The seventh and final day of the Nine Academy Tournament had finally arrived.
From the early hours of the morning, the city was already overflowing with excitement.
The tournament stadium was packed beyond capacity, every seat occupied long before the opening ceremony even began. Tickets had sold out days ago, and by the eve of the finals, their black-market prices had risen several times over.
After all, today would decide this year's champions.
To accommodate the overwhelming interest, large projection screens had been installed throughout the city, broadcasting the finals live in public squares, marketplaces, and major gathering areas.
The anticipation surrounding this year's championship matches had reached an unprecedented level.
Cheers erupted continuously throughout the stadium as spectators filled the stands, eagerly waiting for the matches to begin.
Many had come for a single reason.
The clash between Star Shine Academy and Crimson Bastion Academy.
Two academies that had dominated both divisions of the tournament, whose representatives had become the center of countless discussions throughout the past week.
And now, they would finally collide.
At the center of the arena, the rabbit-kin announcer stepped forward, her amplified voice spreading throughout the stadium.
"Welcome, everyone, to the final day of the Nine Academy Tournament!"
The crowd answered with deafening cheers.
She waited for the noise to settle before continuing.
"As announced earlier, today's schedule will begin with the Knight Division Finals, followed immediately by the Magic Division Finals!"
Another wave of excitement swept through the audience.
Unlike most academies, Crimson Bastion Academy had long been renowned for producing exceptional students in both disciplines. Their reputation as an all-rounder academy was not merely a title but a fact proven repeatedly through years of tournament success.
They had been last year's champions for a reason.
On Star Shine Academy's side, Joshua stepped forward first.
From the very first exchange, the difference between the finals and the previous rounds became obvious.
Joshua displayed the strength that had carried him this far, forcing his opponent into several dangerous situations throughout the battle. Yet Crimson Bastion's representative proved equally formidable, matching him blow for blow and refusing to yield an inch.
The fight stretched on for several intense minutes, drawing repeated cheers from the audience as the two exchanged attacks without pause.
Eventually, however, Joshua's opponent managed to secure a narrow victory.
A mixture of cheers and disappointed sighs echoed throughout the stadium.
Although Joshua had lost, his opponent hardly looked victorious. His breathing was heavy, his armor damaged, and the strain of the battle was evident as he stepped down to make way for the next match.
Star Shine Academy's second representative, Kira, soon stepped onto the stage.
She fought with her usual precision and discipline, steadily controlling the flow of battle from the very beginning. Unlike the previous match's relentless exchanges, Kira methodically dismantled her opponent's momentum, exploiting every opening with calculated efficiency.
Bit by bit, the advantage shifted in her favor. Eventually, her opponent could no longer keep up.
Kira stepped off the stage after securing her victory.
The score between the two academies remained even.
Neither side had managed to pull ahead, and with every match carrying greater importance than the last, the atmosphere inside the stadium only grew more tense.
Soon, Alex stepped forward.
The moment he appeared, a noticeable wave of excitement swept through the audience. Ever since his rise during the tournament, every one of his matches had become a spectacle. Some came to cheer for him, some came hoping to see him finally lose, while many simply wanted to witness what unbelievable feat he would pull off next.
Across the arena, Crimson Bastion Academy's representative stepped onto the field as well.
He was an imposing young man, easily the tallest participant Alex had faced so far. Broad shoulders, powerful muscles, and a massive blade resting across his back gave him an intimidating presence. The weapon itself was enormous, thick enough to resemble a slab of metal rather than a conventional sword.
The two stopped at the center of the stage.
"Alex Blanc. Star Shine Academy."
"Brent Voss. Crimson Bastion Academy."
The match began as Brent exploded forward immediately, tremendous force driving every movement.
Despite his massive build, he crossed the distance between them with remarkable speed, his huge blade sweeping toward Alex in a brutal horizontal arc.
The raw power behind the attack was immense.
His fighting style revolved entirely around overwhelming force, turning every swing into a devastating blow capable of crushing defenses through sheer strength alone.
Alex met the attack head-on.
At first glance, the battle appeared evenly matched, but those paying close attention gradually noticed subtle changes. Compared to his previous matches, Alex was exerting noticeably more effort.
His opponent's physical strength was simply too great to deal with casually.
If earlier matches had required only a fraction of his capabilities, that was no longer the case.
Brent was powerful enough that Alex had to use significantly more of his strength than he had in any previous match.
The exchanges continued for several minutes.
Brent's attacks remained relentless, each swing carrying enough force to leave visible marks across the reinforced arena floor. Yet no matter how hard he pressed, Alex never lost control of the pace.
Unfortunately for Brent, power alone wasn't enough.
Suddenly, Alex accelerated. One moment he stood directly before his opponent; the next, he had already appeared behind him.
The flat of his sword struck the back of Brent's neck with precise control.
The larger youth stiffened.
Before he could recover, the referee stepped forward.
"Winner—Star Shine Academy!"
Cheers erupted throughout the stadium. Brent let out a frustrated breath before shaking his head and leaving the stage.
Crimson Bastion Academy sent their next representative moments later.
Unlike Brent, this young man carried an ordinary longsword.
After a brief exchange of introductions, the second match began.
The difference was immediately obvious.
Where Brent's style relied on raw power, this swordsman fought with technique, precision, and refined fundamentals.
Alex quickly gauged his opponent's level: Master Realm. For someone of his age, that achievement was already exceptional.
Unfortunately, he had encountered someone far more abnormal. Alex had already stepped into the Grandmaster Realm of swordsmanship.
That did not automatically make him stronger in every aspect. Sword mastery reflected understanding and skill rather than pure combat power. Factors such as mana, physical abilities, experience, and battle conditions still mattered.
Even so, the gap remained.
The young swordsman fought well. Very well, in fact. To the audience, the exchanges appeared incredibly fast and technical, each movement carrying a level of refinement beyond what most participants could achieve.
Yet from Alex's perspective, every attack felt transparent.
Alex decided to end the match swiftly as the Magic Division Finals would begin directly afterward, and there was little reason to waste unnecessary stamina. A far more important battle awaited him later today.
Before his opponent could even process what had happened, Alex's sword was already resting against his throat.
Silence spread briefly across the arena.
The Crimson Bastion Academy student stared at the blade before letting out a bitter laugh.
"I concede."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Far above the arena, inside the VIP section, a young man seated among the distinguished guests slowly narrowed his eyes.
He appeared to be in his mid-twenties and possessed an aura that naturally drew attention. Throughout the Lunar City, he was known as the youngest Sword King of his generation.
Until now, he had watched the tournament with only mild interest.
But after witnessing Alex's final exchange, his expression changed.
"...That's impossible."
A nearby noble turned toward him in confusion.
"What is?"
The young Sword King didn't answer immediately.
Because what he had just witnessed should not have been possible for someone so young.
That final movement hadn't been a matter of speed alone—it had been a display of swordsmanship.
The Sword King's expression became increasingly complicated as a possibility he initially dismissed resurfaced in his mind.
"How old is that boy...?"
For the first time since arriving at the Nine Academy Tournament, genuine shock appeared on his face.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
After defeating two consecutive opponents, Alex remained on the stage. Unlike the previous two matches, however, the next battle ended far more quickly.
The contestant attempted to pressure Alex from the very beginning, hoping to capitalize on any fatigue accumulated from his earlier fights. Unfortunately, that expectation proved mistaken.
Although Alex had already fought two consecutive matches, his movements remained as precise as ever.
The match lasted only a short while before Alex found an opening and ended it decisively.
A fresh wave of cheers followed as Alex secured his third consecutive victory before finally returning to Star Shine Academy's side.
With Alex's third consecutive victory, Crimson Bastion Academy was pushed to the brink. Only a single contestant remained on their side, while Star Shine Academy still had multiple fighters available. Barring a miracle, the Knight Division Finals had effectively been decided.
The final match soon began.
Crimson Bastion Academy's last remaining representative stepped onto the field carrying the hopes of his entire academy.
Despite the unfavorable situation, he showed no intention of giving up. From the moment the battle started, he fought with everything he had.
The crowd cheered repeatedly as he pushed himself beyond his limits, refusing to surrender even as the odds continued to stack against him. Every attack carried desperation and determination in equal measure, the resolve of someone unwilling to let his academy fall without a fight.
Unfortunately, determination alone could not overcome the growing disparity.
The announcer spoke, "Congratulations to Star Shine Academy, the champions of this year's Knight Division!"
Another wave of applause swept through the stadium.
After a brief intermission, preparations for the Magic Division Finals began.
Yet despite the pause, almost no one left their seat. Not a single person wanted to miss what came next.
Because while the Knight Division Finals had been spectacular, everyone was truly waiting for the Magic Division Finals.