Lord: I can see loyalty.

Chapter 271 Brothers' Showdown

The footsteps outside the tent grew closer, and the light from the torches shone through the gaps in the tent, casting swaying shadows.

Christ's sword gleamed in the dim light. He was breathing heavily, and the wound on his shoulder had reopened, with blood dripping down his cloak and pooling on the ground.

But he neither retreated nor fled; he simply stared intently at Vio, gripping his longsword even tighter.

"There can only be one Ross."

His words still echoed in Vio's ears, their meaning unclear, but the obsession he held was so clear it was unsettling.

Vio had no time to think, because Christ's sword came again.

This sword strike was faster and more ruthless than before, completely devoid of any defensive stance, purely a suicidal attack!

His sword pierced Vio's heart, the blade tearing through the air with a sharp whistling sound.

Vio raised his shield to block, and the purple magic shield on the Magic Feather Shield lit up again.

"Clang—!" Sparks flew everywhere, and the huge impact forced Vio to take a half step back.

Christ's strength was greater than expected. Even though he was injured and exhausted, each of his sword strikes still carried the terrifying power of a third-tier Grand Knight.

"Why?" Vio asked while parrying, his Demon Feather Sword thrusting back towards Christ's ribs. "Why must you kill me?"

Christ didn't answer, but simply dodged the sword to the side and swung his sword back at Vio's neck.

Vio ducked to avoid the sword, which grazed his hair, severing a few strands.

His brow furrowed—Krist wasn't fighting, he was fighting desperately.

Every sword strike leaves no room for mercy; every strike is a life-or-death struggle, with no regard for one's own life or death.

"Madman," Vio muttered under his breath, channeling magic into his gloves.

The runes on the glove glowed blue, and a bolt of lightning shot out from the palm, striking Christ directly in the chest.

Christ raised his sword to parry, but lightning struck the sword, creating a burst of sparks. He was thrown back several steps, knocking over the table behind him, scattering maps and candles all over the floor.

Before he could even regain his footing, Vio had already rushed in front of him, the Demon Feather Sword pressed against his neck.

"You lost!" Vio's voice was calm.

Christ looked at him, his gray eyes showing no sign of backing down.

He didn't say anything, but gripped his longsword tightly and rammed his head into Vio's face!

The collision was unexpected; Vio instinctively tilted his head back, and the sword's edge went astray.

Christ seized the opportunity and lunged at the fallen longsword on the ground.

He was incredibly fast; he picked up the sword, flipped over, and leaped into the air, thrusting at Vio once more.

Vio raised his shield to block, sparks flew, and the two clashed again.

The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and Alec rushed in.

His greatsword was already drawn, and his platinum armor gleamed in the firelight.

Upon seeing Christ, his pupils contracted, and he swept his greatsword horizontally, aiming straight for Christ's waist.

Christ had no choice but to abandon his attack and parry with his sword.

The greatsword clashed with the longsword, sparks flying, and the immense impact sent him staggering back several steps, crashing into the tent's support.

"Your Excellency, are you alright?" Alec stood in front of Vio, his gray eyes fixed on Christ.

"It's alright." Vio sheathed his magic feather shield and gripped his magic feather sword tightly. "He's injured and no match for me. But he still has his men outside."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sounds of intense metal clashing and shouts of battle erupted outside the tent.

Several dark figures emerged from the night and engaged in combat with the patrolling soldiers from the southern border.

They were all elite soldiers, dressed in dark leather armor, wielding longswords, with steady steps and skillful swordsmanship. Several patrolling soldiers were cut down by them, and more people poured in from all parts of the camp.

It was Christ's personal guard who arrived.

There were only about twenty people, and they were all skilled. Their swordsmanship was at least at the advanced level of knightly swordsmanship, and some had even mastered the basics of breathing techniques.

But they didn't come to rescue Christ; they came to help him complete his assassination mission!

"Stop them!" Jimmy's voice rang out from outside the tent, and several captains of the Azure Peak Knights led their soldiers to rush forward.

But those guards were too strong. Although they were few in number, they cooperated well and moved with great skill, keeping the soldiers from the southern border outside the tent.

Vio frowned. "Alec, go help Jimmy, I'll handle things here."

"Your Excellency—" Alec wanted to refuse.

"That's an order," Vio interrupted him. "Christ is no match for me, but those guards will wear down our soldiers. Go and deal with them quickly."

Alec gritted his teeth, turned around, and rushed out of the tent.

He swung his greatsword, cleaving one guard in two with a single stroke, and then piercing another's throat with another.

His arrival immediately turned the tide; although the guards were elite, they were no match for a fourth-tier Grand Knight.

Inside the tent, only Vio and Christ remained.

Christ leaned on his longsword, panting heavily, his body covered in blood.

His face was deathly pale, his lips were cracked, and blood was still seeping from the wound on his shoulder, but his eyes remained bright, still fixed on Vio.

"You can't beat me." Vio's voice was calm, his Demon Feather Sword pointing diagonally at the ground. "Surrender, and I might spare your life."

Christ didn't answer, but gripped his longsword tighter and lunged forward again.

His sword became slower and weaker, but each strike carried the determination to die.

Vio didn't kill him; he merely parried, dodged, and occasionally countered with a sword strike, always avoiding vital points.

He didn't want to kill Christ, not because he was soft-hearted, but because Christ was still useful.

Vio asked again, "Why did you want to kill me?"

Christ didn't answer, he just continued swinging his sword.

Alec's greatsword swept across, sending the last guard flying. He crashed to the ground, spitting blood.

Jimmy led his soldiers to surround the wounded guards and subdued them one by one.

"My Lord Earl, it's all done!" Alec roared.

Vio nodded, his gaze falling on Christ.

"You lost, your men lost, what trump cards do you have left?"

Even so, Christ showed no sign of backing down, watching as his opponent raised his longsword once more.

"Go to hell!!!"

His voice was hoarse.

Vio's expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected him to be so persistent!

Since that's the case, then I won't stop now!

Vio raised his magic glove, and power surged into it instantly. The moment he was filled with magic, the magic rushed towards Christ!

Bang!

A powerful wave of magical energy enveloped almost the entire tent, instantly creating a cloud of dust.

But when the smoke cleared, Christ was still standing there!

He took the blow with his sword, but his body was already covered in wounds and his armor was shattered.

"That madman—"

Vio looked at his older brother with an extremely ugly expression.