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Chapter 160: Twilight Requiem
🕑 Added 2025-01-13 02:28:32 +0000 UTCZolman was a Level Fifteen Knight and had earned five of the Knight Proofs: Proof of Glory, Proof of Courage, Proof of War, Proof of the Hill, and Proof of the Earth.
Zolman was not a man of his word, which was why he never obtained the Proof of Oath. As a loyal subject of Lady Nancella, he had been dedicated to the cause of national restoration, tirelessly fighting in his homeland. He had never seen the ocean, and thus lacked the Proof of the Sea. Nor had he ever experienced a storm, so he did not possess the Proof of the Storm.
Despite these omissions, Zolman remained a formidable knight. His body radiated South Seraph's most renowned Flame Combat Energy, which surged around him like a burning aura. The knight’s lance in his hand emanated a fierce white brilliance.
As a famous high-ranking Transcendent and a revered figure, Zolman’s duel with the rising military prodigy Charlot Mecklenburg had garnered significant attention—not only from the South Seraph restorationists and the West Wind Knight Order but also from the people of Mostar Castle.
At that moment, the battlements of Mostar Castle were crowded with spectators. Belisa, standing beside the Duchess, looked down at the two young men dueling below. A sudden warmth filled her heart. Although Charlot had also rejected her, she could not help but feel a sliver of affection for this extraordinary young man.
Charlot was unlike anyone Belisa had ever encountered, and this novelty intrigued her.
As Charlot and Zolman began their duel, few noticed that Hughes had quietly left the battlefield. He returned to his camp and swiftly led an elite unit out of the area.
By sheer coincidence, Belisa, while engrossed in the duel, caught a fleeting glimpse of Hughes leaving.
Although Belisa had failed to leave a good impression on Charlot, her status as Mostar Castle’s most admired young lady among the local gentlemen was no accident. She was no fool. A girl without substance would never have earned a position by the Duchess’s side.
Belisa glanced around the battlements and saw that almost all the prominent nobles of the castle had gathered to watch the duel. A thought suddenly struck her, causing her heart to skip a beat: “What if Lady Nancella launches an attack on the castle?”
She wanted to share her suspicion with the Duchess but hesitated, fearing the Duchess’s strict demeanor. If her conjecture proved wrong, she would face severe punishment. Turning to High Priest Auguslatin was out of the question. Ever since his arrival, the High Priest had shown nothing but lecherous interest, even requesting a few handsome young men from the Duchess. The mere thought of Auguslatin made Belisa shudder.
What if the High Priest demanded her? Belisa knew all too well that her status as a mere maid, however favored, would not be enough for the Duchess to offend a Saint-rank High Priest on her behalf—especially in the current precarious state of Mostar Castle, which relied heavily on Auguslatin’s protection.
Seeking help from Baron Febollet was equally futile. Belisa detested the Emperor’s brother-in-law and doubted his competence as a military leader.
“If Lady Nancella attacks the castle while everyone is engrossed in the duel, there will be no defense. I need to find allies.”
“Allies…”
“They must be outside the castle.”
Belisa took a few steps back, sprinted to a deserted section of the wall, and leaped over it like a bird. She was a Transcendent, though she rarely displayed her abilities.
...
Charlot and Zolman’s battle reached a climax right from the start. Charlot’s swordsmanship was swift and unpredictable, while Zolman’s knight’s lance was unrelenting and unparalleled in its ferocity. The lance emitted intense white brilliance—a manifestation of combat energy, akin to Charlot’s Blade of Emptiness.
Charlot possessed several extraordinary abilities. His mastery of Arsilo Swordsmanship had reached the Seventh Movement: The Obscurity of All Things. Though slightly at a disadvantage, he held his ground, exchanging over twenty blows as the battle expanded its range.
Charlot deliberately drew the fight into a “skirmish” style. His Blood Glory was not as robust as Zolman’s combat energy, but with techniques like Swiftstep Technique, Spider Technique, and Wings of the Young Dragon, his speed was unrivaled. As long as he avoided a decisive confrontation, he could prolong the fight indefinitely.
This strategy stemmed from countless duels with Hughes in the dream realm, honing Charlot’s battle experience.
Although Zolman’s Transcendent rank surpassed Hughes’s, his actual combat prowess fell short. He was powerless against Charlot’s evasive tactics and scoffed, “Is that all you’ve got? Fight like a man! This jumping around only makes your death more pitiful.”
Charlot ignored the taunt, contemplating the best move to end the fight while concealing his deadliest techniques.
The most powerful cards were reserved for Hughes.
...
Meanwhile, Honey Bear, Yellow Bear, Anastasia, Gwen, and Bancroft were watching the duel. Suddenly, a girl came running toward them.
Belisa reached the group and shouted, “Lady Nancella’s forces might be planning to attack Mostar Castle while everyone is distracted by the duel. Will anyone help me?”
Honey Bear, Yellow Bear, Gwen, and Bancroft, all loyal to Charlot, refused as one: “We must stay and defend Mr. Mecklenburg’s position. We cannot leave the duel.”
Although disheartened, Belisa persisted, “If Lady Nancella’s forces attack, the castle will fall! The Duchess and everyone inside will die. Please help me!”
They refused again. However, Anastasia took a deep breath and said, “I will help.”
Overjoyed, Belisa replied, “I’ll lead you. I saw the direction their troops are moving.”
Anastasia turned to Honey Bear and Yellow Bear, saying, “I must check. If Lady Nancella is truly attacking, I have to stop her.”
Honey Bear, effectively the decision-maker in Charlot’s absence, nodded and said, “Go quickly and return swiftly. If there’s no sign of an attack, say nothing upon your return.”
Though skeptical of Lady Nancella’s intentions, he agreed to cover for Anastasia.
Belisa and Anastasia gathered a small combat team and hurried away.
...
Despite Zolman’s superiority in rank, Charlot managed to endure over fifty exchanges before beginning to falter.
With a flurry of rapid strikes, Charlot attempted to create an opening. He was no “knight” bound by rules; the duel had no restriction against unconventional tactics. After clashing several times between his Blood Rose and Zolman’s knight’s lance, a cold surge suddenly coursed through his body.
The result of Charlot’s arduous training surfaced—a breakthrough in the Angel’s Twelve Movements. Previously elusive, the technique now carried a faint sense of melancholy. With each clash, the white brilliance of Zolman’s lance diminished slightly.
The Eighth Movement: Twilight Requiem.
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