To many warriors at Zenit, a battle between two six-star warriors was rare to see. Such a duel was a popular event that would ignite their interest and curiosity since witnessing such battles would bring them unexpected gains in terms of understanding fighting. To other kings and high-level officials of Zenit, such an event would attract a lot of people, and it was a great opportunity for them to network and get to know the people who they wouldn't get to see regularly.
There was still 5 hours until the duel, and people had surrounded the number one Sword-Testing Stage in numerous layers. It was extremely crowded as they all wanted to watch the battle up close. When there was only an hour left, there was no space for another person anywhere except the VIP viewing stage prepared for the most important people in the empire.
As time passed, the crowd got more anxious.
Although both parties of the duel hadn't arrived, the surrounding atmosphere intensified. Within a kilometer radius from the stage, every single spot and corner was filled with people. Outside of this range, several wooden towers were constructed for the people who came late to view this fight.
Among the people, there was a small pathway of less than 3 meters in width for both dueling parties to arrive.
The knights belonging to the seventh Knight Tower of Imperial Knight Palace were fully equipped; they separated the crowd as they made another pathway for the important people of the Empire to get onto the VIP viewing stage. The fifty Sword-Testing Stages were set up by the military in advance. If there were conflicts between the warriors from difference kingdoms, they weren't allowed to fight in private; they could, however, arrange for a duel to the death on the Sword-Testing Stages.
Every one of the Sword-Testing Stage was made from huge pieces of rocks and were engraved with magic arrays by high-level mages. The magic arrays were powered by a ton of magic crystals to ensure the power of the protection shields extended from the magic arrays. These stages guaranteed that the powers from the warriors during fights wouldn't deal damage to Sword-Testing Stages. This number one Sword-Testing Stage had a magic array set up by the number one royal mage – Capdevila. Under the 100% empowerment from the crystals, it was able to hold up against a strike from a seven star warrior or mage.
As the sun raised higher, the crowd got even more anxious.
The big casinos and merchant groups had already set out rules and gambling odds. As the master warrior from the older generation, people had more confidence in the seventh Executive Knight Kelud, and the ratio was in his favour. To nobles ladies and gentlemen whose lives lacked excitement, a death battle between two six star warriors was far more interesting than the death fights between gladiators. These people placed down a ton of bets, and then they arrived at the number on Sword-Testing Stage and waited for the duel.
Time passed slowly and steadily.
A series of clip-clop noises sounded as a fleet of people came from St. Petersburg's direction in the snow. With rectangular flags fluttering in the air, fully armored cavalry, this fleet of people came close to the Sword-Testing Stage with several magic carriages being protected in the middle.
"Ah, it's the Dean Family. They control one of the top ten battle legions in the empire – the [Eagle Wing Legion]. Do you see the young man in the set of armor engraved with eagles? He is the first in line of inheritance of the family – Dean Carzola, a genius mage ..." Someone said to his friend.
People started to gasp.
The set of cavaliers in armor engraved with eagles charged by the crowd and spilled the dirty water and mud to their sides. This dirty water appeared after some snow melted. However, no one in the crowd dared to show their anger. The magic carriage was floating in the air and was being dragged by several horses. When they reached the number one Sword-Testing Stage, several nobles ladies with makeup on walked out of the carriages and got onto the VIP viewing stage under the protection of the guards.
The Dean Family's appearance announced the arrival of a bunch of noble families that ordinary people couldn't even see on a regular day. A series of clip-clop noises sounded again with several groups of people appearing in sight.
Haughty knights and cavaliers with magic carriages dragged by magical beasts all appeared one after another.
"Hofff – "
As the ear-piercing roar sounded, six strange beasts that looked like tigers dragged three magic carriages pass by the crowd. These beasts were at least six meters tall and ten meters long, and the carriages were made from rare purple wood with gold trim on the outer layer, and it was enveloped in red magic flame. These beasts were so big and terrifying that some timid people started to scream when the beasts walked by them. These beasts were definitely magical, visible wind-element air-blades were circling around them.
"Look, it is the symbol of Flo Family. God, they are using level 5 Demon Beasts Rapid Tigers to drag their carriages! This is ... a beast like that cost at least 1,000 gold coins, and there are people who can't even get their hands on one!"
People who knew the in-and-outs shouted out as this brought a lot of surprises.
Boom!
The ground started to shake, and a formation of beasts that were larger than tigers appeared. These beasts were so big that they looked like small mountains. Every time they took a step forward, it caused a mini-earthquake. A knight with a black mask and a set of black metal armor stood on one of the beasts, and he protected a young and beautiful girl with a haughty temperament and a purple bearded elder up the VIP viewing stage...
"Look, it is Beag Family that controls the [Gigantic Force Legion], another one of the top ten battle legions of Zenit... these huge beasts are the unique battle beasts of the legion. They are very powerful! They can easily tear through mountains!"
"Look! Do you see that icy and beautiful girl? She is the only daughter of the current leader of the Beag Family – Beag Beyoncé. I heard that she is the favorite of the elder leader, and it's rumored that the man who marries this woman would get the financial and political support from Beag Family. She is the dream woman for a lot of men..."
"Really? God bless. If I can marry her..."
"You? Don't even think about it. This girl is a talented individual; she once said that whoever wants to get to her has to defeat her first..."
A series of gasps sounded in the crowd.
As the people in the crowd talked to each other, more and more nobles families who they would never see appeared on the VIP stage. As more and more influential figures appeared, the smart people in the crowd already sensed strange. Since so many super powers in the empire showed their faces, it meant that this battle was beyond everyone's imaginary scope.
"Whoosh-!"
Several dashes of light flashed through the sky.
The people in the crowd felt like their eyes blurred, and six more figures appeared on the VIP stage. These six figures were all enveloped in various strange yet powerful magic armors, and terrifying power surged from their bodies. People who weren't warriors or mages could also sense that they were special. As soon as these six people appeared, the beasts that were roaring and shouting under the stage all quieted down as if they were mice that saw a huge cat.
"They are the Executive Knights of Imperial Knight Palace! They are all top warriors who are on the same level as Kelud... God, I didn't expect them to appear….. Are they all here to support Kelud? If so, the King of Chambord is in trouble!" Someone murmured.
"They are the Second Executive Knight – [Massacre Knight] , Third Executive Knight – [Punishment Knight], Fourth Executive Knight – [Giant Blade Knight], Fifth Executive Knight- [Ruthless Knight], Sixth Executive Knight- [Radiant Knight], and Eighth Executive Knight- [White Cloud Knight]. Except the First Executive Knight- [Godly Knight], the Ninth Executive Knight- [Shadow Knight], and the Tenth Executive Knight- [Golden Sun Knight] who was defeated by king of Chambord, they are all here.... For so many years, this is the first time that they all showed themselves in public together!"
"Six six-star warriors! I am not hallucinating, right?"
"Aha, Radiant Knight Paroski, my idol..."
The appearance of the six Executive Knights instantly lit up the atmosphere. Each of the six man controlled a portion of the Imperial Knight Palace, and they deterred the 250 affiliated kingdoms of Zenit. Each one of them was like a god in the mind of warriors in the affiliated kingdoms, and these warriors might not even see them in their life time. The low-level warriors didn't expect to see them today! Adding Kelud to the number, they were able to see seven of the ten executive knights of Zenit! They were all excited.
The noble families and VIPs on the stage were also surprised; they didn't expect to see so many other forces here today as well. They didn't expect a duel would attract the attention of so many hidden high-level people!
Some people already started to think back and wonder if they had neglected something or this duel represented something bigger.
Finally, the sun was at the center of the sky.
Suddenly, an ear-piercing noise sounded as a bloody-red beam of light dashed towards the stage from the direction of Imperial Knight Palace. A soul-chilling blood sensation was left in the air as this light dashed through. People who sensed this felt like they were placed in a sea of blood and corpses; it was truly terrifying.
After the light went away, a tall and wild figure was standing on the number one Sword-Testing Stage.
[Bloodthirst Knight] Kelud.
The executive knight who ranked seventh among the top ten knights.
One of the two parties in this duel had appeared.
"King of Chambord, get over here and greet your death!" The bloody figure stood on the tallest stage and laughed out loud, "It is time, why aren't you here? Are you scared?" His tone was chilling and gloomy.