In the eyes of the crowd, the swordsmanship master Fernández Vázquez raised his hands, indicating that he would accept everyone's cheers.
Across from him, the giant rhinoceros was slowly removing its shackles. The guards were preparing to open the iron gate and enter the arena.
"A proud peacock. Just look at his attire. You'll know that his armor and weapons are more decorative than offensive power." On the stage, Laing and the others who had arrived late could only book a private room. Veronica leaned against a simple wooden chair in boredom. Garland did not seem to care much about the duel. She crossed her long legs and said, "Red cloth? I've never heard of a red cloth that could stimulate a rhinoceros. Also, is a rapier really effective against the tough hide of a rhinoceros? "
"No, rapiers are not as weak as you think, Lady Veronica." Fedmond stared at the swordsman. The Grail Knight corrected Veronica's mistake. "Rapiers may be worthless in war, but in duels, they can be used to attack the joints and weak parts of the armor. Apart from a few divine armors, most plate armors can't provide a perfect defense."
"That's why Estalian duelists are so famous in the old world despite being weak in actual combat," Laing said. "Don't underestimate Estalian duelists."
"I won't lose anyway." Veronica turned a deaf ear to Feldmond's words, but when she heard that her man had embarrassed her, she was a little unhappy. "These Estalians can have a taste of my Flame Blast."
Laing patted Veronica's shoulder and motioned for her to focus on the duel. Veronica did not say anything.
The duel began.
The Woolly Rhinoceros was a powerful wild beast that liked to roam high mountains and grasslands. It was usually found in the north, but it was indeed relatively rare in Estalia. It was no wonder that the citizens were so excited. This Feral Beast was huge, and its hind leg was tied with a large iron ball to reduce its combat strength.
"Come! Monster! Goddess Mirmidia will watch over me! Give me strength! " The swordsman Fernández Vázquez held his rapier in one hand. His silk matador suit shone brightly under the sun. He walked around the arena and paid his respects to all the spectators. Finally, he came to the stand where the Duke of Bilibari was and bowed deeply. His eyes were especially eager to see the noble lady sitting behind the Duke of Silva. After a few rounds, he raised his rapier and puffed out his chest, indicating that he was ready.
Duke Silva's eyes narrowed. This Duke looked to be in his fifties. He had long brown hair and a tall aquiline nose. Other than that, he was quite handsome.
Sitting behind him was the Duke's daughter, Eleanor Salamanca-Billibaly. She was a beautiful noble lady in her twenties. She had a pair of sapphire-like eyes, and she was looking at the Swordsman with curiosity and eagerness.
The battle began!
The guards used their spears to stab the rhinoceros in the back of its neck. The rhinoceros roared in pain and then rushed into the arena, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
"This rhinoceros's weight is estimated to be more than two thousand kilograms," Laing said casually.
"Ahhh!" The Master Swordsman Vázquez was the first to attack. He shook a large piece of red cloth in his hand and provoked the rhinoceros.
Seeing that this abominable human actually couldn't stop provoking it, the rhinoceros, which was already injured, became even crazier. It moved its thick and sturdy hooves and rushed towards Vazquez in large strides. "Ahhhhhhh!"
The Master Swordsman responded calmly. He held the red cloth with one hand and nimbly slid to the side to dodge the rhinoceros's attack. The rhinoceros's one-meter-long horns pierced the red cloth and the air behind it. Smoke and dust filled the air and mud splashed everywhere.
"Wow! So cool! "
"Well done! Vázquez! "
"Show us your strength! Our Master Swordsman! "
The cheers from the audience made the Master Swordsman feel proud. He squinted his eyes and put his sword at the same level as his eyes. He stood on his tiptoes and pressed his hand down horizontally. He exerted force and the thin sword in his hand went straight for the rhinoceros's shoulder blade.
"Crack ~" The sharp tip of the rapier pierced through the rhinoceros's skin, and blood splattered everywhere.
"Beautiful!" Silva, the Duke of Billibaly, stood up and clapped with satisfaction. Following the Duke's clap, the whole arena burst into thunderous applause.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Laing also clapped. The champion of the Lake Fairy shook her head and said, "Unfortunately, it's not over yet."
Sure enough, there was a sudden change in the arena. The Master Swordsman was about to stab the rhinoceros's heart with his thin sword and then receive the cheers of the audience. However, the strong resistance from the tip of the thin sword made him realize that the battle was not over yet. The rhinoceros's strong body and tough skin blocked Vázquez's attack. The injury made the rhinoceros even crazier. It twisted its body hard and forced Vázquez to step back.
"I suddenly have a bad feeling. Obviously, this matador mistook the rhinoceros for an ordinary bull." Fedmond's tone changed. The Knight of the Holy Grail glanced at Laing.
Laing still didn't say a word and just watched the duel.
Vázquez realized that his opponent was difficult to deal with. The Master Swordsman didn't care about elegance anymore. He rolled sideways and his exquisite silk suit was stained with dust. Relying on this roll, Vázquez pulled away from the rhinoceros.
Boos erupted from the spectator stands.
"Coward!"
"Coward!"
"Kill it, kill it!"
The Master Swordsman was obviously affected. He looked at the noble lady in the stands with great concern and decided to try again. This time, Vazquez used both hands to wave the red cloth, provoking the hairy rhinoceros. The beast's anger had not yet subsided. Seeing that its opponent was still provoking it, it became even more furious. The Bear God turned around and unleashed its fury to its heart's content. Dragging a large iron ball, it ran.
Vázquez showed his foundation at this time. He placed the red cloth in front of his chest. When the rhinoceros's one-meter-long horn was about to pierce through the red cloth, the matador immediately turned sideways at the critical moment. Through the side slide of his legs, the rhinoceros, a creature with a one-track mind, brushed past the matador just like that.
What was behind the red cloth was not air, but the sturdy stone wall of the arena. The Direbeast crashed into the wall, causing debris to fly everywhere. The Direbeast was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground.
The iron chain that was tied to the big iron ball on its hind leg was also broken.
Relying on his rich experience, Vázquez felt that he had won the game. The hundreds of audience in the arena also dedicated their applause and flowers to him. The Master Swordsman was very proud. He took the opportunity to kneel under the main grandstand. "I dedicate this victory to the beautiful Miss Eleanor Salamanca!"
"Ah!" The audience was silent. The Duke's daughter, who was sitting behind the Duke, was at a loss. She reached out her small hand to cover her mouth, not knowing what to do.
"What a romantic scene," Veronica said with a smile. Veronica said with a smile, "Is this how you knights chase after noble ladies?"
"Not all of them." Laing was about to tell some of his past stories, but the movement in the arena stopped him. "Not good! That rhinoceros did not faint! "
At this time, Vázquez was still kneeling on the ground and did not get up. He was waiting for the Duke's daughter's answer. The audience's exclamations and the commotion behind him made him realize something. When the Master Swordsman turned around to see what was happening, the rhinoceros had already rushed behind him!
"Bang!" There was a loud bang. The Master Swordsman screamed and flew into the sky. His nose was broken, and half of his plate armor was deformed. With an unpleasant sound, the Master Swordsman fell heavily to the ground.
The rhinoceros clearly did not intend to let him go just like that. The ferocious beast once again took a step forward and charged forward. After the shackles were broken, the ferocious beast could feel that its anger was making it stronger than before. It was like a rolling boulder, ready to crush everything in front of it.
Screams, panic, shouts, and chaos spread throughout the entire arena. The women screamed and lifted their skirts to escape. The men desperately called for the guards and pushed each other.
That's right! That's right! Destroy everything! Crush everything! The rhinoceros was in a complete frenzy. The two-ton beast charged directly toward the main grandstand with the power to crack the mountains!
However, when it was halfway through its charge, something blocked its path.
The rhinoceros desperately kicked its hind legs. It used all the strength in its body. The pain from its wounds made it angry.
It was still useless.
On the contrary, the original chaos and screams of despair disappeared. Instead, they were replaced by deafening cheers and applause. The men clapped hard, the women cheered, and everyone was shouting a name.
An unparalleled force was coming from the one-meter long rhinoceros horns.
Laing's muscles were tense. He was only wearing a Brittany Earl's suit. His hands were holding the rhinoceros' horns tightly. He did not even use any weapons.
The eyes of the Chosen One champion of the Fairy of the Lake burned with light blue flames. He clenched his teeth so hard that saliva overflowed from the gaps between his teeth. His fingers had turned white because of excessive force.
His legs were stomping on the ground. His leather boots stepped on the sandy ground of the arena. The heels of his shoes drew a long trail on the ground.
The sound of muscles twisting could be heard from the strong arms. The originally beautiful countess robe had already begun to crack due to the strength of its owner. From the cracks, one could see the streamlined muscles. Now, those muscles were tensed up, and the veins on them were twisted into a ball.
Big drops of sweat began to appear on Laing's forehead. The Earl's shoulders made a cracking sound. Laing gasped for breath. He could smell the blood in his lungs.
It was the smell of capillaries bursting because of excessive force.
The rhinoceros stopped. One man and one beast were in a stalemate in the arena.
How powerful would a two-ton beast be if it charged at full speed? Laing did not know before, but he knew now. Feeling the alarm in his body, Laing saw the injured and unconscious swordsman being dragged away by the guards from the corner of his eye.
"Laing! Laing! Laing! "
The residents of Birlibaly Duchy were cheering. Most of the audience were waving their handkerchiefs, hats, and even clothes.
Laing took a deep breath. He clenched the giant rhinoceros' horns with both hands. At this time, the rhinoceros was at a loss. As a trapped beast, it became even crazier. Laing could not even hold its horns.
"Laing! Laing! Laing! "
The pure wrestling made the whole arena crazy. Silva, the Duke of Birlibaly, even stood up. He strode to the edge of the stands and leaned on the railing. He wanted to witness this miracle with his own eyes.
Veronica covered her mouth with tears in her eyes. Gallan Witch knew how strong her man was. Olica's face was full of excitement and pride. Her mind seemed to go back to the bloody arena of Nagarond and Hal Gunsi. This was her master, handsome and strong.
But this was not the end of the story. The gray knight's geno prototype firmly held the beast's horns. He gritted his teeth and smiled. Even in such a situation, Laing increased his strength.
He began to push back.
The Hairy Rhinoceros was more than two meters tall, more than three meters tall, and more than four meters long. Adding on its huge horn, its strong body was retreating. This huge beast let out a loud cry in panic, its four legs constantly struggling, trying to get out of the predicament.
Obviously, Laing was not going to give it a chance.
The gray knight's geno prototype roared and released a beast-like howl. His legs sank into the ground, and he suddenly lifted himself up.
What happened next made everyone feel suffocated.
The dust rolled up the sand, and the sun suppressed the darkness.
The two-ton beast was flipped over by Laing on the spot. It fell to the ground and howled in pain.
"Laing! Laing! Laing! "
The experienced guards immediately used their spears to pierce the rhinoceros's vital points to prevent it from getting up again.
"Laing! Laing! Laing! "
The loud bullfight song sounded in the arena again. Such a wonderful and exciting duel made all the audience in Birlibaly Duchy crazy. The whole stand was filled with thunderous applause and cheers. A lot of flowers fell from the stand. The audience was shouting Laing's name, and they were not stingy with their praise. The emcee of the game saw this and said, "It seems that the winner of today's duel has been decided. Although there are some surprises, let us say his name. He is a foreigner from Brittany! The champion of the Lady of the Lake, Mr. Laing Macado!!! "
Laing squeezed out a smile. He endured the pain and raised his arms to welcome the cheers of the audience.
"Reward! Reward! Reward! "
The city was boiling.
The door of the arena opened, and Duke Silva of Birlibaly walked down the stand with his men. He saw Laing and the others walking towards him. He took the initiative to reach out to Laing. "It's really surprising that the champion of the Lady of the Lake would appear in Estalia. Hello, Mr. Laing, I have heard of your glorious deeds."
"What? Estalia doesn't welcome tourists? " Leon extended his hand and shook hands with Duke Silva. Then, the Duke's attendant handed over a pair of ears and a tail of the rhinoceros, as well as five hundred exelantes (Estalian minted gold coins) as the winner.
Laing took it without hesitation. This was what he deserved. He deserved the highest reward for a matador.
"Tourists? Oh, no, of course I welcome tourists. But I'm worried that you are not just a tourist. Tell me, why is the champion of the Lady of the Lake here? "Duke Birlibaly nodded calmly.
"I need your help with something …" Laing told him briefly. He did not mention that the stolen item was Poseidon's trident. He only said that a group of rogue knights had stolen some important relics.
After hearing Laing's description, Duke Birlibaly frowned. He thought for a while and said, "If possible, I really want to refuse your request. The champion of the Lady of the Lake, this is my territory!"
Laing raised his eyebrows.
"But … I can't refuse a winner who won a bullfight and captured the cheers of the entire city." Duke Birlibaly paused for a moment. When Alfred Frey and Feedmond were getting impatient, he turned around and said, "Come with me."
"My clerk will help you check the records of your entry."
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