Chapter 95 (1/2)

In the Imperial Palace, there were numerous training camps for the guards and the knights who were there for guarding the Emperor.

Among them, there was a group of people who had appeared at the ground behind the Palace which was at times used by the knights.

They were Luke, Philip, and the three guard knights.

“I’ll make you regret meeting me.”

Said Juan to Philip after relaxing.

In the past, when Philip used to serve as one of the guard knights, Juan was much weaker than Philip, who had graduated from the Royal Military Academy.

So, there could be a chance that he was jealous of Philip and decided to push him out.

But years had passed since that incident with Philip being cast out happened.

In the meantime, Juan, with his family’s support, got trained under a very experienced and well-known teacher.

That practice had allowed him to become an Intermediate Expert in a very short time.

‘When that guy got kicked out of the knights, he was just a low-level expert. He must have wandered for years and wasted his time in the countryside. There are high chances for me to win,’ thought Juan.

After being convinced about his own win, Juan took leisurely steps toward Philip and said,

“If you kneel before me and apologize, I’ll nullify the duel.”

“I would rather die than kneel before the likes of you.”

“Kukuk, then I will just have to kill you.”

While the others watched, the two began their duel.

In normal cases, the duel would need a public notary.

But neither Philip, who was dreaming to get his revenge, Luke, standing there for his honor and Juan, who was engrossed in his wish to trample on the thief he disliked, ever thought of needing a notary to the duel.

Kang! Kang!

The duel had begun with Juan taking the first step.

Juan was alternating his skills from the swordplay he learned at the Knights of Guard and the skills that were thought to him by the brilliant private swordsman from the Southern continent who had trained him.

Just the same as Juan had evolved his skills, Philip too had developed his.

After learning from Luke about the Gold Sword, he was able to stop the attacks from Juan.

“Eh, Ehk!”

When his confrontation with Philip didn’t go as he had imagined, Juan began to use Aura.

Whoong!

Just like any Intermediate knight, his Aura looked thick and heavy.

Philip too decided to respond to him in the same way.

Philip didn’t even have to release the Gold Sword.

Just moving the polished phantom sword as he used to at the capital’s Gigant Arena was enough to drive fear into Juan.

“Sh*t, Dammit!”, cursed Juan.

He had no idea that he would be pushed back by Philip, Juan, who couldn’t control himself anymore, began to curse.

The fencing skills Juan had been displaying were as fine as an advanced knight.

However, there was just one thing that he lacked.

It was a hands-on experience.

He had only learned and mastered the sword skills. Just like the green plants and trees that grew in any manor, he had never come across the strength or stubbornness of weeds.

On the other hand, Philip had developed a unique sense of responding and performance by fighting against monsters, bandits, who came into the Rakan territory, as well as the Royal Gigant Arena.

Which made it hard for Juan to attack him.

Swooah!

“Kuak!”

Juan who got the back of his hand cut by Philip, stepped back, dropping his sword.

It all happened in just five minutes, Juan stared at Philip, who placed the sword on to his throat with a darkened expression.

“This can’t be possible. How can this guy…” Juan wasn’t able to understand.

“You idiot. Did you think that you got stronger after learning advanced sword skills? All you know is just the shell of it. Your skills became worse compared to before,” said Philip.

Juan did not respond to the bitter criticism of Philip.

Rather, Philip shook his head and pushed the sword a little closer to his neck. Philip walked out of the place.

While walking out, Philip laughed at the other two, who were scared and asked,

“Do, do you also want to duel?”

“We, we…”

Jack and Carwin had lower fencing skills than Juan.

They were low and lower class Experts, and as Philip noticed their discomfort, he spoke with a smirk,

“If doing it alone isn’t enough, I don’t mind if you two do it together.”

The two of them exchanged glances and pulled their swords.

It was hard for them to win alone, but if they fought together, then they would surely win.

However, as they were about to go in for the duel, they heard a loud shout from far away.

“Stop it!”

The owner of the voice jumped between the two teams and stopped them.

“Vice, vice-captain!”

Philip and Juan recognized the person who stopped them and was shocked.