***
- How much do I get if I destroy your knight? - Damian asked the merchant with a serious face. He didn't even bother to greet him, he found him so pathetic.
- Destroy? Ha-ha! - The merchant laughed, but immediately stopped laughing.
- At least try to reach his head, boy. And if you throw around words like that, I'll have to punish you.
Damian frowned and clenched his fists. The merchant noticed this and realised he had said too much.
- Well, well, don't get so hot-headed, lad. I was only joking. You shouldn't take it so seriously.
He tried to lighten the mood.
- If you let me fight your knight, I'll show you what I can do.
The merchant hesitated. On the one hand, he didn't want to kill the young lad. But on the other hand, he was curious to see this daring boy in action.
- All right, I'll do it. But if you lose, you won't get up again. You understand me?
- Enough blabbering, get him in here!
Damian dreamed of how he could finally satisfy his hunger after his victory. For him, this was not just a competition, but an opportunity to get the coveted reward. He imagined how he would enjoy a delicious meal after proving his superiority over his opponent.
Thoughts of the impending victory and the long awaited food gave him strength and confidence. But he also realised that the upcoming fight would not be easy and he would have to use all his strength and skills to defeat his opponent.
- Hey, kid, are you going to fight unarmed? Ha-ha, you're crazy!
- What the hell are you doing, you old weakling, mocking a young warrior? Boy, come here, take this sword! - A man with a grey beard appeared from the crowd of spectators gathered in the arena. He was dressed in simple clothes and looked like an ordinary man, but his gaze was full of determination and confidence.
Damian was nervous. He had only recently been thinking about where he could get a weapon. And now an unknown man was holding it out to him.
- Er-is that for me?
He couldn't believe his luck. The sword was many times larger than himself, but he was confident.
He accepted the gift and gripped the hilt of the sword tightly.
The crowd around him murmured. Some clapped their hands approvingly, some laughed. But Damian didn't care. He knew that now he had every chance to defeat his opponent.
[- First Weapon].
He was already used to his system occasionally showing up unannounced, but it was still a surprise every time.
[- Task completed].
[- Reward: + 5 EXP].
He realised that these messages were important to him because they meant that he was advancing, getting stronger and more experienced. But right now his thoughts were occupied with something else - the upcoming fight with the knight.
Damian knew that this fight would not be an easy one. His opponent was known for his strength and skill. But he was ready for it.
And now that he had received a message from his system, he felt even more confident.
- Well lad, you haven't changed your mind? - The merchant asked with a wicked grin, looking Damian straight in the eye.
Damian said nothing in response, just nodded his head and raised his huge sword above him. Everyone present marvelled at how such a skinny young man could do that.
The merchant was impressed by Damian's determination and strength. He was beginning to doubt that this fight would be easy and quick, but he also knew that his warrior was no weakling.
- Well, then, let's get to it! Mate, come here! - the merchant called out to his warrior.
The next moment the two mercenaries looked at each other with undisguised hatred. They clutched the hilt of their swords and rushed at each other. The crowd gathered around the arena cheered, the shouts growing stronger and stronger with each step.
Then came the sharp sound of crossed iron. When the crowd looked at the battlefield, they couldn't believe their eyes: a boy of about fourteen years old was able to deflect the blow of an invincible warrior!
It was unbelievable. Everyone knew that this warrior was one of the best fighters around. He had defeated anyone who dared to challenge him. And now he was defeated by some boy!
The crowd was in shock. Some applauded, some whistled, and some just stood there with their mouths open in amazement. The warrior, on the other hand, was furious. He couldn't believe that he had lost to some boy.
He lunged again, but this time Damian was ready for his blow. He deflected his sword with his own and counterattacked. The warrior was forced to retreat.
The crowd roared with delight. Damian had become the hero of the day. He had defeated an invincible warrior and proved that he was a true warrior.
[- Strength Points: 95/100]
[-Gained Strength Points: X70].
[- Opponent defeated].
[- Applied].
Seeing the system appear, Damian felt absolutely certain of his victory. He was overjoyed, but at the same time a little afraid of himself. How could a person who was disabled in his previous life do such a thing? However, that didn't bother him much.
He turned around, looked at the merchant, and took the bag of coins from him. The crowd cheered, and Damian headed happily to the tavern for a hearty post-fight meal.