Chapter 396: Duel
Inside one of the towers, a man stood in front of the opened window and stared out at into space, at first his eyes was closed but as he head some words from Valtor, his eyes snapped opened and instantly filled with anger as if a switch have been flipped.
"This arrogant bastard, a useless puppet is trying to act like this? What a joke!" The man appeared to be in his mid thirties, but his face still looked relatively young, his hair full and eyes that should be filled with gentle light was now clouded with anger.
His aura as a Master Knight spread out around him like a tide, making the five other Master Knights behind him to stumble back with a soft gasp.
"Saint Oskar!" One of them shouted out in fear.
Oskar took a deep breath and calmed down. As a Master Knight, and a saint, he had always been respected. Normal humans worship him, and even Knights of his kind shower him with respect since the day he was born and it was realized that he could be cultivated as a saint.
It was really unusual and strange to now be confronted by total disregard by Vale Athrimir. If it was a young master of an High Clan then he won’t really have minded. But Vale? Vale?
Oskar gritted his teeth again, his eyes darkened, but he calmed himself again. "I’m sure Georg already told him I’m a saint and yet he’s this arrogant. He’s relying on something. Can his secret backer be here, nearby?"
"It’s possible," one of the Master Knights said. "Georg already confirmed that Tong isn’t with them and that the man passed away because he sustained an injury during the battle. At least that’s what Vale released."
Another Master Knight pointed out. "We should be careful, after reviewing the battle we can’t disregard the fact that Vale personally killed Master Knights. No matter how he did it, he’s an Errant Knight, and yet he killed Master Knights. Can’t he do the same thing here?"
A ripple of uneasiness passed through the room. What made it even more worrisome was the fact they nobody has yet to figure out how he did it. Artifact? Was he possessed? They have even though about the fact that someone else was using Vale’s identity.
Or could he be a saint? No. Even then, should Errant Knight be able to kill more than there Master? But should that even possible?
Oskar shook his head with impatience. "It matters not, I’m a saint, he will not be a problem. I’m not an acreage Master Knight. Don’t forget that one of our task is to draw out the secrets behind this Vale Athrimir. We need to know his backer, and then turn him into a puppet on the throne. Since he’s this arrogant, we can only beat him into submission."
The Knight that pointed out earlier still looked doubtful and said. "Maybe we should find more Master Knights. Don’t forget that Vale also came with two Master Knights and that Radiant Sky. Earlier when we attacked with the ship we can see that his Master Knights and that Radiant Sky isn’t as simple as we first thought. It also makes sense, Valtor is Athrimir Master Knights and no resources was speared on him, same must be for the other one as well!"
Oskar frowned tightly but at the end he could not deny the logic in the words. As much as he might pretend, he was also a bit uneasy, and fascinated on how an Errant Knight killed a Master Knight! If it’s an Artifact then he, Oskar, want it! If it’s secret technique, he want his hands on it!
"What do you suggest we do?" Oskar asked.
"We should forget about trying to beat him into submission. Let’s just kill him swiftly and be done with it. Either way, If he has a backer then they’ll be drawn out and ambushed by the Tachibana force secretly watching right?"
Oskar nodded slowly. The reason he was so ready to follow another plan was because the Tachibana was basically using him as a bait as well. If Vale’s backer should appear, and if they’re not that strong then the monitoring Tachibana will attack, but if they’re too strong then they can easily withdraw with no concern!
Oskar frowned. "Then, let greet our guests."
He brought out an artifact from his ring. The Artifact was a piece of grey material that looks like a surfing instrument. He stood on it and floated out, the others copying him.
"Vale Athrimir!" His voice rumbled out. "And if I dare to stand in your way, what will you do?"
On the other side, the Radiant Ship moved away from the others and approached, bringing them closer to Oskar. Vale’s Master Knights flanked him.
"It’s not fair that you know my name and yet I don’t know your own!" Vale said. Watching the man that he thought to be the leader critically.
The man returned the look with a gentle smile. "Well, I then it’s only right that I introduce myself. You can call me Oskar."
"I don’t know if I’m to say it’s good to meet you, Oskar," Vale said. "The thing is, Matsumoto City’s leadership attacked me and I defended myself, I now have the right by blood to this city. I’m here to claim it."
Oskar seems to be holding himself back from saying something before he eventually settled on. "You...I think I understand now but, there’s also a problem on my side. This city, Matsumoto, belongs to me!"
Vale raised his brows as if he was simple and couldn’t understand. "It belongs to you, but...you’re not a Company Captain. All the Company Captain died."
Oskar smiled thinly. "I am the one in control of everything."
Vale’s eyes flared. "Then there’s indeed a problem because I am here to take the city."
"You won’t compromise?" Oskar asked.
"I won’t." His reply was firm.
The tension in the air thickened again. The two group stared at each other. Oskar with five Master Knights. Vale with two Master Knights, Radiant Sky and Tiber. And even with the obvious physical imbalance of strengths, it appears as if the two groups are equally matched.
After a beat a Oskar opened his smile. "Then....how about we do this in the old fashioned way. A duel between our two teams. Matsumoto should be the prize!"
"And if you are the one to win?" Vale couldn’t hold back his curiosity.
Oskar laughed. "Then Athrimir and Akatsuki is mine!"
It was Vale’s turn to laugh. "That’s hardly fair but I’ll accept, only if the duel will be between the two of us only!"
Oskar paused a bit. "Alright. If anyone of us win then their forces must surrender. What do you think, a battle to the death?"
"I accept!"
Vale turned to Tiber. "Forgive me Tiber but I lied. I’ll fight with my physical body, the healers will just have to start all over again!"
Without waiting to hair Tiber’s curses, Vale already lifted himself up in the air with Imprisonment box. He flew close to Oskar who’s also flying closer.
Around them, their forces retreated to give them space and serve as subtle pressure on each other to warn against interference!
The two stared at each other. Vale said. "I heard you are a saint."
Oskar shrugged. "I was born with it. And once you have that then it’s not hard to find ordinary people to worship you."
"Oh?" Vale decided to probe him even more. "I know you know most of my power, but you, I’ve not heard before. This is a duel and to operate on fairness, don’t you think I have to know how you power works? What’s your aspect?"
"I don’t think so. Is it not your bad luck that made it so you can’t know what my power is like? Don’t blame me for your failure in preparation. I’ll tell you this much, I’m under the Elemental Order but a lot argues that forces should not be under Elemental but to have its own path entirely."
"Eh? You mean like gravity?"
Oskar snorted. "Close, but it’s not that!"
He lurched his attack after that. Golden light, his saint powers, gathered around him like a storm and pushed him forward with incredibly speed.
So fast!
But Vale, with his Infernal Dominion that grant him the powers of the Master Knights at once was simply faster. He floated upward to gain an higher ground and at the same time he draw his sword!
The sword flashed and a beam of black and red fire, a sword beam cut the air downward with incredible speed, an arc the height of three humans that immediately raised the temperature around into scorching heat.
Dominion Slash!
Oskar was going to fast to dodge and his face flickered briefly as he witnessed Vale’s speed. He had no choice but to confront the attack head on!