Liam moved to the alcove. He was drained. My mana is almost gone. He knew he couldn't face Arthur like this. He needed more. He remembered the Lilith Grass essence. The refined drops, sealed in a small vial. He had kept it in his inventory. For a true emergency. This is it.
He pulled out the vial. The liquid shimmered, a faint silvery-blue light. He swallowed it quickly.
A wave of intense warmth washed over him. It wasn't just energy. It was a profound surge. His core felt full. His very being thrummed. His fatigue receded.
The System panel flared:
[Lilith Grass Essence Consumed!][Mana Pool Permanently Increased by +75!][Strength Permanently Increased by +2!][Agility Permanently Increased by +2!][Potential: B -> A!][Mana: 100/355 (Refilled from previous consumption + New Pool)]
Liam gasped. A-Rank Potential! He felt a deep shift. Not just stats. His very limits had moved. His mana was full again. And even stronger. He had pushed himself. Now he was ready.
Meanwhile, the first semi-final began. Kael Thorne versus "Glen Forhimer."
Kael fought with his usual raw power. His axe was a whirlwind. He was relentless. Prince Arthur, however, met him with elegant, calculated precision. Arthur's movements were fluid. He dodged Kael's brutal swings. He weaved through Kael's wild attacks. Liam watched from his alcove. He used Dragon's Gaze. He saw Arthur's true speed. His concealed strength.
As Kael charged, Liam focused his Dragon's Gaze fully on the commoner. The translucent panel flickered, then solidified:
[Status Window]
Name: Kael Thorne
Age: 17
Race: Human
Class: Woodsman / Brawler
Title: The Unyielding Commoner
Stars: ★★★ (Adept Warrior - Unrefined)
Affiliation: None (Sponsored)
Potential: B+
Emotional State: Resentful, Determined, Unyielding
Intent: Prove Worth, Defeat Nobles, Win Tournament
Attributes:
Strength: 30 Stamina: 28 Agility: 15 Vitality: 90 Endurance: 100 Mana: 50
Talents: Axe Mastery (B+) Unarmed Combat (B) Survival (A) Indomitable Will (A)
Skills: Brutal Cleave (Active - Rank B) Iron Skin (Passive - Rank A) Wild Instinct (Passive - Rank B)
His Vitality and Endurance are even higher than I thought, Liam mused. Adept Warrior… and his Strength is formidable. But his Agility and Mana are low. He truly relies on sheer brute force and toughness.
Kael, frustrated by Arthur's elusiveness, changed tactics. He dropped his axe to one hand. Then he lunged. His movements became a series of raw, untamed strikes. He used an old, barbaric technique. He didn't just swing. He tried to overpower Arthur with his knuckles. He aimed brutal punches. He used his forearm. He tried to crush Arthur's guard. Kael roared, his face contorted. He looked like a wild beast.
Arthur grunted. He was forced back. He met Kael's raw power with subtle deflections. He twisted. He dodged. He took a small cut on his cheek. Kael roared, pushing his advantage. But Arthur's eyes held cold calculation. He allowed Kael to overextend. Just a little.
Then, Arthur shifted. He activated his Shadow Step skill. He vanished. He reappeared behind Kael. Too fast for the commoner. Kael spun, but Arthur's sword was already there. A clean, precise strike. It tapped Kael's wrist. The touch was light. But Kael's grip broke. His massive axe clattered to the ground.
Kael Thorne stared. His eyes wide. He was disarmed. He looked at Arthur. Then at his fallen axe. He clenched his jaw. He gave a sharp, frustrated nod. He conceded.
The herald's voice boomed. "Master Glen Forhimer is victorious! He advances to the final!"
The crowd roared. Arthur merely stood, composed. His face was unchanged. He glanced at Liam's alcove. A flicker of something in his eyes. A challenge.
Grandmaster Orin Oulbeck descended from the dais. He addressed the crowd. "The final duel will commence in three hours! This will allow our finalists, Lord Liam Lithian and Master Glen Forhimer, time to recuperate and prepare for the ultimate test!"
A wave of excited chatter swept through the stands. Liam felt the time limit. Three hours. It wasn't much. But with the Lilith Grass essence, he had a chance. He had more than a chance. He had power. And a new, unyielding resolve.
Prince Arthur, Liam thought, his gaze hardening towards the other alcove, you will see more than you expect.
The crowd was electric. Tension filled the air. Liam and Arthur stood at opposite ends of the dueling circle. The Prince's calm, serene expression didn't change. But Liam's Dragon's Gaze saw it. A flicker of heightened calculation. Muscles tensed. Mana flowed faster. Arthur knew. He knew Liam was more than just another noble.
"The final duel! For the Championship of the Oulbeck Tournament of Spears!" the herald declared. "Lord Liam Lithian of House Lithia, versus Master Glen Forhimer!"
A roar went up. Liam gripped Crimson Fang. Its ruby fuller pulsed dimly. His mana was full. He had pushed himself. Now he was ready. His Draconic Refinement had improved his stats. The win had bolstered his resolve. He had to win. For the prize. For his future. He had to rewrite it.
Arthur moved with silent confidence. He drew a simple longsword. His movements were precise. Economical. Unnervingly fast. This was no commoner. This was a prince. A master of disguise. Ready to show his true self.
The herald raised his hand. "Begin!"
The fight started. No clash of steel. Just feints. Measured movements. Arthur pressed. He moved fast. His sword was a silver blur. Liam relied on Draconic Senses. And his past life's skill. He parried. He dodged. He sought openings. Arthur saved mana. He used pure skill.
Liam unleashed Dragonheart Vigor. He poured his mana. Into Agility and Strength. Crimson Fang sang. Its Blooddrinker effect was eager. He moved like a whirlwind. He forced Arthur to react. Pushed him back.
Arthur's calm broke. He twisted. He ducked. He countered. With unnerving precision. He activated his skills. Liam's Dragon's Gaze showed [Shadow Step (B - Latent)]. Arthur vanished. Reappeared. In a blink. It was disorienting. Liam compensated. He used his enhanced senses. He tracked mana distortions.
The duel became a battle of wills. Each fighter pushed the other. To their limits. Arthur had hidden power. But Liam met him. With desperate ferocity. A strength born from a rewritten past.
Liam pressed. He moved with a speed that forced Arthur to shed his disguise. The Prince's movements became sharper, more explosive. A faint, almost imperceptible shimmer began to emanate from Arthur. Liam's Dragon's Gaze confirmed it. An Aura. A visible manifestation of raw power. This was the realm of being recognized as a special being. Liam knew this. It was an ability of 4-Star Knights or higher. Arthur had deliberately cheated. He had suppressed his true strength, entering the tournament under false pretenses.
The Aura pressed down on Liam. It was like fighting through thick water. This was an ability that could be fatal to an inferior opponent, crushing their will. Liam knew this. His body screamed under the pressure. But his will, forged in the ashes of a past life, refused to break. This is why Lucas warned me. This is why Father would have made me forfeit.
Liam channeled his Dragonheart Vigor. He pushed mana into Obsidian Scales, a dark, spectral sheen briefly covering his forearm as he deflected a powerful strike. He countered with Adamantine Claws, his hand transforming for a split second, tearing through the air near Arthur's guard. He moved with the primal ferocity of a beast, countering Arthur's regal power with untamed draconic might.
The duel became a desperate, terrifying dance. The clash of steel was constant. Mana rippled. Arthur, his aura flaring, was losing his cool. He couldn't land a decisive blow. He couldn't break Liam.
Liam saw an opening. Arthur's eyes, filled with frustration, narrowed. He lunged, driving Crimson Fang forward. The blade found its mark. A deep cut across Arthur's shoulder. Blood blossomed.
Arthur staggered back. His Aura flickered. His eyes, now wide with raw fury, fixed on Liam. "You...!" he snarled. Rage contorted his face. "You won't win!"
His aura pulsed, threatening to lash out. The sheer power threatened to shatter the very dueling circle.
The arena was in shock. Whispers turned to gasps. "An Aura! He's a 4-Star!" "He cheated! He shouldn't be here!" The realization that "Glen Forhimer" had used an ability restricted to higher-ranked individuals, confirming he had lied about his status, rippled through the stands. Liam had faced an opponent far beyond a typical Adept Knight, and he had fended him off.
Suddenly, a resonant voice boomed across the arena. Grandmaster Orin Oulbeck was on the dueling circle. He moved with terrifying speed. He stepped between Liam and Arthur. Orin's own immense Sword Saint Aura flared, overwhelming Arthur's. It crushed the Prince's anger. It brought him to a halt.
"Enough!" Orin's voice was a thunderclap. "The duel is concluded. Lord Liam Lithian is the victor!"
A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd, a mix of awe for Liam and outrage towards Arthur. Grandmaster Orin, his stern gaze sweeping the stands, left no room for argument.
The ceremonies began quickly. Arthur's hidden escorts, clad in plain traveler's clothes but moving with the disciplined efficiency of elite guards, quickly descended from the stands. They surrounded the Prince. They grabbed his arms. They led him away. Arthur struggled. His face was still contorted with rage. He screamed, his voice raw, echoing through the stunned silence that followed Orin's declaration. "Liam Lithian! I will kill you! Mark my words!" His shouts faded as his guards rushed him from the arena.
Sir Lucas was at Liam's side in an instant. His weathered face was a mixture of deep worry and immense pride. "You… you did it, boy," he murmured, his grip on Liam's shoulder firm. "A mission truly accomplished."
Liam stood panting, bleeding from minor cuts. But he was victorious. He looked at the retreating Prince.
[Quest Completed: The Oulbeck Tournament of Spears]
[Difficulty: Hard]
[Objectives Fulfilled: Obtain permission (✓), Travel (✓), Win the tournament (✓)]
[Rewards Granted:]
+3 to All Stats![Relic: Ring of Azure Depths] (Acquired! Now in Inventory!)
1500 EXP (Total EXP: 1300/1000 -> Level Up!)[Stars: ★★★ (Adept Knight) -> ★★★★ (Elite Knight)]
[EXP: 300/2000 to next Star][Title: Oulbeck Champion] (Acquired!)
[Bonus Objective: Earn the direct acknowledgment of Sword Sovereign Eldrin - PENDING…]
Liam glanced towards the highest balcony. Sword Sovereign Eldrin, his silhouette still unmoving, remained watching. There was no immediate acknowledgment. Not yet.
Finally, an Elite Knight, Liam thought, a deep satisfaction settling in him. It was a massive achievement, especially at his age. But now, with Arthur's rage and the secrets he'd revealed, Liam knew he had a lot more to do. The challenges were only just beginning.