Since he didn't know Lord Reine was deliberately holding back, Salem, on the other hand, was becoming more confident as the fight progressed.
If Salem had been somewhat cautious, or even slightly restrained at the start of the battle, about a minute into it, he felt he had a rough understanding of Reine's strength.
Was Reine's strength formidable?
Yes, but not as formidable as Evelyn had described.
Was he going easy on him?
Was he hiding a trick up his sleeve?
After observing Reine closely for a while, Salem noticed Reine's composed expression and inwardly nodded, thinking Reine must have some secret techniques yet to be used.
But wasn't he the same?
Thus, after a heavy clashing of shields with a "boom," both stepped back several meters and stood their ground.
Salem declared with high spirits, "Lord Reine, it feels great to meet one's match! Please allow me to fight freely. I will use Transcendent properties and secret techniques in the subsequent battle."
"Please, do not hold back either."
Reine raised an eyebrow, looking at the rather spirited Salem before him.
This... "Experience NPC," aren't you a bit too arrogant!
If you don't hold back, you would likely be dead by now.
But then Reine thought, what's wrong with an "Experience NPC" who tries his best to create as much experience as possible?
In fact, such an attitude deserves praise!
So be it, he would just match his power up to Salem's until his opponent's stamina ran out.
Moreover, this was also one of the best ways to gain Experience.
So, after a moment's thought, Reine said with a smile, "Of course! Please, do as you wish, Lord Salem."
"Be careful, Lord Reine!"
The next second, with Salem's shout, his speed suddenly increased by about twenty to thirty percent, leaving behind a blur as he charged towards Reine like an arrow released from its bow.
A speed-type Transcendent property, huh!
Reine immediately maxed out his "Limit Break" level.
Since Reine's strength, agility, and physique had risen from 60% to 73%, even though Salem activated the Transcendent property "Agility," the gap between their agility was not too vast.
On the other hand, Reine's high Spirit resulted in superior perception and control over the battle's finer details, which essentially balanced out the combat, allowing him to respond steadily.
Their weapons clashed even faster than before, sending sparks flying!!!
The servants couldn't bear it anymore and scrambled away.
Salem's nearly all-out effort excited several young onlookers.
"Salem is getting serious now!"
"It's about time we show this foreigner the strength of Rosby City's youth."
"Yes, it should appear soon, the Earl Zerman family's secret technique 'Phantom Strike'!" Osby, too, was looking forward to the central stage with great anticipation.
However, Evelyn was full of doubts, wondering if this really was Reine's true strength.
Even without deploying the Wizard Apprentice's abilities, his strength shouldn't be just this.
Viscount Norman, watching from above, also furrowed his brow slightly.
This differed from what his daughter had told him.
It seemed that Reine's strength was about the same as Salem's.
At that moment, the form of their duel in the center of the field suddenly changed!
Suddenly, Reine's pupils dilated sharply.
For he had just realized that Salem's Longsword in his right hand, initially pulled back, was now thrusting forward at an almost invisible speed.
The attack was so swift that even though his elbow remained back, the actual strike had already reached in front of him.
It seemed every young person who received a commendation in the ennoblement assessment had one or two trump cards.
At this point, blocking with the heavy pig-headed hammer was too slow.
However, this wasn't a difficult problem for Reine, who hadn't yet deployed his two Transcendent properties.
Reine suddenly let go of the pig-headed hammer and, instead, reached out with his bare hands towards Salem's Longsword.
This scene stunned everyone!
Was he willing to risk his hands ?
At the same time, Reine's physique surged, his muscles bulging like those of a beast.
But no matter how formidable the muscles, the body's defensive power couldn't possibly withstand the attack of a Peak Knight wielding a weapon! The crowd thought.
A shower of sparks erupted!
But Salem's Longsword was abruptly stopped by Reine's bare hands.
"This... it really was stopped?" A female knight nearby murmured, covering her mouth in awe.
Several onlookers exchanged bewildered looks, having never before seen Salem's secret technique 'Phantom Strike' neutralized by an opponent.
To think he would barehandedly grab the Longsword executing a 'Phantom Strike.'
"I don't believe Reine's hands are unharmed; they must be ruined, just being forcibly endured!" Osby couldn't help blurting out.
"Snap!" Reine's chrome iron gloves broke apart, falling to the ground.
Everyone's gaze concentrated on Reine's hands.
Not even a hint of blood.
Maybe just a white mark...
"How... how is this possible!" Osby pointed at this scene, disbelief written all over his face!
The rest were just as astounded!
Evelyn, on the other hand, simply nodded slightly.
This was more in line with the strength she knew he possessed.