The wrong transmigrator assigned by the system

If it weren't for the fact that this duel was arranged by Viscount Alta on behalf of the Grand Duke of Erebus, and that not participating meant certain death, Lu Ming would not have wanted to participate in this unfortunate duel at all.

However, driven by a lingering resentment at being schemed against so many times while that person was protected, Lu Ming resolutely stood on the dueling platform. Besides, how many geniuses had transmigrators defeated?

"The two men on the platform are, one is the swordsmanship prodigy, Ricard Wenderslan, who became a swordsman at the age of twenty-two! The other is the local sheriff, Lu Ming! They will duel today for a sliver of truth in their hearts! Now, please bow to each other, and then the duel shall begin!" As the nobles, who treated dueling almost as mere entertainment, announced the proceedings, the barrier protecting the dueling platform from magic and sword strikes that might accidentally injure the crowd was activated. A transparent bubble suddenly enveloped the entire platform.

At this moment, Lu Ming and Licarte, one in a knightly salute and the other in an Undead Legion salute, paid their respects to each other.

"Duel! Begin!"

At the referee's signal, both sides instantly abandoned their formalities, stomped on the platform, and rushed towards each other.

"Didn't I tell him not to engage in close combat with swordsmen? Why is he still like this?!" Yusaha was startled when he saw Lu Ming rushing towards Likat and complained subconsciously.

The countess, who was sitting not far from her watching the duel, gave a slight snort.

Viscount Saldal glanced at the countess, whose eyes were filled with frost, and smiled, saying, "Countess Sachi, what do you think this magic apprentice is up to?"

"I don't know, maybe many of them are contemplating suicide?"

The Countess, as always, didn't think highly of Lu Ming, who came from a commoner background, but Viscount Saldallo was different; he thought very highly of Lu Ming. So he couldn't help but laugh and say, "I don't think so! I think he must have his own reasons for choosing to fight the swordsman Ricard in close combat!"

Upon hearing Viscount Saldallo's words, the surrounding nobles fell silent. Like the Countess, they didn't think highly of Lu Ming, but they couldn't very well embarrass the future Grand Duke, could they?

After taking the first step, Lu Ming and Likat rushed toward each other.

Just as they were about to collide, Lu Ming suddenly swung his rapier, thrusting it towards Ricard's body. Ricard, however, parried Lu Ming's rapier thrust with a longsword, while simultaneously brandishing his other longsword and looking at Lu Ming.

"It's over." Viscount Hatu laughed upon seeing this.

But the next moment, Lu Ming delivered a resounding slap to everyone who shared the same thoughts as Viscount Hatu!

"Fran's Swift Sword!" Just as Ricard's longsword was about to strike him, Lu Ming suddenly swung the Behem Magic Staff in his other hand, using a blue soul longsword that suddenly extended from the tip of the staff to cut Ricard's longsword in half!

Slightly surprised, Licarte leaped back to a distance from Lu Ming, looking warily at the soul sword on the magic wand. He then glanced at his own longsword, which was still intact, and saw that it was being eroded by an unknown force, showing signs of crystallization.

"A fighting style that wields a rapier in one hand and a magic wand in the other—you're probably not a mage from Miracaissa or any nearby country. They don't have this kind of audacity to treat mages almost like soldiers!" Ricard casually tossed aside the broken longsword, then pulled a new one from some spatial artifact, pointing it at Lu Ming as he asked, "There must be many mages in your hometown, right?"

"I come from the Valley of the Irrigated Hell, but I also studied magic in the magical kingdom of Piheim. It's a strange place where everyone knows some magic, more or less. And those who don't know magic are just slaves!" To make himself seem more sophisticated, Lu Ming shared some of his understanding of Piheim.

"If you can't learn magic, you'll be turned into a slave? After all, the ruler of that magic kingdom must be a powerful magician, right?"

“In Behemoth, the real power lies with the teachers of the Dragon Academy. The king and the nobles are nothing but puppets.”

Lu Ming's words caused a commotion among the nobles below the stage. They could not imagine what a terrifying scene it would be if a country where the nobility were puppets controlled by an academy.

"Is it because you've become accustomed to the idea that nobles are puppets that you show them the slightest respect for you and the other nobles?" Viscount Saldallo laughed heartily as he listened to the surrounding nobles' noisy curses against the Dragon Academy of Piheim. His gaze towards Lu Ming grew increasingly appreciative.

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I'm still up at 3 AM today.

Chapter Twenty-Three - Duel Two

"Honestly, I can't imagine that situation. I suppose you left because you couldn't stand it, right?" After thinking for a moment about the situation Lu Ming described, Likat shook his head with a smile, talking to Lu Ming while charging at him once again.

“Yeah. The teachers there really aren’t very good!” Looking at the rushing Licatt, Lu Ming also laughed and whispered, “Metallic voice.”

Then Lu Ming made a series of ear-piercing metallic friction noises.

"Ah! My ears!" "Ears!" "My ears!"

The piercing metallic sound not only forcibly stopped Licatt's charge, but also tormented the ears of the audience below the stage.

"Damn it! Crimson Strike!" Although he didn't know what the metallic noise was for, Likat knew it was definitely not a good thing. So he immediately swung his longsword, adding a sharp, indistinct aura to it, and finally unleashed a dark red sword strike at Lu Ming!

"What!?" Lu Ming, who had unleashed a metallic sound, stared at the dark red sword aura slash that was larger than a person and didn't react for a moment. By the time he reacted, it was too late to dodge.

With no way to avoid it, Lu Ming gritted his teeth and forcibly blocked Licard's almost fatal sword aura slash with his crystal rapier and Pihem's magic staff.

As a result, although Lu Ming managed to block Likat's killing move by relying on his tough crystal rapier and the Peheim magic staff, he was sent flying by the immense power of the sword energy and crashed into the barrier, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Lu Ming!!" Seeing Lu Ming being knocked away, Yusaha and Lily were shocked and couldn't help but call out Lu Ming's name.

Meanwhile, the countess and other nobles who were not optimistic about Lu Ming began to cheer for Ricard, who waved to a young girl in a gorgeous white dress in the crowd as if he had already won.

However, the girl never looked at him; instead, she kept staring at Lu Ming.

"Raster Cannon!" Suddenly, Lu Ming, who had been sent flying, roared, as if he had been slapped hard across Licard's face.

As he glared furiously at Lu Ming, Likat suddenly noticed a silver-white energy ball about to hit him!

At that moment, he panicked. He hurriedly grabbed his longsword, imbued it with his inner energy, and unleashed a sword slash, attempting to forcefully deflect the energy ball. Unfortunately...

"Boom!!" The moment the sword energy struck the grating cannon, two completely different energies clashed violently, resulting in a massive explosion! This instantly blew Licarte away, causing him to crash into the barrier even harder than Lu Ming, and he too spat out a mouthful of blood!

"We're even!" Lu Ming, who had fallen to the other side, struggled to his feet, took off the Black Knight's helmet, threw it aside, and smirked at Licarte opposite him with a blood-stained smile.

"Yeah! We're even!" Likat wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, slowly stood up, and grinned as he looked at Lu Ming opposite him.

At this moment, the nobles below the stage were all shocked by the fact that Lu Ming, a magic apprentice, was able to injure a genius swordsman!

The most shocked person among them must be Viscount Hatu!

Licat was his chosen son-in-law, so he knew Licat's strength better than any other nobleman here. Yet, at this very moment, Lu Ming had injured Licat, a genius he considered a once-in-a-century talent—it was utterly astonishing!

However, at that moment, his daughter, the girl in the white dress who had just been waving to Licarte, said something even more unbelievable to him.

"He must have even more powerful magic that he hasn't used yet."

"What!?" Viscount Hatu and the surrounding nobles who heard this looked at Viscount Hatu's daughter in shock, hoping she would say it was just a joke. Unfortunately, she wasn't.

"Whether it's the Fine Snow or the Seed Machine Gun, they could all be broken by his sword aura slash. So, is the only option left the Grating Cannon and the weak and dangerous Farron Quick Sword? Or perhaps..." Lu Ming muttered to himself as he pondered, while chugging down a bottle of elemental vials to heal his injuries.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Licarta also drank a bottle of alchemical potion and healed his injuries.

"Raster Cannon!" "Crimson Strike!" Perhaps wanting to test his opponent's strength, Lu Ming used the Raster Cannon for the seventh time since he learned it, while Likat also used his sword aura slash!

As before, the grating cannon and the sword slash exploded violently the moment they collided.

Fortunately, this time, the collision between the grating cannon and the sword energy slash occurred right between Lu Ming and Likat, and the shockwave did not cause any harm to either of them.

"I only have 33 mana points left. Should I drink an Elemental Ash Bottle?" Because the Grating Cannon needs to be cast three more times to upgrade to level two, and he doesn't have enough mana to use it anymore, Lu Ming had to calculate whether he should drink an Elemental Ash Bottle to replenish his mana.

However, at that moment, Viscount Hatu and some other observant nobles in the audience noticed that Lu Ming's magic power was running low, and they shouted to Ricard on the stage, "His magic power is low! Hurry up!!"

Upon hearing this information, Licat naturally wouldn't let this good opportunity slip by, and immediately rushed towards Lu Ming.

"Damn it! You cheated!" Upon seeing this, Lu Ming cursed angrily and had no choice but to use Fine Snow to stop Licat's attack.

However, the chilling aura of the fine snow had absolutely no effect on Licat. He simply added his own qi to his weapon and unleashed a fierce sword aura, instantly tearing the chilling aura apart without giving the fine snow even the slightest chance.

As Ricard drew ever closer, Lu Ming gritted his teeth and forcefully swung his crystal rapier, simultaneously unleashing the Farron Quicksword to meet Ricard's attack.

As before, Lu Ming's Farron Swift Sword easily sliced ​​through one of Ricard's longswords. However, his Crystal Rapier missed its target due to Ricard's sudden change of attack, allowing Ricard's longsword to strike Lu Ming's arm instead!

The sword, imbued with a fierce aura, sliced ​​through the arm armor of the Black Knight's armor with relatively little difficulty, leaving a deep wound on Lu Ming's arm! Blood immediately flowed profusely, and he couldn't even hold the crystal rapier, which fell to the ground.

"Seed Machine Gun!" The excruciating pain sent a cold sweat down Lu Ming's back, and his vision blurred. But to avoid being killed by Viscount Hatu's henchmen, Lu Ming forcefully activated the Seed Machine Gun, using the immense power of the seeds to force Ricard back.

"Ha~ha~ha~" Looking at Licarta, who stood in the distance with a relaxed smile, watching him, Lu Ming took a slight breath and then downed a bottle of Elemental Vial and a bottle of Elemental Ash Vial. He healed his injuries and restored his nearly depleted mana.

To be honest, compared to Soul Eater or Black Knight, Ricard may not have as many powerful or effective skills, but he is not an easy opponent either.

"His demeanor has changed!" Just as most of the nobles were cheering for Ricard, Viscount Hatu's daughter suddenly said inexplicably.

"What?" Viscount Hatu was stunned for a moment, then turned his head to look at his daughter.

Viscount Hatu's daughter sighed helplessly and explained to her father and the surrounding nobles, "If before he was unaware of Licat's strength and therefore lacked fear and imposing presence, now he's like a beast cornered, so dangerous that no one dares to approach him!"

"It's nothing more than a cornered beast fighting for its life!" Everyone scoffed at Viscount Hatu's daughter's words, even Viscount Hatu himself didn't believe his daughter's nonsensical ramblings. In their eyes, Licat had already seized absolute control, even Viscount Saldallo, who favored Lu Ming, shared this view.

However, Yusahar, Lily, and Viscount Hatu's daughter, who had realized Lu Ming still possessed a hidden magic, knew that it would be easy for Lu Ming to regain the initiative. Because he had already begun chanting the spell.

"By the blood of wolves, I am a member of the Undead Legion! By the ancient covenant, I summon you! Descendant of the Great Sage of Behem! One of the twin mages! Elder of the Crystal! Come forth with the covenant!"

As the incantation was chanted, countless leaves fell from the large trees in the green belt of the noble district. Drawn by some powerful force, they easily passed through the barrier to the incredulous eyes of the crowd, fluttering around Lu Ming like green tornadoes.

Looking at Lu Ming, who was watching him from inside the green tornado, Likater felt fear for the first time!

He knew that Lu Ming's magic was very strong; although it might not be able to defeat him in one blow, it would be close.

Driven by a desire not to lose, especially not in front of his potential future fiancée, Likat gritted his teeth and unleashed several sword slashes at Lu Ming, hoping to 'kill' him completely before he could cast his magic!

The dark red sword energy, as red as blood, relentlessly tore apart the leaves inside the green tornado, gradually approaching Lu Ming inside.

Seeing this, Yusaha couldn't help but hug Lily, not daring to look at the possibility that Lu Ming might be torn to pieces by the sword energy.

However, just as the sword energy slash was about to hit Lu Ming, a phantom suddenly appeared on Lu Ming's body inside the green tornado, and with a single Farron Swift Sword, it shattered several of Licat's sword energy slashes!

Among the falling leaves, Licat and the others saw the shape of the phantom.

He was a grand mage dressed in a black magic robe, wearing a huge magic hat, and holding a crystal ball!

"This is! The Crystal Elder!!" Upon seeing the phantom that seemed to possess Lu Ming, Lily and Yusaha couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

At that moment, Lu Ming, amidst the scattered leaves, raised his magic wand high and roared, "Soul Frost!!"

The phantom then raised the crystal ball in its hand and shot out a huge chunk of soul energy, which shot straight towards the top of the barrier before exploding into a rain of soul arrows!

Chapter Twenty-Four - Duel Three

The pale blue, fluorescent rain of soul arrows, though not as terrifying as the Crystal Elder's, was, to those who had never seen this spell before, a complete and utter spell of a Grand Magister!

The arrow rain wasn't very dense, effectively blocking Licat's ability to dodge or attack. The only way to deal with it was to forcibly imbue his longsword with his inner energy and shatter these soul arrows one by one.

But Lu Ming wouldn't give him a chance to hold out until the Soul Frost ended. He kicked the crystal slender sword on the ground, caught it, and then, carrying the illusory image of the Crystal Elder, Lu Ming charged towards Likat amidst the gasps of the crowd!

"What!" Likat was shocked to see Lu Ming, accompanied by a phantom, charging towards him and relentlessly shattering the rain of soul arrows falling from the sky, which was intent on destroying everything except Lu Ming, who was protected by the phantom. He saw that in the phantom attached to Lu Ming, a huge Franz razor sword had been extended from Lu Ming's hand, which was holding a crystal rapier.

Unlike the one-time-use Farron Quicksword that Lu Ming conjured, the Farron Quicksword in the phantom's hand is eternal!

As Lu Ming swung his crystal rapier, the phantom wielded its Franz dagger in the same motion, as if the phantom were being controlled by Lu Ming!

With the illusory image of the Crystal Elder in tow, Lu Ming rushed in front of Ricard and slashed at him with sword after sword, forcing Ricard to parry Lu Ming's crystal rapier attacks while dodging the illusory image's Farron Swift Sword.

"Hiss~!" Because he had to block and dodge Lu Ming's attacks, Likat had to focus his attention on Lu Ming. As a result, while retreating and dodging the phantom of the Farron Swift Sword, he was hit by one of the Soul Arrows, leaving a hideous wound on his shoulder.

"This is cheating! This is cheating!" Seeing the pride of the entire city of Paris and Niflheim being suppressed and injured by Lu Ming using the illusory image of the Crystallized Elder whose Soul Frost would not disappear until it ended, most of the nobles below the stage began to demand that the referee declare Lu Ming the loser.

However, none of the truly capable nobles, unlike those lower-ranking nobles, clamored that Lu Ming had cheated.

They could tell that the phantom was merely a magical effect. It wasn't some overprotective archmage trying to trick Ricard.

"This phantom's abilities aren't strong, and the power of that magic sword is almost the same as Lu Ming's own. Likat was just frightened." Of everyone, only Viscount Hatu's daughter and Viscount Saldallo could discern the true extent of the Crystal Elder's phantom's power. Everyone else, even Lily and Yusaha, were deceived by the magic emanating from the phantom.

"So, Lu Ming didn't get stronger, but Likat was just scaring himself?" Upon hearing his daughter's words, Viscount Hatu immediately wanted to remind Likat, but his daughter stopped him.

"Father, do you think Licat still has a chance?"