Tang Shaoyang was still in Spirit Integration with Zowen as the knight in front of him was scanning him from the top to bottom.
The man was not in a hurry to slash his sword just like the knights, "You are not a mage, right?" His voice was gentle like a kind neighborhood uncle.
This was his first time meeting someone above his level, far above with a 60 level gap. He was wary of the knight, not to worry since the people within his level were much weaker than he was.
"I mean what kind of mage brings a heavy battle-ax like you?" Despite the lack of response from Tang, the knight continued speaking by himself, "I have also heard the Trial of the Duel from the other people, you fought like a close combat class instead of a mage. What kind of mage gets near to his opponent rather than keeping the distance. Am I right?"
The knight seemed to be interested in Tang, but the latter was just unresponsive, "Hey, let's talk, why don't you answer me? That's rude to ignore someone who's talking to you, you know?"
The knight showed no sign of giving up to talk with him despite receiving no answer, "Oh, maybe because I haven't introduced myself to you. My name is Henry, a Knight of Luminous Church."
'Should I fight him? Or should I rush to meet with the others,' none of the knight's words entered his ears obviously. He was contemplating whether to run away or fight the Templar Knight in front of him.
"Since you are so uncooperative might as well capture you and let's see if you can keep ignoring me after that," a sadistic grin formed on the knight's lips as he raised the sword.
'I can't see his attributes, but from the level, his attributes should be the same around me or maybe a little bit higher,' Tang Shaoyang was estimating his opponent's strength based on attributes. As for why his attributes were comparable to someone with over level 170s, that was because of his Talent.
There was no concept of talent in this world, 'But I have to be careful with the Bloodline. That was something I am not aware of.'
Henry was no longer in the mood of talking as he rushed toward Tang Shaoyang. Half-way, Tang Shaoyang saw Henry's figure split into seven. Four figures were still rushing toward him while the three splitting figures were trying to flank him from the side.
Instead of retreating, he took out the battle-ax from the inventory. He came forward to meet with the four mirages.
"Hahaha, as I thought, you are not a mage! But that was so stupid of you if you think this is an illusion," the four Henrys were talking at the same time while doing a different stance, each of them.
'So all of them are real, huh!?' It was either a bluff to deceive him or that was truly just a mirage. Tang Shaoyang smirked at the knight as he activated his skill, [Flash Step].
He did not charge forward but moved to the side, charging at the two Henrys on the right side. At the same time, he cast [Lightning Cage] to trap the four Henrys.
The two Henrys were not expecting such instant movement as the battle-ax slashed toward their chests. The feeling of slashing the two Henrys was the same as swinging his battle-ax to the empty air. Meaning Henry was just bluffing, and these figures were an illusion.
The figure blurred as the battle-ax passed through their body. As for the four Henrys, they were trapped in the lightning cage.
'This is too easy for someone Level 174,' it was too easy that made Tang Shaoyang suspicious. With such a quick successive movement, it only left one Henry at the other flank.
If the four Henrys trapped in Lightning Cage were also an illusion, the real one should be the knight on the other side. However, he felt something amiss, for some reason, he felt all Henrys were an illusion, fake.
He activated his skill and scanned the surroundings from the top. Instead of chasing the last Henry, he just stood there, scanning his surroundings cautiously.
At the last moment, another Henry appeared from his blind spot, around five meters away from his exposed back. Tang Shaoyang spun around and swung his battle-ax horizontally.
At the same time, he activated his skill, [Enhanced Strength] and [Raged Alteration].
[Your Strength has been enhanced. You will again +25 Strength for five minutes!]
[You have entered a raging state. Boosting your Strength by 10% for one minute!]
Henry was caught off guard as he was not expecting his opponent could read his trick in one try. The seven mirages were his illusion while he cast [Nature Shroud]. A skill that made his body blended with nature and camouflaged himself from the naked.
Unless his opponent had special eyes that could see his skill. However, that was unlikely as the man in front of him tried to fight and used his skill on his mirages. It was unknown how the man read his trick, but now he realized why Goddess of Harmony ordered him to catch the man alive. He was special, even more special than him.
The sword and the battle-ax clashes in the air as the spark flew out when the two weapons met. To Henry's surprise, the man could hold his ground against his prepared strike.
While they clashed, Tang Shaoyang cast [Thunder Wrath]. The thunder descended toward Henry, which was a very fast counter but the Templar Knight managed barely avoiding the thunder as he leaped backward.
The thunder struck an empty spot, creating a small crater to show the fearful impact it might cause. However, Tang Shaoyang was not done with his attack. The moment Henry took a footing from his backward leap, a cage made of lightning rose, confining him into a limited space.
That was a quick checkmate, but Tang Shaoyang also stopped his attack despite the golden chance to end the battle. First, he was cautious that this Templar Knight still had a fearful trick in his sleeve. This knight was known for his fearful power, after all. Such an image should stem from their power, not just a mere rumor.
Second, while he was at it, he was trying to get the Templar Knight's limit. This Henry should not be the only Templar Knight and those Gods would keep sending them to capture him. He had to know their limit to know his limit when he fought them.
He was confident to win against them in one vs one, but more than five, he was not that confident, not until he could measure their limit.
"Bahahaha…" Henry suddenly let out maniac laughter, "I finally understand why Goddess Rubia wants to capture you alive. You are not someone that will disrupt the harmony of this world, but because you have something special. A power other does not have, She wants you to be one of us!"
Tang Shaoyang did not understand why the Templar Knight could have such a thought, but he did not care either.
"But No! I am not going to let Goddess Rubia have you, Goddess Rubia is mine!" A thunder-loud declaration came out from Henry's mouth.
"Mortal! Witness the power of someone who is blessed and loved by the Goddess of Harmony!" Henry pointed his sword to the sky. The sky split open and a giant sword made of holy light revealed.