The outcome of the battle was obvious.
The remaining ships of the duchy dared not open fire — they feared the retaliation that would surely follow.
All they could do was wait, trembling, to see what Leon would do next.
The air itself was tense to the breaking point; it felt as though the sky had frozen, silently gazing down upon the ruins of the duchy's once-proud fleet.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, someone shot forward toward Leon — a figure clad entirely in black armor.
It was the Dark Knight — Vandel.
His legendary form glimmered in the sunlight, and in his hand he gripped his famous sword, its blade etched with glowing magical runes.
He flew straight toward Leon's ship — the very vessel known as the Partner.
Under any other circumstances, such a sight would have set the soldiers' hearts ablaze.
They would have cheered, shouting in admiration of their hero's courage, and, inspired by his example, charged into battle behind him.
But this time was different.
After Leon and his fleet had obliterated the duchy's mightiest armada in mere minutes, the soldiers looked upon Vandel not as a hero — but as a madman.
A man willingly flying into his own death.
> "Is he out of his mind?!" someone shouted from one of the ships.
"Stop him — now!" another cried.
Yet no one moved.
They could only watch as Vandel hovered in midair before Leon's ship, turned to face it, and spoke in a loud, steady voice — one meant to be heard even from the neighboring vessels:
> "My name is Vandel Hym Zenden, the Dark Knight of the Duchy of Fanos.
All who live and die beneath the duchy's banner know my name.
I wish to know the name of the one who stands before me —
the one who commands such powerful ships,
and who, within mere minutes, destroyed a fleet once deemed invincible!"
He spoke with dignity; there was no fear, no hatred in his tone — only unwavering resolve.
Leon stood upon the deck of the Partner, staring calmly toward Vandel.
Beside him was Duchess Gertrude.
Her eyes were lowered.
Only a short while ago, she had radiated confidence and grandeur — but now…
Now she looked lost.
Everything she had worked toward — all the plans, all the careful preparation — had crumbled to dust in mere moments.
Her perfect strategy, once so brilliant, had shattered like a glass castle under the weight of reality.
Inside her swirled a storm of despair, anger, and confusion.
But when she heard Vandel's voice, she raised her head.
In her eyes flickered a spark — curiosity.
What was he planning to do?
Leon, hearing the knight's declaration, narrowed his eyes and replied loudly so his words carried through the air:
> "And why do you want to know my name, old man?
Want to take revenge after learning who I am and where I'm from?
Even if you find out — it won't do you any good.
You still won't be able to do anything to me."
Vandel chuckled beneath his armor.
> "You're right," he said evenly.
"As long as you have these ships, I can't stand against you.
But who are you without them?
That's why I want your name.
And after that… I challenge you."
He paused for a moment — and then declared:
> "A duel.
A battle of armor."
A wave of murmurs rippled across the duchy's ships.
Men whispered to one another, unable to believe what they were hearing.
Leon only smirked, folding his arms across his chest.
> "And why should I agree to that?" he asked lazily.
> "Because I believe in my own strength," Vandel replied.
"If I win, you will leave the duchy immediately, return our duchess, and spare us — at least for a few days.
But if I lose — the entire island will surrender with me.
We will lay down our arms without resistance.
Everyone here will become your prisoners.
No exceptions."
A heavy silence followed.
Leon put on a thoughtful expression, as though he were seriously considering the offer.
In truth, his mind was already racing:
> He probably thinks I'm helpless without my ships. Not surprising. He must think I'm just some reckless kid.
A smirk slowly spread across Leon's face.
He turned toward Gertrude, still bound, removed the gag from her mouth, and tossed it aside.
Then he faced Vandel once more and spoke loudly and clearly:
> "My name is Leon Bartfort —
Viscount of the Kingdom of Holfort… and hero of its army.
I accept your challenge, Vandel Hym Zenden."
At those words, Garrett — along with those who had recently spoken to Leon, or rather, to Captain Jack Sparrow — suddenly remembered something.
They recalled how, not long ago, the "Captain" had been lavishly praising Leon — in truth, praising himself — with the most exaggerated and pompous compliments imaginable.
> Is he a narcissist or what…?
That same thought flashed through everyone's mind almost simultaneously.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Without warning, something fell onto the Partner's deck with a heavy metallic thud.
All eyes turned instantly toward the impact site — and Vandel, focusing his gaze, realized what it was.
An armor.
Massive. Heavy.
By the look of it, an ancient artifact — a relic forged in forgotten times.
On its back was a large metallic pack, and its helmet bore a device resembling a gas mask, giving its wearer the grim, faceless visage of a silent warrior.
There were other curious details too, but Vandel had no time to study them.
A thought flashed through his mind — that what stood before him wasn't merely armor, but a lost relic.
Yet there was no time for reflection.
Leon stepped forward without hesitation and confidently climbed into the armor.
Metal plates closed around him with a grinding noise, a mechanical hum echoed through the air, and moments later the jet engines roared to life.
A violent gust swept across the deck, scattering dust and fragments into the wind.
The onlookers' eyes widened as Leon soared upward —
the armor, despite its immense size, moved with astonishing speed and agility.
Within seconds, he was hovering directly before Vandel.
Two knights now faced each other in the sky —
one in pitch-black armor, the other clad in a strange, ancient artifact.
Only about twenty-five meters separated them.
Neither moved.
They simply stared at one another in silence, waiting for the first move to be made.
From author:
Hope yall like changes in plot thx to summer break i can say all this is happening.