Chamber of Commerce Branch.
Several directors sat in the conference room, staring at the giant screen on the wall. Go to the venue? Not a single one dared. The venue was chaotic, and its security was definitely far inferior to the safety within the Chamber of Commerce. In the past, they might have gone to watch live.
But ever since the assassination incident, these directors had become extremely cautious. Although the Chairman had already commissioned the Armorless Union's Darksteel Azurite to find the culprit, a month had passed with no results. The killer seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving not a single clue at the scene.
It gave one the feeling of a ghost.
Even the Darksteel Azurite had investigated for a month with no results. This made the directors' hearts sink even further, making them think this killer might be even stronger than the Darksteel Azurite.
"They're actually sending out that pair of twins? Those twins aren't something the little squirrel can handle at her current level, are they?"
One of the directors said.
The attendant beside him immediately explained: "Director, we have many pairs of Sarkaz twins for experiments. The pair being sent out this time is inherently weaker than average Sarkaz. Even after experimental modification, their strength is still lacking. In terms of individual strength, they are weaker than that Pincerbeast."
"Mm..."
At this time, another director asked: "What if the little squirrel is defeated?"
That person snorted coldly: "If she's defeated, she's defeated. A defeat means the little squirrel's potential is only so-so. After all, a single past defeat is a stain in the eyes of the audience. Even if she wins consecutively afterward, even if she raises the championship trophy, that stain can never be washed away. To create someone with influence rivaling or even surpassing the Radiant Knight and the Black Knight, she cannot lose. Not even once...."
"Besides, the little squirrel is just a backup plan. Whether we continue to use her depends on her future performance. The Grand Knight Territory already has the Blood Knight. The sense of oppression and absolute dominance the Blood Knight shows is far stronger than the little squirrel's. So, unless the little squirrel keeps winning, she cannot shake, much less replace, the Blood Knight's role."
———————
In the arena.
When the announcer declared that the Flametail Knight was about to appear again, many in the audience howled with excitement. And many viewers in front of their screens, who were about to close the broadcast to get back to their business, immediately perked up and returned, preparing to finish this match before doing other things.
"Sob! The little squirrel is finally on again! I haven't seen her for dozens of minutes! I feel like countless ants are crawling all over me."
"Eh?! The knight partnering with the little squirrel is also super cute~ So tiny."
Sona hadn't expected to be on stage again, especially with less than an hour between matches. In such a short time, the stamina and strength Sona had used in the last match hadn't recovered. As for the audience, none of them cared if Sona was exhausted from the last fight. They just wanted to see Sona on stage.
"Can you still go on?"
Lucas knew Sona hadn't fully recovered, so he asked with concern.
"If you don't have the stamina, let me take over. You rest."
Sona shook her head: "I'm not tired... Besides, Mr. Reeve, you also use my body to fight. I can do it myself."
After speaking.
Sona took a deep breath and walked down the tunnel toward the arena. The closer she got to the light, the clearer the cheers and noise became. This was the kind of sound Sona used to look forward to, but now, she only felt disgust...
She walked out into the arena, and the surrounding cheers grew even louder.
The arena spotlights instantly fell on Sona and another knight who was already in the arena.
The glare of the spotlights, the cheers of the crowd.
These were all things Sona had once yearned for. Now, they had become incredibly hateful.
Sona turned her head to look at her partner.
But, to Sona's surprise, her partner wasn't wearing traditional knight armor. The only armor on her body was on her legs and forearms. Her upper body was covered by a white shirt, the hem tucked into high-waisted black shorts, revealing smooth, pale, and powerful-looking thighs.
This Liberi knight looked tiny, about Sona's height, but her figure was quite impressive. Her chest strained against the white shirt. She had long, grayish-white hair and orange eyes. Her face was delicate and cute, but held a trace of coldness. However, that coldness relaxed slightly when she looked at Sona.
And this Fartooth Knight's weapon was also very special. In the Knight Major, knights were not restricted to a specific weapon. After all, the knight sword was just one type of weapon; one couldn't use a longsword to represent the entire knight class. Everyone is skilled with different weapons.
Fartooth Knight's weapon wasn't a melee weapon, but something like a crossbow. However, this crossbow looked a bit more rudimentary than the standard-issue crossbows on the market, and the 'blades' it was loaded with weren't traditional arrows, but long, sharp, spiraling spikes.
These spikes were very long, each one comparable in length to Sona's knight sword. In the quiver at Fartooth Knight's waist, there were twenty such spikes lined up neatly. Two of them even had reusable hilts attached. If melee combat was needed, these spikes could apparently be converted into rapiers.
All of this, added to the weight of the quiver and the special crossbow, was already comparable to a standard set of knight armor. No wonder this little bird knight didn't wear more armor. After all, if she wore more, it would severely impact the agility of an archer.
The announcer's voice rang out: "Given that Flametail Knight and Fartooth Knight have never partnered before, we will give them five minutes for a tactical discussion."
The announcer's words immediately drew a wave of dissatisfaction from the audience.
"Dammit! Hurry up and start! Why wait five minutes?!!"
"I've got things to do!!"
"....."
The audience was rowdy, but the announcer paid them no mind. He was just an announcer, after all. He did whatever the people above arranged. He said whatever they told him to say. As for the audience's dissatisfaction, he couldn't care less.
"Hello! Fartooth Knight!"
Sona's expression changed faster than flipping a book. Before stepping on stage, Sona's face was grim and serious, utterly disappointed in the competition. But turning to Fartooth Knight, she instantly reverted to her chatty, energetic-girl persona.
Fartooth Knight hadn't expected Sona to be so enthusiastic. For a moment, she didn't know what to say, just waved her hand and said in a small voice.
"Hello.... Flametail Knight..."
"Hey! We're partners, no need to be so formal! Just call me Sona. I'm Sona, what about you?!"
Sona trotted over, actively asking questions. Her enthusiastic demeanor made Fartooth Knight a little uncomfortable.
"I... I'm Justyna..."
"Mhm! Miss Justyna, are you an archer? This is my first time seeing an archer knight."
Sona looked left and right at the crossbow in Justyna's hands, full of curiosity.
Justyna nodded, though her voice was still quiet: "Mhm... I like bows."
"I've never seen this style of crossbow before! It's different from traditional ones. Kinda cool. And these bolts are huge! Can they really be used as rapiers?!"
This was Sona's personality. No matter who she met, she could chatter on endlessly. In the time Lucas and Sona had spent together, Sona's mouth was basically either talking or on its way to talking every day. Only when she slept at night would it close for a bit, and even then, she'd talk in her sleep. Sometimes, even Lucas wondered, doesn't her mouth ever get tired?
And this kind of enthusiastic girl often makes friends very easily.
"I... I made it myself."
"So cool~~"
*Ahem...*
Lucas's cough sounded in Sona's head. Sona suddenly remembered that this wasn't the time to chat; she needed to discuss tactics.
"Er... back to business. Miss Justyna, are you good with a bow?"
"Mhm...."
"Is your aim good?"
Hearing this, Justyna seemed to puff out her chest slightly with pride: "I can hit a falling leaf from several hundred meters away."
"Okay then, how about this: I'll be in the front, holding off both of them by myself, and you support me from the back."
"Eh??"
Justyna was stunned. She hadn't expected Sona's tactic to be so... simple and basic. She froze for a second.
"Flametail... Miss Sona, holding off two by yourself... isn't that a bit..."
Sona gave herself a thumbs-up and said proudly: "Don't worry, I'm a knight, you know! I can take it. Even though we just met, Miss Justyna, I'm entrusting my back to you."
Justyna was taken aback by Sona's words. After a brief hesitation, she nodded firmly.
"Okay! I'm counting on you, Miss Sona."
Sona held out her hand. Justyna paused for a few seconds, then quickly reached out and grasped it.
"Here's to a good partnership."
"Yeah!!"
As the two shook hands, the five-minute countdown on the screen above ended.
The announcer's voice rang out punctually from all directions.
"Time's up!!"
"Let's welcome the opponents for Flametail Knight and Fartooth Knight!!"
"Chaos Knight and Fallen Knight!"
When the announcer finished speaking.
A heavy sound came from the tunnel on the opposite side.
*Rumble~ Rumble~*
Specifically captured by the sound equipment.
The heavy footsteps played from the speakers all around the arena. This buildup instantly maxed out the tense atmosphere.
From the darkness.
Two Sarkaz knights, shrouded in dark, black armor, with glowing red eyes under their helms, slowly walked out. One of them, Chaos Knight, was recognized by the entire audience as the monster who had easily torn an Infected knight to shreds in the second match. And there were two of them. And they were twins. The coordination of twins could easily achieve a "1+1 is greater than 2" effect. In contrast, no one knew how well Flametail Knight and Fartooth Knight, who had just met, would coordinate. It probably wouldn't be good. This was going to be a tough fight.
However.
Few in the audience were worried. They just wanted to see blood flow. Of course, if Flametail Knight could go on a killing spree, that would be even better.
"Match!! Start!!"
As the starting bell rang.
These two Sarkaz knights, who seemed to have little self-awareness, responded as if they were tamed beasts hearing a specific command. Their eyes turned red, and they roared as they charged at Sona and Justyna. Their 1.9-meter-tall frames, combined with heavy black armor, were incredibly intimidating. Sona and Justyna, in contrast, were both around 1.5 meters tall. The 1.9-meter height seemed as massive as a small mountain.
"Miss Justyna!!"
Sona called out. Justyna immediately retreated backward with agile steps. Facing the two charging Sarkaz knights, Sona showed not a hint of fear.
*I... I can definitely hold them off this time!!*
Hoo!
Large gulps of air flooded her lungs.
With the execution of Total Concentration Breathing, even without using a specific technique, Sona's physical abilities were amplified to a certain extent.
"Whoa!! Flametail Knight is taking on two knights by herself!!! Fartooth Knight! What is Fartooth Knight doing?!!"
The announcer shouted in surprise.
The surrounding audience also erupted.
"Holy crap, little squirrel is awesome."
Unlike the Pincerbeast from before, Sona already had experience fighting this kind of modified Sarkaz knight. The way humans and beasts fought was different. The Devil Knight Sona had killed before was equivalent to a top-eight contender in the Knight Major preliminaries. In terms of true strength, he was much stronger than these two Sarkaz knights.
But with the corresponding combat experience.
Sona found it much easier to cope.
Facing the two Sarkaz knights' relentless attacks, Sona made perfect use of her greatest strength, agility, to continuously dodge one attack after another.
"Slow... not strong enough. Much worse than the Devil Knight."
Against the previous Devil Knight, even without Lucas's help, she could have held out for ten minutes. Although this time she was facing two at once, and they were twins with strong coordination, Sona was confident she could hold on for at least ten minutes.
"Flametail Knight is battling two powerful Sarkaz knights all by herself and isn't losing ground!! But this can't be a long-term solution. Dodging at such a high frequency will exhaust her stamina quickly. Don't forget, Flametail Knight just defeated an even stronger monster less than an hour ago. A single hour isn't enough to recover her stamina."
"What is Fartooth Knight doing?!"
#Fartooth Knight's Status
"If Fartooth Knight doesn't help soon, Flametail Knight probably can't hold out much longer."
Just as the announcer said this.
Suddenly, a massive, sharp crossbow bolt cut through the air, shot past Sona, and struck one of the Sarkaz knights who was preparing a sneak attack. *Boom!* The towering Sarkaz knight was actually sent flying a considerable distance by the force of the bolt.
The audience was stunned. Even the camera immediately panned to Fartooth Knight, who was aiming in the distance.