’You don’t have to fight if you don’t want to. I can always take over for you. By the ti you wake up, it will all be over.’
Iris closed her eyes while doing her best to ignore the tempting offer.
Now that her victory was connected to Kael’s freedom, she wanted to make sure she won. The easiest way would be to let that voice take over.
However, things would not end well if anyone caught her. So it was safer for her to fight this battle herself.
’If you are concerned about it, then I can take care of the clean-up as well-’
"I will ask for your help if I need it. For now, I want to do this myself."
The voice fell quiet, but its presence lingered in the back of her mind. Iris gripped her sword tighter before looking at her opponent.
A clean-cut face, sharp clothes, and a refined physique. Her opponent was soone who had lived a life completely opposite to hers. And yet, there was not a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"Miss...Iris, was it? I can tell that there are circumstances at play here, and your reasons for wanting to win are genuine. However, I will not hold back for your sake."
Iris felt startled by the show of respect she was being given. Had any of her opponents...in fact, had anyone except Kael ever shown her respect?
The fact that she was standing here with a chance to clear not only her na but also move past the things she wanted to leave behind—it was all because of Kael.
"I understand. However, I have things I must protect as well. And that’s why I will make the first move."
__________
Iris lunged forward, and Sir Ivory took a defensive position. He was hoping to block her attack with his well-trained body.
Unfortunately, he did not account for Iris’s weight or the force behind her attack, and he was imdiately forced back.
It took him a few seconds to shake off the effects of that collision. His hands were also shaking from the aftereffects.
This duel was not going to be easy for him.
’Darn it! How can anyone have such force behind their attacks? I-’
Iris’s sword cut through the spot where Sir Ivory had been standing seconds earlier. He had dodged on instinct, and that was the only reason his life had been spared.
He imdiately regained his footing and ducked when he saw Iris attacking him again. Once she was close enough, he swung his sword in an upward arc to try and catch her by surprise.
But Iris had a swift and flexible body. Despite her huge and muscular fra, she managed to twist out of the way of that attack and land on her feet within striking distance.
She imdiately took advantage of the situation, forcing Sir Ivory back once again.
’I-I cannot believe I am losing...! How have I never heard of soone this strong before? And this fighting style...what the heck is this? None of it makes sense. How do I read her movents?’
Because Iris had fought for her life in the arena, her sword style had evolved into whatever worked for her. She was also quick to adapt and change the direction of her sword mid-swing if she felt it was necessary.
The amount of control needed to fight in this way was extraordinary.
Sir Ivory was not the only one shocked to see her fight. The council mbers, who had expected this to be a one-sided battle, were getting their wish—but not in the way they had expected.
"I-I cannot believe it! How is Sir Ivory being pushed back? Is he holding back?"
"This has to be a trick. Grand Master Kael must be using one of his spells. If we expose him-"
"This is not a trick. That girl is just that good. And she’s holding back as well. This fight is as good as finished."
The cloaked kid spoke, making the council mbers choke on his words.
Denial flashed across their faces, and one of the hot-tempered elders grabbed the kid’s cloak.
"Hey, watch what you say. Do you think one of our temple knights will lose to an ex-slave?"
"I am saying that your temple knight would lose to a Sword Master. Don’t tell none of you noticed."
The council continued to deny Ken’s words. To beco a Sword Master, one required a trendous amount of resources and training.
There was no way a slave could reach that pinnacle.
"Well, since you don’t believe , it would be faster if you saw it with your own eyes. She’s about to make her final attack."
Ken grabbed the wrist holding him and twisted it. The person holding him had no choice but to let go or risk breaking his wrist.
"You little shit-!"
Ken was about to be grabbed again when everyone sensed that huge amount of mana. It made them look toward the fighting arena, where Iris was parrying Sir Ivory’s attacks.
And then, she blasted him with her mana, making the arena fall silent.
"See, I told you she was a Sword Master. Now, I should go and get ready for my fight."
__________
’How is she so fast? I cannot keep up. It’s like...I am fighting soone way out of my league. What should I do now?’
Sir Ivory felt helpless in front of Iris.
It was not a new feeling for him, but it was his first ti feeling this way against an unknown opponent who was not supposed to be a Sword Master.
’I refuse to lose. I...am not totally hopeless yet. I can still use my mana.’
Sir Ivory was not like other aspiring knights. He was soone who was only a step away from becoming a Sword Master. He had even started sensing mana.
And for the first ti, he was about to use it.
’I will not lose. I will not show my pathetic side in front of Sir Ken.’
Sir Ivory gathered his resolve and charged at Iris with everything he had. A thin layer of mana coated his blade, and he put all his strength behind it as he continued his assault.
She deflected every one of his attacks, but it was only a matter of ti before her sword would break under the force he was using.
And then, he would get his chance...
Only, that did not happen.
One second, he was facing Iris, and the next, he was hit by a huge amount of mana and knocked back.
’S-She...! There is no way! She’s a Sword Master!’
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