Chapter 176: Sefira’s Big Shot (1)
The two strongest contenders for the title of the Sword of the South now stood face to face: Rajis Garcia, the Sword Dragon and a swordsmanship prodigy from Garcia, and Norman, a knight from the unremarkable Shadabon family. If the match were judged by social standing alone, the outcome was certain. Yet, in this tournament, Norman's divine power rivaled—or even surpassed—that of the famed prodigy.
“Norman’s swordsmanship seems to change every time.”
“And he doesn’t hold back on big moves either.”
Even ordinary spectators with no understanding of martial arts could tell something was strange about Norman. He didn’t stick to one style but switched between several. And if even ordinary people could notice this, the knights’ suspicions went far deeper.
“It’s not impossible to learn foreign sword styles if you’re determined, but his mastery is way too refined.”
“Unless I’m mistaken, wasn’t that Strike-Breaking Wave, the Blackwood family's secret technique? It’s not perfect, but I’m sure it was that...”
“Shadabon is a family that doesn’t leave the southern region... How is he using a technique similar to the Browning family's Divine Flame Sword, a sword technique from the north?”
Many knights began to question Norman’s true identity. Sword techniques unique to noble families were tightly guarded and rarely allowed to be shared. The fact that Norman was using multiple family techniques should have raised red flags long ago.
The reason no one was raising an official objection was that sword techniques—especially from distant regions—could sometimes be similar. It was hard to prove whether Norman’s skills were from those noble families or were his own. Besides, Eslow was staying silent, so who among them could step forward? They could start scrutinizing the origins of his techniques once the tournament ended, so they didn’t think they had to rush.
Norman, too, was aware that using various sword styles would draw suspicion.
But it doesn’t matter. I’ll discard Norman after this tournament anyway.
He had already decided that he would ambush Keter once the tournament ended, absorb him, and live under his name. As such, Norman’s future was irrelevant to him.