It didn't take long for the match to end because I kept smashing his face into the ground until his blood face imprinted in the thick ground, and the guardsmen asked me to stop before he died with a worried face.
Kraus seemed terrified of me as he was carried away, desperately trying to avoid my gaze. The arena became quiet as the organiser approached me and asked if I wanted to continue.
"Next challenger!" One of the guards yelled as people whispered, talking about how I won and whether I had a death wish.
"That guy is crazy."
"Did he want to test himself against Kraus?"
"Maybe he has a death wish."
"Hey, isn't the silver maiden next?"
"Will she accept to fight a child?"
"I hope not; I don't want to see her destroy such a handsome youth."
I watched as the silver knight stepped forward, holding a blunt longsword, and watched me through her visor with intense eyes.
"Why were you so rough?"
The words took a moment for me to realise they were directed at me before I wondered what she meant.
"Huh?"
"Kraus, why were you so rough with him?"
Her tone wasn't cold but sounded curious; something was off about her as she gripped her sword tight.
"I hate bandits," I replied calmly, making her grip tighter, and the guard organiser looked between us with confusion.
"Sir Akira and Lady Silver, are you both ready?"
I nodded while she remained silent.
"Fight!"
I didn't expect the silver knight to dash forward so fast and deliver a terrifying blow that caused the air to ripple around me.
She stabbed my face with an extremely violent and deadly thrust.
I would have died instantly if I didn't dodge with my lance. Her strength surprised me as I stumbled back, shocked at her strength.
"Good."
"Wow!"
The crowd didn't realise and thought this was just a normal duel, but this woman was trying to hurt or even kill me.
Was it the strange feeling in my chest? Did she feel it, too?
A hostile emotion inside me wanted me to kill her, grind her under my foot and make her serve me like a dog.
However, I controlled my instincts and calmed down.
She charged again, attacking like a demon, delivering ruthless blows that I dodged and blocked with my lance.
A strange jolt travelled up my arm. I felt the shock of her strikes increase with each blow, starting to dull my arms and numbing my fingers as she attacked me with the intent to kill.
The silver glow of her sword was beautiful, while my black lance deflected and pushed her back, slowly gauging each other's attributes as she stepped back several steps and looked at me with a long breath.
"Haaa...."
"You're good."
Her voice was soft as she stepped forward; however, her speed exploded, moving like lightning as she dashed towards me with her sword raised high.
My body answered her, with the black lance creating sparks on the ground. Although the tip was wrapped in cloth, it was still a heavy lance.
Our weapons collided, creating thunderous echoes and deafening cheers as our battle drew everyone's attention.
We continued to clash with fierce exchanges, and although I tried to land hits on her, she deflected or dodged everything, dancing around me while delivering ruthless attacks.
Her very figure felt as illusive as the moonlight shining on a dark river surface, rippling with each splash.
Although I countered many of her attacks, I couldn't even nick her armour as she easily blocked everything, causing me to grow frustrated.
Then, in a momentary exchange, our weapons locked, and her silver visor met my eyes; although I couldn't see hers, I knew she stared at me deeply.
"Join my party. Vampire!"
Her words travelled directly to my mind, causing my heart to jump slightly.
My eyes narrowed as I pushed her back, dashing forward and slamming my lance into her chest plate, sending her flying back and sliding across the ground before standing up, breathing heavily.
She knows what I am!
I must kill her here...
[No... that girl, keep fighting and don't worry. She has more to lose; the full moon will come tonight, after all.]
What does that mean?!
I listened to the goddess as I stepped forward, gripping my lance tightly before smiling gently, "Are you tired?"
The knight removed her helmet and revealed a gorgeous face with silvery white hair and piercing grey eyes almost silver themselves, but at the very centre, I could see a growing golden colour; however, her face was pale and covered in sweat as she looked at me with sharp eyes.
"Join me."
"Why should I join you?"
Her sword lowered as she gazed at me intently, "Because I need your help. You need money; I can pay you well."
Her voice was clear, and the crowd was confused as they thought we were taking a break and that the silver lady was recruiting me.
"Oh? Is the handsome boy the silver maiden type!?"
"Look at how beautiful she is! I knew her face was like a goddess descended to our land!"
"Hahaha, her sword must be stronger than his lance if she wants him to join her party."
"Shut up! They are having a conversation."
I chuckled softly as she looked at me with determined eyes, "And what if I refuse? Will you kill me or tell my secret?"
She remained silent before shaking her head, "No..."
"Then, why should I join you?"
My voice became colder as I gripped my lance, wanting to kill her before she told anyone.
"Because I need your help..."
Her eyes turned sharp, and her silver sword glowed with a blue light as she pointed at me sternly, "Become my servant; I command you."
An immense pressure slammed into me, making me kneel as I resisted her command, resisting the urge to kneel.
"How about you become my maid, and I'll consider it."
My voice became arrogant as I looked at her with a playful grin, making her angry as she stepped forward.
However, my hands and body felt relaxed. Her movements were faster than even the bandit lord and necromancer.
As I stepped forward, twisting around the silver blade, it cut my arm and back with the blue light, but it didn't stop my attack as I slammed my fist into her chest, causing her armour to dent and her to fly back.
She coughed up blood, and I stepped forward with a playful grin, "Become my maid, and I'll listen to your request."
Our words were quiet; both of us had extremely evolved hearing. I noticed the more we fought, the more golden her eyes became as they spread from the centre.
She stared at me quietly before nodding, "Fine."
"Eh!? Did the silver maiden join his party?!"
"Wow, she's so powerful; how could he beat her?!"
"She must have held back."
However, the moment she gained this word, her body stood tall, in a different position, as she seemed completely relaxed, pointing her sword towards the sky, maybe the moon, if it were nighttime.
A silver glow bathed her body as she smiled at me with some sharp canines showing.
"Let's end this; you have impressed me."
I nodded as we dashed forward, clashing violently, destroying the ground beneath our feet, but my body felt heavy as her sword started glowing a deeper silver.
What is she doing?
The moment our weapons clashed, a silver light blinded my eyes as pain shot through my body; however, my fist smashed into her face, causing her to recoil with a bloody nose as I stepped backwards and felt my body burning.
What is happening!?
My wounds were healing rapidly but were painful, as if my body rejected something.
"Now!"
The silver knight dashed forward with blinding speed; her sword glowed like the moonlight, cutting the darkness and pushing back the shadows as I raised my lance to block her strike.
When our weapons struck, a terrible feeling erupted as my lance shattered into pieces; the impact destroyed my clothes, revealing my naked upper body as the silver knight stabbed my chest, creating a gaping wound in my chest.
However, the next moment...
The world returned to normal, and her sword was placed against my chest, held by the palm of my bloody hand, with Yuzu wrapped around my neck, and her now golden eyes were fixated on my body, "Nice body."
She licked her lips as I pushed her sword away. However, I felt weaker, and my wounds weren't healing; they left scars on my body.
"What did you do?"
I asked curiously. The silver knight smirked as she licked her bloodied lip, "My moonlight blade drains mana with each hit. That's all."
Her steps moved closer before resting a palm on my shoulder; the cold steel felt horrible on my skin, but her gentle touch made me stare into her golden eyes.
"My name is Sylvia Argenta."
However, I grinned playfully, "A cute maid called Sylvia, huh," making her glare at me.
"Servant."
"maid."
We stared at each other briefly before sighing, "Fine." I turned away as she did the same in a huff; our fight was classified as a draw because my lance pole cut her neck, and her sword cut my hand and chest.
The audience cheered as people rushed forward, preparing for the next fight as I walked away, heading back to the clothing shop where Rena was waiting.
When I entered the store, a strange woman with silver hair stood in a black and blue dress watching me from behind, but Rena was sitting on a bench looking lonely, so I ignored her.
She looked a little familiar, though.