Lord: I can see loyalty.

The bugle sounded.

The knights of both teams slowly spurred their horses toward the center of the sand. The spectators in the stands fell silent, and all eyes were focused on that patch of sand.

"start!"

At a command, both teams of knights charged forward simultaneously!

The sound of horses' hooves suddenly rang out, the tip of a spear flashed coldly in the air, and gasps of surprise erupted from the audience.

"Bang!"

The two spears at the front struck the opponent's shield almost simultaneously. One knight was jolted and swayed on his horse, but managed to regain his balance.

The other one fell off his horse and landed on the sand.

"Bravo!" Cheers erupted from the audience.

The fallen knight scrambled to his feet, led his horse away, while the victor raised his lance on horseback to receive the cheers of the crowd.

……

The first Cavaliers duel quickly came to an end, and it was clear that the second Cavaliers duel was the focus of this competition.

As the horn sounded again, the two gates on either side swung open, and two figures emerged simultaneously.

On the left is a knight in luxurious armor that signifies his noble status, with a lifelike horse head pattern on his breastplate and shoulder armor.

"Could that be a knight from the Golden Saddle Horse family, one of the most powerful families in the capital? Even he didn't get an invitation?!"

"Look closely, there's no sword or wheat next to that horse's head. This is a branch of the Golden Saddle Horse family, though they're still one we can't afford to offend..."

As the first person walked out, the audience erupted in discussion.

Vance raised an eyebrow slightly and said in a low voice, "As a branch family of a large clan, how come they didn't even receive an invitation? Could it be that they've offended the main family?"

"You were absolutely right." Sir Leeson smiled slightly, but there was a bitter taste in his mouth, for he himself felt the same way.

Soon after, the figure on the right strolled out casually, looking completely nonchalant.

The newcomer was rather burly, with a full beard. Although he was about the same height as his opponent, he had a more imposing presence. He was wearing old-fashioned knight's armor that was somewhat worn but not damaged.

He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, raised his head, and looked at his opponent who was receiving cheers from the audience.

"laugh."

Suddenly, a smile appeared on his stubble-covered lips.

The opposing knights also noticed the other's behavior... it was blatant provocation.

"I am Ander, the Knight of the Golden Mountain, from the Golden Saddle Horse family. May I ask your name...?"

"My name is Stern, the Wandering Knight." The bearded knight spat out the unknown object he had been chewing and slowly drew his sword.

The referee in charge was somewhat stunned; the situation didn't look quite right.

But he didn't stop the game from going on. After clearing his throat, he quickly spoke loudly.

"Since both knights have introduced themselves, I won't waste any more words!"

"The knightly sword duel begins now!"

Knightly swordsmanship duel!

As the name suggests, the duel between knights who have mastered knightly swordsmanship is definitely more exciting than a simple duel of basic swordsmanship!

Vance and Sir Leeson's eyes lit up simultaneously; this was one of the targets they had been searching for!

As soon as the referee finished speaking, the two figures on the sand moved simultaneously.

No, it was the wandering knight Stern who made the first move.

His nonchalant expression vanished instantly, and he shot straight at the Gold Mountain Knight like an arrow released from a bow.

The speed was so fast that many spectators in the stands didn't even have time to blink.

Vance's pupils contracted sharply... It was too fast. Although it was far inferior to Count Vio's skill level, it was still evident.

He sat in a high position, at least fifty or sixty meters above the sand, yet he could still feel the oppressive aura emanating from it.

That wasn't some kind of skill, but pure speed, so fast that he couldn't even see the trajectory of the opponent's sword.

"So fast," Sir Leeson murmured.

But the Gold Mountain Knight Ander truly deserves the title of knight bestowed upon him by the kingdom.

His pupils contracted slightly, but his body reacted instinctively.

Hold the broadsword at an angle, with the blade blocking in front of you, bend your knees slightly, and lower your center of gravity.

This is the signature defensive stance of "Golden Horse Sword Technique," which focuses on steady defense and waits for the opponent's attack before unleashing a fatal counterattack.

"Bang!"

The two swords clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

The Knight of the Golden Mountain swayed slightly, but his feet were rooted to the spot and he didn't move an inch. A smile had already appeared on his lips. Next was the moment of his best counterattack!

"That's the trick!"

In the audience, a middle-aged nobleman dressed in fine clothes suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly, as if afraid that those around him would not know his knowledge.

"The signature swordsmanship of the Golden Mountain Knight, Ander! Relying on the defensive power and core control of the Golden Horse Sword Technique, he withstood the enemy's attack head-on, and then unleashed a counterattack that was impossible to dodge or intercept! This is the ultimate technique of the Golden Saddle Horse family, even if he is only a branch family member..."

However, before he could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred.

The wandering knight Stern did not sheathe his sword or choose to dodge or parry!

Using the momentum of his forward charge, he suddenly curled downwards, like a nimble animal, and slipped right under the Golden Mountain Knight's sword!

The counterattack sword that was meant to strike him instead sliced ​​through the air and missed its mark.

"What?!"

An incredulous gasp erupted from the audience.

This...this is just too ridiculous!

A duel between dignified knights, and they dodge attacks by "diving between the sword's legs"? What happened to the swordsmanship duel? What happened to the chivalrous honor?

Immediately, a chorus of boos erupted.

The Golden Mountain Knight was also stunned. His powerful counterattack missed its mark, and the feeling made his blood surge.

But what angered him even more was that the other party had resorted to such despicable methods!

However, before he could even process his anger, the wandering knight was already right in front of him again.

The distance was so close that long weapons were simply unusable.

The Golden Mountain Knight instinctively wanted to retreat and create distance, but his footing was too stable, so stable that it took time to move.

Stern doesn't need time.

He pulled his left hand from a hidden compartment at his waist, and there it was—a short sword!

puff!puff!puff!

Three sword thrusts in quick succession, as fast as lightning!

The first sword strike aimed at the seam of the armor at the base of the thigh, but failed to break through the defense.

The second sword strike aimed below the belt buckle on the side of the waist, but it was also blocked.

The third sword strike aimed directly at the gap between the neck armor and the breastplate!

The Golden Mountain Knight's expression changed drastically. He could only desperately twist his body. The first two sword strikes grazed his armor, leaving only shallow scratches, but the third sword...

"laugh!"

The sword tip pierced the side of his neck, only penetrating half a millimeter into the flesh, but blood was already gushing out.

"you--!"

The Knight of the Golden Mountain roared in fury, his arms suddenly exerting force as his broadsword swept across rapidly, forcing Stern to leap backward to dodge.

He clutched the wound on his neck, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"Despicable! Shameless!"

The wandering knight stopped, casually flicked the blood off his short sword, and nonchalantly tucked it back into his belt. His stubble-covered face still wore that infuriating smile.

"Despicable?" He tilted his head. "Wasn't it pretty despicable of you to use that broadsword to block my light sword just now?"

The Knight of the Golden Mountain took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and resumed his fighting stance. The wound was not deep and would not affect his combat ability, but the sense of humiliation made him almost lose his mind.

"You will pay the price," he said, emphasizing each word.

The wandering knight grinned, revealing a few missing teeth. "Enough with the nonsense."

The two charged at each other again.

This time, the Golden Mountain Knight no longer passively defended; he took the initiative to attack. His broadsword danced in a flash of cold light, and his Golden Horse Sword Technique was equally fierce, wide and powerful, with each strike capable of cleaving through a shield.

But the wandering knight is still hiding.

His movements were unpredictable, sometimes dodging to the left, sometimes to the right, like a slippery fish that could always narrowly avoid fatal blows.

He would occasionally retaliate with a sword strike, but only for a brief touch before retreating, never lingering in battle.

"Is that all you've got?" the Gold Mountain Knight taunted as he brandished his sword. "Hiding like an eel! Is this your knightly swordsmanship? I'd call it rat swordsmanship!"

"A knight who doesn't even dare to engage in direct combat deserves to call himself a knight?"

"A vagrant like you, who's lucky enough to have acquired knightly swordsmanship, will never earn a knighthood in your entire life! You're only fit to wallow in the mud!"

One sarcastic remark after another was uttered, which can be considered one of the tactics of the Golden Horse Sword Technique.

And the wandering knight's expression did indeed change.

It wasn't just simple anger; those previously nonchalant eyes suddenly sharpened.

"What did you just say?" he asked in a low voice.

Kingsoft Knight was overjoyed, thinking his trash talk had worked, and was about to press on.

Then he saw the figure of the wandering knight disappear before his eyes, though it couldn't really disappear; it was so fast that he could barely see it.

"My knightly swordsmanship was passed down from my father, who was a knight of the kingdom... Swimming Fish Swordsmanship, Turbulent Current."

A deep voice sounded in my ear.

In the next instant, sword light poured down like a torrential rain!

too fast.

The Golden Mountain Knights were too fast to react. The sword lights surged in from all directions, each one precisely aimed at the gaps in the armor: shoulder joints, elbow joints, knee joints, the edge of the neck armor, below the belt...

"Hiss hiss hiss hiss—"

Then a series of rapid collisions rang out.

Sparks flew from the armor of the Golden Mountain Knight, and his body was struck repeatedly by the sword light, like a scarecrow attacked by a flock of crows.

He wanted to retaliate, but his sword was too slow; he also wanted to defend, but his broadsword was simply not capable of defending every point.

"what!"

A scream finally erupted.

The broadsword flew out of his hand, twirled several times in the air, and landed on the sand with a clang.

The Golden Mountain Knight staggered backward, his exquisite armor now covered with fine sword marks, blood gushing from more than a dozen wounds, staining the sand red.

He knelt on one knee, panting heavily, his eyes filled with horror and despair.

"I...I admit it..."

He no longer cared about his family's reputation and raised his hands, intending to surrender.

The wandering knight's sword stopped immediately.

The Kingsoft Knight felt a sense of relief, assuming that the other party had accepted the surrender...

Then he saw the sword move again.

It was just a flash of sword light.

A head wearing an ornate helmet flew high into the air, tumbled several times, and then crashed heavily onto the sand with a frozen expression of terror.

The headless torso swayed, then collapsed forward, blood gushing out and instantly staining a large area of ​​sand red.

The entire venue fell into dead silence.

Finally, screams erupted.

"Dead, dead!"

"Ander just admitted defeat! He clearly admitted defeat!"

"Isn't this guy... afraid of being purged?"

Chaos erupted in the stands. Some screamed, others cursed. The ladies were pale with fright, the knights were ashen-faced, and the referee stood frozen, his flag falling to the ground.

They were all nobles or wealthy merchants, so naturally they wouldn't side with a wandering knight.

On the high platform, Vance's face was full of shock. He felt no sympathy for Ander's death, only shock at the sword duel.

Sir John Leeson gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles white, and a complex look appeared in his clear eyes.

In the middle of the sandy land, the wandering knight Stern flicked the blood off his sword and sheathed it.

He looked down at the headless corpse, then looked up at the chaotic audience. His stubble-covered face still wore that nonchalant smile.

"Surrender?" he said softly, as if talking to himself, "but I didn't hear it."