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"The award ceremony is about to begin!" The announcer's voice, though still strained from the shock of the final match, was attempting to recover its festive tone. "Please welcome the winner, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, to the stage!"
Qi Yan stepped onto the podium, letting out a long, silent sigh of relief. It's finally over. He felt a genuine surge of excitement. 20 million J. That was a fortune he'd only dreamed of. The money was finally within reach.
Arthur, standing nearby, looked at Qi Yan with unreserved admiration. "Mr. Tsugikuni Yoriichi, it was only after meeting you that I understood what it means for there to always be someone better. Thanks to you, I've found a new direction forward."
Qi Yan nodded graciously. "Your talent is excellent, in both magic and swordsmanship. Cultivate diligently, and I believe your strength will advance further in just a few years."
Just as the King's representative was approaching with the oversized ceremonial check, a panicked figure rushed up to the commentary booth. The whispered conversation caused the commentator's eyes to bulge.
"What?! Something like that actually happened!"
He immediately snatched the microphone. "I apologize! Citizens! The award ceremony will be postponed!"
A wave of confused murmuring swept the crowd.
"According to the latest intelligence, at least one hundred thousand Demon Beasts are swarming towards us from the Demon Beast Great Forest!"
The commentator's urgent voice echoed across the panicked silence. "His Majesty the King has already ordered the army to go into Level One alert! All citizens are requested to evacuate to the arena. Those already here should not leave.
The arena is not only a venue but also the city's designated shelter, capable of activating a defensive barrier. At the same time, His Majesty the King has summoned all swordsmen in the city to participate in resisting this Demon Beast tide!"
"What?!"
"One hundred thousand Demon Beasts?!"
The fear was palpable. That number was nearly a tenth of the entire Great Forest's population. This wasn't a standard monster attack; this was an apocalypse.
Yet, among the swordsmen, the fear was quickly tempered by indignation and a hungry ambition.
"Those Demon Beasts think they can charge out? We'll make sure they never return!"
"Brothers! Our chance to prove ourselves and rank up has come!!"
These swordsmen lived to hunt and profit from these monsters. The danger was immense, but so was the opportunity.
The Unpaid Swordsman
Qi Yan's easygoing expression instantly froze.
No, no, no. I'm about to get paid, and now there's a monster attack? His internal scream was one of pure, financial frustration. Couldn't this have waited five more minutes until the wire transfer cleared?
Arthur, strapping on his gear, looked at the silent champion. "Mr. Tsugikuni Yoriichi, you'll definitely participate, right?"
Qi Yan nodded, his face hardening into a cold, determined mask.
Arthur beamed. "That's great! I'll get to see your swordsmanship display again!"
"I will take action," Qi Yan replied, his voice deliberately measured. "But it depends on the situation. If you encounter any Demon Beasts that you truly cannot deal with, I will step in at that time."
"Of course!" Arthur accepted the words with reverence, and Qi Yan quickly walked away, blending into the thousands of swordsmen rushing toward the city outskirts.
After confirming he wasn't followed, Qi Yan slipped into an empty maintenance corner. With a subtle surge of magic, he dispelled his transformation, returning from the imposing presence of Tsugikuni Yoriichi to his original self.
The change in his internal state was immediate. He felt the vast, suffocating disparity in talent—the feeling of going from a peerless master back to... himself.
"Sigh! How utterly unlucky," he grumbled, dusting off his clothes. "I can only wait for the Demon Beast tide to pass before going to claim my prize."
The city alarms began to wail in piercing, desperate bursts: "Citizens! The Demon Beast tide has arrived! Please proceed immediately to the arena for shelter! Repeating..."
A Dragon's Shadow
Erza returned to their inn just as the sirens peaked. "Qi Yan! The Demon Beast tide has arrived. We have to join the battle!"
"Okay!" Qi Yan nodded instantly. They didn't have to participate, but he knew Erza's powerful sense of justice wouldn't allow her to stand by. More importantly, they had a commission to protect the royal family. If the city fell, the contract—and his prize money—was null and void.
The two made their way to the city wall, which was already crammed with over ten thousand armed figures.
"As expected of the Kingdom of Swordsmen," Erza said, genuinely astonished. "There are so many swordsmen. Fairy Tail only has a hundred or so people!"
"Indeed," Qi Yan agreed, truly shaken by the scale of the mobilization.
They soon reached the King, who looked relieved to see them. "You two have also come."
The King knew Erza was at the Nine-Star Swordsman level. And based on the destruction he witnessed, 'Tsugikuni Yoriichi' (the man standing next to him, unknown to the King) was clearly beyond that. Having these two immensely powerful allies was critical.
Erza immediately got to the point. "Your Majesty, what is behind this Demon Beast tide?"
"The tides are usually caused by stronger beasts driving out weaker ones," the King explained, his face etched with worry. "Small tides are dozens, large ones are thousands. But one hundred thousand? In all my life, I have never witnessed such a thing."
He leaned in, his voice grave. "I suspect this is very likely related to the Magic Dragon Alazam!"
The words 'Magic Dragon' instantly sobered Qi Yan and Erza. Dragons were apex predators in any world, but especially in Fairy Tail.
"That's right," the King continued. "The Magic Dragon's power is terrifying. I suspect it's using powerful magic to control or drive out these beasts, triggering the tide." He then looked expectantly at Erza. "Miss Erza, have you seen Mr. Tsugikuni Yoriichi? He is undoubtedly the best person to wield a sword against a creature like a Dragon."
Qi Yan's heart stuttered. Is the jig up?
Erza shook her head. "I wanted to speak with him, but he disappeared right after the announcement."
Phew. Qi Yan mentally wiped sweat from his brow.
"I really don't know if Mr. Tsugikuni Yoriichi is willing to join us in subduing the Magic Dragon," the King lamented.
Qi Yan's mouth twitched. If the King knew the 'Sword God' was the ordinary guy standing right next to him, his jaw would hit the stone wall.
Rumble----!
A sound like rolling thunder erupted from the distant forest. The entire ground beneath their feet began to shake violently.
Every soldier's nerve tightened. All eyes turned toward the thick line of trees on the horizon.
"They're here!!"