-The Story So Far-

Olberic set out on a journey with new companions. His quest to find what he had lost: the reason to wield his blade.

To find this answer, he would find his former comrade, Erhardt, the man who betrayed their liege and king.

According to the brigand leader, Gaston, there is a man in Victor's Hollow who knew Erhardt.

Mayhap he could tell Olberic where Erhardt has gone. Gustav is the man's name. Some call him the Black Knight. Will Olberic find him, in this town of warriors?

Upon their arrival in Victor's Hollow, the group overheard some chatter in the town between a citizen and a traveler.

"Ye picked a right time to come here, my friend. Pretty soon we will have a competition where eight warriors will fight for honor. The preliminaries are all done with and out of the 8, there be four ye should keep yer eye on. The reigning champion Archibold, the Crusher we call em and four times in a row 'e's claimed the prize. Joshua 'ails from the north and they say his blades as cold as his heart. Then there's Wallace Wildsword! The man who reached the final battle last year only to fall to Archibold. And there's one more ye should know...they call him Gustav, the Black Knight." the man said.

"Did he just say Gustav?" Kirito asked.

"Ey. A newcomer he may be but he's proven himself to be one of the best here. He might be the one to finally topple the Crusher. None of ye will be wanting to be missing this tourney." the man said as the citizens were in a frenzy.

"Hmm...if I am to speak with this Gustav...I must find a way to enter this tournament." Olberic said.

"Problem is the preliminaries are over. It's too late to squeeze right in." Jexi said.

"So you all want to squeeze into the tournament, eh?" a voice said as the group looked back as a woman with silver hair dressed in red with a larger guy behind her as he charged at them only to be countered by Olberic. "I knew you had skill, my eyes are never wrong. Sorry about that sudden attack...I wanted to use Ned to get a better measure of you. He's be fighting if not for his wounds. Cecily, at your service. I'm what you call a promoter of sorts."

"And what is it you promote?" Olberic asked.

"Arena battles mostly. And those who fight in them. But she's done neither yet. Says she's still looking for her big break." Ned said.

"And you think Olberic and we are your big break?" Izuku asked.

"Stay your tongue, kid. I do the talking here." Cecily said. "You wanna find the man, Gustav, yes?"

"You were there when we overheard the barker." Ladybug said.

"And I'll tell all of you something he didn't. Tournament competitors rarely make small talk with the hoi polloi. You all want to fight even though the preliminaries are over. However, I know a way around that." Cecily said. "Simply make sure you prove you are a better fighter than any of the remaining champions and make sure everyone sees it."

"And how do we do that?" Sora asked.

"Simple. Public dueling is normally illegal...but during tournaments, officials turn a blind eye to it." Cecily said.

"Okay, doesn't sound so bad." Jexi said. "But who do we challenge?"

"Oh, what about that guy?" Luffy asked pointing to a guy dressed as a pirate.

"That's Victorino, the Buccaneer's Bane. A man of the sea and a past champion. He'd be perfect. But you have to fight him somewhere all can see." Cecily said.

"Hmm...outside the arena seems like the best bet since its the most crowded." Sunset said.

"Good eye Luffy. Helps you're a pirate." Denki said.

"Huh? It wasn't that, I just thought he seemed like a fighter cause...well, he had a sword." Luffy said.

"Either way...just need to get him to fight us." Eijiro said.

"I got this." Natsu said. "Hey! Buccaneer!"

"Oi? You talking to me?" Victorino asked.

"I think your swordsmanship sucks!" Natsu said.

"Oh, now those be fightin words." Victorino said drawing his sword.

"Take this! Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu said punching him and sending him flying far.

"Incredible." Olberic said.

"Ey...ye...you lot got some strength to ya." Victorino said slumping back. "I concede. My tourney spot is yours."

"Well...that wasn't as hard as we thought." Jexi said.

It wasn't long before eight fighters including Olberic stood within the ring. "The shields are polished and the blades are whetted! Our current champion of the ring for 4 years...Archibold the Crusher! This man's blade is biting like the ice in his eyes...Joshua Frostblade! Next is a man who has studied the art of war, perhaps taking note of the god Winneheld...misjudge his peasants weapons at your peril...Conrad the Impaler! Only second to only one man, maybe this will be his year, Wallace Wildsword! Of fame and renown, this fighter cares little but grown men quake at his name...Bernhard the Beasthunter! A man clad in armor with no idea of who he is inside...Grieg the Unbreakable! Next, is a mystery knight who has swatter away all who stood in his way...Gustav the Black Knight. Finally...a full on team assembled to battle alongside this famous figure. Olberic Eisenberg, the Unbending Blade!" the announcer said as the crowd roared in a frenzy.

Olberic and the other fighters returned to their waiting lobbies as Gustav approached. "So you are Olberic." he said.

"Yes and if you…" Olberic began.

"You are looking for Erhardt, aren't you? He did speak of you but what you're seeking has a cost. If you reach the final and defeat me...I'll tell ye what I know about him." Gustav said walking off.

"Big task. But I think we can do it." Eijiro said.

"Our first match is with Joshua Frostblade." Jexi said. "We need to send a person out there to face him."

"Well, if he's skilled in swordplay and ice skills, we should focus on fire. Obviously, i should go out there." Natsu said.

"No way, you got us in here, let someone else have a turn!" Gray said.

"Will you two get a grip?! Look, Jexi's the leader, so let's let him pick who to go out there." Lucy said.

"Yes...and I already know who." Jexi said.

"Now...the first round battles have begun!" the announcer said. "In one corner...we have Joshua Frostblade...and in the other...well...this is peculiar but...okay. In the other...we have fighting for Olberic Eisenberg...a knight of the fairies...Erza Scarlet!" the announcer said as Erza entered the ring.

"Hmm, so my opponent is a maiden knight? Unusual, but very fitting, as I am fighting for my dearest Angela. But even though you are a woman, I will not hold back." Joshua said.

"So you fight for love. In that case, I will not disappoint. Requip!" Erza said donning an orange and yellow armor and wielding two swords. "Morning Star Armor!"

"Let the battle begin!" the announcer said as Joshua and Erza clashed blades. An epic battle between light and ice began as they raced about the battle field before Erza jumped into the air.

"This battle has already been won. Photon Slicer!" she said joining her swords together as they unleashed a powerful light blast on Joshua, defeating him.

"My...she is incredibly strong." Olberic said.

"Wow...Erza really is incredible." Asta said.

"Well we are talking about a woman who took down a meteor and a dragon." Rainbow said.

"And the winner...Erza Scarlet for Olberic Eisenberg!" the official announced as the people cheered.

"That was amazing, Erza!" Starlight said.

"Thank you, but it's not over yet. It seems our next opponent will be Archibold the Crusher in the semifinals." Erza said.

"A 4 time arena champion, and a living tank. How can we compete with a guy like that?" Leafa said.

"I could probably take him." Asta said. "I've faced big guys before, y'know."

"Actually I already have someone in mind for him." Jexi said.

After the first round wrapped up, the second round soon started up as the crowd cheered.

"In this corner...the four time champion...Archibold the Crusher!" the announcer said as Archibold came out with his axe. "And in the other...a sturdy fighter with a solid exterior...Red Riot!" the announcer said as Eijiro stepped out.

"Yeah!" Eijiro said with his mask on.

"So, they call you Red Riot, eh?" Archibold asked. "Time I see how hard you are. But it wont matter, hard as you may be, I'll still break ya, and do what me father could not."

"I'm gonna be the one who breaks you." Eijiro said.

"Eijiro...hard to believe how far he's come since our Junior high days." Mina said.

"Well boy...let's see you break." Archibold said.

"And go!" the official said as Archibold charged with his axe as Eijiro quickly hardened as the axe hit.

"Oh...so you got some weird magic in ya? We'll I'll keep going!" Archibold said repeatedly hitting Eijiro with his axe.

"I can't hold on against this guy if he keeps going. I need to...push past my limits." Eijiro said. "I gotta...I gotta win!" Eijiro thought as his body stiffened more and jagged and he reeled back a punch. "Back...off!" he said punching Archibold into the wall of the arena as he panted before revolting.

"Archibold has been knocked unconscious. Winner is Red Riot!" the official said.

"Well...that secures our space. We'll be facing Gustav in the final round." Jexi said.

"I cannot thank you enough, my friends." Olberic said. "Now, I go to face Gustav and see about finding Erhardt."

"Don't mention it. You go show Gustav whos boss." Rainbow said.

"And now, it's time for the final match!" the official called. "On my left, the Knight coated in black, and the most powerful man to ever grace this arena, Gustav The Black Knight!"

The crowd cheered.

"And on my right, he is the proud knight of the falling Kingdom of Hornburg…. He is the Unbending Blade….. Olberic Eisenberg!"

"I am here, as you requested. Now, will you tell me what I need to know?" Olberic asked holding his sword steadily.

"Only after you have beaten me." Gustav said.

"Fighters...fight!" the official said as the two clashed blades.

"Do you even know why Erhardt betrayed Hornberg? From what he told, 21 years ago...he came from a peaceful village called Grynd, but it was burned to the ground by bandits. The people that believed King Alfred would save them, but he didn't. You could imagine what sort of impression that left Erhardt." Gustav said as they clashed.

"So it was a bid for revenge." Olberic said.

"He even joined that band of sellswords, the Black Brotherhood, in hopes of taking the king down. He even enlisted himself into the army in order to get close. When he succeeded, he vanished after that." Gustav said.

"To think a band could have masterminded this…Erhardt….raaaahhhh!" Olberic said swinging his sword as he knocked Gustav off his feet as he fell to the ground.

"And Gustav has lost his weapon. Olberic Eisenberg is the winner!" the official said.

"So...where is he?" Olberic asked quietly.

"Last I heard...Wellspring...in the Sunlands." Gustav said.

"So, that's where he's hiding." Olberic said. "I thank you for the knowledge of his whereabouts."

It wasn't long after that the group continued on their way after Victor's Hollow.

"So we're exchanging the forest for a desert...great. Just great." Jade said.

"But it's necessary." Jexi said.

"Indeed. I will finally find him...in Wellspring." Olberic said.

And so, Olberic and company left Victor's Hollow behind them now with knowledge of Erhardt's present and past.

Now Olberic must find Erhardt, and, gods willing...the truth...even if it means crossing blades with an erstwhile friend..

And so to the Sunlands, and the desert oasis of Wellspring.

Olberics journey continues.