The arena's air was thick with anticipation as Felix stood at its center, the weight of countless gazes pressing down upon him. The crowd's murmurs had long since died down, replaced by an expectant silence that seemed to reverberate with the very heartbeat of the spectators.
Lucifer, positioned across from Felix with an air of authority, declared, "The first test is Appraise!"
As if summoned by his words, a figure leaped down from the top of the arena, her pink hair a vibrant splash of color against the dull backdrop of the ring.
She landed gracefully, her movements fluid and effortless, like a cat alighting upon silk. Her height was slightly below Lucifer's, but her presence was undeniably captivating.
Goggles rested atop her forehead, gloves were clutched in one hand, and a bag slung over her shoulder seemed to be filled to bursting with various heavy materials, giving her an air of preparedness that was almost comical.
On the sidelines, Nox turned to Leon, his curiosity evident. "Who is this?" he whispered, his eyes fixed intently on Rose.
Leon hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own heartbeat. "I think she's Rose... Lucifer's friend's sister."
Nox's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why is she with Lucifer?" he asked, his tone laced with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
Leon's explanation came slowly, as if he were piecing together fragments of a long-forgotten memory. "When Uncle Lucifer was a trainee knight, he had a friend. During a mission, his friend died, and afterward, Lucifer took care of her sister."
Nox said "Huh,I don't know why you petty humans have such emotions towards each other."
Leon said "You will never understand a Human's nature."
"What!,You!." Shouted Nox.
The story hung in the air, unspoken emotions swirling around it like the faint whispers of the dead. Lucifer's expression remained impassive, but a hint of complexity flickered in his eyes, like the shadow of a long-buried pain.
"Rose, come here," Lucifer had said earlier, and now he instructed her, "Take that."
Rose's response was immediate and vehement. "What? Take it!? Never! I bought it for so much money!" Her voice rose in protest, and for a moment, it seemed as though she might refuse outright.
But Lucifer's gaze was unyielding. "Rose, give it," he said, his tone brooking no argument.
With a heavy sigh, Rose relented. "Okay..." She rummaged through her bag, producing a small crystal that glittered with an otherworldly light.
She handed it to Felix with a look of resignation, as if parting with a cherished treasure.
Lucifer's explanation came next, his words dripping with an air of gravitas. "This is a Star Aura Stone. Hold it, insert your aura or magic into it, and when it glows, throw it on the ground."
Nox's curiosity got the better of him. "What a strange thing..." he muttered, his eyes fixed on the crystal with a mixture of fascination and wariness.
Leon elaborated, his voice a gentle counterpoint to Nox's skepticism. "When someone inserts their aura into it, this crystal will glow. When it breaks, it releases light and shows a number, indicating the person's rank in swordsmanship or magic."
Felix took the crystal, his fingers closing around it with a sense of purpose. He focused, and his aura began to flow into the stone. The crystal's glow intensified, until it seemed to pulse with an inner light that was both fierce and beautiful.
With a swift motion, Felix threw the crystal to the ground. It shattered upon impact, emitting a brilliant light that illuminated the arena. The radiance was so intense that it seemed to sear the very air itself, leaving behind a number that materialized in the air like a specter:
9 Stars.
The whole Arena fell to silence.
The silence was shattered like fragile glass, abruptly broken by a cacophony of gasps, exclamations, and shouts. "A rank 9 swordsman!?!?!?" The crowd's collective voice rose to a deafening roar, with everyone seemingly vying to be heard above the din.
Lucifer's eyes widened in astonishment, his face a picture of incredulity. Even Rose, who had handed Felix the Star Aura Stone mere moments ago, looked stunned, her pink hair fluttering as she shook her head in disbelief.
The arena erupted into chaos, with spectators jumping to their feet, their faces alight with excitement and shock. Amidst the turmoil, Felix stood calm and collected, his expression unreadable as he gazed out at the sea of astonished faces.
The commotion in the arena showed no signs of abating, with spectators continuing to shout and gasp in astonishment. Lucifer's eyes, however, narrowed slightly as he regarded Felix with a calculating gaze. The young swordsman's unexpected rank 9 status had certainly caught his attention.
Rose, still looking stunned, approached Lucifer and whispered something in his ear. Lucifer's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded slightly before turning to face Felix once more.
"Felix, it seems you have indeed surprised us all," Lucifer said, his voice carrying across the arena. "Your rank 9 status is impressive, to say the least. But the test is far from over. Next, we will proceed to the combat trial."
The crowd's excitement seemed to intensify at the mention of combat, with some spectators chanting Felix's name while others speculated about his potential opponents. Felix, meanwhile, stood tall, his eyes fixed intently on Lucifer.
"Are you prepared to face your next challenge?" Lucifer asked, his eyes glinting with anticipation.
Felix nodded, his expression unwavering. "I am ready."
With a wave of his hand, Lucifer summoned a figure from the shadows. A short
"This is Lyra," Lucifer announced. "Your opponent for the combat trial."
The crowd's cheers and chants grew louder, and Felix cracked his knuckles in preparation for the battle ahead. The stage was set for an intense showdown, one that would determine Felix's fate and potentially reveal more about his abilities.
Nox's gaze was fixed intently on lyra, his eyes narrowing as he tried to process the implications of the swordsman's presence. "Who is this?" he asked Leon, his voice low and inquiring.
Leon's response was calm and measured. "I think she must be lyra,uncle Lucifer's Student."
Nox said "Student?,...what rank is she?."
Leon replied "she must be...a rank 8 swordsman."
Nox's reaction was immediate and visceral. "It's absurd!" he exclaimed, his voice rising.
Leon's expression turned curious, and he leaned in slightly. "Why?" he asked, his eyes locked on Nox's face.
Nox's voice dropped to a whisper, and he glanced around the arena as if ensuring they weren't being overheard. "How many swordmasters are there?" he asked, his tone laced with a sense of reverence.
Leon's response was thoughtful, his brow furrowed in concentration. "There are 25 swordmasters," he said finally. "Why?"
Nox's eyes darted back to lyra, and his gaze intensified. "Swordsmanship that transcends human capabilities is said to grant superhuman abilities, allowing one to surpass human limits," he whispered. "Those who achieve this are called swordmasters, and they're considered the pinnacle of swordsmanship."
As he spoke, Nox's voice was filled with a sense of awe and wonder. He seemed to be drawing on a deep well of knowledge, and his words were laced with a sense of reverence.
"2000 years ago, the topmost rank a human could reach was 8-star,and no one was able to go beyond that." he continued. "But now....there are 10 star,11 stars and 12 stars too?,Even more a little girl like Rose can reach it too? It's insane!"
Leon said "She is not a litlle girl.See her ears," he said, his voice low and meaningful.
Nox followed Leon's words, and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of Lyra's pointed,Long, elfin ears. He felt a jolt of surprise, and his mind began to reel with the implications.
"An elf?" he breathed, his voice barely audible.
Leon nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, an elf," he said. "She's probably older than she looks."
Nox asked "Why does your brother have an elf as an student?."
Leon replied "When he was 18 years old he went to a mission to capture bandits,he killed all the bandits,and released the prisoners,but there was only this elf,who was alive with the prisoners.Her parents were killed by Bandits."
Nox said "Is he a madman?He first took Rose,because she was his deceased comrade's sister,But Now a elf,born to some strangers?,I cannot understand him at all."
Then Both Lyra and Felix stood before each other.Eager to make the first move
Lucifer said "Start!."
Lyra charged at Felix, but he dodged her attack with ease. In a swift motion, Felix moved behind Lyra and positioned his sword at the nape of her neck.
The duel was effectively over, with Felix in complete control. Lyra froze, acknowledging defeat.
Leon said "Of course,i knew he would do this,Felix is also special for one more thing other than Countering spatial magic,he is Fast.In my Novel 'Heroes of Myth' He is second Fastest after the Thunder Swordsman Royze."
Lucifer said "The fight is over in just a few seconds...."
Then Lucifer said "Ok,i agree that your eligible to protect Leon."
Then Felix said "Yes i would protect master."
Then Lucifer said "Still your officially not an exclusive knight for Leon.You need to register your name in the Management.
Felix said "management?."
Lucifer said "Don't worry i will ask the officials to come to you,for registeration."
"Thank you." Said Felix.
Then suddenly Leon stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of every eye
"What happened, Leon?" Lucifer asked, his voice low and measured, breaking the silence that had enveloped the arena.
The words seemed to hang in the air, awaiting Leon's response like a verdict.
And Leon replied, his voice firm and resolute, "Uncle, I want to punish someone." The declaration was like a storm cloud gathering on the horizon, dark and foreboding.
The words sent ripples through the audience, and they erupted into whispers, their confusion palpable. "Punish? What is he talking about?" someone murmured.
While another asked, "Who could have possibly wronged him?" The air was thick with speculation and intrigue.
Lucifer's gaze never left Leon's face, his expression a mask of calm curiosity. "Whom do you wish to punish?" he asked, his voice firm but controlled, as if probing the depths of Leon's resolve.
Leon's gaze swept across the crowd, his eyes scanning the sea of faces until they locked onto a figure that seemed out of place among the spectators.
A women who was silently trying t Run out of the arena.
The arrogant maid from his Katana Castle stwas Walking towards Exit, her expression a mixture of disdain and curiosity. Leon's finger extended, pointing accusingly at her, and he declared, his voice ringing through the arena, "I want to punish her."
The maid's face turned pale, her eyes wide with terror. She trembled, her fear palpable.
"You maid!,This is what will happen to the people like you!." Shouted Nox.