Chapter 25: Athletic Competition

With a charm score of 8 points, it meant Alexander could command a force of up to 40 men. Perhaps it still seemed weak in terms of military strength. But think about it carefully, raising 40 sturdy men wasn't easy. Not only did you have to ensure their food and drink, but also make sure their wages were paid. If the wages couldn't be paid, who would risk their lives for you? Fortunately, Grand Duke Ferdinand provided a safety net, indirectly helping Alexander raise troops. Alexander also played the role of a mercenary properly. Many things that Grand Duke Ferdinand couldn't handle directly, he could help settle, such as collecting protection fees, dealing with political opponents, and so on. Therefore, Grand Duke Ferdinand was extremely satisfied with Alexander, even coming over to talk to him at the banquet.

Grand Duke Ferdinand: "Your Excellency is brave and valiant. You should participate in the athletic competition later."

Alexander: "Respected Grand Duke, may I ask if there is anything special about the athletic competition?"

Grand Duke Ferdinand: "There's nothing special, just that you can't bring your own weapons and equipment, only the most primitive wooden weapons are allowed. With Your Excellency's strength, winning the competition should be easy."

Alexander chuckled dryly, "Ah, well, there shouldn't be any major problems."

Could he say that he was so fierce solely because of his equipment? Moreover, although his attributes were high, the problem was that he had never systematically learned combat skills. He only had two or three moves, and if he encountered a master, he would be in trouble.

But fortunately, this athletic competition wouldn't cost lives, just stop when it got too serious. So Alexander felt idle and decided to participate.

After screening, a total of 32 people participated in the final competition. These people had different backgrounds, including prominent nobles, battlefield generals, and even common butchers. However, they all had one thing in common: they were all skilled, otherwise they wouldn't be foolish enough to embarrass themselves.

The first round was a team match, with 32 people divided into red and blue teams, each with 16 people. Alexander was assigned to the red team. And he was particularly lucky to draw cavalry. No matter what battlefield it was, cavalry represented a crucial force, and Alexander believed in winning by his own strength.

He had already changed into a specially made cotton armor, holding a makeshift knight's lance with its head wrapped in cloth, as he entered with the others.

Before entering, Alexander also didn't forget to have Victor help him bet 1,000 denars that he would win.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The war drum resounded, indicating the start of the competition. The arena was almost full, and Grand Duke Ferdinand and other nobles sat in the VIP seats, occasionally pointing and discussing the participants.

Alexander had no time to pay attention to what was happening in the spectator seats because his warhorse had already begun to charge. He and three other teammates formed a temporary squad of cavalry and adopted the traditional tactic of the Kingdom of Saint Martin—direct hard charging!

The opposing team, not to be outdone, also charged straight at them with four cavalrymen clad in blue cotton armor.

Alexander tightly gripped the lance, fixing his gaze on one of them, the atmosphere extremely tense. In such a tense environment, Alexander's agility of 10 points was fully utilized. He managed to bend down and dodge the opponent's lance, then accurately used his lance to thrust into the opponent's chest, directly knocking him several meters away from his horse.

It was unknown whether the opponent died or not, but he was definitely eliminated.

In the first wave of cavalry skirmishes, the red team, where Alexander was, gained a significant advantage. They lost one man but eliminated three blue team cavalrymen.

However, before they could celebrate, several arrows without tips flew over, their shafts painted. One cavalryman from the red team couldn't dodge in time and was immediately shot in the forehead, leaving a large mark. He had no choice but to leave the arena, temporarily representing an elimination.

The rest depended on his teammates.

The red team also had archers who, seeing this, immediately retaliated without showing weakness.

A major battle was imminent, and chaos reigned in the small duel arena.

Alexander rode his warhorse, continuously harvesting the living forces of the blue team.

His strength attribute was indeed too high. Even when the opposing team used sword and shield, Alexander could knock both the shield and the people over.

With Alexander's participation, the outcome of this battle was no longer in doubt. When all the blue team members were eliminated, there were still eight people standing on the red side of the duel arena.

It was an expected victory.

Alexander didn't celebrate too early. After all, this was only the first round, and there were more battles to come.

In the second round, the original 16 red team members were split into two groups of eight to compete again.

This time Alexander was not randomly assigned to the cavalry, but instead became a sword and shield soldier.

It is also Alexander's best weapon.

He has a wooden shield in his left hand and a wooden sword in his right hand. The sword is also painted with red dye. Whenever it is hit by the blade, it will leave a red mark.

How did Alexander operate?

He dodged the cavalry charge and the archers' shots, charging straight into the enemy ranks. When engaging in close combat with the enemy, a shield bash from Alexander sent them flying. All the fancy techniques were nonsense! One strength overpowers ten techniques! In just a short moment, Alexander continuously knocked down four opponents, as if possessed by a war god.

At the same time, while Alexander was swinging his shield, a wooden arrow silently shot towards him and struck him. Alexander was stunned; he had been "killed." He silently stepped aside, realizing he wasn't careful enough; there were too many cunning old hands on the battlefield.

Fortunately, as long as his side won, he would advance to the next round. If, under the premise of him defeating four enemies on his side, they still couldn't win, it would be too embarrassing for the rest of his teammates in the Kingdom of Saint Martin.

Sure enough, the huge advantage led Alexander's side to victory. The subsequent 4v4 and 2v2 matches were also won without suspense.

Finally, the athletic competition reached the final match. Alexander's opponent was a seasoned veteran of the battlefield, but Alexander couldn't remember his name. However, it didn't matter because Alexander was too busy sighing repeatedly at the arrows in his hand to bother with the veteran's name. 

Coincidentally, the veteran drew sword and shield as well. It couldn't be said that the two sides were a bit uneven; it was more like a complete counter.

Shooting arrows at a shield wasn't exactly a winning strategy, was it? But, considering the amount of money he had bet, Alexander suddenly felt it wasn't impossible. He raised his longbow and fired an arrow at the veteran. To the astonishment of everyone present, the arrow missed terribly. Almost forgot to emphasize, Alexander didn't know how to use a bow and arrow in the first place.

The veteran rejoiced at the arrow's miss. After all, Alexander's previous performances had been too outstanding, making it hard not to notice him. But now...he was just a novice who couldn't use a bow and arrow. What's the difference between him and someone who enters the battlefield unarmed? He's just waiting to be slaughtered!