CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 129- TWO HEROES TALK

"Wait, did you hold back your strength in our match?"

As a warrior herself who had her fair share of fighting experience, Zerina understood the vast gulf that each level up represented. Unless one’s stats exceeded their level limit, it was almost impossible to defeat an opponent higher level than you.

The only reason she was able to fight this long against an opponent who surpassed her by one whole level was because she was already aware of the attack patterns of a Gryffin Knight, thanks to Reinhardt.

However, after fighting her, she came to realise some things; the other party was indeed serious, and they attacked her at every opportunity available. However, it was just that.

The vice commander of the Black Gryffin legion only used the standard tactics and skills to fight against her. In a way, it could be said that she fought her with all of her strength. However, that is only if you look at it from the point of view of the exhibition match.

Zerina had an inkling, if Kaelith fought her on a battlefield with no limits barred, she would not be her match.

"I cannot kill a prospective demon hunter after all. This is an exhibition match, I used all of the strength within my permissible limit. Among all the level 8s I have fought, you fall in the top tier. You should be proud of that."

Leaving those words, she walked towards her squad.

Zerina mulled over her words before doing the same. Back in the stands, Reinhardt and the other gave her a grand welcome.

"Miss Zerina, please spar with me next when we get back".

"Hey, you can’t cut lines, I was first. Miss Zerina, fight with me".

The holy knights all wanted to fight her, while the squires and new recruits looked at her with revered eyes.

"I didn’t know Miss Zerina was this strong. She could even fight the Vice Commaner of the Black Gryffin Legion despite the other party being a level 9".

"Of course, which knight order do you think she belongs to? Our Order of the Temple of Light is not weaker than any of the knight orders in the world".

In their excitement, they were starting to forget that Zerina had never been knighted or joined their order.

"Welcome back. How was the enemy?" Reinhardt smiled and gestured at the seat next to him.

Zerina took the seat matter of factly, her eyes still focused on her opponent.

"Strong. I don’t think she used her powerful skills and tactics against me. It was like I was fighting a knight from the Black gryffin legion. Just that this knight possessed high stats and a Black Gryffin".

As someone who could pry into the statuses of others, he could indeed attest that the vice commander was holding back. Had she really used her strength and those mean sounding skills, she might have killed Zerina accidentally.

That said, the other party did indeed use half of her strength in that last exchange. Though it was interrupted in the end. Be that may, it was a good experience for all of them to see how a gryffin knight fights with their own eyes.

After the exhibition match was over, the Queen, standing true to her words, announced the new law of their Kingdom. The news created a storm of commotion in the capital and latter across the whole kingdom.

If the demi humans were this strong, why were they oppressed? How did their status change to a slave? How did their kingdom fall?

The spectators were forced to ponder over a lot of things as they left the coliseum that evening.

.

The time was around midnight, the gentle rays of the moon illuminated the streets of the capital.

On top of a building near the Arcknight mansion. Reinahrdt appeared with a breeze. Waiting for him at that place was a man with dark hair and eyes, the one the world called the Dark Knight.

The other party was without their gears and appeared all laid back right now.

"It’s a fine place, the city, the people, the land. No wonder it was able to foster so many excellent knights. Don’t you agree?" Vaerion spoke without turning. His eyes took in the night view of the capital as he felt the cold breeze.

"Indeed. If a place is able to hold the hearts of its people, they would no doubt become strong to protect it in return. That is the symbiotic relationship we humans have with our motherland," Reinahrdt stood nextto Vaerion, gazing at the scenery that lay before them.

"Uh-huh, I think so too. If it’s for my kingdom and my countrymen, I will even stare death right in the eye. I believe the other knight orders from Aetherion would do the same. However, after today’s event, I was forced to reconsider some of my thinking. Or should I say you and that Queen forced me to change my thoughts?"

"As I saw the views of the people over demi human change a little after today’s match, I thought to myself what would have happened had the human kingdoms provided support to the demi human kingdom when they were being invaded by the Forces of darkness. What would have happened if we all joined forces to fight them? Would the demons still be knocking on our doors like this had we gone about this a different way?"

There was no answer to what if. The past was past; there was no changing it.

Reinhardt glanced at Vaerion; the latter seemed to be considering many things in his head right now.

True, it was humans who brought this current predicament upon themselves. Had they not been completely apathetic to the fall of other races, then perhaps they wouldn’t have been backed into a corner like this.

As a human from modern Earth, he could easily see that. However, to the people who were born and lived here their whole life, it was difficult to change a millennium long thinking process, social stereotypes and preconceived notions.

Even on earth, slavery had existed for thousands of years and abolishing it was centuries long process.