Imperial Crown.

Chapter 616 Invincible Golden Lion

"You???"

Raven was genuinely surprised. He had not only heard of the invincible Golden Lion's fame, but also shared a hidden connection with him. This man was one of Hume's mentors… (Chapter 475). Hume was the son of Marquis Baldwin of the Mantaire Province. He was also the little fellow who had followed him through years of campaigns (and hiding) in the Orc Empire, and who remained hopelessly infatuated with the Knight of Light, Savannah. Raven's expedition to the Orc Empire relied almost entirely on Baldwin's supplies; otherwise, they would have collapsed long ago. Therefore, Raven was curious why this guy wasn't in the Mantaire Province, nor the Cartier Province. When did he end up in the North Sea Province? And hiding in Venice? He had no idea. "What are you doing here?"

Looking at Raven, whose face was contorted with rage, features twisted, and eyes bulging with fury, Kimbak calmly walked to the center of the hall, bowed respectfully, and said neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Marquis." "I arrived in the North Sea Province about half a year ago." "I am now a knight under Earl Novihaus." "I possess a knightly domain." To be honest, Kimbak was slightly disappointed. Raven's appearance at this moment was somewhat out of control. However, Kimbak could understand. He had heard everything clearly outside the door; every word Novihaus said was like a knife stabbing into Raven's heart. Anyone in his position would probably have been unable to suppress their anger. It was only natural that he would break down. It's just that the outside world portrayed Raven as a god, but now, looking at him, Raven was just a young man with flesh and blood. One head, two arms. Perhaps he carried a bit of dubious "luck." Apart from that, he was not much different from an ordinary person. The outside world's perception of him, such as "a man-eating demon" and "a devil among men," is somewhat based on hearsay.

Six months ago?
Raven quickly estimated that it coincided with the time when Ferdinand entered the North Sea Province. In other words, Novahau had already hired Kimbak before Ferdinand's arrival? Thinking this, Raven glanced at Novahau. He hadn't expected the guy to be so shrewd, having already anticipated the unfavorable situation and spent a fortune hiring mercenaries and buying runestones. Today's events were probably originally intended to disrupt the proceedings and propose a duel. Even if he lost, he still had a way out! It was only because things didn't go as planned that he had to prematurely reveal his other trump card—a fourth-tier magic runestone. So the old saying, "Plans can't keep up with changes," is quite true. Today's events were clearly unexpected by both Raven and Novahau.

"cough"

Looking around, and noticing the obvious oddness in Kimbak's eyes, Raven realized his loss of composure. But his murderous intent had already reached its peak, and he no longer cared about such things. Slightly softening his expression, Raven said coldly, "Are you sure you want to take his place in the duel?!"

These words were blatantly threatening. Not only Kimbak, but everyone in the hall could hear it. Kimbak, however, gave another impeccable bow. "Marquis Raven," he said, "please forgive my petty act. Your feat of slaying a sixth-tier Ferdinand does not qualify you as a fifth-tier expert. It would be unfair to duel you. My duel is with Lord Eric."

"Ah"

Raven was speechless. His petty schemes were practically spitting fire at Raven's face. Raven was clearly a fifth-tier cultivator, yet Kimbak claimed it was unfair to duel him. He then turned to Eric. But Eric had only just broken through to the fifth tier, one star level. Raven himself, however, possessed the strength of a fifth-tier, five-star cultivator. Ah… and now he's abandoning the issue of fairness? His ugly character and disgusting face were blatantly obvious.

He even went so far as to belittle his own "petty behavior" first, then repeatedly bowed and spoke with utmost respect... putting on an act of magnanimity. It was impossible to find fault with him. Otherwise, it would be seen as nitpicking. This is just like those malicious classmates or colleagues who deliberately call others by discriminatory nicknames in public. If you get angry, he says he's joking, and asks why you're being so petty. If you ignore him, he laughs and barks incessantly.

In fact, this kind of person knows exactly what he is doing and how wicked he is; he is perfectly aware of it. He enjoys the sense of superiority of manipulating others and leaving them with unspeakable suffering.

However, Raven didn't say much. Such childish tricks were completely useless against him! Other nobles might care about their reputation, but did Raven seem like the kind of person who would stick to the rules? If he had even a shred of morality and shame, he wouldn't have blasphemed Priestess Lux on the left and been criticized for stabbed his aunt Daenerys on the right. The reason Raven didn't rush to speak was simply to confirm Eric's own thoughts. So Raven silently turned his head to look at Eric. Their eyes met. Eric's large and small eyes were filled with a sharp, eager glint. But not knowing Raven's thoughts, he didn't dare to rashly agree.

"Okay." Since Eric was willing to go, Raven had nothing more to say.

As a lord, doing everything personally would be beneath his dignity and undermine his status. Secondly, even if Raven killed Kimbak, he would still not be able to win over the people.

Even if Eric is ultimately defeated, Raven will still step in and kill Kimbak in time. Ancient rules and millennia-old traditions are all worthless in Raven's eyes. Since all the nobles of the North Sea present consider him shameless and despicable, wouldn't he be bearing the infamy for nothing if he didn't satisfy them?
"Someone come here." "Help me remove my armor."

Eric roared. Immediately, four or five soldiers stepped forward and helped Eric remove his armor.

A duel is not the same as a full-scale battle. The main purpose of armor is to protect against stray arrows and encirclement attacks. It's incredibly heavy, and in one-on-one combat, while it provides added protection, it reduces agility and flexibility. And Kimbak is a fifth-tier transcendent. The armor's protection is not very effective; in fact, it would be a fatal burden for him.

Kimbak then started walking towards the exit of the hall. As he passed Eric, he said in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "Actually, it didn't have to be so complicated."

His tone seemed polite, but it was full of sarcasm. He meant that Eric didn't need to retract his armor; he was destined to lose anyway.

"Insanity!"

A murderous glint flashed in Eric's eyes.

The crowd hurried out of the hall. The martial arts arena was not far away, a perfect place for a duel between two fifth-tier fighters.

“Father.” Thor approached with a worried expression.

Eric squeezed his shoulder blade. "My son, do not worry." He then took several items from Raven's hands and stuffed them into his robes.

Soon, the crowd completely surrounded the martial arts arena.

Raven sat calmly in the center of the main stage. He wouldn't let Novihaus off the hook today, no matter what. Not even the Lord of Light himself!

As fifth-tier cultivators, Kimbak and Eric were still unable to fly. The two silently walked to the center of the training ground and stood a few feet apart.

"Actually, I completely understand you." "It's not easy for mercenaries to make a living." "They travel all over the world, making their home wherever they are." "I heard that you used to be a tutor to young master Hume in the province of Mangtailide." "You've worked for several noble families before." "Now you've finally managed to get a knight's territory to settle down." "I won't mock you, a fifth-tier powerhouse, for being willing to be a dog for a knight's territory." "After all, everyone has the right to pursue a better life."

Eric stopped and deliberately raised his voice with his battle aura, saying, "However, I feel in my heart that a traitor like you is unworthy of this knightly territory. A mercenary like you, who will follow whoever feeds him or pays him, is even less worthy of the noble title of 'knight,' which values ​​loyalty above all else."

Titles like knights and knights are generally not considered nobles. The biggest difference is that they cannot be inherited. Unless there is a good relationship with the lord, it might be possible to inherit the title. Traditionally, it is an honor and title that the person holds for life. When the person dies, everything vanishes. However, with the development of the times, according to current rules, under normal circumstances, those who possess a knighthood will inherit it. This is also a means for nobles to win over powerful people after a long period of peace and indulgence.

Eric had barely finished speaking. In an instant. Really. Just that one split second. Kimbak immediately felt Raven's pain. He completely understood why Raven was so enraged. It turned out that being stabbed in the most vulnerable, sensitive, and insecure part of one's self-esteem caused such burning rage and overwhelming murderous intent. Like being stabbed by a knife! Like being burned by fire! Like being drowned! "You bastard! You deserve to die!" Kimbak felt both anger and pain. But he was more patient than Raven, remaining expressionless. Because he knew very well that anger wouldn't change anything. It would only make him lose his mind and then lose control. If he killed Eric, Raven would definitely not let him go.

However, as long as he can decisively defeat Eric, it will be enough for him, Kimbak, to establish himself in the North Sea Province.

He had considered joining Raven or a higher noble family. But which of these great nobles treated him like a human being? Forget the knighthood, he wasn't trusted at all. The great nobles had plenty of capable people around them, they couldn't even keep up with training their own. Why would they care about mercenaries like him? Oh… so he was willing to risk his life for them, only to be distrusted in the end. He'd probably spend his whole life without ever getting ahead. And when he got old, he'd be kicked out of his home like a dog. That was the reality of the ditch, the way the world was. But Eric's words were like a public slap in the face, trampling his dignity into the ground.

Should facts be presented simply because they are true?
"A sharp tongue doesn't make a hero." "Besides," "Could you open your right eye when you speak?" "From a distance, you look like a one-eyed dragon."

Kimbak said in a calm tone, but he also deliberately amplified his voice with his fighting spirit.

"You...you dare to criticize my physical defects?!" Eric was stunned at first, then his face turned visibly red.

With a thunderous roar, a massive, silver-white sword, five or six zhang long, suddenly appeared in the void above his head and behind him! It was Eric's martial spirit!
Ouch——

At the same time, Kimbak was not to be outdone, summoning his own martial spirit as well. However, his martial spirit was a massive, mane-covered, and menacing lion! This lion martial spirit didn't appear above his head; instead, it appeared behind him, its body coiled around him, its head and tail intertwined, firmly protecting Kimbak within. Upon appearing, it let out a murderous roar, its aura astonishing and captivating.

No wonder it's called the Invincible Golden Lion, now I understand. Eric realized.

"Mountain Severing Slash!"

Eric roared. The Martial Soul Greatsword above his head hummed and transformed into a streak of light, slashing down towards Kimbak's head.

At the fifth tier of transcendent, the martial spirit can leave the body to fight. It is no longer like at the fourth tier, where it is like an inanimate object that can only add some power to the transcendent.

A blinding silver light blazed forth, a howling wind whistled and groaned, and the air crackled and creaked wherever the greatsword passed. A fierce gale whipped up in mid-air, whipping up sand and dust that stung the eyes, sending debris flying, and making everyone's clothes flutter wildly. Even their bodies swayed precariously. Most of the people were horrified and shocked! Such terrifying power from a mere fifth-tier battle! They couldn't imagine what it would have been like if Raven and Pedinan had clashed; if they were still sitting there like this, they would have been reduced to a pulp!
The giant sword, imbued with a fierce aura, was swung in a domineering fan shape, growing ever larger and more unstoppable!

"Eric!" "Back then, to break through to the fourth rank!" "I risked my life, even going berserk, by devouring the entire fire-attribute magic core of the [Crimson Flame Lion]!" "Heaven took pity on me." "The Lord of Light favored me." "He allowed me to survive." "Only then did I condense my Martial Soul." "How could you possibly be my match?!"

Staring at the overconfident Eric, Kimbak roared hysterically. What did Eric know? He had lived his entire life under Raven's wing, never lacking high-level cultivation resources. With Eric's talent, with Eric's age... without Raven, how could he have broken through to the fifth rank?! And what about himself? No backer, no support, no resources... all along, for the sake of cultivation, he only had a "do or die" mentality! "Hels, kill him!" Kimbak named his martial soul Heels.

"Roar!" Hels roared, raising his paw and slashing it through the air. With a thunderous boom, a massive lion's paw of battle aura appeared in the void, slamming towards the Silver Radiance Greatsword.

It was the first night of the night, and in the dead of winter, the sky was already dark. But the aura emanating from their battle illuminated the entire martial arts arena as if it were daytime! A dazzling, vibrant spectacle.

Boom boom boom

The lion's claw clashed with the greatsword, unleashing a tremendous pressure and a deafening explosion. Waves of energy surged through the air. Various elements swirled and raged chaotically, compressed and flashing with mysterious and unpredictable runes. Streaks of flame transformed into long, serpentine chains, strangling and slashing at Eric's martial spirit greatsword, relentlessly eroding the steel aura emanating from it.

With a bang, the Silver Greatsword was finally knocked away by the Crimson Flame Lion.

"tsk"

Raven inwardly cursed. Judging by this, Kimbak had absorbed the Law of Fire at least twice. Not only was his realm higher, but it also perfectly countered Eric's. After all, fire overcomes metal—an immutable law. This made Raven uneasy. Moreover, he had an even darker idea: after absorbing Kimbak with the Blood Ring, he would surely be able to climb to the peak of the fifth rank. The only pity was that he hadn't absorbed enough laws to break through to the sixth rank.

"Humph"

Eric, of course, wouldn't give up easily. With a cold snort, his body erupted with battle aura armor, transforming him into a figure about ten feet tall. He leaped into the air, shooting towards the void. While in mid-air, he summoned the greatsword of his martial spirit, which had been knocked away, back into his hand. "Slash!!" he roared, instantly unleashing his strongest battle technique, [Myriad Roars of the Warriors]. Clutching the silver greatsword, he fearlessly slashed towards Kimbak.

Whoosh, clang, clang—

The entire martial arts arena erupted in the sound of clashing swords. Countless greatswords and steel objects flew towards the arena. Only by using battle qi to suppress them could one keep them at bay. From a distance, the scene was quite breathtaking. Eric was almost one with his sword; hanging below the greatsword for about ten feet, he looked like a jade pendant hanging from the hilt.

"How dare you!"

Having his greatsword swatted away by Hils, Eric should have realized the vast difference in skill between them. Even so, Eric still dared to advance. Kimbak could only admire Eric's courage, but also see his foolishness. However, he could also sense the terrifying power of this combat technique. If it weren't for his fear of harming Eric, Eric would have been dead countless times over.

But Kimbak didn't understand one thing. If this weren't a duel, if it weren't for what he called "fairness," he would have been killed by Raven's punch long ago.

Kimbak cursed loudly, and then his body was also enveloped in battle aura armor. "Roar!" The giant lion behind him roared again, stood up, and slammed its claws together towards the giant sword!

boom! ! !
The solid training ground beneath Kimbak immediately collapsed, revealing a three-foot-deep sword wound. "Wow!" This purely defensive approach ultimately put Kimbak at a disadvantage. Although the giant lion above him had its claws clamped down firmly on Eric's greatsword, the shockwave made his throat churn, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"You're courting death!" A rage flashed in Kimbak's eyes. As he rolled, the majestic and imposing martial spirit lion also tumbled along with him. This caused Eric, who was in mid-air as one with his sword, to spin endlessly like a washing machine.

"what"

Eric cried out in alarm, but ultimately could not withstand the force and was thrown from the sky.

However, what happened next was something that left everyone in disbelief!
Seeing Eric thrown away, Kimbak actually controlled the Crimson Flame Lion to grab Eric's Martial Soul Greatsword and then shoved it into its mouth. Sharp fangs were exposed, and it bit down hard.

With a crack

As Eric howled in agony, Kimbak's spirit actually bit off Eric's spirit sword in one bite.

This is terrible! His martial spirit is destroyed! Eric is definitely seriously injured! Now, forget about fighting and dueling, he probably won't be able to recover for at least three to five months!
"Eric!" "Admit defeat immediately!"

Kimbak stood atop Hulse's head, as if hovering in mid-air. He commanded with imposing authority!
……

(End of this chapter)