章 48: 48 - A Noble vs. a Commoner!

A Noble vs. a Commoner!

Jon stared down Nolan, his smile more of a facade than a genuine expression. However, his eyes seemed to look right through Nolan, as if he were merely a blur in his line of sight.

Beside him, Elara subtly leaned in, urgently whispering, "Jon, you don't have to do this. I don't care about these petty matters."

With his sharp hearing, Nolan caught Elara's murmur and let out a mocking laugh. "Don't fret, dear Elara," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "I won't hurt him too much. After all, the arena has its rules to prevent fatalities."

Jon, keeping his enigmatic smile, offered a slight bow to Nolan. "It's truly comforting to hear that from someone as gracious and magnanimous as you," he replied, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I'm eager to learn a bit about the art of combat from someone of your caliber."

Without further ado, they both headed to the registration desk, paying a fee of 250 points. They then entered the arena, gearing up for the impending duel.

Inside the vast coliseum, reminiscent of ancient Roman arenas, the tension was palpable. The colossal structure, with its towering stone walls, was filled with eager spectators. Scattered throughout the arena, towering trees and small peaks served as shelters and vantage points for the fighters.

Nolan, with a smug smile, approached Jon. "It's impressive to see someone like you so skilled, Jon. For a commoner, you have a certain... talent," he remarked, his words heavy with condescension. "But against someone with true power, well, we'll see how far that talent takes you."

Jon, maintaining his calm and composed demeanor, responded, "Thank you for the compliment, Nolan. Everyone has their journey, and I'm here to learn and grow, regardless of my background." Jon's indifference towards Nolan was evident.

As the conversation unfolded, Jon silently assessed the situation. 'The ideal approach would be to test Nolan from a distance with my bow,' he thought, 'and adapt my strategy once I gauge his capabilities.'

Nolan, noticing Jon's intent as he drew his bow, thought, 'A smart strategy for a commoner. Let's see how he fares against nobility.'

As the signal for the duel's commencement sounded, Jon sprang into action. With a powerful leap that cracked the ground beneath him in spiderweb patterns, he swiftly made for the trees, aiming to camouflage himself and secure a strategic position.

Nolan, on the other hand, remained cool and collected. His gear, though flashy and gleaming, was subtly designed, allowing for fluid and precise movements. He unsheathed his sword, which gleamed under the sun, and positioned himself, ready to parry any attack.

Jon, intent on gauging the strength of a second-year noble, fired rhythmic arrows, switching positions and testing Nolan's defenses. Each arrow was skillfully deflected or parried by Nolan's sword, moving with remarkable grace and efficiency.

The audience was clearly divided. Many rooted for Jon, drawn to the idea of an underdog overcoming the odds. However, the nobles cast disdainful glances, clearly disapproving of his presence in the arena.

Breaking the rhythmic pace of the fight, Nolan exclaimed, "Your assessment strategy is intriguing, Jon. But a cautious duel like this can get tedious. How about we truly face off, giving it our all, head-to-head?"

The atmosphere in the arena grew even thicker. Jon, with a determined expression, slowly walked towards Nolan. Upon reaching him, he stored his bow in his inventory and, with a fluid motion, drew his sword. The blade, though seemingly plain, radiated an aura of quality and precision. Nolan, in turn, couldn't help but acknowledge the weapon's quality, but his arrogance made him believe that his own ornate and luxurious sword was incomparably better.

The clash of blades began. The metallic sound of swords colliding echoed throughout the arena as the two warriors showcased their prowess. Jon's sword moved like water, flowing effortlessly and always finding its mark to parry Nolan's strikes. Nolan, in response, ramped up his efforts, aiming to surpass Jon not just in skill but also in sheer strength and speed.

As he defended himself, Jon pondered his years of training. 'Battling goblins in the dungeons taught me a lot, but facing a human is an entirely different ballgame,' he thought. 'I need to adjust my tactics and learn from every fight.'

The tension between Jon and Nolan was palpable. They squared off, sizing each other up, before diving into a whirlwind of strikes and counter-strikes. Nolan's blade traced perfect arcs in the air, each move calculated to be both offensive and defensive. His fighting style resembled a dance, where every step and twirl had intent.

Jon, on the other hand, moved with fluid grace, his sword always in the right place to block or deflect Nolan's assaults. He ducked, spun, and leaped, dodging Nolan's blows with pinpoint accuracy. Every time their blades met, sparks flew, lighting up the arena in a dazzling display. The metallic clang of their swords created a warlike symphony that mesmerized all who watched.

In a surprising move, Nolan spun and delivered a horizontal slash aimed at Jon's torso. Jon quickly ducked, narrowly avoiding the blade, and retaliated with an upward strike. Nolan, with razor-sharp reflexes, sidestepped, causing Jon's sword to graze his armor, producing a high-pitched sound.

The battle continued at this frenetic pace. Nolan tried to pressure Jon with a series of rapid thrusts, looking for a gap in his defense. However, Jon always seemed one step ahead, anticipating Nolan's moves and countering with equally swift and accurate responses.

At one point, Nolan, using his sword as leverage, tried to unbalance Jon, pushing him backward. Jon, however, used the momentum to perform an acrobatic flip, landing behind Nolan. Before Nolan could turn, Jon struck in his direction. Sensing danger, Nolan quickly ducked, feeling the blade whiz inches above his head.

Both warriors were clearly giving their all, and the audience was enthralled by the spectacle. Each move, each strike, was a testament to their skill and determination. As the fight raged on, Nolan's gear began to glow more intensely.

'A buff,' Jon realized, recognizing the effect. Nolan's speed and strength surged, and each blow became an even greater challenge for Jon. The ground beneath them cracked and groaned under the force of the attacks.

In a surprising move, Nolan feigned an attack and, with a nimble jump, kicked Jon from behind, knocking him down. Wasting no time, Nolan aimed to end the duel with a downward strike at Jon's head. However, Jon, mustering all his strength, kicked Nolan, sending him tumbling backward.

Rising to his feet, Nolan, face twisted in anger, exclaimed, "How dare you face me while hiding your true strength?" But before he could continue, Jon, with astonishing speed, was behind him, his sword tracing an arc towards Nolan's back.

Nolan, however, had an ace up his sleeve. "I didn't expect to use this against someone like you," he said, as his gear shone even brighter. The wounds on his body began to heal rapidly. In a defensive move, Nolan blocked Jon's attack and, using his hands for support, delivered a powerful kick to Jon's chest, sending him flying.

Jon hit the ground, coughing up blood. He slowly got up, wiping the blood from his lips. 'That gear... it's downright unfair,' he thought, clearly shaken. 'Seems like money truly can buy power.'

The fight went on, but now Nolan had the upper hand. Each of his blows was stronger and faster, and Jon struggled to defend himself. In a devastating sequence, Nolan unleashed a barrage of attacks, each more potent than the last. Jon, skilled as he was, was clearly outmatched.