CHAPTER 1611: NEW KNIGHT (1)

Rex looked at Gallick without any emotion seeping through from his features.

He remained silent, not because he was afraid, but because he was thinking of a way to handle this.

It was not Gallick he was worried about; it was the traitor instead.

"Are you mute? It’s impolite to ignore someone who was talking to you, especially among Knights." Gallick’s hand moved and rested on the hilt of his sheathed sword. "Or... do you truly have the audacity to look down on me?"

"Your soldiers are the ones seeking trouble," Rex turned away. "If anything, direct your anger to them."

He turned to Ethan.

"Let’s go."

Not even entertaining the situation, Rex and Ethan walked away under the onlookers’ gazes.

But it wasn’t that easy to leave.

Soldiers, many of them, began to approach and block Rex’s way as if it were the natural thing to do.

He looked at each one of them, frowning.

"I haven’t given you permission to leave yet," Gallick’s voice rang again. "You’re not going anywhere."

Notice: the user’s berserk stat is increasing.

Rex gritted his teeth.

It was very hard to hold back his anger, but he knew that it would be a disaster if he fought here.

Not only would the traitor lie low, as a quarrel among the legions would certainly serve their purpose, but he would also be staining the House of Castillion for showing an ungentlemanly demeanor, which would also cost Empress Morgana greatly.

Duke Lorcan might forgive him, but it was entirely a different thing for the proud Princess Davina.

But there doesn’t seem to be any other way. Do I really need to deal with this forcefully?

Beside him, Ethan also looked around warily.

He was tasked to look after Rex, but he couldn’t do anything if this many people were showing hostility.

Nevertheless, he had to try.

"It’s a simple misunderstanding," His voice cuts through the crowd. "Don’t escalate things uselessly. I am sure all of you are aware that this is Sir Rex’s first time in such a mission, and he’s also a new knight who hasn’t learned the customs. Give us some leeway and let this slide one time."

Despite his attempt to pacify the situation, none of the soldiers backed away.

Compared to Gallick, who was well-respected, his pacification attempt amounted to nothing.

It paled to Gallick’s silent command to block the way.

Rex, on the other hand, was silently contemplating his exit strategy.

I can’t seem to be too powerful. I can’t seem to be too weak either. How do I lure that traitor out?

Just as he thought that, a thought came to mind.

One that would certainly make the traitor react or even make bad decisions.

Rex turned around again and looked Gallick in the eyes.

"What my comrade said here is correct," He started, voice loud enough—for the people around him to hear. "I’m a new Knight; still new to the customs, as I came from a humble origin. From nothing. It has not even been a week since I became a Knight."

Hearing this, Gallick opened his mouth, about to say something.

But Rex didn’t give him any chance.

"I understand that there should be consequences for all things, but a confrontation between you and me right before we depart for the mission is reckless," Rex continued, not breaking eye contact throughout saying this. "We would only be sacrificing the Empress for our personal emotions, and we don’t want that now, do we?"

Gallick’s brows dipped.

Knowing Rex’s background, most likely commonfolk, Gallick was anticipating him to be rowdy.

Peasants are usually impulsive, not well-spoken like this.

’I say that, but Princess Davina did choose him as her husband among countless suitors. It’s hard to doubt him when she saw something in him,’ Gallick exhaled from his nose—and crossed his arms; eyes still blazing gold. "Then what are you suggesting, Sir Rex? How do you intend to solve this?"

Rex paused for a second, letting the silence hang in the air for a moment longer.

He then turned to the soldier who caused all of this.

"Since he’s the one who has a problem with me, I’m going to settle this with him."

"M-Me? You’re a jester, Sir Rex. I’m an ordinary soldier."

Rex ignored the soldier entirely.

His eyes fixated back onto Gallick, knowing full well that the soldier would deflect like this.

"You won’t have any qualms with this, will you? I mean, you’d hate for people to think you sent him to provoke me just so you’d have an excuse to fight." Rex tilted his head slightly, the corner of his lips curling a little. "He’s a soldier under your leadership, after all. If you still insist on fighting me, well... it wouldn’t be hard for others to connect the dots, would it?"

Gallick remained silent, but his eyes betrayed the emotions swelling inside him.

A low murmur spread around him as people began whispering in hushed, cautious voices.

All of them began to suspect that maybe he really sent the soldier to mess with the new knight.

Of course, whether it was true or not, Rex didn’t care.

He only cared about forcing Gallick to accept this arrangement that he proposed.

"Even so," Gallick finally opened his mouth. "A regular soldier fighting a knight... It’s not fair."

"Let’s make it fair," Rex smirked, as that’s exactly what he was waiting for.

In a slow, deliberate motion, Rex removed his cape and handed it to Ethan—he walked to the side, and the crowd instinctively parted to give him some room; tension thick in the air. He strode to the center, shoulders squared, gaze unwavering.

Then, he raised a finger and pointed directly at the soldier who had started it all.

"What is your name?" He demanded.

Hesitantly, the soldier answered, "Minx... Minx Erenoir."

"Okay, Minx... We’ll keep this simple," Rex said calmly. "Endure a single, raw strike from me."

"A-A single strike...?" The soldiers stammered, glancing at Gallick with a pale expression.

Rex nodded and shifted his eyes back to the soldier.

"I won’t use a single thing—not my Soul Artifact, not my life energy, not anything that could give me more power. Just one strike from my bare fist," He said, raising his fist, letting the tension settle. "As for you? Use whatever you want. All your power. You can even ask Sir Gallick to aid you if you think it’s necessary. It won’t matter. If you can stand your ground, you win. But if I force you back... I win."

It wasn’t unreasonable.

A Knight at the Master Immortal Spirit rank is a lot stronger than a soldier at the Immortal Spirit rank.

Physically, the gap between them was too wide.

Someone at the Master Immortal Spirit rank could shatter a mountain with a single strike, while those at the Immortal Spirit rank can barely do anything to a mountain. Allowing Minx to use his power while restraining himself to solely utilize his physical prowess isn’t unreasonable.

Especially if Minx could ask for help from Gallick.

Even the soldiers around were nodding their heads, finding this feasible and logical.

Gallick smirked when he heard this.

"Are you sure, Sir Rex?" He raised a brow, doubtful. "One strike? It’s not fair for you. I’ll allow you to make two strikes instead."

Rex gave a calm nod, his voice steady, "Then I’ll accept your generosity."

"Arena!" Gallick’s shout cracked through the air like thunder.

In perfect unison, the surrounding soldiers moved—fluid, practiced, disciplined. As if possessing one single will, they formed a tight circle around Rex and Minx, slamming their shields into position. One by one, the steel walls locked into place, forging a compact arena where there would be no distractions and no escape.

Only the clash of will and strength to fulfil the arrangement.

Since it has come to this, Minx decided to go through with it.

He caught a steel shield that one of the soldiers threw for him and slammed it in front of him.

Swish!

A mark on his arm shaped like a swirling, thick line glowed with a bluish hue as a blue liquid emerged, whipping left and right eagerly. It was his Soul Artifact. Soon, the liquid encompassed the entire shield, enhancing its durability.

Knowing that he was facing a Knight, someone above his rank, he went all out.

Minx charged life energy into his Soul Artifact without restraint.

"Spirit Genesis: Crystallized Lock."

Upon that chant, the liquid enhancing the shield turned solid, and its baby blue sheer turned darker.

A subtle wave of power pulsed from the shield, creating a steely sound as it collided with the iron walls.

Once he was fully prepared, he glanced at Gallick.

Gallick’s eyes flickered with a sharp glint—golden life energy surging within their depths as his peculiar gaze narrowed with purpose. Behind him, the same radiant force gathered and coalesced, which took the shape of a roaring lion in Rex’s eyes.

Just the spiritual sound alone was capable of shaking the air like a distant storm.

It inflicted a tremor inside Rex’s heart.

The Lion Echo... The Mortal Realm has no power like this.

Slowly, with deliberate motion, Gallick raised his hand and pointed directly at Minx.

A stream of golden energy leapt forth, latching onto Minx like a divine tether.

In the next breath, his aura detonated.

Boom!

It flared upward as his entire body ignited in a golden blaze. His Soul Artifact shimmered with radiant light, hardening and glowing with the might of a Lion. Beneath his feet, the group fractured with a sharp crack, his feet sinking slightly under the sheer weight of the power he now held.

But the boost from the Lion Echo encompassed more than his physique.

Inside, Minx was fearful of this arrangement, doubt whispering venomously in his ear as he was going against a Knight at the Master Immortal Spirit rank. Something he wasn’t confident in overcoming. But now it was replaced with clarity and courage.

The lion’s roar wiped away every hesitation in his mind.

His heartbeat gradually steadied.

His breath deepened with conviction.

He wasn’t the same man as he was before.

Minx stood straighter, his eyes burning with renewed resolve.

Boosted with the pride of a lion, he no longer felt like prey beneath Rex’s shadow.

Now, he believed he could withstand the two strikes.

Clang!

"Come on!" He slammed his shield against the ground, looking at Rex excitedly. "I’ll take you on!"

Rex smiled when he heard this and scratched the back of his head.

He has been monitoring Minx’s stats and was pleasantly surprised by the boost provided.

The Lion Echo might not be as high as his Dark Auctoritas Echo, but it’s still something.

A 130% boost in stats? I guess since this guy is weak, the boost reached that high.

Rex approached Minx under the onlookers’ gazes, clenching and unclenching his right hand to loosen it up before punching the shield. Even though he used no power whatsoever, the soldiers could feel the strength radiating from his fist through the branching veins across his arm and bulging knuckles.

It was clear to them that Rex never neglected his physical condition.

Soul Artifacts are the core of power, but the body is the foundation, and he didn’t forget about it.

Once Rex reached striking distance, he widened his stance, planting one foot firmly ahead and the other behind, anchoring himself—like a mountain ready to break into motion. Both fists rose in front of him, mirroring the position of his legs, a stance honed for impact.

He didn’t strike immediately.

Instead, he paused, allowing the tension to build as he locked onto Minx.

Minx stood behind the massive shield that covered his entire body, gripping it so tightly his knuckles whitened, his teeth clenched, and his eyes were wide with ferocity. His eyes flicked from Rex’s eyes, to his fist, to his stance, and then to the eyes again.

He was giving everything he had to not be pushed back.

"Ready...?" Rex whispered.

"Do it!" Minx retorted. "I’ll take it!"

Not even counting down, Rex immediately struck, putting his entire weight into punching the shield.

CLANG!!

A resounding clang echoed, causing the onlookers to flinch.