Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 101: Chapter 88: Shattering Your Melee Dream with One Punch

Bain, wearing armor emblazoned with the Bro Clan’s crest and carrying a Hand-Half Sword and shield, stood on the tournament field.

His first opponent was a burly Knight’s Squire, an Attendant to Calvin, who, like Calvin himself, was renowned for his immense strength.

As soon as the signal to begin was given, his opponent charged Bain with a ferocious assault, his Hand-Half Sword cutting through the air with a SWOOSH as it swung down.

Unflustered, Bain blocked the blow with his shield, then swiftly counterattacked, thrusting his Hand-Half Sword at a precise angle toward a gap in his opponent’s armor.

The opponent barely dodged but had already lost his balance. Bain seized the opportunity, striking the man’s helmet with his sword to win the first match.

"Speed and agility are no worse than strength, are they?"

Faced with Henry’s gloating, Calvin pretended not to hear.

Soon, Bain faced another victorious contestant. This one was more cautious, attempting to find an opening in Bain’s defense through rapid movement.

Bain maintained a defensive stance, observing his opponent’s every move.

During one of his opponent’s overly aggressive attacks, Bain saw his chance. He bashed the man’s weapon with his shield; the sudden blow knocked it from his grasp. Bain immediately followed up by leveling his sword at the man’s chest, claiming his second victory.

Bain’s two victories drew a wave of cheers. The atmosphere here felt no different from a grand tournament.

A few of the Free People had secretly started taking bets, hoping to make a small profit.

In the third match, Bain faced an Attendant who had also won two consecutive bouts.

The two went back and forth on the field, with Bain drawing on his extensive battlefield experience to outmaneuver his opponent.

After a feint, Bain lured his opponent into revealing an opening. He then disrupted the man’s footing with a powerful shield bash, followed up swiftly with his Hand-Half Sword, and touched its point to his opponent’s chest for the winning blow.

Victorious in three straight matches, Bain bowed to the spectating Henry as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

"You did very well!" Henry said after the match, clapping him on the shoulder.

Bain removed his helmet, revealing a face drenched in sweat but beaming with a smile. "Thank you, my lord. It is only by your grace that I have achieved this today."

The surrounding nobles all expressed their admiration for Bain. They believed that in the future, the young man would surely become one of Henry’s Vassals.

Next up, the second combat event—the full-armor, Two-Handed Sword duels between the Knights—was about to begin.

The noble Knights, clad in heavy plate armor and wielding massive Two-Handed Swords, stepped onto the field.

These Two-Handed Swords were longer and heavier than a standard Long Sword, requiring Two Hands for a Knight to wield them with ease.

The competition began. First up was a young Knight under Baron Edmund versus an old Knight, an Independent Noble.

The Independent Noble’s armor was covered in the marks of battle, while the armor of Baron Edmund’s Knight was new and pristine.

At the sound of Claude’s horn, the two Knights charged simultaneously.

The young Knight, relying on his boundless energy and swift attacks, swung his Two-Handed Sword in a series of vicious arcs, launching a fierce assault on the old Knight.

However, the old Knight was exceptionally experienced. He calmly dodged or parried each of the young Knight’s attacks while searching for an opportunity to counter.

As the match wore on, the attacks of Edmund’s Knight grew reckless. The old Knight seized an opening, swatting the young Knight’s sword aside with a powerful swing of his own Two-Handed Sword. He then closed the distance rapidly and slammed a vicious elbow strike into the young Knight’s body, forcing him back several steps.

The spectators held their breath. The old Knight gave the younger one no chance to recover, immediately launching into a series of precise slashes. Each swing of his Two-Handed Sword landed squarely on the young Knight’s chest, producing a tooth-jarring CRANG of metal on metal.

Finally, the old Knight struck the young Knight’s helmet, knocking him to the ground. The young Knight struggled to get up but ultimately conceded defeat.

The old Knight won the match. He raised his Two-Handed Sword to the sky, accepting the cheers and respect of the crowd. ’It’s been too long since I’ve felt the glory of displaying my strength under my own family’s banner.’

The following matches were just as thrilling. The Knights on the field displayed their unique skills; some overpowered their opponents with strength, some won with speed, and others relied on superior tactics and strategy to achieve victory.

Every impact, every clash of steel, drove the spectators wild.

As the sun climbed higher, the competing Knights’ armor became soaked with sweat, but their fighting spirit only soared.

’The fighters before us were incredible,’ they thought. ’We can’t afford to bring shame on ourselves!’

For the third and final combat event, the atmosphere reached its peak.

The noble Knights, their Attendants, and the spectators all held their breath, ready to witness the contest between the Barons.

Boras forfeited, as he always did, giving Calvin a victory by default. This left Calvin feeling both annoyed and excited. ’This victory feels undeserved,’ he thought, but then another idea struck him. ’But now I get to face Henry in the final... Thank you, Boras.’

As for Edmund? Calvin didn’t think Edmund could win.

Henry and Edmund, both clad in full plate armor and wielding Two-Handed Swords, strode to the center of the field.

With a wave of Claude’s colored flag, Edmund launched the first attack. He strode forward, gripping his sword hilt with both hands, and swung at Henry.

Henry raised his sword in an upward slash to meet the blow. The collision of their blades produced a deep THUD and a shower of sparks.