“I can’t believe what we’ve just witnessed! This might be the biggest, most shocking upset in the history of the Sword Master Festival! Allen Rodol’s victory has propelled Thousand Blade to a three-to-two victory over Divine Emperor in a blistering series of duels that will never be forgotten!” the announcer said, pumping up the crowd to fever pitch.
“You’re the best, Allen! You fought so well!”
“That duel was absolutely insane… It’s bound to be the best match of the tournament!”
“I’ve been watching the Sword Master Festival for decades, and this year is on another level!”
“I can’t believe Divine Emperor Academy just lost. I guess no one can remain on top forever.”
“These students are starting a new Golden Age for Thousand Blade!”
As the spectators cheered at the top of their lungs, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Haah… Thank goodness.
That duel had me worried for a moment, but I’d managed to win. I dispelled Rapacious Demon Zeon, took a big stretch—and locked eyes with two swordfighters in the stands directly in front of me.
“I can’t believe he imitated my Neba Grome… Is there anything Allen can’t do?” Idora said while clapping, a smile on her face.
“That bastard… How dare he steal my Vanargand…,” Shido said angrily.
Idora doesn’t seem mad at all that I borrowed her Soul Attire ability, but Shido looks like he wants to kill me…
I descended from the stage, only making it a few steps before Lia threw herself at me.
“Allen…!”
“Whoa!” I cried, caught off guard.
“I was so worried… Thank goodness you’re okay…”
Lia continued to mumble in relief, tears running down her cheeks. It seemed like I’d really scared her. I gently patted her head and saw Chairwoman Reia approach me from the special seating area.
“Allen, did your memories come back?” she asked.
“Huh? What’re you talking about?” I replied, confused.
“…Never mind,” she said, shaking her head and falling silent. Her expression was grim.
I wondered why she was acting so weirdly, but I quickly dismissed that thought. When was Chairwoman Reia not acting weird?
“You were amazing, Allen. Not that I expected any less,” Rose said with a smile.
“You defeated a Holy Blade in a duel… Your prowess knows no bounds,” Shii said.
“What the heck was that at the end? You kept bringing out one new ability after the other! I couldn’t believe my eyes!” exclaimed Lilim.
“You’re still alive after being stabbed through the heart… You’re not just inhuman, you’re a god…,” murmured Tirith.
“You’re so strong it’s a little scary, Allen,” said Lou.
“Hey, maggot… How did you manage to copy my ability?” Claude asked, seething.
But just then, I heard the beginnings of a commotion in the arena.
“Whoa… What the heck is that?!” someone shouted, pointing up at the sky.
The people around them looked up and reacted in the same way, causing a wave of noise to ripple through the crowd.
What are they yelling about…?
I followed their eyes and looked at the sky to see a black vortex.
Oh no! Is that what I think it is?!
A sludge-like shadow rose from the vortex, and a person enveloped in a sinister spirit power flew out of it.
“SALUTATIONS, DEAREST ALLEN RODOL!”
It was Dodriel Barton, my old classmate at Grand Swordcraft Academy and a swordsman with the powerful ability to wield shadows.
“D-Dodriel?!” I said, shocked.
Next thing I knew, dark spots covered the sky, and swordsmen wearing black overcoats appeared from each one. They descended onto a shadow platform Dodriel had made and looked down at us.
The Black Organization. There’s so many of them… At a glance, it looked like there were over a thousand members on that platform.
Tension swept through the National Crusade Coliseum. As we all watched, a mysterious, black-robed figure stepped out of a particularly large spot.
“Right this way, Your Majesty!” Dodriel said, quickly making a throne out of shadow.
“Thank you,” the new arrival said before sitting down.
The black-robed swordsmen all kneeled to him.
…That must be Barel Ronelia. He was the emperor of the Holy Ronelian Empire, the founder of the Black Organization, and an evil man who was trying to bring ruin to the world.
Barel wore a pitch-black robe, and a black haze obscured his face.
“Hmm…,” Barel said, looking down from his throne. Surprisingly, his gaze settled on me. “…I see. You certainly bear a close resemblance.”
He had a strange voice. It sounded simultaneously both young and old, warm and cold, and I felt like I’d heard it somewhere before. The pitch of his voice identified him as a man, but I couldn’t tell anything else about him.
So this is his natural voice… I had never heard it before, as he had used a voice changer for the video message he’d sent during the New Year’s Jubilee. Barel Ronelia was rumored to be so secretive that he never appeared in public, and he even hid his voice. Despite that, he had chosen to appear in Liengard and speak for all to hear.
I wonder if he had a change of heart, or if there’s some special reason for his appearance here. Regardless, this isn’t normal.
As I was thinking, two men from the VIP section yelled out hoarsely.
“Your Majesty! We are honored that you have made the long journey to join us here!”
“I must offer my humblest apologies, Your Majesty. That incredible fool, Shin, failed to kill Allen Rodol… However, he’s on his last legs! If we strike now, we should easily be able to finish him!”
The first man to speak was Patriot Bolnard, and the second was Dafton Manay, the president of the Sword Master Festival Executive Committee. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Barel responded by shifting his glance slightly to the side.
“Dodriel.”
“Sure thing, boss!” Dodriel responded casually. He held Shadow Sovereign overhead and formed black clouds beneath Patriot’s and Dafton’s feet, which carried the men toward Barel.
“They just called him ‘Your Majesty’… Did those two betray Liengard?!”
“What did he mean Shin ‘failed to kill Allen Rodol’?! Was that the whole purpose of this Sword Master Festival?!”
“Explain yourselves, you skeevy nobles!”
The spectators jeered deafeningly at Patriot and Dafton, but the two noblemen were unbothered.
“You’re all fools! Why can’t you see that Liengard is a sinking ship?!” shouted Patriot.
“We’re going to be reborn as nobles of the Holy Ronelian Empire and rule the world!” cried out Dafton.
They both roared with laughter but fell silent when their clouds stopped before reaching the Black Organization members.
“Y-Your Majesty…?” Patriot said.
“I-I’m not great with heights, so would you mind quickly moving us to that stable platform up there…?” Dafton asked.
Their voices were anxious.