[777] – Y03.077 – Vonda of East Lake IV

[777] – Y03.077 – Vonda of East Lake IV

Sir William could feel an aura emanate from the half elf ahead of him. The young man stood tall, his stance open, the axe pointed towards him, as though inviting William to step forward. There was definitely an arrogance within the young man, who was so eager to face William.

William had to be careful. The young man wasn’t the easiest person to face, as he had certainly put in a good showing. Jurot was quite the terror, but if Adam was of roughly similar strength, then he was in quite some trouble. For some reason, Adam was picking a fight with him, meaning he couldn’t just keel over, not in front of all the nobles.

‘God damn nobles and their god damn egos and their god damn stupid games,’ Adam thought, sending out his displeasure into the world.

Battle Order

D20 + 1 = 21 (20)

Adam’s entire body had been ready to spring into action, and though he could have forced his way forward, he decided against it. His body was still taut from his anger, and was there a need to finish everything so quickly like his brother? No. One strike, one kill, that was Jurot’s claim to fame within this area, so he would leave that to his brother.

“Sir William,” Adam called, the young warrior tensing up, preparing to meet in a clash of steel with the half elf. “You can have the first swing.” Adam held out his axe slightly towards the side, as though ready to embrace the young knight.

“...” William could feel the intense pressure still emanating from the half elf, but something else began to rise within his own body. This half elf had provoked him too much.

William’s body burst forward, meeting Adam’s challenge. His blade clashed against Adam’s shield, the young half elf having given up the first blow, though hadn’t chosen the path of defencelessness against his foe. William’s steel crashed against Adam’s steel, magical or otherwise, but he found no purchase against the half elf. His blade only managed to slip across the axe, or glance off the side of the rounded edges of the armour, clattering against the red shield which had once been so synonymous with death decades ago.

Jurot watched the fight with his arms crossed, standing slightly in front of Dunes and Vonda, who stood to his left. He watched as his brother defended against William’s blows, the young warrior’s blade held within both hands, and would have dealt crippling blows to him but a few years ago.

‘Quickly, William, put him out of his misery,’ the Baron thought, having deluded himself. He had seen the terror known as Purple Adam, but of course there was one reason or another as to why the half elf had won previously. With his connection to the Duchess, perhaps that was how he had managed to reach third place, ignoring the fact the young half elf hadn’t met the Duchess until after the tournament.

William stepped forward, letting out a soft exhaled, swinging his blade wildly, threatening to bisect Adam at the waist, before a shield rocked his blow aside. He inhaled deeply, forcing his body forward, pushing through his limits to force his body to continue its assault, swinging his blade with greater desperation. He just needed to land a single clean blow, just to wind the half elf, before he could press forward. It was easy to shatter a blade once it had been chipped.

Yet, as William continued to step forward, forcing himself to strike at the young half elf, he only managed glancing blows off the puthral armour and crimson shield. Adam’s defensive posture had forced William’s blows to entirely miss him, even though the young warrior would have no doubt have struck him several times if he hadn’t been solely focused on defence.

Defence: 25

It was already hard enough for someone to strike him with such a high Defence, but with Adam focused solely on defending himself rather than attacking his opponent, it was even harder. The chance of William striking Adam was less than one in ten for every blow. Even as an Expert who could push through his limits, the chance of striking Adam was only one in three.

Even if he did manage to land a decent blow against Adam’s armour, Adam had a certain ability in his back pocket which all but made it so that it was all but his own choice when to be struck by the young warrior.

Already, William could feel how heavy his blade had become, his shaking hands growing numb from smashing his magical blade against puthral ineffectively. The wall known as Adam was higher than he imagined, with Adam’s pressure pressing down against his shoulders.

William’s heart pounded as he felt the bones in his arms shatter, or so he thought from how fierce Adam’s blows were. The first strike winded him, the young knight barely able to contain the blow with his magical sword, before the second blow struck against his side, bruising his side, but also splitting skin with ice and holy magic.

“Gah!” William let out a shout, threatening to fall, and as he swung his blade mightily, he heard Adam’s sharp inhale.

Dunes let out a sigh, muffled by William’s fall. ‘...’ Dunes glanced towards the nobles, wondering what they had done to their Executive to anger him this much.

Baron Barthold’s eyes widened a touch, but he remained standing tall and resolute. His heart pound wildly in his chest, watching as a warrior, who was skilled for his age, and well known across the land as quite a prodigy, fell so easily to a damn leaf ear.

“Stand, by Mother Soza’s virtue,” came the chant, Vonda’s amulet glowing, before the young knight jolted awake on the ground.

Adam marched his way beside Jurot, letting out a heavy sigh, his entire body still tense.

“Okay?” Jurot asked.

“Yeah,” Adam replied. “I’m okay.”

Jurot could still hear how Adam was restraining his voice, the young half elf still breathing heavily, inhaling and exhaling thoroughly. Adam continued to stare ahead, ignoring the nobles behind him.

‘These fu-,’

“Executive Adam,” Vonda called.

Adam exhaled, as though he had been struck by a javelin through his side. He pulled off his helmet, revealing his red face, which was slowly growing less annoyed. “Yes, Manager Vonda?”

“Thank you.” Vonda’s eyes sparkled with gratitude, her eyes revealing the truest smile.

Adam flushed a little redder. “Any time.”

The romance blooms.

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