Chapter 22 Killing Dancer

Gavin kicked his legs hard and charged toward the tightly-formed Hightower family like a streak of lightning. Immediately, their attack came like a torrent of rain, and two long spears stabbed at him with deadly precision. But Gavin's movements were like those of a phantom. He swiftly dodged the spear from the left and then leaned back, narrowly avoiding another spear thrusting toward him.

In the blink of an eye, he had breached the opponent's formation. His sword swung with the force of the wind. A flash of cold light, and a member of the Hightower family was pierced through the heart before he even had time to react. The man collapsed on the spot.

Without hesitation, Gavin rushed toward the man holding the flagstaff. The opponent, terrified, quickly raised his spear to block the strike. Gavin's wrist twisted fluidly, and his sword bypassed the spear like a snake. With a sharp backstab, the man's throat was cut open, and blood sprayed out in an instant.

At that moment, another enemy attacked from the side. Gavin dodged effortlessly, kicking the man in the abdomen and sending him flying several meters away. Another enemy seized the opportunity to strike from behind, but Gavin, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, spun around and struck him with the hilt of his sword. The man groaned, collapsing unconscious onto the ground.

The Hightower family's allies roared and rushed to join the battle. Gavin, undeterred, grew even fiercer. His eyes became more intense, and the sword in his hand seemed to dance with deadly precision. Sometimes, he stabbed quickly; other times, he parried with elegance, and at times, he delivered powerful slashes. Each move carried immense force.

An enemy attacked from the left. Gavin turned sideways like the wind, slashing the attacker's arm with a backhand strike. Another assailant came at him from behind, but Gavin spun and thrust his sword into the man's chest. Then, as if the arena had opened up before him, Gavin moved with the speed of lightning, the shadow of his blade flashing like a deadly specter.

Enemies fell around him. Some lost limbs to his swift strikes, while others were killed instantly by his precise cuts. His movements were so fast and deadly it was as if he were a living storm cutting through his enemies. In the chaos, Gavin was a peerless warrior—each movement was sharp and unforgiving. His sword moved like a mad dragon leaping from the sea, like a violent tiger descending from the mountain. His unparalleled swordsmanship filled his opponents with dread.

Finally, Gavin's sword slashed through the throat of the last man standing. With that, no one remained between him and the Hightower family. The battlefield, once chaotic and filled with violence, was now eerily silent. The only sound was Gavin's heavy breathing and the occasional flutter of flags in the wind. The blood-soaked ground and the scattered bodies served as a grim testament to the ferocity of the battle that had just transpired.

Gavin slowly stood up, the sword hanging by his side, blood dripping from its tip. He looked around at the remaining enemies, who watched him warily. His expression held no fear or pity. He extended his hand, curling his fingers into a provocative gesture, exuding both disdain and challenge.

At that moment, the entire arena erupted. The stands and the crowd exploded with deafening cheers, whispers, and shouts of disbelief. The air crackled with excitement, as if the entire world was caught up in Gavin's boldness.

Gavin, feeling more powerful than ever, grinned. Despite the physical toll, the battle had only strengthened him. It was as though he had truly mastered the master-level swordsmanship bestowed upon him by the panel. Seeing no one daring to respond to his challenge, he smiled and charged forward, unstoppable.

Some opponents attempted to fight back, but as soon as they did, they were quickly knocked down. An odd scene unfolded in the arena: wherever Gavin went, his enemies either fled in panic or surrendered immediately. Within moments, Gavin stood alone on the battlefield, the last man standing.

Days later, Edmond had hosted three extravagant banquets, with Gavin as the guest of honor at each one. But Gavin had grown weary of the celebrations. After a polite toast, he pretended to be drunk and quickly left. His mind was far from the festivities.

Escaping the banquet, Gavin met with Tommen to finalize his business.

"Sir, we can offer you 110,000 gold dragons in cash right now. Please allow us ten more days to raise the remaining 40,000. Our Chamber of Commerce does not have enough gold dragons on hand. If you are concerned, we can offer goods of equal value as collateral." The steward spoke with a slight tremor in his voice, his hands twisting nervously. Sweat dotted his forehead, and he glanced at Gavin, waiting for his response.

Gavin frowned as he listened. The steward seemed sincere, and it didn't appear they intended to default on the debt. He stood silently, his eyes deep in thought.

Seeing Gavin's silence, the steward became even more uneasy. He knew all too well the kind of fury Gavin could unleash, having witnessed his brutal battle. His voice trembled as he continued, "Sir, our Chamber of Commerce has been running duel betting operations in Westeros for over 200 years. Even the Iron Bank has a share in it. Please rest assured, our reputation is impeccable, and our business is vast. We can assist you in finding anything you need in the future."

Hearing this, Gavin suddenly recalled something important. "It's not that I can't wait ten days, but I need to purchase some materials. The condition is that you help me gather them." He gestured for the steward to bring paper and pen and then wrote down a list of the materials and medicines required for the blood witch puppet.

The steward let out a quiet sigh of relief as he looked at the list. "Sir, we can procure all of these materials immediately. However, I'm unsure of the quantities you require, and these items are not cheap. The total will come to around 1,200 gold royals. But if you agree, I can offer you a discount of 1,000 gold royals as a token of our appreciation."