Chapter 196: Ch-196: Imperial Factions (1)
Victor, Amber, Eleanor, Rina, Emily, and Duke Hilbert walked toward the private training arena, where a few soldiers were training. They stopped immediately upon seeing the group.
"Duke Hilbert!"
Every single one of them bowed to the Duke, who simply gave them a nod.
Their eyes then turned toward the unfamiliar pair, Amber and Victor, and they were surprised to see that the Duke had brought them here. Unlike the public training grounds, the private training arena, as the name suggested, was restricted, and only members of the Hall bloodline or the most trusted soldiers, like them, were allowed inside. Naturally, they were very curious about who Victor and Amber were.
"Everyone, please clear the training arena. My future son-in-law will be fighting. My daughter, Rina, has issued a Challenge of Patriarchs and Matriarchs, and they will be using this arena," Duke Hilbert announced.
Everyone’s eyes widened to the size of saucers, and a pin-drop silence fell over the area.
Snap.
Everyone’s gaze immediately shifted toward Victor, and the men who fancied Rina looked at him with hostility before breaking into an uproar.
"Damn, who the hell is this guy?"
"Holy hell, how freaking lucky!"
"Do you think Miss Rina was forced?"
"No, my goddess! The most precious gem of the Hall Duchy has been stolen!"
"I want to challenge him!"
Victor’s lips twitched when he saw the crowd glaring at him. Amber noticed and couldn’t help but say in a mocking tone, "Looks like you’re really hated here."
"Yeah, that’s right," Rina also nodded several times in agreement.
"And whose fault do you think it is?" Victor retorted with a helpless look.
"Are you saying it’s my fault?" Rina asked with a raised eyebrow, causing Victor to snort in response.
"I have a feeling someone is going to come and challenge me for your hand," Victor suddenly said.
"I don’t think so. They aren’t that bold..." Rina’s expression changed before she could finish her words.
"You! I challenge you for Lady Rina’s hand!"
"Yes, me too!"
"Same! Same! I also want to challenge!"
"..." Rina averted her eyes when she saw Victor looking at her.
"All of you, silence! Have you forgotten that Rina is a noble and can choose anyone she likes? Who are you all to challenge him for her hand? Did she or I agree to any of this?" Hilbert suddenly interjected in a cold voice, and the crowd immediately fell silent.
Those who had just issued the challenge looked at Victor and Rina apologetically and bowed their heads.
"We apologize for the disturbance, Miss Rina. We will clear the field."
Amber and Rina stood opposite Victor in the arena, while Hilbert, acting as the referee, stood at the center.
The audience, seeing Amber, widened their eyes and looked at Victor with envy, realizing that she would also be marrying him. The men inwardly cursed Victor for winning the hearts of two beauties.
"Let me explain the rules. First, you may use any treasures. Second, under no circumstances may you leave the arena. If you do, you lose. Other than that, anything goes."
"Alright, the match begins!" Hilbert declared as he immediately moved away from the arena.
Victor looked at them with a smile and said, "As the saying goes, ladies first."
Amber and Rina did not hesitate and immediately started preparing their attacks.
"Holy Paladin Armor," Rina said as golden armor materialized over her body, covering every part except her face. Victor raised an eyebrow upon seeing it and used his pupil technique.
[Item: Holy Paladin Armor]
[Rank: Rare]
[Description: An item that doubles the power of light-based attacks and reduces damage from darkness-based attacks or items.]
"Demon Transformation," Amber said as her appearance became even more seductive, and her charm skyrocketed.
Many of the men in the audience who had been watching Rina were now staring at Amber with intense desire.
"Primordial Ice Manipulation - World of Ice."
Instantly, the temperature around them dropped, and the terrain transformed into ice and snow.
The audience snapped out of their daze and began shivering.
"Fuck, it’s too cold!"
"Holy... black ice! Does she have an Ice Mutation Warlock Bloodline?"
"Heavens, I’m becoming even more jealous of that bastard. Not only are they beautiful, but they’re also talented and powerful."
Rumble.
"Ice Wall!"
"Light Wall!"
Amber and Rina immediately reacted when they heard the sound of lightning, and sure enough, multiple lightning serpents charged toward them.
Bang!
Crack!
"Fuck, defending against a targeted attack is even more difficult," Amber cursed as she broke out in a cold sweat. The moment the serpents struck, both the Light Wall and Ice Wall shattered instantly, forcing them to hurriedly dodge as the serpents did not slow down for even a moment.
She had always used her ice powers to create barriers to block the aftershocks of Victor’s attacks, and even then she had failed to block them completely. But now that she was facing his attacks directly, she finally understood just how terrifying his offensive power truly was.
Seeing Victor’s powers, the crowd—especially the bold ones who had challenged him just a few minutes earlier—immediately broke out in a cold sweat as realization dawned upon them.
"Heavens, he’s so powerful!"
"Now that I remember, wasn’t the Savior also using black lightning?"
"Damn, now that I look at him, he does seem familiar."
"Holy shit, we were actually about to challenge the Savior of the Hall Duchy."
"Now that I look at Miss Rina and Lord Victor, they really do seem like the perfect couple."
The crowd did a complete 180-degree turn in attitude and looked at Victor with shining eyes as though they were gazing upon their idol.
Eleanor, who saw this from the side, had her lips twitch as she thought, ’Damn, the reverence they have for him has already surpassed even my father and sister.’
Eleanor clicked her tongue as she resumed watching the fight.
"Girls, let’s decide this with one final move. What do you say?" Victor suggested, and Amber and Rina looked at each other before nodding.
"Fine."
"We agree."
The next moment, Amber started gathering ice in the sky while Rina concentrated light. Victor raised his hand as black lightning crackled around his body.
Gulp.
The onlookers gulped in fear as they sensed the rapidly rising aura.
Step. Step.
"DUKE!"
The momentum was shattered as the Hall Duchy’s butler ran toward the training arena with a pale face.
Seeing this, Hilbert frowned, but the next words from the butler’s mouth made his body stiffen in surprise.
"The three Imperial factions are coming to the Hall Duchy!"
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