Chapter 1011 Revenge for a Defeat Ten Years Ago (1)
Note: The chapters will alternate between the present and flashbacks. I'll use "***" as a separator between them. I hope you'll understand!
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"Fighting without weapons is so boring. How about we use swords?" Freya suggested.
Nolan was about to agree when Seira's voice cut him off.
"No sharp weapons allowed!"
"Tsk!"
Freya clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"All right, let's get started!"
Freya pulled her right leg back, placed her right fist against her hip, and extended her left fist forward.
Nolan smiled at the sight. Freya was truly a master of martial arts.
She had even gone through several mentors because she learned everything they taught her so quickly.
He remembered their father's words: "Freya was born to be a military leader. If only it weren't for the imperial family's ban on holding military positions, I would have made her one of the empire's great generals."
Nolan knew the old man was just talking nonsense. With his power, what couldn't he change?
Rules?
That was even easier.
He guessed the old man simply wanted to protect Freya. He didn't want his beloved daughter to go to the battlefield and die.
"Stop spacing out! I'm going to start!"
Seira's voice snapped Nolan out of his thoughts.
Nolan took a deep breath and seriously looked at Freya standing across from him.
"That fight ten years ago… I'm going to get my revenge, Sister!"
"Go!"
As Seira's voice rang out again, Nolan and Freya shot forward at incredible speed. They both leaped into the air and exchanged punches.
BAM!
***
"Father, what do you mean? She was clearly in the wrong! Why am I the one being punished!?"
A ten-year-old boy protested to the man standing in front of him.
"Why make such a big deal out of it, kid? Just give that pudding to your older sister. You can make another one."
His words made the corners of the boy's mouth twitch.
The boy turned toward the girl standing two meters to his right. She was beautiful, with light brown hair tied in a ponytail.
She was eating the strawberry pudding he had prepared the night before.
"Sister, aren't you ashamed of stealing from your little brother?" he protested.
The girl licked her lips and sneered.
"Why should I be ashamed? Doesn't the law of the strong preying on the weak still apply in the imperial palace?"
"Y-You…"
The boy gritted his teeth in anger.
"Fine, then!"
He turned toward the man and exclaimed, "Father, I want to fight her!"
His words startled both of them.
"Are you sure?" the man asked hesitantly. "Freya is four years older than you. She's also more experienced in combat. You'll only hurt yourself."
But the boy didn't seem to care.
"I'm still going to do it!"
"Hmm…"
The man paused for a moment, wondering if he should grant his request.
Suddenly—
"Father, just let him. I'll teach him a lesson and show him who his big sister really is," Freya said confidently.
The man could only shake his head.
"All right. Let's go to the training arena out back. And remember—don't hurt each other, or I'll punish you both. Got it?"
"Got it!" the boy and Freya replied at the same time.
Freya stared at the boy and gave him a meaningful smirk.
"My dear Nolan, I hope you don't cry when I hit you."
Nolan snorted coldly.
"We'll see about that."
***
Freya punched Nolan right in the face.
However, Nolan quickly crossed his arms and blocked the punch.
WHUMP!
Nolan's body was sent flying two meters backward.
Freya darted toward him as fast as a cheetah. She leaped one meter into the air and spun her body horizontally before kicking toward the right side of Nolan's face.
THUD!
Nolan blocked the kick.
Freya was surprised, but only for a moment. She used her momentum to adjust her body in midair and kicked again.
This time, her kick landed squarely on the right side of Nolan's neck.
Nolan immediately jumped backward, putting some distance between them.
Freya landed on the ground, then glared at him with a grin.
"You're pretty good."
"So are you," Nolan replied with a small chuckle.
Freya narrowed her eyes.
Anger began to boil inside her.
For the first time, someone had underestimated her. To her, that was an insult.
"All right, I get it. I just wasn't taking you seriously earlier. Let's see if you can still talk big after this."
Whoosh!
Her figure shot forward at incredible speed, moving so fast that she seemed to turn into a blur.
Nolan flinched. Before he could react, Freya had already appeared right behind him.
She raised her fist and threw a punch at Nolan's back.
However, Nolan managed to dodge the powerful attack.
He leaped forward and rolled out of the way.
Freya wasn't about to let him escape. She bent her knees and immediately gave chase.
WHUMP!
WHUMP!
Nolan easily parried her powerful, rapid strikes.
Freya began to grow frustrated. Suddenly, she spotted an opening on Nolan's right side.
"Gotcha!"
She twisted her body and launched a heel kick straight at the exposed spot.
Nolan smiled and blocked the attack with his right arm.
"W-What!?"
Before Freya could react, Nolan grabbed her leg, spun her around, and slammed her into the ground.
BANG!
The impact was so loud that everyone hurriedly closed their eyes.
Nolan didn't give her even a second to catch her breath. He raised his fist and punched Freya in the face.
Freya quickly crossed her arms to block the punch. But Nolan didn't stop. He continued throwing punches at her face.
Feeling increasingly cornered, Freya gritted her teeth and caught Nolan's fist.
Taking advantage of the opening, she punched Nolan in the stomach, sending him stumbling backward.
Freya used both hands to push herself back onto her feet, then spun through the air before landing on the ground.
Her face immediately twisted in pain as she rubbed her arm.
"This guy is really scary…"
This was the first time Freya had faced someone who could really give her a challenge. Not only had he managed to block her attacks, but he had even pushed her into a corner.
But instead of getting frustrated, Freya felt a surge of excitement.
It was like a switch had suddenly flipped inside her.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds before charging at each other again.
***
"Get ready, both of you. Remember, don't strike any vital points, or I'll punish you. Understood?"
Ragan looked at Nolan to his left, then at Freya to his right.
"Understood!" they replied in unison.
Ragan nodded in satisfaction.
He took ten steps back before raising his hand and swinging it downward.
"Go!"