Challenge

Late at night.

Vol left the Steel Country Embassy and found a tavern by the roadside to drown his sorrows.

His father, Earl Cruz, had already placed all his hopes on Vol's useless brother.

At the thought of this, cracks appeared in the wineglass Vol was gripping.

"It looks like every country in the world sent people to this Holy Spirit Nolan Open Tournament."

"So what? I'm telling you, the Iron Forgers' match today was a complete stomp. Especially that Folding Sword play—it was unbelievably good."

"Looks like the champions of this Holy Spirit Nolan Open Tournament will definitely be from our Steel Country! The Iron Forgers will surely claim this honor!"

Vol sharply caught the discussion coming from the group at the neighboring table. They sounded extremely rowdy.

Already deeply frustrated, Vol became even more irritable when he heard the words Iron Forgers and Holy Spirit Nolan Open Tournament.

He suddenly slammed his wineglass onto the table with a heavy thud.

"It's just a game competition. What right do you have to talk about national honor?"

Vol fixed the group at the neighboring table with his icy gaze.

"What did you say?"

The people at the neighboring table were a group of mercenaries. They were clearly drunk, and upon hearing Vol's provocation, they immediately rose to their feet in anger under the influence of alcohol.

Vol clenched his fists and stood as well. He had come to this tavern today to teach a lesson to someone who had kept pestering him in the Holy Spirit Game.

Vol also found these mercenaries, who constantly spoke of games and national honor in the same breath, particularly unbearable.

In Vol's view, only war and gladiator matches were worthy of staking an entire nation's honor upon. A game competition that looked like children