Charlot Mecklenburg’s greatest advantage lay in the spiritual elevation he gained from twice confronting the Evil God, which had exponentially accelerated his cultivation of Blood Glory during his early days in this world. Recently, however, his progress had leveled off to what could be described as the pace of an "ordinary genius."
Nonetheless, this spiritual enhancement granted Charlot unique strengths. For instance, he could effortlessly control multiple targets simultaneously. When using Flame Dragon’s Hand, he had considered it normal. Yet now, wielding dual rapiers with perfect harmony, each blade executing intricate movements as if extensions of his own arms, Charlot began to realize the profound advantage of his heightened spirit.
After hundreds of exchanges, Ban Lamorak began to gain the upper hand. His cultivation base was undeniably more robust, and his mastery of Arsilo Swordsmanship ran deeper due to years of practice. While their combat experience was nearly equal—Charlot having compensated for his shorter training period through countless duels in dreamscapes and skirmishes on battlefields—Ban Lamorak's inherent strength made him the superior fighter.
Charlot’s twin swords danced in the air, but he was beginning to feel stretched thin. Just when the spectators thought the battle had reached an unchanging rhythm, Charlot suddenly shifted his dual swordplay into two distinct styles, each sword embodying a different mood.
Both swords were rooted in Angel’s Twelve Movements, but the left rapier radiated the essence of dawn, sunlight, and the ocean, while the right sword exuded dusk, darkness, and mist. It was as though two master swordsmen of equal skill had joined forces, overturning Charlot's disadvantage and dragging the fight back to an intense stalemate with both sides attacking and defending in turn.
Though the nuances eluded most onlookers, Julian Arsilo, himself a practitioner of Angel’s Twelve Movements, immediately recognized the ingenuity. Eyes brightening, he murmured to himself, "So the Arsilo Swordsmanship can be wielded like this."
Julian was aware that Charlot's mastery of swordsmanship surpassed his own. He also knew that Angel’s Twelve Movements was divided into two parts: the first six movements spanned from dawn to sunset, while the latter six began at twilight. In other words, the essence of the Arsilo Swordsmanship resided in the latter half of the technique.
Charlot wasn’t actually doubling the power of Angel’s Twelve Movements. Rather, his left-hand swordplay was the primary focus, executed with full force, while the right-hand technique served as support, drawing only on the first six movements. To the untrained eye, the two blades appeared equally potent, but those unfamiliar with Arsilo Swordsmanship would never discern the subtle disparity.
Especially with the first six movements, which were grand, radiant, and overwhelmingly powerful, no trace of weakness could be seen.
As the fierce battle reached a crescendo, Charlot reversed the roles of his swords. The left rapier now embodied dusk, darkness, and mist, while the right radiated dawn, sunlight, and the ocean. With this seamless transformation, Charlot reclaimed the upper hand.
Despite being lauded as Britain's youngest "Lion," Ban Lamorak, who was even younger than Charlot by several years, had a much stronger foundation. Groomed from a young age through rigorous training in numerous Extraordinary Abilities, his skill in Knight’s Lance enabled him to deftly block Charlot's dazzling swordplay, keeping the latter at bay within five steps.
After three successive strikes, Charlot sensed a shift. Ban Lamorak's long spear always intercepted his blades at just the right moment. Realizing that his dual-sword technique had been deciphered, Charlot abruptly stopped changing his tactics. Instead, he hurled one of his rapiers onto the riverbank, where it landed embedded in the ground before Anastasia.
With only one rapier remaining in hand, Charlot's aura surged dramatically.
Julian glanced over and instinctively shouted, “The Ninth Movement: Twilight Requiem!”
In this Extraordinary world, even among the Arsilo Family, few devoted themselves solely to swordsmanship or spear techniques, instead pouring most of their efforts into cultivating Extraordinary Abilities. For instance, one might master the Blade of Emptiness or develop Stardust Battle Energy far superior to that of their peers. Even if their swordsmanship was lacking, they could dominate with techniques like stretching their blades or unleashing indestructible sword auras.
Julian himself had only practiced Angel’s Thorn up to Wings of the Young Dragon. Not due to lack of talent, but because only this movement emphasized pure swordsmanship. The rest relied on techniques rooted in Stardust Battle Energy or other Extraordinary foundations.
Primarily a spearman, Julian had little need to invest so heavily in swordsmanship. While he believed he could eventually master Angel’s Twelve Movements at Charlot’s level if given the same time, he couldn’t help but marvel at his friend’s innate swordsmanship talent.
Meanwhile, the Seventais River had transformed into a frozen spectacle. Ban Lamorak’s Frost Dragon Battle Energy had created countless ice floes the size of round tables, drifting on the surface like an otherworldly panorama.
When Charlot unleashed the Twilight Requiem, the entire river seemed to dim under an ethereal twilight. His movements resembled a shadowy panther prowling through the night—elegant, agile, and hiding a lethal potential ready to strike at any moment.
The duel, elevated to its peak, became even more intense once Charlot discarded his second rapier.
Emperor Alfred Guillaume watched the battle with great satisfaction. Glancing around, he asked, “Ban Lamorak is Britain's youngest Lion. What title would suit Charlot Mecklenburg?”
Count Soumet replied lightly, “Charlot is no longer young.”
The Emperor gave a soft “Oh” in response and returned his focus to the fight.
Aurora Soumet rolled her eyes. She knew her father’s intentions. If Charlot received too much favor from the Emperor, it could trigger a series of consequences—like increasing her own competitive pressure.
Aurora herself wasn’t exactly young anymore. Although born into nobility with a capable father, rising to the position of Cultural Officer at the Foreign Affairs Ministry had taken her five or six years. Even for someone as exceptional as Aurora, achieving such a rank within a few short years after university graduation marked her excellence. Yet, for a young woman, this was also the age when the bloom of youth began to fade.
A few years ago, Count Soumet had been highly selective about potential sons-in-law, imposing numerous harsh criteria. Now, his standards had lowered to the point of reluctantly accepting “even a Fars native.”
Julian Arsilo, with his Arsilo Family upbringing, was diligently attending university, following a structured academic path as a freshman. In contrast, Ban Lamorak, whose father was a famed general, had been subjected to a more aggressive education. Modeled after the achievements of Zimourman Axel Robin, Ban Lamorak entered university at the age of twelve, graduating in just a year and a half.
Aurora couldn’t accept Ban Lamorak—not just because of his overly rigid demeanor but also due to the age gap, which made him seem far too young.
At that moment, the Unicorn Griffon in Charlot’s hand let out a sharp, resonant cry. For the first time since the start of the battle, Charlot revealed a genuine smile and called out, “Sir Ban Lamorak!”
“The warm-up is over.”