Chapter 342: The Might of Humanity Is Beyond Your Imagination

Chapter 342: The Might of Humanity Is Beyond Your Imagination

Kull was not at all intimidated by the situation. Instead, he politely bowed to Thingol, then smiled and said:

"I come on behalf of the Crown Prince and humanity. In fact, there are mainly two matters I wish to discuss with His Majesty the King.

The first is that I have established an academy in the elven city of Dorsonian, hoping that humans, elves, and dwarves can exchange knowledge within its walls and improve their respective strengths together.

The second matter is a request for the Kingdom of Menegroth to send troops to assist in striking against the Flame Demon Army led by the Flame Demon King and to help rebuild the Angband defense line."

"You human, the two matters you mentioned have already been discussed with me by Angrod and Aegnor, and I have given clear answers.

If you intend to bring them up again, then there is no need.

Considering you were sent by Finrod, I permit you to stay here for a while, and then take some jewels with you as you leave."

Upon hearing Kull's words, Thingol raised his head and laughed. He found what Kull said utterly laughable.

"A mere human, uttering such arrogant words—aren't you going to thank His Majesty for his grace and leave? To even stand within this palace is already your greatest fortune!"

One of the noble heirs stepped forward, pointed at Kull with a scornful look, and rebuked him.

"Ellison, is this your place to speak? Shut your mouth! Or else, when we leave, I'll knock out your other front tooth!"

The moment Galadriel heard someone giving Kull trouble, she arrogantly extended her delicate white fist and threatened him.

Whether Kull was as powerful as her two brothers claimed remained uncertain, but he was at least sent by her elder brother, and she had personally escorted him here. That made him one of her own—how could she allow other elves to bully him?

The noble heir named Ellison was so frightened by her words that he immediately hid behind his father.

"Galadriel, I've only tolerated you because you're a female elf. Don't think I couldn't defeat you."

When Galadriel first came to the kingdom, he had pursued her. However, Galadriel's standard for a mate was that he had to be stronger than her. So he, like many other elves, had challenged her to a duel.

The result? He had one of his front teeth knocked out and both arms dislocated.

"Besides, I wasn't wrong. He's just a human—how dare he even think about exchanging knowledge with us elves? Is he even worthy?"

"This one is called Ellison, right? Have you ever heard of a Snaga from the depths of the pits?"

Kull turned to look at Ellison, his tone turning firm.

He had come representing both Finarfin's and Finrod's lines of elves as well as humanity to seek cooperation and mutual benefit with the Grey Elves, not to beg for favors. There was no need for humility.

Such behavior would only make Thingol and these elven nobles look down on him.

To forge iron, one's hammer must be strong. If he himself was strong enough, there would be no fear of provocation. Responding with strength would yield better results.

In war, allies do not cooperate with you out of pity or because of your humility—they ally with you only because of mutual benefit.

"What's a Snaga from the depths of the pits?"

Ellison was confused.

Kull explained with a smile:

"Snagas are a type of orc. Because they are small and weak, they mostly handle menial labor in the lowest dungeons of Angband.

One day, while delivering food to the prison, a Snaga encountered a captured Noldor elf. He boasted about how great his life was—how he could get seventy percent full every day and wasn't whipped.

But the elf scoffed and told him of the vast lands of Middle-earth beyond the pit, and of the elves' lavish daily lives in Valinor.

Only then did the Snaga realize how narrow his own perspective was."

"Pfft! What an amusing analogy. You truly are an interesting human."

By the throne, the clever Lúthien instantly understood what Kull meant, and couldn't help but laugh aloud.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ellison also finally realized that Kull had been mocking him.

"Human! I challenge you to a duel!"

Ashamed by the humiliation in front of Princess Lúthien, Ellison's face turned bright red. He immediately drew his elven longsword and threw it at Kull's feet.

Thingol, seated on the throne, gazed at Kull coldly and said:

"Human, do you accept Ellison's challenge?

If you refuse, I will regard everything you just said as the bluster of a coward.

We of the Grey Elves' kingdom do not welcome such weaklings. You may leave directly."

The story Kull had just told may have been aimed at Ellison on the surface, but in truth, it had mocked the entire kingdom of the Grey Elves—including Thingol himself.

So naturally, Thingol harbored little goodwill toward Kull.

He very much wanted to see Kull publicly humiliated by Ellison, and then have this arrogant human thrown out of the forest.

"I accept. Don't think humans are weak. The might of humanity is beyond your imagination."

Kull kicked the elven sword on the ground, and with a swift whoosh, it flew precisely back into Ellison's scabbard, making many of the onlookers frown slightly.

This human… seems to have some skill.

In truth, Kull had no such impressive technique for kicking a sword back into its scabbard. His body was indeed strong—but that was strength, not martial prowess or precision control.

Even when he did fight physically, he was more the type to overpower opponents with brute force, rather than technique.

That stylish sword-return move? It had been done using his superpower to control metal.

Not only could he make a sword return to its sheath, but with his current abilities, he could take someone's head from a thousand miles away with a flying blade—not a problem at all.

Inside the great hall, Kull and Ellison stood facing each other.

Two golden-armored elven guards carried over a massive weapon rack. It was filled with all kinds of elven weaponry—elven swords, long spears, bows, hand axes, and more.

"Human, I won't use my current blade, the Sword of Sunrise. Let's both pick weapons of equal quality from this rack and fight a fair duel!"

Ellison tossed aside his elven longsword, which was clearly several grades above the weapons on the rack, and then selected a standard elven sword and bow.

Though the Grey Elves had not basked in the light of the Two Trees and were individually weaker than the Noldor, their years living in the forest had made them superior archers—even beyond the Noldor.

Moreover, Doriath had long been enveloped by the divine power of Melian, so the Grey Elves born here were physically stronger than the Green Elves who never migrated and lived in the far east.

Naturally, they were also much stronger than humans.

"I'm a mage. I don't need a weapon. Choose whatever you like."

Kull smiled.

Though Ellison's words were unpleasant, the man himself wasn't entirely bad. Kull planned to go easy on him, just a little.

(End of Chapter)