"This is what I’ve been waiting for." Sir Reinhardt’s eyes remained fixed on Lionel afterward. The more he watched the fight, the more satisfied he became.

*Clang!

Lionel blocked another attack and immediately stepped back. His breathing had already become uneven now. Sweat dripped down the side of his face while his arms screamed in pain from blocking too many attacks.

But despite that, his eyes remained calm.

"Again!" one of the soldiers shouted as three more rushed toward him together. There were only a few now after the others were left unarmed and tired on the side.

Lionel gritted his teeth at that.

*Seriously?!

One attacked from the front, another aimed at his side, and the last one circled behind him. For a split second, he felt as if he were cornered. But he managed through it. Before they could even attack together, he initiated one first to break their formation.

He pushed the first man upward. He swung his sword and hit him.

*Clang!

He immediately twisted his body sideways to avoid the second one from attacking him.

*Whoosh!

The wooden sword brushed past his clothes. Lionel lowered his stance and swept his leg hard across the ground.

*Thud!

The soldier behind him lost balance instantly at what he did. Before the man could recover, Lionel struck his chest lightly with the wooden sword.

*Tak!

"You’re out," one of the soldiers nearby called.

The fallen soldier laughed helplessly before stepping away from the sparring area.

"4 left..." Lionel breathed heavily.

Unfortunately, the others did not give him time to rest. Another attack came almost immediately after it.

*Clack!

Lionel barely blocked it in time. The impact almost made him lose grip on his sword. His hands were already shaking slightly from exhaustion.

But strangely enough... the more the fight continued, the calmer Lionel became. It was as if, as time passed, he was slowly getting more used to everyone’s attacks on him.

*Tak!

*Tak!

*Tak!

Another soldier groaned after getting struck on the arm. A small smile appeared on Lionel’s face as soon as another man fell.

"No way..."

"Our young master defeated 7 people already!"

Even the soldiers fighting Lionel were breathing heavily now. Just like him, they were also getting tired.

However, just as it means to be in a real war, stamina is the real battle between soldiers. A person’s strength in war is not measured by skill alone, but by how long they can stand in a battle.

And this sparring session was proving it. Because even if both sides were already exhausted, they can’t just stop. They have to push through it until only 1 is left standing.

*Clang!

*Tak!

*Clang!

His wooden sword struck another soldier’s wrist.

"Ack!" The sword slipped from the man’s hand immediately.

Instead of dwelling on it, Lionel turned quickly afterward. He gritted his teeth when another soldier came charging at him recklessly.

Lionel narrowed his eyes at it.

He sidestepped the attack and struck the man’s side.

*Thud!

The soldier stumbled away while groaning in pain, but he held unto his sword tightly At that point, only he and another soldier remained against Lionel. From 10 vs 1, it was now only 2 vs 1.

Honestly, it should have become easier now. It looks more doable, but compared to the 2, Lionel was more tired.

Still, as long as he can move, he will move.

It was actually strange because even though his body was clearly on the verge of exhaustion, an unknown strength still pulled him together. It was as if his body refused to stop fighting.

The two remaining soldiers tightened their grip on their swords. Unlike before, they no longer looked at Lionel casually. Because now that it was just the two of them, the air around them became more serious.

"Don’t hold back anymore," one of them muttered toward the other and the second soldier could only nod in agreement.

"Let’s go!" The next second, both rushed forward together.

*Clang!

Lionel blocked the first strike immediately. Before he could recover, the second soldier attacked from the side.

*Whoosh!

Lionel barely ducked in time. If he was a second late, the wooden sword would hit exactly the top of his head.

Damn... they’re fast. He cursed in his mind. Lionel quickly stepped back to create distance from them. But the two soldiers did not let him go away at all. They run after him and attacked at both sides together.

*Clack!

*Tak!

*Tak!

*Tak!

Lionel blocked one attack after another. The nonstop impacts made his arms tremble harder.

Then suddenly, one soldier kicked toward Lionel’s leg.

*Thud!

"—!" Lionel’’s eyes widened when he lost balance for a split second.

The other soldier immediately took the opportunity and swung his sword downward. Without a choice, he rolled across the ground.

*Bammm!

The wooden sword slammed into the floor beside him.

Lionel immediately pushed himself back up while breathing heavily.

"That was close..." he muttered.

The surrounding soldiers were completely focused on the fight now. No one was even whispering now. Even Sir Reinhardt’s gaze was fixated on them.

Then suddenly, against everyone’s expectations, Lionel moved again. He rushed toward the soldier on the left before swinging his sword directly at him.

*Clang!

He twisted his wrist and pushed harder.

*Tak!

Lionel suddenly kicked the man’s legs.

"Ugh!"

The soldier staggered slightly. Lionel immediately struck the man’s wrist again.

*Clack!

Just like that, the wooden sword flew out of the soldier’s hand.

"One left!"

"Our young master disarmed him!"

The entire training ground erupted.

But Lionel barely heard any of it. Because the last soldier was already charging toward him. Both of them pushed against each other while gritting their teeth.

Slowly, Lionel started getting pushed back. His feet was getting dragged across the dirt.

Damn it... What can I do? Lionel tightened his grip harder on the sword. It was the only thing he could hold unto as he get pushed forward.

At the middle of uncertaintly, something clicked inside his mind. Instead of resisting the push directly, Lionel suddenly stepped sideways in full force.

"What the..."The soldier’s eyes widened slightly.

Using the man’s own momentum against him, Lionel pulled his sword away and twisted his body.

The soldier stumbled forward. And at that exact moment-

Tak!

Lionel struck the man directly on the back with the wooden sword. The soldier fell forward.

"..."

"...I lose."

"Damn," Lionel stood there while breathing heavily. His chest rose and fell nonstop. Sweat now soaked his clothes completely. His arms felt numb too, but despite that...

"WOOOOOO!"

The entire training grounds exploded into cheers.

"Our young master won!"

"He actually defeated all ten!"

Even the soldiers who lost started laughing and cheering loudly with the others.

After all, the one who won was their young master. And for the soldiers of House Exelio, the glory of their young master was also their own glory.

"Well done, Young Master!"

"Let’s go!!"

"That was amazing!"