The Villain's Story

Chapter 693: [693]Kizmal(5)

He did not believe them at first, but when he noticed the changes each of them had, as well as what [Mana Sense] was telling him, he had too...

He had no choice but too. ”So...”

Alan took a deep breath, carefully analyzing each one of them. ”Everyone had a yearʼs worth of training, due to Azmakul casting a time-slowing spell... And you trained in what you were good at?”

All of them, besides Maxwell, nodded in unison. ”It was only a week for me, though. Trust me, even I thought the cold had done something to them.”

Maxwell let out a chuckle as Alan sighed, his expression had changed. It was not of doubt, but of disappointment. ”You all went through a year of training, specialized training, I might add, and yet you only improved that much...?” ”What do you mean?”

Alice expressed her confusion. ”I had that goblin fill my head with everything about alchemy, It drove me insane!” ”Iʼm not talking about you, itʼs great that you learned a lot about it, same goes for Emma. You two arenʼt combatants...but Olivia and Edward? You guys didnʼt even improve much.”

It was...true. Alexander was already strong enough before all this training, Alan expected him to show something great, but Olivia and Edward? He didnʼt sense anything from them, nothing special.

He knew one shouldnʼt judge a book by its cover, and that they could be hiding something, but [Dragon Eyes] saw through everything. There was improvement, but not significant in his eyes.

Sabrina was also the same...but he didnʼt have the courage to say anything to her. ”Hey, We arenʼt like you, you know? Not everyone is a dragon with immense talent.”

Olivia rebuked. They were humans after all, a year may be a long period, but it was not enough for them to improve a lot. They tried their best, but could they compare to the growth of monsters like Alan, Kazikato, and Alex?

Sometimes, even trying your best was useless when faced against impossible odds. ”One should not blame their species.”

Azmakul added from the side, Olivia looked at him with disdain, and initiated. ”Alright, how about a duel?”

The group turned their eyes towards her, she continued, with a cocky tone. ”Me, Edward, and Sabrina, you think we didnʼt grow, right? So fight us and then see.” ”Iʼm not fighting, Sabrina.” ”Why not?” ”Why would I?!”

Her expression turned coy, and she snickered. ”Oh my, someone doesnʼt want to believe his girlfriend is stronger than him.”

Alan didnʼt respond, he simply stared at her with a blank look. He was still going to reject the proposal. A fight between him, and Olivia and Edward was like a battle between a nuclear bomb and a grenade.

The difference was too vast. No matter how much they had grown in the year, they could not beat him. He would be shocked if they even gave him some trouble. ”I believe that is a good idea, prince. It would be unfair to them if you ran from a fight.” Even Azmakul was trying to get on his nerves, trying to get him to accept the duel. He wasnʼt the type to fall for such empty threats, but he was considering it...

If it gave them a reality check and stopped them from entering the tunnel by themselves later on, then it would be worth it. But he was not keen on fighting Sabrina... ”I think itʼs a good idea, as well.”

But even she insisted on a duel, and Alan finally relented. He was never going to go all out, but he was going to beat them up. ʼPoor Edward...ʼ

That boy truly had a bad fortune, he was hated by fate itself right now. Alan could not go seriously against Olivia, because she had Alex and her grandfather behind her...

Alex was alright, but Alan was not keen on pissing off Sir Oliver, and Sabrina was his girlfriend, he couldnʼt go full out on her. It may have some adverse effects on their budding relationship.

That only left out Edward, who would so conveniently be his stress relief during the duel. Alan was already frustrated by his defeat against the Fragment of Kizmal, and that frustration would be aimed at Edward.

It should be alright, his sister was a great healer. ”Alright, but if I win, no one is going inside, got it?”

They agreed, and the rest of the group gave them enough space on the platform.

Alan stood in the middle, surrounded by Edward, Olivia, and Sabrina. ”Should I join in too... to make it fair?”

Alexander added, but was shut down by an enraged Olivia. ”Even you think we arenʼt strong enough!?”

He did have an answer to that, but considering his own relationship with Olivia, and what would happen to him if answered, he remained quiet.

He whispered... ”Go easy on them...”

In a low voice, one low enough that only the ones with the enhanced senses could pick it up.

Alan stood in the center, unarmed, whilst his opponents were armed. Edward held his two shields, Sabrina held a strange staff he had never seen before, and Olivia wielded her rapier.

Alan wanted to impose a rule, but decided against it. It would be ideal if he could make them accept that the platform was the only dueling area, and that if he could push them off, it would mean their defeat... But he knew they would not accept that.

Either he had to make them accept defeat, or render them unconscious. The latter for Edward, the former for the rest.

Maxwell took out a communication device, and began to record the fight. When everyone looked at him with weird eyes, he simply shrugged. ”Oh come on, I have a good feeling about this.”

The duel was about to start, and Olivia began to summon her spirits, as a summoner, her arsenal was fairly new, but it was equally deadly.

Right now, she only had the capacity for three spirits, but it was certain to increase soon enough.

A silver snake slithered up her arm and onto her blade, becoming one with it, and behind her, a silver hawk appeared, with golden eyes and chains around its feet.

However, those two were not the main course, it was actually the Knight, equal in height with Alan that caught his attention.

He had a strange build, deciding to wear only a helmet and armor in his lower body, but his upper body was bare. He wielded a lance, but that was all. Alan didnʼt feel anything from the

Knight.

However, as a precaution, he did use [Dragon Eyes] for some additional information about her spirits. [Name: Low grade spirit of Silver.] [Description: A low grade spirit that assumes the form of a serpent, the size of the serpent depends on its grade, and how much mana its user bestows upon it. It has the ability to enhance the durability, and abilities of metallic artifacts. As a low grade spirit, it is not very intelligent.] [Name: Intermediate grade spirit of Wind.] [Description: An intermediate grade spirit that takes on the form of a hawk, the size of the hawk depends on its grade, and how much mana bestowed upon it by its summoner. It has the power of the wind at its disposal, and is highly intelligent, even among intermediate grade spirits.]

The first two were relatively normal, and not much of a concern, but the Knight was. [Name: Abalak, Spirit of Knightly Values.] [Description: An advanced grade spirit, one that assumes the form of a knight, and embodies the values of one as well, his size is limited only by his userʼs mana, and is his intelligence is second to none...] ”It is not a great habit to peek, I feel shy...”

Alan stopped immediately once he heard Abalak, the Spirit of Knightly Values speak, the blush apparent on his helmet freaked him out. ʼHow the hell is there a blush on his helmet?ʼ

Maybe the helmet was his face, spirits assumed many forms, after all. Alan sighed and stopped using [Dragon Eyes], confident of his victory no matter what spirit he was going against.

Abalakʼs lance disappeared, and that action caught Alanʼs attention. ”It is not chivalrous to fight an unarmed opponent with a weapon. Of course, if you prefer it that way...” || ||

At this point, Alan didnʼt know if the spirit was joking or not. If he was, his humor needed work. And if he wasnʼt...

He shivered, and signalled at Azmakul to start the duel. ”Very well.” Azmakul raised his hand, and brought it down after a short while, and Alan was immediately besieged by attacks.

None of them fazed him, however.

Except for one, which was not even an attack, but a provocation, one spoken by the Knight,

Abalak... Spirit of ʼKnightlyʼ Values. ”You know, you are quite the ugly lizard.”

The word ugly may not have an effect on him, considering even Alan accepted the fact that he was not as handsome as the others...

But the word, ʼLizardʼ did have an effect, which was great for his opposition, as well as unfortunate.

The provocation worked...but it worked too well... ”Knightly Values, my ass!”