[Let the second round of the sword fight tournament begin!]
A voice sounded above of the stadium. A man wearing a formal attire greeted the crowds inside the stadium as they roared back. It was the same person who hosted the first round a day before.
[How are you everyone? Thanks for all your patience, now then, on our left side we have the first match of the first round's winner, Raye Winston!]
Raye walked out of the gate. He gave a confidence persona as the announcer continued.
[On our right side, we have the winner of the second match of the first round, Lycorn Braveheart!]
A young boy who seems to be around the age of 14 exited the arch gate. He wore a hakama, similar to the man that gave directions to Raye during the first round. Except that the colour of the hakama he wore is not dark blue but black.
His hair was tied in an odd way. Raye and the young boy, Lycorn Braveheart both walked forward and stood in front of each other. They drew out their swords and placed it before their face. The sword the boy uses is slim and the handle is not long but round unlike Raye's. Which is known as katana.
"L-let's have a fruitful battle!"
Lycorn exclaimed as Raye nodded with a smile.
[Battle....begin!]
Raye and Lycorn leaped backward and clashes their swords against each other. Raye dashes to the side and swings his sword at Lycorn which he blocks it. Raye leaped up and swings his sword down at Lycorn which he uses his left elbow and parried the attack with his sword by holding it horizontally and leaning it against his left elbow.
Lycorn retaliate by swinging his sword lightly yet powerful, creating a slash that sent Raye back. He parried it and landed on the ground. as Lycorn dashed towards Raye, he pointed his sword on the ground and drew just the top of the circumference. Before Lycorn could swing his sword at Raye, a gust of sand exploded from the ground, stopping the blow as Lycorn coughed and covers his face using his left arm with long sleeves.
"A man taught me this, always use the environment to your advantage,"
Raye then suddenly appeared beside Lycorn and swings his sword at his waist. Lycorn barely parried it since the dust of the sand makes it hard to see. The impact send Lycorn back as he turned his sword and stabbed the ground, holding him onto it. The impact made him move a few feet back before stopping, creating a slash on the ground. Lycorn quickly pull out his sword and parried Raye's upcoming relentless attacks.
Lycorn then swings his sword with all his might, sending Raye back, putting an end to the relentless assault.
"Sorry but...I believe it's time to get serious,"
Lycorn then held his sword at an angle that the blade is beside his head. Raye smirked as he swings his sword just below and held his sword like a knight.
"A samurai and a knight..."
The crowd muttered among themselves as Will leans closer upfront, watching the battle closely.
"Here I go..."
A wimpy and frail voice came from his mouth before he swings his sword.
"Tiger blow!"
A presence surged from Lycorn, a presence as fierce as a tiger, red and white aura came from his sword as his eyes were covered with blue aura. Raye stood there faze for a second but quickly calm his composure.
Water dance. A technique taught my the necromancer of the Dark Sages, Kolt. Saying it fits Raye's attribute and would help him grow much higher. Raye closed his eyes as the surrounding went silence. In the darkness, Raye could only hear water ripple that tested his patience but ultimately Raye has conquered it long ago.
Lycorn had his sword near his head, he swings it down then up, creating a powerful slash towards Raye. The slash itself already has the presence of a fierce tiger.
"Is that the technique that made his past opponent fear?"
"Can the knight handle it?"
Raye had seen this technique before. Though he can't place his tip of his finger on it. Doesn't matter. Raye swiftly swings his sword without making a sound. The movement of the sword as if it was as slick and smooth as water flows through the stream. Lycorn looked at Raye's expression that seems calm, too calm against a powerful and fierce attack charging towards him.
Raye's slash clashes with Lycorn's. While the crowd thought it would fail, the unexpected happened.
[What are the both of them doing?...Lycorn is using Tiger Blow like during the first round!? Will Raye be able to stop it from pursuing him?....Wait...he did!]
Both attacks were nullified against each other.
"W-what...how?"
While Lycorn was in his thought, Raye had already appeared beside Lycorn. He twitched his eyes to see Raye swinging his sword swiftly. His eyes were close. Water can be seen at Raye and his sword as he swings his sword at Lycorn's hip. Maybe it was his imagination. Lycorn realised the situation and tried to parry the attack. The blow was silent yet deadly, Lycorn did not have a good grip on his sword which resulted in the sword was sent flying away and the impact sending him back. Lycorn was sent and smashed onto the wall. Blood rushed out of his mouth as he slides down onto the ground.
Raye felt sorry for him but could not bring it out of his mouth. He could only sheath his sword and bow down to him.
[L-Lycorn Braveheart, unable to battle! Winner, Raye Winston! End of battle is 10 minutes 49 seconds! Raye will proceed to the third round while Lycorn is disqualified on continuing!]
Loud cheers sounded from the crowds as the battle has officially ended. Lycorn tries to stand up but was face with a hand up at his head. He was bleeding from his head as he look onto Raye's gaze. His eyes were full of hope, encouragement, as if...they were asking him to continue. Lycorn grabbed onto Raye's hand and lower his head, thanking him as Raye did the same too.
Raye returned to the gate and exited the arena. Outside of the stadium, he was greeted with Amethia's warm hug and the Everlight party's congratulations.
Suddenly, a man walked up to Raye. He has long black hair and similar clothing to Lycorn Braveheart except his clothes is dark blue instead of black. He has a katana with black sheathe. It was the man who gave Raye the directions two days ago!
"That was a wonderful match, Raye Winston, you have defeated by apprentice, which is something I believe you won't achieve back then when you were a knight,"
"Thank you sir...what is your name and...have we ever meet before?"
The man scoffed as he reveal himself.
"My name is Rodrim Raven, and yes, we have met before, back in the Kingdom of Hiden,"
Raye tries to recall his memories. At first, he does not remember anything about a man dressing like that. He tries to go in further into his memories. He then suddenly jolt up. The Tiger Blow that gave a bit of familiarities and this guy....
"Wait...you're the guy that..."
"Yes, I'm him,"
Raye's face suddenly darkened. Will noticed and looked at Rodrim with hostility.
"Sorry but...may I know what happened?"
Amethia asked Rodrim in curiosity. Will, too was also curious.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?"
Rodrim looked at Raye who tilted his head up.
"W-well...this guy...humbled me back when I was a knight in the royal palace of Hiden, he was speaking about how unwise is our king which that enraged me, so I challenged him into a duel which I lost to that Tiger Blow of his..."
"I do agree my attitude back then was unacceptable, please forgive me for what I did back then,"
"R-right..."
"Though I must say, you did improve a lot since that day, after all when you fall onto the ground, you did yelled loudly about being able to beat me one day,"
Raye instantly turned red, unable to hide his embarrassment.
"Master!"
A voice suddenly behind The Everlight party. A familiar voice that Raye heard not to long ago. It was Lycorn Braveheart.
"My apprentice, come and greet the Everlight party,"
Lycorn who ran towards Rodrim then turned his head towards the Everlight party.
"P-pleasure to meet you,"
"We meet again,"
Raye's voice sounded at Lycorn which makes him gleam brightly for a second. He then turned his head towards Rodrim and apologises to him. His voice sounds frail and weak. Rodrim engage eyes with him and simply just smiled at him.
"It's alright, you did your best,"
Raye stared at Rodrim expression in confusion. Was he someone like that before? People do change after all.
"Well then, I supposed we will depart now, I will be looking forward to your next match the day after tomorrow,"
Before Rodirm and Lycorn could depart, Raye asked Rodrim a question.
"Are you participating in the tournament?"
Rodrim turned his head to the left.
"No, I'm just an invited guest to watch the tournament,"
Without engaging gazes, he simply replied and then depart with Lycorn.