In the end, the duel naturally concluded with Garfiel's defeat.
"What a pity. If you hadn't gotten so impatient at the end, you might have lasted longer."
The Sword Saint's words became a blade that pierced Garfiel's heart.
By the time Garfiel came to his senses, he was already lying on the ground.
The reason was simple.
Just as Reinhard had said, unable to land a decisive blow or restore his pride, and seeing that his opponent had never gone all out, merely dealing with him as though playing around, Garfiel had completely lost his patience and exposed a massive opening.
At that very moment, the Sword Saint broke through Garfiel's defenses in one move and seized his arm.
From that moment onward, the outcome had been decided.
Garfiel was flung high into the air before crashing heavily onto the rock-hard sand, kicking up dust as every bit of air was forced from his lungs.
"Does that mean I've won?"
Reinhard finally began to move, but not to fight. He stepped forward to help Garfiel up, extending one hand toward him.
The expression on his face remained just as bright and composed as ever.
"...!"
Garfiel's heart was struck by an unprecedented shock.
Yet that shock was also extremely familiar to him.
Back in the Sanctuary, when Garfiel had suffered a crushing defeat at Fang Li's hands, he had felt the exact same way.
Over the past year, that feeling had visited Garfiel countless times, making him realize, after challenging Fang Li to duel again and again, just how far behind he still was.
Thus, the Sword Saint before him gradually began to overlap with the boss Garfiel had come to recognize in his heart.
To be frank, Fang Li and Reinhard had absolutely nothing in common.
Fang Li was