Under the gaze of thousands, the fencing master Fernandez Vasquez raised his hands, accepting the adulation from the crowd.
Opposite him, the massive woolly rhino was gradually being freed from its shackles. The guards were preparing to open the iron gates and allow it into the arena.
"A peacock strutting around," Veronica commented as she lounged against a simple wooden chair in the latecomer's box that Ryan and his group had rented. The Garland Witch seemed disinterested in the duel, her long legs crossed. "A red cloth? I've never heard of a red cloth agitating a rhino. Besides, can a rapier really penetrate a rhino's thick hide?"
"No, a rapier is not as weak as you think, Lady Veronica," Federmond said, correcting her misconception while intently watching the fencing master. "In battle, a rapier might be useless, but in a duel, it can target the joints and weaker areas of armor. Most plate armor, except for some magical ones, cannot provide full protection without any vulnerabilities."
"That's why Estalian duelists are famed for their skills in the Old World but not for their prowess in real combat," Ryan added. "Don't underestimate Estalia's duelists."
"Regardless, I won't be defeated," Veronica dismissed Federmond's words but was a bit miffed when her own man seemed to take his side. "These Estalians should just try my Fireball Spell."
Ryan chuckled and patted Veronica's shoulder, indicating for her to watch the match. Seeing this, Veronica stopped talking and turned her attention to the duel.
The duel began.
The woolly rhino, a powerful beast usually found in northern mountain ranges and alpine grasslands, was indeed a rare sight in Estalia. No wonder the citizens were so excited. This fierce creature, weighing over two tons, had a large iron ball chained to its hind legs to reduce its combat capability.
"Come on, beast! Myrmidia watches over me and grants me strength!" Fernandez Vasquez gripped his rapier in one hand, his silk bullfighter outfit glittering in the sunlight. He circled the arena, acknowledging the spectators before bowing deeply to the Duke of Bilbali's box, especially focusing on the noble lady sitting behind Duke Silva. After a few turns, he raised his rapier and signaled his readiness.
Duke Silva of Bilbali, looking to be in his fifties with long brown hair and a prominent hooked nose, narrowed his eyes. Despite his age, he maintained a certain handsomeness.
Behind him sat his daughter, the beautiful twenty-year-old noblewoman Elno Salamanca Bilbali, her eyes sparkling like sapphires, watching the fencing master with curiosity and eagerness.
The battle commenced!
The guards prodded the woolly rhino with long spears at the back of its neck, causing the beast to roar in pain and charge into the arena, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"This rhino probably weighs over 2,000 kilograms," Ryan observed casually from the stands.
"Ahhh!" Fernandez Vasquez attacked first, taunting the rhino with his large red cloth.
Enraged by the taunts and its injuries, the woolly rhino charged at Vasquez, its thick legs thundering as it barreled forward. "Ooooaaargh!"
The fencing master deftly sidestepped the charge, skillfully avoiding the rhino's massive horns, which were over a meter long. The beast's horns missed him, tearing through the red cloth and the air behind it, sending dust and dirt flying.
"Wow! So cool!"
"Well done, Vasquez!"
"Show us your skill, our fencing master!"
The cheers from the crowd filled Vasquez with pride. He narrowed his eyes, aligning his rapier with his gaze, and lunged forward, aiming for the rhino's shoulder blade with a precise thrust.
"Shing~" The sharp tip of the rapier pierced the rhino's hide, spraying a burst of blood.
"Excellent!" Duke Silva stood up, clapping enthusiastically. With the Duke's applause, the entire arena erupted into thunderous claps.
"Bravo, bravo!" Ryan also clapped, though he shook his head slightly. "But it's not over yet."
Indeed, the arena was far from settled. Fernandez Vasquez tried to drive his rapier into the beast's heart for a killing blow, but the strong resistance from the rhino's thick hide and muscles thwarted his efforts. The rhino's enraged movements forced Vasquez to retreat.
"I have a bad feeling about this. It seems this bullfighter underestimated the rhino," Federmond said, glancing at Ryan.
Ryan remained silent, watching the duel unfold.
Realizing the difficulty of his opponent, Vasquez discarded his elegance and rolled sideways to gain distance from the rhino. His once-pristine silk outfit was now soiled with dust, but the maneuver saved him from the beast's rampage.
The stands erupted in boos.
"Coward!"
"Chicken!"
"Kill it, kill it!"
Clearly affected by the jeers, Vasquez glanced nervously at the noblewoman in the Duke's box and decided to try again. This time, he taunted the rhino with both hands holding the red cloth, inciting the already furious beast. The rhino, still enraged, charged once more, dragging the heavy iron ball behind it.
Vasquez demonstrated his skill, holding the red cloth close to his chest. Just as the rhino's long horns were about to pierce the cloth, he sidestepped at the last moment, the beast's momentum carrying it past him.
Instead of air, the rhino's horns met the solid stone wall of the arena. The impact scattered debris, and the beast collapsed to the ground, dazed.
The chain attaching the iron ball to its leg snapped.
Confident in his victory, Vasquez knelt before the Duke's box. "I dedicate this victory to the beautiful Elno Salamanca!"
The arena fell silent. The noblewoman, Elno, was visibly flustered, covering her mouth with her hands, unsure how to respond.
"How romantic," Veronica mused, smiling as she watched from their box. "Is this how knights woo noble ladies?"
"Not always," Ryan was about to share some stories from his past, but he stopped as he noticed something amiss in the arena. "No! The rhino isn't unconscious!"
Vasquez was still kneeling, awaiting Elno's response. The audience's gasps and the commotion behind him made him turn to see the charging rhino only a breath away!
With a deafening crash, the fencing master was sent flying through the air, his nose shattered and his half-plate armor bent. He landed heavily on the ground with a sickening thud.
The woolly rhino, now free of its restraints, roared and began its charge again. The beast, feeling the full strength of its fury, was like a rolling boulder, ready to crush everything in its path.
Panic and chaos swept through the arena. Women screamed and lifted their skirts to flee. Men called desperately for the guards, shoving each other in their haste.
Yes! Yes! Destroy everything! Crush everything!!! The rhino, consumed by madness, charged toward the main stand with unstoppable force.
But halfway through its charge, something blocked its path.
The rhino strained its legs, pushing with all its might, the pain from its wounds fueling its anger.
It was to no avail.
Instead of chaos and screams, the arena erupted with deafening cheers and applause. Men clapped vigorously, women shouted with joy, and everyone chanted a single name.
A tremendous force met the rhino's charge.
Ryan, with his muscles straining, stood in the arena wearing only a Bretonnian count's ceremonial outfit. He gripped the rhino's massive horns with both hands, not using any weapons.
The Champion of the Lady of the Lake's eyes burned with a pale blue flame. His jaw clenched, spittle leaking through his teeth, and his fingers turned white from the effort.
His legs dug into the ground, his boots leaving long furrows in the dirt of the arena floor.
The powerful muscles in his arms twisted and bulged, the fine cloth of his outfit tearing under the strain. Through the rips, one could see the taut, streamlined muscles, veins bulging with effort.
Sweat poured from Ryan's brow in large drops. His shoulders creaked under the pressure, and he gasped for breath, tasting blood in his lungs.
That was the taste of ruptured capillaries from exertion.
The rhino's advance halted. Man and beast stood locked in a stalemate in the arena.
Ryan had never known the full force of a two-ton beast's charge until now. Feeling his body's alarm bells, he glanced at the injured and unconscious fencing master being dragged away by the guards.
"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!"
The residents of Bilbali chanted, waving their handkerchiefs, hats, and even shirts.
Ryan took a deep breath, gripping the rhino's massive horns tighter. The beast, now confused, grew even more frantic, its wild thrashing making it difficult for Ryan to hold on.
"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!"
The pure contest of strength captivated the entire arena. Duke Silva of Bilbali stood up, rushing to the edge of his box, eager to witness the spectacle.
Veronica, tears welling in her eyes, covered her mouth. She knew her man was incredibly powerful. Olica's face was full of excitement and pride, her thoughts drifting back to the bloody arenas of Naggarond and Har Ganeth. This was her master—handsome and strong.
But this wasn't the end. The Grey Knight Primarch tightened his grip
on the rhino's horns, gritting his teeth, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. Even under such extreme conditions, Ryan increased his strength.
He began to push back.
The two-ton rhino, towering over two meters tall and nearly four meters long including its horns, was driven backward. The beast bellowed in panic, its four legs scrambling in vain to escape its predicament.
Ryan wouldn't give it a chance.
With a roar that echoed like a beast's howl, the Grey Knight Primarch planted his legs in the ground and heaved upward!
The sight that followed left everyone breathless.
Dust and debris flew, the sunlight piercing through the haze.
"Boom!" The two-ton beast was flipped by Ryan and crashed to the ground, writhing in agony.
"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!"
Trained guards quickly moved in, using long spears to stab the rhino in several critical spots to prevent it from rising again.
"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!"
The bullfighting music resumed, filling the arena with triumphant notes. The thrilling and intense duel had driven the crowd wild. Thunderous applause and cheers echoed throughout the stands, and showers of flowers rained down, as spectators chanted Ryan's name, lavishly praising him. The master of ceremonies took the cue, proclaiming, "It seems today's victor has been decided. Though unexpected, let's name him—the champion from Bretonnia, the chosen of the Lady of the Lake, Sir Ryan-Macado!"
Grimacing from the soreness, Ryan managed a smile. He raised his arms, soaking in the crowd's adulation.
"Reward! Reward! Reward!"
The city was in an uproar.
The arena gates opened, and Duke Silva of Bilbali, with his entourage, descended from the stands. Approaching Ryan and his group, he extended his hand to Ryan: "What a surprise, to see the champion of the Lady of the Lake here in Estalia. Greetings, Sir Ryan. I have heard of your illustrious deeds."
"What? Is Estalia not welcoming to tourists?" Ryan shook hands with Duke Silva, then accepted a pair of rhino ears and a tail along with the prize of 500 Excellents from the Duke's steward.
Ryan accepted the prize without hesitation. It was his earned reward, worthy of the highest honor given to a bullfighter.
"Tourists? Oh no, I welcome tourists. But I fear you are not merely a tourist. Tell me, what brings the champion of the Lady of the Lake here?" Duke Silva inquired calmly.
"There's a matter in which we need your assistance…" Ryan briefly explained, omitting that the stolen item was the Sea God Trident and mentioning only that some rogue knights had stolen important relics.
Upon hearing Ryan's description, Duke Silva frowned deeply. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "If I could, I would very much like to refuse your request, champion of the Lady of the Lake. This is my territory!"
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"But… I cannot refuse a victor of the bullfight who has captured the hearts of the city's citizens," Silva continued after a pause, noting Alfred and Federmond's growing impatience. He turned with a haughty air, "Follow me."
"My clerk will help you check the entry records."
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