281 Lancer of Red vs Rider of Black (II)

*Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!* *Cling!* *Clang!* *Cling!*

Two long pole weapons, each with a distinct shape, clashed at a dazzling speed, the rapid exchange of blows buzzing endlessly.

Sparks erupted like scattered lives, dazzling and intense.

If the first round of collisions was a pure test of power, this second round of exchanges belonged to the pinnacle of techniques. No one knew how many were swung from either side; even Jeanne, who was observing from the sidelines, could only see a blurry afterimage.

Undoubtedly, in the contest of martial arts, both sides were evenly matched, belonging to warriors who had reached the unparalleled realm of martial arts mastery.

It was unbelievable.

A mere Rider was able to engage in a fierce battle of pole weapons with Lancer. Not to mention Jeanne, even the Masters watching the fight through their familiars were left dumbfounded.

"Is Rider... really King Arthur?" Darnic furrowed his brow tightly.

He had been surprised when Rider summoned the eight-legged horse. Now, Rider also displayed extraordinary close combat ability, coupled with the ability to discern true names. It all seemed as if Rider were the legendary King of the Norse Gods, Odin.

However, Darnic knew very well that, given the strength of a normal Saint Graph, it was impossible to accommodate the descent of a chief god. Moreover, the compatibility with the summoning catalyst had no connection whatsoever with Odin.

"Hahaha, truly a worthy opponent that I value! That display of power is enough to make me sigh. Even this cold body starts boiling with excitement." Vlad laughed heartily, his eyes revealing clear admiration.

Admittedly, even on the home ground of Romania, he was uncertain whether he could compete with Arkhan or Karna. However, for him, this uncertainty was the true pleasure of battle.

Watching the scenes on the crystal ball, Siegfried's eyes couldn't help but show a strong longing. Joyful light appeared in his previously unchanging gaze.

'This is amazing.'

With his keen eyes, he could easily see that both their Rider and the enemy Lancer were undeniably powerful heroes. Before these two, even his 'Armor of Fafnir' that nullified attacks on B-rank and below would likely be of little use.

Yet, he felt no fear; instead, his blood boiled even more.

After defeating the dragon that ravaged villages and creating countless legends due to his immortality, the feeling of transcending death had long faded away.

Because all attacks were ineffective against him, he only needed to casually slaughter his enemies without effort—it wasn't a fight; it even felt like a chore.

But not anymore.

With equally invincible divine weapons and extraordinary combat abilities, it was evident that both Rider and Lancer had crossed countless hardships, creating legendary feats with endless achievements. They were heroes he never had the chance to face in his lifetime, heroes he could joyfully battle against until the end.

Was there anything more wonderful in this world?

'If only I could participate...' Siegfried thought with regret.

On the side, Gordes's plump body trembled slightly.

Not because of the scenes in the crystal ball, but because Siegfried, in his excitement just now, unintentionally leaked a trace of battle and killing intent.

The aura of a hero who slaughtered a legendary dragon was not something an ordinary human could withstand, especially considering Gordes was a mage who had never been on the battlefield.

At that moment, he even felt as if a knife were suspended at his neck, ready to fall at any moment.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, the intense fear awakened a sense of shame and embarrassment in Gordes that he hadn't felt in a long time.

He glared fiercely at his Servant, wondering if this man was dissatisfied with him, hence using this method to intimidate him?

'Damn it, you're just a mere familiar, acting all high and mighty!' Gordes exclaimed angrily inside his mind.

"Hmm? Master, your complexion doesn't look too good, are you sick?"

Gordes's glare caught Siegfried's attention. He observed the gushing cold sweat on Gordes's face and asked with a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes.

"It's nothing, probably just been too tired these past few days... I'll be fine after a nap." Gordes forced a somewhat ugly smile on his chubby face.

Without thinking much, Siegfried just nodded and continued to watch the battle.

"Wow~" Fiore gently covered her mouth, her big eyes filled with obvious surprise. "Rider and Lancer of Red are so strong."

"Indeed..." Heracles, with his arms crossed, offered his assessment. "Even in the realm of heroes, these two can be considered quite extraordinary."

"Well, if you were to compare yourself with them, what then?"

"Purely in martial arts, I'm not their match." Archer answered casually. "But in the art of war, it's not just about that."

The meaning of his words was clear—I may not be as good with martial arts as them, but besides that, I am confident I can defeat them.

Understanding the implication, Fiore showed a relieved smile and began to ask another question.

"So, in your opinion... Which side has a better chance of winning?"

Hearing the question, Heracles rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"In terms of skill, both sides should be evenly matched, but in the end, Rider should have the upper hand."

"Hmm? Why?" Fiore asked in confusion.

"Rider is on horseback, naturally suppressing Lancer. Although this advantage might not mean much in normal circumstances against Lancer, in this evenly matched situation, this small edge can easily become the final straw that breaks the camel's back." Heracles evaluated.

As if to validate his words, the next moment, Arkhan seized an opportunity and swung Abyss Flower ruthlessly at Karna.

*BOOM!*

The massive lance struck Karna's waist without mercy, sending him flying and shattering several large rocks on the way. However, as if defying physics, his body abruptly turned in midair, his long spear plunging into the ground and creating a crack over ten meters long before he managed to stabilize himself.

"Beautiful attack..."

Instead of anger, Karna looked at Arkhan calmly and praised him with eyes burning with an even more intense fighting spirit.

Seeing this, Arkhan furrowed his brow slightly. He had stabbed Karna at least a dozen times just now, yet he couldn't even leave a single mark on Karna's body.