I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Chapter 84: Tournament Final

Judite remained standing before her family, her face flushed with excitement and her brown eyes shining intensely.

Her chest still rose and fell with the rapid breathing from the fight, and tiny droplets of sweat ran down her forehead.

The blue ribbons in her hair were slightly out of place, and a rebellious strand had fallen over her ear.

"I won!" She repeated once again, unable to contain her joy.

Lukas smiled. Seeing her so happy warmed something inside him that he still did not fully understand, perhaps something new that this world had given him. A younger brother cheering for his older sister.

Aurora gently stroked her daughter’s hair, undoing the tangles the fight had caused.

"You were amazing."

Clavor nodded, his arms still crossed over his chest, but there was a gleam of pride in his brown eyes.

Judite’s smile grew even wider.

"The tournament will continue immediately!" Announced the herald.

The following battles proceeded one after another.

Judite’s second match was against Lady Lysa Arden.

The young noble girl could barely keep her sword steady in her hands. Her arms were visibly trembling, and her eyes were wide with fear.

The fight lasted less than a minute.

Judite disarmed her opponent with a simple lateral strike, fast, clean, without unnecessary violence. The wooden sword flew from Lysa’s hand and landed on the floor with a dry sound.

Lysa remained motionless for a few seconds, her eyes fixed on the ground, before lowering her head.

"I’m sorry..."

Judite blinked. Then she stepped closer.

"You were brave."

Lysa raised her eyes, surprised.

"I was?"

"Yes."

A small smile appeared on the girl’s face. Her cheeks were still red, but now for a different reason.

The hall applauded discreetly. Aurora watched in silence. Clavor commented in a low voice, only loud enough for the family to hear.

"The way someone treats the defeated says a great deal about their character."

Judite’s third match was against Rowan Esten.

A seven-year-old boy who wielded a small shield alongside a short sword.

He was stronger. More experienced. Taller.

Rowan’s arms were thick, his legs sturdy, and he moved with the confidence of someone who had already won other battles.

Judite received several blows before she managed to find an opening.

The sound of wood striking wood echoed throughout the hall.

At one point, she fell to one knee.

Lukas tightened his grip on the arms of his chair. Aurora clasped her hands in her lap, her knuckles white.

But Judite stood up. Took a deep breath. Controlled the rhythm. Waited.

When Rowan tried to pressure her again, believing victory was already guaranteed, she sidestepped with a quick, unexpected movement and struck the arm holding the shield.

The weapon fell. Rowan’s eyes widened. Shortly afterward, his sword also fell.

"Victory to Lady Judite Dmond!"

The applause grew louder. Comments began spreading through the hall like fire through dry grass.

"The Dmond girl has come far."

"She has good perception."

"The training of House Dmond remains impressive."

Judite returned, panting. The light blue dress already bore small traces of dust. Several strands of hair had escaped from her braids. But she was smiling.

Her next match would be the semifinal.

Lady Cecilia Verdan waited on the opposite side of the arena. The same calm girl who had defeated Theo Falk at the beginning of the tournament. The same serene expression, the same eyes far too serious for a six-year-old child.

The two took their positions. Sword against sword. The fight was evenly matched.

Precise strikes. Quick blocks. Neither could gain a decisive advantage.

Lukas followed every movement, his violet eyes fixed on the arena.

Count Hark remained attentive, his gray eyes narrowed.

Even Lady Elara seemed to hold her breath, her small hands clenched in her lap.

In the end...

Judite took a risk.

She accepted a light strike to her shoulder to create an opening. Cecilia’s wooden sword touched her flesh, a scratch, but at the same moment, Judite’s sword touched Cecilia’s chest.

First. Silence. Then...

"Victory to Lady Judite Dmond!"

The hall erupted into applause.

Judite remained motionless for a few seconds. She blinked. Looked around at the guests’ faces, the judges, the Count.

Then she ran back to her family.

"I’m in the finals!"

Lukas smiled.

"You are."

The girl hesitated. For the first time that night, she seemed genuinely nervous.

"Do you think I can win?"

Lukas remained silent for a few seconds. Then he answered.

"I think you’ve already achieved much more than you imagined. Just do your best."

Judite looked at him for a few moments. Then she nodded.

"Okay."

The herald raised the staff. The carved wood struck the polished floor.

"The tournament finals!"

The music ceased once again. The hall fell silent.

The guests moved closer to the golden ropes. Conversations died on their lips. Even the servants stopped circulating, the trays forgotten in their hands.

"Lady Judite Dmond will face Lady Mira Volkar!"

Mira entered the arena with the same calm expression as before.

The small spear remained steady in her hands, the shaft of pale wood and the rounded tip. Her dark hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her green eyes shone beneath the chandeliers’ light.

Judite approached from the opposite side.

The wooden sword was held firmly in her hands. The blue ribbons swayed behind her. Her face was serious, more serious than Lukas had ever seen it.

The two girls bowed respectfully.

Lady Elara was practically bouncing in her seat, her brown eyes wide with anticipation. Count Hark observed in silence. Clavor crossed his arms. Aurora took a deep breath.

Lukas felt his heart race.

"Begin!"

Judite moved first.

The wooden sword sliced through the air in a swift strike. Mira moved. The spear intercepted its path.

Judite tried again. Another block.

Mira moved with frightening precision.

No movement was wasted. No step seemed unnecessary. Every time the spear moved, it did so with purpose, to attack, defend, retreat, or advance.

Lukas narrowed his eyes.

’She is different. Better trained. More experienced.’

Judite managed to close the distance several times. The wooden weapons clashed.

The spear retreated. Advanced again. The battle continued.

Longer than any other that night.

Judite’s face began to turn red. Her breathing grew heavy. Drops of sweat ran down her forehead. Even so, she kept advancing.

Because giving up simply was not part of who she was.

Mira waited. She waited for the right moment.

When Judite tried to force an opening, believing her opponent was too exhausted to respond...

The spear spun. Trapped the sword. A simple movement. Precise.

Judite’s weapon slipped from her hands, spinning through the air before crashing onto the arena floor with a thud.

Absolute silence.

The rounded tip of the spear pointed at her chest.

Mira was breathing heavily. Her face was also red, and strands of hair had escaped from her ponytail. But she remained steady.

"I won."

Judite lowered her head. Her shoulders trembled slightly.

Lukas felt a tightness in his chest.

’She lost. After everything... she lost.’

Then...

Judite raised her head. Looked directly at Mira. And bowed slightly.

"Congratulations."

Mira blinked. Surprised. Then she returned the bow.

"You were very strong."