Episode 84: Martial Arts Grand Tournament, The Beginning of Fierce Duels
The long-awaited Martial Arts Grand Tournament had begun. As Leon stepped into the arena, The roar of the crowd was a physical force, a wave of sound that vibrated through the stone floor and up into his bones. The air tasted of dust and sweat, and the sheer energy of thousands of eyes fixed on him made the hairs on his arms stand on end. Warriors from across the kingdom had gathered, each carrying their own pride and ambition, and the tension was palpable.
Assigned the lowest rank, Leon would have to fight his way from the round of 128, meaning more battles than most of his rivals. Yet to him, this was no burden—it was an opportunity, a chance to grow stronger with every duel.
Round of 128: First Step Forward
Leon's first opponent was a stout soldier, relying on shield and sword for a solid defense. As the match began, the man pressed forward with heavy strikes. Leon answered with agility, darting and weaving, slipping past the onslaught. Timing his moves with bursts of enhancement magic, he closed the distance in a flash and pierced the opponent's opening. The soldier faltered, unable to keep pace, and Leon claimed his first victory. Cheers erupted across the arena as he moved one step further.
Round of 64: The Tower of Strength
His next foe was a giant of a warrior wielding a massive axe. Strength and stamina were clearly on the man's side. The axe crashed down with devastating force, but its weight left the wielder slow in recovery. Leon circled, patient and precise, before striking at the exposed flank. The warrior stumbled, dropping his axe, and Leon finished the bout cleanly.
Round of 32: Duel with a Master of the Blade
Now, standing in the round of 32, Leon faced a swordsman famed for his sharp, fluid style. The crowd's anticipation spiked, knowing this would be no easy contest.
From the start, the swordsman's blade danced with relentless precision. Every strike flowed seamlessly into the next, leaving Leon no room for error. Step by step he retreated, studying, adjusting, until he could read the rhythm hidden beneath the storm.
With enhancement magic heightening his senses, the world slowed. He slipped between strikes, deflecting just enough, then countered with a sudden twist toward the opponent's side. The swordsman blocked, responding instantly. Back and forth they went, blades flashing, neither yielding ground.
The spectators held their breath as the two warriors traded blows in a dazzling display of skill. Slowly, Leon began to notice the subtle patterns in his opponent's flow. At last, he caught the moment when the swordsman's guard wavered. With a surge of strength, Leon knocked the blade aside and drove his strike into the man's chest. The impact staggered him, and Leon pressed forward with a final blow that sent the swordsman crashing down.
The whistle rang out, sealing Leon's victory. Exhausted yet exhilarated, he smiled faintly as the cheers rained down. With each duel, he could feel himself breaking through his own limits. The path ahead was only growing harsher—but his resolve had never been sharper.
**
Episode 85: The Crucible of Victory, Battle for the Round of 16
The round of 16 arrived, and Leon stepped into the arena amidst a sea of thunderous cheers. But when he saw the man across from him, a chill of tension gripped his chest. His opponent was Feynman, a towering favorite to win the entire tournament—an undefeated warrior, famed for overwhelming strength and instinct.
The signal sounded, and Feynman charged like a storm. Leon braced, using enhancement magic to amplify his speed and narrowly avoiding the crushing blow that tore the ground apart. Seizing the opening, Leon struck at his side, but Feynman parried with ease, eyes calm, lips curling into a faint smile.
"Is this all? And here I thought you had a reason to challenge me."
The taunt sharpened Leon's focus. He lowered his stance and unleashed a flurry of swift strikes, battering Feynman's guard and slipping in a shallow cut across his shoulder. For the first time, the champion stepped back, surprise flickering in his gaze. Gasps rippled through the crowd—an invincible titan had faltered.
But Feynman's grin only widened.
"Not bad. But did you think I'd fall so easily?"
The tempo changed. His strikes became a storm, each heavier and faster than before, and Leon found himself forced backward. His body screamed with fatigue; every breath was a battle of its own. Yet as he faltered, a single glance to the stands—Serina's anxious eyes locked on his—rekindled the fire in his chest.
Summoning everything left within him, Leon launched forward in a reckless charge. His blade carved toward Feynman's heart. The champion blocked, but Leon's second strike slipped through, grazing his side. The arena erupted in a roar as the titan staggered.
Then, with a final push, Leon's attack broke through. Feynman toppled, and the whistle declared the unthinkable: the underdog had defeated the undefeated.
Leon collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, his body battered by exhaustion. For a fleeting moment, triumph swelled through the arena, carried by the deafening cheers of the crowd.
Quarterfinals: The Wall of Fatigue
But victory had drained him dry. In the quarterfinals, Leon faced a nimble opponent who conserved energy and evaded tirelessly. Leon pressed hard, but his body no longer obeyed. Each strike grew heavier, slower, until his rival slipped past his guard and struck him down.
The crowd rose in applause—not for the victor, but for Leon, who had defied expectations and carved his name into the tournament with grit and unyielding will. Though his journey ended at the quarterfinals, Leon walked away with something greater than victory: proof that he had grown stronger, and the certainty that his path as a warrior had only just begun.
**
Episode 86: The First Step as a Commander
The news that Leon had defeated one of the tournament's favorites spread quickly throughout the army. His standing grew stronger than ever, and soon after, he was officially appointed as a commander, entrusted with leading two senior warriors.
When Leon heard the news, he was overwhelmed. For the first time, his long years of effort had been acknowledged. Pride filled him, but so too did the weight of new responsibility.
And in that moment, he realized something surprising: the person he most wanted to share this with wasn't his parents, but Serina. Thinking of their special bond, he resolved to tell her first.
The next day, Leon waited for her near the park by the research institute she often visited. When she appeared, he greeted her eagerly.
"Serina, I have good news! I've been appointed as a commander, leading two senior warriors."
Serina's eyes widened in surprise.
"Truly? That's wonderful, Leon! All your hard work and dedication have finally borne fruit. I'm so proud of you!"
Her warm reaction brought a smile to Leon's face.
"I want to celebrate this moment properly—with my comrades, of course. But I hoped you'd join us, too."
"Then let me help," Serina answered at once. "Whatever you're planning, I'll be there."
That evening, Leon gathered his closest companions at a small tavern near the training grounds. They lifted their cups in a joyous atmosphere. Ethan, raising his drink, spoke with pride:
"Your victory is ours as well. To think that you're the one leading us now—I couldn't be prouder."
Leon's heart swelled at their support.
"This isn't just my achievement. It's the result of everything we've endured together."
Serina shared in the happiness, raising her cup in his honor.
"Leon, I hope this is only the beginning. Lead your comrades well, and walk toward even greater goals. I'll be watching your path."
The tavern echoed with laughter and cheer, but beneath it all was something greater—a quiet acknowledgment that Leon's journey had reached a turning point.
When the celebration ended, Leon and Serina left together. Under the evening sky, she leaned gently against his shoulder.
"Your true strength isn't just in becoming a commander. It's in earning the trust of those who follow you. Be the leader they need."
Leon met her gaze and nodded.
"As long as you're with me, Serina, I won't falter. That I promise."
And from afar, Serina's mother, Elizabeth, heard of Leon's appointment. Watching him rise step by step without anyone's help, she felt both pride and respect. For the first time, she admitted to herself that the young man walking beside her daughter was worthy of her attention.
"May he overcome every hardship and become a true warrior," she prayed quietly.
**
Episode 87: The Dwarves' Stronghold, From Discontent to Alliance
Not long after, Leon was dispatched to the Steel Mountains, home of the dwarves. As a newly appointed battle commander, his task was to secure cooperation for the kingdom's war preparations. The dwarves' skill in metallurgy was unmatched, yet centuries of living under the tyranny of dragons had left them wary of outsiders. Beneath their craftsmanship simmered deep resentment at never being properly recognized.
Passing through a massive stone gate, Leon entered their stronghold. Sparks flew from forges, the air thick with heat and iron. Hammer blows echoed in rhythm, shaping steel into weapons and armor. Yet the faces of the dwarves bore hard lines of suspicion as they turned toward the outsider in their midst.
"What business brings you here?" one dwarf asked gruffly, hands blackened from labor, eyes sharp with distrust.
Leon smiled respectfully.
"I am a battle commander of the Kingdom of Elysium. We seek your skill. Your craft could tip the scales of war."
The dwarf let out a dry laugh.
"We've heard such words before. And yet, tell me—when have outsiders ever given us the respect we deserve?"
Unshaken, Leon answered calmly.
"That's why I came here myself. Not with empty promises, but to witness your craft and speak with you in truth."
Something in his earnestness gave the dwarf pause. After a long silence, he nodded.
"Very well. See for yourself."
The dwarves displayed their weapons and armor, each piece gleaming with steel and inlaid with gemstones. Leon proposed to test them personally.
"Let me wield them. Show me your work not as words, but in battle."
Skepticism flickered across their faces, but soon they handed him their finest arms. On the training grounds, Leon felt the weight, the balance, the raw power in their weapons. Sparring with dwarven warriors, he was driven back again and again, overwhelmed by the precision and strength their gear granted.
When the bout ended, Leon set down the weapon with reverence.
"To think such skill goes unrecognized—it is a loss for the entire kingdom. Your craft deserves the world's respect."
His words, sincere and unforced, stirred something in them. Slowly, they began to open their hearts, sharing their grievances.
"We endured under the dragons' yoke. Even now, we are still treated as lesser folk," one said bitterly.
Leon listened without interruption, nodding gravely.
"Then let us change that together. Stand with me against the dragon's tyranny, and I will see your craft honored for what it is. With your skill and my command, we can forge a future where the Steel Mountains shine again."
And so, what began with suspicion turned to the first sparks of trust. The dwarves, hardened by centuries of struggle, found hope in Leon's words. United, they resolved to fight for a future where their steel would no longer be hidden in shadow, but carried proudly into legend.