Chapter 229: 013: Hehe

Two months later, the Lorent Kingdom, Lionheart Capital, Swordsmanship Tournament.

The triennial Lionheart Capital tournament is a grand festivity renowned throughout the Lorent Kingdom. When it takes place, skilled martial artists from across Lorent gather here, offering dazzling elegies with the swords in their hands for the spectators.

Achieving a rank in this tournament not only brings fame and substantial rewards but also offers the chance to become a guest of honor among the nobles. Many court instructors and sword masters of the capital have emerged from this very competition.

On this day, the circular coliseum designated for the tournament was teeming with flags fluttering and throngs of people.

Lynch sat in a secluded yet wide-view corner of the arena. Since he had come to the Lorent Kingdom, attending this swordsmanship tournament was undeniably a must. It was also a chance to observe other sword techniques. After all, “Direct Death Without Advance” wasn’t the only high-level swordsmanship in this world.

“Clank!”

The sound of the chains on the scaffolding turning echoed, and the gates on both sides of the arena slowly rose. Contestants from each side stepped onto the battlefield.

The one on the left was a middle-aged man dressed in lightweight swordsman’s clothes, standing tall and exuding the aura of a seasoned martial artist.

And the one on the right…

Was entirely adorned in a gothic-styled suit of silver armor, with even the face wrapped in a cloth covering. The grille mask offered no way for anyone to discern the actual features inside.

This outfit was remarkably peculiar. After all, Lionheart Capital’s swordsmanship tournament primarily focused on swordsmanship skills. The swords provided by the venue were specially made and harmless, with victory determined by the number of sword strike points—use of Fighting Spirit wasn’t even allowed.

In such a competition, lightweight and agility should logically allow swordsmanship to shine. Wearing such bulky armor was absolutely baffling.

“Who is this person? Are they crazy? Wearing full body armor for a swordsmanship match!”

“Has no one told this metal can it’s a swordsmanship competition? Someone go up and kick them out already!”

“That armor looks oddly familiar…”

People began buzzing with chatter.

Meanwhile, Lynch, seated in the spectator stands, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

A Wizard doesn’t perceive people through appearances but rather through their souls. After advancing as a Wizard, this perception ability had reached entirely new heights. Thus, even though the contestant below was tightly wrapped up, Lynch recognized their identity at a glance—

His mischievous niece Lilith.

“What’s she doing here…”

He had imagined she might take the unconventional route, but he hadn’t expected her to travel so far. Between the Putan Kingdom and Lorent Kingdom lay two intervening territories and vast, sparsely populated forests. Even Lynch himself had encountered multiple savage beast attacks along the journey.

“She really never makes things easy…”

One could call it being unique, or bluntly put, completely reckless. Fortunately, he had made sufficient arrangements—had it been someone else, such recklessness might have led to unthinkable consequences.

“Bang!”

At that moment, a muffled copper gong rang out, signaling the start of the duel atop the stage.

Both sides raised their Cross Swords, assumed their starting postures, and slowly closed in, beginning with a few tentative exchanges of blows.

Lynch furrowed his brow.

As the saying goes, amateurs watch the spectacle, experts see the nuances. Even from those initial light clashes, Lynch was completely certain—his mischievous niece stood no chance of winning whatsoever.

Likewise, her opponent evidently realized this. They sneered arrogantly, letting out a savage laugh: “Foolish little thing! Let Daddy teach you a lesson!”

With that, they immediately launched a ferocious onslaught akin to a storm.

Sure enough.

Events unfolded precisely as Lynch anticipated. When the opponent’s swordsmanship overwhelmed Lilith, the disparity between them became glaringly obvious. From basic sword posture to movement technique to sword path, Lilith was vastly less skilled—even several levels behind her opponent. She immediately fell into a chaotic state, floundering to cope.

Within moments, Lilith was panting heavily, her defeat glaringly apparent.

“Tch~”

“Wearing such formal armor, turns out you’re just bluffing!”

“What a disgrace—get off already!”

The crowd mocked ruthlessly.

Lilith’s opponent wore an even more smug expression. With a smirk, they taunted:

“What trash dares to dabble in swordsmanship?”

“This is out of your league! Go home and suckle milk like a babe!”

“I’ll fight with one hand… no, I’ll restrain myself completely, and still humiliate you. Heck, holding a stick in my mouth would suffice to beat you to pulp.”

“Why aren’t you talking back? Lost your tongue?”

“Take this!”

Damn…

That chatter, truly vicious…

Behind the grille mask, Lilith was on the verge of tears, the humiliation she faced unprecedented. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

Her companion Harak, equally furious, had turned red from anger but was more overcome by worry, shouting at Lilith from the sidelines to surrender quickly.

But Lilith stubbornly refused to step down.

Lynch remained silent for a moment.

Alright. Since he had set the stage, it was only right for him to continue the act.

With this thought, he retrieved a puppet from his Space Ring, placing it discreetly on the ground in a hidden corner.

He raised his hand, and spiritual power erupted from his fingertips into threads that connected to various parts of the puppet’s body. As his fingers moved, the puppet stood upright.

Simultaneously.

In the unseen skies only visible to mortals, intangible threads descended from the void, reaching Lilith at specific points on her body.

Spiritual System Level 0 Ring Magic **Puppet Show**.

Puppet Show: Employ spiritual power as threads to connect to a target, thereby exerting control over them.

At the same moment.

The match onstage had reached its climax. Lilith had been forced into a relentless retreat and eventually fell to the ground, landing on her backside.

Her opponent, having played enough, swung his sword toward her, ready to end the match.

As victory seemed certain, Lilith shut her eyes in despair.

Yet at the next instant—

“Clang!” A crisp metallic clash rang out. Lilith’s arm, which had drooped lifelessly, suddenly raised, her Cross Sword catching her opponent’s attack with a precise defensive posture.

“Huh?” Lilith’s opponent froze in surprise. That strike had been perfectly timed—executed with flawless precision.

Could it be coincidence?

Before he had time to reflect, a startled cry erupted:

“Ah!”

In the blink of an eye, Lilith, previously seated on the ground, sprang up, her body whipping around in a near 180-degree spin to reorient herself. In the same breath, her Cross Sword darted toward her opponent like a streak of lightning.

The offensive was swift and fierce, like a bolt of lightning splitting the clear sky.

“Thud, thud, thud!”

Lilith’s opponent staggered backward, his arrogant expression replaced by shock and uncertainty.

Before he could stabilize his stance, Lilith lunged at him again. She maneuvered through a series of rapid shifts across the arena, her movements so fast they blurred to spectators.

Ultimately, she struck from his left flank. With her Cross Sword, she executed a brilliant Moon-shaped Cross Slash.

“Clang!”

Her fierce swordplay struck the man’s wrist, knocking his Cross Sword out of his grasp. Still stunned, he felt a kick land squarely on his chest, sending him sprawling like a spinning top.

The spectator stands fell silent for an instant, the abrupt turn of events stunning everyone. But in the next moment, the arena erupted in cheers like a tidal wave.

“Whoa!”

“Wow, turns out this guy’s a hidden master, pretending to be a fool all along!”

“Direct Death Without Advance! It’s Direct Death Without Advance!”

Meanwhile, on the stage, Lilith herself hesitated briefly.

She was utterly confused about this sudden mastery of advanced swordsmanship. Could it be her latent potential? Or perhaps it was the legendary Sword God’s soul taking possession?

This certainly posed an intriguing mystery, but Lilith had more pressing matters demanding her attention now.

She squinted slightly, a smug smile creeping onto her face beneath the mask.

Soon enough, a piercing yet crisp voice emerged from behind the grille:

“Why aren’t you talking now? Lost your nerve?”

“Ride horses, not fools!”

“Hehehe.”

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