Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough

In just two days, no matter how things change, how much better can it really be?

Essentially, he was well aware that a level that could barely rival a level that had been upgraded three times.

"what happened?"

Seeing Rod's questioning expression, Horenaard was even more confused—

But since Rhodes had the desire to take on the challenge, he also wanted to see just how capable this junior really was.

Most importantly, he wasn't at the level of Sheila, who had only reached the fourth level of promotion, but rather a seasoned fourth-level promotion expert, whose level of defeating even her sister would be considered easy.

Therefore, helping Rhodes understand his own strength level might not be a bad thing.

"Then come with me to practice some swordsmanship."

Horenad spoke calmly, dismissively.

……

...

"Wouldn't this side of the garden be fine?"

Rod and Horenard were about thirty meters apart, while Ivina sat under the white pavilion in the distance, leisurely picking up the dessert Juno handed her and swallowing it without chewing.

"Father is going to get beaten to a pulp by Rod." She said this cheerfully, swinging her legs.

Juno paused, her hand pausing as she handed Ivina, a look of confusion on her face: "Lord Rhodes?"

"Hmph, just take a look for yourself."

"Ah, okay."

Juno nodded, not only puzzled by Ivina's confidence in Rhodes, but also concerned about something else—

Miss Ivina has really changed.

She used to be a numb, confused, and cruel person. Even when she occasionally came to her senses, she would angrily tell people to get far away from her.

The difference between that crazy young lady and the one now leisurely talking about her crush with her legs off the ground is huge, so huge.

Deeply moved, Juno followed Ivina's gaze and looked in the direction of Rhodes and Horenaard.

“A brief exchange, I won’t take it too seriously,” Horenad said, brandishing his knight’s sword with sharp eyes.

His knight's sword is named "Kace's Power," after an eternal sage from the Star God Empire.

The reason is quite simple: this sword was indeed the last weapon forged by this eternal sage, and therefore naturally inherited his name.

But in any case, it's enough to prove that his sword is sharp and powerful enough.

“Okay.” Rhodes flicked his finger, and the Elf Dragon Sword reappeared in his palm.

However, the luster displayed by the elven dragon sword that appeared this time was clearly much stronger.

Perhaps because it has been upgraded to level three, the Dragon Sword has developed a crystallized structure with a clear and translucent appearance. Emerald green light swirls on the hilt, and the wavy blade, resembling dragon scales, is enough to make one tremble with fear.

Horenaard's eyes widened in surprise.

Rhode simply summoned his longsword and stood there motionless.

Strangely, he felt an immense pressure all over his body, as if he were falling into an abyss.

what's the situation?

He understood perfectly well that this feeling could only arise when facing an invincible enemy, but Rhodes...?

Horenad naturally didn't know that Rhodes had already broken through to the fourth level of advancement, nor did he understand that with the superposition of multiple skills, his power was enough to defeat even a group of experts who had reached the fifth level of advancement.

Therefore, this information gap resulted in a predictable outcome for this contest.

“Come on,” Rhodes nodded.

"it is good."

bump--!

In an instant, Horenaard's foot slammed into the ground, unleashing a terrifying sonic boom that tore the earth apart!

At the same time, he controlled the power in his wrist, causing the longsword to slash towards Rhodes' position like a golden light.

"Ding--!"

The sparks from the clash of the longswords suddenly erupted, sweeping away all the vegetation in the garden and causing it to collapse outwards.

But after just one attack, Horenaard's expression froze instantly.

Because of this attack, although he didn't use his full strength, it was at least at the level of a fourth-level upgrade, but why...?

He doesn't understand.

I don't understand why it's like this.

because,

At this moment, Rhodes's shadow stretched long in the rising sun, but he simply turned sideways and calmly raised his hand, his expression completely unmoved.

He just took his attack like that.

Chapter 149 Your lover, I've borrowed him tonight~

It was too easy; Rhodes felt so relaxed that it actually increased the pressure on him.

He quickly created distance and parried the longsword:

"Not bad, it seems you've gained something new these past few days back at the academy. Is it because of the rumors of the sea creatures invading the academy? You're much stronger than when you were besieging the witch last time."

Horenaard's praise was less a genuine compliment to Rod and more a way to calm himself down.

It was really strange that Rhodes could take his attack so easily, which meant that his strength was no less than his, that is, the strength of a fourth-level mid-level.

But only two or three days have passed... and he's already broken through again?

Too bizarre, too bizarre.

He had heard that Rhodes was just a talent who hadn't reached the promotion level, and he thought that Rhodes' abilities during the previous siege were terrifying enough, but now...

"Yes, I've had a bit of luck." Rhodes politely sheathed his sword, placing it in front of him between his eyebrows.

From Carmen, from Professor Merrick, and from that eerie black crown.

These three items did indeed more than double his stats.

"Is that so?" Horenad gripped his longsword tightly, his eyes filled with extreme coldness, his fighting spirit as a knight being intensely ignited. "But, this level is still not enough."

"In the end, I'm not exactly a powerful benefactor, after all, I've been away from the center of power for too long."

"So come on, show me your true strength, Rod Chivenlance!"

Rhodes closed his eyes.

He also knew that Horenaard was essentially a stubborn old man.

Or rather, the nobles of the entire empire and even the entire world of Elchia are generally conservative in character.

Therefore, in that instant, he unleashed the skill [Reconstructing the Domain].

"brush--"

Suddenly, a deathly white halo spread out from beneath Rhodes' feet, and a visual shock with extreme impact suddenly crashed into Horenaard's eyes.

No other skills are required.

It doesn't need to be too flashy.

He didn't even use the area's 100% hit rate slash.

Because simply activating his domain and wielding the Elf Dragon Sword, his attack power had already reached the level of a fourth-level advanced cultivator, amounting to over 1200 points, so he didn't need any other extra skill effects.

He simply moved his feet within the domain, and his figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, before Horenaard could even see Rhodes's steps, Rhodes was already in front of him—

The pressure increased dramatically in an instant.

Horenaard couldn't describe how terrifying Rhodes looked at that moment. His imposing body seemed to expand into a towering mountain, and his purple eyes, like the pupils of a dragon, were awe-inspiring.

Horenad felt as if he were being stared at by a terrifying dragon, and his whole body was instantly gripped by fear that made his blood freeze.

However, out of basic knightly instinct, he gritted his teeth and raised his arm, instantly blocking Rhodes's close-range attack.

The elven dragon sword radiated an emerald glow, a symbol of surging life force, yet now it had become a terrifying weapon that plundered lives—

bump!!!

The heavy force of the elven dragon sword was applied to the longsword in Horenad's arm, and he let out a muffled thud.

With just one sword strike, a seemingly ordinary slash, he couldn't withstand the force, and his sword flew out of his hand.

Wow.

The appearance of an arc signifies that Horenaard has lost his weapon.

He froze on the spot, watching Rhodes raise his longsword to rest beside his neck, and a chill ran down his spine.

fear……

He was horrified to feel the trembling in his fingers, and his inner panic was beyond words.

But in the end, those fears turned into relief.

They were shocked by Rhodes' extraordinary strength and confused by his incomprehension, but all of these things turned into complete acceptance when Rhodes was their teammate.

At that moment, Rhodes simply tapped the elven dragon sword in his hand, and the blade vanished from his grasp.

Then, he bowed slightly:

"Your Grace, this is still not my strength."

"So, all things considered, I believe I have the ability to survive in the capital."

"Of course, protecting Ivina and letting her see a wider world is also something I need to do."

"Rather than cowering in a town in fear and waiting for the world's tide to overturn my stable life, I think it's better to go out and make my way in the world, and then strive to gain unparalleled power. That's what I have to do."

"Invincible..." Horenaard said calmly, "Gods are inviolable beings in this world. If I'm not mistaken, your reason for going to the capital when the divine sacrifice begins must be related to gods."