/
In the middle of the vast expanses of the Imperial Palace was a massive training hall used by the knights. It was large enough to accommodate three battalions at the same time, but right now, there was definitely more than three battalions’ worth of people. In other words, the training hall was jam-packed.
Knight Commander Rod swept his gaze across the training hall and boisterously laughed.
“Is this all because of Joshua?” he asked.
“Setting aside the 11th and 12th Battalions, there are still at least a thousand people here.”
“Every Battalion Commander is here as well.”
“I feel like it’ll be a waste of spit even if I say something.”
“Are you gonna participate as well, Valmont?”
Valmont froze and frowned before saying, “I’m not interested.”
“That’s a surprise. I thought you wanted a rematch with him?”
“Yes, but I don’t want it like this,” replied Valmont.
He closed his eyes and continued talking, “I’m sure you already know what the people here are thinking, Knight Commander, Sir. Those who came here with their swords are chasing after the honor of facing a Superhuman.
“Fighting a Superhuman is an honor that not even gold can buy. On the off chance that they won and managed to make a Superhuman kneel in front of them, it would be tantamount to reaching the heavens with a single leap.
“In other words, depriving a Superhuman of their honor and titles means that they’re going to be
” Valmont trailed off.
“They’re going to be famous,” said Knight Commander Rod.
“Yes, and I’m not planning on becoming one of them,” said Valmont with a nod. His eyes turned cold as he continued. “Those people are the problem. Knights converse with their swords, but those people up there?”
Valmont pointed outside the training hall and at the adjacent banquet hall. There were long, carefully spaced tables filled with various dishes and many other delicacies.
It seemed that the high and mighty of Avalon were here to watch a show from the safe confines of the banquet hall just next to the training hall.
Valmont coldly said, “The fact that they’re willing to take bribes and dip their fingers into political squabbles makes them a disgrace as knights.”
“...” Knight Commander Rod was silent at that. It was unknown whether Valmont’s words were intentionally targeting him or not.
A voice echoed from out of nowhere and said, “If you’re not happy about it, then why don’t you try and change it yourself?”
“You are
?”
“Galahad,” said Knight Commander Rod, seemingly pleased by Galahad’s arrival.
“It’s good to be back, sir. Wait, should I call you Knight Commander, sir?”
“Since when did you bother with those things? Anyway, it has been really hard to catch even a glimpse of your shadow, even though we live in the same place. How’s His Third Highness?”
“As usual
”
“Am I supposed to be happy to hear that?” Knight Commander Rod shook his head and explained, “Since His Third Highness’ personal bodyguard is here, then I guess it’s only safe to assume that His Third Highness has returned as well, am I right?”
“I’m more of a scout than a personal bodyguard, but what do you think? Do you really think that His Third Highness needs a personal bodyguard?” asked Galahad.
Knight Commander Rod shook his head and replied, “He’s strong enough to protect himself
”
“Well, that’s true, but he has no interest in the throne as well. So he has nothing to gain from throwing his weight around, and if he were to do that, he would just incur unwanted ire,” said Galahad.
Knight Commander Rod nodded his head as if he understood. “In that case, are you going to leave soon?”
“Well, he has always been a free-spirited person,” Galahad replied. He made a sidelong glance at Valmont and continued. “Anyway, you were saying something interesting earlier. Why don’t you go on/”
“What?”
“You’re talking about petty political fights and bribery
”
“You said something about politics and bribery
”
Valmont’s expression stiffened. Even he couldn’t meet Galahad’s eyes.
“His Majesty himself gave the permission,” Galahad said with a smile. “If someone else heard you rather than me, then you could have been accused of treason.”
“You
” Valmont grimaced.
“And the infamous Sir Valmont is actually talking about being a true knight? Hah! Considering how lazy you are, if you were the definition of a true knight, then it would have been a miracle for Arcadia to have lasted this long!”
Valmont's eyes turned cold.
“Are you sure the brain inside that head between your shoulders is still working? All this is obviously a punishment for Joshua Sanders.”
“A punishment?” asked Valmont, seemingly dumbfounded.
“His Majesty basically felt as if he had been refused by an insect. How is His Majesty supposed to uphold his dignity after being declined by a mere bug?” Galahad turned away from Valmont and continued. “His Majesty is planning to let that brat know that he is nothing but hot air. It also severs any thought of rebellion in that punk’s head.”
“I’m gonna ask you a question,” said Valmont.
“...?” Galahad turned around and stared at Valmont, seemingly confused.
“Are you going to compete with him?”
“Compete? Haha
 Compete?” Galahad smirked. “Well, we’ll just have to see if the opportunity arises, right?”
“And if it does?”
Galahad’s eyes twitched. “Then, there’s no way I’ll refuse. I’m eager as well.”
“We’re the same, then”
Galahad looked thoroughly confused.
Fortunately, Valmont quickly explained, “I’ve always wanted to see how that bug will crush a certain someone.”
Galahad’s eyes narrowed upon hearing that.
However, before he could even say anything in response, screams reverberated throughout the training hall.
“It’s starting!”
Every knight in the training hall turned to look at the entrance at the same time.
There was a young man slowly walking into the training hall.
“I’ll be damned
” Knight Commander Rod inhaled sharply. The tension was as sharp as a knife. The air was still as calm as a placid lake, but he could feel the advent of a fierce tempest that would turn everything upside down.
Without a doubt, the young man was one of the most well-known people in Avalon.
Joshua Sanders was finally about to make his debut as a Superhuman.
***
“Hahaha!” Emperor Marcus boisterously laughed. He downed a glass of liquor and slammed the glass on the table before shouting, “Let the banquet begin!”
Joshua was alone as his opponents entered the arena.
The way they acted was odd, and it seemed as if they had discussed what they were going to do beforehand.
“The rules are simple. The battle ends when there are no more challengers. It doesn’t matter how long it takes!”
Three knights stood next to each other in front of Joshua.
“I am Spare, the second son of the Huddles family and a knight of the 4th Battalion. I am your first opponent. It is an honor to compete with a great Superhuman.”
“I am your second opponent. My name is Aaron Frank, the third son of the Frank family and knight of the 3rd Battalion.”
“I’m from the 5th Battalion
”
Joshua zoned out and looked up at the sky.
“The weather’s perfect for a picnic,” Joshua casually muttered. The way he was acting should have been a tell-tale sign to his opponents that Joshua was a dangerous enemy to face.
However, the three knights seemed oblivious as Joshua looked at them.
“Alright,” he said, to his opponents’ confusion. “I don’t have much time, so let’s get started right away.”
“What?”
“The competition has already started.”
“...!” The three men blinked, and Joshua disappeared when they opened their eyes once again. Joshua had moved so fast that they didn’t even notice that they had already been sent flying away.
“Ack
!”
“Argh
!”
“Mmmph
!”
Their pained screams echoed throughout the training hall.
Sadly, it was over. The three men were convulsing, and it was clear that they had lost consciousness. In the proverbial blink of an eye, Joshua’s foot had struck their napes with pinpoint accuracy
“...” A suffocating silence fell upon the audience.
When you're just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
It was over too fast for the nobles’ eyes to catch. They were still trying to figure out what happened, and it was a surprise, but even the knights had no idea what happened.
When he moved. What he did. Where he struck. No one understood a thing. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that no one but a select few managed to catch Joshua’s shadow.
“That’s it?” Knight Commander Rod exclaimed in surprise.
“Oh?” Galahad seemed both amused and interested.
Joshua swept his gaze across the knights in the training hall, and amidst the gaze of everyone, he casually said, “So your plan is to come here one by one and wear me down?”
A few knights were furious when they heard that.
“Are you guys worried about the consequences of ganging up on me? Well, don’t worry. There are no rules against that. In other words, all of you can come down here and fight me at the same time.”
There was no way that the knights would have no idea about what Joshua was saying, and Joshua himself simply pointed it out to provoke the knights. Yes, it was a childish method of provocation, but it was more effective than anything else.
“It’ll be a pain if this becomes similar to the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle, so
” Joshua flashed a wide smile and said, “All of you, come at me.”
“...” The knights stared at Joshua without saying anything.
“Have you all forgotten about what happened back then? You guys never managed to beat me even once five years ago—no, you lot didn’t even manage to scratch me, which is a bit hilarious considering you people are Imperial Knights.”
The knights’ eyes turned bloodshot.
At the sight, Joshua decided to deal the final blow. “Come on, ditch that nauseating pride of yours when you can’t back it up. Don’t even flaunt that kind of thing in front of me.”
“You
! How dare you?!” A knight couldn’t take it anymore, and he leaped into the air, landing on the grounds of the training hall with a loud bang.
The knight started a deluge of knights charging toward Joshua.
“Hmm. There should be about five hundred of them.” Joshua looked around cheerfully. It was about half of the total opponents. As the finest knights in the land of knights, their combined energy made Joshua’s figure feel a tingle.
“Since the numbers are greatly stacked against me
” Joshua summoned his crimson spear from the subspace.
Could he remain steadfast against the power of five hundred excellent knights?
“Magic Spear Arts Level 6: Earth's Chapter.”
The air around Joshua abruptly changed. He pointed the tip of his spear at the charging enemies and muttered softly, “Mountain Crush.”
Joshua turned into a giant “mountain”.