Blue Rose(2)

In E-Rantel, there was a small arena where fights would occasionally be held. It was nothing compared to the size of the Imperial Colosseum in the Baharuth Empire. However, it was more than enough for two adventurers to duke it out.

When news broke that the beautiful leader of Blue Rose was going to personally fight, thousands flocked to the arena, filling the limited seats it had in an instant.

Such a commotion was to be expected, considering the status of Adamantite Adventurers. They were simply too rare. In addition, Lakyus was a young girl of only nineteen years old and not just an Admantite Adventurer, but a leader of a group of them.

The two challengers affirmed the agreements of the duel and took their positions.

===

Lakyus eyed her opponent warily as the commotion from the audience died down.

She had checked the authenticity of the item that Reinhardt gambled on, confirming it to be a genuine 6th Tier Spell [Greater Raise Dead].

Such items were incredibly rare, but not impossible to get. Extremely lucky adventurers would come across them sometimes in abandoned ruins or caves.

Her wariness against Reinardt grew. However, she had confidence in her abilities as well. It was impossible for anyone to resist her attack by sheer prowess of their equipment alone. Even if she fought Gazef Stronoff, the Kingdom's strongest warrior; Laykus was fairly certain she would win.

The very thought that she would lose to some unknown adventurer was simply absurd. There was no way anyway with the ability to defeat her would be unheard of. She compared the profile of Reinhardt to the list of all the notable adversaries she knew. However, nothing remotely fitted the description.

"Considering you're a girl. I'll let you have the first move."

Reinhardt stretched out his hand and leisurely gestured, indicating for her to strike first.

The comment greatly irked her. The paladin was looking down on her just because of her gender.

She lifted her sword and pointed it forward.

"[Templar's Verdict]."

At her declaration, Holy Energy gathered around the tip of Laykus's sword. Infused with the energy of faith, it was a strike that could split even an ogre into two.

The next instant, her figure appeared before Reinhardt and she swung the demonic sword, Kilineiram, right at him. As an Adamantite Level Adventurer, her speed was shocking and too fast to catch for most humans.

She was certain even some admantite adventurers wouldn't be able to keep up with the movement.

"Interesting … why do you have skills from YGGDRASIL as well? Are you a player?"

Lakyus stared in shock as she witnessed an unbelievable sight.

It was a scene that defied logic, if Reinhardt had dodged the attack or used a spell to protect himself, she could understand.

But the man had caught the attack with his hand.

"Puh-layer? Are you insulting me!"

Her face was flushed red with anger as she tried to wrestle away the sword, but it wouldn't bulge. She had never heard such a weird term before but was certain it was a kind of derogatory term.

Men had the ability to come up with all kinds of crude nicknames for women. She wouldn't be surprised if this was one of them.

"Did anyone tell you that you look even more beautiful when you're angry? Also, it was not an insult."

The man cooly spoke, then released his grip on the sword as she hurriedly retreated.

"I-impossible! He blocked the leader's strike with his hand?"

"Lakyus! Don't let your guard down!"

In the audience stands, the other member of the Blue Rose shouted. She could hear the worry laced in their tone.

-It was probably due to his gear, I won't hold back for my next attack.

She eyed the white armor worn by the paladin, then plunged her sword into the ground and pressed her hands together; palms facing each other.

"[Blessing of the Water God]. [Greater Blessing of the Water God]. [Conviction]. [Devotion]."

Lakyus whispered her prayers. Then gripped the Demonic Sword Kilineyram with both hands and raised it high above her head.

The strike this time was augmented by techniques that focused on increasing its potency. Lakyus had deduced that Reinhardt was probably going to try to take her attack head-on.

She would shatter the pride of that arrogant noble in his expensive armor.

"[Templar's Verdict]!"

Lakyus gathered all her strength and swung the sword downwards forcefully. Her slash ripped through the air at Reinhardt.

"[Aegis of Light]."

Reinhardt uttered and 4 Hexagonal Shields that shone brightly appeared around him.

The attack launched by her smashed into a shield facing it and exploded in blinding light.

However, the Paladin was still standing.

"What?!"

Lakyus jaw dropped as she stared in disbelief.

Her full-on blow had been completely blocked.

"Is that low-level Templar skill the only thing you are capable of?"

The man waved and the remaining shields that protected him disappeared.

It was an open taunt for her to attack.

"I won't be defeated by a playboy noble like you!"

"Playboy? You are mista-"

"[Holy Nova]!!!"

A whirlwind of light erupted where Lakyus stood, enveloping the area around her in a storm of unstable Holy Energy.

[Holy Nova] was a skill that had a potency of a fifth-tier spell created by Lakyus herself - A divine skill. The act of Reinhardt touching her chin made her so furious that she immediately unleashed one of her strongest skills without a second thought.

The resulting carnage lasted for ten seconds with no one able to tell what exactly happened.

It was then, Reinhardt's dreaded voice sounded through the clearing dust.

"[Light Prison]"

A pillar of light descended from the skies and trapped her within.

She could no longer move an inch.

"H-how?"

The thought that someone could withstand one of her most potent strikes unscathed had left Lakyus utterly devastated. It was a skill she had created and perfected for sake of one day hunting down the Orc King that resided in the orc settlement south of the Kingdom.

Orcs were an utterly despicable and disgusting race that ate humans for food. The Holy Roble Kingdom had suffered a lot from its raids and the other demihumans near it, resulting in them building a wall to ward them off.

That has since resulted in an increased number of Orcs raiding the human settlements of the Re-Estize Kingdom, her home nation. Lakyus was someone that cared deeply for the welfare of her country. As a result, she would many times accept personal missions issued by Princess Renner to her.

Those missions often dealt with invading demihumans or rogue criminal organizations. Of particular concern was the constant never-ending raids carried out by Orcs in the southern part of the Kingdom.

Her defeat shattered the dream that she held. Lakyus wondered if she could ever accomplish that.

There was no answer to her question, Reinhardt simply stated the results.

"It's my win. Now keep your promise."

(1.1k+ words)