Chapter 175: Hard Resistance

“How… how could mere sword wind cause such solid-like damage?”

Miss Baron looked blankly at the shallow cross-shaped groove on the stone pillar, her eyes filled with disbelief.

“Some techniques can achieve this level!”

Beside her, Baron Jandu answered in a deep voice, his eyes fixed dead on the shallow cross-shaped groove on the stone pillar as he said: “The Divine Church’s [Cross Sword Technique] is one of them, but…”

“But what?”

Miss Baron asked subconsciously.

“However, this should be a technique that only a Grand Knight level can master! Why…”

Baron Jandu’s words carried thick confusion.

“Could it be that he is already a Grand Knight?!”

Miss Baron exclaimed in a low voice.

“No, no, Miss Lily Tier, you have obviously misunderstood. Higgs has not reached Grand Knight. He is just extremely talented and very suitable for cultivating the [Cross Sword Technique]… However, given Higgs’s level of cultivation in the [Cross Sword Technique], even if he encounters a Grand Knight, he can still remain unharmed… Tsk, Knight Dean Ken? He is not bad either, but it is a pity he ran into Higgs. He is destined to fail!”

Bishop Deholl, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke, and then shook his head with a sighing look.

Everyone on the viewing platform, including Baron Jandu, remained silent. Clearly, facing a technique like the [Cross Sword Technique], they chose to believe it.

However—

“Dean won’t lose!”

Miss Baron said in a low voice.

“He won’t lose!”

Compared to the previous sentence which was like talking to herself, this sentence was shouted loudly, causing people on the viewing platform to look sideways. Bishop Deholl smiled and didn’t even look at this anxious and frantic Lady—this itself was the gap in Strength. How could one obtain a victory just by shouting twice? Too naive!

“Knight Dean Ken is really in danger! However, that Steel Armor should be able to help him withstand a few of Higgs’s attacks, right?”

Baron Defendi sat there, speaking in a strange tone.

“Although Higgs has great Talent for the [Cross Sword Technique], he still has to go through some cultivation processes… That Magic Armor should be Marquis Vauban’s treasure, right? Withstanding three to four Sword Qi slashes is definitely no problem! But, it is a pity for such a good Magic Armor!”

Bishop Deholl agreed softly, while Baron Defendi nodded repeatedly beside him.

The words of both revolved around the Steel Armor on Dean, appearing extremely regretful.

“Damn it!”

Miss Baron looked viciously at the two who were colluding. Even she could hear their sinister intentions—using words to interfere with the duelists and create pressure. Such a thing seemed difficult, but in operation, it was extremely simple; one only needed to find the opponent’s weakness.

And in the current situation, such a weakness was very easy to find: Dean was currently at a disadvantage facing Higgs’s [Cross Sword Technique]. What he could rely on was the defense brought by the [Weight-Reducing Solid Steel Armor] on his body to find a chance to win. However, now, after the words of Baron Defendi and Bishop Deholl, if Dean really relied on the defensive power of the [Weight-Reducing Solid Steel Armor], it would inevitably create a psychological burden for himself.

Even if he won, he would definitely be pointed at and talked about, saying he relied on equipment.

And this would undoubtedly make Dean hesitate!

And once he hesitated, it would naturally make the already unfavorable situation even more unfavorable, making the hope of winning even slimmer.

This was the situation seen by most people on the viewing platform.

It was also what Miss Baron saw.

“Please don’t be affected by them, please don’t!”

Miss Baron prayed silently in her heart.

However, the next moment, Dean suddenly jumped to the edge of the dueling circle and pulled open the straps connecting the torso of the Half-Body Armor to the thigh armor.

The Half-Body Armor was taken off by Dean and placed carefully to the side.

Seeing this scene, everyone was stunned.

Even Bishop Deholl and Baron Defendi, the instigators, were no exception. However, immediately, both of them chuckled, smiling with such complacency.

Miss Baron’s face turned pale, and her body sitting there couldn’t help but sway.

Baron Jandu, who was beside her, immediately supported the Miss and persuaded in a low voice: “Dean won’t necessarily lose. You must know he has won against a Grand Knight before!”

Although he said this, looking at Baron Jandu’s uncertain expression, one could tell how much confidence his words contained.

Dean had won against a Grand Knight, but at that time, he had also heard Marquis Vauban describe the scene in detail. Only under the right time, place, and people was such a battle record created.

And now?

“How can he be so reckless?!”

Baron Jandu complained silently in his heart. However, while complaining, he also had a trace of admiration—for Baron Jandu, who advocated the Way of the Knight, Dean’s action was undoubtedly the easiest way to gain his favor: ignoring the gap between both sides, harboring bravery, just for a fair fight.

This is a Knight!

In Shiva’s eyes on the other side, a glint of splendor also flashed.

And Marquis Vauban, sitting in the main seat, looked at the two people in the arena, especially Dean, with a trace of gravity in his expression—for this Old Marquis, he was more worried about how he would explain to the Emerald Grand Duke if something really happened to Dean. After all, the Emerald Grand Duke had instructed him several times when he left.

As for the Way of the Knight?

The Old Marquis did not truly see it.

After all, this Old Marquis had always adhered to the Way of the Noble; although the two sides could not be said to be complete opposites, they were definitely not the kind that seemed to coexist in harmony.

“Can we start again?”

Clearing his throat, Marquis Vauban asked on behalf of his old steward, and at the same time, giving Dean a chance to regret.

“Yes!”

Dean said very bluntly. Immediately, he made the Marquis stunned, and then he sat there smiling bitterly, not knowing what to do. Even Higgs, who was Dean’s opponent, re-evaluated Dean—

“You are a worthy opponent… However, I will not show mercy!”

As Higgs spoke, he crossed his twin swords again, and then… slashed out!

Buzz!

The cross-shaped Sword Qi shot out from the sword once again, slashing straight towards Dean.

And Dean just faced this sword strike. Not only did he not dodge, but he also charged straight up.

“What is he going to do?”

Everyone present asked in their hearts. Only Miss Baron covered her eyes with her hands, as if she dared not watch the next scene.

However, precisely because of this, she missed the next scene—

“Ha!”

A low roar came from Dean’s mouth, and then, his body, which looked ordinary and only slightly muscular, swelled up like a balloon.

His height, which was close to six feet, instantly exceeded seven feet.

And his slightly muscular body became knotted with muscles. The inner shirt that originally looked loose on him was instantly torn apart at this moment.

However, this was just the beginning!

The next moment, when the cross-shaped Sword Qi slashed onto Dean’s body, it was the moment that made those who had been paying attention to the battle dumbfounded.

Clang, Clang!

Amidst the sound like metal colliding, the cross-shaped Sword Qi fiercely stood on Dean’s body. However, apart from completely removing Dean’s already tattered inner shirt, it had no further effect. It didn’t even break Dean’s skin; at most, it left a shallow white mark.

“This is?!”

Bishop Deholl on the viewing platform and Marquis Vauban in the main seat stood up abruptly facing this scene. Especially Bishop Deholl, he even knocked over the chair under him. However, this Bishop seemed to have noticed nothing, just staring blankly at Dean in the arena.

Buzz!

At this time, Higgs, who was equally shocked in his heart, launched his second attack.

The cross-shaped Sword Qi was imprinted on Dean’s body once again.

However, just like the first time, it still had no effect.

In disbelief, Higgs assumed the stance of [Cross Sword Technique] again, but Dean would not give the opponent a chance for a third attack.

That fist, which had doubled in size, was wrapped in a layer of Flame and hammered towards Higgs’s face.

Feeling the scorching wind, Higgs, who had just set up his starting posture, knew that he had no chance to slash out the third strike. Immediately, he dodged to the side without hesitation.

His speed was extremely fast, far exceeding the level of an ordinary Knight.

Undoubtedly, after undergoing Baptism, Higgs should have obtained a Talent related to [Agility].

And it was precisely because of activating such a Talent that he had the confidence to fight Dean. After all, extremely fast speed combined with the [Cross Sword Technique] was simply a perfect match.

But now, Higgs found himself a bit naive—his speed was fast, but Dean’s speed was even faster.

The fist wrapped in Flame suddenly accelerated and smashed straight onto Higgs’s face.

Just as Dean had said before: he would not hold back.

Bang!

With a thick smell of burning, Higgs’s corpse, whose head had been smashed, flew far away before tumbling and falling to the ground.

However, everyone’s gaze was not on Higgs’s miserable corpse. Their eyes were fixed on Dean, watching that tall, strong body, and the Flame burning on his fist.

“De… Dean, what is the Talent you awakened?”

Marquis Vauban asked with a trembling voice, somewhat disregarding his status.

“Giant Transformation!”

Dean hesitated for a moment before saying this.

Suddenly, there was an uproar in the hall.