Ragnariel raised his hand again. "Alright, the rematch begins!"
This time, Sir Balen charged forward with determination, his wooden sword raised high for a downward strike aimed at Lucien's head.
Lucien sidestepped smoothly to his left, the wooden sword crashing into the arena floor with a loud thud. In the next instant, Lucien pivoted and thrust his weapon toward Sir Balen's neck, stopping just short of impact.
The knight froze, sweat trickling down his face as he realized the blade was at his throat.
Ragnariel clapped his hands once. "Alright, I declare the winner: Brother Lucien!"
Lucien gave a small smile and extended his hand to the knight. "That was a good match, Sir Balen."
The training grounds buzzed with murmurs, the other knights growing more intrigued by the display.
Ragnariel stepped forward, his voice firm. "Next challenger, step up!"
The knights exchanged glances but remained rooted to their spots. The silence stretched on.
"No one has the courage?" said Ragnariel with disappointed face.
Finally, one knight raised his hand. "I'll face Young Master Lucien next, Young Master Ragnariel."
A grin spread across Ragnariel's face. "Good. At least the commander of our family's knights dare to take the challenge."
Sir Garran, the commander of the knights, strode confidently toward the arena and climbed onto the platform.
Ragnariel addressed him with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Since you're far stronger than the others, Sir Garran, I'll impose a rule, don't use mana. This duel will rely purely on swordsmanship and raw physical strength. Do you agree?"
Sir Garran nodded firmly, his face serious.
"Very well. Both fighters, take your stances."
Lucien and Garran readied their wooden swords, each adopting a solid stance. The tension in the air was palpable as the two sized each other up.
Ragnariel's voice echoed across the field. "Begin!"
Sir Garran dashed forward, his movements sharp and precise. His first attack aimed for Lucien's right side.
Lucien's eyes locked onto the commander's trajectory, reading the flow of the incoming strike. At the last moment, he stepped back, parrying the blow with his wooden sword and deflecting it to the side.
Using the momentum, Lucien shifted to Garran's right side, aiming a swift counterattack toward the commander's head.
But Garran's experience showed. Anticipating the move, he spun with the force of his deflected strike, redirecting his weapon toward Lucien's abdomen.
Lucien's breath hitched as he saw the blade closing in.
Lucien swiftly stepped back, dodging Garran's precise strike. The commander of the knights regained his stance, his focus unwavering. Lucien mirrored him, adjusting his footing and stance. This time, it was Lucien who launched forward with a sharp thrust.
Garran, calm and composed, deflected the attack downward with ease. But Lucien, quick on his feet, followed the momentum. Using the downward force, he leapt into the air, aiming a spinning kick toward Garran's head.
Surprised by Lucien's move, Garran barely managed to block the kick with his forearms, sliding a step back from the force.
The duel continued in a whirlwind of strikes, parries, and counters. Both fighters demonstrated a combination of skill, adaptability, and sheer determination, captivating everyone in the training grounds.
"Excellent! Now this is a proper duel!" Ragnariel thought to himself, a grin spreading across his face as he noticed even the other knights watching with eyes gleaming in admiration.
The duel reached its climax. This time, Garran advanced with a calculated strike aimed at Lucien. Rather than dodging, Lucien countered with another thrust. However, this time, his movements seemed to multiply his sword creating the illusion of four simultaneous attacks.
Garran hesitated for a split second, puzzled by the technique. Trusting his instincts, he opted to counter with a decisive swing aimed at Lucien's head.
The crowd held their breath as both combatants stopped just short of landing their blows. Lucien's sword hovered millimeters from Garran's neck, while Garran's blade was poised beside Lucien's cheek.
The arena was silent for a moment before both combatants broke into smiles.
"Well fought! I declare this match a draw," Ragnariel announced, his voice cutting through the silence.
Garran laughed heartily, lowering his weapon. "Hahaha! Young Master Lucien, why have you been hiding such skill? Your techniques are truly remarkable, unlike anything I've ever seen before. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Let's spar again sometime."
Lucien smiled in return. "I'd be honored, Sir Garran. I've learned a lot from this duel."
The knights erupted into cheers and applause.
"Wooaah!"
"That was incredible! What a match!"
"I want to spar too!"
The knights' enthusiasm and eagerness were palpable, their spirits invigorated by the thrilling battle.
Ragnariel's grin widened. "Alright, since Brother Lucien has finished two duels, it's now Brother Kaelen's turn. Kaelen, step onto the arena."
Kaelen, who had been observing intently, took a deep breath and nodded. "Understood," he said as he climbed onto the stage.
"Alright, is there anyone brave enough to test their strength?" Ragnariel asked, his voice calm yet commanding.
One of the knights raised his hand. "I will, Young Master."
"Good. Please step forward," Ragnariel said before turning to Dheo. "Sir Dheo, who is that knight?"
Dheo quickly responded, "That is Sir Glen, the captain of the third division, Young Master."
Ragnariel nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. Both combatants, prepare yourselves."
Kaelen and Sir Glen stepped onto the arena, taking their stances. Their focus was palpable, their movements deliberate as they readied themselves for the fight.
"Begin!" Ragnariel's sharp command signaled the start of the duel.
Sir Glen launched the first attack, closing the distance between them with impressive speed. But Kaelen stood firm, meeting the strike head-on. Their wooden swords clashed with a resounding crack, the force of their strikes echoing through the training ground.
Blow after blow, the duel was pure strength versus strength. There were no flashy tricks or intricate techniques just the raw power of two warriors testing their limits.
"This is how battles look between those who rely purely on brute force," Ragnariel smile, a hint of amusement in his tone.
The fight dragged on, sweat dripping from their brows, until Sir Glen faltered, exhaustion overcoming him. Kaelen seized the opportunity with a final, decisive strike.
"The winner is brother Kaelen! A fierce match indeed." Ragnariel's announcement was met with cheers. He turned back to the knights, his gaze sweeping across them. "Now then, who's next? Step forward if you're ready to challenge."
Several knights raised their hands.
"Very well. Sir Balen, would you like to give it another shot?" Ragnariel asked with a sly smile.
Sir Balen laughed heartily. "Haha, of course, Young Master! When it comes to raw strength, I won't lose."
"Excellent. Give it your all, Sir Balen," Ragnariel encouraged.
The arena fell silent as Sir Balen and Kaelen squared off. The match began with the same intensity, their swords crashing together like thunder. However, it wasn't long before Sir Balen found himself kneeling, his strength failing him against Kaelen's relentless attacks.
"Damn it! How could I lose in a contest of pure strength?" Sir Balen thought, frustration clear on his face.
Seeing Balen's disappointment, Ragnariel spoke up. "If you're curious about the training we go through that made Kaelen so strong, come to the training grounds at dawn, Sir Balen."
Balen looked up, surprised. "Am I allowed to join, Young Master?"
"Of course, Sir Balen. What's the point of only the five of us being strong if the rest of our family's knights are not? If you're willing, join us. I admire the determination in your eyes during the duel," Ragnariel said with a faint smile.
Balen's frustration melted into a grin as he stood. "Understood, Young Master. I will be there."
He stepped down from the arena, his resolve renewed.
"Alright, it's now Sister Serenya's turn. Please step into the arena," Ragnariel called.
With unwavering confidence, Serenya climbed up. Her posture radiated poise and strength.
"For those who wish to hone their skills, step forward and face her," Ragnariel declared, his voice ringing out across the grounds.
Nearly all the knights raised their hands. Ragnariel smiled widely. "It seems many of you wish to duel with her. What do you think, Sister?"
Serenya smiled confidently. "I'll take on ten of them at once."
The knights looked at each other in confusion. Then Ragnariel spoke up. "Alright, ten knights, please step forward."
One of the knights hesitantly asked, "Young Master, if we defeat Lady Serenya, will we have to split the reward among us?"
Ragnariel chuckled. "Don't worry. Each of you will receive the full reward."
The knights grinned in excitement and began climbing onto the arena.
"It seems our knights are full of enthusiasm," Ragnariel remarked. "Prepare yourselves."
Serenya and the ten knights took their stances, tension thick in the air.
"Before we begin, let me remind you all, Sister Serenya is the strongest among brother Lucien, brother Kaelen, and Sir Dheo. So give it everything you've got." Ragnariel grinned broadly, his words only adding to the knights' pressure.
The knights exchanged wary glances before Ragnariel shouted, "Begin!"
Serenya charged forward immediately, a confident smile on her face. Her movements were swift and precise, each strike landing on a vital point.
In less than three minutes, all ten knights were down.
"The winner is Sister Serenya!" Ragnariel declared, his voice booming.
From the stands, Valerius, who had been watching closely, turned to Dheo. "Is it true that Serenya is the strongest among you, Lucien, and Kaelen?"
Dheo nodded. "It's true, my lord. Lady Serenya's combat instincts are extraordinary. She adapts quickly to any situation and counters with incredible precision. Even Young Master Lucien, who spars with Young Master Ragnariel daily, struggles to anticipate her attacks."
Valerius smiled knowingly. "I see."
Ragnariel spoke again, his voice full of energy. "What do you say, Sister? Shall we double the challenge?"
Serenya laughed, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow. "Yes, let's do it. Bring on twenty knights this time."