4 Jack Blast

[Name - Jack Blast | Age - 23 years old

Attributes:

Strength - 3.2 | Agility - 2.2 | Vitality - 3.3 | Spirit - 2.8]

 'A pretty average knight, huh...However, since he managed to join the crimson clan, this means that he is capable', Lewis thought with a smile.

The purpose of the test was not to accept anyone who defeated a knight. Even if a knight did not learn any spell, there was no ordinary knight in the magical court. All of them possessed spirit and studied magic. They knew the weakness of beginner rank acolytes, and those who belonged to factions were in the process of learning spells too. 

If the crimson clan only accepted acolytes who could beat knights, then it would be either empty, or a medium-sized faction already. This was a method to humble acolytes who joined and break their ego to make them more functional in battles. Furthermore, it would also be easier to negotiate salaries and compensations once they failed the test. A way to make its members stronger and less expensive...such was the true objective of this test.

However, it was all real. Jack Blast possessed very small amount of spirits. Even Lewis, who was only 15, possessed nearly twice his amount. This meant that Jack was not very talented in meditating, or joined the magical court older than average. Lewis did not remember the man from the past, meaning he probably died in a comission. By any means, Jack was not very strong per the Magical Court standard, yet few beginner acolytes with no experience would be able to defeat him in a battle.

Jack was rather enormous. Although his height was rather average for an adult, the difference in weight and height with Lewis was obvious. It looked like an adult fighting a kid, except both branded their weapons against each others. 

Despite his strong frame, Jack's weapon was a spear. Although less popular in the Dalian empire than the sword, its effectiveness was much higher in wars. Although its range of motion was more limited compared to a sword, it made it much easier to master. Some would spend decades training in the sword without even mastering the basics.

Lewis, however, lived 96 years in his previous life. At the age of four, his father taught him how to use a sword, and until his fourteenth birthday, he spent an hour a day practicing swordsmanship with real knight instructors. This was the reason his stats were above that of average adults despite only being 15 years old. 

For a long time, Lewis abandonned the sword, but after being defeated by a body refinement acolyte in his previous life, he decided to learn the spell [Blood Enchant] and train again. With his vampire constitution, and his ability to regenerate, he would be known as the [Crimson Swordsman], a title that made him feared in the Magical Court.

Was he talented ?

No.

There were geniuses that could learn what he had learned over a year in a couple of days. 

However, even an average swordsman would become incredible after training 96 years of sword training.

As Lewis unsheathed his sword, the emblem of the Steelguards branded, Jack frowned. Jack was a hedge knight, with no affiliation. However, before joining the magical court, he lived on the battlefield. He killed hundreds of enemy soldiers, yet none of them exuded the aura Lewis exuded.

Janna, from a distance, frowned as well. 

Lewis' composure, stance, and firm grasp over his weapon were all unbefitting his age. 

The crowd which had followed the argument downstairs, started to bet: "Fifty gold coins on Jack!"

"A hundred gold coins on Jack! There is no way the kid will beat him!"

"Did you hear? Jack once managed to pierce through a horse with his spear! Lady Janna is truly cruel to put such a knight onto a kid, ahah!"

However, as soon as the fight began, Lewis cast the [Blood Enchant] spell on his blade. 

[Blood Enchant]

It was a versatile spell that increased the sharpness of the sword, and more importantly, slowed the coagulation of blood. Indirectly, this made bleeding wounds much more deadly on the battlefield. Unless the target possessed a healing spell or a [Hemostasis Potion], which could help coagulate wounds, then they would most likely die. 

Jack sighed and charged forward: "I have nothing against you, boy"

However, as he thrust his spear, Lewis parried the spear with high mastery, and launched a counter attack. The blade was aimed at Jack's throat, and if he were an average knight, he would have been beheaded on the spot. Still, Jack Blast was no average individual, and he narrowly managed to dodge the incoming blow, and riposted with a kick to Lewis' rib.

Sent crashing onto the wall, Lewis coughed up blood, but did not lose sight of his opponent.

Rather than showing weakness, he smiled like the battle eccentric he was.

"Come again", Lewis shouted with a demonic smile

The crowd stood back, astonished. Some were bewildered. Others impressed.

Jack Blast himself grasped his spear harder.

'I almost died here', Jack thought in his head.

His willpower diminished, and despite having much stronger attributes, he was now on the defensive, a gap in his stance now obvious. Lewis did not need anything more. He charged forward and started to harass his opponent with skillful, irregular blows that broke Jack's momentum. Unbalanced, the wounds started accumulating.

*SPLASH*

Not even thirty seconds later, Jack's armour was covered in red, and his vision started to blurry.

To the astonished crowd, Janna interfered grasped Lewis' sword with her fingers, not allowing him to continue: "That's enough. You proved yourself. You don't want to kill your opponent, do you?"

A woman covered in a dark veil approached and cast a dark healing spell. Who knew how many souls were used for the spell? Still, Jack's wounds started to stabilize.

And with that, Lewis' victory was cemented.