As the townspeople ran around spreading the news, the two men stepped onto the dueling ground. It was less a proper dueling ground and more a stable, swept clean of manure and mud.

The fence in the middle had been cut away to create a larger space.

Crowds of villagers, having heard news of a Hunter’s duel, lined the fences on both sides.

They clung to the railings, staring intently at the dueling ground—a dense, dark mass, like a disturbed ant colony.

Some enterprising onlookers had even started taking wagers from the townspeople, though the stakes weren’t nearly as extravagant as those at Westminster Cathedral, where bets started with Gold.

Baron saw Mayor Gorman himself cheerfully go up and hand over a Silver Coin, though he had no idea who the mayor was betting on.

"Mr. L, what in the world is going on? Why all of a sudden...?"

The Little Nun, Olivia, had just finished her morning prayers when she heard the news of L’s duel with Ludwig. She immediately hitched up her habit and came running.

Baron gently disengaged the Little Nun’s grasp. "It’s nothing. Just a friendly exchange of skills."

"But Lady Yalilan said you don’t even know how to use a sword," the Little Nun said, stamping her foot anxiously.

’What? She said that?’

Baron was curious. "How did she kn— When did she say that?"

The Little Nun said, "It was that day, when I was bandaging you and the other two Hunters... Lady Yalilan said your Combat Skills were unrefined and that you rely purely on instinct. Otherwise, she said, many of your injuries could have been avoided."

’So that means she witnessed the entire thing but didn’t step in... Then she pretended to arrive late on the scene afterward.’

’Was she using them to kill me, while also observing me in secret?’

’All these schemers are rotten to the core!’

Just then, he heard the murmurs of the crowd:

"Ludwig is a Black Iron Demon Hunter registered with the Hunter Association... That outsider doesn’t look like much..."

"Hah... More than just a registered Black Iron Hunter. Ludwig is on the verge of breaking through to Bronze, and he’s a Hunter acknowledged by Mr. Stephen himself. Give him some time, and he might even advance to Silver!"

"L? Never heard of him. Just some nameless outsider, and so scrawny, too. Even if he is a Bounty Hunter, he probably got his license by selling his ass!"

"If he were that strong, why would he have been captured by Blue Blood Cultists for a blood sacrifice? I say he only escaped because those Cultists started fighting amongst themselves!"

"That makes sense, haha! The Feinan People should just stay in the East and be Dragon Masters. Why do they have to come meddling in Prole? My money’s on Ludwig!"

The surrounding crowd roared with laughter. Clearly, they didn’t think the scrawny Baron, who’d nearly been sacrificed by Blue Blood Cultists, stood a chance against Ludwig.

Overhearing the townspeople’s whispers, the Little Nun clutched Baron’s sleeve again, pleading in a low voice, "Mr. L..."

"I’ll win."

But Demon Hunter L simply patted the Little Nun on the head, ruffling the hair beneath her coif, before turning and walking to the center of the arena. He stopped about thirty feet from Ludwig.

Ludwig glanced at the boisterous townspeople, listening to the hecklers shouting, "Crush him!" and "Kill him!" He then said in a low voice:

"This wasn’t my doing."

"I know."

Baron tossed aside the scabbard of his longsword, took a side-on stance, and raised the weapon in his right hand, the flat of the blade held before his face. "Proceed!"

’It was the opening salute of a Knight’s duel he’d seen in a manga. He didn’t care whether it was proper or not; he was using it anyway.’

Ludwig clearly hadn’t expected Baron to perform such a solemn Knight’s salute, and the indignation he’d felt at being "disrespected" dissipated considerably.

He followed suit, raising his Blue Sword. "Proceed!"

With that, Ludwig leveled his longsword but didn’t move. His eyes were glued to Baron’s blade, as if trying to read every strike that was to come.

As the duel began, the noisy crowd held its breath.

Light spilling through the cracks in the stable roof was exceptionally bright, like the blade of a Hunter’s sword worn pale at the hip.

Though it was a midsummer morning, the early wind carried a chill, and the spectators pulled their long coats tighter around themselves.

The instant a child sneezed in the cold wind, Baron moved!

He suddenly plunged his blade into the ground! With an upward flick of the long saber, dust and endless grit flew toward Ludwig!

The instant the dust was thrown into the air, he dove into the swirling cloud like a black falcon.

Mayor Gorman couldn’t help but let out a cry of admiration!

’A brilliant tactic! Using the dust to conceal his own body! That way, no matter how obvious your killing intent or how ferocious your assault, it’s all hidden within the cloud of dust!’

’The opponent has no idea where, or from which direction, to swing his sword!’

But Ludwig swung his sword. The attack within the dust cloud was invisible to the audience, but if his eyes couldn’t see, he could use his ears to listen.

The sound of a blade cutting through the air. The sound of the dust cloud being sliced apart.

The first slash came from the side of the cloud. He leveled his sword to block it, sending sparks to the ground.

The second slash came diagonally from above. His leveled sword bent into a bright silver arc, and sparks flew past his right cheek.

A third, fourth, and fifth slash... The flurry of blows was shrouded in mist. The audience could only see a dense weave of sparks exploding against Ludwig’s Blue Sword. As the assault quickened, the blade of the Blue Sword seemed to be plated in a solid line of fire!

Ludwig, on the verge of advancing to Bronze, prided himself on his superior physical strength. His strikes were far swifter than most, even without channeling his Spiritual Power. But as he faced the man’s slashes, he was struck by a strange illusion!