Chapter 72: The Power Of An Ancestor

"YOU'VE RETURNED!" Percival exclaimed just as the clock neared its final tick. 

His eyes sparkled as he watched Ricky step out from the far side of the cave, perfectly timed to his anxious delight.

"YOU ALMOST BECAME LOST-" Percival his face lit up with a wide smile, but as he drew closer, the grin wavered, and one eyebrow arched in sudden doubt.

*Sniff*

"Are you crying?"Percival, his expression sharp with accusation, spoke up beside a visibly relieved Father Sebastian, with Henry and Alexander standing attentively nearby.

"I just got something in my eye, dick wad." Ricky muttered, rubbing his eyes, clearly not crying or at least, that's what he insisted as Alexander started ;laughing.

"What's a 'dick wad'?" Percival muttered under his breath, genuinely puzzled, having never encountered the term in his life.

"Young Ricky, you're as bad a liar as I am a loser at Go Fish!" Alexander squeaked, his tiny voice filled with bellows of laughter, just before Ricky scooped him up and perched him on his shoulder.

"I am glad you've returned, Ricky. You've been in there for exactly 23 hours and 28 minutes." Father Sebastian revealed, the unexpected statement making Ricky's eyes widen in surprise.

"Really? It didn't seem that long to me." Ricky replied, puzzled, as it had only felt like a couple of hours to him.

"My descendant, you have exactly thirty-two minutes before the next event. Let me break down what it is so you can-"

"I'm going to stop you right there." Ricky interjected, reaching into his jacket to pull out a letter.

"Descendant this is-"

"Sir Percival, let us give this child a moment," Father Sebastian said, sensing the tension as Percival opened his mouth to retort but ultimately nodded in agreement.

Ricky walked to the side and sat down, his gaze fixed on the letter addressed 'To: Ricky' in Eddy's handwriting and with a sense of anticipation, he carefully opened the envelope.

Dear Ricky, 

I reckon this letter might come off as a jumbled mess of confusion, but I need to spill it all before the darkness swallows me whole. I want you to hear me loud and clear: none of this is on you, and it never was. 

I'm truly sorry for dragging you into my whirlwind of troubles, for prodding at your heartache and coaxing you into this chaos. 

Man, this is hard. Now that I'm writing my goodbyes, I find I can't quite find the words I've been practicing. To sum it all up, it feels like trying to capture something elusive, struggling to explain why I made the choices I did.

When I stared out that window, it was like I was peeking into a world untouched by these heavy feelings. I dreamt of soaring through the clouds and it sounds silly, I know, but losing my legs made me realize just how desperately I craved the wind rustling through my hair, free from the weight of these broken limbs.

Everything felt hollow as I gazed out at the city, watching life go on without me while I felt trapped in place, frozen in my own struggle.

Ricky, old buddy, I hope you can find it somewhere in the crisscross of your heart to forgive me. As you read this, I don't want you to remember me as I was in that hospital bed. Instead, hold on to the good times, the laughter we shared that echoed like a favorite tune. Think of the moments with me, Rocco, Jake, and the bond we had felt tighter than a jazz band playing the blues. I'm sorry for slapping' sadness onto your plate, and I hope, in time, you can shake it off and maybe forgive me. 

P.S. Tell Jake I love him like a brother, and take care of my bro for me. He may look like a burly guy, but he's softer than a marshmallow on the inside.

See ya on the other side.

Yours truly, Eddy

*Sniff*

Ricky ducked his head, tucking the letter back into his jacket and for the first time since the accident, he felt a glimmer of the old Eddy he used to know.

The person he had seen lying in that hospital bed felt like a stranger, as if he were lost in a fog. 

But now, reading the letter, he felt a sense of relief wash over him, knowing he had found Eddy again, alive within the words.

"There, there, young Ricky. One does not stand cold when reflecting on the memories of a fallen comrade, but rather with the warmth of the times they shared together." Alexander said, having refrained from reading the letter out of respect.

"But right now, you have a decision to make, young Ricky," Alexander said, gently pushing the letter aside as he leaned in, ready to offer the vulnerable Ricky some much-needed advice.

"Are you a boy perpetually looking back at what he's lost, or a man looking forward to what he might become?" Alexander asked, directing the question at Ricky, who had always been focused on the past. 

Ricky looked down for a long time until he nodded at Alexander, the weight of the choice settling heavily on him.

'System, accept the rewards.'

Ricky murmured to himself, finally resolving to move on and as he made that decision, pain rippled through him, but alongside it came a surprising surge of strength and dexterity.

"Alright, let's go," Ricky said, standing up with Alexander and Henry by his side and just then, Percival appeared to guide him forward, ready to lead the way.

"This way."

Ricky followed Percival down the old tunnel, the air thick with history and as they emerged into a wide circular chamber, he was met by a crowd of church members, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Finally, you've arrived." Ernst smirked, crossing his arms as he took in Ricky's worn-down expression.

"How does it feel knowing that I'm about to take your birthright?" Ricky asked, crouching down to Ernst's level with a challenging look. 

Abrham burst out laughing from the side, clearly enjoying the exchange while slightly intoxicated.

"Hmph." Ernst scoffed, glancing over at the Pope, who nodded in approval, as if giving him the green light.

"Ernst, since you were the first to exit the cave, would you like to defer your fight or go first?" Pius asked, watching Ernst step forward, puffing out his chest in confidence.

"I would like to go first." Ernst declared, and at that moment, his father materialized before him, clad in the armor of the Black Knight.

"Ernst's guide do you acknowledge-"

"No, I do not," Ernst's father, Julian, interrupted, fixing the Pope with a serious gaze while Ernst stared in shock, caught off guard by his father's unexpected intervention.

"Alright, what's the deal here?" Ricky asked, glancing at Percival before nodding to Julian, who stood resolutely ahead.

"Before the duel of blood, the participants' guide must approve your standing to be considered for the title," Percival informed him, scrunching his eyebrows as Ricky stifled a yawn, observing as Ernst's whole world seemed to crumble around him.

"I'VE DONE EVERYTHING YOU'VE ASKED, AND YOU TURN ME AWAY ON THE CUSP OF MY GLORY!" Ernst screeched, his fists clenching in pure, unbridled rage as he glared at yet another obstacle in his path.

"Ernst, my son, you've lost your way under that horrid government-"

"DO NOT SPEAK OF THE GREAT FÜRER WITH THAT DIRTY MOUTH OF YOURS!" Ernst screeched, drawing his sword as the holographic Black Knight looked on with a disheartened expression.

"What a tear-jerking scene about to unfold: the struggles of father and son, laid bare as they each seek to shine their own light for the other." Alexander whispered, his eyes sparkling with wonder, while Ricky remained oblivious to the unfolding drama.

"Young Ricky, are you seeing this?" Alexander asked, but Ricky's gaze was fixed on the scene, even if it seemed distant to Alexander.

Ricky's sight:

[SHOP]

IP: 300,000

Refreshable Items:

Remote Vibrator: 15,000 Impregnation Points

Description: Works in any place, any scenario, and will deliver a brisk message to whoever you wish for.

Addicting Saliva: 65,000 Impregnation Points

Description: Your Saliva will become like nicotine in a sense that after having it for a while they will have withdrawals without it.

Infatuated Scent: 100,000 Impregnation Points

Description: Makes the user's scent irresistible to every woman.

Condition: Must have Promiscuous scent(Passive), Wild scent(Passive), and Liberated scent(Passive)

{Refresh Available in 147:56:12}

Daily Item:

Pent-Up Ring: 20,000 Impregnation Points

Description: Anyone who wears this ring cannot cum for 24 hours and the effect will reapply even if it's even touched by another individual.

Weekly Item:

Favorability Meter: 50,000 Impregnation Points

Description: Allows you to check the favorability of a mission target once a day. 

Monthly Item:

Amplifying Hands: 175,000 Impregnation Points

Description: The user's hands will amplify the current pleasure as they lustfully course throughout a woman's body.

'This is such a scam. Why do I have to purchase other skills to get another one?' Ricky frowned, frustration brewing inside him, while Alexander boisterously jumped up and down as Ernst shouted in the background.

"TAKE ARMS FATHER, FIGHT ME!"

'Whatever, I'll buy Amplifying Hands, Favorability Meter, and Addicting Saliva,' Ricky quickly decided, watching his hard-earned points dwindle down to just 10,000.

'Now receive the rewards,' Ricky muttered through gritted teeth, feeling a surge of power as his dexterity finally soared into the realm of the superhuman.'

*Ding*

Received:

(Epic Item) Dust of Disappearance: Sprinkling this magical dust on oneself grants temporary invisibility from all and any eyes.

(Epic Item) Scroll of Meteor Fragment: Unleashes a part of a meteor when read, causing significant damage to enemies in the vicinity.

*Sigh*

'One-off items,' Ricky thought with a sigh, dismissing their value since he preferred tools he could use multiple times. 

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that he might find a use for them in the future and tucked them away in the back of his mind.

'Alright, give me my gacha.'

*Ding*

Received:

(Legendary Item) Piercing Telescope: No illusion is safe from this telescope as it can actually see through any and all illusions in front of it.

(Legendary Armor) Constantine Trench Coat: Being sentient and demonic, the coat houses powerful hellish powers. This includes the ability to curse and jinx people, mind control them into rageful berserks, and snuff out life out of his victims by strangling them.

(Epic Item) Twelve ply toilet paper: A roll of toilet paper constructed by a high civilization for the purpose of wiping's one ass with maximum decency. X 198

'Wait, there's such a thing as twelve-ply toilet paper?' Ricky thought, his curiosity piqued, having only ever seen four-ply before, he couldn't help but stare at it in disbelief.

*CLANG*

Ricky shifted his head just in time to see a sword hurtling toward the spot where he had been standing moments before. 

Turning back to the battle, he found Ernst sprawled on the ground, badly beaten and bruised. 

Towering over him was the ethereal image of Ernst's father, gazing down with sorrowful eyes at the man his son had become.

Raising his sword for the finishing blow, the ethereal figure hesitated, memories of young Ernst flooding his mind. 

Visions of laughter and innocence momentarily softened his resolve, and he faltered, caught between duty and the remnants of love.

He was conflicted; he wanted to end the very thing he created, but how could he? 

As the hesitation deepened, Ernst, no longer passive, seized a hidden dagger and lunged forward, driving it into the ethereal silhouette.

The blade met its mark, and a shockwave rippled through the air, echoing the turmoil within him.

"Goodbye, Father," Ernst whispered, closing his eyes as the ethereal figure slowly faded away. 

The last thing Ernst saw was the deep look of disappointment in his father's eyes, lingering like a heavy shadow.

"I'm sorry, my son."

"Ernst has passed the test!" Father Sebastian announced in a neutral tone, his voice echoing through the chamber. 

The only sound of applause came from the bishop, who clapped slowly, standing alone in recognition of Ernst's hollow victory.

"Ricky, please step forward!" Father Sebastian gestured towards Ricky who nodded in understanding and stepped forward.

As Ricky stepped into the circle, both Alexander and Henry were abruptly denied access. 

An invisible barrier sent Alexander tumbling from Ricky's shoulder, and Henry, trying to follow, knocked his beak against the force field, unable to break through.

"Only descendants of the Black Knight may enter the circle," Father Sebastian clarified towards Ricky who shrugged, accepting the situation, and walked toward the center of the arena.

"Ricky's guide, please show yourself to all and give your judgment!"

*GASP*

Gasps rippled through the crowd as they suddenly noticed Percival, whose presence had been hidden until now. 

The moment they laid eyes on him, recognition swept over the onlookers that hadn't had the pleasure of seeing Percival when summoned, witnessing the first-ever Black Knight in the flesh.

"Can't believe that brat got the founding Black Knight," Abraham scoffed, leaning back with a sneer, his eyes filled with disdain at the thought of Ricky being paired with THE Black Knight.

Ricky strolled to the center nonchalantly, waiting for Percival to give his approval so he could move on and face the pipsqueak scowling at him from the side. 

But as he glanced at Percival, he noticed a mischievous smile spread across the knight's face.

"I don't approve." 

*GASP*

"Seriously, are we really doing this?" Ricky sighed, realizing what was coming as Percival shifted into a fighting stance.

"Did you really think I'd let it slide, even though you're my descendant, after you tossed me into that strange space?" Percival's eyebrows twitched with annoyance, his old armor beginning to materialize around him, fully prepared for a confrontation.

"I've known of your power, but I want to see it at full force, so I'll allow you to use your weapons," Percival beckoned Ricky who let out a laugh, thinking this was still a joke.

"Your kidding-"

"Do I look like the type to do so?" Percival interrupted, catching Ricky off guard as he frowned and clicked his tongue in frustration. 

As he pulled out the new trench coat from the system, it seemed to come alive, gazing at him before giving him a playful smack.

"W-Wait!" Ricky exclaimed, holding up his hands as the trench coat continued to swat at him as it didn't hurt, but the persistent annoyance was becoming hard to ignore.

"Why are you-DAMMIT STOP!" Ricky shouted, just as the trench coat smacked him right in the face. 

In that moment, a sphere of fire suddenly encased the two, intensifying the chaos around them.

"What's your problem? I didn't do anything to you!" Ricky yelled at the trench coat, which crossed its arms defiantly, seemingly unfazed by his outburst.

The trench coat began to make signs that Ricky could only briefly understand, but the gist of it was clear: it was offended. 

It wasn't just some magical item from a fantasy role-playing game; it was a demonic being, indignant at being summoned in front of Ricky as if it were merely a rare item from an RPG game.

"Can we shelve your disgruntlement until I beat the crap out of that weird ghost behind you?" Ricky asked earnestly, feeling mentally drained from earlier events and not wanting to deal with a stressed out trench coat.

The trench coat turned to see Percival, who wore an arrogant expression, and for some reason, that infuriated it even more.

"Whoa," Ricky said, surprised as the trench coat suddenly wrapped around him, the collar puffing up dramatically. 

He reached for the gauntlets, which exuded an unsettling aura and despite the ominous vibes, Ricky equipped them without a second thought, fully aware there would be consequences. 

He surprisingly decided he'd read the entire description later; for now, he needed their power to take on Percival.

Then a bright light suddenly filled the hall as the ethereal glow of a bow materialized out of thin air. 

Father Sebastian's eyes lit up with fascination; he couldn't help but smile, having already been impressed by Ricky conjuring flames.

'Has he been blessed by Uriel?' Father Sebastian wondered to himself as Ricky extinguished the fire, a smirk forming on his face. 

'Let's give these old geezers a little scare,' Ricky thought as he activated the 'Radiant Harmony Aura,' causing the eyes around him to widen in surprise.

"Holy sh*t, Seb was actually right." Abraham stood up, joined by the other priests, as they sensed the familiar holy aura, one typically associated with angels. 

"I knew it!" Father Sebastian exclaimed in a geeky demeanor, looking up at Abraham, who immediately scoffed but didn't refute his words.

"I see." Percival said, his voice steady as any trace of relaxation he had felt vanished, replaced by a fierce thirst for battle.

"Hey old man, you ready?" Ricky asked out towards his ancestor, drawing his Nova bow and pulling the shimmering bowstring back, ready for action.

However, Ricky didn't give him a chance to respond; he shamelessly released the arrow, which rocketed out of the bow's embrace. 

A powerful wave of air pulsed around him, and those watching blinked in shock as a loud boom reverberated through the hall.

*BOOOM*

A cloud of dust swallowed Percival as Ricky drew his bow, ready to fire another shot. 

But just as his fingers tightened around the string, a burst of laughter echoed through the air, not from ahead where he expected, but from behind.

"Oh, my dear descendant." Percival's voice echoed in Ricky's ears, sending a jolt of warning through his mind as he turned back, instinctively sensing that something was about to go very wrong.

*CRASH*

Ricky raised a mental shield, but the slash tore through it like paper, the force rippling through the air. 

His instincts kicked in and he drew back his bow in one swift motion, releasing an arrow just as the air slash came within inches of him. 

The arrow met the air slash with a violent clash, sending sparks flying before a loud explosion rippled and engulfed him.

*BOOM*

The force of the impact rocked Ricky, and before he could react, a shockwave slammed into his chest. 

He was hurled backward, his body twisting as he tumbled across the ground as dirt and debris kicked up around him as he struggled to regain his footing, his breath ragged. 

His grip tightened around the bow, eyes locking onto his opponent, knowing the next strike would come fast.

But instead of focusing on where the attack had come from, Ricky's eyes widened in horror as he looked toward Percival. 

The knight hadn't moved, at least, not in any way a human should as instead his form stretched impossibly, as if caught between moments, his sword seemingly frozen mid-swing.

"Are you wondering how I reached you without even moving a step?" Percival chuckled, his voice calm and taunting as he lowered his sword, the blade gleaming faintly.

"I cut through the space between us, which is why you heard my voice so close, in case you were wondering." Percival explained, gesturing as if lecturing a student.

"WHAT?" Ricky let out a baffled laugh, incredulous as he exclaimed, stunned that someone could cut through space when he himself was holding power that defied the realms of the impossible.

"I've fought literal gods, young descendant; your power is mere child's play," Percival said with a smile, clearly looking down on him. 

Ricky's expression shifted, growing serious as he instinctively stood up and backed away, realizing the true depth of the challenge before him.

Honestly, at first, Ricky had assumed Percival wouldn't be this powerful or demanding, dismissing him as just another opponent. 

But that assumption shattered the moment he caught a mere glimpse of Percival's ancestral power. 

Alexander had always emphasized the importance of maintaining distance when using the bow and even if you felt far enough away, taking an extra two steps back was wise. 

Behind Percival, two holes appeared on either side of him, but no one except Alexander and Ricky noticed the new small indentations forming in the ground.

"RICKY, YOU MUST TAKE TO THE AIR! YOU CANNOT BEAT HIM ON THE GROUND!" Alexander urged, his brow slick with sweat as he was the only one who had witnessed the serene strike Percival had made with his sword. 

'His skill trumps mine,' Alexander thought, realizing that even he couldn't arc his sword with the same graceful precision as Percival.

*WHOOSH*

Ricky's feet erupted in a surge of flames, propelling him upward with violent force. As he ascended, their eyes remained locked in a tense, unbroken stare with Percival's confident smirk meeting Ricky's fierce determination. 

The flames beneath him abruptly ceased, leaving Ricky hovering mid-air on an invisible mental platform. 

His body steadied as he gripped his bow tighter, feeling the weight of the confrontation ahead.

This time, there would be no holding back or any underestimation.

With a deep breath, Ricky unleashed his radiant harmony, the energy exploding outward in a brilliant wave of light that illuminated the battlefield. 

His gauntlets, the very ones holding the bow steady, ignited with eldritch flames, a dark and chaotic fire that crackled with malevolent energy. 

Ricky felt the opposing forces within him as his radiant harmony aura, pure and bright, clashing with the eldritch flames' twisted hunger. 

The two energies snarled at each other like beasts, viciously fighting for dominance within his body.

But Ricky wasn't finished as he forced them together, commanding the radiant harmony to mingle with its dark counterpart, fueling the eldritch flames with its purifying light by fueling the flames with his own pyrokinetics.

In that brief moment, the two enemies morphed into a grotesque abomination that was Ricky in his entirety. 

Percival bent his knees, taunting Ricky by allowing him the first move but it didn't phase him in the least. 

Ricky pulled back the bowstring, his veins bulging with effort and as he drew the string taut, the arrow swirled in his grasp, the monstrous flames consuming it. 

The usual bright orange arrow was slowly being replaced by a horrid murky red, pulsing with dark energy yet oddly majestic.

*WHOOSH*

The arrow exploded out of Ricky's embrace, a slight air ripple sounding around him as the very space around him started to shift.

*BOOM*

Then, with a resounding boom, the arrow launched toward Percival, who merely smirked, unfazed. 

But Ricky wasn't finished yet as behind him, a sea of cannons materialized, the very same design as the one he received from his gacha.

Ricky had accidentally taken it out before he left for the Vatican and with his mechanical energy coursing through him, Ricky grasped the intricacies of its design. 

He was able to visualize its mechanics, replicating them with his mental energy, and in an instant, a tsunami of cannons formed behind him, their barrels poised and ready.

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

The cannons erupted in a cacophony of sound, unleashing a barrage of mental cannonballs that surged toward Percival. 

Each shot rippled through the air like a shockwave, a fierce storm of energy raining down upon him. 

Ricky's eyes remained locked on Percival, who was already gazing at the arrow, its trajectory warping the very air around it.

The contrast was striking: the singular, focused arrow against the chaotic onslaught of cannon fire. 

Ricky felt a surge of exhilaration as he unleashed his full power, the relentless assault aimed to overwhelm even the most composed of foes. 

*WHOOSH*

A sudden red flash erupted, consuming the surroundings in an instant. Everything within its reach was cleaved in half, a horrifying spectacle that left the onlookers gasping in disbelief.

*THOOM*

An even louder explosion followed, reverberating through the air as the sheer force of the attack obliterated everything that wasn't Ricky. 

The platform beneath him shattered, splintering into fragments that scattered like confetti in the wake of the destructive wave.

Ricky stood at the eye of the storm, untouched amid the chaos, the embodiment of a power that defied comprehension. 

The shockwave rippled outward, transforming the battlefield into a surreal landscape of destruction, while the spectators could only stare, their mouths agape, at the horrifying might displayed before them.

"Never take your eyes off your opponent," Percival whispered, his voice slithering behind Ricky. 

A chill ran down Ricky's spine at the mere tone, heightening his senses as he felt the weight of Percival's presence lurking just behind him.

*BAM*

*COUGH*

Ricky's body was suddenly propelled across the circle, crashing into the field surrounding them as he let out a loud cough, struggling to regain his breath as the impact left him disoriented.

*COUGH*

*COUGH*

Only then did Ricky feel the mental backlash as Percival unleashed a counterstrike, obliterating everything he had conjured. 

The force hit him like a physical blow, and he slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.

He coughed violently, expelling heapings of spit, the taste of blood mingling with the acrid remnants of his shattered concentration.

"Interesting," Percival mused, rubbing his chin as he gently descended to the spot where Ricky had just stood.

"For your age, the power you command is indeed impressive," Percival continued, his tone measured and calm. 

"But there's no refinement, only brute strength." Percival then let out a disappointed sigh, as if lamenting the wasted potential before him. 

"What the f*ck just happened-" Ricky finally muttered out, looking up only to see Percival had disappeared.

*BAM*

In an instant, Percival vanished from view, reappearing above Ricky with blinding speed. 

Before Ricky could react, Percival slammed the heel of his foot into the back of his head, the force driving him down into the ground with brutal precision.

*BAM*

The impact reverberated through Ricky's skull, leaving him momentarily disoriented as the world around him blurred.

Percival's weight pressed down, a reminder of the overwhelming power he commanded, forcing Ricky's face into the ground

"Is that all?" Percival taunted lightly, his voice dripping with mockery. 

"I must say, you are powerful, but I assumed you were much stronger to justify such arrogance." Percival chuckled, pressing his heel deeper into the back of Ricky's head, emphasizing his dominance, a smirk playing on his lips.

Ricky struggled to lift his head, but no matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't budge it from beneath Percival's heel. Frustration ignited within him, a fire kindling alongside the physical pain.

With a sudden burst of resolve, he reached up and grasped Percival's ankle, his gauntlets shimmering with that abominable fusion of flames. 

The moment the heat touched Percival's skin, the knight's smile vanished, replaced by a frown of surprise and concern.

*BOOOOOM*

The horrid flames erupted around them, a tempest of energy that engulfed both Ricky and Percival in a chaotic inferno. 

The explosion sent Percival hurtling backward, but with remarkable agility, he caught his balance midair, driving the tip of his sword into the ground to anchor himself.

The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the arena, scattering debris and igniting the air with flickers of radiant light and shadow. 

*DING*

*DING*

In the next heartbeat, Percival effortlessly deflected two arrows that shot toward him, their tips gleaming ominously. 

The arrows collided with an invisible barrier behind him, exploding in a shower of sparks and smoke, but he didn't even acknowledge their presence.

His focus remained unwavering, his expression calm and composed, as if the arrows were mere afterthoughts in a game far beyond Ricky's understanding. 

"Alright, that's it," Ricky scornfully laughed, the smoke clearing to reveal him smirking, a mix of intense annoyance and newfound determination etched across his face. 

His eyes locked onto Percival's form, unwavering in their intensity and in that moment, the Emperor's gaze transformed, a crimson light surging through his pupils as he focused on Percival, analyzing every inch of the knight's ethereal figure.

"Do you have even more little tricks up your sleeve?" Percival inquired with a curious smirk, his tone playful yet laced with caution as he circled around Ricky.

"Oh, believe me, you wannabe King Arthur, I've got a whole arsenal of wonderful tricks hidden away." Ricky shot back, his smile dripping with disdain, making Percival's eyebrow twitch, and he let out a dry laugh, the sound echoing through the tension-filled air.

In the next instant, Percival's glorious figure materialized before Ricky, his sword arcing downward with lethal intent. 

But Ricky was ready; he swung his leg upward in a fluid motion, intercepting the blade just in time. 

The clash of metal against flesh sent a shockwave through both combatants, btu Ricky didn't feel the pain as his adrenaline surged through him, widening his smile as he held his ground.

"!" Percival's eyes widened as Ricky's foot struck the ricasso of the sword, halting its deadly descent aimed at his arm and leaving Percival's chest completely exposed.

Seizing the moment, Ricky pulled back the bowstring, the tension in the air thickening with anticipation, and released the arrow without hesitation. 

Percival, quick to react, let go of the sword and shifted his grip, swinging the hilt to the other side. 

The arrow collided with the blade, a sharp crack echoing through the air as it split at its seam amidst Percival's serious eyes.

In the same breath, Ricky conjured a shimmering dome around Percival, sealing him within a barrier that suddenly coursed his horrid flames.

*BOOOM*

A loud boom erupted as fire engulfed Percival, flames licking at the edges of the mental dome that surrounded him. 

Ricky concentrated fiercely, unleashing a torrent of blazing energy that coated every inch of the barrier, turning it into a radiant inferno.

With the heat intensifying, he drew back his bowstring once more, the arrow shimmering with the essence of his power. 

The crackling flames danced in his eyes as he prepared for the next strike, determined to break through Percival's defenses and seize control of the battle.

*Gulp*

Ricky gulped, a chill racing down his spine as he realized that just as he was about to release the bowstring, Percival's sword had materialized right above his jugular.

*Whoosh*

In the next instant, the sound of the barrier being cut in half echoed through the arena, a sharp and devastating noise that silenced the spectators. 

Eyes widened in disbelief as they saw Ricky trapped at the mercy of Percival, the knight's sword poised ominously above him.

"I accept you," Percival said with a calm smile, nodding to himself as he sheathed the sword. 

Ricky, still reeling, finally managed to draw in a breath, confusion washing over him.

"What the hell just happened?" Ricky Muttered, disbelief etched across his face at the results of their confrontation. 

He had thought he had him cornered; even his instincts had screamed victory and yet here he was, feeling as if Percival had cut through fate itself, shifting the very fabric of their confrontation in an instant. 

"Amazing," Alexander breathed, unable to hide his awe at witnessing such serene swordsmanship in his lifetime. 

It was a display of skill that left him almost breathless, each movement fluid and precise.

"Seb," Abraham whispered urgently to the shocked Father Sebastian, who flinched at the sound of his name.

"R-Ricky has been accepted and will be privy to the Duel of Blood for the chance to wield the Ebony Blade!" Father Sebastian announced, his voice echoing through the stunned silence.

Ernst, who had been watching the duel from the sidelines, cast his gaze downward, grappling with a mix of emotions. 

The weight of Father Sebastian's words hung in the air, heavy with significance as Ricky's fate had shifted in an instant, and the stakes had never been higher. 

The crowd's murmurs began to swell, a mixture of excitement and disbelief at the prospect of Ricky claiming such a powerful weapon.

Without uttering a single word, Ernst turned on his heel and strode out of the arena, determination etched into his features. 

As he walked, he pulled a small vial from his clothes, the liquid inside catching the light and glimmering with promise.

A palpable thirst for power rippled in his eyes, igniting a fire of ambition that drove him forward.

'I must win.'

Author's Note: Thanks for 9k collections, I appreciate everyone reading this far and enjoying my story. I do see all your comments but have crazy busy and won't be able to see all of them until the weekend.