F-ranker Sword Saint: My Soulbound Sword is Secretly SSS-tier!-Chapter 268: Legitimate Threat

"Hey, what do you think this F-ranker’s chances are?"

"Not too low, I guess? He one-shotted a B-ranker!"

"Hmph, that’s a one-time trick. Aureus would be aware of that, and once his surprise attack fails, what would he do?"

"Hahaha! Can you make it any more obvious that you bet your money on Aureus making the top 16? Oh, I wonder what your face will look like if this F-ranker upsets your bet."

"Ha! Do you hear yourself? An F-ranker — disarmed of tricks — upsetting an A-ranker? Who are you kidding?"

"Well, that’s true..."

Hundreds of similar conversations took place as two young men stared at each other, waiting for the match to begin.

Aureus had a faint smile on his face, ready to "absorb" the "Sword Skill" of his opponent, then destroy him after.

It was clear that the A-ranker believed he had figured out the opposition.

After all, there is only so much a mere F-ranker can do, and respecting his first move was already a stretch in Aureus’ standards — something the fallen Daru Finnley could be proud of.

The sun’s heat baked the arena as time ticked down.

The referee’s arm was a thriving tree today, taking too long to uproot.

The crowd’s excitement only built up because of it, though, a majority of the eyes locked on the center stage.

Will Omaru deliver, or was his earlier victory a mere fluke?

Everyone was curious.

After all, A-rankers were the gatekeepers to the top 32, and they will continue to exist until the quarterfinals.

A victory for the F-ranker here meant he at least had the capability to make it to the top 8 — just like Elune and her Moonpiercer. Another wrench in the betting ecosystem.

Most believed Daru would fall here, though, and that a good fight would be the best he could bring to the table.

The spectators would already applaud him for that.

Only a handful among those watching knew the truth: it is Aureus who is screwed.

Finally, after what seemed like half an eternity, the referee’s hands jerked upward, a stern snarl of "Begin!" accompanying the movement.

Aureus jumped back almost immediately. He thought he knew what was coming...but he could never.

There Omaru was, his gaze a sharp blade as he stood in place, and his stance inviting standard combat.

The A-ranker was momentarily thrown off. In fact, he felt a bit insulted. The F-ranker wanted to challenge him to a "fair fight"?

’This bastard...’

Aureus’s jaws clenched as he landed. Then, almost immediately, he charged forward, seething deep within.

He suddenly found himself among those who disliked Daru Finnley.

Daru, meanwhile, was also a bit thrown off, confused at the purpose of what his opponent did. However, his focus never slipped.

The winds parted as he turned a deadly blur and mirrored his foe’s aggression.

Aureus’ eyes widened, and he would’ve cursed had there been time to. His opponent was fast!

The A-ranker hurriedly raised his arms, planning to survive first, but Omaru...suddenly disappeared.

The only thing he noticed the next moment was the shadow looming above him.

Unfortunately, even that proved quite elusive. He only had half a second to look before his world spun.

’Huh?’

He was naturally confused — thoughts swirling, yet his body was a stringless marionette. He couldn’t move? Why?

Aureus soon learned why, finding himself standing at a respawn point.

The world was veiled in absolute silence for the moment he got his wits about, then an eruption of furious cheers.

This only disoriented the A-ranker further. Only when he looked at the stage did he realize what happened.

He...lost. He lost so badly. He lost in a single strike against an F-ranker, and Crownspire was pleased with his failure. With his being a stepping stone to someone unworthy.

While Aureus stood petrified, still in utter denial and disbelief, Daru was already descending the stage without too much change in his expression.

To be taken out in a single Tornado Slash...

Honestly speaking, he was a bit disappointed at the opposition.

The crowd, however, was not the least bit disappointed. They were going crazy.

The arena seemed to be shaking in response to their excitement.

The rookie who bet on Aureus ripped his ticket and raged, losing half his Swordcoin reserves while those beside him — his supposed friends — looked at him with schadenfreude.

Two of the S-rankers weren’t amused, either.

Alopecion and Taiya. They were both mighty — real creams of the crop of Noravia’s Southern Bladeborn Academy, but even they dared not claim they could kill an A-ranker so easily.

The white of Omaru seemed nothing more like a meaningless color now, though they were frustrated how that could have come to be.

How the hell is a mere F-ranker doing this?! Why are they being pressured by darned garbage?!

As top-tier silver spoons, beating a gold spoon might be too difficult, but the two of them would settle for nothing less than second place.

Unfortunately, as much as they wanted to still dismiss Daru’s win as a fluke, it was very difficult.

An A-ranker was elite Sword Prince/Sword Princess level. It was difficult to cheese one’s way against someone like that.

Besides, they watched the match, and it was definitely not a victory borne of a lucky break.

This Omaru...he’s legit.

At least at this novice stage, the F-ranker was a true threat.

The scouts, meanwhile, were torn — ripped apart, even. Their instincts told them the F-ranker was an asset, but their superiors would slap them silly if they even dared submit a proposal for a Bladeborn of such a rank.

It was the journalists who were on cloud nine. Their next few weeks are secured!

Only when the commotion settled a few minutes later did people remember to look at someone. The Sky Prince.

Skylar...had the same playful smile on his face, clearly not threatened.

And why would he be? He accomplished the same feat, after all, and slightly faster. Perhaps the second heir of the Ashwind family saw something most of them didn’t...maybe he was certain of his victory.

Only time will tell, however, and for now, they could only settle for fiery discussions as the participants were given a ten-minute break.