Frustrated, the white-haired mage bit her finger, letting her blood flow onto her staff. The crimson liquid glowed as it seeped into the wood, and the lightning bolts intensified, striking with greater ferocity.
Several warriors began to falter, unable to withstand the relentless barrage. But as the mage reveled silently in her triumph, a sharp hand chop struck the back of her neck. Her eyes widened in shock as she staggered forward and collapsed. The storm of lightning subsided instantly.
From the shadows emerged a woman with short black hair, her slender figure exuding a quiet yet deadly grace.
Despite her long retirement, the black-haired woman's beauty and figure remained striking. Dusting her hands as if nothing had happened, she glanced at the fallen mage at her feet. "Rebecca, your downfall has always been your carelessness."
With the lightning dissipated, the courtyard came alive again as the fighting resumed with renewed vigor. The gathered warriors unleashed their pent-up energy, wielding their weapons with precision and agility, parrying, dodging, and countering their opponents' attacks.
Blades honed to razor-sharp edges sought weak points in armor, and spears moved with fluid arcs, cutting through the air. Fierce battle cries reverberated, mingling with the clash of metal. The retired legends, who had honed their skills even in the years after their prime, displayed their prowess with unapologetic confidence.
The clamor of steel rang out across the battlefield as the fighters poured their strength into the fray. They pushed, pulled, and clashed, weapons striking with relentless intensity. Through it all, they smiled—a testament to the long-forgotten thrill of battle rekindled. The air was charged with the blazing competitiveness and camaraderie of warriors reliving their glory days.
From atop the fortress walls, soldiers looked on in awe. It felt like watching a moment from the annals of history come to life. The intensity of the fight stirred their hearts with a mix of admiration and humility. Below, the combat unfolded like a spectacle of monstrous proportions, with blades and axes colliding and sparks flying in all directions.
Even with the protective spells cast by the fortress magicians, the shockwaves from the battle were palpable. A soldier grimaced and muttered, "Wow… if we stepped into that, we'd be flattened in seconds."
Hearing this, the knights behind him nodded solemnly. Even seasoned warriors felt their spines stiffen under the sheer weight of the ongoing fight. One of the elder knights beside them added quietly, "It's not just you, lad. Even knights like us would be crushed instantly."
The soldiers fell silent, their breaths hitching at the realization. The knights themselves watched the chaos below with contemplative expressions. Despite their own dedication to honing their skills, the gulf between them and the legends battling in the courtyard was insurmountable.
"Perhaps it's a matter of talent," one knight murmured, breaking the heavy silence. "Or maybe we simply haven't worked hard enough."
Another knight shook his head and replied, "These are the warriors who once defined their eras. It's not fair to compare ourselves to them."
A younger knight chimed in with a determined expression, "Exactly. We've still got plenty to learn and grow from. Our time hasn't come yet, that's all. Someday, we'll be the ones standing there."
Their budding hope was promptly dashed when another knight spoke up. "…Uh, about that. Count Michael is participating in the fight too. How old is he again?"
A heavy silence fell over the group as they processed this inconvenient truth. Michael's youth, contrasted with his overwhelming prowess, left them exchanging awkward glances. The unspoken reality hung in the air, leaving the atmosphere atop the walls even heavier.
The fierce melee in the courtyard caused the already stifling summer air to grow hotter. As nearly half of the participants collapsed, no longer able to fight, Michael decided it was time to act. He leapt into the air with ease, drawing the attention of those still standing.
Several warriors who had previously targeted him groaned in defeat, sprawled on the ground. "Hah… underestimated the kid. His skills are sharper than I thought," muttered an old, white-haired knight. Nearby, the mage he had defeated grumbled, "Who called him an archer? The guy wields a sword like it's an extension of his arm. Did he eat some legendary herb or something?"
Ignoring their complaints, Michael landed gracefully on Marcus, his dragon, as it swooped in. The remaining combatants paused their battles, startled by the massive shadow cast over the courtyard.
A thunderous roar echoed from the sky as Marcus ascended. The warriors below looked up, stunned, at the sight of Michael standing atop the dragon without even securing himself with a saddle. His commanding figure, silhouetted against the sky, exuded the aura of a hero straight out of legend.
The oppressive presence of the Class-1 magical beast froze the warriors momentarily. However, their pride as legends was not so easily quelled. One man pointed a finger at Michael and shouted, "Hey! Riding a dragon into battle is cheating!"
The others, momentarily cowed by Marcus's might, quickly joined the chorus of complaints.
"Yeah, come on! Fight fair!"
"Seriously? How's anyone supposed to compete without a dragon?"
Michael maintained his calm smile as he replied, "Are you saying Marcus wouldn't be needed when I face the Emperor? If that's the case, I'll dismount and take you on directly."
The complaints died down. They knew better than to dismiss the strategic importance of a dragon. Many of them had come to this gathering precisely because of rumors that Michael had both a dragon and a sphinx at his command.
Among the crowd, some voices began calling for reason. "Hold on now! If any of us had a magical beast like that, we'd use it too. Let's stop whining and focus on the bigger picture. If we all combine our strength, we can take on both the dragon and the sphinx."
"Right! A couple of Class-1 magical beasts are nothing if we work together."
"Hey, kid! Don't complain if we gang up on you. It's fair game."