The next day, Midgar Magic Swordsman Academy.
Today was the first day of the Martial Heart Festival qualifiers!
Because there were so many participants, over a hundred matches would be held on the first day.
"Match seventy-three! Cid Kagenou versus Rose Oriana!"
The referee loudly announced the names of the two combatants.
"Princess Rose will win!"
"Go, Princess Rose!"
Many in the audience were fans of Princess Rose.
"Who is Princess Rose's opponent?"
"I don't know! He looks so ordinary, he's probably just a regular person going through the motions!"
Seeing this scene, Cid's heart was already incredibly excited.
"Excellent, this is it! To be completely ignored as a minor character! It perfectly fits the image of a passerby!"
"Both sides prepare, ready, begin!"
As the referee gave the order, Cid and Rose moved.
The instant Cid's sword was about to clash with Rose's, he threw a blood pack into his mouth with a speed that most of the audience couldn't perceive.
Cid flew out in a Thomas flair, spinning two and a half times in the air before crashing headfirst to the ground.
"Winner! Rose Oriana..."
"Wait, I haven't lost yet!"
Cid propped himself up with one hand and stood.
The referee was suddenly stunned.
Cid had been spitting blood while spinning two and a half times in the air, yet he still stood.
The entire venue was silent; Cid's willpower had shocked the audience.
Everyone wondered if they could stand up after spitting so much blood.
Just as he stood, Cid spat out another mouthful of fresh blood.
"Young man, are you really alright?" the referee asked.
"I'm fine!"
"He can still stand after that! Cid Kagenou, you are a worthy opponent!" Princess Rose said.
The two took their stances, exchanged a glance, and then both moved simultaneously.
This time, Cid was knocked flying again.
He flew out like a drill, spinning rapidly and spitting blood as he spun.
"He shouldn't be able to stand up this time!" the referee thought.
"Winner! Rose Oriana..."
"Wait!"
At this moment, Cid propped himself up with one hand and climbed to his feet again.
"It's not over yet!"
Before, everyone was merely surprised; now, they were shocked.
Cid's two falls were progressively worse, yet he still stood up.
"I have 48 ultimate techniques! I've only used two, so the battle isn't over!"
Cid was knocked down and spat blood again, but he stood up repeatedly.
The entire venue was silent; everyone felt a bit of pity for Cid.
Until Cid stood up for the twelfth time.
"I've heard of you, Cid Kagenou!" Rose finally spoke.
"You were once defeated 35 times by Milia, and you stood up 35 times! Your willpower is admirable! I apologize for my previous rudeness in intentionally holding back. This time, I will give it my all!"
"The victor will be decided with this single strike!"
Princess Rose said, looking at Cid.
Cid took his stance; his actions spoke volumes.
Just as Rose launched her attack, the referee lunged forward and tackled Cid to the ground.
"Winner, Rose Oriana!"
"Let go of me, I can still fight!"
"Bring a stretcher quickly, this person is seriously injured!" the referee shouted, completely ignoring Cid's struggles.
The stretcher carried Cid away.
"On the surface, I won, but spiritually, you won. What powerful willpower!"
Princess Rose said, looking at Cid's retreating back.
"Match seventy-four, Princess Alexia versus Babuzena."
"It's Princess Alexia! This match should be a foregone conclusion. Babuzena is the Duke's daughter, her strength is not weak, and she's one of the favorites to win!"
"Yes, that's right! Alexia once participated in the Martial Heart Festival and was described as having 'the sword of a mortal.' She lost in the preliminaries!"
Everyone remained silent, simply watching the duel.
The outcome was already clear.
Babuzena and Princess Alexia entered the arena.
"Princess Alexia, I hope you surrender directly to avoid physical suffering!" Babuzena said disdainfully.
"How noisy!"
Alexia looked at the person in front of her with eyes as if looking at an insect.
"A mere mortal's sword, and you dare to act like this? It seems I need to teach the Princess a lesson!"
Although Babuzena was very angry, due to the Princess's status, she still dared not say anything too harsh.
She really wanted to insult Princess Alexia, to fiercely call her a good-for-nothing.
"Both sides prepare, ready, begin!"
At the referee's command, neither side moved.
Babuzena was waiting for Alexia to attack, then she would fiercely beat Alexia.
Seeing that Alexia didn't attack, Babuzena launched her own attack.
"Hmph! A mere mortal's sword!"
As Babuzena approached Alexia, she noticed Alexia hadn't moved at all.
"Can't react? How weak!" Babuzena thought.
"Your speed is like a crawling snail!"
Alexia said.
Babuzena didn't have time to ponder Alexia's words and swung her sword.
Alexia calmly took a small step back.
She made hardly any movement, yet precisely dodged Babuzena's attack.
"Consider yourself lucky!"
Babuzena attacked again, and still missed.
Unwilling to give up, she continuously swung her Magic Sword, but each time Alexia dodged, and she couldn't even touch Alexia's clothes.
"How can this be!"
The entire venue was silent; at first, everyone thought Alexia was just lucky.
But Babuzena's consecutive attacks were all effortlessly dodged by Alexia, which couldn't be explained by mere luck.
Now there was only one possibility: Alexia was very strong.
At this moment, Babuzena remembered Alexia's words from earlier: Your speed is like a crawling snail.
Just a moment of distraction, and the Alexia in front of her vanished.
Suddenly, Babuzena felt a sharp pain in her arm joint; Alexia had appeared behind her and slashed her arm with a sword.
After feeling the pain, Alexia unexpectedly appeared in front of Babuzena again.
She snatched the opponent's sword.
The pain in her arm made Babuzena unable to exert force, and she could only watch as her sword was taken by Alexia.
As a Magic Swordsman, she, Babuzena, had her sword taken by an opponent in broad daylight.
Babuzena already guessed she would be nailed to the pillar of shame.
She would be the first Magic Swordsman to have her sword taken in the arena.
A surge of murderous intent welled up in Babuzena.
She wanted to trade her life for Alexia's.
As a woman, she cared greatly about her reputation, but now that her reputation was about to be ruined, she didn't want Alexia to have an easy time either.
Babuzena stretched out both hands and grabbed for Alexia's neck.
But she grabbed empty air; Alexia appeared to her side.
"Such obvious murderous intent, did you think I wouldn't sense it?"
Alexia raised her leg above her head.
Her leg formed the shape of a standing split.
All her magic power converged in Alexia's leg.
Alexia's leg descended downwards.
She stomped on Babuzena's chest.
"Boom!"
The ground directly collapsed, and Babuzena rolled her eyes, her body already in a temporary state of shock.
The audience gasped in astonishment.
The referee also hadn't expected such a result. He couldn't stop it in time.
"Princess Alexia wins!"
"Medical personnel, quickly! This person's breathing is extremely weak!"
"I think I hit a bit too hard just now. She talked so tough before the match, I thought she could take a beating!" Alexia said kindly.
Everyone present heard Alexia's words.
But they could probably all guess that Alexia was simply retaliating, a blatant retaliation. Retaliating against Babuzena's arrogant demeanor.
"Princess Alexia is so amazing!"
"Alexia is too strong!"
Some people shouted loudly.
The Magic Swordsman Academy worshipped the strong, and Alexia was now strong. Coupled with Alexia's beautiful face, many people instantly became her fans.
At this moment, Jaka and Yuro walked up to Sino with despair on their faces.
"Sino, lend us some money!"
"What's wrong with you two?"
"We just put all our money on Babuzena winning, but..." Yuro said.
"Who would have thought Princess Alexia would suddenly become so strong? We clearly planned everything out from the start; this was a sure-win deal. Why did this happen!" Jaka said.
Alexia looked at Sino, who was sitting in the last row, and smiled faintly, her face slightly flushed.
"Thank you, Sino!" Alexia thought.
"Did you see that! Alexia smiled at me!"
"You're full of it, she smiled at me!"
"Don't dream, she smiled at me!"
"Are you all blind! Alexia smiled at me!"
Many people in the audience began to argue.
Sino, the person in question, just nodded indifferently.
"Sino, does this mean you've agreed to lend us money?" Jaka said.
"I heard that a company near Mitsugoshi Company launched the March Loan, which allows for early loans. I can help you with a loan! There are March Loan staff at the academy right now, so you can get a loan directly!" Sino said.
"No, Sino, you misunderstood me. What we mean is, you give us the money temporarily! I'll help you bet on a sure-win deal! If we win, we'll return your original money. If we lose, it just means you have bad luck!" Yuro said.
"I still recommend you go to March Loan! My money is long gone!"
Sino stood up.
"Sino, wait! Don't go!"
"I have to go to my match! Bet on me, and I guarantee you'll win!"
Jaka and Yuro exchanged glances.
"Who is Sino's opponent?"
"It seems to be some unknown senior!"
"Then..."
The two immediately rushed to get a loan and bet on Sino's opponent to win.