Chapter 53: The First Match
Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The First Match
The news that the new Baron was going to duel members of the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association had already spread throughout Black Forest Island over the past few days.
Although many of the serfs and slaves had no time to come and watch, the island still had some Free People, as well as a few serfs who were relatively better off.
They had arrived at the crossroads early, waiting in excitement.
It had been a long time since Black Forest Island had seen such a lively event.
By mid-morning, the three parties had arrived one after another.
Just like last time, the men from the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association fell back several hundred meters, with only their leaders and competitors stepping into the combat area.
Duane, Kaelon, and Raymond rode forward, stopping a few meters in front of the opposing party.
"A pleasure to see you again, Baron," Daniels greeted first.
Bard reined in his horse, his arrogant expression showing no acknowledgement.
Duane paid him no mind, smiling as he said, "I’m glad you came as scheduled. However, before the duel begins... Daniels, I hear Broken Wave Bay produces salt?"
Daniels was taken aback for a moment, but Bard just burst into laughter.
"What, does the Baron need salt?"
Though phrased as a question, it indirectly confirmed that Broken Wave Bay did, in fact, produce salt.
"Of course!"
Duane’s reply was crisp. "Across the five great Kingdoms of the Shadow Mist Continent, the salt trade is controlled by the nobility. Commoners have no right to harvest it!"
Daniels lowered his gaze, his long eyebrows hiding his eyes and making his expression unreadable.
"Then what do you mean, Baron?"
Duane chuckled. "The salt trade will be part of today’s duel as well. Same as the other resources: the overall winner gets an exclusive forty percent share, while the remaining sixty percent will be divided, with twenty percent awarded for each match won."
Daniels mulled it over for a moment. "I have no objection."
Bard grinned. The salt trade was entirely controlled by the Broken Wave Gang; even he had to buy it from them.
Now that it was on the table as a prize for the duel, he’d have an excuse to claim a share.
"I have no objection either."
Bard’s reply was brisk. "Baron, let the duel begin. To show our respect for the Lord, you may decide the order of the matches."
Duane glanced to his left and right. Kaelon and Raymond were both ready.
"For the first match, my Guard Officer, Kaelon, will fight for me."
Kaelon leaped from his horse, pulling the shield from his back and drawing his longsword.
Daniels looked at Bard. "That’s the Baron’s strongest warrior. Bard, how do you plan to handle him?"
"Hmph. Naturally, I’ll be the one to fight!"
He swung himself off his horse. With a wave of his hand, Gaius took the reins and prepared to lead the horse away.
Duane’s gaze rested on Kaelon for a moment, a silent warning to be careful. Then he announced:
"The fight begins when the stone hits the ground. The duel ends if one combatant loses consciousness or surrenders. If anyone breaks the rules, they will be declared the loser, regardless of their opponent’s condition!"
Although Kaelon was confident, his opponent was, after all, a true Earth Tier Warrior—a full level above him.
Duane had no specific intel on Bard’s strength, making it impossible to assess the situation. Before leaving, he could only whisper another reminder to Kaelon to surrender if things went south.
’There are still two more matches, anyway.’
’As long as there’s life, there’s hope.’
With that said, Duane turned his horse and returned to the front of his party, with Raymond leading Kaelon’s horse right behind him.
In the blink of an eye, only Kaelon and Bard remained at the crossroads.
Duane tightened his grip on the reins, his eyes locked on the two men in the center of the clearing.
’A battle between a warrior at the Peak of the Human Tier and an Earth Tier Warrior is well worth watching.’
Daniels sat atop his horse, the expression on his aged face flickering, as if in anticipation of something.
The men of the Holy Hand Association were also a bit nervous. After all, Monbodt had hyped up Kaelon’s strength. They didn’t share Bard’s confidence, and couldn’t help but wonder what they would do if their leader fell.
In the center of the field, Bard loosened his limbs, his bones popping and cracking.
He stared at Kaelon, the corners of his mouth curling into a sneer. "Ready to accept your defeat?"
’He was extremely confident in his own strength.’
Kaelon’s expression remained unchanged. "Until the battle is over, no one knows the outcome. Blind arrogance only makes you look like a fool!"
’These were words his former master, Carter, often said. Now, he was the one speaking them.’
"Heh!"
Bard had no desire to trade barbs. He bent down, picked up a fist-sized stone, and tossed it casually into the air.
One second... two seconds... three seconds...
After five seconds, the stone hit the ground.
WHOOSH!
The instant the stone landed, both men shot into motion.
’So fast!’
To Duane, it seemed that in the blink of an eye, the two had crossed the seven or eight meters between them.
BAM!
The two shields slammed into each other. The Fighting Qi imbued in them erupted on impact, the force blasting out and gouging holes in the ground.
The immense force threw them both backward, their bodies hurtling back from the point of impact.
But it was clear that Kaelon, who was thrown back more than ten meters before he could stop, was at a disadvantage. His opponent, in contrast, had only taken seven or eight steps back.
"HAHAHA! Is that all you’ve got?"
Bard laughed maniacally and charged forward again, wild and ferocious like a lion closing in for the kill.
His entire body was wreathed in Fighting Qi, which, combined with his armor, made him look a full size larger.
Kaelon had already recovered and met the charge without a trace of fear.
’A battle between Warriors is a clash of Strength, skill, and Combat Techniques. The two were currently in the first stage: a contest of pure Strength.’
"How does it look?" Duane asked in a low voice.
He could see Kaelon was at a disadvantage, and he was getting nervous.
Raymond seemed to have more faith in Kaelon. "If that’s the extent of Bard’s Strength, Kaelon still has a decent chance of winning this duel."
He had sparred with Kaelon many times and knew his capabilities well.
It all depended on whether Bard was holding anything back.
But common sense dictated that a Warrior’s first strike was usually delivered with full force. After all, holding back could lead to a swift and brutal defeat.
Gaius, the Vice Leader of the Holy Hand Association, and his men breathed a sigh of relief seeing their leader take the upper hand.
Only Daniels didn’t seem so pleased. "Simone, what is your assessment?"
The veteran warrior, Simone, replied, "From that last exchange, it’s clear the Baron’s warrior, Kaelon, truly does have Earth Tier strength."
He added, "It’s not overwhelming, though. He probably just broke through recently. As it stands, Bard’s chances of winning are greater."
Daniels immediately asked, "So you’re saying there’s a chance they could both come out of this duel badly injured?"
"Yes," Simone affirmed.
’A glint flashed in Daniels’s eyes. This was an outcome he would be happy to see.’
While the spectators were talking, Kaelon and Bard were trading blows in the center of the field. The clash of shields and the blur of swords wove together in an exceptionally fierce display.
The watching Free People and serfs stared, transfixed, letting out periodic gasps of amazement.
As time wore on, Kaelon was steadily beaten back.
"Breaking Army Slash!"
He roared, finally unleashing a Combat Technique.
Powerful Fighting Qi condensed on his longsword, forming a massive Light Saber. He swung it fiercely, and the rapidly expanding energy tore a furrow straight through the ground!
Duane’s pupils contracted. This was the first time he had seen a Combat Technique used in person, and it was far more powerful than he had imagined.
’This is Extraordinary Power.’
"HAHAHA! You couldn’t hold back any longer, could you!"
Bard let out a great laugh as a thick yellow halo flared to life on his shield, which he raised to meet the attack.
"BOOM!"
The enormous Light Saber struck the face of the shield. In an instant, the yellow halo shattered, dissolving into shockwaves that rippled out in all directions.
Amid the billowing dust, Bard was sent flying by the force of the impact, landing hard a hundred meters away.
He coughed, got to his feet, and jeered, "Good thing my shield is sturdy, otherwise that would have been nasty!"
Kaelon’s expression was grim.
’His defensive Combat Technique just now negated most of the power of my Breaking Army Slash. He was sent flying, but he didn’t suffer any substantial damage.’
’His defense is incredible. Throughout our exchanges, he’s been solid, and his Combat Techniques are also defensive. Trying to outlast him isn’t my strong suit.’
Kaelon flexed his wrist, his gaze sharpening. ’In that case, my only choice is to try Spirit Swordsmanship and risk it all on a fast-paced assault!’