All eyes were fixed on one point. The situation could have ended by now, one of the worst outcomes, but the appearance of a single person changed everything.

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

Zayne squeezed the man's hand tightly, not at all in control of his power, which was already much greater.

"Argh? Who are you?" The man frowned with a contemptuous look, "Let me go! I have to teach this ungrateful bitch some basic manners!"

"Manners...?" Zayne muttered, exhaling cold steam, "How are you going to teach her anything if you're an uncouth pig yourself?"

Zayne loosened his grip slightly, allowing the man to release his hand and step aside.

"Go away. You've done enough." Zayne waved his hand as he stood in front of Elin, protecting her.

'Zayne...' Elin inwardly muttered, looking at Zayne's back, then a sad yet happy smile appeared on her face.

"You want me to leave? Who the fuck are you anyway?! This is the first time I've seen you! You're not a knight or a nobleman, that's for sure! So get out of my way if you don't want to die!" The man exclaimed furiously as the ring on his finger sparkled and a long sword appeared in his hand.

Zayne had no intention of retreating, so he stepped forward confidently and prepared to fight.

"I have fought opponents who were many times more dangerous than you, that is a mistake." Zayne said coldly, piercing his opponent with his gaze.

"Shut up. You're just an upstart! You shouldn't be here at all!" The man swung his sword.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Suddenly there was a slow clap as for a moment the tension dropped, then all eyes were focused on one man.

"Well, well, looks like something interesting is going on at our banquet, doesn't it?" Alden said calmly with a slight smile on his face, "Though I didn't expect it to come to this, we have to adapt, don't we?

"Mr. Zayne and Mr. Trus, there's a conflict looming, so we have to make it official, after all, we're all serious people here." Alden smirked as he looked at the man, "Mr. Trus, do you agree to a duel?"

"Pffffff, of course! I never back down!" Trus replied confidently, clutching his sword tightly.

Alden nodded and turned to Zayne, "Mr. Zayne, what about you? Taking part in a duel is a serious decision."

[Hidden Quest Obtained!]

[Duel in the middle of a banquet.

You are challenged by Trus Goren, a member of a noble family and one of the top graduates of the Knight Academy of the Red Feather City.

You may accept the challenge or leave, but be prepared for the consequences if you seriously harm a member of the Goren Family.]

'Hmm? Consequences? Shit, this banquet made me forget that in some things this world is no different from my own. Well, I got used to it a long time ago anyway.' Zayne inwardly muttered and turned to Alden, "Yeah, I'm ready. I hope I don't have to hold back?"

Alden's eyes went wide with slight consternation, so he was about to warn Zayne.

"What did you say?" Trus shouted, "You think you can beat me...?!" Trus waved his hand, "Don't be ridiculous! You better pray I don't cut off your hand you decided to touch me with!"

At the same moment, Kyla walked over to her brother, and turning to him she flinched as there was now a devious smirk on Alden's face with his eyes narrowed.

'Looks like something good has happened now, at least for my brother, doesn't it...?' Kyla pondered, trying to figure out what was the reason for Alden's sudden change of emotion.

Clap.

"Fine, in that case, the duel will begin when I give the sign! Everyone else will be required to move as far away from the fighters as possible, to avoid accidents!" Alden clapped his hands and his ring glowed.

A red handkerchief appeared in his hand, which he tossed upward. Everyone looked up, following the handkerchief that was slowly falling, but Zayne and Trus didn't turn around, they were staring at each other.

Tap.

The handkerchief touched the floor, and at the same moment, Trus rushed forward. Maybe he was drunk, but he'd done this many times before, so he knew how to attack.

Next to Trus, wind currents appeared that made him much faster and blurred his silhouette, as if he were a ghost, leaving only his green eyes clearly visible.

"Hahaha, hope you can survive!" Trus exclaimed with an evil smirk, finding himself right in front of Zayne.

Whoooooooooooosh.

Without hesitation, Trus swung his sword, aiming for Zayne's head as his most vulnerable point.

'How predictable... When Hugo made that attack, he actually had a chance to kill me, but this... This is a real shame. Now I understand why those knights were so weak.' Zayne muttered inwardly, staring at the blade with a calm gaze.

Zayne took a step to the side, turning his body and causing Trus's sword to fly past.

"What...?!" Trus's eyes went wide as he flinched at the dark silhouette behind him.

"What was that? With skills like that, you were going to beat me? That's not a funny joke." Zayne said coldly, turning around and kicking Trus's legs, causing his back to touch the floor.

In a shock, the sword fell out of Trus's hands, spinning in the air and gradually falling down.

Crackle.

Zayne gripped the hilt of the sword tightly and plunged it into Trus's leg without delay.

"ARGHHHH!!!" Trus's cried out in pain as his voice engulfed in agony echoed throughout the hall.

"Yeah, you scream like a pig, no wonder. Now, let me make your wish come true." Zayne muttered as his ring flashed and the Three-Eyed Whistle appeared in his hand.

The powerful smell of blood spread around, and Zayne squeezed Trus's right hand tightly.

"Wait... What are you going to do...?!" Trus exclaimed frightened, already completely oblivious to his leg.

"You wanted to cut off my hand, so I'm going to do the same. Unlike you, I don't use my hands to threaten girls." Zayne said coldly before swinging his sword.

"Bastard! Stop him, somebody! You can't do that! He's a nobleman!" A man in the crowd exclaimed, who seemed to know Trus well. He was about to rush forward and intervene in the duel, but suddenly a short silhouette appeared before him.

"Hey, did you really want to interfere with him? I won't allow it." Lucia smiled, leaning forward lightly with narrowed eyes, "Don't you dare stop him or... you'll have to face my wrath. You don't want that, right?"

The man gulped, he didn't want to mess with Lucia Lareso at all.

Whooooooooooooosh.

A hand flew to the side along with Trus's piercing scream, making many spectators shudder with fear.

"Well, it's done now. I hope you learn to hold your sword with your left hand, or your career is over." Zayne returned the Three-Eyed Whistle to its ring and took a slow step toward it.

After a few steps, Zayne stopped, "Although... a lost arm won't be your only problem, will it?"

Crackle.

Zayne stomped his foot on the hilt of the sword with all his might, thrusting it deeper into Trus's leg and making him feel searing pain once more.

"Ah... How beautiful..." Lucia whispered with pleasure.