After all, both sides were in a very good position regarding fighting the demons, so neither side initiated any decapitation plans or attacks on local civilians.
Gray was a merchant, and although he was a capable one, he was still considered a commoner, so he really didn't understand why the knight in front of him would attack him.
With that in mind, he decided to try negotiating with the other side first.
So he put down his brass goblet, stood atop the fortress, and shouted:
"Stop! Knight of the Eternal Domain! I am a merchant. Wouldn't killing me be a betrayal of your knightly oath?"
As he spoke, Gray pressed a button, and a thick wall at the back of the second floor of the fortress began to slowly open.
The knight on horseback pointed the thick, horizontally-lined observation window at Gray, and a deep, muffled voice came from beneath his mask:
"I am a knight, that's true, but I am only His Majesty the Duke's knight, and I've never heard of any Eternal Domain!"
"Also, I'm not trying to take your life, but I smell a demonic aura emanating from this thing beneath your feet!"
"Leave now so I can slay the demon, and we'll consider this all settled. Otherwise, you'll be colluding with the demons, and the consequences..."
He didn't continue speaking, but instead slammed the lance into the rocky ground with one hand, demonstrating his strength.
Gray understood the knight's meaning, but he didn't quite grasp it...
With that huge infinity symbol on your chest, are you now telling me you're not a knight of the Eternal Domain?
Furthermore, you claim to be a subordinate of the Duke, so where is your Duke? Or rather, are there still any Dukes on this continent?
He felt that the other person was completely out of their mind, and that he was just unlucky to have met such a stubborn knight.
As for what constitutes clearing the way for him to kill the monster?
Are you kidding me? How is he going to drive the fortress back if all the monsters are dead?
You can't just pull it up on your own two legs, can you?
But this knight has already demonstrated his strength. If he doesn't slow down, given the power the knight has shown before, although it might be difficult for him to kill the knight, he could easily penetrate the power room wall of his mobile fortress, which would be very bad.
With that thought in mind, Gray reached out and pulled a control lever. Amidst the mechanical roar and the monster's deep growl, his mobile fortress began to slow down.
"You did a good job, businessman."
The knight's tone was clearly appreciative as he pulled his lance from the rock and swung it around.
"Leave that dangerous place now, and wait until the powerful knights have wiped out the monsters before returning."
I think you misunderstood me.
Gray tore off a glove and threw it from the top of the fortress toward the knight.
"I will not allow anyone to enter my fortress without an invitation, unless I am dead."
As he spoke, he began to unbutton his elaborately designed shirt:
"However, I actually know a little bit about martial arts. Why don't you spar with me? It's hard to say who will live or die."
Gray lowered his top hat, took off his thick coat, and revealed his true body.
It was a semi-mechanical body made up of brass components. Every movement of Gray caused countless crankshafts and connecting rods of various sizes to extend and retract. His bones, his muscles, and his ligaments had all been replaced by machinery.
Beneath those metal components, one could still vaguely see some human organs in operation; human flesh and metal machinery were thus perfectly integrated into the same body.
Gray finally took the brass key from his waist that could open the mobile fortress, inserted it all the way into the exposed slot on his right chest, and then turned it half a turn to lock it in place.
"Monster."
The knight spoke in a deep, muffled voice, the shaft of his lance creaking under his grip.
At this moment, Gray's businessman demeanor had vanished, replaced by undisguised murderous intent.
My good mood was completely ruined by this inexplicable knight. This is the trade route of the Graycast Corridor. For him to provoke me here is tantamount to courting death!
"Wait for me down there, Knight."
After saying that, he turned and walked down to the top of the fortress.
On the thick walls of the second level of the fortress, two intricately designed metal gauntlets and a half-armor that could cover all exposed organs had appeared on the weapon and armor racks.
He fastened the metal hooks on both sides of the half-armor to the left and right shoulder blades, then aligned the remaining handle of the brass key with the corresponding recess on the armor and snapped it shut. Gray then let the structures that had been engaged countless times begin to lock automatically.
The armor quickly became one with his body, and his exposed organs were once again adequately protected.
Gray checked the knight's position through the second-floor observation window and pulled down a control lever.
After putting his hands into the heavy gauntlets to get a feel for them, Gray twisted his wrists to connect to the external weapon and strode out of the fortress.
Ahead of him, the fully armored knights were poised to attack, but since this was a duel, he did not choose to ambush them even though they were facing monsters, but instead planned to fight them fair and square.
Gray held his left fist out to the side, and with his right hand, he rotated the protrusion on the surface of his left arm armor twice, causing the timer to start ticking.
He beckoned to the Cavaliers:
"Bring it on."
The silver spear hurtled through the air, and a series of sparks from the clashing metal scattered across the dawn-dawn wilderness. The deafening impact was mingled with the groans of the pressure relief valve and the neighing of warhorses.
Surprisingly, however, the fierce battle left not a single drop of blood on the wasteland.
In just a few minutes of fighting, Gray's half-armor was already riddled with wounds, but his internal organs continued to function normally, without malfunctioning despite the impact and violent tremors.
For him, as long as the most important organs are protected, the rest can be replaced or repaired after returning to the Graycast Corridor.
The opponent is merely a body of flesh and blood; how can flesh and blood possibly defeat oneself?
However, although the Silver Knight's equipment was so old it could be in a museum, his honed combat skills still amazed Gray.
His iron fists, inherited from his teacher, were almost impossible to land a direct hit. Occasionally, they would strike, but only as a residual force from the swing or as a result of a parry. They could only leave scratches on the opponent's tightly sealed, gleaming silver armor, but could hardly cause any real damage.
Two figures, one in gold and one in silver, darted and weaved in front of the mobile fortress, but even though Gray blocked several javelins and shattered two lances, he still couldn't secure victory.
Whenever he intended to kill the knight's horse first, the opponent would cleverly create distance and then start kiting him with javelins.
Gray's arms are powerful and heavy, making him naturally unsuitable for throwing techniques. Even if an opponent's spear lands near him, he has no way to retaliate.
"Give up, monster!"
The knight roared and, seizing the opportune moment, unleashed a crucial lance. His last lance was uniquely designed; aside from lacking a handguard, it was entirely made of metal, cast from a single piece.
Under his immense strength, the spear was twisted into an arc, then lashed out at Gray's waist like an iron whip.
"Bang!"
The clang of metal rang out, and copper shavings flew everywhere.
Gray flew out like a wild beast with its spine broken.