Someone who will move forward

After hearing the words of the princess, Rave, the captain of the royal knight stepped forward. He drew the light sword from his waist and took a combat stance.

Noah defeated the four royal knights who had been trained since they were little in the kingdom of Elysium and was defeated by a mere boy. And above all, he was the chosen one by the princess.

Rave could not understand a single thing about what was happening. But one thing is obvious, to complete his mission, he must defeat Noah right here and now.

"I don't know what you are using to give him such high praise. But, princess, do you think he'll win against me?"

Rave kicked the ground, rushing toward Noah. He cleaves his sword in a wide arc. The blade of light extended and widened, slicing everything in its path.

Noah bends his body backward to dodge.

"Such immersed power…" Noah muttered.

At one glance and at the damage he did. One would know that it is a different level than the other knights.

Noah made a promise to protect Lumine. And Lumine makes an order like her knight. He's not allowed to be defeated.

"Where did he go?" Rave asked and turned his head behind him immediately and swung his blade.

As he expected, Noah appeared behind him.

"Putting lots of energy on your gear to create more thrust. However, your movement is predictable."

Noah made a last-minute dodge, wheeling his body and slamming down to the ground, rejecting the laws of physics.

He moves so fast downward as if the earth pulls Noah.

Rave immediately changes his aim and slashes down. The concrete road and the store building behind Noah got hacked clean into two pieces.

The shop owner and the people inside turned horrified at what was going on. The same goes for Noah, who barely dodges the last slash by tilting his body.

Noah clenches his fist and throws his fist. Rave's head was so wide open. So close and it's impossible to miss this punch, especially with the gravity reinforcing Noah's fist to move even faster.

"I missed!"

Rave only makes the most slight movement to dodge and counter with an uppercut punch followed by a powerful kick that ends Noah down and eating the soil.

"This is what the princess called the strongest… Laughable… Now, this is your end… ?!——"

The gravity is intensifying… He manipulated gravity to pull me down.

Rave's knee was held down on the ground.

Noah launched to deliver the finishing blow.

"Gravity heavy fist——— Guahh?!"

"Not on my watch kid." The lady knight named Claire kicks Noah away before his punch reaches her boss.

The gravity returned to normal.

Rave extends his light sword and points toward Noah. Noah runs around and the blade follows his every movement.

"I knew we should not have left the weapons earlier. I'm so stupid… I'm so stupid. I should listen to the very pretty, cute, adorable, and everything-nice Princess Lumine… her cleverness is out of this world. Making her a princess among princesses… That's what his face was saying."

"What are you talking about Lumine?!" Noah protested, hearing Lumine mumble.

Noah could pull one of his AoE techniques to intensify the gravity, but if he does, his energy will be limited. If he exhausts himself, he will fall and be unable to move an inch of his body.

A scenario no one wanted. It goes down to taking a risk or not.

If he does want to win, he must defeat the two royal knights in the next five minutes.

Taking action to retreat is an attractive option. Noah could turn his tail away and grab Lumine and blast out of the scene.

Yet, this would cost him his pride as a man and as Lumine's knight. Only men would understand that pride always came to eat men, even in critical times. Also, Lumine wouldn't like it if her chosen knight was a coward.

Noah continues to move around randomly.

Unlike an energy carrier, humans need batteries to charge up their energy weapons. That means the lightsaber Rave uses currently has its battery limits.

Judging by the power he uses, only a few should be left. But Noah can't be at ease. Since Rave is from Elysium, he must have technology that can pack lots of energy into a small battery.

This thought continues to bother Noah as he moves. Claire dashed opposite the light sword and made a pincer.

Noah kicks the ground and leaped high up above the sky.

He doubted that the sword or the lady would raise him high above the clouds.

"I'm losing time… I have to go to my final resort. This is a move my brother taught me a long time ago. It's quite unstable, but this victory is for sure."

Noah held his plan over his head and collected gravitation force around him.

Dark lightning gathered and the air started to tremble.

"I can't breathe properly… Even the air started to become attracted to his gravitational pull. Just what on earth is this man?"

Claire said.

"Bring it on kid." Rave's sword became bigger, three times taller than him, and widened.

"Noah…" Lumine muttered, both hands clenched together praying for his win. "You can do it! You're my knight after all."

A huge black ball of black matter in Noah's hand was thrown down, smashing the royal knights.

——Gravity black Sun!!

Rumbles came flying. The earth trembles as if an earthquake is happening. All residents duck down in fear.

Seconds later, the attack resulted in a huge crater, and the captain of the royal knights, Rave, was lying down, his eyes wide open, defeated.

His sword was shattered to pieces.

"What the hell was that kid?"

Rave asked, looking up at the broad blue sky.

"Everyone was defeated…"

"Look see that? I beat down five opponents on my own, Lumine."

Lumine bounces to hug Noah and celebrate their victory.

"You did very well… You are my knight."

"Good thing I managed to pull back the power of the black sun. Still unstable and unlike my brother's. But this is the result in my mind, so I'm happy."

"What are you saying?"

"Nothing… Well, they'll be knocked out for a while. Let's keep going before they are able to move."

"Sure, but I have to say something to them first."

Lumine walks to the fallen knight and bows her head.

"I'm sorry. All of you came to this world for me… Claire, thank you for sweetly watching me over all this time. All of you saved my life many times. And as far as I know, all of you are strong compared to everyone else. I'm thankful to all of you... Thank you! I grew up well without feeling any sort of loneliness. Soon, I will be an adult and will become a bride to someone else on my own accord… At least give me this opportunity as a gift before I lose my freedom. I'm sorry… I'm very thankful. No matter what. No matter where I go, I will never forget about everyone."

Lumine welled tears fall Claire's cheeks.

Rave, seeing the princess's expression. He started to understand her feelings.

Losing her freedom eventually. Unable to grasp her dream. Being a bird inside a beautiful cage.

Many people think it's great to be a princess, but the cost of being one is everything.

Having your fate already decides the moment you are born. Tragic indeed… That's the fate Lumine had to experience. As a princess of her kingdom.

Noah noticed Rave's hand starting to twitch.

"We have a lot of time we must go now."

Noah held Lumine's hands and they both ran away.

♦♦♦♦♦

"How long are you going to pretend that you're unconscious?"

Rave asked Claire.

"Same question… How long are you going to pretend that you can't move?"

Claire replied.

Rave, get back up and stand up. Claire's question stuck up. "Why did you pretend that you lost him?"

"I don't pretend… That black sun sucked up the light of my lightsaber. Without my weapon how could I defeat him?"

"Still, we should be able to stop him… This is unacceptable."

Claire bit her lips.

"That boy cared about us… In the entire battle his movements were always led away from the civilians. The last attack that pressed us down wasn't in its prime form. One time I saw someone use the same technique. The black sun could destroy anything to bits like a black hole. According to my analysis, that black sun is merely 0.003% of the real one."

"What's the meaning of that? Is it true that he's the strongest man in the world?"

"No, but he had potential. He's an impressive guy and, eventually, I'm sure he'll become a proper knight for our dear princess."