402 – Battle of Pride (2)

The Tatars are a nation of warriors. Naturally, force is considered a virtue.

So it is natural that there is great interest in the Academy, which is considered the world’s best educational institution.

While they were trained through the harsh environment of the desert and actual combat, the academy students were trained through theory and training.

Well, even so, the chieftains, that is, the heads of families, will not come out and say that they are crazy from the Tatar side.

First of all, the age gap is too big. Most of the heads of households are at least in their 40s.

‘In this world, the older you get, the stronger you tend to become.’

Unless you have an unusual talent like Luna or have been in the field since your teenage years like Kara, your prime starts in your 30s.

Moreover, Kara inherited physical and technical talent from Hector, making her very strong for her age.

So, it is more likely that the Tatar side will be comprised of young people rather than chieftains. They will probably be well-rounded and talented people.

Well, among those talented people, there must have been some who had actual combat experience. They may have put it off until later.

‘It’s also big because it’s home ground.’

I raised my head and looked up at the sky. It was a clear sky without a single cloud.

The Tatar sun is hot, and the weather is murderously hot.

The sun is shooting orange arrows at you, so your stamina will be drained quite a bit.

‘In reality, damage comes in even if you stay still.’

I wonder how well the students will perform. This is a duel that will determine the pride of the academy.

Some might say that the Academy has nothing to lose, but the opposite is true. The Academy has a lot to lose.

If we lose, the prestige of the Academy may decline, especially since we are Tatar and not another country.

The only thing that’s better is that there are two coins instead of one? Since each grade is divided into three classes.

‘If I step out, it’s over.’

The duel will probably end today. We’ll probably see some pretty interesting scenes during it.

Participants in the match, including me, watched from the audience rather than waiting in the waiting room.

The stands were in the typical Colosseum shape, with the only unusual feature being that the width of the stadium was slightly narrow?

Instead, they prepared for the accident by building the stands higher, which were of course made of stone.

While the Academy’s sparring hall had a mix of modern elements, the Tatar sparring hall resembled the Earth’s Colosseum.

-Wow!!!

The training grounds were filled with locals, including academy students.

The loud cheers of the locals, hotter than the sun, pierced my ears.

Because there was currently a person lying in the stadium. The person standing proudly was a local with bronze skin.

‘I lost as expected.’

The student lying on the floor is a student with impressive purple hair. If it’s purple, you know it’s Grace.

It was too bad that the compatibility wasn’t good. What’s worse, the opponent also knew how to deal with magicians.

The special feature of this match is that Grace has been through many battles.

He already had weak stamina, so it would have been difficult for him to endure it after going through so many hardships.

‘Does this leave us with 3 people, and they have 4 people left?’

Antonio was eliminated long ago. He landed a few effective hits, but was caught in his opponent’s trap.

I pretended to attack his legs but instead aimed for his temple. Antonio is also a thief, so he is not very good at blocking.

In the first place, the fact that the thief would confront him head-on is questionable, but what can I do? He said it was what he wanted to do.

“The opponent is quite strong.”

“I know.”

Ellie and Luna, who were watching from the stands with me, each gave their evaluations.

Warriors trained by the Tatar lords. As they said, the warriors were quite strong.

By aiming for a completely unexpected timing, or by taking advantage of a weak point, etc.

The most surprising thing is the fundamentals. Perhaps it is because of the know-how gained through actual combat that the fundamentals are all excellent.

Usually, new nations lack technology and thus lack the basics, but Tatarstan was the opposite.

‘I don’t think Hector told you that······’

I raised my head and looked across the room. Across from me were the heads of the households, including Hector.

Kara was included there. Next to Kara was a golden sun sitting.

‘······This is really a gathering place.’

The problem was that the golden sun kept ogling Kara. Kara naturally reacted with disgust.

Then, sometimes our eyes met, and when I saw him snickering, I was able to be sure.

That’s him. His appearance is no different from that of Soul World, and his behavior is that of a thug.

Finally, dashing to Kara. I’m sure she’s the one I have to deal with.

‘How can I control him so that people will say I control him well?’

As I was staring at the golden sun chick, Kara, who was frowning, looked straight at me.

Even though he was far away, he noticed my gaze and looked back and forth between me and Geum Taeyang. Then he shook his head.

Kara also seems to have realized that I’m going to manipulate the Golden Sun. She probably thinks she can’t stop me.

“Shivar. Let’s go down slowly too.”

“huh?”

“Mr. Alvin is here. He won’t be here long.”

As I was running through several simulations in my head, Luna spoke to me.

When I heard that and looked up at the training ground, I saw Elvin fighting with a Tatar local.

The noise of “jjaeng!” could be heard clearly as they were using real swords against each other.

‘Elvin will win that one.’

Although he is slow in making immediate judgments, his skills are decent. On the other hand, Tatar is quick in making immediate judgments.

It will be interesting to see who wins. You might ask if this didn’t come out in Soul World.

‘What, everyone has changed?’

It’s so different from the time in Soul World. It’s because of the influence I had when I subdued Queen Sand Scorpion.

It was originally close to an event battle, but it soon turned into a battle of pride. That’s why the average strength is high.

Well, even so, most people have a high chance of being cut off by Luna. I asked Luna.

“Luna.”

“why?”

“Do you think you’ll win?”

“Maybe? But everyone is in good health.”

If you’re talking about the body, you’re talking about physical ability. I nodded in agreement.

Even if he’s not as strong as Kara, he must have quite high physical abilities as a Tatar. Luna must have seen it through his eyes.

The technical aspects won’t be much different. The only difference will be the style?

-Wow!

As I was waiting quietly in the waiting room, a loud noise was heard outside the hallway.

It seems like someone is overwhelming or the match is already decided.

“Next person, please come in.”

“······Did Mr. Elvin lose?”

“yes.”

Luna was quite shocked by the news the guide gave her. The opponent had been through many battles and was defeated.

Of course, we have to take into account that my opponent, Grace, was lacking stamina. In fact, it would have been perfect.

In other words, it is highly likely that the enemy Tatar’s stamina has also decreased. Luna will also be taking this into consideration.

Luna slowly prepared as instructed by her guide, then glanced at me. It seemed like she had something to say.

“why?”

“No. Just.”

It’s bland. I even cheered her on as she walked.

By the way, she carried a regular iron sword, not an Usk sword. The Usk sword was too overbalanced.

‘Even an ordinary iron sword won’t hurt if you get stabbed.’

I’m not sick though.

When I was just wasting time in the waiting room like that.

-Wow!

Luna started a three-game series by defeating two of her opponents.

‘······Come to think of it, you were being trained by Lord, right?’

I was worried that my turn might not come.

******

‘Ugh······ hot······’

Luna wiped the sweat off her face with her collar. The sweat was pouring down like rain due to the cold weather.

The opponent who had defeated Erwin was easily defeated due to his limited stamina, but the next opponent was not like that.

It was quite tricky because the Tatars had strong people at the back. But I managed to defeat them anyway.

Just as Lord taught, sticking to the basics, measuring distance, and finally attacking when there’s an opening.

These three were the end, but at the same time, these three are the beginning and the end of martial arts. These are the basics.

‘You said there was no need for fancy swordsmanship.’

I was taught that technology is a means to compensate for the lack of strength, and that the most important thing is psychological warfare.

No matter how flashy the opponent’s technique was, if it didn’t hit, it was over. On the other hand, if you dodge and hit, it’s over.

If someone heard it, they would call it ‘talent’, but Luna’s talent is truly heaven-sent. The same goes for Lord.

As the teachings of a genius were inherited by another genius, his talents gradually blossomed.

‘Everything is good, but the sunlight······’

Luna raised her head, frowning. It was hotter than it had been since the sun had been high in the sky.

My skin is so red it looks like I’m getting burned. If I had known this would happen, I would have worn long sleeves.

‘I envy Shivar.’

I wish I could change according to my environment like that. I couldn’t help but think that I was just like an octopus.

As Luna was desperately wiping away her drenched sweat, someone began to walk slowly from the opposite passage.

Luna then swept her bangs back and checked the person. Judging from the slender figure, she was presumed to be a woman.

“······Dancer?”

As the woman’s figure was finally revealed, Luna muttered without realizing it. The woman’s true identity was a dancer.

A dancer in a flashy and flashy outfit, like the Kara dance costumes we’ve seen before. The only difference is the cotton cloth covering her mouth.

Even though he was covered with cotton, his sharp nose and blue eyes that shined like a clear lake could not be hidden.

Moreover, she has golden hair that matches her looks. It feels like Geum Taeyang is Geum Taeyang, but with the genders reversed.

At first glance, she didn’t seem that strong. Luna blinked and stared at her.

This is to check the overall physical ability. This can provide some fragmentary information.

[Io Bowar Sigurddotis]

•Strength: 112

• Agility: 123

• Stamina: 118

•Horsepower: 120

•Luck: 84

•Faith: 135

‘what······?’

Luna’s eyes opened wide. This was a figure of a very high level.

She is a total beauty with nothing missing. You could even believe she’s a lower-end version of Kara.

“Are you Shivar?”

“yes?”

“He asked if I was a student named Shivar.”

The dancer asked a question in Tatar. Naturally, Luna did not understand.

The only thing I can understand is the word ‘Shivar’. I think he’s asking if it’s Shivar.

Luna shook her head in a negative tone.

“No. It’s Luna.”

“That wasn’t the case.”

The dancer, Io, showed signs of disappointment. Oddly enough, she only said those words, but her expression remained firm.

Moreover, Luna cannot understand what she is saying. She is just an opponent that she has to fight.

“Phew.”

After a while, Io closed her eyes and slowly took a deep breath. Then she slowly opened her eyes.

-Creepy!

Luna felt a chill as soon as her eyes met his. For some reason, her hair stood on end.

Then, he hurriedly raised his sword. As soon as he raised his sword, Io approached him at lightning speed.

-Oh my god!!!

The resonant sound of iron hitting iron. But in reality, iron is not hitting iron.

Iron and fist. Different in form and essence, but similar in performance.

‘Bare fists?’

Still, Luna wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t that uncommon for fighters to be here, and she had met the strongest fighter in person.

What was surprising was the speed. It felt fast, perhaps because my stamina had been greatly depleted in the previous battle.

“I have business with a warrior named Shivar, not with you.”

“Ah. Well.”

Luna nervously thrust her sword upward. Io stumbled backwards.

Soon, Luna frowned, holding her sword with both hands. The sunlight was glaring at her eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying.”

Io clenched her fists. Her expression was infinitely serious.

The fight started like that, with both sides exchanging fists and swords.

-Dismissed!

Although very faint, a blue spark appeared in Io’s fist.

Luna noticed that too and thought to herself.

‘If the Gaia Cult is monks, is the Gulag Cult dancers?’

That seems to be a subtle fit. And one more thing.

‘Why do you like dancers so much, Gulag? Is it your taste?’

Even the heavens were pierced, and no answer came back.

[Faith rises!]

Only one message appeared, filling Luna’s vision.