I Don't need a Blade to Win
The Arena-
Selene and Dren stood at opposite ends of the battlefield, their eyes locked. The atmosphere between them was electric—charged with something more than rivalry. A heavy silence fell before Dren broke it.
He drew his blade, its edge glowing a deep crimson.
"Scorch... Kurenai Hono."
The blade transformed, veins of fire running through it like molten rivers. He spun it once—flames erupting and spiraling around him—and dashed forward.
Selene responded just in time, her blade clashing against his with a flare of heat—not sparks, but fire. She was forced back, sweating.
"That's hot," she muttered, panting.
Up in the stands, Callista narrowed her eyes.
"If she doesn't release her blade... she's going to lose."
Arthur leaned forward. "Or... is she like Gareth?"
Lyra shook her head. "No. It's not that she doesn't want to... it's that she can't."
Everyone went silent.
Felix blinked. "Can't?"
Riven frowned. "What do you mean, she can't? We all can use our Shinsei State."
"I've never seen her use it," Lyra whispered. "It's like... she doesn't have a blade spirit."
Arthur's eyes widened. "No blade spirit? What...?"
Nathaniel, hearing this from the side, looked down in shock.
"Don't tell me... she's a—" He paused, unsure. "No... That can't be. But it could be…"
Arthur turned to him. "Mr. Nathaniel? You know something?"
Nathaniel looked back at the arena. "Even I'm... unsure. Let's just keep watching."
---
[Back on the battlefield]
Selene backed away as flames licked at the air between her and Dren.
"If you don't use your Shinsei," Dren warned, "you'll lose before this even starts."
Selene narrowed her eyes, letting out a sharp breath. "Is that sympathy?"
"Just facts. Would be a shame if you lost without even releasing your blade."
"I don't need that," she shouted and charged forward.
Dren swung his flaming blade. Selene flipped over it mid-air, blade poised—but the fire burst around him, scorching her. She hit the ground, gritting her teeth.
"I told you," Dren said coolly. "Release it. Or lose with what pride you have left."
"Shut up!" Selene snapped. "All of you... always the same! Shinsei this, blade spirit that! If I had one... I'd have used it already!"
Her mind flashed back—
Laughter.
Kids whispering, pointing at her at the Preliminary Academy.
"She wasn't chosen by a blade... how pathetic."
"This is what happens when you act above your worth."
"Dirty…"
Tears burned in her eyes.
"Everything's about Zeraphims... and blades... but I'm still standing here!"
She bit her lip.
"I'll fight with my strength. With my power—"
She stopped.
"I can't..."
Then—a woman's voice echoed in her head.
"Don't be scared of your power, my dear. Be proud."
Selene shook her head. "Not now, Mom..."
A second voice, cold and calm—a man:
"Are you afraid your friends will distance themselves... if they knew?"
Selene whispered, "That's not it..."
"But how will you know... unless you show them?"
The scene warped into fire. Flames rose all around her—her vision burning.
Back to reality—Dren's sword was mid-swing, headed straight for her. She blocked, but the flames burned her again. Smoke hissed from her arms.
"If you won't use it," Dren said, "then I'll end it right now."
Selene, coughing, looked up. "You fool... do you think I'd still be struggling if I could?"
Dren's eyes widened. "You're saying... you can't?"
Selene smiled bitterly. "Finally. You get it."
He laughed mockingly. "Then what are you even doing here? The Sage Academy must be desperate."
His voice echoed with the laughter of the Velundria spectators.
"What a loser!"
Arthur clenched his fists. "Lyra... you need to talk to her."
Lyra stood and shouted:
"Selene! Don't listen to them! I know you're hiding something! Why can't you show it? What are you scared of?!"
Tears welled in Lyra's eyes.
"What about our promise? To win this... together. Are you throwing that away? Aren't we friends?!"
Selene looked up, stunned.
"Friends...?"
She remembered their training—laughing, talking, fighting together.
She cried.
"That's right... We are friends."
She stood, weakly, pain in her limbs—but strength in her eyes.
Dren scoffed. "What can you do now? You have no blade. You shouldn't have come here!"
Selene chuckled. "Are you done burning me now? Gonna bore me with speeches too?"
Dren's face twisted. "Don't get cocky just because of a speech! You still can't use your Zeraphim!"
"I don't need it."
She breathed out.
"Sorry it took me so long, Lyra…"
Suddenly—the air changed.
Murderous intent flooded the arena.
Dren froze mid-step.
"W-wait… y-you can't kill here, remember?! That's disqualification!"
Up in the stands—
Leo's eyes widened. "I didn't know she had that kind of bloodlust…"
Selene's blade clattered to the ground.
Everyone stared.
Then—she raised her palm. Mana compressed. Light spilled out.
A glowing dagger formed in her hand.
Arthur and the others jumped up.
"She did it!" Felix shouted.
"She's awakened her Shinsei!" Ronan grinned.
But Nathaniel… was still.
"…No," he whispered. "That's not a Shinsei… She's an—assassin."
---
[The assassin awakens]
Selene stepped forward. Her aura was sharp, cold, and full of death.
Dren backed away, fear in his eyes.
"I-I thought you said you couldn't use it!"
Selene walked slowly, head low, aura suffocating.
"B-Back away!" Dren yelled, pointing his sword.
She smiled—and in a flash, vanished.
A heartbeat later, Dren was on the ground—Selene straddling him, dagger at his neck, her leg twisted around his.
She whispered in his ear:
"Want to give up… or should I?"
She cut his cheek.
He screamed.
Another cut.
"F-Fine! I give up!"
She let him go. He lay still—frozen in fear.
"The winner… Selene!" the referee announced.
She walked off. The dagger vanished into mana.
---
[Aftermath – Selene rejoins the others]
Lyra ran up and hugged her.
"You did great!"
Callista began healing her, and Selene sat down quietly.
"Well? Aren't you gonna ask… about my powers?"
Arthur smiled. "There's no need. You'll tell us when you're ready. That's what friends do."
Everyone smiled, and Selene teared up.
"I was so foolish… to think they'd be afraid."
"I've finally freed myself… from myself."
---
[The Final Match Approaches]
The referee's voice boomed across the arena:
"For the match we've all been waiting for! Arthur vs. Kaelith Drosven!"
Arthur stood.
He smiled. "Finally... our turn."
Hyorinmaru stirred.
"You're still worried about him?" Arthur asked.
Hyorinmaru's voice echoed in his mind.
"We still don't know what he's planning. Be careful."
Arthur looked across the stadium—to the Velundria Head Captain.
The man was smiling.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"Whatever he's planning… we're about to find out."