However, since the other semifinal was as quick as his, he didn't have much time to rest.
After watching the other semifinal, Alexander realized he wouldn’t be able to suppress his next opponent with spells.
He would have to face him head-on and stop him from using his sword freely—which was simply the least bad option.
The moment the rest before the final ended, the finalists were called to the arena.
Only when they went up did the public truly realize how much of an underdog Alexander was in that Imperial Tournament.
"It must be because of that presumptuous look that they called you an arrogant little prince," said Alexander to his adversary, whose identity he still didn't know, but who maintained a haughty look—as if he had already won.
"First: I really am one of the princes of this empire," explained the imperial prince with pride. "Second: Your mastery may even be considered good, but it simply falls short of my sword."
"If you don't fight seriously, you'll lose without even understanding how," provoked Alexander.
The prince was so surprised by Alexander's provocation that he didn't even know how to respond.
He just scoffed and waited for the judge to start the match.
Knowing he couldn't hold back if he wanted to win, Alexander decided to give his all from the start to keep his adversary under pressure.
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|Magical Body Strengthening (MAX)|
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|Boost Strength (MAX)|
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|Boost Endurance (MAX)|
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|Boost Dexterity (MAX)|
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|Boost Agility (MAX)|
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|Brain Boost (MAX)|
With so much power circulating in his body and using the skills |Asura (Peak)|, |Run (MAX)| and |Ascending Flow (Peak)|, Alexander arrived in front of the prince in the blink of an eye and attacked him with his spear.
Taken by surprise, the prince quickly raised his sword to stop the spear's blade.
However, as soon as he managed to push him back for a moment with his blow, Alexander smiled.
That was all he needed.
Gaining advantage and positioning himself at the perfect range for his spear to become dominant, Alexander unleashed a storm of blows so strong and fast that it forced the prince to remain cornered.
When he sensed the prince was fully on the defensive—yet still not truly threatened by him—Alexander activated |Water Field (MAX)| and began tightening it around him.
The growing pressure made his defense falter and the imperial prince became a bit worried.
He needed to create an opening to escape that pressure and take control of the fight.
Although he felt that his effort to defend was less than Alexander's effort to maintain the pressure, he, one of the Empire's princes, could not remain in that situation at the mercy of others.
After deciding, the prince unleashed the full intensity of his energy and activated his {Talent}—whose true name few knew, but which the imperial family titled {Crimson Prominence}.
As the prince began pushing him back, and feeling that his body could give him nothing more by natural means, Alexander activated |Vapor Mist (MAX)| to hinder his adversary's vision.
The mist dulled the prince’s perception, but Alexander could still sense him perfectly through his |Water Field (MAX)|.
The mist gave Alexander the edge he needed and stopped the prince from pushing him back.
But as he knew this still wouldn't be enough to win, he also activated |Mantra of Madness (MAX)|.
With the extra power he gained, Alexander began to completely suppress the young prince.
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But even then, it wasn’t enough.
He used the last resource left to him: |Limiter Removal (MAX)|.
Feeling every orifice in his body wanting to bleed, but throwing all caution to the wind, Alexander stopped worrying about everything else and focused only on making his attacks increasingly better.
Ding!
Ding!
Diana's POV
"Look," said Diana, happy to see Alexander in the final. "The final is about to start."
As if infected by her happiness, everyone around her turned to the arena and began to watch expectantly.
Watching the beginning of the fight, the local director couldn't help but comment to his colleague: "Pressing from the start using his range advantage to limit the technically superior opponent… Smart choice."
"That is, very possibly, the best choice in this situation," agreed the Imperial Academy director while analyzing the fight. "But since the prince has already reached the level of integration with his weapon, he doesn't need to exert himself as much to maintain his defense."
"The moment the pressure is overcome, the fight will end," he declared, as if his analysis were a final verdict.
These heavyweights continued analyzing and commenting on the small mistakes their students made in the arena with such propriety that the people who moved away out of fear and/or respect tried to read their lips. They couldn't hear anything due to the soundproofing one of them had installed.
As soon as Alexander used |Water Field|, it was the Imperial Academy director's turn to speak: "That's a very good combat technique. I didn't know you taught something of this level here."
"Yes, that is a very good combat technique," agreed Lucas with a strange look. "But it's not ours, nor do we teach it… He already had it when he entered our academy, even being much weaker at the time."
The Imperial Academy director found this situation very strange, but decided not to insist too much on matters of an academy that wasn't his and changed the subject: "His technique is very good, but he will still lose… The strain he’s under to keep up that pressure is enormous."
“No,” Diana insisted. "I am sure Alexander will win."
Surprised that such a shy-looking girl dared challenge him, the Imperial Academy director smiled. "It's good that you support him, but your support cannot change reality. He has already reached his limit."
"He will only lose due to energy consumption," explained the local director to Diana. "That's not such a bad way to lose."
"No," said Diana, contesting them. "I am sure he will win."
"If that's what you think," began the Imperial Academy director with a friendly smile, as if Diana reminded him of a good time in his life. But in the middle of the comment he had to stop and swallow the rest. "How is he getting faster?… He should already be at his limit."
"I gave him a copy of [Mantra of Madness]," said the local director, frowning—for the first time reevaluating his choice of giving him that technique.
"You what?!" doubted the Imperial Academy director. "If there is any opening and he suffers a deep cut, the damage could be fatal."
"There will be no openings," said the local director with confidence. "He won't miss… unless he collapses."
The Imperial Academy director wanted to disagree, but the local director quickly cut him off and explained: "He also learned [Asura Mantra]… He won't miss."
"..." Imperial Academy director.
Hearing that, Diana’s family grew even more worried about Alexander's situation. Yet Lucas soon brought even more worry: "He's getting faster again."
"That's not all," pointed out the Imperial Academy director. "His attack speed and spear mastery are also improving in—."
Cutting off his own speech, the Imperial Academy director hurriedly turned to the director of Twin Combats Academy. "Are you hearing that?"
"Hearing what?" asked the local director shortly before managing to capture a subtle and ascending sound.
Looking at each other, incredulous, the directors couldn't believe that that was really true.
It shouldn't be possible—especially in such a short time.
However, the instant Alexander's speed and the sound increased again, no doubt remained in them.
"This kid is truly talented," commented the Imperial Academy director, quite impressed.
But, the moment he refocused on the fight, Alexander had already perfectly aligned the spear with his body— as if it had become part of him. "This is not good. This is not good at all."
"STOP THAT ATTACK!" shouted both directors at the same time at the top of their lungs without caring about anything else, not even their own image.
The judge, who was following the fight as closely as he could, crossed the arena like lightning and held Alexander's spear—though the very tip had already pierced the prince’s throat.
"The participant Alexander Ocean won the fight due to the need for my interference," announced the judge. "He and Twin Combats Academy are the grand champions of this year's Imperial Tournament."
With Alexander being declared champion, Diana began to jump and shout so frantically while crying that it seemed she had won. "I said… I said he would win! I knew he would win!"
"Mother, father, we are rich!" assured Diana, smiling amidst the tears.
"What do you mean we are rich?" asked Diana's mother.
"Remember when we passed by the betting house when we arrived in the city?" asked Diana.
"Yes, but…" Diana's mother was going to say they hadn't bet, but then she remembered something. "That moment when you were separated from us?"
"Exactly," said Diana, confirming her mother's suspicion. "I bet all my money on him as champion and the betting house was paying 250:1."
"..." Diana's mother.
"..." Diana's father.
"..." Lucas.
"..." Director of Twin Combats Academy.
"..." Director of the Imperial Academy.
The strange expressions everyone made at her didn't discourage Diana, but as soon as she looked back at the arena her smile died.
"Why is he still stopped in the same position?" asked Diana to whoever could answer her.