## Chapter 495 – Round 495 – The Main Tournament!
◈
I sat in the player waiting room, waiting for my turn.
According to the staff’s guidance, my turn was fifth.
Today, they would hold the Round of 32, Round of 16, and Round of 8, and tomorrow, the semi-finals and finals. If the matches were to lengthen, the martial arts tournament schedule would be extended by a day or two.
While waiting for my turn, a muscular man with blue hair approached me.
“You’re that pervert Roger who was running away yesterday, making a strange spectacle. Did you come here to play?”
Honestly, I had to admit that my outfit was strange, but that didn’t mean I would change the clothes my lovers had chosen just because someone else was criticizing them.
When I didn’t say anything, the man scoffed and continued.
“Hmph! Now you’re running away from conversation. Your muscles must be crying. The technique you showed at the end was good, but… as a warrior, running away from the start is not to my liking.”
It seemed my actions in the preliminary round yesterday had really displeased him.
The man thumped his chest with his fist and confidently said,
“This body is Gress. The man who will win this tournament.”
【Kyeolchaaaaaak! The winner of the third match of the Round of 32 is Rosemal! What did you think of this match, Mr. Raou!】
【It was a wonderful clash of strength and power. Truly a battle of males. Especially Rosemal’s headbutt at the end was intense.】
【I agree! This is what a martial arts tournament is all about! The fighters who have finished their matches, please go to the infirmary! Ah, medical team! Please move the unconscious Barkan! Now, the next match is… the match between Spachi and Gress!】
“Hmph, it’s my turn.”
Gress walked away, then turned his head slightly and said to me,
“If you don’t run away and keep winning, you might get a chance to lose to me.”
Then, Gress went to the arena.
Judging by what he said, he seemed to have a lot of confidence in his abilities.
And that Gress…
【Match over! The winner is Rosemal, who swiftly defeated his opponent!】
Lost immediately in the first match.
【From the start of the match, he moved quickly and Rosemal’s sharp kick to Gress’s chin was artistic.】
【Medical team! Please move Gress! Now, the next match is between Signal and… oh! The mysterious golden warrior who caught everyone’s attention yesterday! It’s Roger! I’m curious to see what kind of match he’ll show us this time!】
It was my turn, so I headed to the arena.
The fighter coming out from the other side was a beastman with large horns on his head.
He was holding a large battle hammer in both hands, giving off a strong impression of power.
【Both fighters are out! What kind of match will these fighters show us! Then… begin the match!】
As the voice announcing the start of the fight echoed, Signal rushed towards me and swung his battle hammer.
Whoooosh!
I flexibly dodged the battle hammer, which was swung at my head with a heavy-sounding wind, just like yesterday, and thought.
Yaseo-wang wanted me to show my strength.
Then, I needed to fight a little more seriously than in the preliminary round.
But if possible, I also wanted to make a lot of money for Lyfa’s enjoyment.
To satisfy these two conditions, I just needed to show a little skill while creating a tense fight.
I had done that a lot while sparring with my lovers, Noah, Ninya, Lyfa, and Gracia.
I roughly grasped Signal’s speed from the way he swung his hammer just now.
I threw a punch at Signal’s face, adjusting my strength.
Whoosh!
Of course, it was an attack that Signal could barely dodge.
As expected, Signal leaned back slightly and dodged the punch.
Whoooosh!
“Ugh!?”
But I immediately kicked him, sending Signal flying about 5 meters with his battle hammer.
【Oh! Incredible! Signal has been pushed back by Roger’s kick!】
【The punch after dodging the attack was a feint, and the real attack was the kick. But the power of the kick that sent him flying with his battle hammer is very threatening. If he had been hit directly, he would have taken considerable damage.】
After being sent flying, Signal began to be wary.
I pounded my chest with both palms and stretched out my arms wide, provoking him to come at me.
【Oh! Roger! He’s provoking him to come at him quickly!】
【It’s a provocation that a warrior can’t just ignore.】
“Fuhhhhhh!! Don’t underestimate meeeeeee!”
Signal charged at me again and brought his battle hammer down from above.
I stepped back a few steps and dodged the attack.
Kwaaaaaang!
The battle hammer hit the ground, raising dust.
“Haaaat!!!”
As soon as the battle hammer hit the ground, Signal immediately lifted it and swung it sideways at my torso.
The speed was a very fast movement that looked incredibly quick to an ordinary person.
Signal had not only the power to swing the battle hammer but also the agility to move on to the next action immediately.
I created a bind in the upper back, reached my hand back to grab the bind, and pulled my body to dodge the attack.
“What!?”
Then, while holding onto the bind, I extended both legs and kicked Signal’s chest.
Puh-uh-uh-uhk!
“Cough!”
This time, Signal was hit directly in the body and flew about 3 meters, falling to the ground.
【Roger! Just like yesterday, he created a bind and used a dynamic dodge, sending Signal flying again!】
【His application of the bind is truly amazing. To use magic that was originally for restraint like that.】
【Signal is down! Will he lose like this! If he stays still, Roger’s pursuit will continue!】
The kick just now was to send him flying, so it wasn’t a very strong kick.
“Kuh-uhk!”
Signal got up and I took my hand off the bind and wiggled my fingers at Signal, provoking him to come at me.
【Ah! Roger is provoking Signal again!】
【It seems like a signal to give it his all.】
No, it just means come at me again.
“Kuaaaaaaaat!!!”
As soon as he heard the commentary, Signal roared loudly and began to gather magic power.
I’ve seen this pattern of magic power condensation many times.
Signal was trying to use a skill.
“Stone Edgeeeeee!!”
Signal, having gathered his magic power, slammed his magic-infused battle hammer into the ground.
Kwaaaaaang!!!
At that moment.
Countless stone spikes were popping out of the arena floor, rushing towards me.
This skill was probably one of Signal’s trump cards.
He must be using a considerable amount of magic power.
If I dodged this skill and then attacked Signal when he was exhausted, I could move on to the next match without showing too much of my abilities.
That would also affect the increase in Lyfa’s bets.
At that moment, I thought.
“Go, Surbaaaaaaaang!!!”
I heard Lyfa’s voice, shouting excitedly.
Her voice contained the expectation that she wanted to see my cool side, regardless of the bets.
Change of plans.
“Euryahhhhhhh!!!”
I shouted loudly and crossed my arms, charging straight towards the stone spikes that were rushing at me.
【Aaaah! Roger! He’s not dodging, but charging straight towards Signal’s Stone Edge!】
【Instead of dodging with a bind, he’s going head-on. It seems Roger will counter with a defensive skill or magic.】
I’m sorry, but that’s completely wrong.
What I’m doing is just.
A reckless charge.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!
I pushed through with my body’s durability and strength, breaking all the stone spikes that were rising from the ground.
“What… is that!?”
Signal’s face was filled with shock, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Having broken all the stones, I threw a punch at Signal’s shocked face.
“Hup!”
This time, with enough power to knock him out.
Puh-uh-uh-uh-uhk!
“Kuh-uhk!”
Signal, hit directly by the punch, let go of his battle hammer and bounced off the ground, rolling and falling unconscious.
And as a victory ceremony, I stretched both arms up in a Y shape, then folded my arms and clenched my fists, making a bicep.
“Waaaaaaaah!!!”
A huge roar came from the audience.
【Incredibleeeeee!!! Roger! Without dodging! Without using a skill! He just used his own body to break through Signal’s Stone Edge with a reckless charge!!! Truly the act of a strongman!】
【I never expected him to break through that skill with just his physical abilities. In this surprising situation, Signal couldn’t react immediately and allowed the attack.】
【If I were in Signal’s position, I would have been the same! Roger! He showed us in this match that dodging isn’t everything! I’m really looking forward to Roger’s next match! Medical team! Please move Signal!】
A medical team staff member came out and moved the unconscious Signal and his battle hammer.
And one of the medical team staff members approached me and said quietly.
“Please follow me, I will give you a heal and a stamina heal.”
They would use a lot of heals for other players in this tournament, now and in the future.
But I couldn’t let them waste their magic power on me when I was perfectly fine.
I shook my head, holding out my palm to the staff member.
“I don’t need it.”
“Yes? But…”
I turned around and walked towards the player waiting room, my cloak fluttering.
【Roger! He’s not going to the treatment room with the medical team and is going straight back to the waiting room! What could this mean!】
【It seems that the match just now didn’t even use up any of Roger’s stamina.】
【Incredible! Is this Roger’s arrogance! Or is it confidence from his great strength! I’m even more excited for Roger’s next match! Now, the next match is…】
On my way back to the player waiting room, I ran into the next fighter.
It was a blond man with a rapier at his waist.
“Not bad. But you won’t be able to win this martial arts tournament with such a reckless method. No matter how tough you are…”
Swoosh!
The man quickly pulled out his rapier from his waist.
“You can be easily broken with a single thrust.”
The man put his rapier back in.
“If you’re unlucky, your bizarre fighting style might… lead you to lose against me, Sink, in the next match.”
The man’s name was Sink.
But this person wouldn’t lose right away in this match like that Gress guy, right?
That would be… very sad, so I crossed my arms and said with a slightly serious tone.
“I look forward to our fight.”
I wanted to say a line like this if I ever participated in a martial arts tournament.
“Hmph, a normal warrior’s attitude that doesn’t match your outfit. Well, I have a match, so I’ll be going.”
Sink put his sword away and walked back towards the arena.
【Sink! He’s here! Now, what kind of match will these fighters show us!】
Listening to the announcer’s voice, I headed back to the player waiting room.
I entered the player waiting room and sat down, and about 3 minutes passed.
Listening to the commentary, I heard that Sink, whom I had just met, was having an advantageous fight.
【Sink wins! A sharp thrust that finished off his opponent after confusing them with his rapier’s fast movements! This is what they mean by clean!】
【The single blow he delivered while confusing his opponent’s vision with his sword movements was a work of art.】
【Like Roger, Sink is also a first-time participant in this martial arts tournament! It seems like a lot of dark horses are appearing in this tournament!】
【New winds always blow in.】
【Medical team! Please retrieve the fallen fighter quickly! Let’s move on to the next match quickly!】
And the matches proceeded one after another, and a total of 16 matches were held in the morning.
After the Round of 32 was over, it was lunchtime, a break for the players.
