CHAPTER 183: A SUMMONER AND A WARRIOR.

The castle’s sparring ground was located somewhere on the lower floors, not too far from where the sleeping dragon, Exlor, was present.

It was a well-fortified place with metals nailed to the wall to reduce the amount of noise that would escape the entire area.

The guard, who was always there to keep watch of the weapons, stood to the side at the sight of Revina and Maria walking into the place.

At the center of the training ground was a white circle drawn in place of a ring. Surrounding the circle were shelves holding different weapons belonging to the kingdom.

Maria didn’t need to be told anything to understand where she was supposed to stay.

The moment she walked into the room, she moved towards the ring and stood at the far end, her eyes quickly scanning through the shelves to see which weapon she was going to pick as her own.

Revina arrived in the ring as well, pulling down her robe to reveal herself wearing a black singlet with a long chain around her neck.

As she massaged her wrist, she uttered, "You don’t have to use the weapons there. I was told you had a special weapon given to you by the Dragon Monarch. Please, feel free to use that. I will be doing the same as well."

Maria was, of course, a bit hesitant about doing that. Her blade was made from the best dragon iron ore and also crafted by her father.

It was not a weapon she was supposed to use so casually.

Then again, she was fairly sure she had seen the weapon the King herself wielded.

If she were to use that weapon against her, then the regular weapons on these shelves wouldn’t stand a chance.

"Understood," Maria finally replied.

Stretching her hand to the side, she immediately summoned her blade, red and crackling with energy. Then she slashed it to the side, indicating she was ready.

Revina smiled at the sight of the blade. She didn’t expect anything less from someone who would be getting married to the mighty ruler of dragons. Just like Maria, Revina stretched her hand to the side.

"Come to me. Faja."

A bright white light shone on her right hand, and then, in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a long, white blade, oozing with white mana unlike any Maria had seen before.

When compared to her own golden mana, the white mana seemed more pure and denser. Still, it looked nowhere near as strong as her golden mana.

The King was, after all, a Grand Master-ranked Summoner.

Revina took a single step forward. "I might be a Summoner, but you need not worry. I am well-versed when it comes to physical combat."

Maria knew not to underestimate her either, so she nodded, taking her words to heart.

She was focused, ready for the duel even though she hadn’t yet understood if she was going to hold back or not.

From nowhere, Revina asked a question that completely shocked her. "Why do you have the scent of the witch?"

Maria froze in shock at the question, and then before she knew it, Revina was right in front of her, sending the white blade straight at her neck. It was in that moment Maria understood that this was no ordinary duel.

Immediately regaining her senses, she leaned her entire body back, allowing the blade to swoosh past her front before she took a giant leap back. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she charged forward, directly at the King.

Boom!

Their blades collided, causing the entire place to vibrate as though it was going to crumble and fall.

The guard lucky enough to watch such a duel stood there in awe at the sight before him.

Maria’s golden aura was oozing so much that it almost made the white aura surrounding the King seem nonexistent.

"They weren’t kidding when they said you were a Lord rank. The fact you have this unique aura is proof of that. An ability given to you by the Dragon Monarch, or the witch?" Revina grinned as she spoke.

Maria, seeing that the King was trying to get to her, reacted just as quickly. In that moment, she didn’t care about whatever status the King held. Not anymore.

She tilted her blade to the side, which caused the King to follow in that direction. Then, using her knee, she kicked Revina in the stomach, sending her flying backward.

Revina was somehow able to use the hilt of her blade to stop the attack from causing much damage to her; however, there was no doubt she took some impact.

Even after she landed on the ground, Maria could see Revina clutching her stomach with a painful scowl on her face. Which was soon replaced with a daring grin.

"Did I hit a nerve? Or perhaps you feel I am painting you in a bad light."

Maria sighed at the comment. "Are you implying I have some kind of connection with the Evernight Witch, Your Majesty?"

Revina finally stood upright, the pain in her gut already subsiding. "Years ago, the witch was slain by my forefathers in front of the whole world."

As she spoke, dark circles began to appear all around her, and from them, holy knights began to appear, each wearing different armor and carrying different weapons, but all answering to one person.

About twenty stood around Revina, waiting for her to give them the go-ahead to attack her opponent.

Maria, unfazed by the new opponents before her, paid attention only to what the King was laying out for her to listen to.

"My forefather slayed so many witches with the blade Gorgon Airos Faze that he was soon given the name ’The Legendary Witch Hunter.’"

Revina pointed the blade at Maria, and immediately the summoned knights charged forward in battle.

And of course, Maria was more than ready to face them. She swung her blade left and right, slicing them into multiple pieces, only for them to stand to their feet and reengage themselves as though they were blocks being rebuilt.

Behind all the chaos happening in the training room was Revina’s voice.

"At some point, his deeds drew the attention of the Witch God, the only god said to have descended from the heavens to bring fear to the minds of mortals."

...

[A/N]

I plan to mass release today as thanks for all the support I have been getting, so I look forward to it.