other contestants, she stood out significantly. She was one of the rare few who had reached the third realm,[Peak Ascension], and beyond.
Unlike the unpolished techniques used by many of the others, the girl’s movements in battle were precise and refined. Every action was smooth and controlled, exuding the confidence and discipline of someone from a prestigious school. Her elegance was undeniable.
What intrigued Violet even more was her appearance. The girl’s long hair, tied back, wasn’t the common ash-blue shade seen in most of Eastern Kingdom’s residents. Instead, it was a pure, pale brown. An indicator that she was likely from Western Kingdom.
Why would a Western Kingdom swordswoman come all the way to the Eastern Kingdom to compete?
Of course, trade between the four nations in the [Ancient Spirit Realm] was frequent, and there were plenty of travelers, immigrants, and even cross-national marriages. It wasn’t entirely unheard of. Still, this spirited young swordswoman, likely in her early twenties, standing alone with her sword, gave Violet a strange sense of familiarity. But no matter how hard she tried to place her, Violet was sure she had never met her before.
The girl bent her knees slightly, one hand on the hilt of her sword, and assumed a stance facing Violet.
She didn’t draw her blade. In fact, she hadn’t drawn it during any of her earlier battles either. The elegant, seemingly extraordinary sword remained sheathed, only flashing out for a brief instant to decisively defeat her opponents before being swiftly returned to its scabbard. It was as if the act of drawing the sword was an integral part of her technique.
…Iaido.
Watching her, Violet couldn’t help but recall a rare sword style she’d heard about during her travels.
Interesting.
The boldness of the swordswoman’s challenge had naturally drawn cheers and applause from the spectators. They were clearly eager to see these two young rising stars clash in an intense duel.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
Violet tilted her head, her gaze meeting the swordswoman’s for a brief moment before both broke eye contact.
"…Of course, it's a battle. We're sharing the same arena. What's wrong with that?"
The girl’s voice wasn’t particularly crisp. It carried a slightly raspy undertone, but rather than being unpleasant, it exuded a steady and unique charm, filled with gravitas.
"Oh? You don’t seem worried about being eliminated," Violet replied with a faint smirk.
"I only worry about my sword losing its sharpness out of fear. Besides, what makes you think victory is already in your hands?"
Violet didn’t answer. She simply smiled, stepping forward.
"Boom!"
As if crossing into a forbidden zone, a fierce wave of cold pressure accompanied by sharp sword intent surged toward Violet. Though the sword remained sheathed, the sheer force of the girl's presence materialized like a raging storm. It whipped at Violet with such intensity that the air seemed to crackle and roar, like blades slicing through it.
"BOOM!!!!"
Another explosion echoed from a distant part of the battlefield. The chaos of the melee never ceased. Contestants were relentlessly eliminated, thrown off the stage, or rendered unable to continue. The arena was filled with screams, roars, and the sounds of combat, creating the overwhelming atmosphere of a massive battlefield.
But in the small area where the two girls faced each other, an eerie calm had settled. No one dared step into their space or interrupt their confrontation.
A duel between strong opponents, each fully focused on the other, was precisely the kind of distraction most contestants welcomed. It kept the strongest fighters occupied, reducing the risk for everyone else.
The sharp sword aura pressed closer, so intense it felt as though even half a step forward would tear someone apart. Yet the black-haired girl’s calm expression didn’t waver. Her steps never faltered.
She moved closer and closer to the swordswoman, closing the distance between them. With a faint chuckle, Violet teased, "What’s wrong? Why haven’t you drawn your sword yet? Go ahead and cut me."
“......”
The swordswoman's elegant brows furrowed tightly as her slender, powerful fingers gripped the hilt of her sword, gradually tightening their hold. The sharp aura emanating from her sword grew more intense, like a ferocious beast about to break free from its cage, radiating a storm-like pressure that hinted at impending chaos.
And yet, she still didn’t draw her blade.
Her sword intent surged like tempestuous waves on a stormy sea, while Violet, in stark contrast, stood completely still amidst it all. She exuded no opposing aura, simply letting the pressure wash over her without flinching. Her faint, almost mocking smile was the only expression on her face.
Perhaps the absurdity of the situation became too much for the swordswoman to bear. Or perhaps Violet had moved so close that action became unavoidable. The young swordswoman gritted her teeth!
“Enough! The match is over!”
The booming voice of the head referee cut through the tension, abruptly ending the storm of conflict.
Unbeknownst to the two, the chaotic melee around them had already concluded. The last contestants had been eliminated, leaving only ten standing. The ten who would advance to the next round.
Among them, of course, were Violet and the swordswoman.
The swordswoman froze for a moment, her sword aura dissipating as the referee's voice echoed across the arena. But in that instant, her body trembled, and she let out a soft groan, stumbling backward uncontrollably as if her strength had drained away. She nearly collapsed.
"Be careful."
At some point, she had appeared behind the swordswoman, gently steadying her with a hand. Feeling the girl’s back drenched in cold sweat, Violet met her stunned gaze with a slight shake of her head.
"Don’t look at me like that," Violet said, her tone laced with amusement. "The preliminary round is just a formality. It doesn’t matter to me who makes it through. You’re quite impressive. It would’ve been a shame if you got eliminated here."