Chapter 326

A storm of shock had hit the capital, Arcadia. In that late afternoon, the air inside the colosseum only heated up more as time passed. It wasnt easy for the commoners to see knights spar under usual circumstances, let alone meet one, so the spectators were wildly enthusiastic. The fervor reached a zenith at the end of that bloody fight.

Wow!!!!

Lo-look! One spectators eyes bulged when he noticed something.

The First Battalion Knights, who were known to be some of the best knights, had just finished fighting. The spectators had been smacking their lips disappointedly because the fight came to an end too quickly. But then they saw a young man climbing up to the combat ring alone.

Its the Hero King!

All the spectators turned their heads to look at the man as he moved to the center of the colosseum. He held a snow-white spear that was taller than he was. The audience knew that he was the one who had declared that he was going to become the Emperor before thousands of people. Even before he became twenty, he had accomplished all kinds of great accomplishments that would be recorded in history. He was the blood kin of the Dark Godno, he was one of the former Twelve Superhumans. He was the Hero King, Joshua Sanders.

Woahhhhh!!!!! The crowd roared incomparably louder than before, shaking the sky and ground.

Joshua was already an idol and a god to the commoners. Since he was a bastard of a noble family, he had to eventually die at the hands of his brother, meaning that his life wasnt better than theirs. That was why the spectators felt a sense of kinship toward Joshua, almost as if they had become Joshua himself.

I want to kill him and dig him out of his grave to kill him again Kaizen, the Second Prince, stared down at the sight discontentedly and quietly gritted his teeth. Brother! Are you really going to leave him be?

What am I going to do if I dont? Kiser, the First Prince, asked.

Hes a criminal! Kaizen growled. How can you just let him participate in Berches Bloody Battle?

If you have ears, you must have heard Duke Tremblin saying that the competition should be fair to everyone when he dropped by just now, Kiser quietly replied.

Thats just one mans opinion! Kaizen shouted.

Kiser shrugged. According to the rules, its not a problem.

Huh? Kaizen blinked at his brother, realized that Kiser was paying no attention to what he was saying, and pounded his chest in frustration. This is why even the nobles that oppose you think you are a good person, but you cant even tell that theyre criticizing you

What did you say? Kiser turned to look at Kaizen.

Never mind. Forget it. Having nothing else to say, Kaizen looked away. Sir Triar!

Yes, I am here, Your Highness. A middle-aged man, whose chest plate was clearly engraved with the number two, immediately responded to Kaizens summon.

Which bastard with big guts did you say that is going to go up against Joshua? Kaizen leaned his arm against his chair.

Joshua Sanderss opponent is the current captain of the Auxiliary Battalion, Your Highness, Triar said as he straightened back up.

There are less than a hundred of them now, so Auxiliary Battalion, my ass Kaizen grumbled discontentedly. How are the rest of them doing?

By the rest of them, do you mean? Triar trailed off.

You know those verminno, the knights that were in the Eleventh and Twelfth Battalion before they chose to be on my or my brothers side? Just imagining them made Kaizen frown. Wasnt Joshua Sanders their direct superior in the past? Is there any possibility of them backstabbing us now?

Ah Finally understanding what Kaizen meant, Triar nodded. Theyre already your men, Your Highness.

Are you sure? Kaizen narrowed his eyes.

Yes, Im sure, Your Highness, Triar repeated.

Youd better be so sure that youre willing to bet your life on that, Sir Triar. If they actually backstab us later, your life-long goal will become just an empty dream, Kaizen coldly warned him. Triar tensed up a bit because he knew what Kaizen meant.

The next Knight-Commander He unconsciously clenched his fists into tight balls. While Joker, the Captain of the First Battalion, served the First Prince, Triar, the Captain of the Second Battalion, served the Second Prince. Although Valmont dun Brown had been considered the most promising candidate for the next Knight-Commander, he had cooped himself up in a mountain to train himself.

By the time he returned, this old feud between the brothers would probably come to an end. A variable named the Hero King had appeared, but Triar was sure that Joshua would not be able to do anything on his own since physical strength alone didnt make one politically influential. In the end, depending on which prince got the throne

The next Knight-Commander will be decided, Triar concluded.

With shining eyes, Triar bowed.

Ill check again so there wont be any problem.

Ill trust you, Kaizen said, his eyes locked onto Joshua.

Yes, Your Highness. And there is a matter that I have to report.

Report? Kaizen wondered, looking at Triar

Triar approached Kaizen and quietly whispered into his ear, Weve received a reply from the Magic Tower regarding the authenticity of the imperial seal.

What? Kaizen exclaimed in surprise but soon quieted his voice just like Triar. They sent back a reply that fast?

Yes, they say theyll send people to authenticate the seal within a week, Triar hesitantly reported. And the current Tower Master himself is going to visit the Imperial Palace

The To-Tower Master himself? Kaizens eyes widened into twin moons.

Triar nodded. Two of the Seven Magesthe new Ice Mage and the current Earth Magewill also come to the Imperial Palace to assist the Tower Master.

Such high-ranking wizards are going to come to check one little object? Kaizens jaw dropped.

That one little object is the imperial seal that symbolizes this empire. Triar shrugged.

Ah, **. I saw it coming, but Kaizen groaned. If thats true, then isnt it just a matter of time before the other countries hear about this?

It was expected from the start, Triar calmly replied.

Does my brother know about this? Kaizen asked, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

The first wizard to receive the reply from the Magic Tower is on His Highness Kisers side, Triar bitterly answered. The implications of that were blindingly obvious to Kaizen.

That sly fox Kaizen gritted his teeth. He felt Kiser glaring at him just then, so he quickly changed the topic. Keep an eye on this matter, Sir Triar. We must get the real seal, no matter which seal turns out to be the real one.

Yes, sir. Triar nodded.

And Kaizen was about to give additional instruction, but the crowds thunderous shout deafened him and drowned out any possibility of further discussion.

They had been eagerly waiting for this moment, so they shouted just as loud as they had for Joshuas entrance into the arena.

The Hero Kings opponent is coming out!

Who is it? Most people wont be able to hold up for even seconds.

I heard he is a high-ranking captain in the Knights Templar.

Huh? Would he be enough to fight the Hero King? Even the Knight-Commander, Rod, isnt certain that he can defeat the Hero King, right?

Well, it doesnt matter who the opponent is since commoners like us wont be able to see this kind of fight more than once in our lifetimes.

From where Joshua stood in the center of the arena, he was able to pick out the commoners' conversation through the roar coming from the spectators, but when he saw his opponent enter the arena

Thats? Joshuas jaw dropped slightly when he saw a familiar physique and even more familiar clothes.

The man, armed to the teeth, marched to twenty footsteps away from Joshua. His silver armor, covered by a red cloak, clanged against the rest of his gear as he walked. He raised his sword vertically and looked intently at Joshua through the tightly shut visor of his helmet.

It is my honor to meet the Superhuman that is famous around the continent, the man said.

Joshuas eyes slightly widened.

Youre

Their surroundings were deafeningly noisy, but the mans voice was so clear that it felt like he was speaking right next to Joshua.

Let me formally introduce myself first. The man slowly opened up the helmets visor. I am currently leading the Eleventh and Twelfth Battalion of the Imperial Knights Order as the Captain of the Auxiliary Battalion I am Cazes Marahas.

It is you. Joshua nodded.

Long time no see, Captain. Cazes bowed very politely.

It really is you, Joshua repeated.

We dont need to talk any further, right?

His next move was surprising. He pointed his sharp-edged sword at Joshua without hesitation, but Joshua didnt look surprised at allin fact, Joshua looked content for some reason.

The spearman felt mixed emotions. It was the first time hed held a spear since he had revealed himself in the Human Realm, and the first person he was going up against was perfect.

Im sorry, Joshua quietly said.

Im not here to hear your apology, Cazes coldly mumbled. Hold your spear up.

There was no need for them to talk any further as one fight was enough for them to have a sincere conversation. Exchanging words a hundred times was unnecessary. Cazes had been desperately waiting for this day to come. Hed swung his swords so many times that his hand bled and he could make a river with the sweat he shed. Now was the time to show the fruit of Cazess effort to the man he respected more than anyone else in the world. In his heart, he exclaimed, This is how much I have been waiting for Joshua!

I know Im being rude, but Im going to test you this time to see if youre really the Captain Joshua Sanders that I know and to check if your skills have decreased over time. Since I havent stayed idle in the meantime I think Im entitled to do this.

A loud, resonating sound made the air shake, and at the same time, brought a faint smile to Joshuas lips.

A blue layer of energy slowly enveloped Cazes sword: it was the complete form of Aura Blade, a feat dubbed The Knights Dream.

You must have gone through a lot, Joshua quietly noted.

Despite Joshuas short answer, Cazes felt like he had been rewarded for all the hardships he went throughbut still, he couldnt show it.

Im not going to go easy on you, Cazes firmly declared.

Joshua nodded.

Okay.

Im serious, Cazes said, narrowing his eyes.

Im not counting on you going easy on me. Joshua shrugged.

Im not good at controlling my power, so please be careful, Cazes warned him.

Joshua broke into a deep smile.

I think

Cazes tilted his head in confusion.

...I think I should be the one who says that, Joshua finished with an unrestrained grin.

Cazes flinched.

Or do I have to make you remember?

Thats right, Cazes quietly mumbled, and tightened his grip on the sword. I apologize for crossing the line, so Ill also do my best from now on.Ne/w novel chaptrs are published on no/vel(/bin(.)co/m

After he finished speaking, Cazes sprang forward as quickly as he could, throwing the air into chaos around him. At the same time, the flame of Aura on his sword fiercely blazed and soared toward Joshua as if it was going to swallow himor even everything in the world.

The moment he focused on his opponent and forgot about everything else, Cazes felt like everything around him stopped. He only had one chance to pour out his everything. After finally coming up close to Joshua, Cazes held his sword up high.

Ill cut him!

However Cazes couldnt achieve his goal in the end.

Wind? Cazes mumbled dumbfoundedly when the whooshing warned him that something was wrong.

At the same time, he heard a clear clash of metal and felt the weight in his hand become suddenly lighter. When he lowered his head, he saw that his sword had been broken into two pieces. Those pieces dropped to the ground and the Aura Blade, which could cut iron like paper, also dissipated.

Cazes had put everything he had into that one attack, but one counterattack was enough to nullify it. He wasnt sure when or how Joshua moved; however, did that fact hurt Cazess pride? No way! He couldnt hold down the euphoria that was overwhelming his body, such that he could only stand there for a moment, trembling.

Can I ask you one thing? he slowly ventured.

Yes, you can. Joshua nodded.

Am Ino, are we still your men, Captain? Or Cazes couldnt finish speaking, so he looked at the ground.

Joshua carefully picked his words.

Im

Cazes slowly raised his head.

Im not sure if you can believe meno, Im not sure if I have the right to say this. Joshua looked straight into Cazess eyes But I never forgot about you and the other knights.

Cazess eyes reddened.

Was that enough of an answer? Joshua asked.

Yes, Cazes replied, quietly holding his clenched fist against his chest, thats enough.

Chapter end