The Fourth Duel — Wind Against Wind
The sands of the Arena swirled as the horns signaled the start of the day's final, fourth clash! The crowd held its breath as two wind‑element swordsmen stepped onto the battlefield.
On the left stood David, Captain of the Green Hawk Knights, the Twinblade, with two short swords in his hands. At twenty‑eight, he had survived countless battles, but now faced an opponent who had risen to the level of legend.
On the right stood Andrea Wolf, the seventeen‑year‑old female Wolf Knight. The crowd already knew: her previous opponents had either lost their arms or dared not even approach her. Would even a Captain fall prey to the storm's fury?
The referee's flag dropped.
"Let the clash of the wind element blades begin!"
Andrea charged at David with lightning speed. Her movement was so fast that the crowd could barely see their strikes—only the howl of wind and the clash of steel rang out.
A moment later, David fell to one knee.
The spectators gasped: had the Wolf Knight's strike landed?
David's Inner Thoughts
"I barely managed to block her strike, even though I defended with both blades. One of my swords was nearly cut in half. The wind element is stronger than mine," he sighed inwardly.
"It was a single, beautiful strike. This girl has already surpassed the level of a Captain. And now she circles me slowly, like a cat stalking a mouse."
David's eyes darkened as memories of his hunting past flashed before him.
"I am a hunter. Since I first learned to walk, I have hunted. I know exactly what situation I'm in now. This is like a rabbit facing a wolf, with nowhere left to run."
The crowd watched tensely as Andrea circled David, her eyes gleaming with a wild light.
"I only hope I live long enough to see Floralys in a maid's outfit. So this is what it feels like when you're no longer the hunter, but the prey," David thought, gripping his remaining sword tightly.
The sands of the Arena swirled as Andrea Wolf charged once more at David, Captain of the Green Hawk Knights. The power of the wind elements clashed like thunder, and the crowd gasped at the resounding crash.
David fell to his knees. Both of his swords shattered, fragments sparking across the sand. Blood seeped across the Captain's chest, slowly staining his armor.
"If I hadn't sacrificed my blades to soften the blow, it would have been me cut in two, not my swords…" he thought as his strength faded.
David, the Twinblade, collapsed. The referee's flag dropped, and the crowd cried out as one:
"The victor—the female Wolf Knight, Andrea!!!"
Andrea's eyes burned with wild light as she looked down at him.
"That's what you get for trying to put the Young Wolf in a maid's outfit! Hm… I wonder what he would look like dressed as one?" she mused, a faint smile on her lips.
The healers rushed to the fallen Captain. The cut was precise, not life‑threatening. David would recover after treatment—and his arms would remain intact.
In the Royal Box
Floralys Greenwood sighed as she turned to Andras.
"I lost the wager. So I'll be a maid, won't I?"
Andras Wolfwood's eyes gleamed with mischief.
"There will be three days of rest before the semifinals. I'm busy on the first day—how about the second?"
Floralys blushed slightly, but answered with a smile.
"Should I bring my own maid outfit?"
"No," Andras replied, his eyes shining seriously. "You'll wear one of Noelle's dresses, so the two of you look alike."
Floralys laughed, her voice tinged with playful annoyance.
"I see—you planned this all out in advance."
In the Wolf Knights' Locker Room
Andrea entered slowly, her steps light with the ease of fresh victory. Her sword was already sheathed, her armor unmarked by even a scratch. Noelle immediately approached, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"I suppose you don't need healing?" she asked, her hand half‑raised as if ready to cast a spell at any moment.
"No," Andrea replied calmly. "Not a single scratch."
Anita leapt from the bench, her eyes flashing angrily.
"That's not fair! You defeated a Knight Captain without even using Wild Mode! Your natural talent pisses me off so much sometimes!"
Andrea answered serenely, a faint smile in her voice.
"If it makes you feel better, I'll have to use it against Christina."
Anita's eyes darkened, her tone heavy.
"Damn it… Will I even stand a chance against the Hero then?"
Noelle stepped closer, her voice as encouraging as ever.
"Just give it everything you've got! Don't worry—as long as your heart beats, I can heal you."
Anita laughed bitterly.
"And what if the Hero takes my head off?"
Andrea's eyes flashed seriously, though her voice remained calm.
"If anyone, the Hero won't aim for your neck. But defend yourself properly—don't end up truly losing your head."
Noelle burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
Anita stared at her in shock.
"Did you just make a pun? That's a bad omen…"
For a moment, silence filled the locker room. Then all three of them smiled. Amidst the tension, the fear, and the looming weight of the semifinals, these lighthearted moments were what truly bound the Wolf Knights together.
The Royal Knightly Tournament — The Quarterfinals End
The quarterfinals of the Royal Knightly Tournament had come to a close. The sand had already swallowed the marks of clashing blades, yet the crowd still buzzed with the thrill of the battles they had witnessed. The names of the victors now burned on every tongue: the Hero, Eris Scarlett; the two Wolf Knights, Andrea Wolf and Anita the Whirlwind; and Christina Silverwood, Captain of the Silver Knights.
The semifinal pairings were thus decided:
• Eris Scarlett, the Hero — Anita, the Whirlwind
• Christina Silverwood — Andrea Wolf
In three days, the Arena would roar again, and this time the King himself would sit in the royal box to witness the greatest clashes of all.
The First Day of the Three‑Day Respite
Yet life in the city did not pause. The Wolf Knights and their allies each spent the respite in their own way.
The Young Wolf, Andras Wolfwood, tended to his secret duties as shadow‑lord of the southern slums. The children greeted him with joy, for he was accompanied by Ironclaw—at once a fearsome hunter and a playful companion to the little ones. Peace reigned once more in the slums, and everyone knew: as long as those two were there, none would dare harm the poor.
Preparing for the Semifinals
Anita and Andrea trained together for the upcoming semifinals. The clash of their blades filled the training hall, and the power of the wind elements stirred a storm around them. Andrea practiced calmly, with discipline, while Anita fought furiously, determined to push beyond her own limits. With them was Noelle, watching every movement, ready to heal instantly should the girls push their training too far.
Meanwhile, Carla, Christina, and Floralys spent the day in the city. Laughter, relaxation, and lighthearted conversation accompanied them, as though the weight of the looming semifinals did not exist for a moment. In the bustle of the marketplace, the noise of taverns, and the elven‑favored groves, they sought refuge from the tension of the battles to come.
The city itself held its breath, awaiting the semifinals that would begin in three days. The Royal Knightly Tournament Arena would once again resound with cheers, the clash of blades, and the decisive duels that would determine who advanced to the finals—and who would prove worthy to challenge the Hero.