A month later.
Outside the arena in Chiyan City, the streets were already packed before dawn.
News of the duel between Wharton and Blumer had long since spread throughout the imperial capital.
One was the heir to the Dragonblood Warrior Clan.
The other was the War God's newly accepted personal disciple.
Both were also seeking the hand of the seventh princess, Nina.
All eighty thousand seats in the arena had sold out ten days earlier.
Early that morning, the gates of Earl Wharton's manor opened.
Wharton was the first to emerge.
He wore a close-fitting black warrior's outfit, with the war saber Carnage strapped diagonally across his back. A month of arduous training had made his bearing steadier.
Linley walked beside him.
Doehring, Barker and his four brothers, Sessler, Jenny, Lina, and Rebecca followed behind. Bebe crouched on Linley's shoulder, while Haeru brought up the rear.
Hiri and Hillman had come as well.
They could not miss this battle.
"Big brother," Wharton suddenly said.
"Hmm?"
"If I lose, don't make excuses for me."
Linley looked at him.
"I won't."
"And don't pressure His Majesty over the marriage."
"Marriage isn't a prize to be won in a duel," Linley said. "You only need to fight your own battle."
Wharton nodded.
Over the past month, Linley had sparred with him many times.
Linley had not taught him any new finishing moves.
He had simply made him face attacks far faster than his own, again and again.
Wharton still could not see every afterimage clearly.
But he had learned not to turn in pursuit of them.
His dragon tail, his legs, his war saber.
He had to make anyone who approached him enter his attack range.
By the time the group reached the arena, it was already full.
The enormous fighting platform stood in the center, over three hundred meters in both length and width. Magic formations covered its hard stone surface, allowing it to withstand attacks from ninth-level experts.
The judges' seats were on the northern side of the platform.
Emperor Joanne sat in the center.
To her left sat a middle-aged man in a long blue-green robe, with graying temples.
Kenyon, a personal disciple of the War God.
To her right sat the man in charge of the imperial capital's arena.
Behind the judges' seats was the viewing area for the imperial family.
Wharton spotted Nina at once.
She wore a pale green dress and sat beside the empress.
They had not seen each other for a month.
Their gazes met across the space between them.
Nina said nothing.
She simply gave a firm nod.
Wharton nodded back.
"Stop looking."
A cold voice came from the other side.
Blumer walked into the arena.
He wore a white warrior's outfit, with a translucent longsword hanging at his waist. Its blade reflected rainbow light in the sun.
Ice Dream.
The treasured sword Olivier had given him.
Many disciples of the War God Sect sat behind Blumer.
His elder brother Olivier, however, had not appeared.
Wharton withdrew his gaze.
"I didn't come here today to look at you."
Blumer sneered.
"Once you're lying on the platform, she'll know who to choose."
Wharton did not respond again.
The silver-haired old man presiding over the duel walked to the center of the platform.
With the aid of wind magic, his voice carried throughout the arena.
"Today's duel: Wharton Baruch against Blumer Achisoren!"
Eighty thousand spectators cheered at once.
The sound was like thunder.
Wharton leaped onto the platform in a single bound.
Blumer landed at the other end as well.
A hundred meters separated them.
"During the duel, if one side concedes or loses the ability to fight, the duel ends," the silver-haired old man said. "No one may interfere."
With that, he swiftly withdrew from the platform.
"Begin!"
Blumer drew the Ice Dream Sword.
Wharton, however, did not draw his saber immediately.
His body abruptly swelled.
His bones gave a series of explosive cracks.
Jade-green dragon scales emerged from beneath his skin, swiftly covering his entire body. A sharp horn grew from his forehead, his hands became dragon claws, and a blue-green dragon tail nearly two meters long extended behind him.
Dragonblood Warrior Transformation!
For an instant, the entire arena fell silent.
Then even fiercer cheers erupted.
The Four Ultimate Warriors had not appeared on a public fighting platform for many years.
Blumer's gaze, however, turned cold.
"A Dragonblood Warrior."
Golden battle-qi erupted from his body.
The aura of a ninth-level warrior bore down on the other end of the platform.
Wharton drew Carnage.
He held the heavy war saber across his body.
"Come on."
Blumer vanished from where he stood.
An afterimage charged in from Wharton's left.
The Ice Dream Sword thrust straight at Wharton's throat.
Wharton did not turn.
His blue-green dragon tail suddenly lashed out from the right.
Crack!
The Ice Dream Sword was knocked aside.
The tip of the dragon tail struck Blumer's chest immediately afterward.
Bang!
The golden battle-qi covering Blumer's body shattered.
He was sent flying dozens of meters, twisting in midair, and still staggered seven or eight steps backward after landing.
Blood slowly flowed from the wound on his chest.
Cries of shock rose throughout the arena.
Blumer's expression darkened.
That single exchange had made him understand the difference in their strength.
Wharton gave him no time to catch his breath.
Boom!
Cracks spread across the platform's stone surface beneath his foot.
Like a charging dragon, Wharton reached Blumer in the blink of an eye.
Carnage cleaved down from above.
Blumer did not dare block it head-on.
He dodged to the side.
The war saber struck the platform.
Crash!
The stone surface exploded, and the magic formations flickered incessantly.
Wharton followed through by spinning his body.
His dragon tail swept out again.
Blumer blocked with the Ice Dream Sword.
Clang!
He and his sword were sent hurtling toward the stands.
His body slammed heavily into the edge of the platform, shattering a large swath of stone.
Dust rose.
Blumer burst out of the dust.
He no longer tried to clash with Wharton head-on.
Golden battle-qi enveloped his body.
One figure became two.
Two became four.
Four became eight.
Finally, sixteen Blumers appeared on the platform at once.
Every figure held the Ice Dream Sword.
Light and Shadow Sword!
The sixteen figures moved rapidly around Wharton.
Golden sword light flashed from different directions.
Wharton tightened his grip on Carnage without chasing any of the afterimages.
He simply stood where he was.
His dragon tail swayed slowly.
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind him.
The Ice Dream Sword thrust toward Wharton's shoulder.
Wharton had no time to swing his saber.
He took the attack directly with his shoulder.
Clang!
The sword tip struck his dragon scales, leaving only a white spot.
Blumer's expression changed.
The dragon tail was already lashing toward him.
He immediately retreated.
The dragon tail grazed past his chest, tearing open his warrior's outfit without actually striking his body.
The sixteen figures scattered again.
Another flash of golden sword light appeared directly in front of Wharton.
This time, the sword tip thrust straight at his eye.
Wharton raised his left hand.
His dragon claw seized the tip of the Ice Dream Sword directly.
Hiss!
Golden battle-qi erupted in his palm.
A shallow mark appeared on his dragon scales.
Yet the sword tip could not advance even a fraction farther.
Wharton swept Carnage horizontally with his right hand.
Blumer immediately withdrew his sword and retreated.
The warblade brushed past his waist.
It missed him by only half a foot.
Sweat had already appeared on Blumer's forehead.
He held an absolute advantage in speed.
But ordinary attacks could not break through Wharton's dragon scales at all.
If Wharton caught him even once, he would be badly injured.
At the judges' table, Joanne leaned forward slightly.
"A Dragonblood Warrior's defense is even stronger than the rumors say."
Kenyon, however, said nothing.
He could tell that Blumer had yet to use his true trump card.
On the battle platform, Wharton began advancing.
The Massacre Warblade was not fast.
Yet every slash carried terrifying power.
"One Blade, Certain Death!"
The warblade cleaved down from above.
The surrounding air was forced aside completely.
Blumer leaned back at extreme speed.
The blade brushed past his chest as it fell.
Boom!
The defensive magic formation on the battle platform finally collapsed.
An enormous crack spread out to either side.
Blumer flipped backward.
Wharton pursued him closely.
His dragon tail, warblade, and legs simultaneously cut off Blumer's retreat.
Blumer could only keep dodging.
The wounds on his body grew more numerous.
Though none were fatal, they began to slow his movements.
"Blumer is going to lose," Gates said.
Barker shook his head.
"Not yet."
He stared at the Ice Dream Sword in Blumer's hand.
The golden battle-qi on the blade's surface was changing.
Blumer retreated to the edge of the battle platform.
His face first turned red, then gold.
An even sharper aura erupted from within him.
A trace of white gradually mingled with the golden light on the Ice Dream Sword.
Kenyon's expression changed.
"He actually used that move."
Joanne turned to look at him.
"What move?"
"A forbidden move Olivier passed on to him," Kenyon said gravely. "At the cost of damaging his body, it increases his attack power dozens of times over for a short period."
Linley heard him too.
His gaze fell on Wharton.
He said nothing.
This was Wharton's battle.
As long as Blumer did not try to kill him after the outcome was decided, he would not intervene.
"Wharton!" Blumer's voice grew hoarse. "Remember, what defeated you was the Light and Shadow Sword!"
Sixteen figures appeared once more.
They were faster than before.
Wharton's pupils contracted.
All he could see was golden-white light flashing constantly around him.
The next instant, the Ice Dream Sword was already before his eyes.
Wharton still raised his left hand.
His dragon claw reached for the blade.
Squelch!
The Ice Dream Sword pierced his palm.
Golden-white battle-qi tore through his dragon scales, and the sword tip continued forward, piercing Wharton's chest.
Blood sprayed out.
Nina rose from her seat.
"Wharton!"
Wharton heard her voice.
His chest hurt terribly.
The sword tip had already injured his lung.
But Blumer had also come right in front of him.
Wharton did not retreat.
His right leg kicked out fiercely.
Blumer pulled out his sword and dodged.
The azure dragon tail was already whipping toward him from the other side.
Crack!
Blumer's left arm was broken outright by the blow.
The tip of the dragon tail then swept across his back.
Blumer tumbled through the air for dozens of meters and slammed heavily onto the battle platform.
Wharton also fell to his knees.
Blood kept flowing from his chest.
He wanted to stand.
But the moment he drew a breath, a tearing pain shot through his lung.
Carnage braced against the stone surface.
Wharton did not collapse completely.
Blumer, however, stood up first.
His left arm was already twisted.
Blood covered the corners of his mouth and the front of his chest.
But he could still move.
The silver-haired announcer immediately looked toward the judges' table.
The outcome was already quite clear.
Blumer had won by a narrow margin.
"Haha..."
Blumer looked at Wharton kneeling on the ground, a cold sneer appearing on his face.
He did not wait for the judges' announcement.
Gripping the Ice Dream Sword tightly in his right hand, he suddenly charged at Wharton.
The sword tip aimed straight for Wharton's throat.
"Stop!" Joanne abruptly stood up.
A streak of purple sword light was faster than her voice.
Clang!
The Ice Dream Sword was knocked aside.
Blumer felt an irresistible force pressing in from the side, and his entire body was sent flying backward again.
Linley already stood in front of Wharton.
He had not taken his dragonform.
The Purple Blood Soft Sword in his hand pointed diagonally at the ground.
Yet the surrounding force of the heavens and earth bore down entirely on Blumer.
The moment Blumer landed, his legs suddenly sank.
Already badly injured, he now could not take another step forward.
"The outcome has been decided," Linley said. "And you still want to kill him?"
Blumer gritted his teeth as he looked at him.
"He hasn't admitted defeat himself!"
"His lung is injured. He can no longer fight."
Kenyon stood up at the judges' table.
"Linley."
His voice carried throughout the arena.
"According to the rules of the duel, unless one side concedes or the judges announce its end, no one may enter the battle platform."
Linley turned to look at him.
"Then you can announce it now."
Kenyon's expression darkened slightly.
"Leave the battle platform first."
Barker had already stood up.
Doehring remained seated where he was.
He looked at Kenyon, his face expressionless.
Linley did not leave.
"Blumer wins. I concede on Wharton's behalf."
"Wharton must admit defeat himself," Kenyon said.
"Enough!"
Joanne's voice suddenly rang out.
Kenyon turned to look at the emperor.
Joanne rose from the judges' table.
"There is another rule governing duels. Once one side loses the ability to fight, the duel ends."
She looked at Wharton kneeling on the battle platform.
"Wharton has already lost the ability to continue fighting. Blumer wins this battle."
The entire arena fell silent for a moment.
The silver-haired announcer immediately declared loudly, "The duel is over. Blumer wins by a narrow margin!"
Linley put away the Purple Blood Soft Sword.
He crouched down to examine Wharton's injuries.
His palm had been pierced through.
The dragon scales on his chest were shattered, and his lung was injured.
His injuries were severe, but his life was not in danger.
"Big brother," Wharton said very quietly. "I lost."
"Yes," Linley said.
He did not say, "It's all right."
Nor did he find excuses for Wharton.
"Recover from your injuries first."
Barker and his four brothers had already leaped onto the battle platform.
Barker and Ankh lifted Wharton up.
Nina rushed down from the royal viewing area.
Two maids tried to stop her, but she pushed them straight aside.
"Wharton!"
She ran to the edge of the battle platform, and when she saw the wound on Wharton's chest, tears immediately fell.
"I'm fine," Wharton managed to say.
"You're hurt this badly."
Nina held his uninjured right hand.
Wharton looked at her.
"I lost."
"You lost the duel, not me," Nina said.
She turned to Joanne.
"Father."
Joanne stood in the judges' stand.
The eyes of eighty thousand spectators fell on her at once.
A month earlier, she had said she would announce Nina's marriage after the duel.
Now, the duel was over.
Blumer stood in the distance.
Although he had won, he had continued trying to kill after the outcome was decided.
Wharton had lost, but he had never treated Nina as a prize.
More importantly, Nina had already come to stand beside Wharton herself.
Joanne saw her choice.
She also saw Linley, Barker, and Doehring below the platform.
The pressure from the War God Sect remained.
But the resurgent Baruch Clan could no longer be ignored either.
Joanne slowly walked to the front of the judges' stand.
"Blumer is the victor of today's duel."
Blumer raised his head.
Joanne continued, "But I said a month ago that the outcome of the duel would be only one of the things I considered before making my decision."
Kenyon frowned.
The smile on Blumer's face froze as well.
"Nina's marriage concerns both the imperial family and the empire," Joanne said. "Blumer is a personal disciple of the War God, with outstanding talent. Wharton is an heir of the Dragonblood Warrior Clan, and likewise a rare young expert in the empire."
"But marriage is not simply about who can win on the platform."
Carried by wind magic, Joanne's voice reached every corner of the arena clearly.
"My daughter Nina has made her choice clear: Wharton."
Nina gripped Wharton's hand tightly.
Joanne paused for a moment.
"Therefore, today I announce..."
"The betrothal of Seventh Princess Nina to Wharton Baruch."
Silence filled the arena.
The next moment, cheers erupted like ocean waves.
Lying in Barker's arms, Wharton stared blankly at Joanne.
Nina was already crying.
This time, it was not from fear.
"Wharton," she said softly. "Father agreed."
Wharton's eyes reddened as well.
"I heard."
Joanne raised her hand, bringing the arena to silence again.
"The imperial family and the Baruch Clan will settle the wedding date together, and announce it to the empire later."
She looked at Linley.
Linley bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
This time, Joanne had made her decision.
Blumer stood at the other end of the shattered platform.
His face was pale, whether from the backlash of the forbidden technique or Joanne's announcement.
"Your Majesty," Kenyon said gravely, "Blumer is a personal disciple of the War God."
"I know."
"Shouldn't the War God Sect be consulted again on this matter?"
Joanne looked at him.
"The War God Sect may decide who its personal disciples are."
"Nina is my daughter."
Kenyon said nothing more.
He merely gave Linley a long look.
Linley looked back at him.
Neither side attacked.
Today was the duel between Wharton and Blumer.
It was also the day Nina's marriage was finally settled.
Linley would not let another conflict overshadow the outcome that belonged to Wharton and Nina.
Barker and his four brothers carried Wharton off the platform.
Nina followed beside them.
Hiri's and Hillman's eyes had long since reddened.
Linley walked at the rear.
As he passed the Massacre Warblade, he bent down and pulled it from the shattered stone surface.
Wharton's blood stained the blade.
Linley did not wipe it off for him.
Wharton had lost this battle.
But he would remember for himself why he had lost.
And he would win it back himself.
Holding Carnage, Linley walked down from the platform.
Sunlight shone on the Baruch Clan's warblade.
After years of decline, the clan finally had a place of its own in the O'Brien Empire once more.