Chapter 387: The Last Challenge Before the Final

"Arthur Cronwall, your opponent has requested that you enter the arena first."

Arthur blinked at the referee. "Really? Is that allowed?"

"It is merely a request. You may decline."

Arthur smiled. "No problem! I was going in anyway."

From the waiting area, Sun stared at him. "Arthur, aren’t you even curious why?"

"Maybe he wants to make a dramatic entrance."

Melo giggled. "You’d probably let him borrow a spotlight too."

"That would be pretty cool."

Athena adjusted her glasses. "Your opponent has watched both of your previous performances. I doubt this request is entirely about presentation."

Vedas nodded. "He wants to observe our positioning before committing."

Arthur looked toward the arena and grinned. "Then let’s give him something worth watching."

The central battlefield had been cleared for the semifinals. Unlike the earlier challenges, it contained no simulated civilians or objectives. Wide stone platforms surrounded an open fighting area, with protective barriers separating the competitors from the spectators.

The rules were straightforward. A competitor would lose if the referee determined that they could no longer continue safely, surrendered, or was forced outside the designated battlefield.

Arthur stepped through the entrance with Vedas beside him and Star bouncing on his shoulder.

Eden remained in her Mana Realm, still recovering.

The spectators immediately cheered.

"Arthur Cronwall!"

"That’s the Goblin King!"

"I want to see what that slime does!"

Arthur waved enthusiastically.

Then the opposite gate opened.

A tall first-year student with dark hair entered alongside two Beasts. One was a broad-shouldered stone-armored hound, while the other was a swift, silver-furred fox.

The display above the arena announced his name.

Darius Vale.

Arthur recognized him from the training grounds.

Darius had been among the students practicing while Arthur’s group was away, and his performances throughout the competition had been impressive.

Darius smiled as he approached. "Arthur. I’ve been looking forward to this."

Arthur returned the smile. "Me too! Your last match was amazing."

"Thank you. Although I learned something from watching yours."

"Oh?"

Darius glanced toward Vedas and Star.

"You’re most dangerous when your Beasts can move freely. So I intend to prevent that."

Arthur’s grin widened. "That’s a pretty good plan."

Darius blinked. "You’re not worried?"

"A little. But now I’m really excited to see how you’ll do it."

From the stands, Sun covered his face. "He’s complimenting the guy who just explained how he plans to beat him."

Mithra smiled. "That’s Arthur."

Athena watched Darius carefully. "At least he’s being direct. The actual strategy will probably be more complicated."

The referee raised his hand.

"Competitors, prepare!"

Vedas stepped forward.

Star slipped down from Arthur’s shoulder.

Across the arena, the stone hound lowered its body while the silver fox moved toward the outer edge.

The referee’s hand fell.

"Begin!"

...

Darius attacked immediately.

"Bran! Center! Sera, take the right!"

The stone hound charged straight toward Vedas, its heavy paws cracking against the arena floor.

Vedas met it without hesitation.

Their collision sent a sharp impact across the battlefield.

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Whoa! That’s some strength!"

But before he could give another instruction, the silver fox darted around the outer platform.

"Star, intercept!"

Star bounced forward.

The fox abruptly changed direction.

Instead of attacking Star, it circled behind Arthur.

Arthur turned to follow it.

That was when the hound struck again, forcing Vedas away from him.

Arthur frowned. "Oh. They’re separating us."

Darius smiled. "Exactly."

The silver fox repeatedly approached Arthur, then retreated whenever Star attempted to intercept. Meanwhile, Bran kept Vedas occupied with powerful attacks.

Arthur tried to reposition.

"Sera, now!" Darius called.

The fox rushed across Arthur’s intended escape route.

Arthur jumped backward just before it reached him.

"That was close!"

The spectators cheered.

From the stands, Athena leaned forward. "Darius isn’t trying to defeat Vedas immediately. He’s forcing Arthur to spend his attention defending himself."

Sun clenched his fist. "And whenever Star moves to help, that fox pulls away!"

Melo frowned. "He’s making Arthur chase the wrong thing."

Mithra watched Arthur closely. "Come on, Arthur. You’ve handled worse than this."

Inside the arena, Arthur attempted another approach.

"Vedas! Fall back toward me!"

Vedas disengaged from Bran, but the stone hound immediately pursued him.

Sera rushed toward Arthur again.

Arthur found himself retreating.

Darius grinned. "You can’t coordinate if you’re too busy protecting yourself!"

Arthur glanced toward Vedas.

Then toward Star.

He had been trying to direct both of them while responding to every movement Darius made.

And Darius was using that against him.

Arthur laughed softly.

"Okay. You’re really good at this."

Darius blinked. "What?"

"I mean it! You studied us properly."

"Of course I did. I intend to win."

Arthur smiled. "Then I should stop making it so easy."

...

Arthur stopped retreating.

"Vedas!"

The Goblin King glanced toward him.

Arthur pointed toward Bran. "Handle the center however you think is best. You don’t need to wait for me."

Vedas’s expression changed.

Then he smiled.

"Understood."

Arthur turned toward Star. "And Star, don’t chase Sera. Watch where she keeps going."

Star bounced once.

Darius narrowed his eyes.

"Changing your strategy?"

Arthur grinned. "A little."

Bran charged again.

This time, Vedas didn’t meet the hound head-on.

He stepped aside, redirected its momentum, and struck its armored shoulder from an angle.

The hound stumbled.

The crowd gasped.

"Did he just redirect that attack?"

"He’s not even trying to overpower it!"

Darius immediately adjusted.

"Bran, don’t charge straight! Keep him pinned!"

The hound lowered its stance and began advancing more carefully.

Vedas smiled faintly.

"Much better."

He moved around the hound, forcing it to turn repeatedly while maintaining his distance from Arthur.

Meanwhile, Sera rushed toward Star.

The little slime remained still.

The fox approached from the left.

Star bounced right.

Sera changed direction.

Star stopped.

Arthur watched carefully.

Every time the fox tried to circle him, it returned toward the same section of the arena.

There was a narrow passage between two raised stone platforms.

Arthur’s eyes brightened.

"Oh! That’s why."

Darius noticed his expression.

"Sera, change routes!"

But Star was already moving.

Instead of following the fox, the slime bounced into the narrow passage and spread its body across the opening.

Sera skidded to a stop.

For the first time, the fox couldn’t take its preferred route.

Arthur grinned. "Nice work, Star!"

The crowd erupted into applause.

"That slime blocked the fox!"

"It figured out where she was going!"

Darius immediately called, "Sera, jump over it!"

The fox leaped.

Star compressed its body and sprang upward at the same moment.

They collided in midair.

Sera landed awkwardly on the opposite platform.

Star bounced back toward Arthur, visibly pleased.

Sun shot to his feet. "YES! That’s what I’m talking about!"

Kong raised both fists. "The slime punched the fox!"

Athena shook her head. "It intercepted her movement."

Kong considered that. "A very intelligent punch."

Melo burst into laughter.

...

Darius wasn’t finished.

He looked toward Bran, then Sera.

"Both of you, center! We’re ending this!"

The stone hound broke away from Vedas and charged toward Arthur.

Sera followed from the opposite side.

The crowd grew louder as both Beasts converged.

Arthur’s smile disappeared for a moment.

"Vedas!"

"Already moving!"

The Goblin King rushed toward Bran.

But instead of attacking the hound directly, he struck the ground beside its front paws, disrupting its footing.

Bran stumbled.

Sera immediately adjusted, moving to attack Arthur alone.

Arthur stepped sideways.

"Star, now!"

Star sprang from behind the raised platform and struck the fox’s flank.

Sera lost its balance.

Darius shouted, "Recover!"

The fox managed to land, but Vedas had already reached the center.

Arthur saw the opening.

"Vedas, take Bran! Star, keep Sera away!"

Vedas struck the hound’s shoulder, forcing it toward the arena boundary.

Bran resisted, digging its paws into the stone.

Darius clenched his fists. "Hold your ground!"

The hound pushed back.

For a moment, neither side moved.

Then Vedas changed his footing.

Instead of continuing to push, he stepped aside and used Bran’s forward momentum against it.

The hound stumbled past him.

One final controlled strike sent Bran sliding beyond the marked boundary.

A warning bell rang.

"Bran eliminated!"

The arena erupted.

Darius’s eyes widened.

"Sera! Fall back!"

But the fox was still occupied with Star.

The little slime bounced around its legs, refusing to let it reach Darius.

Arthur moved toward the opposite side of the battlefield, cutting off the fox’s escape route.

Sera turned.

Vedas was already waiting.

The silver fox stopped between them.

Darius stared at the battlefield.

Then he laughed.

"So that’s how you did it."

Arthur smiled. "You made us work for it."

Darius looked toward his exhausted Beasts before raising his hand.

"I surrender."

The referee immediately stepped forward.

"Victory! Arthur Cronwall advances to the championship final!"

The entire arena exploded into cheers.

Arthur raised both fists. "WE DID IT!"

Star bounced excitedly against his chest.

Vedas approached, looking satisfied.

Arthur turned toward him. "That was incredible! You completely handled Bran!"

Vedas smiled. "You gave me room to make the necessary decisions."

Arthur laughed. "I should’ve done that sooner."

"Yes."

Arthur blinked.

Then he burst into laughter.

"You’re supposed to disagree with me!"

"I see no reason to."

...

Darius approached them after the match.

Arthur immediately offered his hand.

"That was an awesome fight!"

Darius shook it. "You adapted faster than I expected."

"Your plan was really good. I kept trying to solve everything myself."

Darius smiled. "That was what I was counting on."

Arthur nodded toward Bran and Sera. "Your Beasts were amazing too."

Darius glanced toward them with obvious pride.

"They’ve worked hard. I wanted to show everyone what we could do."

"You definitely did."

Darius smiled more openly. "Then make sure you win the final. I’d rather lose to the champion."

Arthur grinned. "I’ll do my best!"

As Darius departed, several spectators applauded him as well.

From the viewing platform, Steven nodded appreciatively.

"An excellent semifinal."

Elaine folded her arms. "Darius prepared carefully. Arthur won because he recognized what his opponent was exploiting."

Steven smiled. "And because he trusted Vedas."

Elaine glanced toward Arthur, who was enthusiastically celebrating with Star.

"That boy is learning."

...

Arthur returned to the waiting area, where Sun immediately grabbed his shoulders.

"That was incredible! For a moment, I thought he had you!"

Arthur laughed. "He almost did!"

Kong nodded seriously. "His hound was strong."

Athena approached with her notebook. "Darius’s strategy was particularly effective because he targeted your decision-making rather than your Beasts’ individual abilities."

Arthur smiled. "I noticed."

"Eventually."

"Hey!"

Melo giggled.

Mithra stepped closer, smiling warmly.

"You did well, Arthur."

He looked toward her. "Thanks! Did you see Vedas take over the center?"

"I did. And I saw you stop trying to control everything."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "Guess you were right about that."

Mithra laughed softly. "I like hearing you admit it."

Before Arthur could respond, another cheer erupted from the arena.

The display screens changed.

SECOND SEMIFINAL — RESULT CONFIRMED.

Arthur looked up.

His eyes widened.

Then a familiar voice spoke beside him.

Mithra smiled, her expression turning playful.

"Looks like we’ll be opponents after all."

The enormous display revealed the championship pairing.

ARTHUR CRONWALL

VS.

MITHRA

Sun stared at the screen.

Then he burst into laughter. "Oh, this is going to be good!"

Melo floated beside Mithra with a delighted grin. "I’ve been waiting for this!"

Vedas looked toward Arthur. "Your final opponent knows you extremely well."

Arthur turned toward Mithra.

She folded her arms and smiled confidently.

"Don’t expect me to go easy on you."

Arthur’s grin widened.

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

Above them, the championship announcement flashed across the arena as the spectators erupted into another round of cheers.

The final match of the first-year One Above All would be between two people who knew each other’s strengths better than almost anyone.