Royal Castle Training Grounds.
Julius's steady and powerful voice cut through the noisy crowd.
"This duel with Lord Subaru is solely to demonstrate the responsibility and honor of the Knightly Order."
Julius stood ramrod straight, his right hand resting elegantly on the hilt of his knightly sword.
His light purple hair swayed gently in the breeze, his amber eyes calmly fixed on Natsuki Subaru before him.
"I wonder, does Lord Subaru have any other objections?"
"None."
Natsuki Subaru answered crisply, his mind racing, quickly assessing the strength difference between them.
It's known that my current level is 19.
Adding the attribute points gained from completing daily system tasks during this period, all of which were allocated to strength, my current strength attribute alone is about fifteen times that of an ordinary person.
So, in terms of physical constitution, I should completely overwhelm Julius.
As for sword skills, with the buff from the passive skill [Advanced Dagger Arts], I have no need to worry.
The only tricky part is Julius's spirit magic, especially those six-element combination attacks; I must handle those with care.
"In that case." Julius nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the side, where Ferris was waving excitedly. "Then, I shall ask Ferris to serve as the witness for this duel."
"Here, here~" Ferris, the cat-eared knight who had been called, hopped forward like a cheerful kitten, his pair of grey cat ears twitching constantly with excitement.
Blinking his large golden eyes, he looked mischievously at Natsuki Subaru. "I hope both sides will fight with all their might, meow... No matter how severe the injury, as long as you're not dead, you must persevere to the end, Subaru-kyun~"
"Hey, hey, why are you only saying that to me?" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but raise his voice, retorting to Ferris. "Ferris, you should show some concern for that guy over there too, right? At least say some perfunctory words like 'keep it to a mere exchange of blows'!"
Speaking of which, this Julius fellow is not only an elite of the Kingdom of Lugnica's Royal Guard Knights, with a distinguished family background and outstanding strength, firmly occupying the second seat in the Knightly Order, but he's also hailed by all as "The Finest Knight."
It's worth mentioning that Julius is not only a master swordsman but also a rare Spirit Knight.
He has formed contracts with quasi-spirits of six attributes—Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Yin, and Yang—and can cast a variety of spells.
Coupled with his Divine Protection of Spirit Attraction, he is naturally attuned to spirits, even able to share their vision and communicate directly with them.
Judging from this information alone, Julius is practically a walking magical cannon, invulnerable in close combat; he's truly ridiculously strong.
"However, I have my advantages too: strength 15 times that of a normal person, a physique enhanced by the system, and skills." Natsuki Subaru secretly clenched his fists, feeling the power surging within him.
"Wow, such bravado!" Ferris exaggeratedly covered his mouth, turning to face the audience, his grey tail wagging happily behind him. "Did everyone hear that? This little bro is brimming with confidence! Heave-ho! The duel between knights is about to officially begin!"
As Ferris waved his hands dramatically, the entire training ground once again erupted in deafening cheers.
Wave after wave of sound rolled in, thoroughly igniting the atmosphere.
This duel between the kingdom's finest knight and an unknown knight was about to unfold under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
"Come on, Finest Knight, let me show you what 'cheat-level' power looks like!"
Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath, slowly assuming a combat stance, his eyes fixed intently on Julius before him.
He could feel his heart accelerating.
But it wasn't out of fear.
It was—out of excitement!
In the front row area of the spectator stands.
"Julius... is recognized as the kingdom's finest knight. Subaru should be alright, shouldn't he..." Emilia's gaze was fixed on the black figure in the arena, her voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the surrounding noise.
"Lady Emilia~" Roswaal said in his usual peculiar tone, his face showing no hint of concern for Subaru. "Since Subaru-kun~ chose to accept Julius's challenge~ he must be confident~"
"But..." Emilia bit her lower lip, her voice laced with obvious worry. "Julius isn't just skilled in swordsmanship; he's also a Spirit Knight, capable of using magic of six attributes."
"Ara, ara~" Roswaal's mismatched pupils narrowed slightly. "Lady Emilia, are you worried that Subaru-kun will get hurt?"
"As Subaru's liege, of course I'd worry about my knight." Emilia's cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze remained firm.
"Hehe, so it is~" Roswaal let out a meaningful chuckle. "However~ Subaru-kun has created quite a few miracles~ Do you remember how he saved you from the Bowel Hunter?"
"Err, that..." Emilia's expression suddenly softened as she recalled the scene from that time, but then she shook her head. "But this is different. Julius is very strong."
"Lady Emilia." Roswaal suddenly adopted a serious tone, though his voice still carried its characteristic lilt. "Sometimes~ we need to learn to trust our knights~"
"Trust Subaru..." Emilia paused, a flash of understanding in her amethyst eyes.
She let out a light sigh and refocused her gaze on the arena. "You're right. I should trust Subaru."
On the other side of the spectator stands.
Al leaned against a stone pillar, his black helmet completely obscuring his face, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes.
He watched the impending duel with his arms crossed, a look of interest on his (unseen) face.
He turned to Priscilla beside him and said, "I didn't expect the Princess to be interested in such a crude brawl."
"Insolent!" Priscilla snapped her fan shut abruptly, proudly puffing out her ample chest.
A dangerous glint flashed in her ruby-like eyes as she used the tip of her fan to lift Al's chin. "Who permitted you to speculate on my preferences, Al?"
"Oh dear, Princess, please calm down. I just saw how focused you were and thought..." Al raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, a muffled laugh coming from beneath his black helmet.
"Why?" Priscilla snapped her fan open again with a 'shua,' covering half of her beautiful face, revealing only a pair of eyes glinting with dangerous light. "Did you think I would swoon over the knights' muscles like those superficial noble young ladies?"
"Never, never." Al shook his head, the helmet making a slight metallic sound. "I just thought, with the Princess's noble status..."
"Shut up, you tin can." Priscilla lightly tapped his helmet with her fan, producing a crisp 'ding.'
Then, her gaze shifted to the two in the center of the arena, particularly the black-haired young man. "I just find that half-elf's knight rather interesting. Daring to openly coerce a Sage Council elder at the Royal Selection meeting, and now challenging The Finest Knight. He's quite an amusing person."
"Princess, don't tell me you've taken a liking to that kid?" Al tilted his helmet, asking subconsciously.
"Utterly foolish!" Priscilla's fan struck Al's black helmet heavily with a sharp 'whish,' producing a loud 'clang.'
A barely perceptible blush flashed across her exquisite face, but she quickly reverted to her usual condescendingly arrogant demeanor. "I merely appreciate a brave warrior."
Priscilla elegantly shielded half her face with her fan, her ruby-like eyes glancing askance at Al. "Much better than a certain coward who only knows how to hide in a tin can and make sarcastic remarks."
"Yes, yes, the Princess's lesson is well received." Al scratched the spot on his helmet where he'd been hit, though the thick helmet prevented him from feeling any pain. "But seriously, Princess, do you think that kid can beat Julius? That's The Finest Knight, you know."
"Who knows..." Priscilla lazily waved her fan, her ruby-like eyes fixed on Natsuki Subaru in the arena, a playful smile on her lips as she murmured, "However, if this reckless brat can indeed create a miracle, I wouldn't mind giving him another chance to kneel and pledge his loyalty."
"Ha... then I'd have to warn that brother to be careful..." A muffled laugh came from under Al's black helmet, and he unconsciously pursed his lips. "After all, being appreciated by the Princess is no easy task..."
"Hmm?" Priscilla's fan suddenly paused.
She narrowed her wine-red eyes, an icy aura emanating from her.
"I mean, that's his greatest honor!" Al quickly corrected himself, pretending to focus intently on the arena. "Ah, Princess, look! The duel... it's starting..."
On a viewing platform not far away.
Felt leaned forward, her hands on the armrests of her seat, a rare serious expression on her face as she looked at the handsome red-haired knight beside her and asked, "Hey, Reinhard, who do you think will win between little bro and that knight?"
"Lady Felt, as you know, any battle contains variables." Reinhard bowed his head slightly, his trademark gentle smile on his lips. "Julius's strength is indeed considerable, second only to Commander Marcos within the Knightly Order. As for Natsuki Subaru..." Here, Reinhard paused slightly, a thoughtful look in his azure eyes. "I have not personally witnessed Natsuki Subaru's full capabilities."
"Oh?" Felt's red eyes stared straight at Reinhard, her small canine tooth peeking out from between her lips. "So, you're saying you still favor that knight, huh?"
"Well..." Just as Reinhard was about to explain, Felt impatiently cut him off.
"Then let's make a bet!" Felt stood up, hands on her hips, a cunning smile on her face. "If the little bro I'm supporting wins, I won't have to participate in that mind-numbingly boring Royal Selection! How about it? That's a pretty good stake, right?"
"My apologies, Lady Felt." Reinhard's voice remained as gentle as a spring breeze, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "You should be well aware that the Royal Selection is no child's play. It concerns the future of the entire Kingdom of Lugnica."
"Tch! You're no fun at all..." Felt pouted and grumbled, but she soon refocused her attention on the intense duel in the center of the arena.
Felt slammed her hands on the railing of the viewing stand, completely disregarding her noble image as a Royal Candidate, and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Go for it, little bro! Beat that pretentious purple-haired noble down hard!"
"Lady Felt..." Reinhard looked at his liege's childlike behavior, an expression of both fondness and helplessness appearing on his handsome face.
He shook his head gently, then also turned his gaze towards the agile black figure in the arena.
The explosive power Natsuki Subaru displays in battle, his composed demeanor when facing The Finest Knight, and the extraordinary courage he showed earlier at the Royal Selection meeting... these qualities gradually painted a new perception of him in Reinhard's mind.
It seems my previous judgment of him was indeed flawed.
Natsuki Subaru's strength is likely far beyond my imagination.
In the center of the training ground, Natsuki Subaru and Julius faced each other, separated by several dozen meters.
A light breeze swirled fine dust, seemingly forming an ethereal barrier between them.
"Knight Natsuki Subaru." Julius looked at Natsuki Subaru, who stood empty-handed, and frowned slightly before speaking. "Do you require a knight's sword to be prepared for you?"
"No need." A smile touched Natsuki Subaru's lips as his right hand made a grasping motion in the air.
In the next second, the entirely black Kasaka's Venom Fang dagger appeared out of thin air in his right hand, its sinister blue edge glinting dangerously in the sunlight.
My system inventory is really convenient; switching equipment in battle doesn't even take a second.
Julius's pupils contracted sharply but quickly reverted to his usual composed demeanor.
Although storage magic wasn't unheard of, to be able to retrieve items so freely was indeed extremely rare.
"His method of retrieving items is somewhat similar to Lady Priscilla's Yang Sword. I recall that lady also summons her weapon from thin air like this..."
While thinking this, Julius's right hand gently caressed the hilt of his sword, slowly drawing the knightly rapier from his waist.
"Come on." Natsuki Subaru lowered his center of gravity, holding the dagger horizontally across his chest, his black eyes burning with a fierce fighting spirit. "Let me properly experience the strength of the kingdom's finest knight."
"As you wish." Julius nodded slightly, his rapier tracing a graceful arc.
CLANG!!!
In a flash of lightning, the two figures intersected.
The dagger and rapier drew dazzling trajectories in the air, finally colliding violently at a single point, sparks flying like fireworks.
The intense impact kicked up a visible ring-shaped shockwave, blowing away all the dust on the ground, forming a perfect circular clearing.
As the dust settled, both were seen to have retreated several steps, leaving deep footprints in the sand.
But judging from their stances, Julius, who had been on the defensive, had clearly suffered a slight disadvantage.
Of course, this was just a probe; neither had gotten serious yet.
The real battle was only just beginning.
_
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