Chapter 149: Battle with Aicler

"Truly fitting of the Hero," the young knight marveled at the mark on his armor, his spirit undaunted by defeat, instead growing more fervent in his resolve.

"Now, Hero, face my next technique! Rune Art—Earth Splitter: Piercing Cannon!" Accompanied by a pale green rune, the young knight unleashed a powerful technique. Using such a skill here seemed risky, as without the protective laws of magic, a hit from this could cause serious injury.

"Such recklessness," Aicler remarked, shaking her head from the sidelines. She held no illusions about the young knight's chances against Zhang Fan. Once the rune art was deployed, it was clear the knight had forfeited any hope of victory.

Indeed, the technique, despite its impressive name, resulted in only a beam the size of a bowl from the tip of the knight's lance. It was slow to form and easy to evade, making it unlikely to land a hit on Zhang Fan.

After the rune's light faded, the outcome was as expected. Zhang Fan's lance pointed directly at the young knight's throat, stopping just short of piercing his skin.

"Try taking on my move, Hero!" Aicler suddenly leaped into action, wielding her twin blades and soaring nearly eight meters in the air. She descended rapidly towards Zhang Fan.

"Excellent," Zhang Fan smiled, shifting his focus to meet Aicler's challenge. The young knight had been a mere warm-up, lacking the thrill that came with a true challenge. Now, facing Aicler, the skilled and agile dog-ear loli, Zhang Fan readied himself for a more stimulating battle.

Aicler's twin short blades were no trifle. As she bore down on him, Zhang Fan braced his lance, intercepting her blades. With a forceful push, he sent Aicler spiraling away.

While Aicler lacked Zhang Fan's strength, her agility shone through as she flipped gracefully in the air, landing unharmed opposite him.

"Take this!" Seizing the moment of Aicler's landing, Zhang Fan lunged with his lance. His attack, bizarre and tricky, split from one into three illusions, baffling Aicler.

To her, each lance image seemed real. Unsure of how to dodge, she opted to meet the attack head-on. Unfortunately, this decision led to her downfall.

Zhang Fan had employed a clever technique, the Tai Yue Three Peaks, which though non-lethal, caused Aicler to become dazed.

Aicler, caught off guard, stumbled and sat down hard. Regaining her senses, she recalled the battle, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She had been thoroughly defeated, in a way she couldn't even comprehend.

"Amazing, Hero!"

"Strong work, Hero!" The knights cheered as the victor was clear. However, the applause only added to Aicler's embarrassment, prompting her to abruptly flee the training ground.

Stunned, Zhang Fan considered following her but was interrupted by Ligota, who suddenly appeared.

"What's wrong, Ligota?" Zhang Fan asked, perplexed.

"Sorry, Hero..." Ligota, looking pitiful, held up a handful of phone parts, a testament to her failed attempt at fixing Zhang Fan's phone.

"Don't worry, it's just a phone," Zhang Fan reassured her, knowing the technology was foreign to her world.

Excited, Ligota handed Zhang Fan another 'good person card', leaving him figuratively floored.

Changing the subject, Zhang Fan inquired about the world's firearms or magical weapons. He had an idea to enhance the effectiveness of guns in this world, which could prove beneficial against beasts and monsters.

"Sure, let's go check them out," Ligota agreed, leading Zhang Fan to the National Research Institute.