Outside Carne Village, at the edge of the forest, Riezel and Gazef stood, facing each other.
Gazef's warrior subordinates had also gathered, watching the two in confrontation with a hint of excitement in their expressions.
"Is this a duel between two people in the Realm of Heroes?"
"Yeah, this is a rare sight to see."
"Who's gonna win?"
"Of course, it's Warrior Captain!"
"Nah, not necessarily. You must remember that Warrior Captain isn't fully armed with the kingdom's treasures. Facing 5th-Tier Magic is still pretty dangerous."
"Still, with Warrior Captain's strength, he should be able to close in on Sir Brynhart in a flash at this distance, making it hard for him to use magic, right?"
"Hmm, you're not wrong..."
"Should we create a bit more distance?"
Gazef glanced at the space between him and Riezel, then suggested with a chuckle.
"No need." Riezel replied calmly, shaking his head. "First of all, I'm not a pure magic caster, so I'm not worried about you closing in."
These words involuntarily drew everyone's attention to the sword at his waist, which didn't seem like a mere decoration but looked as if it would actually be used.
"A non-pure magic caster can still learn 5th-Tier Magic?" Gazef raised his eyebrows in amazement before nodding his head. "Truly impressive..."
Focusing on one field did make it easier to achieve something, but for Riezel to elevate his magic to the Realm of Heroes without specializing in it was indeed impressive.
It was the same for the leader of Blue Roses, who not only could use 5th-Tier Magic but was also skilled in swordsmanship.
In this regard, both of these youngsters were true human prodigies.
"It's my honor to face a powerful person like you, Sir Brynhart."
As Gazef sincerely said this, he raised a hand, as if to show that he would give it his all.
On this hand's finger was a ring adorned with a dragon's claw gripping a mysterious jewel at its center, giving the impression it held a dragon pearl.
It was a magic ring, a gift from a senior member of the Blue Roses before her retirement—a dragon's treasure that could boost one's level, created using ancient magic known as 'Wild Magic', which ruled this world before Tier Magic spread.
After obtaining it, Gazef was able to gain powers comparable to those in the Realm of Heroes, even while unarmed.
Now, he activated the power of this treasure, causing the jewel on the ring to shine with radiant light.
*Swish!*
With the power of the ring, Gazef stepped into the Realm of Heroes, drawing his sword and aiming it at Riezel.
At this moment, Gazef wasn't as gentle as before but resembled a fierce beast baring its fangs, his gaze and expression razor-sharp.
Seeing this, Riezel didn't react, but all the warriors around him held their breath, no longer speaking—they could tell from the expression on their captain's face that he was incredibly serious.
As it turned out, they were right.
Gazef knew that his opponent was a powerful young man who had stepped into the Realm of Heroes by his own abilities, so he wasn't naive enough to think he could satisfy this young man without being serious.
Of course, the consequence of failing to satisfy this young man could mean that their earlier negotiation had been entirely pointless.
For this reason, he had no choice but to take it seriously.
"Enhanced Magic Resistance."
Gazef used one of his Martial Arts, causing a faint glow to envelop his body.
'Is that a Martial Art?' Riezel narrowed his eyes.
Martial Arts, a unique power of the natives of this world, was regarded as the magic of warriors. It was something even players from YGGDRASIL couldn't possess or learn—truly a privilege of the natives.
Meanwhile, the Martial Art Gazef was now using, as its name suggested, could enhance magic resistance.
However, that wasn't all.
"Body Strengthening."
"Mental Enhancement."
"Possibility Sense."
Like a magic caster chanting Tier Magic, Gazef unleashed several Martial Arts in one breath, causing his body to flicker with the light of their activation.
Nonetheless, the effects of these Martial Arts were true to their names, each capable of strengthening the body, enhancing the mind, and improving perception.
After using four Martial Arts, Gazef paused, a stronger aura radiating from him as he raised his sword toward Riezel.
"Well then, here I come."
Gazef spoke in a low voice, warning Riezel that he would attack.
"Bring it on."
Riezel didn't draw his sword but raised it still-sheathed instead, welcoming Gazef with a slight smile.
Not wasting any more time, Gazef immediately charged forward.
*BOOM!*
As Gazef stomped his foot, the ground kicked up a cloud of dust, causing the strongest warrior of the Re-Estize Kingdom to rush toward Riezel, moving as fast as the wind.
*DING!*
In the next moment, Gazef swung down a heavy strike at Riezel's head, clashing with the still-sheathed sword Riezel had raised, creating a sharp sound of impact.
A strong gust of wind blew between them, causing the dust to rise once again.
"Fourfold Slash of Light!"
Gazef suddenly used another Martial Art.
It wasn't the previously supportive Martial Art, but rather an offensive Martial Art.
In this world, Martial Arts were similar to Tier Magic, divided into categories like offensive, defensive, supportive, and so on. Some were offensive, meant for battling enemies, while others were supportive, designed to enhance oneself.
On the other hand, the Martial Art Gazef was using, Fourfold Slash of Light, was an offensive one that allowed the user to unleash four rapid slashes at once.
In an instant, four bright sword lights sliced through the air, resembling the claws of a massive beast slashing toward Riezel.
Since the slashes were executed simultaneously, even if one was blocked, the other three would hit the target in an instant, making it nearly impossible to defend against.
Faced with this attack, Riezel's action was surprisingly simple—he chose to evade.
*Whoosh!*
Riezel's figure flickered slightly, like a weightless falling leaf, darting back and forth through the four rushing sword lights, completely avoiding Gazef's Fourfold Slash of Light.
"What?!"
Gazef's pupils suddenly constricted, and his movements came to a halt.
However, this act earned him a sharp reprimand.
"Don't get distracted!"
Riezel, flashing like a leaf, suddenly appeared in front of Gazef and kicked out toward his chest with a blinding strike.
Only then did Gazef react, letting out a low growl.
"Flow Acceleration!"
What Gazef used now was a Martial Art that increased nerve reaction speed, enhancing both attack speed and reflexes.
Since this Martial Art could cause brain fatigue, he generally tried to avoid using it, but at this moment, he realized he had no choice but to use it to avoid the kick heading straight for him.
With a flash of light surrounding him, Gazef's reaction speed increased, allowing him to raise his weapon just in time to block in front of himself.
However, to Riezel, who possessed a development ability called Fast Attack that similarly enhanced reflexes, Gazef's reaction appeared painfully slow.
*BANG!*
In the next moment, Riezel's kick landed squarely on Gazef's abdomen, sending him flying away.
"Ngh—!"
Gazef barely had time to react, and it wasn't until he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen that he realized what had happened.
'Did he change the trajectory of his leg just before kicking my sword?!'
Yes.
With his extraordinary reflexes, Riezel changed the target of his kick from Gazef's chest to his abdomen just before hitting the sword Gazef had raised in the blink of an eye.
Gazef couldn't keep up with Riezel's sudden change in trajectory, which led to him taking the full force of the kick.
*Whoosh!*
In the next second, Riezel's figure flashed again like a ghost, catching up to Gazef as he flew backward and delivered a powerful kick to his chest from above.
"Instant Counter!"
Seeing Riezel approach him at incredible speed, Gazef shouted loudly and unleashed another Martial Art.
At this point, Gazef had reached his limit under normal circumstances.
With Body Strengthening, Mental Enhancement, Enhanced Magic Resistance, Possibility Sense, Flow Acceleration, and Instant Counter activated, he was using six Martial Arts simultaneously.
In fact, using Martial Arts wasn't without a price.
Just as a magic caster consumed magical energy when casting Tier Magic, a warrior would expend concentration when performing Martial Arts.
Naturally, continuously using powerful Martial Arts or simultaneously employing various supportive Martial Arts would place a significant burden on the mind, leading to brain fatigue. If one forced the use of Martial Arts beyond their concentration limit, it could even result in collapse or death.
Under normal circumstances, Gazef could simultaneously use six Martial Arts, and only when using the magic ring could he use seven at once.
Now, having used the sixth Martial Art, he had clearly almost reached his limit, as evidenced by the veins bulging on his forehead and arms while he countered.
Because Instant Counter was a Martial Art that could forcibly restore one's body, which had lost its balance after an attack, back to its pre-attack position, Gazef's stance now resembled a forced twist to how it had been before he initiated the Fourfold Slash of Light.
Back in a proper stance, Gazef quickly unleashed his seventh Martial Art as he faced Riezel, who leaped above him and aimed a kick downward.
"Sixfold Slash of Light!"
Six gleaming sword lights cut through the air, transforming into sharp, deadly claw strikes aimed at Riezel.
As he watched the six sword lights strike simultaneously at him, a glimmer of determination flashed in Riezel's eyes.
Riezel finally lifted his still-sheathed sword and slashed.
*DING—!*
As the still-sheathed sword clashed with the six sword lights, the sound of a violent clash rang out like a bell.
Riezel's seemingly ordinary slash, like a meteor falling from the sky, easily deflected Gazef's Sixfold Slash of Light, sending the six sword lights scattering like sparks.
*BANG!*
In the next second, Riezel's foot landed heavily on Gazef, whose pupils had shrunk to the size of pinpricks, sending him crashing to the ground.