Chapter 171: Brilliant Sparks Part 1

In the great hall, the people on the viewing seats watched the sword strike performed by the third young man using the ‘Thrust’ technique. Aside from the Good-for-nothing Baron who could not see anything at all, the others all secretly nodded; after all, this sword strike not only had a tricky angle, but more importantly, its speed was superb.

To be able to thrust such a sword strike at the Knight-rank was enough to explain this young man’s Talent and Strength.

Even Marquis Vauban, who had always had a gloomy expression, showed a slight surprise after seeing this sword strike; however, immediately after, his face became even gloomier.

Regarding Gulodal’s methods, the Lord Marquis was naturally well aware.

And precisely because of this awareness, he had even more anger—after all, for any power , nipping a young man with potential in the cradle was something difficult to accept.

As for the young man before his eyes creating a miracle?

Although Marquis Vauban had expectations in his heart, he viewed it with even more calmness. Judging by the Strength Gulodal had displayed in his records, this young man was clearly no match for him.

Unlike Marquis Vauban, who still held a sliver of hope.

Dean had never thought from the start to finish that this young man had any chance of winning.

The gap in Strength between the two sides was already something that could not be bridged by one or two techniques, unless they were techniques kept secret by the royal families and Grand Nobles of various countries.

Otherwise, the outcome had long been decided.

As if to confirm Dean’s speculation, just as the Longsword was about to strike his body, Gulodal moved—

Wuh!

With a dull sound, Gulodal’s body twisted clockwise, his two hands gripping the end of the hammer handle as he suddenly pushed forward; instantly, the Warhammer thrust straight out.

Thrust!

Some of the people present could not help but exclaim in low surprise.

A Warhammer Thrust?!

After the exclamation, some were even more full of surprise; clearly, they had not expected that a Warhammer could also perform the techniques of a Longsword. Even Dean could not help but narrow his eyes slightly.

And that young man who had thrust his Longsword out?

Clearly having not considered this, he looked with a face full of astonishment at the hammer head getting closer and closer. Although he tried his best to thrust out his Longsword, the difference in length between the single-handed sword and the long-handled Warhammer made such an effort seem so futile—

Bang!

With a dull thud, the intact head shattered like a crushed watermelon.

“Ah!”

A scream came from the viewing seats; of course, it was definitely not the Miss of the Tier Baron Family, but the Good-for-nothing Baron—after a shriek, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Suddenly, the viewing seats were thrown into a flurry of confusion.

Similarly, because of the splattering brains, the center of the great hall was also a scene of busy activity.

Amidst this busyness, Bishop Deholl wore a smile, as if turning a blind eye to his surroundings, while Marquis Vauban’s already gloomy face seemed covered with dark clouds, as if he could erupt in thunderous rage at any moment.

As for Gulodal, who had won three matches in a row?

At this moment, he stood there shouting loudly, while constantly waving the Warhammer covered in brains, making the already busy cleaning even more difficult.

However, no one stood up to accuse him.

The Strength Gulodal displayed, along with his record of winning three matches in a row, was enough to earn him such treatment.

Even Shiva, the Silver Knight, could not say anything.

Even though he only needed one hand to crush the other side.

After all, the other side had won openly and honorably in a duel; as a bystander, if he were to get involved, he would only be despised by others.

The same was true for the other Grand Knights who were indignant and wanted to make a move.

“Dean Ken? I question your qualification to become a Knight!”

With several panting laughs like a beast devouring its prey, Gulodal’s gaze swept over everyone in the great hall. Even when facing those Grand Knights, he was full of provocation, and even Shiva was no exception, though the speed at which his gaze moved was a bit faster; finally, his gaze landed on Dean.

This was one of his most important targets this time.

As for before?

It was just taken care of along the way, like an appetizer before a meal; the real main course was here.

Wuh, wuh, wuh…

Waving the Warhammer still stained with brains, Gulodal appeared incredibly excited. His face, which already looked somewhat ferocious, seemed even more terrifying; timid people could barely look straight at it.

Dean, however, ignored the other side’s little intimidation trick; after all, he knew much more about such little tricks than the other side.

“Lord Marquis, I similarly question this Gulodal’s qualification as a Knight!”

Walking out from one side of the great hall, Dean performed a Knight’s Salute to Marquis Vauban.

It was like a repeat of the words spoken by Gulodal and the three young men earlier, but compared to those three young men, Dean undoubtedly received more attention.

In fact, after some of Dean’s battle records from Vauban Castle spread out, he had always received such attention.

It was just that there was never a moment where they could confirm Dean’s Strength from such a close distance like this.

Therefore, after Dean requested permission from Marquis Vauban, the people on the viewing seats all straightened their backs, wanting to witness that rumored Strength with their own eyes.

Even those Grand Knights were no exception.

Only Shiva, the Silver Knight, who could be considered to have ‘witnessed’ everything, was able to maintain his composure; however, seeming to recall the scene that day, a moment later, a trace of lingering fear appeared on the Silver Knight’s face.

However, the people present did not notice this.

When the old steward walked toward the center of the field, their gazes were completely attracted—

Ding!

It was still that Gold Pulton; with a crisp sound, it leaped into the air flashing dazzling golden light, and then fell onto the carpet.

“Ha!”

Contrary to his previous motionless stance, the moment the Gold Pulton fell onto the carpet, Gulodal gave a loud shout and rushed toward Dean.

However, the Warhammer in his hand was not swung out; instead, it was tucked at his waist.

“Sure enough, it is Sword Technique…”

Dean looked at the other side’s attacking stance and could not help but confirm his previous guess—that so-called Warhammer Thrust was still Sword Technique; in fact, even this man, who was taller than a Barbarian, was using Sword Technique, merely executing Sword Technique with a Warhammer.

At the same time, the other side had well concealed such techniques within the ‘recklessness and Strength’ displayed by the Warhammer, causing those who fought him to fall victim to it, caught off guard.

Wuh!

Amidst a low sound of tearing through the air, the Warhammer thrust out once again.

Just like before, it was powerful and heavy, with superb speed, and it also possessed the advantage of the Warhammer’s long handle.

At the very least, if Dean drew his sword, he definitely could not reach the other side.

And the other side could easily finish off Dean, just like that young man before.

Therefore, Dean did not draw his sword; he did not even place his hand on the sword handle.

With his hands hanging naturally, Dean seemed as if he were strolling in a back garden; with a step to the side, he dodged this Warhammer Thrust and appeared on the right side of the Warhammer.

“Hah!”

Gulodal gave another loud shout; the Warhammer, which was thrusting straight, suddenly went horizontal, smashing toward Dean’s head, and the hammer head began to rotate once more.

Wuh, wuh, wuh!

This rotation drove the air to flow violently; even before the hammer head arrived, Dean’s hair was already blown up.

However, Dean lowered his body slightly and dodged this sweep.

“Die!”

Seeing Dean lower his body, Gulodal let out a ferocious laugh; the sweeping Warhammer was suddenly raised high and then slammed down viciously; this strike possessed both the slash of Sword Technique and the heavy smash of a Warhammer.

It was a move that directly combined the techniques of Sword Technique with the Warhammer’s own advantages.

Moreover, more importantly, the fierce sound of tearing through the air seemed to indicate that this strike was the real killing move; the previous two strikes were clearly a feint.

The purpose was to force the opponent into a posture where dodging was difficult.

And the situation before them seemed to leave Dean with no way out but to roll on the spot.

However, Dean could be completely certain that the other side’s current fierce strike was still a feint; if he really did roll on the spot, then that would invite the other side’s true killing move.

A low sweep from a high position; combining the other side’s Strength and the Warhammer’s inertia, such a strike landing on the body would cause the attacked person’s internal organs to rupture even if protected by Steel Armor, dying a death that could not be more dead.

Dean waited slightly, seemingly choosing what to do.

And the next moment, the Warhammer arrived above Dean’s head.

“Die!”

Looking at the target so close at hand, Gulodal did not hesitate; the already fierce smash became even more fierce.

Clearly, this feint was turned into a real strike by Gulodal at the very last moment.

After all, Dean’s head was right under his hammer, wasn’t it?

The people around thought so too; their cries of alarm clearly showed they thought Dean was doomed, especially the Miss of the Tier Baron Family, whose face turned pale.

Bang!

Amidst the dull sound, fragments of crushed stone flew about, and the long-handled Warhammer slammed fiercely into the stone slabs beneath the carpet, while Dean, the original target, stood at a distance one step away from the Warhammer.

Dodged?!

Gulodal and the people around were stunned; however, Gulodal reacted immediately; he suddenly gripped the Warhammer tightly, wanting to lift it again to launch the next attack.

But Dean took a step forward and stepped right on the hammer head.

“Get down!”

Gulodal roared, and at the same time, he violently lifted the Warhammer upward, wanting to knock Dean to the ground.

But that Warhammer seemed to have taken root there, motionless.