Chapter 41: Arthur vs. Kael

Completely consumed by his emotions, Arthur immediately shot forward, launching the first attack.

Although the young man had been named the top graduate of the Royal Knight Academy, his experience in actual combat was still extremely limited.

Especially when it came to controlling his emotions under the pressure of mortal danger.

To Kael, the real battlefield was the most terrifying place on earth, a living hell where the stench of blood, the smell of spilled intestines, and death itself were everyday sights.

It was a place that could shatter one’s sanity, driving many inexperienced soldiers into depression until they eventually lost their minds.

Ultimately, the only people capable of surviving and returning from such slaughterfields were those with nerves of steel and courage that could overcome even their fear of death.

CLANG—!

Kael swung his greatsword with all his strength, striking Arthur’s blade head-on.

The tremendous collision immediately generated a small shockwave of wind. The overwhelming force sent Arthur staggering backward several steps in sheer shock, his hand going completely numb.

"???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????!" Arthur thought in horror, his palm throbbing violently.

He gritted his back teeth. From that moment onward, Arthur abandoned every trace of his previous arrogance.

Each swing of his sword was now executed with extreme caution, for he knew all too well that a single direct blow from Kael would be more than enough to end the match and leave him utterly defeated.

"Is that really the limit of an academy officer’s abilities?" Kael remarked casually, wearing a mocking smirk.

"Stop running your mouth, you bastard!" Arthur snarled in frustration.

His attacks grew increasingly faster and more refined. The swordsmanship he displayed was the classical style developed by his unit, a traditional technique passed down through generations of Leonheart Kingdom Knights. It was precise, disciplined, and methodical.

However, Kael could easily read every pattern. He effortlessly blocked all of Arthur’s strikes, occasionally launching swift counterattacks that successfully forced the young man to stumble backward in retreat.

"Well, well... Look at that! It seems Sir Arthur is coming under tremendous pressure from Sir Kael’s counterattacks. The difference in their abilities is simply overwhelming," a spectator in the front row whispered.

"Even a single swing of his sword carries that much destructive power... He truly deserves the title of Vex City’s Orc Slayer."

"He’s truly the pride of our city!"

Hearing the spectators’ whispers of praise as they began to favor Kael, Arthur’s pride took another devastating blow, fueling his growing anger.

This time, Kael took the initiative and advanced first. Every slash he unleashed was wild, brutal, and completely devoid of any rigid pattern, yet utterly deadly.

Lizzy, who was watching her husband from the front row of spectators, narrowed her eyes. Having seen Kael fight and train before, she immediately noticed something unusual.

"????...? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????????."

She knew very well that this wasn’t the formal swordsmanship of the Valerius Family. Instead, it was the wild, ruthless, and merciless fighting style Kael had commonly used during the early days of his career as a street mercenary.

Despite their seemingly chaotic nature, every one of Kael’s sword strikes threw Arthur off balance, leaving fatal openings for follow-up attacks.

The young man was now spending most of his time dodging, his breathing growing increasingly ragged. His heart pounded wildly as panic began to take hold.

"?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ??????????????...?!"

On the platform of honor, Grand Advisor Velde’s expression grew increasingly grim. He had never expected Arthur to be pressured so severely in such a short amount of time.

Nevertheless, the spectators’ cheers continued to roar across the field. Fortunately for Arthur, after spending several minutes cornered, the young man gradually began adapting to Kael’s brutal rhythm.

He started managing to match several of Kael’s strikes, until finally, a well-aimed thrust successfully forced Kael to retreat several steps.

Witnessing this sudden comeback, Velde immediately broke into a broad, triumphant smile.

The spectators surrounding the field also grew tense, completely swept up in the intensity of the match.

"Magnificent! Sir Arthur is finally making a comeback and showing his true strength!"

"So... This is the raw combat power of a Two-Star Knight who graduated at the top of his class from the Knight Academy? If even a Second-Star Knight is this powerful... Just how terrifying must Three-Star Knights and those above them be?!"

Near Lizzy’s position, Cherry bit her lower lip, overwhelmed by worry as she watched Kael suddenly get pushed backward.

"Hey... Is that young man named Arthur really so powerful that he can actually pressure Kael like that?"

Meanwhile, in another corner of the crowd, Loyd, Johan, and their fellow mercenaries were busy setting up an impromptu betting stand among the spectators.

"Come on, place your bets! Sir Kael is definitely going to win! We’ve already put down a full twenty gold coins on him!" Johan shouted enthusiastically, offering betting tickets. "Those of you supporting Sir Arthur, how much are you brave enough to bet, huh?!"

Naturally, plenty of wealthy and ordinary spectators alike were tempted by the opportunity to place their bets. Some continued backing Kael, while a growing number began switching their wagers to Arthur.

After all, as time went on, Kael genuinely seemed to be struggling, panting heavily as he endured his opponent’s relentless attacks.

"It’s all over for you, Sir Kael! You’re too arrogant and underestimated your opponent!" shouted a gambler who had bet on the Royal Knight. "Sir Arthur is getting ready to unleash his ultimate technique!"

In the middle of the arena, Kael appeared to be exhausted, bending forward with both hands resting on the hilt of his sword as he gasped for breath.

"Oh, damn... I’m running out of breath! I... I underestimated this brat...!"

Several meters in front of him, Arthur stood upright in an exceptionally firm stance. He raised his sword straight ahead, level with his face, concentrating all his mental focus and bodily energy until they reached their absolute peak.

Suppressing all worldly desires, uniting mind and body, and strengthening his conviction that a true Knight must never accept defeat, he embraced the belief that a Knight’s spirit would always endure and claim absolute victory at the tip of his sword.

BZZZZT—SHING!

Arthur shot forward at a speed far beyond anything he had displayed before. His movements were breathtakingly beautiful, graceful, and dazzling—like a legendary silver dragon soaring high through the heavens.

He spun his body through the air in a circle of sunlight, and with the final slash of his ultimate technique, he aimed directly at Kael, intending to bring him down in a single strike!