27 Chapter 27: Duel

Chapter 27: Duel

~Third POV~

Making their way to the parade grounds Mash and Julius both stood inside the middle of the room with a square dirt floor both staring each other down.

The tension in the air was palpable between the two as Reinhard asked in a confused tone with a bead of sweat running down his cheek, "Julius, you should stop this, it's not like you to be doing this."

Julius merely side-eyed his friend explaining his reasoning in a neutral tone, "Normally it would be just as you say. However, this man has made actions that make light of chivalry. Causing discord and disrespect not knowing his place. Everyone feels the same."

Turning his attention towards Mash Julius continued holding a wooden sword in both hands in a serious tone, "Mash Bastion. Under normal circumstances, you would've been cut down for your insolence and disrespect. However, although involuntary, you're one of Emilia-sama's followers. Therefore, we'll settle this with wooden swords. Make me recognize you. If you can't do that with your words… then use a sword instead."

Gazing at the sword and recalling the events from the manga Mash tried to find a solution to this predicament as he spoke out in a neutral tone, "The odds are 100 to 0 for me huh? So, no one's going to bet on me winning this which is accurate enough. But can I ask is the use of Magic allowed?"

Julius merely nodded with a confident grin on his face looking down on Mash, "You can use Magic if you wish. But the results won't be any different."

Mash merely smiled accepting the duel if he was allowed to use Magic. He couldn't use words to make Julius agree and knew his strength.

Though not nearly as strong as Reinhard or Marcos Gildark, Julius is among the strongest individuals of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica, falling behind only the two knights and perhaps Wilhelm van Astrea, in terms of his skill with the sword.

On numerous occasions, Julius' skill with the blade was greatly praised–at one point, he was stated to be skilled and powerful enough to be able to reach the title of a Second-Class General in the Imperial Army of the Vollachia Empire; a position reserved for individuals who are either unparalleled tacticians, have distinguished themselves with excellent leadership capabilities or stand out from the rest in terms of overall strength and skill in combat, but are not walking monsters capable of single-handedly turning the tide of a major battle.

Roughly 3–4 months before the start of the main story, Julius faced off against the Blue Lightning Cecilus Segmunt, who is regarded as the Empire's strongest warrior and is roughly on par with Reinhard, in terms of martial arts skills.

Though having no hopes of winning against the young swordsman, Julius managed to successfully deflect 7 slashes, which garnered him quite a bit of praise, as according to the Divine General himself, most people he faced, got cut down by his first or second slash.

Despite knowing this Mash accepted as he took the wooden sword from Julius in a serious tone, "Very well then Julius despite how outclassed I am this won't deter me. But then again this might be my only chance to experience what you Royal Knights are all about so I can say I'm motivated to kick your ass."

Getting rid of his white robe uniform of his Julius lightly smiled tossing it to the side as he replied in a confident tone, "I'm glad that you're motivated. Ferris! Be a witness!"

Ferris hearing this took to the middle to witness the duel as he tried to give Mash some good luck in a cheerful tone, "Got it! Good luck, Bastion-kyun. I can fix anything as long as you don't die."

Feeling his eyebrow twitch at that he replied pointing his finger at Julius in an upset tone feeling like his being looked down upon, "Why are you only saying it to me!? Show some concern for him too!"

Julius gives out a light chuckle appreciating the nonexistent concern in a light-hearted tone to Mash, "Heh… I appreciate your concern."

Ferris nodded at this as he began to announce the duel between the two as the two sword fighters frowned expressing seriousness, "We will now begin. The mock fight between Mash Bastion and Julius Juukulius! Both sides should put their heart into it!"

Nodding at this the both of them eyed each other carefully. Seeing as neither would be making the first move Mash picked the first option and rushed forward to test the waters against the [Spirit Knight].

*Shinng*

A simple attack of attempting to slice with the wooden sword as Julius commented noticing a rookie mistake with a disdain tone, "An unoriginal and childish attack… not beautiful."

*Woooosh*

*SMACK*

Slamming his wooden sword to the face Mash smirked taking the element of surprise to his advantage seeing the blunt damage didn't stop Julius from being surprised as his attack did nothing thanks to his [Flowing Battle] transferring the blunt damage underneath his feet instead.

A moment of weakness was all Mash was hoping for. At that moment Mash called out his spell as darkness soon filled the room by a simple command, "[Shamak]!"

*POOOF*

Smoke of darkness emitted from the room causing Julius to lose his senses and those around him as the [Shamak] spell engulfed the parade grounds as everyone was affected by the spell.

Julius realizing what Mash did was stunned analyzing his situation and relying on his body senses thinking critically, 'I was caught off guard?! Still, he's slow even with Yin Magic was quite a surprise but – ack!'

Suddenly Julius felt a sharp pain in his arms as he was momentarily distracted by the sudden bite marks as shadows formed around Mash responding with his next attack, "[Yin Make: Yin Python]."

Everyone was momentarily distracted Mash created a shadow construct from within the smoke of [Shamak] taking the form of a python biting down coiling around Julius' arm continuously debuffing him.

*Wooosh*

Taking a step back away from the Knight while his senses are lost Mash doesn't hesitate to continue using his magic gazing at his MP Bar, 'There! The second he struck me in the face with that wooden sword my [Flowing Battle] skill nullified the blunt damage! That left me with [295/360 MP] remaining. Don't let up! And who says I can't bring a gun to a sword fight? [Yin Make: Yin Bazooka]!'

*Creeee*

The darkness of the shadow shifts and turns into a man-made modern weapon holding up towards Julius within the effects of [Shamak] nearing its end, "Let's end this with a bang folks!"

*Bang*

*THUD*

Launching solidified darkness explosion hitting its mark on Julius who had his senses lost and suddenly collided with the wall forming a creating behind coughing out blood severely underestimating Mash.

Stuck on the wall with the Yin Python attacked to his arm everyone regained their sense of sight as they widened seeing Julius suddenly in a beaten state while Mash remained relatively unharmed holding his wooden sword.

But more on the shadow python biting hard on his arm as Julius steps down from the wall making his attempt to regain his senses in a calm tone, "Okay…. I'll give you that one Mash-san –"

"[Yin Make: Thorn Bind Hostage]."

*Sheeee*

*Sheee*

Multiple thorns of shadows formed around Julius as the Yin Python slithered down beside Mash's side hissing at the ready with the [Spirit Knight] bound as he asked Ferris to call his victory, "Ferris can you call out my win? I don't want to hurt Julius anymore than I should have – go!"

*Voooom*

Giving his command six spirits of different elements began to appear but once Mash sensed them his [Instinct] skill activated giving the command to his Yin Python rushing forward and devouring them inside making those spirits lose their senses.

*Snap*

*BOOOM*

With a snap, the thorns attached to Julius exploded from the volatile darkness forcing the Knight to his knees slowly but surely regaining his senses along with the sensation of pain coursing through him.

Lightly opening his eyes and regaining his sight Julius soon eyes widen seeing Mash's wooden sword at his face kneeling in a serious tone, "I'll say this once Julius give up now. I don't want to kick your ass any further than I must."

Julius stubborn to a fault readies his blade despite being at a disadvantage and argues with a stern glare, "Then you have to…? No. A Knight shouldn't ever surrender – "

*THUD*

The doors suddenly slammed open to reveal Emilia calling out his name alerting the Knights all around, "Mash!"

*Wooosh*

*BAM*

Suddenly in that second moment of weakness turning his attention away, Mash slammed the butt of his sword against Julius on the back of his head knocking him out as he causally replied to Emilia in a confused tone, "Sup! Sorry for worrying you, Emilia!"

/////

~Mash B. POV~

[You gain 65 EXP]

[LEVEL UP!]

[You gained the skill card!]

I could only mentally smirk as I saw Julius get knocked out by my latest surprise attack. I do not doubt if Julius would've kicked my ass if only, he didn't look down on me then our roles would've been reversed.

The only reason why I won against the best Knight this Kingdom has is because he trusted his strength too much. Adding to the fact he looked down on me and using skills unknown to everyone gave me the best chance to win.

After all, there is a saying for this. The means to defeat an enemy will be provided by the enemy... I think.

It only works if he wasn't serious against me from the start. And thanks to him I gained a major boost to my strength. I'm thankful for Julius' arrogance acting out of place helping me gain a major boost to my stats.

Status.

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Name: Mash Bastion

Class: The Gamer

Race: Human

Title: Spirit User

Level: 10 Exp: 0/20%

HP: 350/350-> 475/475

MP: 360/360-> 485/485

STR: 15 (+15)

AGI: 18 (+15)

VIT: 15

INT: 18

SEN: 20 (+15)

LUCK: 5

Stat Points: 20-> 45

Cash: 0

----

I can feel my Mana reserves increased and the extra stat points. But it seems like my victory over the [Spirit Knight] seemed to have brought up some discord within the knights. Some looked at me with disdain but others with respect.

But more so with the Candidate Anastasia seeing Julius state merely freezing in place. I'm willing to bet that she planned to use his reputation to her advantage… if only he didn't try to get into trouble with me.

I'm using up my Skill Card as everyone seems to be distracted. What I got seemed to be pretty good. The [Divine Protection of Gathering Spirits] Julius' very own skill.

Skill List.

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<Divine Protection of Gathering Spirits> (Passive) Lv. MAX

Description: This skill allows the user to see, talk, and be liked by spirits, though the user must work hard to get liked by spirits.

----

It is worth getting the from this ordeal as I apologize to Emilia and Roswaal for the trouble I caused. Although…

Felt, Anastasia, Crusch, and that sun bitch staring at me with mixed emotions. Crusch in mild interest bests Anastasia Knight. Anastasia gazed at me with a neutral expression. Felt giving me a thumbs up to which I return. Priscilla merely grinned amused by my actions with Al in tow.

This is certainly going to be a looooong day – damn it. I think that fucking clown influence is rubbing down on me.

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