"𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝. 𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞."
— 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐄𝐥𝐫𝐢𝐜
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Alaric POV: First Day of the Tournament
"And Sir Gaheris wins!" the crowd cheered as the knight walked away from his fallen opponent "you're up next Sir Alaric I trust you are prepared?" Lancelot questioned.
I nod flipping the visor of my helmet down "I am always prepared Sir Lancelot you know this already," I replied in a tone of complete confidence which made the man smile "good luck then," he said turning to walk away "I don't need your luck Lancelot I make own!" I exclaimed before he disappeared off.
"Up next is Sir Alaric of Camelot and his opponent shall be Sir Rodric of Gododdin!" the announcer shouted.
With that I walked forward into the arena the grip on my sword tightens when I lay my eyes upon my opponent, I can slowly feel my heart pumping fast just as it once did during the battle against the Saxons and White Dragon.
I wasn't scared or nervous no I felt rather alive and excited we met midway before bowing to each other as a sign of both honor and respect "may the best knight win Sir Alaric," Rodric said "Aye the same to you as well Sir Rodric may the best win," I replied with a composed tone.
With the traditional bow completed we took three steps back from one another settling into our respective sword stances "on the count of three....one...two...three begin!" the announcer declared.
The tension crackled in the air as we circled each other our eyes locked in a silent challenge.
Rodric made the first move, charging forward with a ferocious roar, his sword gleaming in the sunlight I braced myself, planting my feet firmly on the ground preparing to meet the attack head-on.
Then within a quick second I raised my own sword to block Rodric's strike, the sounds of our sword clash rang out across the arena causing the crowd to finally cheer for the battle had now begun.
Rodric continued his relentless assault he struck with such fast percussion pressing that it forced me to take a couple of steps back in order to dodge some of them.
Sweat trickled down my brow as I parried his next strike with my shield and struck forward with a swipe from my own blade aiming for his exposed side.
He flinched back feeling the sword slice through his hip seeing this I pressed on with a few more strikes that were barely parried away with his own shield, but I was soon starting to get annoyed with the constant shielding I wanted to test my limits how can I do so if he keeps shielding himself.
I swung again pretending to aim for Rodrick's face he goes to block again with the shield but this time I swung my foot at his arm knocking the shield out from his grasp.
I followed after tossing my own shield away "there now we can to our limits without the constant need of blocking now have at me Sir Rodrick show me more of your sword prowess!" I declared with an emotion that I couldn't even recognize.
Rodrick huffed shaking his head "if that was what you wanted Sir Alaric you only ever had to ask," he replied gripping his sword with both hands now.
With a swift movement he lunged forward, his blade flashing like a streak of lightning as he aimed a series of rapid strikes at my defenses.
I met each of his blow with equal skill and precision my sword moved with fluid grace as I parried and countered his attacks at the same pace "yes that's it shows me more!" I shouted lunging forward with my own unrelentless strikes.
If one could only see under my visor, they would find a smile of excitement spreading across my face it was something that even I wasn't aware of but the feeling coursing through my body was one that I recognized.
It was the same that I felt when I killed my former slave master and when I slaughtered those Saxons with my Luminous Nova this feeling was pure utter lust not because of the killing but of the battle.
With each strike that I unleashed, I could feel the surge of primal satisfaction coursing through my veins grow, the adrenaline left me feeling more alive than ever before.
Rodrick flinched back and when I increased the strength behind them his hands would tremble but still, he tried to fight on blocking whatever strikes he could until I ended the battle by launching my right foot at his abdomen which caused his sword to fly out from his grasp while he was sent skidding a few meters away.
Groaning from the impact Rodrick attempted to stand but was met with a sword to his neck "surrender Sir Rodrick you've lost," I said.
Seeing that there was nothing he could do Rodrick sighed raising his hand up "I surrender to you Sir Alaric you've clearly bested me in this battle!" he declared loudly for the cheering crowd.
I sheathed the sword and extended a handout for him to grab onto Rodrick hesitantly reached out before fully grasping it with a grateful nod "for what it was worth Sir Rodrick you fought well," I complimented.
"...Your words are appreciated Sir Alaric but it's clear that you were the better swordsmen," he replied before walking away.
I watched as he walked away for a moment before glancing up to the booths where Artoria, Lot, and Morgan were watching.
There was approval from Artoria's eyes, a nod from Morgan (which made me feel proud for some reason again), and fake smile from King Lot clearly the man did not like that one of his knights lost not like I cared though.
I turned walking out from the arena...this battle lust of mine almost consumed for a moment I need to control it otherwise I could accidentally kill my next opponent I thought with a clenched fist.
-end of chapter twelve-
the next chapter will be the start of learning the dark element with Morgan.
I also changed it so that the attack Alaric has been using isn't called Getsuga Tenshou as that is a Japanese attack name so I changed it into Luminous Nova.