Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 521 World-Class Epic Duel

“Your Grace, are you sure you don’t need a rest… I mean, perhaps you could get a new shield…”

Piloga hesitated.

Before him stood Thales, who had just stood up in a disheveled state, covered in dust and sand, his clothes tattered and dirty.

"No, but thank you, Logistics Officer Piloga."

Thales took a deep breath, rotated his wrist, and felt the balance of his body while practicing swordplay.

“Your attitude is much better than that of the coaches at Exster, and of course, much better than that of some of the Star People.”

Piloga managed a weak smile.

Around the training ground, the royal guards, who had regrouped, seemed somewhat impatient than before, but Marius's silence silenced them all, and they raised no further objections.

The pressure returned to the field.

Thales clenched his left fist.

Abandoning the shield made things much easier on my left arm, but the numbness and pain from the previous heavy blow were so real and unforgettable.

In the last round...

what happened?
Thales's face darkened.

He remembered that his attacks were as swift as lightning, and he was not inferior in either strength or speed.

however……

Thales started walking, moving around Piloga.

The sins of the Hell River roared within him once more, rising and falling in waves, yearning for a second assault.

But this time...

Their setbacks, however, gave Thales an increasingly intense illusion...

Like a maddened beast, no matter how badly wounded, it still wants to tear the enemy's throat apart.

But Thales held them back tightly.

Like a trainer tightening the chains.

As he moved, Piloga also methodically changed his steps and turned around, always keeping his face towards the enemy.

Thales did not rush to attack.

He is thinking.

Just now, his sword met the opponent's sword.

The two swords crossed in mid-air.

But Piloga couldn't stop him.

If he moved a little further forward, Thales could hit his opponent.

then.

Thales pondered deeply.

Then, in that split second, in that split second when victory or defeat was decided,...

Piroga's sword began to spin.

It contained the opponent's concentrated, unyielding, and solid... final power.

And then……

Thales' expression tightened.

He slowed his pace, recalling the scene just now amidst the increasingly blazing River of Sin.

Twisted sword.

For a fleeting second, his and Piroga's swords were entangled.

They twisted and turned in the air.

He remembered that in the instant they approached each other, Piloga's wrist traced a strange arc, smooth and long.

Thales' sword went off course.

And Piroga's sword...

Thales gritted his teeth.

After that, the boy, who was rushing forward too fast to retract his momentum, could only awkwardly abandon his sword, parry, and then...

His left arm, where he had been hit, began to ache faintly.

Thales no longer reminisces.

This time, he didn't pace back and forth.

In the eyes of the royal guards, the prince stepped forward!
As the sins of the River of Hell surged up his right arm, he thrust out his sword once more!
clang!
With a crisp metallic clang, Piloga calmly parried Thales's sword!
then……

Thales' eyes flickered!
He saw—and felt in his hand—that Piloga's sword was moving again.

Along with it came the opponent's power of termination.

The boy did not hesitate.

Thales paused, and with a timely reduction in the already weak force on his sword, he quickly retreated!
clang!
Another crisp sound.

Using his agility after abandoning his shield, he barely managed to parry Piloga's counterattack, staggering back two steps in a slightly disheveled manner.

Thales was breathing heavily, staring in disbelief at Piloga, who was still completely unharmed.

The sin of the River of Hell, unable to break through, roared resentfully within him.

As this round ended, the royal guards began to murmur again.

“Oh, another futile attack,” Doyle said with a look of frustration and reluctance, clicking his tongue.

"If you ask me, even if Marius dislikes him, this is going a bit too far, especially in front of so many people..."

But Golov interrupted him:

No, that's not it.

Doyle was puzzled:
"Not what?"

Just then, a familiar voice rang out from the crowd, silencing the guards once again.

"For six hundred years, unique combat skills have been passed down in the East China Sea and the South Coast, which are inherited from the Southern Knights and Church Knights of the Imperial Era."

His voice was calm and composed.

They knew it all too well.

Thales calmed his breathing and turned his head in surprise.

The very culprit who had put him in such a predicament, Watchman Tormund Marius, stood leisurely with his arms crossed:

"Many families still train newcomers using the 'knight-squire' succession system, which carries a strong local or even personal flavor."

"Compared to martial arts in other parts of the Star Kingdom, this school is more classical and elegant, with its sword style being unique and its techniques exquisite and delicate."

Piroga pursed his lips and turned to his superior.

Marius said casually:
"Therefore, in the kingdom, these people, represented by the Southeast Knights, are also known as the 'Martial Arts School'."

Martial arts school?

Questions arose in Thales' mind.

Marius paused for a moment, then sighed slowly.

Of course, for many reasons, the once-famous martial arts school...

It has gradually declined and is not as good as before.

Perhaps it will eventually disappear and vanish into nothingness.

Like countless schools of thought that flash by in the long river of history.

Marius raised his head.

"What's wrong? What are you spacing out for?"

Marius casually reminded the two that it seemed he had just been talking in his sleep:

"Keep fighting."

Thales took a deep breath, pondering Marius's words as he looked back at his opponent.

Then the logistics officer Piloga stood with his sword, giving him a wry smile.

Thales stopped thinking about it.

The next second, he moved left and then right, feinted a step, and then slashed out with his sword again!
clang!
This time, Piloga also moved his feet, changed distance, and blocked Thales' attack.

It hit its mark.

Thales's expression darkened slightly.

But it still didn't split properly.

The surging sins of the Hell River surged within him, only to roar madly in vain.

Like an orc facing cavalry.

There's no use for it.

Despite his offensive struggles, Thales held on to his opponent, gritting his teeth and persevering.

But Marius's words reached his ears at that moment, distracting him:
“Piroga’s ancestors came from a respected traditional knight family in the East Sea Territory, and were deeply influenced by the martial arts school.”

In an instant, the struggle with Piloga ended: the force on his sword changed!
Thales was startled.

clang!
Piroga's sword clashed with Thales' weapon for the second time!
The two swords clashed and separated instantly, leaving only the trembling of metal.

"You can see that his positioning and movement before drawing his sword, as well as how he chooses the strength of his sword during the clash, are all done with skill."

Marius's voice hummed, like a dream from a past life, an off-screen voice during a live television broadcast.

"It makes you very uncomfortable."

Position selection and movement...

Choose between strong and weak sword blades...

Thales trembled slightly, but the situation before him left him no time to think, so he could only follow up with a horizontal slash.

clang!
The two men clashed weapons for the third time.

Marius's voice was ever-present:

"And when the two are locked in combat, Piroga excels at listening to the opponent's movements and anticipating their attacks..."

They clashed and remained locked in a stalemate.

Listening ability and... prediction.

Upon hearing this, Telston immediately sensed something was wrong!

Sure enough, just a second later, Piroga's sword appeared precisely where he was least able to pay attention!
"...He is a master of counter-attacking tactics."

In that instant, Thales, his hair standing on end, disregarded everything and unleashed all the sins of the River of Hell!

clang!
He narrowly parried Piroga's sword aimed straight at his neck, landing on his right shoulder and rolling away in a very disheveled manner.

Off the field, Marios smiled slightly:
"like this."

After this round of exchanges, the royal guards began to murmur again.

Thales wiped the sweat that had unknowingly appeared on his forehead, feeling the numbness in his body caused by excessive strain.

He struggled to his feet, covered in dust.

This time, however, he didn't rush towards Piloga, who was full of apologies, but instead turned to Marios on the sidelines with a puzzled look.

“If you think that bringing the Yankees’ brute force tactics here will work on him,” Marius said, his eyes gleaming as he met Thales’s gaze.
"Then you'd better think it over."

"Your Highness."

Thales was panting, lost in thought.

“Sir, we all know you’ve traveled all over the country and are very knowledgeable,” Leo Piloga said helplessly, swinging his longsword. “But that’s enough.”

"I still rely on this for my livelihood."

Marius smiled but said nothing more.

But Thales understood something.

Choose a location, listen to the energy flow, and make predictions.

It sounds like...

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

A name came to mind.

Miranda Aarond.

What Wyah was talking about, her power of ending...

Her... Pegasus Melody.

Looking at his somewhat embarrassed opponent, Thales understood.

If you fall into a complete disadvantage in the first round, it's not because Piroga is too strong.

But...

Thales clenched his fist.

Rather, he didn't choose the right strategy.

This fell into Piroga's area of expertise.

Defensive counterattack.

“Think of a way, Your Highness,” Marius said, scratching his chin with a bored expression.

"Any way."

"The enemy is right in front of you."

Ok.

Thales relaxed his numb body and adjusted his state.

He looked at Piloga again.

Thales' expression turned serious.

The prince's attack came in the next moment.

clang!
Piloga deflected Thales's sword strike again, but as he prepared to retaliate, he hesitated.

This time, the Duke of Starlake's strength...

Very small.

Swish!
As the sword whistled past, Thales took a step back, avoiding the opponent's counterattack.

The two separated again.

Leo Piloga.

Thales thought calmly.

His ancestors were knights from the East Sea Territory, skilled in combat, and adept at defense and counter-attack.

His mind began to work, considering the opponent's strengths and his own strategy.

Piloga uses contact with his opponent to instantly sense their strength and anticipate their movements.

This is not only beneficial for defense, but also for finding the most suitable time to shoot.

The fiercer the opponent's attack, the greater their strength, and the more exposed they become...

The more he countered, the sharper his retaliation became.

so……

That sword strike I unleashed with all my might earlier, it all contributed to...

The opponent's counterattack.

Thales felt a pang of resentment.

and many more.

Listening and anticipation?
Nicolai's face suddenly flashed into his mind.

The trajectory and force of the blade in the Meteorite's hand changed in an instant.

Thales understood.

If he faces a deadpan face, Piroga won't have a chance at all.

Because it was impossible for him to predict the Meteorite's unpredictable three-fold skill simply by observing the contact between weapons.

and so.

Thales gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

A twist of fate, isn't it?
With a thought, the sins of the River of Hell surged up as if they were alive, wanting to transform into the silvery power that resembled thousands of tiny needles, just as they had done countless times before.

It allows the owner to make incredible changes in an instant.

Thales took a deep breath.

At most, I'll find an excuse later to tell them that I inherited the end of the dead face...

but.

[The Sin of the River of Hell... There were so many paths... yet you chose the most foolish, inefficient, time-consuming, and boring one...]

This is your ultimate power, and it is also who you are now: forced forward, dragged along, without a goal, without direction, swaying left and right, drifting with the tide, and even...

[Lacking a sense of self.]

Thales was momentarily dazed.

He looked up at Piroga, who was smiling shyly across from him, waiting for the prince to make his move.

More importantly, when you rely on imitation while ignoring these fundamental elements, you are essentially lacking the most basic understanding of the ultimate power honed by others with their lives, of every person you imitate, of every opponent you compete with, and even of yourself...

【respect.】

Ricky.

That damned devil.

Thales frowned deeply.

The next moment, the sins of the River of Hell receded like the tide, leaving only a few traces of listlessness, as if still carrying a hint of lingering affection.

Like a lover who comes full of excitement but leaves disappointed.

No.

This is not a martial arts lesson.

This is not a simple examination of the power of termination.

Instead, it's more thorough and purer...

fighting.

Feeling the gazes of those around him, Thales bit his lip and closed his eyes.

No.

If he still needs to rely on Nikolai's power to survive...

If he can't even get past this hurdle...

Remember, the focus should be on yourself, not on how strong your opponent is.

The key is the magnitude of the gain, not the amount of imitation.

No.

If he really wants to get through this and get rid of this paranoia...

Thales lowered his head, letting out a slow sigh.

Damn it, Ricky.

Fuck you.

In the distance, Marius, who had been observing Thales, had a slight twitch in his pupils.

A few seconds later, Thales raised his head.

But, yeah.

If you don't even dare to try now...

How much longer will he have to wait?

When will it be the next time my life is in danger?

In that instant, Thales cast aside all unnecessary concerns: concealing his strength, hiding the crime of the Prison River, the Palace of Restoration, the watchful eyes of the Royal Guard...

At the very least, for now, he must try to be a pure warrior.

A mind free of distractions.

The ever-changing advantages of the River of Sin do not allow you to indistinguishably become any opponent.

[It allows you to be calm and fearless...]

Facing all opponents.

The sins of the River of Hell ignited again, but were much more docile than before.

I don't know if it was due to excessive consumption or too many failures.

It was as if that mad beast had transformed into a calm hunting dog, secretly licking its wounds in a corner, only occasionally glancing at you with a cold glint in its eye.

He bared his malicious teeth at the enemy outside the cage.

This is the real...

[The power of omnipotent termination.]

Thales gently opened his eyes.

The sins of the River of Hell did not surge through his body as before, but instead focused on his eyes and ears, filling his senses.

In that instant, the boy entered a state that was not unfamiliar to him:
Hellish senses.

Thales's eyes began to glaze over, as if they had lost focus.

But only he knew.

At that moment, the world before my eyes became vividly colored.

He could see it. The power of termination within Piroga was thick and solid, slowly circulating around his arms and center of gravity.

Thales suddenly realized that he had used the Hell Senses countless times in different ways...

They're all somewhat... useless.

They can either imitate power, use night vision to navigate, eavesdrop through walls, or... see ghosts in broad daylight.

but.

The real opportunity to take advantage of hellish senses...

Marius, watching from the sidelines, suddenly tensed up.

In what seemed like a slowed-down time, Thales inhaled slowly.

He launched a sudden attack!
At that moment, it was as if someone had sounded a war drum, and the still image began to move in response to the loud explosion!
The sins of the River of Hell surge once more.

The sword whistled through the air.

clang!
Thales, wielding his sword with both hands, cleaved down with great force, striking Piloga's longsword that was blocking his way!
The experienced Piloga did not change color despite the sudden force of the sword strike.

He remained calm and composed, using his footwork and movement to perfectly parry the attack.

then……

Pass!
Thales' heart skipped a beat!
In the hellish senses, Piloga's figure shifted color repeatedly.

They converge into a clear line.

A chill ran through Thales’ neck and spread throughout his body.

The significance of imitation lies in understanding. Understand your opponent.

In a fraction of a second, the sins of the River of Hell surged forth in orderly layers!
Arm.

Right leg.

With his eyes unfocused and hazy, Thales smoothly raised his sword and stepped back!
clang!
At that moment, he barely managed to parry Piloga's attack.

The royal guards watching the battle murmured in hushed tones.

“Strange,” Doyle said, puzzled. “His movements… seem fast, yet also slow?”

“No, it’s not an action…” Golov said coldly.

Doyle was somewhat dissatisfied:
"Why do you seem to enjoy arguing with me so much today..."

Marius remained silent amidst the crowd.

Thales took two steps back and saw that Piloga's color had returned to normal.

The sins of the River of Hell surged back like the receding tide.

The hilt of the sword in his hand was still trembling slightly.

The effects of the Hell Senses remain miraculous.

They simultaneously provided him with new intelligence.

Thales took a deep breath. Yes.

He truly felt the immense power of termination within the other person's body, as well as its direction, shape, and habits.

It appears quiet and harmless.

But once stimulated... it immediately infuses Piloga's hands, automatically flowing towards the enemy's weakest point.

To deliver a fatal blow.

It's really awesome.

At that moment, the Sin of the River of Hell exploded within Thales' body.

It sounded like dissatisfaction, or perhaps a sneer.

They began to amplify Thales's body again to sustain the consumption of Hellish Senses.

Despite his disregard for the consequences, Thales had a sudden realization.

Piroga's power, is that... the melting of glaciers?
No, more than that.

It does seem somewhat like... like what Wyman described, a celestial symphony?
Or somewhere in between.

There are even some shadows of the Chaos Army.

Thales began to understand what more than one person had told him:

Even the same power of termination will have different characteristics in different people.

that is because……

Because the power to end is the warrior himself.

The battle was not over yet. Remembering Ricky's words, Thales raised his sword again.

Swordsmen who favor defense and counter-attack possess the finishing power to accurately anticipate and respond to attacks.

and then?
Observe, Thales, observe.

Think about it again.

clang!
Another round, another exchange of blows.

Thales delivered a light, effortless side slash, which Piloga then swung his sword at, launching a counter-attack against the prince's reverse side.

The boy nimbly dodged.

But in this encounter, Thales sensed it.

Some vague, yet crucial clues.

skill.

In the realm of hellish senses, Thales, his eyes glazed over, pondered with a blank expression.

It's a skill.

Piloga.

His opponents were too passive, too reliant on defense, and too dependent on counter-attacking techniques.

He was too reliant on, and too focused on... the enemy's actions.

Thales looked confused, but his mind was clear. He asked himself: "Am I like my former self, who only saw the enemy's moves and only knew how to imitate the enemy's strengths?"

and so.

Thales gently closed his eyes.

The senses of hell slowly faded.

When Thales opened his eyes again, his eyes were clear.

The power to end is the warrior himself.

He vaguely remembered Marius's words:

However, the battle itself...

...but it is far more than just the power to end things.

In a daze, Thales swung his sword, aiming straight for his opponent's waist.

Piroga made a deft slash, and the two swords clashed and then separated.

He launched another brilliant counterattack, aimed precisely at Thales' face, which he had no time to spare.

But Thales was prepared and left himself room to maneuver during his attack.

Thus, the Sin of the River of Hell flowed effortlessly into Thales' waist, supporting his tactical lean back as he dodged the sword to the side.

Piroga frowned:
After two or three rounds, he suddenly realized that the prince's attacks were mostly probing, and his counterattacks were no longer so effective.

In the instant he dodged, Thales' mind cleared.

It was as if the thick fog had lifted, and the hazy view became clear.

So, Piroga.

He relinquished the initiative and control of the battle.

To create an opportunity for the enemy to reveal a weakness.

In a life-or-death battle, relinquishing control means...

Thales returned to his original position, gripped his sword with both hands, and lowered his center of gravity.

The sin of the prison river excitedly climbed up his arms and waist.

It began to roar fiercely!

Like a lone wolf that has climbed to the summit, howling at the boundless green mountains and the cold, desolate moon.

The next second, Thales stopped holding back and sped off!

clang!
Their swords clashed once more!

Piloga's eyes narrowed.

This time, he finally faced the prince's all-out attack.

This is... a decisive opportunity.

End this battle that left him feeling incredibly embarrassed.

Piroga's finishing power solidified, and his wrist and arm moved simultaneously!

The two swords were entangled together, emitting a metallic groan.

Twisted sword.

Piroga calmly turned his sword, assessing his opponent's strengths and weaknesses in a fraction of a second.

then……

Sensing the direction of the opponent's force, Piroga's finishing power was unleashed as if on command!
Just like the countless times I faced enemies when I was young.

Block.

judgment.

Final blow.

Piloga thought calmly.

His hands moved without stopping, the sword blade flowing smoothly straight out, attacking the part of the prince that was most vulnerable to attack due to the overwhelming force of the attack.

thump.

There was a muffled sound.

At that moment, Thales felt a sharp pain in his leg!
At that moment, he could no longer hold on, and his left leg buckled.

Boom!
Another muffled thud, much louder than the first.

Finally, Thales knelt down on his left knee in agony.

He was breathing heavily, enduring the aches and numbness.

This round is over.

The training ground fell silent.

Piroga's lips curled into a smile as he looked at the prince kneeling before him.

As expected.

His sword struck the prince's left leg.

At that moment, the logistics officer thought to himself with ease:

Right, we can't go too far; we need to leave some room for maneuver, so that the prince doesn't lose too badly, and the superior doesn't feel like he's just going through the motions...

Because he had offended too many people when he was young, his future career became extremely difficult after he was injured.

Unfortunately, the boy in the family has reached marriageable age.

But there was nothing he could do.

Approaching fifty, he had to force a smile and respond humbly, bowing and fawning over these young noblemen in their mid-twenties or even teens, whose status was countless times higher than his own.

for……

Ok?
Piloga's expression changed.

He felt something.

how……

The logistics officer took a deep breath.

He slowly lowered his head.

Upon seeing what was in front of him, Piloga's pupils suddenly trembled!
It's unclear when, but Thales's sword has been raised from bottom to top.

They held firm...

Piloga's chest.

The hilt of the sword was held in the hand of Thales, who was kneeling on one knee.

But... he didn't exert any force.

Piloga was stunned.

The outcome has been decided.

"Wow……"

At that moment, as if waves were crashing against the shore, the royal guards erupted in a clamor of alarm, invading this place!
"Holy crap..."

Doyle watched this scene in surprise, wanting to say something but not understanding why, and could only open and close his mouth repeatedly.

Golov's brow slowly relaxed.

In the arena, Thales, kneeling on the ground, had his head down, was still breathing heavily, and his arms were trembling.

Surprise, excitement, confusion, doubt, bewilderment—countless emotions arise in people's hearts.

Of all the eyes, Marius’s was the sharpest and the most complex.

He stared unblinkingly at Thales's sword.

It was as if the deepest secret was hidden there.

Thales trembled.

No one knew that at this moment, he was desperately suppressing the inexplicably excited and violent Sin of the River of Hell within him.

He suppressed the urge to thrust the sword out again.

Piloga calmed himself down and withdrew his incredulous expression.

He looked at the prince trembling beneath him with a complicated expression.

This is……

They deliberately attacked, but they anticipated my... counterattack?
Then sacrifice his left leg...

In exchange for...

Piroga stared at the longsword lodged in his chest with a gloomy expression.

A few seconds later, the logistics officer sighed.

“You have won, Your Grace.”

“Your resourcefulness and responses were excellent,” Piroga said with a bitter smile, throwing down his practice sword and conceding defeat.
"I'm no opponent."

The discussion among the royal guards grew even louder.

"Old Pi went easy on him, didn't he? Against that kid," Doyle muttered to the person next to him, puzzled.
"He easily defeated him one moment, and then easily defeated himself the next. Even knightly novels wouldn't dare write something like this..."

“Shut up,” Golov seemed to have finally lost his temper, and he said coldly:
"You think fighting is like doing arithmetic, comparing sizes? You think all you need to do is add and subtract?"

Doyle choked, casting a resentful glance at Golov.

There are many more such conversations.

But Marius simply looked at the two men in the arena without saying a word.

Thales took a few more breaths and managed to steady himself.

He swayed as he sheathed his longsword and stood up.

Piloga bowed sullenly and turned to leave the field.

But Thales called out to him.

“No, Leo Piloga, the logistics officer,” the prince said, a slightly disheveled smile spreading across his sweaty face.
"I know you were being lenient with me."

Thales also dropped his longsword and gently extended his right hand.

"You taught me a lot."

"Thank you."

Piroga paused for a second, then smiled awkwardly as well.

He hesitated for a moment, but finally gently took the prince's hand, only to let go after a brief touch.

Thales nodded:

"I am honored to have you in my guard."

The logistics officer remained expressionless, but he took two steps back, placed his hand on his left chest, and bowed slightly.

But it was more than the first bow...

He was very respectful.

"I knew they'd throw the game," Doyle said with an envious look on the sidelines.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this old soldier is a real smooth operator."

"That flattery was really well done...it was very sensible."

Golov glanced at him but said nothing.

The guards were still talking amongst themselves, but the way they looked at the prince was gradually changing.

Thales picked up his water bag and began to gulp down water to replenish his energy, but as he drank, he looked up at Marius.

She gave him a hostile look.

Marius glanced back at him indifferently, his eyes revealing an unreadable emotion.

"Piloga?"

Marius did not turn his head, his tone questioning.

“Please forgive me, sir,” Piloga said, his voice weary and tinged with helplessness.
“I am old, and Your Grace…”

The logistics officer glanced at Thales, his expression complex.
"very nice."

Marius remained silent for a few seconds.

But his expression was no longer as calm and composed as before.

"okay."

A few seconds later, Marius’s somewhat somber voice rang out, silencing the increasingly loud discussions among the royal guards.

The watchman stepped forward, watching the disheveled prince, who looked like a tattered oil painting, smeared with sweat, dust, and wounds, trying to tidy himself up.
"Are you ready for the next opponent?"

what.

Thales stopped drinking water.

Duke Xinghu put down the water bag and asked in surprise:
"Again?"

"Isn't one game enough?"

The twenty-odd royal guards around them looked at each other in bewilderment.

Marius smiled slightly.

"We have not yet completed the assessment."

"Besides, it's still early, the martial arts lesson has only just started... You two just exchanged blows, it hasn't even been two minutes yet."

Thales paused in his speech.

Just... a few minutes ago?

Marius's smile widened, but in Thales's eyes, it was utterly detestable.
"Of course, we understand. You may be having a tough time, after all, everyone's capacity to cope is different..."

"Therefore, you may choose to give up, Your Highness."

Marius's voice deepened, and an unreadable light flickered in his eyes:

“As your lowly servant, I dare not, and have no right to, stop you from giving up—that is your right.”

Marius shrugged:

"So, in that case, we all know you now..."

"The Prince of Two Minutes?"

Thales was taken aback again.

Varied……

What kind of prince?

Marius smiled but did not reply.

A few seconds later, Thales took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

“If you’re trying to offend me, Tormond Marius,” the Duke of Starlake said, a hint of anger in his voice.
"you did it."

but.

“I am honored, Your Highness,” Marius said nonchalantly, “which means I have fulfilled my duty.”

"So, have you decided to take a break?"

"I believe everyone, including His Majesty, will understand."

He glanced sarcastically at the royal guards around him:
"After all, you went through a two-minute ordeal in your martial arts class, filled with excitement, hardship, survival against adversity, and turning defeat into victory..."

"A world-class epic duel, you know."

At that moment, Thales, who was staring at Marius with hostile eyes, twitched slightly.

Two minutes...

A two-minute... what kind of duel?
Thales' expression froze.

Marius's smile remained unchanged.

At that moment, the training ground fell silent.

The royal guards were completely silent, as if terrified.

Everyone watched Thales and Marius with trepidation.

They didn't dare to utter a single breath.

A few seconds later.

"bring it on."

Thales suppressed his displeasure and closed his eyes.