’I need to cure him of this bad habit.’

’And I have just the cure for it—highly effective and guaranteed to work.’

"URGHHHH!!!"

Rock Sword was sent flying a thousand meters like a human plow before he could throw off the force and break free. Enraged, he began to brawl with Westheid. No weapons, no Magic, just a primitive clash of fists and feet—a fighting style that suited a Yonglan Knight perfectly.

However, while the fight seemed to be a back-and-forth exchange, Westheid’s Status only improved, whereas Brolette fought like a cornered beast on its last legs.

Westheid was basically treating his opponent as a training dummy for stacking buffs. Once the Cursed Source Blood had enhanced him enough, he extended a hand and summoned Shadow-Born.

"SHING—"

The crimson tachi flew into his hand. Duke Qinghui looked at the battered and bruised Grand Knight and said coldly:

"I’ll ask you one last time. Are you willing to reconcile?"

"Shut up! I would rather die here than bow my head to beastman scum."

"Ha, I figured as much."

Westheid gave a cool smile and swung Shadow-Born.

"SCHLICK—"

A flash of crimson light blinked out of existence. Brolette’s body froze. The sweeping arc of Shadow-Born’s slash severed his body at the waist, sending his upper torso flying.

His lower body, however, remained stubbornly standing on the cratered ground.

Bisected at the waist!

The spectating Knights were utterly shocked by the sight and began to comment sharply:

"Lord Brolette..."

"Sir Rock Sword... is he about to die?"

"If they try to save him now, they might still make it. A Legendary Celestial Rank doesn’t die that easily."

"How pathetic. He’s like a dead dog. That Imperial Citizen... didn’t he just step into the Legendary Rank? Why is he so strong?"

"You can’t generalize about people’s constitutions. Duke Qinghui... he’s truly not someone to be underestimated."

Amidst the crowd’s complex and awestruck gazes, Westheid brushed a blood-soaked strand of hair from his forehead. His ultramarine eyes flashed with a demonic, contemptuous light.

The Cursed Source Blood had just finished warming up through the successive battles. Westheid’s self-control was a bit stronger than Mivana’s, but even he felt his sanity burning away.

Right now, he just wanted to fight—to fight with everything he had!

So Westheid, sword in hand, looked toward the Knight’s Fortress and shouted:

"Next! Is there anyone else?"

"I’m in a great mood right now. I hope you won’t disappoint me."

"Hahaha! Hahahaha!!"

Mephit let out a hearty laugh. The sky-blue-haired Lady Knight clutched her forehead and laughed maniacally:

"Ah... such arrogance, such dominance, and... such power. That beastman bitch really found herself a good man."

Mephit’s pretty face held a bloodthirsty smile. She licked her lips and said to those beside her:

"Gentlemen, does anyone wish to challenge him? If not, I don’t think I can hold myself back."

After a moment of silence, the Black Knight spoke up.

"...Let me go."

Uther’s body was also trembling slightly, but not out of anger for his colleague’s miserable state. He wasn’t close with Rock Sword, and it was normal for a Yonglan Knight to suffer a wretched defeat in a duel.

He just didn’t dare turn and face the gazes of his students. Before the duel, he had confidently declared that Brolette would annihilate Westheid, but not long after, Rock Sword was lying on the ground in two pieces.

’What a slap in the face!’

Humiliated and enraged, Uther felt the only way to save face was to enter the fray himself.

On the ruined, snow-covered ground, Westheid spread his arms and taunted them without restraint:

"Knights of Yonglan, are you just going to stand there and watch? Or is no one else willing to step forward?"

"If that’s the case, then declare my victory! Declare me the winner of this trial by combat!"

"Enough!"

With a powerful roar, a pair of Dual Swords shot through the air and stabbed into the ground before Westheid. Immediately after, a figure clad in dark Armor descended from the sky.

"The Yonglan Knights are not so cowardly. Duke Qinghui, I shall be your opponent."

Not even sparing a moment to mourn the defeat of Rock Sword, arriving instantly on the battlefield was—the Black Knight, Uther!

’The Black Knight? Now this is more like it.’

Westheid was somewhat surprised to see him. Uther wasn’t the type to lose his composure so easily. But then he remembered the man was extremely conscious of his reputation; there was no telling what reason had forced him to bite the bullet and come solo him.

The bisected Brolette was still muttering. His upper and lower halves were being carried away by the Yonglan Knights. Legendary Powerhouses all possessed the trait of Immunity from Instant Death; unless they were blasted to smithereens by pure energy, a mere bisection wasn’t enough to kill them.

Uther glanced at the retreating form of Rock Sword being carried away and said flatly:

"Brolette is just one of our more senior members. I can’t deny he’s fallen behind the times. You’ve only defeated the weakest among us. You’re not yet qualified to run your mouth about Yonglan."

Westheid raised Shadow-Born. The blade trembled slightly from his surging, irrepressible battle lust. He could barely contain it.

"More talk is useless. Come on. Let me experience the strength of the knight’s tournament champion."

"Hoo—"

Uther took a deep breath. The adaptive helmet at the back of his neck immediately enveloped his entire face. Once it sealed shut, only a thin, scarlet line of light was visible where the eyes would be.

He then pulled his Dual Swords from the ground and crossed them before his chest, their polished blades glinting menacingly.

Aboard the fortress, the Apprentices of Yingxi Castle were fired up, pumping their fists and cheering.

"To think we get to see our master fight before the expedition even begins! Ugh... I love it so much!"

"Lord Uther will annihilate Duke Qinghui!"

"Show him the power of Yonglan’s number one!"

The clamor from Uther’s students was so loud that it carried across the Boundary River of Dusk Lamp Territory.

Mivana was instantly displeased. Her beast ears shot straight up, and she ground her canine teeth.

"Annihilate him? My ass!"

The Silver-haired Princess also shook her head coldly and said:

"Do they really think they can defeat West? Utterly ridiculous."

When it came to faith and adoration for their own Duelist, they were in no way inferior to Uther’s students. Such is the way of die-hard fans.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

The Qinghui Guard went even further, pounding the ground with their Long Spears and roaring Westheid’s title.

Hearing the cheers from off the field, Westheid smiled, gave his crimson tachi a flourish, and said:

"Did you hear that? A duel without spectators, without witnesses, is far too boring. Sir Uther... this is for your own good. Don’t hold back."

"Use your full strength!"

In truth, Uther didn’t need Westheid’s reminder. After witnessing how he had ravaged Brolette, Uther had no intention of underestimating him. He was completely focused on the figure before him, tachi in hand.

Then, at the same instant, the two combatants vanished, shattering the snow beneath their feet.

"CLANG—"

The sound of ringing metal echoed in the next moment.

The clash of Shadow-Born and the Dual Swords sent dazzling sparks flying wildly in the cold wind.

They separated after a single touch, then immediately launched into a flurry of attacks like a raging storm.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!—" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Their exchange was so fast it could be measured in frames. Any Transcendent who hadn’t reached the High Tiers would lack the dynamic visual acuity to even see their movements, and even if they could, they would find it difficult to react.

And every clash produced a gale-force wind that tore at the atmosphere. The two Legendary Powerhouses, fighting with all their might, did their best to contain their power, so it looked like a simple melee.

But if anyone dared to underestimate it for that reason, they would have to experience for themselves the aftershocks that could shatter mountains.

Against Brolette, Westheid hadn’t used Shadow-Born because there was no need. If he had drawn his signature weapon, the fight would have been over in an instant, which would have been boring. But facing the Black Knight, a Grand Knight, a little respect was in order.

His opponent was indeed a rare expert from the Country of Yonglan. While not as peerless as his reputation claimed, he was definitely a top-tier Legend. At the very least, he could give Westheid a satisfying battle.

"Heh-hahaha!!! Not bad! Very good! Excellent!"

Westheid laughed maniacally, throwing himself heart and soul into the slaughter:

"This is how it should be!"