Chapter 127: [127] Honour Duel

Everyone stared at Eliron, trying to gauge what his response would be.

The costs of losing was great, the hand of one of his close friends, but on the other hand, Balak was the one who had made the request, refusal would come at an costly price—

“I accept.”

“What?” Even Balak was shocked by the speed at which he answered.

“Are you deaf? I said I accept.”

Eliron said, one hand under his belly, a blank look on his face as he watched the mercenary.

“If we lose, you can take the arm of the chubby one over there, she’s the reason we are broke…”

“Hey!!” Yennefer screamed, her eyes turning moist.

“…”

The entire tavern went deathly quiet.

’No hesitation whatsoever?’ Balak thought. ’So he is a selfish bastard? He must think only the girl would be punished for his loss… how foolish.’

“Alright, it looks like we have an—”

“What is in it for me?” Eliron asked, interrupting him.

“Hmm?”

“This is a duel is it not? You can’t expect me to put her pretty hand on the line, plus my gold necklace and not get anything in return…”

“I see. What is it you want?”

Eliron shrugged and tapped his chin. “Nothing much… as you can see, we are in a bit of a pickle, I’m owing quite the sum.”

He smiled innocently. “If I win, I get to take back every single coin you have with you…”

Then he sighed and pointed his thumb at Yennefer.

“Oh, and you see that little drunkard over there? She’s pretty important to me, you know?” He stretched his hands and sighed.

“What are you getting at?” Balak asked impatiently.

Eliron pointed his index finger at him.

“You asked for her arm, I guess it is only right if I take something important from you as well don’t you think?”

Be brought his hand down.

Then Eliron’s gaze darkened, his blue eyes bearing a murderous glint.

“I’ll be taking your little dragon.”

Ash immediately glanced at Eliron, unable to hide his shock, only to be met with a look he had never seen on Eliron’s face.

Pure, murderous intent.

He had acted so casually when Balak requested for a hand from either Artie or Yen, but now, he was showing how he truly felt about it.

Balak’s nose flared and he clenched his jaw so tight that a vein pulsed on his jaw.

“You little bastard. I’ll split that piggy belly of yours and show you your bowels!

Eliron smiled coldly and pointed at the door. “I can’t wait.”

Yennefer on the other hand stared wide-eyed, turning sober in an instant.

She had a bad feeling something terrible was about to happen, and somehow, it was all her fault….

<••••>

Eliron stood at one side of the rainy street, behind him was his group who watched him without a hint of worry.

At the other side was Balak, the tip of his greatsword placed against the floor, confidence practically seeping out of his skin.

The rain was every bit as intense as it had been when they entered Kingsbridge.

“He is at least a first stage minor commander…” Artie spoke, her eyes on Balak.

“But that is not what makes him dangerous, he has probably fought more battles than all of our combined, his experience and brutality is his greatest asset.”

“Don’t be reckless…”

Eliron nodded.

“Be safe okay?” Yen added.

“Yeah, yeah…”

Ash gave him a look and nodded curtly. “Good luck, my lord.”

Eliron rotated his sword in his hand before stylishly discarding its sheath, tossing it to the wet floor.

For the sake of their honour duel, a knight from the gate had been called to officiate the duel, coincidentally, it was the friendly woman from earlier.

That was how Eliron knew her name was Sarah.

“Are you all ready?” She asked, glancing at both of them.

They both nodded.

Sarah sighed.

’To think he’d get himself into something like this on the very first day… I’ll have to step in if it gets too far, I can’t allow an important guest to get hurt.’

Although she doubted she could stop Balak in a fight, her authority should be enough to make him think twice.

“May God in heaven bear witness this duel.”

She pulled out her sword and raised it to the storm clouds above and then the sword fell—

Just as it cut through the air—

Bang!

The ground where Balak had been exploded as he vanished, appearing right in front of Eliron, greatsword barreling down with destructive force.

BOOM!

Eliron raised his sword defensively, blocking the explosive attack.

His feet dug into the floor from the sheer force behind the blow, but he kept an impassive face, glancing down at the floor.

“Hmm…”

Balak was far stronger than he had ever imagined.

The mercenary leader unleashed a flurry of blows, each hit of his greatsword felt like being hit with a concrete pillar.

“Come on? Is that all you’ve got?!” Balak barked as sparks erupted.

Bang!

Steel met steel, sparks fizzling out in the rain.

A haze of glowing colours erupted as two fighters danced to the crazed tune of swordplay, their bodies blurring in the misty haze of steaming rain.

At a point, their weapons were locked together, Balak pushing his strength into his sword.

He leaned forward, opening his mouth to speak as his steamy breath drifted into the rain.

“You might want to do better, if not you, who is going to stop me from having my way with the one you care so dearly about?”

A heavy hit shoved Eliron to the other side of the street.

Step!

Balak took a step forward, his visage turning ghostly as his mana surged around him, creating an oppressive force over everyone in the area.

He raised his sword, the great blade gleaming with violet energy as he unleashed his sword aura.

Sarah watched everything with wide eyes. ’So this is the power of a minor commander?!’

She was still merely a knight, but she had once harboured hope that she could hold her own against him, but how she knew—

She would die the very second she stepped in front of his blade.

All she could do was stand by, knowing she was about to witness a massacre.

The great sword glowed brightly, rain drops bursting to steam the moment they made contact with his steel.

“Phantom Cutter—!”

Immediately the words left his lips, the red streak mercenaries felt a chill run down their spines.

It was a skill they had seen their boss use countless times, one that had claimed every single life his blade was directed at.

Twenty strikes in the space of a second…

Forget blocking, there would be nothing left of the cocky elf after that attack was launched!

“Die!”

Balak sung his blade with ungodly precision, sword arcs turning the air into a canvas to showcase its chilling brutality.

Eliron saw a purple flash in his vision as the attacks came, but he did not panic.

He did not move, neither did he waver.

All he did was raise his sword.

He sucked in a deep breath, his eyes closing for the fraction of a second.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!!” Unable to restrain herself any longer, Sarah screamed at the top of her lungs.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Eliron’s cheeks.

’Supreme Sword Aura.’

Eliron swung his sword, and the word seemed to path under his blade.

The rain ceased.

A bright concentrated wave of mana surged out of his blade, cleaving the air, water and even minute dust particles apart, as it cut right towards Balak.

No one truly knew what happened, all they knew was that after Eliron swung his sword, Balak was on his knees, one of his arms lying on the floor in a bloody mess.

Eliron walked up to him, and glared down at his now pale face.

Blood poured out of his wound, creating a web of scarlet all over the floor.

Once again, the rain that had been out to a stop, began to fall again, dripping past Eliron’s face down to his clothes.

“Y-you slashed through my strike…” Balak muttered, his gaze dark.

“H-how?”

Eliron shrugged and raised his sword.

“I guess God truly is just… Now, I think we had a deal?”

Swish!

“UARGHHHHHHHH!”

A few seconds later, Eliron walked back to the serving lady, a smile on his face as he rummaged through a coin pouch.

He pulled out a gold coin and placed it on her hand.

“Thank you for the meal…”

He walked for a bit before stopping by her side. “Oh, you can keep the change…” he said, right next to her ears.

The woman had a look of pure terror on her face as she fell to her knees, the coin rolling to the floor.

Eliron walked past her, leaving everyone stunned.

“Let’s go, the blinking merchant awaits…”

There was no trace of the jovial elf they had experienced in the tavern a few minutes ago, the boy who had cracked jokes while rubbing his plump belly…

All that was left was the visage of a man who embodied the title—

Lord Of Elves.

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