Chapter 538

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on March 2, 2025

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[Overseas Magic Gallery]

[Hey, check out the semi-final match-ups for the International Exchange Tournament.jpg]

[Match 1: August 12, 01:00 | Stade de France] – Giselle Fisher vs Unnamed

[Match 2: August 13, 01:00 | Stade de Pompidou] – Love Isabel Kim vs Kamikita Emika

[Final: August 17, 05:00 | Stade de France]

One South American team and three Asian teams, is this for real?

This year’s international exchange tournament lineup is allegedly the toughest ever, but what does that even mean? lol

[Comments]

-If we judge solely by the level of competition, it’s definitely the toughest ever.

-I get so mad thinking that this lineup will be undervalued when people look back at it later.

-What about the fact that the US had three participants?

-Ugh, how idle must someone be to sit around watching a women’s magic tournament? The standards of Harmaga have dropped significantly.

-?

-What’s this all about? lol

-Did you know? All semi-finalists in the 2053 International Exchange Tournament are women.

-Geez!

-Why do they always schedule these matches at the crack of dawn?

-Though it’s the wee hours in France, the sun is blazing.

-It’s the polar day, lol.

[Reports of Giselle Fisher’s Injury]

Giselle Fisher didn’t participate in any training between the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Foreign media speculates she was severely injured during her 55-minute battle with Nathan Chen.

However, the Argentinian team only confirms she’ll compete without issue.

Does this mean we can expect a free ticket to the finals?

[Comments]

-France, Italy, USA… they’ve all been taken down, and they’ve surrendered to Name. lol.

-It’s pure gold.

-Actually, isn’t Giselle Fisher really strong at this point?

-Yes, she is genuinely strong. Even with luck, it would be impossible to defeat the three mentioned above.

-Don’t underestimate her. She seemed easy to handle, but everyone underestimated her and couldn’t adapt.

[Argentina National Team Releases Giselle Fisher’s Training Room Footage (Viewer Discretion Advised)]

(The following content may include themes related to suicide or self-harm. Please scroll to confirm.)

[That’s the end of the training.]

[Haa haa… I’m sorry for making such a mess of the room… Excuse me? Ah, it’s embarrassing, but I don’t know what to say… Um, the quarterfinals are just around the corner now. It feels like a dream to have come this far, and I hope this dream continues. Also, um…]

[How about sharing your goals for the next match?]

[Um… For my precious friend Hime, who’s watching from above, I hope to have a match I won’t regret. Yes, since the slums led me to this path, it feels like a debt I can never repay. The only way to make up for it is to win this tournament. Thank you all for supporting me, I’ll do my best!]

Look at the blood everywhere… wow.

This participant was the craziest one this year.

[Comments]

-Ugh, I can’t watch this, too brutal.

-Is it even possible for someone to lose so much blood?

-Training while stepping on broken glass can push someone to this state.

-Actual blood is less than 5%, but looks like they lost between 100~300cc.

-People don’t take mid-match breaks for nothing.

-Not in their right mind.

-Better to watch out for the ones who seem calm than those who seem aggressive.

-Theses participants fight with their lives on the line to get selected for the national team.

-You need that level of madness to fight a 55-minute match.

-Is she injured? The atmosphere suggests she’s even stronger now…

***

I boarded the national team bus with Love Kim, heading to the stadium.

Beep beep!

At a traffic jam on the road, car horns blared.

“Look, isn’t that flag so pretty, Love? It’s just like the Taegukgi.”

Outside the stadium, red and blue waves mingled.

Black surged in from all sides, forming a circular pattern.

“Over there! Hey, Unnamed!”

There was a fight between Korean and Argentinian fans.

Black-clad police wielding batons separated them.

After the brief chaos on the road ended, we entered the stadium smoothly.

“Name, have a great match, and let’s meet in the finals!”

Then, I went to the locker room and changed into my body suit.

Suddenly, footsteps reached my ears.

The door burst open and Saetbyeol rushed in.

“Did you see this, Sister Name? Giselle Fisher’s SNS.”

“Huh?”

Saetbyeol played a video and showed it to me.

“This girl seems completely insane! She said she killed someone and now fights for her friend!”

“Huh? Didn’t you ask if she killed someone earlier? Then afterwards, she passed out.”

“Come to think of it, I did make a slip of the tongue.”

“Ah?”

“Looking closely, doesn’t she seem innocent and naive? Still has baby fat… doesn’t seem like someone who would kill her friend.”

“If that’s the case, what was your reaction then? I thought you were onto something.”

“I don’t know.”

I’m not a mind reader.

“Anyway, the important thing is that Giselle Fisher has arrived at the stadium today to fight me.”

“A psycho who’d run away from even this would be crazy…”

Saetbyeol clicked her tongue.

Coaches with dark circles all the way down to their jaws arrived.

“Only authorized personnel beyond here, please exit quickly.”

“You must win! Don’t get injured!”

With much worry in her heart, Saetbyeol was sent out of the locker room.

Then, we quickly held a strategy meeting with the coaches.

“What is this?”

“It’s a heat map of Fischer’s external manifestation. Each of her pseudo-limbs varies slightly in range and motion.”

“External manifestation? Ah, you mean the tentacles that occasionally appear? Let’s use ‘tentacles’ only to avoid confusion.”

“But isn’t it a bit…”

“Why? It’s cool!”

“Alright.”

The coaching staff reluctantly agreed with a troubled expression.

I went through the materials, embedding any useful information in my mind.

During the period, many participants struggled against Giselle Fisher because of her unique body transformation technique.

It’s not a real bodily transformation but an external manifestation that wraps around her body, acting like an additional limb.

Someone with two arms cannot truly understand the perspective someone with three has.

But Giselle Fisher can process this in her mind.

‘Thinking about it now, I could control the demon king’s wings freely if I only used the horns.’

So it’s not surprising that Giselle can control up to ten tentacles at once.

“However, observing Giselle Fisher’s finishing moves, she seems to rely more on close combat than using tentacles. Very surprising.”

“I’ve been aware of this.”

“Tsk… Regardless, as I emphasized earlier, focus less on the aura. You’re dealing with someone skilled at breaking down motions, so even a moment’s carelessness could cost you. Great! Let’s go! Fighting!”

Encouraged by the staff, I made my way through the long corridor.

Stopping once to ride the elevator, I exchanged friendly greetings with the stadium volunteers.

As I stepped further into the world beyond, the playful smirk on my lips faded, leaving behind only determination.

Boom Boom Boom.

My heartbeat synchronized with the vibrations of the stadium.

Closing my eyelids momentarily to absorb the noise around me:

Some were shouting for Korea’s victory.

Some roared for Argentina’s triumph.

Some amplified the excitement of the stadium.

And others called out my name.

This situation… where have I seen it before?

Ah, Demon King Castle?

“Korean participant, Unnamed, it’s time to enter. Best of luck in the semi-finals!”

Opening my eyes, reality pulled me back into focus.

I smiled at the stadium staff and said,

“I’ll take care of this quickly.”

***

[Quarterfinal Match 125]

[Stade de France | Audience: 132,500]

[Giselle Fisher (Argentina)] [100% / 100%]

[Unnamed (Korea)] [100% / 100%]

The nation of Korea, acclaimed as a magical powerhouse, has only claimed the International Exchange Championship title once in 27 years.

Meanwhile, Argentina shattered all records of the South American continent while the nation itself was in turmoil.

As their paths crossed on this precarious tightrope, the spectators cheered even more fervently.

[All participants have arrived. Given the delay, the sphere of correction has swiftly adjusted. Particle walls fully buffered, magical particle walls too… All are ready! The winner here will advance to the finals of the championship!]

[Even I’m getting goosebumps. Her opponent, the monstrous beast of Argentina, Giselle Fisher, who has wiped out all championship favorites. Let’s all passionately cheer and burn this moment together so that Unnamed isn’t just a footnote in this story of surprises.]

[The match has begun!]

Unlike Cecilia’s match, which involved casting spells in seconds,

Unnamed’s and Giselle’s opening strategy focused on systematically securing territory, albeit in a leisurely manner.

[Summon: Horns of the Demon King]

Unnamed, conscious of the stamina battle, did not use the Black Aurora.

Instead, a golden bolt of lightning burst out from the horns after a circulation of energy.

[Marked Black Sword – Sciabo Nero]

The overflowing aura dissipated, absorbed entirely by the cold metal.

Just as the mana chaotically surged into the aura heart,

[Summon: Ignis Lupino]

Giselle conjured the mana into her hands and aimed a magical formation at Unnamed.

A new magic Unnamed hadn’t seen before, making her knit her brows.

A circuit magic in the form of a first-circle incantation.

Without knowing its nature, she had to respond in the most classical way.

When Unnamed slashed with Sciabo Nero, the flames bifurcated and spread in concentric circles.

Wooosh!

The surrounding area transformed into a sea of flames.

A completely different battle style from Giselle Fisher.

Unnamed immediately drew her aura.

[Summon: Ventus Repulsio]

The flames, wavered like reeds, gradually turned toward Giselle.

Zooomm!

Through the flames, black thorns charged.

Boom!

The hit crumbled the ground.

At the same time, a barrier fell from Unnamed’s head.

Unnamed, who was looking the other way, widened her eyes.

Repelling her with the fully formed right wing that approached instantly, Giselle was sent flying.

Boom!

Giselle tumbled a couple of times on the ground far away.

As the audience’s cheers poured down, Unnamed’s expression grew sterner.

She tenderly caressed her cheek and began to speak.

“Your skills are fascinating…”

What she thought was a perfectly evaded Giselle’s tentacles were already aiming at the opposite face.

“I should figure out what this is.”

“Phew.”

Soon after, Unnamed employed quad casting.

[Summon: Foucault Current]

[Summon: Magnetization]

[Summon: Arc Discharge]

An insulation-breaking shockwave reaching 15,000 degrees Celsius released thermal electrons, incinerating all of Giselle’s tentacles in its path, propelling the attack straight at her.

Kuhhh!

[Summon: Ebera’s Shield]

Giselle crouched low, raising her shield.

[Imperial Palace Sword Technique 14 – Parting the Earth]

Unnamed slashed her sword, shattering the magical circle but Giselle’s figure disappeared.

Black tentacles from behind strangled Unnamed’s neck.

[Summon: Black Aurora]

Unnamed wrapped her body in plasma and sliced the endlessly regenerating tentacles.

[Summon: Residual Stress Adjustment]

Though she successfully destroyed all other tentacles, Giselle quickly severed the aura flow and counterattacked.

“What about this?”

“…”