The Huntingwood had many trump cards. Even if it suffered a few losses here and there, it was undeniable that it still had a huge advantage over the Thornfield's family: they possessed an adept-level powerhouse, the Grand Knight Tyler Anderson.
The Grand Knight Tyler Anderson was born in the famous Anderson family, one which rose to glory a few hundred years ago, when its founder broke through the grand knight realm while supporting the Phuinem King's war campaign. Handsomely rewarded, and giving birth to descendants full of potential, this ancestor from the Anderson family created many inheritances before dying:
Unique swordsmanship, unconventional tactics, education programs to improve the youths' potential, principles and morals to abide, alliances, body tempering resources and even a grand knight breathing technique! These inheritances were passed down through generations, and each rising grand knight who appeared over time added some items, enchanted weapons for example, before dying.
Grand Knight Tyler Anderson was in a dilemma. His family, widely known as the house of sword masters due to their unique swordsmanship, was in dire conditions. He was already 120 years old, and his physique was already decaying. His descendants lacked the potential and fervour necessary to break through the grand knight realm. Outsiders weren't an option either.
There was one potential youth, indeed, but the girl, called Oriana Anderson, was only 28 years old, despite being already a peak knight. Breaking through the grand knight realm would take her more than 20 years, even with her heaven-defying talent, which was far from enough to stop the old Grand Knight from worrying for his family's future.
Tyler Anderson had received his share of injuries over time. One particular fight with an adept had crippled his right leg, thirty years ago. Although he wasn't the match of adepts anymore, he still possessed strong foundations, and a monstrous physique! It was enough to deal with the Thornfield family, or so he thought.
When the Huntingwood family's supreme elder fought and lost against the Thornfield's famous Water Dragon, Tyler Anderson was in high spirit, thinking that the old man had been similarly injured. As long as he won this war, the Huntingwood family promised to offer him a high-grade elixir which would enable expand his lifespan by 50 years! Although he still had about a few decades left, grand knights were different from adepts. Grand knights only had 150 years of life expectancy, unlike adept who had over 300 years if lifespan.
The elixir was crucial to him, and his family. With 50 more years to live, Tyler would see the Anderson family rise again, hopefully gaining a new grand knight, and he would be able to rest in peace, after passing down his skills and knowledge to his descendant.
However, the Water Dragon was at his peak. His 'injuries' weren't anywhere to be seen, and he even seemed to be stronger than the last time he appeared. Rumours had been crafted by the scheming old man. What a terrifying enemy!
Drodosis' grandfather had purposefully showed 'average' pseudo-adept strength in his last duel with the Huntingwood's supreme elder, in order to take the grand knight by surprise. There was no way a normal grand knight would submit to an adept family like the Huntingwood's, which obviously lacked the means to hire one! It had to be an injured grand knight, willing to do anything to heal himself!
The Water Dragon was right…his opponent was barely a grand-knight. Even though he had internal energy unique to grand-knights, his real combat strength was only that of a pseudo-grand; his missing leg didn't escape the Water Dragon's eyes! The latter rejoiced and grinned: he had the advantage!
Moreover, as the Thornfield's family supreme elder, he had entered the treasury to consume several hundred Watercloud gems before coming to this fight. His spirit, which had been stuck for decades at 19 points, suddenly had an increase, and he was now at the peak of the pseudo-adept realm!
"Seems like I fell in your trap, old man", the old Grand Knight Tyler acknowledged the shrewdness of his opponent.
"Who are you calling old? Haha! You made a great mistake by siding with the shadow-element Huntingwood acolytes. They are weak in wars. Maybe, if they stayed in the shadows, they would have risen to greatness, but they were impatient! They lack the wisdom of a long-lasting adept family like ours. It's a pity to see a legend like yourself fall today. I truly feel sorry for that", the Water dragon said as he transformed.
The Water Dragon nickname wasn't for show. It was one of the 3 unique spells restricted to inner circle descendants of the Thornfield family! The Water Dragon Transformation spell was even more restrictive, since it required the caster to possess the Thornfield bloodline. Legends told that the family's ancestor had consumed a water dragon's bloodline before getting insight for this spell.
From a 6-feet average human, Drodosis' grandfather grew in size, to become a terrifying 8-meters-long, 3-meters-high dragon! Water elemental particles' concentration rose to terrifying heights, and the once-scorching sunlight became blocked by thick clouds. It was beginning to rain. A storm was about to break out…such was the secondary effects of his transformation!
The Grand Knight Tyler Anderson was absolutely shocked! This was a monster one could only find in legends! The Water Dragon was huge, dominant, overwhelming…At first, he thought it was just an illusion to make him lose confidence! He had met plenty of such acolytes in the past, yet he survived them all!
Tyler was no average man either. Although he only had one leg left, his muscles were so refined that he could still move with a speed equal to ten points of agility! This was a huge advantage against the slow water dragon…
However, the Water Dragon had long since expected such a reaction. While Tyler was confused, the Water Dragon had already begun casting a high-grade spell!
Once, the prairies were dry. However, after the Water dragon finished casting the Water Elemental Breath spell, the prairies were flooded! This spell was actually dealing over 100 points of damage, a value which would make anyone gasp in horror! It had surpassed the threshold of pseudo-adept limits!
The Grand Knight Tyler Anderson received the water breath on his chest, and could only watch helplessly as his enchanted armour turned into scraps of metal. Blocking the impact with shield, he could only curse the fact that he had only one leg left. The impact was so powerful that his shield was torn apart, and his body was blasted. It was as if tons of water had struck him!
His arm was bent in a weird and awful position, but the fighting spirit never wavered in his determined stare. Taking his spear in his left arm, he looked like a heroic spirit from legends. Strange runes spread all over his body.
The Water Dragon narrowed its eyes, as he knew what it was.
Grand knights could contend with adepts because they possessed killing techniques, and more importantly, secret grand knight techniques, allowing their internal energy to outburst and invigorate their cells for a few moments. This outburst of strength was so terrifying that it could transform them into near-invincible beings for a small amount of time.
However, it was a pity. The Water Dragon was unlike other pseudo-adepts. A dragon was, after all, an aerial being. Why would he stay on the ground, against a grand knight? The Water Dragon escaped in the air, leaving the Grand Knight Tyler Anderson confused and frustrated.
He had never met an acolyte so scheming and shameless! The pride of elders was nowhere to be seen in this supreme elder's demeanour! Minutes later, Grand Knight Tyler Anderson's grand knight secret technique lost its all-powerfulness, and he was struck by weakness, sign that the Water Dragon immediately perceived.
Yet, the Water Dragon didn't rush, it supressed the grand knight with dozens of spells, from long range, leaving the Grand Knight Tyler Anderson's helpless.
One was a grand knight, the other was a pseudo-adept. The Grand knight should have easily won against the Water Dragon, yet it would have been underestimating the Thornfield Family's resources. The Water Dragon, once he had transformed, had adept-level strength! On the other hand, the grand knight Tyler was nowhere near as strong as he used to be, back in time, when he was at his peak.
One was weaker than expected, the other much stronger. The issue of the fight was determined. However, as the Water Dragon was about to go for the kill, the Grand Knight stood up, his eyes flickering with killing intent. The Water Dragon felt something wrong, and immediately changed direction, a decision which saved his life.
The spear in the Grand Knight's hands had tripled in size, and it was surrounded by a strange flame,
thorwn in an outburst of hope, supported by strength and internal energy. The spear was obviously an enchanted item, one which could deal as much as 120 points of damage, a terrifying number! It failed to hit the head, and pierced through the Water Dragon's belly instead. The injury was nasty, but it would recover in a few months.
On the other hand, the Grand Knight Tyler Anderson had exhausted the very last bit of energy he had.
"I failed you…ancestors. I apologize…", Tyler whispered, knowing that his hand was near.
Sensing that the Water Dragon was closing in, he found enough energy to issue these last words:
"You were a worthy opponent, Water Dragon! You were very strong, and it's an honour to fall in such a battle. I ask you this, as a Grand Knight. Don't take revenge on the Anderson Household."
"Why would I do that, Tyler Anderson? I respect you as an enemy, but don't misunderstand my respect for friendship", the grinning Water Dragon said. He had also transformed back in human form.
Transforming might give him temporary adept-level strength, but it also cost him a crazy amount of mana! Each second was counted in a fight, especially in high-power fights like the one he had just won!
"Take this…It's a Drake Gland, an adept-level resource I acquired in my prime. It's no use to grand knights, but for acolytes, I heard it could increase their advancement success rate to adept level by 30%. Your family will surely rise, and this Drake Gland will improve bring the odds in your favour!", Tyler said, as his vision was fading.
"Fair enough…I shall not take revenge on your family's household. You were indeed honourable till the end, Grand Knight Tyler Anderson!"
Soon enough, legendary tales would spread the story of the majestic fight between the Water Dragon and the Grand Knight Tyler Anderson, an epic duel which was hundreds of times more incredulous than Drodosis' overwhelming victory over the Chase and Gloom armies. A pseudo-adept had defeated a grand knight, something which had not happened in decades!
Even adepts nodded in acknowledgement!
The moral of the lesson was clear: never underestimate an adept family which survived for hundreds of years!