Chapter 172: Brilliant Sparks (Part 2)

[Strength judgment in progress…]

[Obtained Indomitable Lv1 bonus…]

[Strength judgment passed]

[Strength exceeds the opponent by 20%, forming suppression…]

……

Messages like this on Dean’s character panel started to emerge as if they were scrolling across the screen. However, it was clear that Gulodal’s strength was far inferior to Dean’s.

Dean’s own strength at this moment reached 3.22. Added to that was the bonus from [Indomitable] in the judgment, as well as the boost from [Military Swordsmanship (Emerald)], reaching a full level of [Strength: 4.44].

Although Gulodal had advantages like his tall and large body, according to Dean’s observation, his strength was only fluctuating around 3.5.

For any Knight-rank opponent, such strength was suppressive.

But for Dean, such strength was clearly not enough to look at.

However, Dean did not look down on his opponent because of this.

After all, what the opponent displayed was pure strength, whereas Dean had passed judgment bonuses and skill boosts.

Moreover, more importantly, the skill boost had a time limit!

Therefore, when the opponent, with his muscles bulging and teeth clenched, gathered all his strength again and tried to push him off—

“Want to make me get down? No problem!”

Sensing the strength surging from beneath his feet, Dean spoke as he jumped off the hammerhead.

Whoosh!

The sound of the Warhammer cutting through the air rang out again. It was louder than any previous sound, and it was clear that the strength was a bit out of control—

Gulodal’s arms, holding the hammer handle, had just raised above his head and swung backward. His whole body staggered backward due to the inertia brought by the Warhammer.

Gulodal gritted his teeth. His increasingly ferocious face showed that he was trying hard to adjust his state.

However, Dean would not give him a chance.

Moving like the wind, Dean quickly closed the distance to Gulodal. Gulodal, with both hands raised above his head, was clearly unable to defend in the true sense.

He could only watch as Dean’s palm got closer and closer!

However, there was not the slightest change in the ferocious look on Gulodal’s face. He could tell that this palm strike, although fast, had no strength at all. At most, it would just use his current unsteadiness to push him to the ground; apart from that, there was no other possibility.

How much damage could a fall do to him?

Gulodal knew this all too well. With his Constitution, he wouldn’t even lose a piece of skin.

Therefore, he didn’t care at all.

He even secretly sneered at Dean in his heart: “He actually chose to use his palm instead of his Longsword. He really is an arrogant…”

Before this sneer was finished, Gulodal was stunned by the scene before his eyes—

Whoosh!

In front of the empty palm, a ball of Flame appeared out of nowhere, dancing joyfully.

“How is this possible?!”

Gulodal cried out in alarm.

However, even this exclamation did not cover up the sound of everyone present gasping for breath.

Everyone’s faces revealed expressions of shock and disbelief.

Especially Bishop Deholl and Baron Defendi. The latter even stood up from his chair with a swoosh, his face changing between gloom and brightness.

Even Higgs, who had been keeping calm and silent, widened his eyes at this moment.

As for Miss Baron, who knew the inside story, she now wore a proud, faint smile with a touch of reserve.

As for Marquis Vauban?

Although he looked calm on the surface, seeing his clenched fists, one knew that the Marquis, who had already lost three young subordinates today, was far from as calm as he appeared.

And the group of knights under Marquis Vauban showed admiration on their faces—a ‘Flame’ type Knight Talent was enough to show Dean’s outstanding talent.

At least, it was far above an ordinary Knight.

Bang!

Amidst the varied expressions of joy and anger from the people present, Dean, having spent 10 points of Stamina, pressed the Magic Flame, equivalent to 100% of his own attack, directly onto Gulodal’s face.

“Ahhhhh!”

The scorching heat from the Magic Flame and the feeling of a blade touching his body made Gulodal scream madly. He threw away the Warhammer and tried to pat out the Flame with both hands.

However, the unique characteristic of [Flame Attachment] burning for three seconds made Gulodal’s patting so futile.

In fact, such patting lasted less than a second, and this was also due to Gulodal’s special Constitution. If it were someone with an average Constitution?

They would have lost their life the moment they were attacked.

One had to know that the Magic Flame created by [Flame Attachment], consuming 10 points of Stamina, was equivalent to 100% of Dean’s attack power.

And such attack power landed right on the face.

The consequences were imaginable.

Gulodal’s breathing stopped. Even though Bishop Deholl had stood up, ready to come to the rescue.

But looking at Gulodal, who had no breath and a scorched black face lying on the ground, Bishop Deholl sat back down—even he could not save a dead person.

“Pa, pa, pa…”

Seated in the main seat, Marquis Vauban began to clap his hands with a gentle expression on his face.

Suddenly, like the start of a chain of dominoes, enthusiastic applause rang out from the viewing stands.

Of course, some people were sincere, while others were forced.

Just like that Baron Defendi.

Before the old steward announced Dean’s victory, he seemed to mutter to himself: “Dean Ken Knight has already undergone Baptism? This is the first time I’ve heard of this!”

These words were not loud, but not soft either, just enough to be clearly heard amidst the enthusiastic applause.

Suddenly, the enthusiastic applause paused.

“Baron Defendi, Your Excellency, what do you mean?”

Miss Baron asked coldly.

“Nothing, I was just surprised to learn for the first time that Dean Ken Knight has already undergone a… hmm, undergone a Knight’s Baptism!”

Defendi’s words paused specifically, but the meaning changed its flavor.

It was as if Dean had long ago undergone more than one Knight’s Baptism.

Multiple Knight’s Baptisms were not rare among Nobles, because such Baptisms could indeed bring powerful strength, but this method was like drinking poison to quench thirst.

It was fundamentally not recommended in the true sense.

Because the consequence of multiple Baptisms was to make the Constitution weaker, or even extremely frail.

Perhaps you might have the strength to knock down a big tree with one punch, but while knocking down that tree, you would definitely end up with broken bones and snapped tendons.

However, the temptation of strength was simply too great.

Many young people, knowing this, would still immerse themselves in it, unable to extricate themselves.

Could it be that Dean was also such a person?!

The people present looked at Dean standing in the arena with surprise.

Some simply suspected.

Others guessed with malice.

Dean just swept his gaze and took in everyone’s expression changes. Regarding this, he smiled softly: “Multiple Baptisms? I wouldn’t use such a method!”

“Then what about the Flame earlier? Could it be that Dean Ken Knight, you are a natural awakener? This…”

Before Baron Defendi could finish his words, he couldn’t help but laugh himself.

Around him, quite a few people with malicious speculations also laughed along.

Those who hoped in their hearts that others would be worse than them, and once others surpassed them, it must be because of despicable means—such people would never be few, even in the hall of a King of a County.

Facing such laughter, Dean said with an unchanged expression: “I am a natural awakener!”

His voice was clear and loud, instantly suppressing the laughter.

The mockers led by Baron Defendi would certainly not give up just like that.

“What about the evidence? Can you provide evidence? Or are you willing to accept a Baptism appraisal… empty words won’t do!”

Baron Defendi sneered.

“Of course I have evidence… Lord Marquis, I think I need to undergo a Baptism appraisal to prove my innocence!”

Dean turned around and looked at Marquis Vauban.

“Of course, I am willing to verify the innocence of any innocent person!”

Marquis Vauban nodded immediately, and nodded towards a Silver Knight beside him.

Immediately, this Silver Knight walked to the center of the hall holding an item that looked like a Crystal Ball—

The appraisal of Baptism was a technique developed based on the various Potions of ‘Knight’s Baptism’.

Because of the conflict between the medicinal properties, those Potions remaining in the body would appear under special circumstances.

Many forces would use such appraisal to distinguish between true ‘geniuses’ and those just making up the numbers.

“Dean Ken Knight, we need some of your Blood!”

The Silver Knight said.

“Okay!”

Dean, who was not unfamiliar with this process, directly extended his left index finger, pricked the fingertip with his own Dagger, and then dropped that drop of Blood onto the detection object, which looked like a Crystal Ball but was actually just a layer of glass on the outside with various potions inside.

The scarlet Blood landed on the detection object.

Along the curved smooth surface, it slowly flowed down, even sliding out a shallow scarlet trace.

But inside the detection object which looked like a Crystal Ball, there was no reaction at all.

If the Blood rarely contained the residue of those ‘Knight’s Baptism’ Potions, then the potion inside the detection object would change color, or even boil.

But now, there was nothing…

Then… it could only mean that Dean was a naturally gifted Knight who had awakened naturally.

An eighteen-year-old, naturally awakened talented Knight.

Suddenly, low exclamations sounded from the surroundings again, and the gaze looking at Dean changed once more.