Chapter 170: The Viscount's Observation

Chapter 170: The Viscount's Observation

Viscount Norman and his wife stood on the second floor of their luxurious mansion, observing the duel between Salem and Rain through the window.

"I always thought Salem would be a good match for Evelyn, but it seems she favors this new acquaintance, Rain," the Viscountess said, tilting her head towards a well-dressed noblewoman.

"If Evelyn is telling the truth, then there's no doubt that her friend will emerge victorious," a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed goatee nodded in agreement.

This man was none other than Evelyn's father, Viscount Norman.

After hearing about Rain's impressive performance during the Ennoblement Examination from his daughter, he had become quite interested in the young man.

In this world, he knew that with sufficient strength, honor, status, and wealth would naturally follow. These were merely additional perks that came with power.

Rain seemed to ponder something as he lifted his dark-skinned war hammer and asked, "Viscount Salem, do you want to switch to training weapons?"

"No need," Salem shook his head. "Training weapons won't withstand our clash. Rain, let's use our preferred weapons."

"Agreed!" Rain nodded without further comment.

Salem spoke the truth, as he and Evelyn had also used their own weapons in their previous sparring session.

Once a knight reached the Master Knight level, they became intimately familiar with their own combat style. Unless it was a contest of secret techniques, they could typically control the flow of battle with ease.

Even if injured, the wounds would be relatively minor.

Soon, Rain and Salem engaged in combat.

"Limit Break!"

Both knights unleashed their Limit Breaks, causing their movements and agility to increase dramatically. Rain wielded his two-handed war hammer, employing the Tokkar Hammer Technique, while Salem held a sword and shield, indicating that his family's combat style favored such weaponry.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The clashing of weapons echoed loudly, causing the nearby servants to cover their ears in pain.

After watching for a while, Evelyn's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

It wasn't that Rain was too strong, but rather, he seemed too weak. One could say that Rain's current display of strength was a far cry from his performance during the Ennoblement Examination, where he had demonstrated his power with a single strike.

What was Rain doing? Was he intentionally holding back? Testing Salem's strength?

Or was he going easy on Salem because he was a friend of Evelyn's?

At that moment, the female knight standing next to Evelyn also seemed puzzled. She leaned towards Evelyn and asked, "Evelyn, you just said that Rain is incredibly strong, but from what I see, he seems to be on par with you and Salem."

Hearing the female knight's comment, several others nearby chimed in with their opinions.

"Yes, Agnes is right."

"Rain's strength is indeed exceptional among his peers, but Evelyn, you and Salem are both at the same level. It's not as exaggerated as you described."

"Evelyn, from what I see, I'm not sure if Rain is truly the top candidate in the Ennoblement Examination. His performance seems a bit underwhelming."

"You're right! Although I'm not his match, I can confidently say that his strength still falls short of Bridger Sanchez from Don Province." Osby added, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes once more.

In the face of their companions' doubts, Evelyn was at a loss for words for a moment. She silently watched the duel in the center of the training ground.

Rain, on the other hand, was carefully controlling the intensity of his Limit Break.

Knights who could push their physical Limit Break beyond sixty percent were known as Master Knights.

However, upon further reflection, it became clear that a Limit Break of seventy percent also qualified one as a Master Knight, but they were undoubtedly stronger than those at sixty percent. Those who achieved an eighty percent Limit Break were even more formidable, yet they were still referred to as Master Knights.

Thus, while they were all Master Knights, the differences in their abilities were significant.

Rain could sense that Salem, the second son of a count, had a Limit Break of around sixty-five percent, making him a genuine Master Knight. However, he was still about ten percent weaker than Rain's seventy-three percent Limit Break.

Additionally, Rain's heightened spiritual sensitivity allowed him to perceive subtle details even during high-speed combat.

As a result, Rain was not fighting at full strength, but by controlling his Limit Break to around sixty percent, he was able to match Salem blow for blow.

Why didn't Rain end the fight quickly? It was because he wanted to gain more experience with the Tokkar Hammer Technique!

From his previous battles, Rain understood that a short, intense fight and a longer, relatively intense battle had different impacts on experience gain.

For instance, the previous sparring match between Reyn and Lagre, a Senior Knight versus a Squire, resulted in only a few experience points after multiple rounds.

Therefore, Reyn couldn't simply overpower Salem with a few blows, as it would contradict the principle of maximizing experience gains.

Unaware that Reyn was intentionally holding back, Salem, on the other hand, grew more confident as the fight progressed.

At the start of the combat, Salem was cautious, even a bit restrained. But after about a minute, he felt he had a good grasp of Reyn's strength.

How strong was Reyn?

Strong, but not as powerful as Evelyn had described.

Was his opponent letting him win?

Impossible!

Was he hiding a secret weapon?

Salem carefully observed Reyn for a while, seeing his calm expression.

"Bang!" Their hammers and shields collided heavily, and both retreated several meters before standing firm.

Salem, full of vigor, exclaimed, "Sir Reyn, it's exhilarating to meet a worthy opponent! Allow me to fight with all my might, and I will use my Extraordinary Trait and secret techniques in the subsequent battle."

"Please don't hold back yourself, either."

Reyn raised an eyebrow, observing Salem's spirited demeanor.

'Experience NPC,' you're getting a bit arrogant, aren't you?

If you don't hold back, your life would likely be in danger.

But Reyn reconsidered; seeing an 'Experience NPC' in his eyes trying their best to provide him with as much experience as possible, what's wrong with that? On the contrary, this attitude deserves praise!

Fine, I'll match his strength until he's exhausted.

Moreover, this is also the most efficient way to gain experience points.

After a moment's thought, Reyn smiled and said, "Of course! Please proceed, Sir Salem."

"Sir Reyn, be careful!"

"Swift!"

The next second, at Salem's shout, his speed increased by two to three times, and he charged towards Reyn like an arrow released from a bow, leaving a trail of afterimages.

An Extraordinary Trait of speed!

Impressive!

Reyn immediately raised his 'Limit Break' to its maximum.

With Reyn's strength, agility, and physique increasing from 60% to 73%, the gap in agility between Salem, who had activated his Extraordinary Trait 'Swift,' and Reyn was not too significant.

Additionally, Reyn's high perception due to his high spirit further enhanced his senses, allowing him to counterbalance the speed difference.

"Bang! Bang!"

"Clang!!!"

Their weapons clashed faster than before, sparks flying!

The servants couldn't bear it and retreated to a safe distance.

Salem's near-full-power display excited the young onlookers.

"Salem is getting serious!"

"It's about time to show this outsider the strength of the young people of Rosby City."

"Yes, the Zeman family's secret technique, 'Phantom Strike,' should be coming soon!" Osby also watched the center of the arena with anticipation.

However, Evelyn was filled with doubt. Could this be Reyn's true strength? It's impossible!

Even without using his Wizard Apprentice abilities, Reyn should be stronger than what he's currently displaying.

Viscount Norman, watching from above, also frowned slightly.

Hmm?

This seems different from what his daughter described.

It appears that Reyn's strength is on par with Salem's.

At that moment, the battle in the center of the arena took a sudden turn. Reyn's pupils constricted as he suddenly discovered that Salem's pointed out that Salem's Knight Longsword first retracted slightly before lunging forward at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

The attack was so swift that Salem's elbow joint remained in its original position while the real strike reached Reyn's front.

It seemed that every young person who excelled in the Ennoblement Examination had one or two killer moves.

At this moment, it was too late to block the attack with the heavy Pig-headed Mace.

However, this was not a problem for Reyn, who had yet to activate his two Extraordinary Traits.

Reyn suddenly released the Pig-headed Mace and instead grabbed Salem's Knight Longsword with his bare hands.

This move stunned the crowd. Was he sacrificing his hands?

Reyn's body swelled, his muscles bulging like a beast's.

But no matter how strong the muscles, a physical body couldn't possibly withstand the attack of a Master Knight's weapon! The onlookers thought.

"Sizzle!"

Sparks flew as Salem's Knight Longsword was forcefully grasped by Reyn's hands.

"He really stopped it?" A female Knight muttered, covering her mouth in surprise.

The others exchanged glances, witnessing Salem's secret technique, 'Phantom Strike,' being countered for the first time.

The knight leader, Salem, executed the 'Phantom Strike' with his bare hands, gripping the longsword tightly.

"Oh my!" Osby exclaimed, unable to hold back his astonishment. "I can't believe Lord Rain's hand is unharmed! It should have been crippled, and he's just enduring the pain!"

With a sharp 'snap,' Rain's chrome iron glove shattered into pieces, falling to the ground.

Everyone's attention was fixed on Rain's hand.

It was completely unharmed, not a drop of blood in sight. Perhaps, there was a faint white imprint.

"How is this possible!" Osby exclaimed, pointing at the scene with disbelief. The others stood there, mouths agape.

Evelyn, however, nodded slightly.

This made sense.

It aligned with the strength she had expected from Rain.

Rain pushed forward, forcing Salem's longsword aside. "Impressive secret technique, Lord Salem. Please continue!"

Salem, having consecutively unleashed his 'Limit Break,' his Extraordinary Trait of Swiftness, and finally his ultimate move, 'Phantom Strike,' was now drenched in sweat, his energy nearly depleted.

He had intended to seal his victory with that strike, but Rain had countered it in a way he had never anticipated.

"Hmm?"

Hearing Rain's words, Salem's face flushed, and he mustered his last bit of strength to continue the fight.

This time, Salem fared even worse. In less than ten seconds, his exhaustion caused his steps to become unsteady.

Rain shook his head slightly, recognizing that the 'experienced NPC' before him had given his all. It was time to end this.

Out of respect for Salem's efforts, Rain decided to finish the fight with a single move, the 'Earth-Splitting Hammer.'

Rain's body expanded further, surpassing two meters and twenty centimeters. The chrome iron knight armor hung loosely on his frame, like a baby's garment. This was Rain in his 'Triphasic State,' having unleashed a 'Power Surge.'

Evelyn's pupils constricted at the sight.

Yes, this was the form Rain had taken when he shattered the 'Shipwreck' that night!

"Rain, don't kill him!" Evelyn shouted from the sidelines.

She wanted to rush forward to help, but it was too late.

Up on the second floor of the mansion, Viscount Norman's expression changed dramatically. However, he was too far from the training ground to intervene effectively, even if he wanted to.

Amidst the shocked gazes of the onlookers, the beast-like Rain swung his dark, heavy hammer with both hands, creating a piercing sound that tore through the air as he struck downward with lightning speed.

Salem closed his eyes, knowing his fate.

"Boom!"

But in the next moment, Rain slightly angled his pig-headed hammer and slammed it into the ground in front of Salem.

Dust flew within a seven to eight-meter radius, and after a few seconds, as the dust settled, a crater appeared in the center of the training ground, resembling the impact of a meteorite. The deepest point was over one meter deep, forming a fan-shaped area that extended forward.

The ground remained uneven until four to five meters away from the impact.

Salem, the count's second son, who had been confident in his ability to defeat Rain, was sent flying high into the air and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Rain had intentionally avoided hitting Salem directly, instead aiming for the ground beneath his feet.

"Bang!"

Salem fell heavily to the ground but quickly struggled to his feet, his face contorted with fear and shock.

In that fleeting moment, he had truly sensed the scent of death.

If Rain's hammer had landed half a meter closer, he would have been finished.

Being struck by Rain's dark hammer meant there was little chance of escaping with just broken bones; returning to the embrace of the goddess was the most likely outcome.

Only then did the surrounding noble heirs react, rushing forward to help Salem up and checking his injuries.

But soon, they realized that Salem's body showed no visible wounds, indicating that the blood he had spat out was due to the shockwave.

Although the injuries were not light, there were no significant complications.

The noble heirs were not easily fooled, and they could tell that Rain had held back, not directing the full force of his attack at Salem.

The female knight, who had been gaping in awe, finally closed her mouth and said to Evelyn, "Evelyn, I take back what I said. For such a sturdy training ground surface to be smashed like this, Rain is definitely not a normal person."

Evelyn, too, stared at the ground of her family's training ground in disbelief.

She hadn't fully grasped the power Rain had displayed when he shattered the 'Shipwreck's' hull, as she had never struck a ship's hull herself.

But she knew the sturdiness of her family's training ground, having trained there since childhood.

The repeatedly compacted soil of their training ground was almost as hard as ordinary rock.

Yet, Rain's single strike had reduced it to this state.

Meanwhile, Rain received a system prompt:

【Your skill, Tokkar Hammer Technique, has improved. Experience gained: +178】

After the sparring with Salem, Reyn successfully raised his Tokkar Hammer Technique from lv4 (83/1000) to lv5 (21/2000).

Reyn was now immersed in the fragmented memories of Tokkar Hammer Technique training that had emerged in his mind. These memories were scattered scenes of hammer technique practice, as if they were all moments from Reyn's own training experiences, which he was rapidly assimilating and integrating into his muscle memory.

Soon, Reyn felt as if he had gained two years of diligent practice in the Tokkar Hammer Technique.

The finer details of the hammer technique that he had previously overlooked were now becoming clearer in his mind.

Salem, supported by someone as he walked over, looked at Reyn and said sincerely, "Thank you, Lord Reyn, for holding back."

Reyn snapped back to attention and glanced at Salem, the second son of the Marquis, whose face was pale and dejected.

Reyn acknowledged Salem's dedication and commitment as an 'experienced NPC' who had given his all during the sparring session.

Salem had provided a substantial amount of experience points by pushing himself to the limit, aiding in Reyn's advancement of the hammer technique to lv5.

Additionally, Salem's gratitude for Reyn's restraint indicated that he was a reasonable person who knew when to yield.

In response, Reyn didn't hold back his words of encouragement.

"I'm sorry, Lord Salem. Your skills are impressive, and I got a little carried away in the heat of the moment," Reyn apologized.

Upon hearing Reyn's praise, Salem's initially dejected expression turned red with excitement. "It's an honor to spar with you, Lord Reyn. I hope to have the opportunity to seek your guidance again in the future."

Indeed, when one's strength far surpasses their opponent's, the other party is less likely to harbor strong competitive feelings.

Moreover, young people often seek validation from their elders or 'stronger' individuals like Reyn.

A thought suddenly crossed Reyn's mind. Perhaps he could consider befriending more capable young people and encouraging them to spar with him.

After all, the young and passionate are easier to motivate!

Reyn glanced at the young heirs standing next to Salem and shook his head slightly. He decided that he should be more selective and pass on those with inferior skills.

At that moment, Viscount Norman and his wife descended from the second floor of their residence, arriving at the training ground.

---

In the Bat Marketplace of Myester County Town.

A store with stars, moons, and suns hanging at its entrance had a tall, black-robed customer standing outside.

This person was none other than Dennis's father, Baron Norman.

After nearly ten days with no response from his old friend Adams, Baron Norman sensed something amiss and decided to visit Adams's shop.

To his surprise, he found the shop sealed with an official notice! A dark cloud seemed to descend upon his heart.

"Could Adams have failed?"

"That's impossible!"

"Perhaps something unexpected happened, and another powerful individual or force intervened?"

Baron Norman furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, in a luxurious study room within the residence of Marquis Harris.

A bearded man dressed in black noble attire with golden embroidery stared at a document in front of him, muttering to himself,

"How is this possible!"

"Not only did Reyn pass the Ennoblement Examination, but he also received an excellent evaluation and was granted the title of Baron. His talent is even more formidable than Kayla's!"

"Reyn has become a Baron!"

"Compared to my efforts over the years, it's almost laughable!"

The previous day, Lamar from the Black Flame Church had discussed with him the possibility of Reyn passing the Ennoblement Examination. According to the Archpriest's instructions conveyed by Maral, if Reyn passed the examination, he would be transferred to serve as the Sheriff of Fishport Town.

At the time, Marquis Harris had expressed that he could arrange for Reyn's transfer regardless of whether he was granted a knighthood or a baronetcy.

However, the turn of events was swift, and now that Reyn had been granted the title of Baron, the transfer was no longer within Marquis Harris's control.

His father, Marquis Harris, would personally summon Reyn.

All their previous arrangements with the Black Flame Church were rendered useless!

What's more, Reyn's growth had far exceeded everyone's expectations.

"This can't continue!" Marquis Alonso's expression grew increasingly gloomy as he made a silent decision.

"Michelle! Prepare the carriage. I'm going out," he ordered.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end