(Verc’s POV)
’I really didn’t expect things to go quite like that.’
I thought with a sense of disbelief as I reached out to help Stanford get back on his feet. I only meant to counter his initial attack with a simple upward slash, thinking it would just give me a little bit of breathing space— I wasn’t actually planning to blow his arms wide open and send his sword flying like that.
As of right now, I still don’t know exactly how strong I am compared to others in this world.
"Wow! Your brute strength is absolutely insane!"
As I was still stuck in my own thoughts, I heard a familiar, cheery voice coming from not very far away. I turned toward it and saw Kael smiling widely while looking directly at me.
Then I also almost let a frown slip when I noticed Elianna standing right there beside him... but I managed to keep a straight face.
’When exactly did she arrive here?’
I asked that in my head, feeling a bit on edge. Anyway, I decided to not much attention to her at the moment.
"I was honestly surprised by the result as well; I didn’t know that would happen."
Then I responded to Kael’s comment. He looked at me with questioning eyes, as if he didn’t quite believe me, so I opened my mouth to explain—
"I lived in a very small and remote territory, I only ever dealt with low-level bandits and wild monsters. There also aren’t that many trained fighters where I came from to compare myself to, so I just thought I was slightly better than everyone else back home."
I told him that with a straight face. I am basically playing the role of a country bumpkin based on the fake background story I keep telling everyone, so acting ignorant about my own power is a perfectly fine strategy.
"Hmm, I guess that makes sense."
Kael mumbled that under his breath. He looked over at his other three squad members, and after that, he smiled and turned his attention back to me.
"Well, now is the perfect time for you to finally confirm just how strong you really are!"
He exclaimed with a wide grin on his face.
"So, which one of you wants to go next?"
Then, turning back to the members of his squad, he asked that question.
’This guy didn’t even bother to ask me if I actually wanted to have another match... Whatever, it’s not like I’m tired or anything yet anyway.’
Just as that thought crossed my mind, someone raised their hand.
If I remembered correctly from the earlier introductions, his name was Gibson... He had been radiating a very strong and composed presence ever since I first saw him— it seems like he is the strongest among the people currently serving under Kael.
"Oh, so it’s Gibson’s turn then."
Kael said that with a mischievous smile as he turned his gaze back to me. I just nodded my head once, signalling to him that I was perfectly fine with the choice.
Kael turned to look at Elianna as well, as if he were silently asking for her signal to proceed, and after she gave a small nod of her head—
"Great, get out there and show him what you’ve got, Gibson!"
Kael sent my next opponent into the clearing.
"Let’s have a good, clean fight."
Gibson said that as he got in front of me. He slightly bowed his head toward me.
"Let’s both do our best."
I said in the same manner and nod, and right after that— FWISH~
We both took our combat stances.
*****
(Kael’s POV)
This time, Verc’s opponent was going to be Gibson.
He isn’t my oldest member in terms of service... but he is undeniably the strongest person in my squad except for me.
Gibson is a commoner by birth who showed incredible natural talent with both holy power and swordsmanship— he is already expected to be promoted to a full paladin later this year, even though he only officially became a templar last year.
His level of raw talent is honestly on the same level as my own.
’As a matter of fact, he is almost like a younger version of myself.’
I thought of that, feeling a bit of pride welling up in my chest.
Anyway, it looks like both Verc and Gibson are ready to start. I glanced over at the Saintess; she was waiting patiently, watching the two of them very carefully.
She showed a bit of a reaction that I couldn’t quite read earlier when we saw Verc’s overwhelming strength— but after that, her face remained completely straight and emotionless.
I shook my head to clear those unnecessary thoughts away, then I shifted my full attention back to the two fighters. And raising my hand into the air—
"Begin!"
I declared that as I brought my hand back down quickly.
"..."
"..."
Unlike the very first match, nobody made a move at all at first. Verc and Gibson just stood there and stared at each other, carefully studying one another for any openings.
A heavy silence engulfed the entire surroundings. Only the sound of the flickering fire from the campfire and the wind whistling through the trees could be heard.
It felt as if time had stayed completely still for a few moments, but then, suddenly—
BAM!
Both Verc and Gibson kicked off the ground at the same time and rushed at each other!
They met in the very middle of the clearing instantaneously, and there— CLANG!
Their swords collided with a sharp ring. Gibson’s hands and his weapon weren’t blown away like Stanford’s were, but a deep frown appeared on his face as he felt the impact.
’Is he really that strong even against someone like Gibson?’
I thought to myself with curiosity as I watched his reaction.
Anyway, instead of trying to fight Verc with pure strength, Gibson took a quick step back, and with a swift turn of his wrist— SWISH!
He transitioned smoothly into an upward slash.
But Verc ducked his head and closed in just in time to avoid the strike; now, he was staring at the open right side of Gibson’s body.
SWOOSH!
Verc swung his sword with a heavy force, targeting that opening, but with just a small, calculated jump to his left— TAP! Gibson avoided the blow with ease.
TANG!
With his sword already raised up in the air, Gibson brought it down with focused force, targeting Verc’s head. But Verc managed to raise his own sword just in time to block the overhead strike.
Verc then spun his body to get out of the pressure, and using the built-up momentum— SWISH! He launched a horizontal slash aimed directly at Gibson’s neck!
TINK!
Gibson deflected the blade using the sturdy metal pauldron on his shoulder, then from that close position— FWOOSH! He countered immediately with a powerful back kick using his left foot!
TUNKK!
Verc blocked the kick by quickly raising his left knee, and the metal on his armor made a sharp sound after tanking the hit from Gibson’s boot.
Verc quickly grabbed Gibson’s foot before he could retract it, and without any hesitation— WHOOSH! He thrust his sword forward, aiming for Gibson’s exposed back!
Gibson jumped off his remaining right foot, twisting his entire body while he was still in mid-air to escape the grab. And from that awkward, airborne position— BAM! He launched a desperate kick aiming straight at Verc’s head!
Verc managed to block the kick with his left arm, though he was forced to let go of Gibson’s foot in the process.
Gibson quickly stepped back several paces after that to gain some distance between them... but they didn’t stay apart for long.
FWOOSH—!
They lunged forward once again!
TANG- CLANG- TINK—!
Their blades clashed in a rapid-fire sequence that filled the air with the sound of ringing steel.
TIIIIING—!!!
Gibson was using his swordsmanship skill to probe for weaknesses, while Verc met every strike with efficient movements.
But slowly... Gibson was getting the upper hand; his experience and swordsmanship were superior to Verc.
And then suddenly— THUNCK!
He was able to deflect Verc’s sword to his side. He didn’t miss that chance and stepped in closer, and from point-blank range— FWISH!
He swung horizontally, aiming at Verc’s neck!
’Gibson won.’
I thought after seeing that... It seemed like everyone else around thought the same.
But then—TIIINK!
With a sudden jerk of his left shoulder, Verc copied what Gibson did earlier and deflected the attack with his pauldron!
Though because of the force of the attack, he was lifted off the ground and thrown to the side. I thought Verc was done for after that; once he fell to the ground, Gibson would quickly finish the match before he could even try to recover.
But at that moment— FWOOSH~
Verc quickly extended his right hand to the ground, and with a ridiculous grip strength— FWIP!— he stopped himself from being blown away!
TAANK!
And with his left foot, he kicked Gibson on the left knee, making him take a knee on the ground!
"Keuk?!"
Before Gibson could even register what had happened, Verc was already up. He got behind Gibson, and the next thing we knew— FWISH—
The edge of his blade was on Gibson’s neck.
"...!"
The clearing went silent.
"..."
Gibson stared at the sword near his neck, not saying anything.
But after a while, he let out a breath and lowered his own weapon.
"I lost..."
And then he admitted that, his voice full of genuine respect.