Third Person's POV
He had long learned the value of keeping a few cards close to his chest and never fully revealing his hand to anyone.
More importantly, he feared for his girls.
The worst outco would be if a fight broke out now, both Virelle and Velcy would be left unprotected and would be in unwanted and potentially serious danger.
He didn't want the two of them to fight those four Silver-ranked underlings alone.
Virelle could defend herself well enough, but when it ca to Velcy… Ethan wasn't entirely certain how she would fare amidst such chaos.
Opting for caution, Ethan leaned forward while holding his chin in his hand.
"Alright. Let's make this interesting. How about a weapon? A saber. But mind you, I don't accept cheap toys."
The crowd stirred. Declan's grin widened as he reached into his storage ring and retrieved a magnificent weapon.
The room dimd as a sinister aura radiated from the saber.
The blade was a massive, four-foot-long black-curved saber.
The mont it appeared it started absorbing the pub's ambient light like a bottomless pit.
Its curved design resembled the tooth of so great beast. Ethan's eyes widened—not from fear, but admiration.
This weapon could easily beco an extension of him.
The hilt was modest and was wrapped in black leather with a protective guard for his wrist, but the knuckle guard was unique.
On the left side, a small hamrhead protruded while on the right, a wickedly sharp spike glead like a predator's fang.
"It's a sha I'm no swordsman," Declan said as he rubbed a thumb along the saber's dull inner edge.
"Otherwise, I would never part with this beauty."
He lifted the saber higher and let the muted lighting glint off its surface.
"This, pretty boy, is a peak grade-three Black Dragon Saber.
Forged from the smallest tooth of a long-dead Abyssal Dark Dragon, they say it was once a Heaven Connection Forbidden Dragon from thousands of years ago.
No one knows exactly how this tooth survived the passage of ti, but I bought it at an auction in the Capital City of Aslan."
The crowd murmured in excitent as they frantically discussed the appearance of such a magnificent weapon.
Even seasoned adventurers exchanged shocked glances.
Declan smirked proudly as he started to boast about his purchase.
"Paid a hundred high-tier fire-elental crystals for it, that is ten thousand low-tier fire-elental crystals, give or take."
Upon hearing this, eyes widened all around the room. The saber was undoubtedly costly, but its worth and craftsmanship were beyond dispute.
It exuded a commanding and regal aura that couldn't be ignored.
So of the weaker adventurers even drifted into fantasies and started imagining themselves wandering the lands with this dark saber at their side and their nas whispered with awe and fear.
In their minds, they had already carved a path to infamy and dominance by wielding this blade as a symbol of their unstoppable rise to power.
"Since I'm putting up such a treasure," Declan continued as his voice dripped with venom, "I am requesting permission to… cripple you, should you lose."
He flashed a sadistic grin.
"You know smash all the bones to small pieces, ruin that pretty face. The usual."
A chilling silence gripped the crowd.
"And if you refuse?" Declan added as he licked his lips and his eyes slid back to Virelle.
"You can hand over that lovely lady of yours. I would be happy to give her… company."
Ethan's jaw tightened as he sighed inwardly with tiredness.
He could already picture the brutal end he would give to this arrogant fool.
Murmurs swelled among the crowd with most of them pitying Ethan.
Tyler—the beast of a man standing silently behind Declan seed to be quite well-known.
He was almost in the mid-tier Crystal Formation Realm and was an absolute monster in close-quarters combat.
Yet Ethan showed no fear. Virelle and Velcy, in fact, exchanged subtle smiles. Virelle's fingers even playfully brushed Ethan's sleeve.
Warden Leon chuckled softly.
"Seems fair to ."
He cast a knowing glance at Ethan.
"Well, Mister Eryndor, you heard the terms. The wager is this Black Dragon Saber, and the stakes… your bones and your dignity. If you win you will be rewarded the rank of Steel.
And don't ask why not Silver Rank as that is only possible when you ascend to the Crystal Formation Realm."
Without hesitation, Ethan nodded.
"I accept."
Warden Leon's brows rose in mock surprise on seeing his calm which was not faked, but he said nothing and gestured lazily while still sitting on the chair.
"Very well. The match will be officiated by ."
He reached for the saber, and with visible reluctance, Declan handed it over.
Warden Leon raised the weapon slightly.
"The wagered property is this Black Dragon Saber. No killing is allowed, but crippling is permitted."
Declan frowned slightly on hearing the Warden's proclamation as he felt that sothing was not right with the way he put up the conditions but he couldn't exactly pinpoint where the problem lay.
Old man Leon gave Ethan one last chance.
"You may still back out."
Ethan's smile grew wider and his eyes grew even sharper as he trained them on the regal black saber in the old warden's hand.
"No need."
He turned to Virelle and his eyes glinted mischievously as he had a sudden daring thought.
In one swift motion, he slipped her veil up a little to reveal those juicy red lips and captured them in a deep, searing kiss.
Gasps and cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd.
The rowdy pub shook as the already excited adventurers for the incoming fight pounded tables and whistled at this unexpected scene.
So booed and shouted, but the won were too engrossed in witnessing the sudden show of passion.
Virelle's crimson eyes went wide with anxiousness and a slight anger.
She resisted and her delicate hands pressed against his chest as if to push him away but all her attempts seed to be futile.
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