All eyes were on the arena as Ares faced the armored knight. There was no room for error—this trial would determine his place in the kingdom.
The knight raised his massive sword again, delivering a swift strike toward Ares. But Ares dodged with agility, stepping back just in time.
Ares (thinking): "He's fast despite that heavy armor… I can't just keep dodging forever. I need to find an opening."
The knight swung once more, but this time, Ares took the opportunity. He ducked under the sword and lunged forward, delivering a direct punch to the knight's armor, causing a brief stagger.
Knight (in a low voice): "Interesting…"
The knight stepped back, raising his shield in front of him. His voice carried a calm yet challenging tone.
Knight: "You're fast, but speed alone won't defeat a true knight."
In a flash, the knight charged again—this time even faster! Ares barely managed to block the strike with his sword, but the sheer force of the attack sent him skidding backward, his feet digging into the ground.
Ares (shocked): "That power…!"
Despite the pain in his arms, he refused to give in. He knew that battles weren't just about strength—they required strategy and intelligence.
Glancing around the arena, Ares searched for anything he could use to turn the fight in his favor. That's when he noticed the light reflecting off the knight's armor, giving him an idea…
Ares (smirking slightly): "Alright… let's see how you handle this."
He raised his voice, taunting the knight with confidence.
Ares: "Is that all you've got? I expected more from you."
The knight couldn't ignore the provocation and charged at Ares with even greater speed, ready to end the fight. But this was exactly what Ares had been waiting for…
Would he be able to turn the tide of battle?
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End of Chapter 8.