My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 1021: Dreams of the Past: Battle for the spots (3/3)

Chapter 1021: Dreams of the Past: Battle for the spots (3/3)

The battles continued. Some had clear winners, while some ended up with no result due to the 20-minute time limit. Those who had won got 2 points, and those who ended up in a tie got 1 point. The points were tallied up for the participants after each battle.

By the time the sun is over the top of everyone’s heads, another high-voltage battle is about to come up. It was between a girl who was rumored to possess Riversis ability, one of the greatest supporting type inborn abilities in the history of mankind, and a boy known for his legendary parrying abilities that even a 7-star Arcana Master finds it tough to land a scratch on his body.

A hush fell over the crowd as Artaigne stepped into the arena, her crimson gaze locked onto Yudhisthira. She stretched her fingers around the hilts of her twin daggers, rolling her shoulders, while her opponent—calm, unreadable—stood with his golden spear resting against his shoulder.

The Proctor’s voice boomed:

"Begin!"

Yudhisthira moved first, his spear lashing out like a golden comet.

Artaigne barely had time to react—she twisted her body, the spearhead slicing a hair’s breadth past her ribs. A burst of wind followed, sharp enough to sting her skin.

She planted her foot down and retaliated. Her blades sang through the air, twin arcs of silver light aimed at his exposed side—

CLANG!

Yudhisthira’s spear snapped to the side, parrying both effortlessly. His counterattack came immediately—a thrust straight toward her throat.

Artaigne jerked her head back, the spear-tip grazing her collarbone. But before she could recover, Yudhisthira twisted his weapon, using the shaft to slam into her side.

WHAM!

She grunted as the force sent her skidding across the arena floor.

Yudhisthira didn’t stop. He surged forward, spear spinning in a dazzling display, his attacks relentless. Each strike was perfectly measured, aimed at weak spots in her stance.

She blocked, dodged, parried—But he was too precise. Too controlled.

Artaigne’s back hit the arena’s edge. She had nowhere left to run.

Yudhisthira exhaled and pulled his spear back, ready for the finishing blow.

"You rely too much on mobility," he said. "Without it, you’re already defeated."

Artaigne clenched her teeth. "Not yet," she said.

A golden light ignited behind her soon after. Her wings spread wide, and a floating halo appeared on top of her head.

In an instant, she vanished.

Yudhisthira blinked. Then—

SLASH!

A thin line of red appeared on his cheek.

His eyes widened. "Wha..."

Artaigne hovered behind him, blades dripping with golden energy. The air shimmered around her, her wings glowing brilliantly.

"Think again," she murmured. She shot forward, a golden streak in the air.

Yudhisthira barely raised his spear before—

CLANG!

Her first strike crashed into his guard. The force of it sent him stumbling.

Another strike.

And another.

Her attacks rained down like a divine storm, relentless and overwhelming.

Yudhisthira gritted his teeth, blocking each one—but he was on the back foot now.

Artaigne’s blades blurred.

Yudhisthira’s spear wavered.

And then—her final strike connected.

BOOM!

A golden shockwave exploded as her swords crossed against his chest, sending him hurtling backward.

Silence.

Then—

"Winner: Artaigne!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Yudhisthira groaned, sitting up, then exhaled and smiled. "You’ve grown stronger."

Artaigne extended a hand. "And I’ll keep growing."

In the crowd, Bheema clenched his fists tightly. "This was a complete defeat for us. If I encounter anyone in the next round, I wouldn’t show mercy even if they were girls." He muttered under his breath, frustration creeping to his neck and almost making him lose his breath.

As he wished, that opportunity once again came to him two days later.

Once all the group battles were finished, the top 2 of each group were granted automatic entry to the knockouts round. The remaining four were selected based on their potential, and unfortunate draws happened due to time limits.

The top 16 battle matchups were announced on the notice board. Basically, those who win this battle will become the representatives of the academy. And unfortunate for Artaigne, she was matched up with someone who was looking for redemption.

Battle 1: Arjuna vs Chitrangada

Battle 2: Beowulf vs Bai Qi

Battle 3: Azrael vs Kratos

Battle 4: Yudhisthira vs Ragnar Lodbrok

Battle 5: Nuada vs Zulqarnaim

Battle 6: Qin Shi Huang vs Gilgamesh

Battle 7: Artaigne vs Bheema

Battle 8: Brynhildr vs Eon

**

While the rules remain unchanged, the time limit was extended to 45 minutes, the same as the world tournament.

The first knockout match was between Arjuna and the warrior princess of Manipur, Chitrangada. Both were archers and seemed equally skilled, but unfortunately for the girl, Arjuna’s Arcana spirit was a higher tier. The attacks launched from the bow cannot be matched by the arrows launched by her platinum-grade Bow. As a result, Arjuna won the battle and cemented his place in the academy team.

The second knockout match was pretty much a one-sided battle from the start. Beowulf, just like Bheema, has superhuman strength far beyond his 5-star realm. On the other hand, Bai Qi was more of a strategist, a sealing expert, using traps or poisons to take down his opponent. Whatever Bai Qi threw at him, Beowulf just destroyed him with brute force and defeated him with ease.

The third knockout match ended in just a minute, and many felt pity for Rael’s opponent. Kratos was a genius student who excelled in casting illusions. However, Rael was immune to any kind of illusion. As a result, Rael won it with ease.

The fourth knockout match was quite intense between Yudhisthira and Ragnar of the Viking tribe. One was an excellent sword fighter, and the other known for his parrying. While Artaigne managed to take down the myth that Yudhisthira’s parrying abilities are godlike, Ragnar couldn’t break through him. The battle went on, becoming a draw. The Proctor made the decision to send Yudhisthira to the team as, in her eyes, he was a better prospect.

The fifth knockout match went almost the same way as the second match. Nuada was a fighter, while Zulqarnain was more of a battle strategist. Nuada won without any trouble, as battle strategists are often useless in one-on-one matches on the open field. Everyone felt like the academy should have put Nuada against Beowulf and Bai Qi against Zulqarnain. Some murmured that the academy is favoring one over others. Regardless of their complaints, Nuada made his way into the team without much trouble.

The sixth knockout match was once again a high-voltage match between the prince of the Qin dynasty and the prince of Uruk, both kingdoms known for going for war against each other multiple times without any significant result.

One on side, Qin Shi Huang, born with Eyes of truth, a nine-year-old known to have dragged a battle with an 8-star realm Arcana Master to a draw. On the other hand, Gilgamesh, the thirteen-year-old with divine blood and near-immortal endurance.

Who is going to win between these two?

Every student was excited to watch it.

However, taking everyone by surprise, Gilgamesh forfeits the battle, releasing his 6-star soul realm to the crowd. Stating that he accidentally made the breakthrough to the 6-star realm the previous night after suppressing it for more than a year, Gilgamesh forfeited from the inter-academy tournament as this junior world tournament only allows those below the 6-star soul realm. He gave his name for the senior world tournament instead.

As a result, Qin Shi Huang became the winner, disappointing the crowd that they couldn’t get to use this exciting battle.

But their excitement hasn’t died yet. It’s because of the following match. Artaigne Pendragon vs Bheema of Kuru Dynasty. Everyone is aware that Rael defeated Bheema, Artaigne defeated his brother, Yudhisthira, and Rael and Artaigne were a betrothed couple from Camelot. Such connections only increased their excitement further.

The moment Bheema stepped onto the battlefield, the entire arena seemed to shrink around him.

His muscles bulged with sheer power, veins pulsing with restrained energy. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing like thunder.

Artaigne narrowed her eyes. She had to be faster than him.

She took a deep breath. Focus. Speed over power.

"Begin!"

She launched forward first, twin daggers flashing.

But the moment her blade made contact with his arm—

Nothing happened.

Her eyes widened. "Wha..."

Bheema grinned. "That tickles."

His hand shot out.

Before she could dodge—

WHAM!

A punch collided with her gut.

The impact was like being hit by a battering ram.

Artaigne’s breath left her lungs all at once as she was sent flying across the arena, crashing onto the ground.

Dust billowed.

"Ugh..."

She groaned, trying to get up—

However, Bheema was already there. A shadow loomed over her.

"Too slow." His fist slammed down.

She barely rolled aside in time—the impact cracked the arena floor. She took to the skies, wings beating hard—

But Bheema leaped. A blur of muscle and destruction.

His punch met her side.

CRASH!

She slammed into the ground like a fallen meteor, cracks forming in the stone beneath her.

Her vision blurred.

"No, not like this."

She struggled to stand and tried to erupt her angelic wings to escape into the air. But Bheema didn’t give her any opportunity to act. He ruthlessly punched her dow again, his fist powered with a large portion of his soul energy.

BOOM!

The force shook the entire arena.

Silence.

The dust cleared, but Artaigne did not rise. She lay there, feeling broken ribs and bones in her body. Blood trickled down her lips, and a groan escaped from her mouth.

"Winner: Bheema!"

The crowd roared.