"Why aren't you wearing anything?"
Jacob asked as he looked at the fat guy in front of him in confusion.
Why wouldn't I? It wasn't like I was completely naked or in my underpants, in fact I was wearing a very relaxing shirt made of wool and the half-pants were of silk.
"Do you think this is a joke?" Jacob scorned, "This is a duel. You fight a duel to the death and you were such clothes for it, do you want me to be disqualified because of this small trick."
"Trick? Whatever can you mean by that my jolly man," I asked with a harmless smile, "I am wearing such clothes because it's more comfortable to fight you like this."
"Comfortable?" Jacob smiled darkly, "Let's see how much comfortable you can be without any armor to protect you from my sword."
I smiled innocently at his threat. It didn't have any impact on me but I still had to be cautious of him. He is… or would be a formidable general in the future, so… maybe he can make this more interesting.
"Henry, you don't have to do this!" Samantha said to me from the stands, "We can still settle this matter calmly."
"Yes, master." Anna said, her face filled with worry, "Please don't do anything that might get you hurt."
'Hurt?... me? She's gotta be kidding, right?'
'Might as well play along.'
"It's okay Anna, and Samantha about doing this calmly-"
"Don't listen to what this guy says, commander." Jacob told her, "He is a snake in a hippopotamus's skin."
A few guys laughed hearing him insult me.
I wanted to finish this fight as quickly and harmlessly as possible but now with him bluntly shaming me in front of so many people like that is bad for me.
People look at me and think only bad things. Thinking that I am weak and powerless against their scorn. If I didn't take care of those thoughts as fast as possible then even a commoner will walk over me the next day.
To fix that, I need to set an example… and I have the perfect product.
I see Amelia looking at me from behind Samantha as she prayed while looking at both of us.
'I don't know if she is praying for me or him… who am I kidding, she is definitely praying for that boy toy.'
I look at Samantha, "I wanted to, but I can't just let this nobody shame the Tax family like this, I need to do this… for the Tax Family Honor."
Samantha couldn't refute anymore, not when it came to a family's honor.
"Alright then… but please… don't kill him, he's just a boy." She said with a downcast look and gave a nod to her uncle, who was the judge of the match.
Nance nodded and looked at the participants, "Are you ready for what will come next?"
Jacob nodded, "I am."
"Are you ready to fight out without any cheats?"
I nodded, "I am."
"Then honor this fight… with blood and bones."
Nance's words came with a revolving roar of the soldiers that initiated the fight.
It was Jacob who moved first. He rushed angrily towards me and went for a chop with his sword.
Amelia closed her eyes, the roars of the crowd defining her senses. But in the next few seconds, the sound went away. The sound that was way too loud, filled with bloodlust and waiting for life to be cut slowly disappeared as gasps and words of shock replaced it.
"How?"
"This is impossible!"
"Tell me this isn't happening, tell me!"
"How can… he do something like that?"
Amelia thought that they were talking about Jacob killing the fat lord. She should have felt better at the thought… but she didn't. She remembered the horrifying things he made her do but it wasn't forceful… she had a choice and she chose to do it willingly.
'He wasn't such a bad guy… he doesn't deserve this.'
Her thoughts were cut off as gasps too went away and in came the sound of metal clashing against each other.
'Hmm? Isn't the fight over?' She thought before opening her eyes and peeking. What she saw next shocked her.
I wasn't the least bit hurt and instead I was parrying all the attacks that Jacob was throwing at me.
Slashes, Thrusts, Chops and a few other types of attacks came for me but I parried them all. I was like a fricken robot who was deflecting off the attacks of a low class npc.
I didn't even had to use my slow time skill, he wasn't anywhere near the level of someone like Samantha. But that didn't mean he wasn't strong, he was just not enough for me.
I smiled seeing that Jacob's breathes were heavy now, he had attacked me simultaneously without retreat so it was bound to happen, Then it did.
Jacob stopped attacking as he took deep breathes and gave me a look that I wanted from him so much.
It was the look someone gave when they saw something unattainable.
"So… ready for my attack?"
"Huh?" He didn't understand quick enough and I gave a hard kick at his chest and he flew away and rolled over.
"Ahhh!"
'Hmm… if he didn't have his armor then that might have broken his back.'
I walked towards the moaning boy, who still didn't realize the true meaning of pain.
"You shame me with your lowly mouth. You speak as if I have no power. You look at me like I am a cockroach that you can fucking crush."
"Now where is that look?... WHERE!" I said with a large roar and look around me. Whoever my eyes landed on looked away in fear.
Yes, give me that look, tell me that you fear me and that I am the strongest.
I look over at Amelia who had shocked eyes all over and then at Anna… who was looking at me proudly, her look somehow made me stronger, made me puff up my chest.
"Now take this as a warning and never forget to fear me." I said bringing down my leg over his body.
"AHHHHHHHH!"