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The last warrior of the Bloodwood Tribe, Huger.
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The tribe Huger belonged to once roamed the Hobsun Mountains, but they fell helplessly before the sudden calamity that was the Dragon.
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Right before his eyes, his kin and comrades were swallowed whole by the monster’s jaws, and their once-prosperous home was mercilessly destroyed.
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Huger alone survived that massacre.
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From that day forth, Huger swore vengeance.
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He sought out the hated Dragon, gripping his axe tightly.
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Even with an Orc’s limited wits, he knew it was a suicidal act.
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Yet his heart cried out for revenge.
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Better to die valiantly than to lose his pride and cower in hiding.
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But Huger learned the true cruelty of the Dragon.
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The beast tore at his flesh with its claws, scorching his red skin even redder with fire, then spat him out after toying with him in its jaws.
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The Dragon let the gasping Huger live, as if daring him to come back for more.
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Such wickedness trampled a warrior’s pride and courage into the dirt.
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To the Dragon, Huger was nothing but a plaything, a toy to stave off boredom.
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Once again surviving, Huger fell into despair.
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He had sharpened his blade for revenge, but his foe was far beyond his reach.
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Still, he never let go of his weapon.
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Years passed.
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Huger threw himself at the Dragon again and again, and each time, terrible new scars were carved into his body.
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The Red Orc lived because he could not die—and because he could not die, he never gave up on vengeance.
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Then, one day, over two hundred humans arrived in the Hobsun Mountains.
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Huger eventually realized their goal was the Dragon.
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To him, this was an opportunity he could not miss.
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“Chwik, if I win the duel, you must keep your promise.”
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He had tried to talk to the Knights many times, only to be chased away again and again.
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But at last, there was a glimmer of negotiation.
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The scrawny human before him proposed a duel.
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If Huger could defeat him, he would consider joining forces.
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The promise had been made with his own mouth—any true warrior would honor such a vow.
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Huger drew his massive battle axe.
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The Knights standing behind the human glared with murderous intent that pricked at his skin, but he couldn’t let this chance slip by.
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“Young master! How could you make such a decision on your own! I am the commander of this expedition!”
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In the midst of this, Polk scolded Richard von Bartenberg, his face stiff with anger.
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“What’s so hard about just talking things out?”
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Richard, unconcerned, waved his hand as if telling them not to interfere and just watch.
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He looked past the shouting Knights and met Huger’s gaze.
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“The Knights won’t interfere. Don’t worry.”
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“Just keep your promise, Chwik.”
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With those brief words, the duel began.
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Huger’s bowed legs tensed, ready to explode.
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In the next moment, he kicked off the ground and charged.
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A savage aura radiated from the Red Orc barreling forward with his massive axe.
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Crash!
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His axe ripped apart the spot where Richard had been standing—a display of monstrous strength befitting his size.
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But such a big attack always left an opening.
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Richard’s Dragon Tooth swept in.
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“Chwiik!”
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Using the axe’s handle as a pivot, Huger twisted away and dodged the blade.
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He leapt into the air, then lashed out with his foot.
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Crack—!
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Richard hurriedly pulled back his sword to block, but the blow still sent him sliding backward.
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“Since when are Orcs so nimble…?”
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Richard steadied himself, swallowing the words before they escaped.
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Huger yanked his axe free and immediately resumed his assault.
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Each time the deadly blade grazed Richard, a dreadful shockwave rang out.
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It was a brutal strength that far surpassed any typical Orc chieftain.
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And yet, for his size, Huger moved with surprising agility and flexibility.
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“At least the level of an upper-ranked Knight…”
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Watching the duel, Jack Schwager suppressed a groan.
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He was ready to leap in at any moment.
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No matter how much he disapproved, the young master was still the young master.
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He had to prevent him from being cleaved in two by that Orc’s axe.
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“Kwoooaaah!”
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Suddenly, Huger let out a monstrous roar.
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The Knights atop the fortress walls grimaced at the sound.
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Among Orcs, this was known as the ‘War Cry’—a force that pressed down on one’s opponent.
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But Richard’s expression remained calm.
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The Crown of Ice always helped him keep his composure.
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Spotting an opening, Richard dashed in close.
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Crash!
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Dragon Tooth, thrust with all his might, was blocked by the axe’s deadly blade.
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Sparks flew as Huger and Richard glared at each other through the shower of light.
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“Kahaha!”
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A brief standoff. Then, out of nowhere, Huger burst into laughter.
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It was so loud, it almost seemed like another War Cry.
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“So, you truly are a warrior who enjoys battle, Chwik!”
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“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
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“Don’t pretend otherwise. You’re enjoying this duel!”
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Richard shook his head.
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His fight with Huger was merely an extension of his earlier sparring with the Knights.
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The objective had changed a little, but in the end, it was still about proving something to the Knights.
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“To be honest, it is a bit fun.”
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At some point, he had come to enjoy battle.
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When he cut down monsters with the sword he’d honed through bloody training, he felt a sense of accomplishment.
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When he won duels with Knights, his heart raced.
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Now, if he wasn’t moving his body, he felt restless.
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But Richard forced himself to suppress it.
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The gap between the ordinary ‘Lee Ji-hoon’ and the in-game resident ‘Richard von Bartenberg.’
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Welcoming battle and thirsting for victory—these were utterly foreign to Lee Ji-hoon.
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“Chwiik, well, whatever.”
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Huger swung his axe in a short arc to push Richard back.
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His body was already burning with excitement.
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The instinct for battle, which he’d suppressed for the sake of negotiation, now surged forth.
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Rumble—
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Golden energy rose up, swirling around Huger’s body and his axe.
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It was the unique golden Aura of the Orcs.
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“No!”
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The Knights cried out in alarm at the sight.
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Their faces went pale as they drew their weapons and prepared to charge in.
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At that moment—
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Thud-thud-thud!
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With the sound of small footsteps, a massive tree sprang up from the ground, blocking the Knights’ path.
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“What is this…?”
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“No need to panic.”
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It was Aaron Meyer who stepped forward to calm the startled Knights.
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He spoke in his usual steady tone.
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“Look at the young master.”
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Polk and the other Knights quickly turned their eyes to Richard.
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And then they widened them in shock.
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“Au…Aura…?”
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A pure white glow wrapped around the blade of his dark sword.
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Richard, holding his sword aloft, was a sight they couldn’t tear their eyes from.
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“H-how can the young master…?”
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Wasn’t he supposed to have Mana Insensitivity?
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“And that white light…”
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“The young master is a Mana Trait Holder.”
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At Aaron’s words, the Knights murmured in disbelief once more.
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“How can this be, Aaron?!”
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Aaron simply grinned at Polk, who was demanding an explanation.
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The Third Knight Division.
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His grandfather had once been the Grandmaster, and before Aaron became Richard’s direct subordinate, he was known as Bartenberg’s third sword.
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So Aaron knew these men’s personalities well.
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“Before long, you’ll all be amazed by the young master too.”
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“What…?”
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Polk frowned at his vague words.
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“He’s moving!”
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At a Knight’s shout, all eyes turned back to Richard and Huger.
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Crash—!
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The golden Aura swirling around the axe and the white-tinged sword collided.
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Sword and axe clashed, shaking the ground and filling the air with thunder.
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“Chwiik! A mutant, are you!”
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By ‘mutant,’ Huger meant a Mana Trait Holder.
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As if to prove it, Huger’s axe and Richard’s Dragon Tooth pushed against each other in midair.
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A contest of strength between Orc and human that should have been impossible.
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The difference in strength between the races was erased before the power of a Mana Trait.
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“Still a rough Aura, but impressive strength, Chwik!”
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It was Huger who stepped back. His scarred face was painted with surprise.
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Compared to his own fully matured Aura, the human’s was still crude.
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But the power it held was not to be underestimated.
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Crash! Boom!
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Richard immediately closed in and continued his assault.
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Thunderous booms rang out in the air.
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The shockwaves kicked up clouds of dust from the ground.
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“Phew…”
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One Knight let out a sigh.
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Jack and Polk swallowed hard.
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He was no longer the reckless brat they once knew.
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He’d changed too much, too quickly.
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Their minds raced with confusion.
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A strange light flickered in the Knights’ eyes.
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“Chwiik! Fighting you is truly a pleasure! How long has it been since I had such a battle!”
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In full view of nearly two hundred humans, Huger shouted in exhilaration.
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He showed no sign of fear that the humans might surround and attack him at any moment.
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He knew well that his opponent was not that sort of person.
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Orcs were a race ruled by the heart, not the mind.
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Their finely honed instincts and senses made them adept at reading others’ true intentions.
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The warrior before him was a strong male who genuinely enjoyed battle.
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Crash!
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Even if he tried to hide it, Richard’s body spoke the truth as he wielded his sword.
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Behind the stiff, cold mask given by the Crown of Ice, a thrill flickered in his eyes.
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“Huff…huff…”
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Richard was breathing hard.
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Huger was far stronger than he’d expected.
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By Knight standards, he was beyond upper-rank—he was nearing the very top.
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“Chwiik, it seems the outcome is decided.”
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Huger’s words were true.
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The Aura surrounding Richard’s sword was fading.
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Meanwhile, Huger’s Aura remained solid.
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The difference in Aura mastery determined the victor.
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“A shame. If you could control your Aura more skillfully, this would’ve been an even more enjoyable fight.”
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Richard closed his eyes without replying.
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He had already achieved his initial goal.
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He could feel the Knights’ gazes stabbing into his back.
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They were no longer cold or dismissive.
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Still, he didn’t want this duel to end in defeat.
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He had learned to wield Aura, slain thirty Trolls and their leader, and won duels against half a dozen Knights.
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Several proud accomplishments.
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He wanted to add this Orc to that list.
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Confronted with defeat, the competitive spirit he’d long ignored began to stir.
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His mind cooled once more.
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“Hoo…”
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Richard exhaled, as if he’d forgotten how to speak, and opened his eyes.
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Into the Mana Route that had just run dry, Faith surged forth in place of Holy Power.
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Rumble—!
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Aura gathered once more on Dragon Tooth.
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It was an overwhelming force, the Aura of Faith bursting forth.
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Even Richard himself had never attempted this technique before.
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“Chwiik!”
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Eyes wide, Huger instinctively raised his axe.
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His mind couldn’t keep up with what was happening.
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He simply followed his instincts.
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His heart pounded wildly.
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Danger bells rang in his head.
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Then, Richard brought his sword down.
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Clang—!
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A blinding explosion of light accompanied a tremendous crash.
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For a moment, the night-darkened encampment was lit up as bright as day.
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Without a word, Huger lowered his axe.
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Death had passed him by.
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A deep gouge was left in the ground, right next to where he stood.
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Had it struck directly, he and his axe would have been cleaved apart.
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“Dear heavens…”
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The Knights watching the duel trembled.
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The flash that had briefly banished the darkness was burned into their minds.
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For some reason they couldn’t explain, a sense of awe—something Richard never thought he’d feel in his life—rose within him.
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