"What's this, what's this? You're not Alan. Are you trying to make me fight Alan? My gut is telling me Alan is right here!"
Grandmaster faces off against Guis.
"Grandmaster, why are you here?!"
The next to speak was Enrique, who had emerged alongside Guis.
"You, Enrique! You knew where Alan was hiding and kept it from me! I'll punish you later!"
"That's not what I'm asking about! There's no need to attack the duchy!"
"I didn't attack anything. That butler over there said no one passes through here, so I just gave him a greeting as a warm-up exercise. He was a little strong, and I ended up having a bit too much fun."
"Your outrage against my duchy cannot simply be forgiven. You will pay the price!"
"Oh? I'm looking forward to that!"
"Arise, Valkyrie!"
Guis activated his own skill, [Royal Servant].
A divine realm maiden of war is summoned amidst light pouring down from the heavens.
The veteran warrior stands protectively in front of Ward, her sword held at the ready without a moment's lapse in attention.
"Oh, so that's a Royal Skill! Royalty rarely shows them off. I only came to see the power of this so-called Alan, but today is a good day. I smell a powerful fighter! Now, show me your strength!"
"Go! Defeat my enemy!"
The Valkyrie follows that command and charges at Grandmaster.
Grandmaster's qi-clad fist meets the Valkyrie's sword on equal footing, sending sparks flying.
Fist and sword cross countless times.
The Valkyrie's slashes are deflected by the qi-infused fist, while the fist's strikes are evaded by the Valkyrie's blade.
But as the exchange wore on, the Valkyrie's movements began to lose their edge.
The Valkyrie, fighting on the Duke's mana as fuel, shouldn't have been capable of fatigue, yet with each clash the Duke's mana was being consumed at a rapid pace.
"No way... the[Fist God]is actually on this level...?"
Geese broke into a cold sweat watching the Valkyrie gradually being pushed back.
At this level of strength, if the Grandmaster had been serious, Ward would already be dead.
The Duke wasn't just sitting idle in his chair, either.
If he didn't demonstrate his own strength, his subordinates wouldn't follow him — so the Duke himself never neglected his daily training.
"Hmm... a bit strong, are we? Then can you withstand my perfected strike!? Destruction!!"
The Grandmaster wrapped his fist in black fighting spirit and unleashed a devastating blow.
That blow shattered the Valkyrie's sword, and without halting its momentum, annihilated her body and sent her back to the divine realm.
The Grandmaster, having thrown his punch,
smirked
contemptuously.
"Well, well. That was about right. My body's warmed up now. Time to bring out Alan."
◇◇◇
Alan had been using the[Existence Concealment]skill to hide and watch the battle between the Valkyrie and the Grandmaster.
That thing — it's temporarily bringing down a servant of God, isn't it?
Its strength is... Mist could take it.
It's plenty strong, though, Lord Duke.
Geese himself stepped up for the Duke family's honor, but going up against the[Fist God]was always going to put him at a disadvantage.
Ah, the Valkyrie has disappeared.
I felt like Geese was subtly signaling me not to interfere, so I didn't do anything, but this is looking pretty bad now.
I was the one being targeted in the first place, so I have to help Geese.
This is entirely that bearded guy's fault for egging on the Marquis's grudge.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Phantom Thief Gentleman][Dark Magic][Rock Iron Magic][Holy Magic][Space-Time Magic][Scorching Heat Magic][Frozen Ice Magic][Magic Hand][Seduction][Pain Relief][Complete Status Ailment Resistance][Fire Spirit's Protection][Phantom Demon][Gale Thunder][Dark Spirit's Protection][Bizarre Strength][Thunder God Sword][Lucky][Clear Storm Magic][Humility][Heaven's Gate][Ninja Master][Eloquence][Seeker of Truth][Abyss Whisper][Super Intuition][Spear God][Fist God]
Rank: Orichalcum
Thank you always for reading😊