Strongest in history vs. Strongest of the present?
Well, okay.
That description isn't quite accurate.
If we were going by that standard, the person standing opposite Augusta right now should have been Lupa.
After all, both of them are gladiators.
One is the reigning champion, the other is the top contender, both gladiators, they are the matchup the crowd truly anticipates.
But regardless, this match...
Ray cannot lose.
For Anby's sake, and for the Second Young Miss's.
From the very start of this duel, Augusta had never once held back with probing feints.
Every swing of her sword carried the force to rend silk, every strike was condensed from battle-hardened intent forged through countless trials.
Where her blade passed, even the light itself seemed severed, this Ephor showed no leniency whatsoever, simply because her opponent was a foreigner stepping onto the arena for the first time.
Within her fierce, relentless swordplay, there was only one clear will:
Fight, and then claim victory.
At this moment, a gale suddenly rose, the air flowing at a suffocating speed.
Ray sidestepped the heavy sword cleaving toward him. His own blade followed the momentum in a diagonal arc, scraping a shower of sparks across the black great sword.
Augusta twisted her wrist; her sword swept sideways like a black dragon lashing its tail. He immediately leaned back, the blade's wind grazing the tip of his nose.
"Good reflexes!" Augusta laughed heartily, her assault growing even fiercer.
Ray retreated as he fought. Each parry numbed his tiger's mouth, yet every time, he evaded a fatal blow by a hair's breadth.
Seizing the moment her great sword withdrew, Ray suddenly lunged forward. His sword tip aimed directly at the opening near her left shoulder.
A flicker of approval crossed Augusta's eyes. Her great sword impossibly snapped back into defense, and with a "clang," deflected the thrust.
The stands erupted in cheers.
"Who the hell is that guy? He's gone three rounds with the Ephor and isn't losing ground at all!""No idea. I heard he's from Ragunna!""Ragunna? What a coincidence!""Coincidence how?""You forgot? Many years ago, there was also a gladiator from Ragunna who almost won the Grand Tournament championship!""Ohhh, now that you mention it, I remember. What was that person's name?""Mya."
A cool, clear voice suddenly cut into the conversation.
The crowd turned to see Lupa standing behind them, her gaze intensely fixed on the arena.
"Gladiator Lupa!?"
The appearance of this star gladiator immediately drew even more attention.
On the arena floor stood the previous champion; in the stands stood this tournament's top contender, this unexpected encounter only stoked the fervor.
Lupa paid no attention to the commotion around her. Her eyes were locked tightly on the figure clashing with Augusta in the field.
"It really is Ray...""But why is he suddenly fighting the Ephor?""And... he's holding his own?"
"Lupa?"
A familiar voice called out from behind. The young woman turned around and met Carlotta's anxious gaze.
The Second Young Miss had clearly run all the way here. Her cheeks were flushed, and her chest rose and fell slightly.
She hurried over to stand beside Lupa, staring at that familiar figure in the arena, her eyes full of concern. "That's Ray? How did he end up fighting the Ephor? Did he offend Lady Augusta somehow?"
But on second thought, that didn't seem right.
As far as she knew, Ray wasn't the type to speak out of turn. How could he have suddenly offended the Ephor?
Lupa shook her head, looking equally confused. "I don't know either. I rushed over as soon as I heard the news."
"You don't know?" Carlotta's eyes widened slightly. "But weren't you two together the whole time?"
Lupa shook her head again. "No, we parted ways after dinner last night. And today... he should have spent the whole day with Iuno?"
"Wait... Iuno? And the entire day together?"
Carlotta blinked blankly. A chill crept up her spine.
'Wait, why is Cat's Eye spending time with Iuno?How did they even meet?'
"We happened to run into Iuno yesterday; she'd slipped out of the Temple," Lupa explained. "She didn't have her terminal or wallet with her. I had to leave early for team training, so Ray took her to... book a room?"
She paused, quickly waving her hands. "Ah, that didn't sound right. Anyway, they're staying at the Leonidas Grand Hotel. There are plenty of rooms there, so they probably aren't sharing one, right?"
Hearing Lupa's words, the last shred of hope in Carlotta's heart finally died.
Did she know whether the Leonidas Grand Hotel actually had available rooms?
Of course she did!
She had used her clever little scheme, sparing no expense, and booked every single room except for that one suite all so she could share it with Ray!
But now...
Wait...
What am I even doing?
What have I done?!
Why does he just randomly run into Iuno like that?
'Could it be that they've... been living together since last night?'
'No! That position was supposed to be mine!'
The Second Young Miss's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, her fingertips turning pale.
"...Failed."
The young woman's face was pale, her voice a silent murmur of despair.
"What failed?" Lupa tilted her head in confusion, then turned her gaze back to the arena. "But Ray's skill is surprising me. Miss Carlotta... is Ray really just an ordinary employee? His skills don't seem ordinary at all. Are you sure he's not your personal bodyguard?"
Those words snapped Carlotta back to reality. Now wasn't the time to dwell on the cohabitation issue. The priority was figuring out how Ray ended up fighting the Ephor.
She looked up at the figure locked in an even match with Augusta in the arena. "What is Ray... doing? How did he suddenly end up dueling the Ephor?"
"It should just be a spar." Lupa observed the battle intently. "I've studied all of the Ephor's recorded matches. To be honest, even for me, the odds of winning against her are slim. But..."
The wolf-tailed young woman narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice growing lower.
"Ray... he's special. From his initial hurried parries, to gradually adapting to her rhythm, and now he's completely keeping up with the Ephor's pace. Even..."
"Even?"
"He's evolving."
Boom—!
Golden lightning tore across the sky. Augusta stepped forth from within the electric light, each step scorching the ground beneath her.
"Your strength is commendable." Snakes of dancing electricity coiled around her. "But now I'm getting serious."
Before her words faded, she transformed into a bolt of lightning, charging straight at him, her speed too fast for the naked eye to track.
The decisive moment had arrived.
Ray's pupils contracted sharply.
Having fully adapted to her rhythm, it was time to counterattack.
But strangely, at the moment Augusta's assault was about to land, her movements stretched out infinitely before his eyes. It was as if time itself had slowed; every detail was clearly visible.
Had she gone easy on him?
Or was it...
'I've gotten stronger?'