Chapter 22
As Edger returned to the waiting area, a palpable excitement hung in the air. Alarcus, still shaken but ever determined, glanced over at Edger with newfound respect mixed with curiosity. Stepping forward, he cleared his throat.
"That sword…" he began, trying to mask the eagerness in his voice. "The Blacksmith of a Thousand Tales—do you know where I could find him?"
Edger raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised by the question. Alarcus continued, his expression earnest. "I need power. Enough to avenge my village. If this blacksmith can forge weapons of that caliber…" His voice trailed off, but the plea in his eyes remained.
Edger gave a small nod, choosing his words carefully. "If the blacksmith desires fame, he'll find you. But sometimes, true strength lies beyond the weapon itself." With that, he left, leaving Alarcus to contemplate.
Outside, the crowd buzzed with a similar question: Who is the Blacksmith of a Thousand Tales? And where could they find him? The atmosphere brimmed with curiosity, and Reyn, back in the stands with Liora, could feel a subtle pride swelling within him, even though he'd yet to claim that title.
The crowd quieted as the next match was announced, their eyes shifting to the center of the arena where a towering brute of an adventurer stomped forward. His heavy boots left shallow dents in the ground, and his shoulders were draped in layers of armor that gave him an almost monstrous appearance. In his hands, he wielded a massive warhammer, each end studded with jagged metal spikes. He sneered as he turned his gaze to his opponent.
On the other side, the female holy knight entered the arena, her movements graceful and composed. She wore armor that glinted with a faint holy aura, and her longsword rested confidently at her side. A hush fell over the audience as they took in her serene expression, a stark contrast to the brute's aggressive stance.
The brute let out a booming laugh, swinging his warhammer in a wide arc. "You really think you stand a chance, little knight?" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I'll give you one chance to surrender before I crush you like a bug."
The holy knight remained silent, her face a mask of calm. She raised her sword slightly, the blade catching the light as she prepared to defend herself. With a small, almost amused smile, she finally spoke, her voice steady. "I would suggest focusing on the fight. Overconfidence won't protect you from a righteous fall."
The brute's face twisted in anger at her calm dismissal, and with a roar, he charged forward, swinging his warhammer with all his might. The ground seemed to tremble with each step, his heavy weapon cleaving through the air with deadly force. But the holy knight sidestepped with grace, evading his wild swings with an elegance that made his attacks look clumsy in comparison. The crowd watched, mesmerized by the stark difference in their styles.
As the brute swung his hammer again, aiming for her midsection, the holy knight raised her hand and invoked a holy barrier. A shimmering light enveloped her, and the warhammer crashed against it, sending a ripple of golden energy outward. The brute stumbled back, clearly caught off guard, while the knight lowered her barrier and continued to advance with controlled steps.
Growing increasingly frustrated, the brute began to taunt her again, his voice booming across the arena. "Afraid to fight me head-on, little knight? Come on, show me some real strength!" His voice was laced with mockery as he tried to goad her into attacking recklessly.
But she was unfazed. Her calm gaze remained locked on him, her grip on her sword firm. "Strength isn't in brute force alone," she replied softly, sidestepping another wild swing. "Real strength is knowing when to strike and when to stand firm."
Infuriated, the brute let out a bellow and swung his warhammer with renewed aggression. His movements became wilder, his strikes more desperate. Each time he missed, he grew angrier, his frustration evident in the way he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. The holy knight continued to evade him, her every movement controlled and precise, waiting for just the right moment to counter.
Then, as he staggered forward after a particularly reckless swing, she struck. With a flash of her blade, she sliced through his armor at his side, a small but strategic wound that forced him to back off. The crowd gasped as the brute clutched his side, blood seeping through the armor. Her strike had been swift and controlled, a testament to her skill and discipline.
Undeterred, the brute prepared a final, desperate assault. He raised his warhammer high, summoning all his strength, intending to crush her with a single, powerful blow. But the holy knight remained poised, her eyes narrowing as she gathered her own holy power.
As he charged forward, she lifted her sword, and a radiant aura enveloped the blade. She uttered a soft prayer, and the sword blazed with a divine light, casting a glow across the arena that seemed to halt the brute in his tracks. With a graceful, fluid motion, she brought her sword down, the holy energy amplifying her strike as she cleaved through his weapon, splitting the warhammer in two.
The brute stumbled, his weapon shattered and his confidence broken. In a final move, the holy knight advanced, pressing the tip of her blade to his chest. Her voice remained steady as she spoke, looking him straight in the eyes. "Yield. Strength without purpose only leads to ruin."
Defeated, the brute collapsed to his knees, his head bowed in submission. The crowd erupted in cheers, awed by the holy knight's victory. She turned and bowed to the spectators, her calm composure unchanged even in victory.
Watching from the stands, Reyn couldn't take his eyes off her. The way she combined strength, grace, and purpose left a deep impression on him. He turned to Liora, a gleam of admiration in his gaze. "She has the heart of a true warrior," he murmured, almost to himself. "One day, if she keeps proving herself worthy, I'd like to forge Excalibur reborn not as an artifact of old, but as a new legend forged in the fires of purpose? for her but which version?".