Refusing all the gifts?
Yes, My Lord.
Didnt she even check what they were?
No, My Lord. She refused without even opening them.
Hmm.
Duke Sheretif sat in the stands, he pondered in silence.
She dismissed the high-priced magical items that most people could never afford in their lifeti with just a word.
It arrived as a gift in his na, and anyone with common sense would have anticipated it to be an expensive luxury item, even without inspecting it.
Even if they werent like ancestral relics, if they were rare enough to be found only occasionally through auctions, they could be called luxury goods without hesitation.
Did she refuse such things without even looking at them?
Either very confident or very clever.
The mont one receives support from Duke Sheretif, a certain favor is created. rely accepting sothing from him, regardless of whether theres substantial alignnt of interests, creates an implicit obligation.
Thus, if she were to suffer defeat and elimination from the tournant, even in the absence of concrete proof, suspicions would inevitably arise linking her losses to the gifts she received.
She would be subject to speculation, accused of possibly trading victory to nobles in return for financial gain or other favors.
So, refusing the gifts now could be interpreted as ensuring both safety and maintaining her value.
Of course, there are also those who have lost their minds in the na of reciprocation.
Well, those guys all beca corpses during the war.
Loyalists are necessary in tis of chaos.
Humans are political beings, and in tis when survival and struggle are not urgent, humans are bound to beco political beings.
Duke Sheretif nodded.
Not bad for a third son of a rcenary noble family, he thought. After utilizing him effectively and obtaining his value, it wouldnt be too difficult to discard him without any loss.
Elizaveta indeed wields control over Intelligent Command, to have discovered such a man, he mused.
If he loses, we shall host a grand feast in honor of the man from Krasilov who fought so valiantly.
Yes, My Lord.
As the herald bowed and stepped back, Duke Sheretif added one more passing remark.
But if he wins, kill him by any ans necessary. This era no longer reveres heroes.
Third-rate romances like naless knights winning the princesss love through sheer valor and leading a peaceful reign are no longer necessary.
The world no longer wishes for one persons blade dancing above the masses.
Heroic tales easily sway the masses, especially the more dramatic and glamorous they are.
Elizaveta already possessed a sufficient level of wealth and control. If combined with military force and the support of the people it would be nothing short of the resurgence of a ruler with more solid sovereignty than any absolute monarchy in the past.
Therefore, the last move against that man by Elizaveta. Even if he were to defeat the strongest elf, it would be the birth of a great nobody. No, precisely because of that.
He must be eliminated now, before he blossoms fully.
***
[Ivan Petrovich Yermov, enters!!]
Poor-quality armor, not even properly stamped, creaks as it ascends.
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, clanking and clanging.
[Here he cos.]
Edel looked at Ivan approaching, her fingers itching to draw her sword and engage in a dance of blades.
Finally, Ivan stamped firmly on the stage. The eyes of the two knights t.
-Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo!!
The audience booed. Neither knight was showing proper respect to the nobility and the royal family.
The two warriors raised their helts, not showing their faces, not bowing towards the royal family, just staring at each other.
An elf clad in magnificent magic-enhanced armor, and a third son of an unknown provincial noble.
The two eccentric duelists both slowly drew their swords without waiting for anyones signal.
Shrrrring.
The blades soared towards the sky and simultaneously stopped at a 15-degree angle towards each other.
Ignoring respect for the ruler, the nation, or the people, the two warriors now only displayed deference to each other.
Co on, Winter Hound. Show what youre made of!
Edel.
Ivan nodded briefly.
With his superhuman senses, he could even discern the opponents heartbeat within arms reach.
Was it tension? Or pleasure? The cheerful rhythm of heartbeats seed to hang in the air sowhere between them.
Ivan studied Edels stance.
As usual. Perfectly neutral, without any discernible habits.
Her spine straight, shoulders slightly hunched to conceal the frontal width.
Her right hand extended the sword without any twitch. That signifies perfect muscle control.
Even if dentia were to strike, even if physical abilities were diminished by aging, her youth remained intact.
What are the odds?
No.
Once standing with a sword in hand, there should be no consideration of odds. Thats what he learned. Thats how he had to act.
Can it be done or not. Not that.
Should it be done. If so, then it will be done. Only that.
Ivan tightened his grip on the sword hilt. He would defeat the pinnacle of elven swordsmanship, the master of swordplay, right here, right now.
With that determination, he took a step forward.
Clang!
The swords t like a playful tap, pushing each others blades aside.
A slow clash of swords, neither slicing nor striking fiercely. A light touch, like clapping hands.
Woo, woo, woo, woo!!!
The audiences jeers grew louder.
Are they playing around? Is it rigged? Does this duel look like a joke?!
Ignoring the noise of the angry crowd, Ivan takes another step forward.
Clang!!
A slightly faster push sends the sword upwards.
This is t with another precise strike at the exact mont.
Light friction, not delving into each others weaknesses or continuing the attack.
But the superhuman senses gather more information.
The weight of the swords, the opponents muscle response, the direction of force, countless sword paths derived from the angle of the wrists when the swords et, and the subsequent moves to block those paths.
Another exchange based on the information gained from the previous one.
Clang.
And observing the opponents condition propelled by the recoil of that strike, another exchange.
Clang!!
Clang!! Clang!!
Exchange after exchange, leading to a single sword technique. Understanding the superiority of the sword technique, setting the blade upright to compensate for weaknesses and push the advantage towards the opponents guard,
Swordsmanship.
Clang, clang, clang!! Clang!! Clang!!
As the clash of swords repeats, it gets faster and faster until at so point it becos too fast for the audiences eyes to follow.
The arena fell silent. Only the sound of silence, the swallowing of dry saliva, and involuntary gasps or sighs.
The silent shock that thousands of spectators collectively experience.
Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!
Its getting faster and faster, until the swordplay surpasses the limits of vision.
In the silence, the only sound is the tal friction as the blades strike each other, sending sparks flying.
The two warriors standing straight in the silence, moving only their hands to weave the sword paths in every direction around them.
The wind picked up. A chilly breeze that doesnt suit the pleasant sumr day.
Clang!!
In battles within the realm of superhumans, combatants tend to prefer increasingly simplistic attacks and defenses.
After accelerating to the extre limits of nerve speed, efficiency remains the only aspect left, channeling greater impact. Victory is often sealed through a kind of firepower battle.
Swordsmanship is considered the most glorious thod before reaching the realm of superhumans. However, the two superhumans here were proving otherwise, that swordsmanship is undoubtedly effective even in superhuman combat.
They asserted that honed skills, amassed through sweat and effort, never betray.
Comparing the heights of their respective skills, they each prove their superiority with a single sword in this mont.
Clang!!
Their sword strikes were aid towards each others faces.
***
As the swords clashed, Ivan quickly assessed the condition of his armor.
There was no room for error from its last maintenance. He swiftly analyzed the force and angle of Edels strike and, considering the slope of his helt, thrust his head forward.
Prepared for minimal impact, he extended his hand through the visor of the helt, letting the sword blade slip through.
Thud!! The steel helt split open, and a sharp pain shot straight across his cheek.
Simultaneously, his own blade pierced towards Edels helt.
***
This guy.
From the mont they exchanged their first blows, Edel had been thinking only of that.
With each strike, he twisted his wrist, precisely interrupting the flow every ti she attempted to follow up.
The result of this repetition was what was happening now, almost flawless, like a perfect decalcomania.
As if perfectly imitating her swordsmanship, even when mixing in other styles of swordplay, he instantly replicated them.
With each passing mont, a gleam of anticipation flashed beneath her helt. Reading the past sword strikes, anticipating the forthcoming techniques, and precisely countering each opposing strike.
Imitation.
Then, shall I try this too?
Edels excitent surged as she swung her sword. And once again, he followed. As if he could follow until her swordplay reached beyond the realm of artistry. Rather, as if demanding the next technique to be presented.
Under her helt, the corners of Edels mouth lifted.
Show more. I will show you more. So, you too, show what cos next. How far can you go? How far can you keep up?
With a human body, can you ignite starlight in your brief life?
Clang!!
Edel admired the acrobatics of deflecting her sword with the helt. Ah, yes, you werent a knight.
Not a knight, but a rcenary closer to a soldier.
Weapons, armor, ultimately just military supplies with no attachnt.
Even his own body was largely seen as a war tool, willing to sacrifice anything as long as the goal could be achieved.
Then so be it. Lets see how long that determination will last and what cos next.
Edel leaned back to avoid the flying blade.
The sword grazed off the curvature of the helt. anwhile, Ivans eyes, visible between the broken helt pieces, shook with amazent.
Finding joy in it, Edel laughed.
How about that? Theres rit in seeing and imitating.
Fully reproducing Ivans defense, Edel stopped with her sword extended.
***
The two warriors, having struck each others heads, froze like posts.
Even the spectators, forgetting to swallow their saliva, stood frozen in silence.
In the midst of the tableau of the tournant, the two warriors looked at each other through their broken helts, smiling like a painting.
Wasnt it dentia?
Dentia?
Edel fell silent for a mont.
What what does that an?
Your skill clearly didnt reach its peak. Definitely not until then.
Well, uh, there were circumstances, so?
Dentia due to old age is inevitable even for elves, so I guessed my chances and ca here.
Hmm. Uh. So, what now?
Edel shook her head as she removed her helt. Her black hair swayed like waves, and she tied it tightly back.
With one eye covered by a colorful eyepatch and the other gleaming golden like an eagles, she stared sharply at Ivan.
Do you see the odds now?
Well see.
Ivan also removed his half-broken helt and threw it to the ground.
As the helt shattered, blood dripped from the wounds, wetting his beard as it fell with a thud.
Take off your armor, John. I need to see your full power.
Right.
Clang, clunk. Thick armor fell off the bodies of the two knights and rolled onto the ground.
With a thud, Edel relaxed her body and smiled, dressed in just a shirt and a pair of leather pants.
Now theres no distraction. Its just you and here. Hold your sword and look at . Not for victory, not for a goal, not for a strategy, not for a mission. Look at your opponent.
Edel angled her sword towards Ivan.
The brief exchange of glances, the courtesy towards each other when the two knights first t.
Step on the ground, reach for the sky, grasp your sword, and only look at your opponent. Thats the first virtue of a swordsman, of martial arts.
Ivan responded without a word, assuming the sa posture.
The two warriors, now without armor, exchanged the sa courtesy towards each other.
Waaaaahhhhh!!!
The crowd erupted like a tidal wave, shouting.
*
Authors Note (Postscript): I felt like I didnt explain the tiline well enough!
Edel in the armor state Ivan first saw: remote-controlled
Day two of the match: Edel arrives at Frechenkaya.
Day three of the match: Edels original body competes (in armor)
Day four of the match: Today. Edel and Ivan are competing in their original bodies.
*
Wow, Ive been feeling unwell all weekend, and when I got tested, it turns out its not the flu, its COVID!
Can you believe people are still getting COVID these days? Getting it twice is a bit too much, feels unfair!
Still, as a commoration of getting COVID, I didnt have to go to work at the factory today, so Im posting early! Yes! Please look forward to the next episode!
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