"This match is over."
John's breath hitched. His grip on his sword tightened as he took a step forward. "Wai—What?!"
The old man's gaze snapped onto him, eyes gleaming with chilling authority. The weight of his presence alone felt suffocating, and his voice, cold and sharp, sliced through the silence.
"Do you have a problem with my judgment?"
The killing intent behind those words was overwhelming.
John hesitated. His instincts screamed at him—this was no ordinary man. His body tensed, fingers curling around his sword hilt. Something told him that if he so much as twitched the wrong way, he'd die before even realizing what had happened.
Meanwhile, in the royal stands, General Ren and the King were frozen in shock.
Ren's face paled instantly. His voice was hoarse. "M-My lord… Why is he here? Wasn't he in seclusion?"
The King, Elden, clenched his fists. "Y-Yeah, you're right… But more importantly, why the hell did he interfere in the match?"
General Ren's expression darkened. "Because… he didn't want Aurora to die."
Elden's fury ignited. "But killing is allowed in our matches! Interfering in a sanctioned fight is the same as questioning my authority!"
Without hesitation, Elden leaped from his throne, landing in the arena with a heavy impact. General Ren followed close behind.
The air crackled with tension as the two men faced the old master.
Elden's voice thundered. "Sovereign Albert! What are you doing here?! Why did you stop this match?!"
But Albert ignored him. His attention never wavered from John. And then, out of nowhere—he smiled.
"I have two questions for you, boy. Can I ask them?"
John blinked, then smirked. "You can, but… what do I get in return?"
The entire arena fell silent.
The King's face twitched. "This brat…! He's actually trying to negotiate with Sovereign Albert? Is he insane?!"
Albert, however, laughed heartily, rubbing his chin. "Oh? You want something in return?"
He turned his head toward the King. "Elden, do you remember the storage ring I gave you long ago? The one I asked you to hold onto?"
The King's heart sank.
"Damn it… This old man actually remembers."
Elden forced a chuckle. "Ah… That ring? Well… I lost it."
Albert's smile faded. His eyes glowed dangerously. "Oh? Then tell me… what is that on your right hand's index finger?"
Elden's entire body stiffened. Reluctantly, he removed the ring and handed it over.
Albert held the SS-rank storage ring up to John. "Here. This is your price."
John's eyes sparkled. He grinned. "Deal."
Albert's smile returned. "Good. Now… my first question."
His tone turned razor-sharp. "Where did you learn this sword skill?"
John shrugged. "I found it randomly in a cave at Wolf Mountain."
Albert's expression barely shifted, but his fingers tensed.
"So… he found it by luck?"
His second question came immediately after. "How long have you trained in it?"
John thought for a moment. "About a year."
The moment those words left his lips—everything changed.
General Ren and Elden staggered backward, faces filled with disbelief.
Albert, despite his incredible control, almost lost balance.
A year?!
Elden's thoughts raced. "He's heavenly blessed!"
Albert's mind reeled. "Not luck… but fate itself!"
The tension in the arena had shifted. The once casual exchange now carried an air of destiny.
Albert inhaled deeply and locked eyes with John. "Listen, boy—"
But before he could finish, Elden clamped a hand on John's shoulder.
"Congratulations! You have officially won this year's Ritterfest. From today onward, you are a High-Ranked Knight of the Alex Kingdom."
Albert's eyes narrowed. "Tch. He interrupted me on purpose."
Elden smirked. "Now, about that ring. Hand it over, old man."
Albert sighed and tossed it to John. "There's a jade slip inside. If you ever need my help, burn it."
Then, turning his back, he vanished into the air.
Elden exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Damn old man."
Then, his gaze flickered toward Aurora.
His eyes widened. "Wait… Aurora?"
Slowly, she removed her red helmet.
Her long scarlet hair cascaded down, her jade-like skin glowing under the light. Her soft yet deadly features had an undeniable presence.
She ignored Elden completely, instead bowing to General Ren. "How are you, Uncle Ren?"
Ren chuckled. "You're a princess. You don't bow to me."
Elden's breath was caught in his throat. "Aurora… my daughter?"
His voice was barely above a whisper. "It's been over ten years… you were only six then. No wonder I didn't recognize you."
Aurora's eyes were sharp as she turned toward John.
She pointed at him. "The only reason you won is because I underestimated you. But don't think you're the only one who has reached perfection in swordsmanship."
Her challenging tone filled the space between them.
John smirked, meeting her gaze.
And then, without another word, she left.
Elden followed, his expression unreadable.
As the dust settled, General Ren turned to John.
His voice was low. "The King ordered me to bring you to the castle immediately."
John raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What for?"
Ren's expression darkened. "You'll find out soon enough."
The tension thickened. Something bigger was coming.
John simply grinned. "Lead the way."
And with that, they disappeared into the night.