louisehourcade Chapter 574 - 564: Dagger
Chapter 574 - 564: Dagger
Around the circular stone platform in the central square of Ash City, the crowd was filled with Dwarf residents who had come upon hearing the news, with a few human figures mixed in.
However, these humans either stood at the very edge or squatted halfway down in the crowd, unable to stand upright without blocking the Dwarves’ view from behind, potentially leading to disputes.
People below were buzzing with discussions.
"Why would Little Badri be dueling a... Puki?" a young Dwarf craftsman strained his neck, murmuring in doubt.
"That’s no ordinary Puki," said a Dwarf dressed as an adventurer beside him, with a mysterious tone, "That’s the ’Mushroom Race’ created on the human side. It looks like a Puki, but it’s smart and fights well!"
"Mushroom Race? Isn’t it just a Puki!"
"Having brains doesn’t mean it can withstand Little Badri’s axe!"
Clearly, there were few Dwarves who believed a Puki could stand a chance.
Suddenly, someone asked, "How did this duel come about? Why does the young master have a grudge against a mushroom?"
Several versions instantly emerged from the crowd.
"I heard that the young master fancied a human young lady in the delegation, the one with pink hair, very beautiful! But she ignored him, so he got angry and refused to let the delegation leave!"
"Is that what Little Badri is like?"
"No, no, my cousin is on duty at the city gate; he said there’s a Demon Race spy hidden in the delegation, and the young master wants to investigate, but they won’t allow it!"
"Ha, spy? I think it’s just an excuse! Humans are sly; they must be the ones causing trouble first!"
"Could they be causing trouble and then send a Puki to die?"
Opinions varied.
The honor duel was organized too hastily, and the truth hadn’t spread yet. Among the Dwarves, there were those who loved to embellish tales in taverns and by furnaces, resulting in a myriad of bizarre speculations cropping up one after another.
On the stone platform, Little Badri, clad in Fine Steel armor, wielding his hefty battle axe, was growing increasingly grim.
The scattered talks reaching his ears made the corners of his eyes twitch.
What does it mean to say he was love-struck and then flew into a rage when rebuffed?
He couldn’t let these stupid rumors spread any further!
He suddenly strode forward, his battle axe struck the ground, emitting a deep boom that overpowered the surrounding chatter.
"Quiet!" His voice was like a drum, glaring at the crowd before finally pointing to Inanna at the front of the delegation, "Citizens of Ash City! It’s not that I’m stirring trouble for no reason! This human delegation is passing through my city, and by wartime rules, I should inspect their team to prevent Demon Race spies from sneaking in! It’s a duty to guard the safety of the Mountains!"
"But they evaded every way possible, refused to cooperate! Even thought our Ash City was intentionally making things difficult, and actually suggested an honor duel!" He sneered, wielding his massive battle axe single-handedly, pointing at Inanna and Sword Saint Puki down below, "If you want a fight, then a fight it will be! But I truly didn’t expect, weak humans, would only dare to send out a Puki to die!"
These words were delivered resolutely, instantly changing the mood.
"So it’s to guard against spies!"
"Isn’t inspection necessary? What right do humans have not to cooperate?"
"Badri, the young master, said it right; he’s a real man to personally take the stage!"
In Dwarf perspective, personally participating in an honor duel is a display of courage, naturally superior to hiring a substitute, let alone sending a Puki seemingly to die.
Amid deafening cheers and shouts, Little Badri took a deep breath, provocatively eyeing Inanna.
Old Badri, acting as witness and judge, silently nodded, quite satisfied with his son’s battlefield speech.
On the other side.
"How dare they look down on us! Let me go! I want to blow them up!"
Inanna held No. 4 tightly, its tentacles flailing wildly, as her fingertips deftly reached under the brim of its mushroom cap and gently flicked. No. 4 immediately deflated like a balloon, leaving only a few mycelium strands still swaying defiantly.
No other choice; if she really let it go out there, the situation might become unmanageable.
Soothing the little fellow in her arms, Inanna’s hands continued to move, while her gaze worriedly shifted to Sword Saint Puki:
"Xiao Fourteen... is it really okay?"
Throughout their journey together, she knew fourteen was outstanding, but had never seen the full extent of Sword Saint Puki’s abilities.
Each time Xiao Fourteen would leave alone in pursuit of the Cult’s traces, returning only to casually mention having dealt with several, with all details of the process and the enemy’s strength unknown to her.
As for Little Badri’s info, Ronan has thoroughly investigated: Diamond Level Warrior, and is among the best in Diamond Level.
Plus the shining enchanted fine armor and battle axe...
Inanna found it difficult to be at ease.
However, before the Sword Saint could respond, No. 4, who was slumped in her arms, moaned and spoke first: "Relax... Fourteen is a bit stronger than me, he’s definitely no problem against that iron can. Besides, dying isn’t such a big deal, anyway."
Hearing this, Inanna nodded slightly with a peculiar expression. Although she knew the Mushroom Race could be reborn, she still couldn’t fully adapt to their almost casual view on life and death.
At this moment, Sword Saint Puki slowly walked toward the edge of the stone platform under everyone’s gaze.
He glanced at the steps that required him to do the splits to cross over, hesitated for a moment, then lightly leaped, landing on the platform.
Old Badri, serving as judge, was about to speak when he saw Puki turn around and jump back down.
Sword Saint Puki retracted his tendrils and laid down the four swords he was carrying on his back.
"Are those swords just for decoration?" Little Badri sneered, knowing these Mushroom Race members could understand speech, "Or did you just realize you’re afraid and want to concede now?"
Meanwhile, Elvyn felt stifled!
He had never lost in a verbal exchange before, and now he could only listen to the opponent’s incessant chatter without being able to retort, a huge injustice!
The form of Puki ultimately has its flaws!
Elvyn was very annoyed, so he put down the four skill weapons and swapped for a... dagger.
A normal dagger crafted from fine steel, bearing no special effects.
He held it, leaped back onto the platform, and gracefully spun the mycelium wrist, the blade drew an arc in the air.
Seeing Sword Saint Puki playing with the dagger and returning, Little Badri could clearly tell the other side was mocking him!
"A dagger? If you want to die, I’ll oblige you!"
On the other hand, Old Badri frowned and quietly reminded, "Calm down, take it slow and steady, don’t let your anger give them a chance!"
Having been on the battlefield in his early years, Old Badri, with plenty of combat experience as a warrior, had seen countless cases where rage, fear, panic, and other emotions led to defeat by enemies of far lesser strength.
Warned by his words, Little Badri took a few deep breaths, suppressed his boiling anger, and slowly lifted his battle axe, properly setting up for the opening stance.
Both duelists stood upon the stone platform, seeing this, Old Badri stood between them.
"Witnessed by the mountains’ stones and the fire of the ancestral furnace!" Old Badri’s voice was deep and resonated in the square, "This is an honor duel, sacred and untarnished. The victor gains glory and their demands granted, the loser pays the price and dignity."
He paused briefly, ensuring every word was clearly heard by the crowd below.
"Challenger, leader of the human envoy, Inanna Saint Claire, demands: that Ash City apologize and respectfully allow passage, no further obstruction."
"Responder, defender of Ash City, Little Badri Deep Furnace, demands: uphold the right to inspect, expel Inanna, never to set foot in the mountains again."
His gaze swept over the duelists one more time: "Until one side concedes, falls unable to fight, or is knocked off the platform, the battle will not end. If there are injuries or fatalities due to the honor duel, there can be no pursuit for accountability later, do both sides agree?"
Little Badri heavily tapped his battle axe to signal agreement.
Sword Saint Puki merely slightly tilted his mushroom cap.
"Good!"
Old Badri stepped back several paces until he reached the edge of the platform, then took a deep breath, his arm swinging down.
"Duel, begin!"
Little Badri stepped forward, the battle axe about to strike!
Yet, in his vision, the enemy was nowhere in sight?!
Simultaneously, a "Puki" sound was heard from behind him.
Suddenly, his hand felt light.
He looked down in astonishment, only to see the battle axe break from the handle, the front heavy part crashing onto the stone platform with a dull "clang."
And that wasn’t all.
A series of metal ruptures, buckle breaks, and armor pieces dropping to the ground sounded like a toppled blacksmith’s rack exploding all at once on him!
The heavy metal armor on his body crashed entirely, hitting around his feet.
The mountain wind brushed against Little Badri’s exposed skin, making him feel a hint of chill.
In just an instant, Little Badri was left standing in nothing but shorts and half an axe handle.
"Huh?"