“Best of five. No Power Armor allowed. The match ends when one side is completely unable to fight or admits defeat. Do you agree?”
“Agreed.”
With both sides in agreement, they returned to their respective camps. The duel would take place in 30 minutes on the plain where the negotiations had been held earlier.
Creak, thud.
Once the castle gate closed and they reached the command post near the gate, the expressions of those surrounding Raul changed.
“Certainly, will you let us, the Golden Bear Knights, take the lead?”
“This time, please grant the Silver Bear Knights the opportunity! We wish to restore our honor tarnished during this incident.”
“No disrespect intended, but how about giving the Chain Knights a chance? For the morale of the future knights who will be the pillars of the Count’s family….”
“Surely, you’re not planning to entrust such a critical duel to those inexperienced youngsters? Such a position requires seasoned veterans like us!”
Each group clamored to take the lead.
Considering how much honor means to knights, it was natural for them to want to shine in such an important duel.
「Master, what about giving me the lead? I, Jake, am confident I can destroy those arrogant traitors!」
Jake tried to pitch himself to the slightly pondering Raul. However, it wasn’t feasible. Strictly speaking, the First Knights were Raul’s private knights.
Entrusting such a crucial duel, which could determine the future of the Count’s house, to a private knight order rather than the Count’s direct knights was a burden, even for Raul.
‘Doing so would undoubtedly anger the Golden Bear Knights, the direct knight order, and the blood relatives.’
The reason for re-concealing more than half of the First Knights after suppressing the internal rebellion was due to such political issues.
Since Raul had already declared his independence, involving his private forces too deeply in the affairs of the Count’s house could incite backlash from other blood relatives.
Besides, there were plenty of capable knights who could represent in the duel without needing to call on the First Knights.
“The vanguard for this duel will be…”
***
Meanwhile, in Viscount Jaden’s camp.
Inside the command tent were Viscount Jaden, the lords who had joined him, and several knights, including the knight commander shrouded in a cloak.
“Though things got a bit tangled, they turned out well. Who would have thought they’d so readily accept the knight duel? Is it because of youthful zeal?”
Baron Tate spoke with a somewhat relieved expression.
“The main family always thinks they’re the best. Catching inferior monsters on the fringes of the continent has them oblivious to the wider world.”
“That’s right. Just look at that Raul. Born lucky with a good family, he has no idea how dangerous the world is, yet dares to defy an elder like that! What nerve!”
The lords criticized Raul and the main family, watching Viscount Jaden’s reaction. Many joined Jaden due to their dissatisfaction with the main family, making them eager to voice their grievances.
“But will we definitely win this duel?”
At that question, the tent fell silent.
“Why would you question something so obvious?”
“The knights remaining in Conford Castle are just leftovers, right? And even if the central troops and knight order were there, could they beat our ‘Black Bear Knights’ led by Viscount Jaden?”
“Of course not! How could knights stuck in some backwater beat our knights who’ve trained for 15 years around the world?”
Though they spoke confidently, the lords weren’t truly certain. They hadn’t seen the knights in action and were in no position to gauge their abilities just by appearances.
However, given their discipline, morale, and equipment, they certainly didn’t seem to be pushovers.
‘We have to win, right?’
‘We must win this.’
‘Surely, he proposed this duel because he’s certain of victory.’
They clung to these beliefs.
“Haha. Don’t worry so much. We will definitely win this duel. Isn’t that right?”
At Viscount Jaden’s words, the knight commander stepped forward.
“Certainly. We have no reason to lose to conservative fools clinging to the same swordsmanship out of pride. We know their techniques well.”
The knight commander, as imposing as Viscount Jaden, was Luciano. He had been Jaden’s closest knight since 16 years ago, even before Jaden left the Count’s territory.
At the young age of 35, he had been an exceptional talent, appointed as a top-level knight in the Golden Bear Knights, commanding four subordinates. Now, over 50 years old, he maintained his physique so well that there were barely any wrinkles on his skin.
“Furthermore, we know them well, but they know nothing about us. It doesn’t matter who they choose to represent them.”
They already held detailed reports on all the knights of the Count’s order. Knowing who remained in the castle and their capabilities, the duel felt almost predetermined.
“By now, they’re probably wracking their brains over who to send. But it doesn’t matter who they choose, haha.”
The lords regained their composure, buoyed by Luciano’s confidence. Just then, one of the cloaked knights approached Viscount Jaden.
“I would like to take my turn this time.”
“Oh, if you step up, I would be grateful. But are you sure? Haven’t you wanted to stay hidden?”
“At this point, what’s the difference? Following you around is getting tiresome. I just want to finish this quickly. Besides, I’d like to experience the famed great swordsmanship of the Ruben Kingdom.”
For a moment, Viscount Jaden’s eyebrow twitched.
The fact that he pretended to be interested in the main family’s great swordsmanship, despite having sparred extensively with his subordinates, irked Viscount Jaden.
‘Hmph, arrogant brat. He’ll learn soon enough that the main family’s swordsmanship is beneath me now.’
Yet, he masked his irritation with a forced smile and patted the knight’s shoulder.
“I entrust this to you, sir Graham.”
“Well, I’ll take care of it and return shortly.”
With that, Viscount Jaden’s camp completed their preparations for the duel, and the decisive battle was imminent.
***
“Whoaa!”
“Kill him!”
The first match was neck and neck.
On the plain, the two knights clashed, swinging their massive two-handed greatswords like toys, creating powerful shockwaves.
“What’s the matter, Luciano? You don’t seem to have improved much since last time. Hehehe.”
Bang!
“Ridiculous. Is the Count’s house so devoid of talent that they send a dying old man to represent them? Ha!”
Boom!
The saw-toothed mana blade from Black Bear Knight Commander Luciano’s greatsword seemed to slice his opponent in half.
However, it only cut through an afterimage.
Sir Zion, representing the Count Ashton’s family, agilely dodged Luciano’s strikes like a nimble squirrel despite his fifty-eight years of age.
“Hehehe, I’ve always told you that you wouldn’t achieve greatness with that explosive temper. You haven’t changed, have you, Lucy?”
“Shut up, old man! I’ve been holding back out of respect for old times, but you don’t know your place. Now I’ll crush that vaunted Count’s swordsmanship of yours!”
In an instant, Luciano’s swordsmanship changed.
Before, it was just a slight variation of the Count Ashton’s ‘Bear Crush’ style. Now, he employed a completely different technique.
Swish. Clang!
“Ugh.”
Caught off guard, sir Zion barely parried the sharp thrusts with his own blade, but the force pushed him back, causing him to slide across the ground.
Thrust, thrust, thrust!
Luciano’s rapid thrusts, using the greatsword like a giant drill, flew towards Zion.
‘This technique…?’
Even while being pushed back, sir Zion, keeping his eyes on the blade, seemed to realize something. He suddenly planted his greatsword into the ground and spun his body, flowing like a dance to counter the drill-like mana blades.
Rumble, scratch.
The ground was torn up as if clawed by a whirlwind, and scratches appeared on Zion’s armor, but that was the extent of the damage.
The two knights paused momentarily, evaluating each other with renewed respect and caution.
“You’ve done your homework. Incorporating spear techniques into your swordsmanship, that’s from the Brennan Republic, isn’t it? Am I wrong?”
“You’re quite perceptive for an old man. But knowing it won’t help. You can’t block what you can’t handle!”
“Well, we’ll see about that.”
The duel resumed, and despite Luciano’s confident words, sir Zion responded appropriately, continuing the fight on equal footing.
There was a reason Raul chose Sir Zion as the vanguard.
‘They must be familiar with the Count’s swordsmanship and have prepared countermeasures.’
While the thousand-year-old technique had no perfect counter, it could certainly unsettle them. A seasoned and experienced knight was needed to handle such a situation.
Thus, the choice fell on Sir Zion, the former deputy commander of the Golden Bear Knights.
Possessing deep knowledge in swordsmanship, having ventured into the highest levels of expertise, and with extensive experience in skirmishes, national knight tournaments, and duels, he was a reliable choice.
Though he had retired and his mana and physical capabilities had declined with age, now he showed no signs of such decline. It was as if he had regained his youth.
‘Heh, this is amazing. It feels like I’m back in my prime.’
Despite being in the thick of the duel, sir Zion was smiling. It had been years since his body responded so perfectly. This renewed vitality was due to Raul’s intervention.
Before the duel, Raul had visited Zion, shared some words, then clasped his hands together and bestowed a ‘blessing’ upon him.
A reverent aura emanated from Raul, and all of Zion’s lingering pains and fatigue dissipated. Not only that, his muscles felt stronger, his mind clearer, and his body faster.
‘So, the rumors were true; the young master has indeed received divine blessings and awakened.’
In reality, it was Raul’s ‘Radiance Aura’ combined with several buff spells from Rabel, including ‘Strength’ and ‘Haste,’ but to Zion, it truly felt like divine blessing.
And the result:
Bang! Boom!
“This is impossible! Old man, did you rejuvenate or something?”
The duel was tipping in Zion’s favor. Luciano’s unorthodox techniques had been seen through and were losing effectiveness. In a pure swordsmanship contest, Luciano couldn’t withstand Zion’s experience and skill.
“You may have improved following Viscount Jaden and done your share of research, but it’s not enough.”
Clang!
“What nonsense, old man!”
“Place your hand on your heart and think. In the 16 years since you left the Count’s house, have you truly lived as intensely as you would have here?”
Zion looked at his former junior with a sympathetic gaze.
Bang!
“Do not look at me with those eyes! Yes, it’s been far more fulfilling than being stuck here dealing with monsters!”
Yet, Luciano’s voice betrayed his lack of confidence. Memories of the past years flashed through his mind in an instant. Viscount Jaden was a confident and hearty individual. Most importantly, he was wealthy.
Having sold important territories of the Count’s house to rival families, he was never short of funds and provided ample compensation to the knights who left the Count’s house to follow him.
Though they lived the life of wanderers for a while, they always stayed in luxury hotels, receiving grand hospitality wherever they went. Once they finally settled in a city of the Brennan Republic, an even more opulent lifestyle awaited them.
Living in a lavish and grand mansion, surrounded by beautiful women and enjoying daily banquets, they received the true treatment of knights. Of course, they never stopped training. One had to be skilled to avoid disrespect in foreign lands.
Winning several duels and gaining formal recognition as a knight order cemented his belief.
‘Yes, my choice was correct.’
He had no interest in sweating it out training all day with the knights, being constantly deployed to monster-infested fortresses, and fighting without proper rest.
It was far better to have constructive conversations with knights from various countries and improve his swordsmanship, rather than wasting energy on trivial monster subjugations in a poor environment.
He genuinely believed this. But what was this situation now? How could he fail to defeat an old man nearing sixty?
Something was terribly wrong.
“I am not wrong!”
Underneath his armor, worm-like tattoos began to spread across Luciano’s entire body.
(To be continued)