Vlad felt his arms trembling as the power behind that bastard sword was truly monumental; it could easily cut through a tank! Instead of trying to forcefully resist, he jumped back, hurtling across the air but reducing the impact on his body.
The one who had attacked was none other than the massive man behind the angelic woman, and the speed and strength he unleashed were so great that no one else would have been able to react to such an attack.
"Filthy mutt, you dare to use those words with Lady Orin!"
The man shouted as he raised his weapon once more, seemingly ready to charge at Vlad, but suddenly, his eyes widened as he looked to the side. There was a small figure he had not noticed, and despite the size, he felt a massive amount of energy ready to be discharged.
Jormungandr stared at the angel in golden armor, and his black eyes glowed with killing intent. He had been on Vlad's shoulder this entire time but jumped at the last minute, ready to strike.
When the rest of Vlad's inner circle saw the attack, they glanced at each other for a moment before a flash of coldness appeared in their eyes as they turned toward the angel. Even the two women, who had been very angry about the misogynistic words, were ready to fight.
Orin, the angelic woman, was surprised by the sudden turn of events, and she glanced at the civilians in the distance. While everyone present heard Vlad's words and could consider the angel in golden armor's action justified, the only thing the civilians and soldiers saw was the man attacking Vlad.
The woman knew she needed to act fast, but before she could open her mouth, Vlad acted.
"How dare a mere housekeeper strike me without provocation."
The words 'housekeeper' might not sound like much to normal people, but for angels, it had an entirely different connotation, as it declared the lower rung of their society, something the man in golden armor would definitely not accept.
"How dare you call me that. I am Knight Ion, faithful servant to the Seraphin House."
Vlad's face was still full of indignation as he heard those words, and it seemed he was even more angry now.
"You are a Knight and dare to attack me in such a manner, without any declaration. Is that the Knight Training of the Seraphin House?"
Orin's eyes narrowed as she heard those words, and she could not help but grow confused at Vlad's seemingly vast knowledge of her race's tradition. However, suddenly a flash of realization appeared in her eyes, as she seemed to understand something and immediately turned to the angel in golden armor.
"Io..."
Unfortunately for the woman, before she could even finish her first word, the man in golden armor shouted with all his power.
"You have insulted the name of my House. I challenge you to a Soul Duel!"
"And I accept!"
It was only after uttering those words that Vlad's indignation faded, replaced by a cold smile. What he had been after was exactly those words, a Soul Duel.
He had mocked the woman and treated her like an object in order to incite the knight's rage, and then shouted about the Knight Training, which according to Ismael, taught Knights to demand a soul duel if the honor of their house is challenged.
As for the reason why Vlad wanted a soul duel, which was a battle to the death, against the man so publicly, that would become clear soon.
Orin's eyes twitched for a second, and she glanced at Vlad with nothing but poisonous hatred. However, she immediately hid all that, and stepped back, putting distance between her and Ion.
General Anglius, General Omar, Jormungandr, and the rest of the Inner Circle were confused as they did not understand what was really happening.
"General Omar. Come."
The General was confused for a moment but did not hesitate to heed Orin's words.
"Everybody. You must also move back. This is a Soul Duel, and no one should interfere until one of us is dead."
Duels were nothing new to the Constantine Country as they were a common theme in the past, but that was no longer the case, yet it seemed like with many things, they were returning. Although they were still confused, everyone, including Jormungandr, pulled back as Vlad walked forward, appearing fifty meters away from Ion.
Vlad had a single sword in his hand. If he wanted to clash with that bastard sword, he could not divide his strength. He felt Ion's strength in that strike, and the man was definitely a Champion, maybe even at a higher level than the Abyssal Mantis.
Vlad could be considered tall, measuring nearly one meter and ninety centimeters after all the improvements his body had experienced as of late, but he was still dwarfed by the nearly two-and-a-half-meter Ion, who resembled a moving tank in that golden armor.
The duo glanced at each other as their energy began to rise, and the next second, sky-blue and white Force emerged from their bodies as they raised their weapons.