What interested Lanni the most were the few individuals standing in the distance beside Victor.

Whether it was the Pure-blooded Fierce Tiger who had the same red hair as him, or the Silver Demon Hunter from the First Hunter Association, he could feel a deathly aura coming from them.

This aura fascinated him.

He believed his true opponents were over there.

Not this dueling ground, which was like child’s play—the sort of thing only someone like Gray would be interested in.

The copper bell rang. Lanni stood up and walked toward the contestants’ waiting area hidden under the stands. The competition was finally about to begin; the tedium of sitting idle was at an end.

Onstage, the host appeared amidst thick white steam, announcing with great fanfare the start of this Hunting Competition.

According to the tournament format, the defender this time was the final winner of the fifth day, Allen! And the challenger would be Lanni, a Glorious Knight newly dispatched by the Glorious Knight Order.

The host said, "According to the rules, if Lanni and his six teammates from the Knight Order wish to challenge Allen, they must first cooperate to defeat the seven registered Demon Hunters who stand between them and the champion!"

"Now then, first up for the Demon Hunters is the Black Iron Tier Demon Hunter from the Fude City Hunter Association, Kapi!"

The host pointed toward the Demon Hunters’ waiting area.

As soon as he finished speaking.

Great jets of steam billowed up around the arena. The high-speed steam engines roared like bellowing bulls. Amidst the rumbling, the iron gate of the Demon Hunters’ waiting area creaked open.

More steam billowed out from it, but was quickly sucked back in, as if a greedy behemoth had opened its mouth and swallowed the mist in a single gulp.

But that was no behemoth. It was a powerfully built Demon Hunter.

It was not a giant mouth that opened, but the weapon he wielded.

The Double-Headed Saber in his hand spun with a WHOOSH, its blades like fan blades, carving sparks from the ground. The steam was sucked in by the resulting vortex and then shredded.

The host rattled off another introduction: "Kapi! Black Iron Tier Demon Hunter from the First Hunter Association! Scored a two-win streak on the first day..."

A loud BANG cut him off before he could finish.

In the sea of white steam, the Demon Hunter named Kapi spun his Double-Headed Saber in a blur, then stomped his foot hard on the ground!

The immense force on the cast-iron floor created a massive sound wave. This sound wave hit the Carbon Microphone in the host’s hand, causing the surrounding broadcast to emit a long, shrill screech.

Some people couldn’t stand the piercing screech and covered their ears. The world fell silent for a moment, and when they lowered their hands again, all they could hear was the crowd erupting into a deafening roar in response to the Demon Hunter Kapi’s provocation toward the Knight candidates’ area.

Their heads were ringing.

But in the face of Kapi’s provocation, which was essentially a slap in the face, the Knights below showed no displeasure. Instead, they all looked on with a peculiar sort of pity. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It was like watching a prisoner being led to the execution block at the market square.

Below the stage, Tate laughed. "The Demon Hunters from the First Hunter Association are as outstanding as ever."

Stephen nodded. "He’s very skilled with that Double-Headed Saber. It’s a weapon that’s good for both offense and defense. The best counter should be a heavy weapon. The last two Knights from the Knight Order lost because they were at a weapon disadvantage.

Now let’s see what weapon the next Knight from the Glorious Knight Order will wield."

Lewis watched Kapi taunting the Knights in their waiting area, stroked his chin, and said, "I think it’s highly likely the next Knight won’t choose a weapon, but will use Assimilation instead."

Victor nodded in agreement.

Tate raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping past the arena toward the tightly shut iron gate of the Knights’ waiting area.

Behind the gate, the young Contract Knight Galahad was eager and ready for action. He had already drawn his sword, prepared at any moment to face the arrogant challenger.

The host’s introduction could be heard from outside as the gate slowly opened, steam escaping from within like a beast from a cage.

"A Knight’s honor cannot be profaned," he muttered.

Just as he was about to step out, a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Newbie?"

The Knight with long, wine-red hair raised an eyebrow. "Just leave the honor of the Knights to me. Newbies should just behave and watch from the sidelines."

Galahad tried to say something, but Lanni simply shoved him aside with one hand and strode forward.

Galahad tried to resist, but the immense force from Lanni’s hand left him completely powerless. The Spiritual Power he was about to channel was forcefully severed by the other man.

Galahad collapsed to the ground, his Longsword landing on the cast-iron floor with a CLANG. He watched as the Fire Dragon Knight’s figure moved past him, eclipsing the light from the gate.

"What gives you the right..."

Galahad scrambled up from the ground, picked up his sword, and started to chase after the man’s retreating figure.

But six Knights who suddenly appeared in the tunnel blocked his path.

Galahad froze, his expression stunned. "Sirs..."

One of the senior Knights sighed. "Galahad, don’t go. That’s Lanni. The Fire Dragon Knight."

"Lanni..." Galahad’s eyes widened in realization. "You mean Gawain Lannier? The one His Majesty Richard selected for the Round Table Knight Order?"

Richard is the Emperor of the Amel Knight Duchy, known to the outside world as the "Knight King."

The title meant he was the king among Knights.

In the recent selection for the next Emperor Prole, he was also chosen by the Statue of the First Emperor to be Amel’s Elector.

The Round Table Knight Order, on the other hand, was an order specially formed by the Knight King, composed of the twelve most valiant Knights on the Continent, representing the pinnacle of knightly honor and skill.

It was the Knight Order that every Law Enforcer in the Knight Profession from Amel—no, from all of Prole—dreamed of joining.