Paul Blandelli

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Knight faced knight.

The knight firmly gripping the platinum-gold holy sword faced the knight holding the bright silver longsword. The valiant yet still charming young maiden faced the incomparably handsome middle-aged knight.

An invisible battle of wills waged between them. No one attempted a rash attack, nor did anyone intend to give up just like that. They were focused, channeling all their energy towards their opponent and the sharp sword in their own hand.

The honor of a knight, the loyalty of a subordinate, made it impossible for either of them to accept defeat, unwilling to fail. An incredibly solemn atmosphere enveloped this newly built, extravagantly luxurious grand hall.

The two stood firmly on the crimson carpet, its origin unknown, but undoubtedly incomparably expensive. They both maintained perfectly flawless stances, just as they would in training, capable of seizing any opportunity for a swift attack, yet also properly defending against the opponent's assault.

Each one was attempting to find a loophole created by a momentary lapse in the other's concentration, but both were unsuccessful. Liliana and Paul alike were individuals who had undergone decades of knightly training and had traversed countless battlefields. Even if Liliana was slightly more inexperienced, she would not make such a childish mistake. The pain endured through countless training sessions had long since transformed this young girl into a war machine. Whether on the battlefield, in a dueling arena, or even in ordinary sparring, she would exert her full strength, holding nothing back.

The word 'underestimation' had long been erased from her consciousness. Countless failures, countless pains, had ensured she was no longer that incredibly naive young girl. At this moment, she was a knight, a knight loyal to her lord, a knight fighting for her loyalty and honor!

And Paul, naturally, was the same. His solid muscles, as if carved from stone, were neither tense nor relaxed; he constantly kept himself in the optimal posture for striking. Even though a young girl stood before him, he would absolutely not make the mistake of underestimating her. This wasn't because of his weakness, nor because of his cowardice, but simply because he was a paragon of knighthood; no matter what kind of opponent he faced, he would treat them with utmost respect, and then thrust the sharp sword in his hand into the enemy's chest!

Gilgamesh leaned back comfortably on the throne made of gold and gemstones, watching the two, who were clashing invisibly, with a somewhat interested expression. Even a knightly duel of such a high level was merely an amusing pastime for this Oldest King. In the Age of Gods, when gods and humans lived together, no matter how powerful a warrior was, they were not considered rare. Even demigods or children of gods possessed strength far exceeding the peak of this world, the so-called power of Godslayers.

And at this moment, Gilgamesh, rather than appreciating this battle concerning the honor of these two, was more so just passing his own boredom. The reason was simple: of the two present, regardless of who, if Gilgamesh had the slightest inclination, he could instantly obliterate them with a casual gesture. As for Liliana's transformation into a Heroic Spirit and Paul's 'Sacred Annihilation Formula,' they were not worth mentioning to Gilgamesh.

So, at this moment, the King of Heroes was appreciating this duel with such an utter lack of reverence.

And the two present were not casually moving about like in the duels depicted in books. They maintained a fixed posture, a posture most perfect for themselves, yet most troublesome for the enemy. The charming young maiden and the valiant middle-aged man were both constantly adjusting their state. Such a contest of endurance was also a huge burden for them. For them, even a momentary lapse, given their speed, meant the distance of several meters could be covered in an instant. Any single mistake could decide the outcome of this duel.

However, there was also a decisive difference between the two. The young maiden, a Heroic Spirit, no matter how weak, was still a fantastical being called a Heroic Spirit. No matter how firm Paul's muscles, no matter how tough his bones, no matter how long-lasting his breath, none of this held any meaning before a Heroic Spirit. Heroic Spirits felt no fatigue, whether mental exhaustion or physical weariness; it was constantly swept away by the power of legend.

So, if this continued, Paul would likely be at a disadvantage.

Sure enough, half an hour later, Paul's shoulder trembled ever so slightly. Even if it was just a slight tremble, it was noticed by Liliana. And in the next moment, Liliana, having perceived this, struck out with her sword without hesitation. She didn't even pause to think for a fraction of a second, or rather, there was no time for her to think. The enemy's opening was right before her; if she didn't strike now, what awaited her would probably be her own defeat.

That holy sword, like a steel arrow shot from a powerful crossbow, was incomparably sharp, incredibly swift, carrying an unparalleled might as it pierced towards Paul's body.

However, seeing this, Paul showed not a trace of panic. Instead, a tiny smile and a slightly relieved expression appeared on his exceptionally handsome face, as resolute as a marble slab.

As expected, decisively lacking in experience. A faintly pleased sigh echoed in Paul's mind. Merely showing a slight opening had easily drawn her in. Although Paul had also intentionally created a solemn atmosphere for this duel, giving the opponent the illusion that both were absolutely upright and honorable. However, the mistake Liliana had made was irreparable.

At this moment, Liliana, seeing Paul instantly readjust his posture, couldn't help but show a look of terror. This naive young girl, who believed in others, now understood what had happened. But, at this point, retracting her sword was already unrealistic. The chance for victory was to continue pressing forward!

The young girl, without a trace of hesitation, continued to exert her strength, attempting to decide this duel directly with this powerful attack.

Truly naive! Paul thought, then raised his beloved sword. His rock-solid muscles had already begun to bulge slightly. Immense power, combined with the magical energy belonging to a knight, enveloped the sharp knightly longsword. And the young girl's continued exertion, on the contrary, made him sigh even more. The more one used their full strength, even if the destructive power was greater, even if it was harder for the enemy to withstand, it also made it much harder to change moves!

Thus, a hearty smile appeared on the middle-aged knight's face.

This victory, I shall accept with gratitude!