"My name is Wood, just an unremarkable commoner from some distant place," he introduced himself calmly, sizing up the man before him. "I can't claim to offer guidance, not to someone carrying titles like The Sword of the Kingdom and The Finest Knight."
From the moment Julius Juukulius appeared, Wood knew this wasn't just a pretty face. Since coming to this world, he hadn't met too many people, but those who could give him a genuine sense of danger were rare: Reinhard van Astrea certainly, and perhaps a blend of Puck and Emilia. Now, Julius managed to exude that same aura, enough to be placed in the same category.
In fact, the feeling Julius gave him was even more formidable than people like Elsa and Priscilla.
Julius drew his sword with elegant precision, giving Wood a courteous knightly salute before suddenly vanishing from sight.
To say he disappeared would be misleading. His movement was simply so swift that ordinary eyes could no longer track him.
"No way… is Julius going all out? If so, wouldn't his opponent be taken down in an instant?"
Julius was undeniably one of the strongest members of the Royal Guard. Besides the Sword Saint Reinhard, almost no one could hold a candle to him. Even Reinhard, without his blessings, might not have a significant edge in sheer swordsmanship over Julius.
Julius's impressive strength and his sudden seriousness startled the watching knights, who were used to his reserved power.
As everyone watched with bated breath, the scene before them shocked every onlooker—the young man they had dismissed as a mere country bumpkin responded immediately to Julius's sudden attack!
Clang!
A fierce gust of wind radiated outwards as their swords clashed, sparks flying from the impact.
The watching knights could hardly believe their eyes. The boy they had pegged as a nobody had moved with speed that matched Julius's, meeting his attack head-on.
"Impressive speed," Julius commented, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "But it appears I have the upper hand in strength."
The two swords clashed only briefly before Julius felt an overwhelming force surge through his arm, forcing him back in surprise. With a look of shock, Julius was launched backwards, temporarily airborne and unable to adjust himself.
Realizing his vulnerable position, Julius quickly reacted, clutching his sword in one hand and extending the other to conjure multiple fireballs.
In this world, magic users drew on their internal mana, or 'Od,' channeling it through "gates" to cast spells. The potency of their magic depended on the size and number of their gates.
Thanks to his Blessing of Spirit Affinity, Julius had access to all six elemental magics and could create larger gates with the support of spirits.
As the near-ten fireballs, initially the size of ping-pong balls, were launched from Julius's hand, they expanded mid-air to the size of soccer balls, each trailing heat as they sped toward Wood.
Yet, as these giant fireballs descended upon him, Wood didn't so much as flinch; instead, his face lit up with a fierce fighting spirit.
"A swordsman who wields magic, huh? I'll admit, it's been a while since I've met someone similar," he said with a grin. "Water Saint Magic: Curtain of Cascading Water!"
Wood raised a hand, opening his own gate and unleashing a surge of mana. The ground rumbled as a rush of water erupted from below, forming a protective barrier before him. Julius's fireballs collided with the water curtain, creating an intense clash of elements that filled the arena with dense steam.
"That country bumpkin… no, that new recruit… he's a swordsman and a magic user, just like Julius! He's a prodigious knight!" one of the knights murmured in awe.
Despite the brief skirmish, everyone watching no longer dared to underestimate Wood. To withstand Julius's first strike and conjure such powerful water magic showed that Wood's abilities were exceptional, even among the Royal Guard.
"Well, well, a Knight's Duel, huh? That's rare," came a new voice.
"And even rarer that Captain Marcus would authorize it. A Knight's Duel consumes quite a few resources, and he's always stingy about that," added another voice.
Arriving just in time, two figures approached the arena. One of them, to Wood's surprise, was none other than Reinhard van Astrea.
His companion, though somewhat feminine in appearance and attire, was actually Felix Argyle—a flat-chested cat-eared demi-human. Despite his androgynous appearance, Felix was a well-known healing specialist, holding the prestigious title of "Blue," and the youngest to earn it.
Not a front-line combatant, Felix's strength still placed him among the top five in the Royal Guard, and he was good friends with both Reinhard and Julius.
The pair had arrived late because of a minor incident with Felt, whom Reinhard had recently brought to the capital. She had wanted to return to the slums, and in her reckless attempt, ended up injuring herself, prompting Reinhard to ask Felix to heal her.
Neither expected to return to such a lively scene in the Royal Guard.
"Captain, what's the occasion today? Who's dueling in the Knight's Duel? The residual mana in the air suggests it's a fierce one," Reinhard asked, looking curiously at Marcus.
Seeing both Reinhard and Felix among the onlookers, Marcus kept his gaze on the misty arena and replied, "Julius is testing a new recruit."
Felix's eyes widened in shock. "Julius? And a new recruit is actually holding his own against him? Just who is this guy? Some knight trained by one of the capital's noble families?"
Knowing Julius's capabilities, Felix was stunned. The intensity of the magical remnants suggested this new recruit was exceptional.
"No, he's not from any noble family. He was actually recommended by Priscilla, one of the kingdom's royal candidates," Marcus explained. "His previous profession… well, he was a rogue. But given what we're seeing now, he seems far from an ordinary rogue."
Felix gave a half-laugh. "A rogue? If rogues can fight like that, the kingdom's maidens better beware."
Marcus seemed lost in thought, as though seriously considering Felix's jest.
"Unbelievable. A man who can match 'The Finest Knight' turns out to be a rogue? That's just…"
Before Felix could finish, the steam cloud dissipated, swept away by the force of the ongoing clash between Wood and Julius, revealing their forms once more.
Felix simply marveled at Wood's youth and strength. Reinhard, however, reacted with visible surprise, exclaiming, "It's Wood! I was wondering how a swordsman here could stand up to Julius. Now it makes sense!"
Reinhard's reaction was noted by Marcus and Felix, who both turned their curious gazes toward him.
"So, Reinhard, you actually know this young man? Who is he?" Marcus asked, intrigued.
"Strictly speaking, I don't know Wood well," Reinhard replied, still watching the duel intently. "But the last time I needed help locating Lady Felt, it was with his assistance."
Reinhard paused, a wry smile crossing his face. "There was a bit of a misunderstanding, and we ended up fighting. That's when I realized he's incredibly strong."
Marcus and Felix exchanged shocked glances.
"And? I assume you won that fight?" Marcus pressed, certain of Reinhard's supremacy as the Sword Saint.
"Technically, yes. But he only surrendered after explaining the misunderstanding," Reinhard admitted. "To be honest, he nearly took me down. If I hadn't gained a new blessing mid-fight, I would have triggered my Phoenix Blessing."
The revelation left Marcus and Felix even more astounded. They had difficulty believing that anyone could push the Sword Saint to such extremes.
"If it wasn't for his restraint, I doubt I'd have survived unscathed. He left me curious and slightly regretful that he declined a rematch. It's a pleasant surprise to see him here in the capital," Reinhard added, his expression thoughtful.
Marcus and Felix's view of Wood shifted entirely after hearing this. If Reinhard, known to be unmatched as the Sword Saint, had nearly been defeated by Wood, it was no exaggeration to call him a monstrous talent.
The duel between Wood and Julius continued fiercely. After hearing Reinhard's account, Marcus and Felix felt that the outcome was all but decided.
Though Julius was undoubtedly formidable, his power simply couldn't compare to that of the Sword Saint.
If Wood could battle on par with someone as overpowered as Reinhard, then Julius likely had little chance of victory.
However, Julius himself remained blissfully unaware of these musings. Instead, as the battle grew ever more intense, he found himself, unusually, exhilarated.
___________
Don't forget to give Power Stone
________________________
P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to 100+ chapters for $5 and receive daily updates at p@treon.com/Betek (@->a).