Flame Lance Knight Versus Dark Knight!

The Flame Lance Knight Manaen was already prepared.

Flames in her hand swirled around and then coalesced into a searing flame lance.

She was fully armored and had readied everything.

Although this was a punishment, for the honor of a knight and the reputation of the Elemental Knight Order—she would be best—indeed she must win.

Fire Lina had warned her to give her all; in such duels only by truly showing one’s strength could one earn everyone’s forgiveness.

Only then would the Elemental Knight Order’s morale be revived!

“In this decisive battle, I will give my all for Lady Fire Lina…”

Manaen was a timid child, afraid of fighting since she was young, average in skill, and mocked for it.

At her weakest she even thought of fleeing the Auriel Kingdom, escaping this realm of female knights where fighting was everything.

But at her darkest moment a flame drove away the darkness and brought her the most important light and warmth.

That was Lady Fire Lina—she wasn’t yet called Fire Lina then, but her terrifying talent already showed the power of the Fire element.

It was she who pulled Manaen out of the dark; since then Manaen followed Lady Lina and, under her guidance, finally faced combat head-on!

Gradually Manaen discovered her cowardice stemmed from avoidance—when she truly fought… she even found a measure of enjoyment.

In the end Manaen followed Lady Lina in choosing the Fire element, and she became the most powerful spear in Lina’s hand!

“Huff…”

The Flame Lance Knight Manaen exhaled a hot breath, donned her plated helmet, the clank of armor rang out, and she began to advance.

Passing through the corridor, the open sight and light emerged; Auriel’s knight trainees watched the duel platform with stern or expectant expressions.

Her opponent was already standing before her.

A knight as black and shadowed as could be.

This was everyone’s first impression of the Dark Knight Weiluxika.

She was truly formidable; almost every capable knight who saw her for the first time reacted the same way.

The first impressions were remarkably uniform.

“When did she receive the Queen’s blessing? She doesn’t seem like a knight from the Academy, does she?”

“She already is—just now she stood on the duel platform with dignity, unafraid.”

“This is Young Master Naiye’s Lycoris knight… even Her Majesty the Queen recognized her.”

When the Flame Lance Knight Manaen took her place on the duel platform.

Everyone was surprised to discover that this Dark Knight even bore Queen Auriel’s blessing!

The Queen’s protection is only granted to Academy students and knights, and it only takes effect within the Academy.

This meant that the Dark Knight Weiluxika had been acknowledged by Her Majesty the Queen.

When the two prepared to duel, the protective blessing on them faded away.

Because in duels the blessing does not provide protection—that is the significance of the duel platform!

The Disciplinary Committee Chair with an ice-blue ponytail lightly bobbing stepped into the center.

Ice Tina would preside over the duel as referee.

“………….”

Her cold, rigorous gaze swept over the two combatants.

She then removed her beret and held it to her chest, bowed respectfully to the duel platform and to Her Majesty the Queen, and released a radiant crystal.

As she retreated, the crystal rose.

Ice Tina reached the edge and raised her slender arm.

Finally she glanced at the two who were ready.

“Dark Knight Weiluxika versus Flame Lance Knight Manaen…”

When Ice Tina’s cold voice echoed across the duel platform.

Everyone held their breath, tensing as they watched every development on the platform.

“Duel begin!”

With a bang! Ice Tina’s hand sliced through the crystal in midair.

The crystal shattered—the duel began!

“Hah… Ha!!”

Boom!

The Flame Lance Knight Manaen erupted in blazing flames! Fiery infernos danced wildly around her!

With a soaring charge she aimed at the Dark Knight, the flame lance in her hands bursting with dazzling firelight as she thrust upward!

Facing the menacing flame lance, Dark Knight Weiluxika remained unnaturally calm and raised her Dark Sky Halberd; her stern black visage mask showed not a flicker of fear.

She was clad in jet-black heavy armor, the Dark Sky Halberd in her hand emitting a dim glow as if it could devour all light.

Facing Manaen’s fierce thrust, she did not yield—she swung the Dark Sky Halberd fiercely to counter.

First round of attacks! The two weapons collided violently in midair, producing a deafening roar!

Fire and darkness intertwined, forming a blinding radiance that seemed ready to rend the entire battlefield at any moment!

After the waves dispersed.

A scorching light reappeared at the center; Manaen’s flame lance surged forward again with overpowering force, driven by fervent faith and will, and she stabbed at Weiluxika without reservation.

Weiluxika’s reaction was equally swift—she sidestepped in a flash and avoided the overly linear thrust.

“Hmm…”

“What’s wrong, Naiye? If there’s anything you don’t understand I can explain it,” President Meiyu whispered as she leaned closer, seeming eager to lecture Naiye.

“A lance of flame empowered by faith and consciousness… but that’s not all.”

President Meiyu was a little surprised—Naiye clearly lacked much prowess, yet he still saw everything clearly.

He was right; this flame lance was not yet the full extent of Manaen’s power.

At the same time Weiluxika swung the Dark Sky Halberd in an arc toward Manaen’s side ribs.

Manaen quickly drew back her flame lance and held it horizontally before her, blocking Weiluxika’s counterstrike! But the weapons and force of the two were clearly mismatched.

That defense forced Manaen to step back.

After a brief pause, their weapons clashed again, shadows and flames spraying everywhere!

The ferocity of the fight was dazzling!

“…!”

Weiluxika was forced back a few steps, and Manaen immediately launched another attack. She brandished the flame lance with ferocious momentum!

Each thrust carried scorching flames, as if eager to turn any foe standing before her into ash!

Weiluxika, like a phantom of the night, suddenly stepped back one stride.

But she was not retreating—shadows surged up from the ground!

In an instant the entire platform was covered by this vast shadow, endless pressure bearing down on the unflinching Flame Lance Knight.

The Dark Knight Weiluxika’s true form emerged from the heart of the shadow, the massive Dark Sky Halberd striking the flame lance head-on from above!

Shadows Collapsing the Sky!

The clash of shadow and flame caused a massive explosion!

A few seconds later, the Dark Knight Weiluxika’s silhouette retreated several steps.

But her jet-black figure and the hand gripping the Dark Sky Halberd remained steady; she even raised her right eye slightly to look forward.

On the other side, the Flame Lance Knight Manaen was clearly worse for wear, but still had some strength left.

“Hah… Huff…”

Manaen breathed somewhat rapidly; the flame lance in her hand trembled faintly.

In the first round of direct clashes, the Dark Knight Weiluxika held the upper hand.

Seeing this, Silvermoon Knight Rena Silvermoon actually showed a very pleased expression at Weiluxika’s performance.

Others watched the clash gravely, especially the Fire-element knight Fire Lina, whose face turned ashen.

In this round it wasn’t that Manaen was weak—it was that this Dark Knight Weiluxika’s combat power far exceeded most people’s imagination!

Is this why Young Master Naiye specifically brought this knight here?

This Dark Knight’s strength was unexpectedly great.

While everyone held their own thoughts, only the Dragon Knight Eren Dragonborn…

His mind was still occupied with the calculations he had just heard from his grandmother Eiru Dragonborn.

From the start until now, it was still unchanged!

After a brief pause, this time the Dark Knight Weiluxika attacked proactively!

Boom!

She targeted an opening, leapt violently, and the Dark Sky Halberd drew a graceful arc through the air, coming down heavily on Manaen’s head.

Manaen reacted quickly, raising her flame lance to block, but Weiluxika’s strike carried such weight that it numbed her arms.

Seizing Manaen’s unstable footing, Weiluxika changed technique swiftly; the Dark Sky Halberd swept horizontally toward Manaen’s waist.

Manaen gritted her teeth and forced herself steady! She quickly retreated and avoided Weiluxika’s sweep.

Using the momentum she planted the flame lance into the ground, leveraging the reaction force to leap again; the lance traced a scorching arc through the air, stabbing toward Weiluxika’s chest.

A dark pattern flickered across Weiluxika’s faceplate! She raised the Dark Sky Halberd and fearlessly slashed head-on, blocking Manaen’s deadly thrust.

The two fell into a fierce stand-off again, fire and darkness interweaving across the field in an awe-inspiring life-or-death contest.

Gradually, the shadow began to devour the flames.

No one noticed this tiny yet terrible change sooner than the Flame Lance Knight Manaen!

If the frontal clashes continued, she would inevitably be defeated!

Though helpless, she had to change this situation!

After one exchange, Manaen seized a tiny flaw; the flame lance erupted with endless fire, and the scorching flames engulfed Weiluxika before she could react!

However—Weiluxika’s figure vanished!

“…!”

Without a sound, the Dark Knight appeared behind Manaen!

The Dark Sky Halberd carved out a dim shaft of light, aimed straight at Manaen’s back.

Manaen’s heart jolted; she turned quickly, but it was too late—the Dark Sky Halberd scored a cut across her armor, and with no protective blessing, blood gushed forth!

She gritted her teeth, endured the agony, and quickly put distance between them.

She immediately ignited flames to staunch the wound in her back.

This caused her to spit out a mouthful of blood, but her condition did not continue to worsen.

“…………”

President Meiyu carefully recalled the battle; she thought she had just seen something special about the whole body of the Dark Knight Weiluxika.

But she still needed to consult Young Master Naiye first.

“Young Master Naiye, did I just see the armor and weapon bound to the knight?”

“Heh, yes! The entire armor and the Dark Sky Halberd, and Weiluxika herself are all linked together—this is a suit created by magical technology! None of it can be missing.

“I made this using the highest level of technique!”

Young Master Naiye put down his coffee and introduced it proudly, without hesitation revealing what made the Dark Knight Weiluxika special now.

This was the special trait of the Lycoris family?

Armor and weapons crafted by magical technology could form a set with the knight themselves, giving the entire knight terrifying strength!

President Meiyu knew it!

Young Master Naiye had come to demonstrate.

“Truly… impressive.”

But President Meiyu’s slitted eyes began to show delight; if Young Master Naiye’s plan succeeded this time it would do her a great favor.

Contrasting President Meiyu’s happiness was the dejection of the Elemental Knight Order.

And their commander, Fire Lina.

“Damn it…”

Fire Lina glared up at Young Master Naiye and President Meiyu.

Now she desperately hoped the Flame Lance Knight Manaen would win, because if she lost…

It would be a huge blow to the entire Elemental Knight Order’s morale!

After the Elemental Knight Order had captured the third sector, their morale and momentum had been explosive!

They were gaining the upper hand in the war against the Sky Wing Knight Order!

But now they were clearly in decline………

But it wasn’t over! Manaen’s true strength and flame had not yet been fully displayed; until the fight ended there was still hope!

The first round of exchanges had ended—both probing and gauging the gap—and both understood that while the Dark Knight Weiluxika’s advantage was not large, it would gradually widen.

If the Flame Lance Knight Manaen continued like this…………

‘Lady Fire Lina is still watching me; I cannot continue like this!’

Under everyone’s gaze, the Flame Lance Knight Manaen made no more reservations; she raised her flame lance and began to chant an ancient spell.

The female knights, especially the Elemental Knight Order, reignited their confidence!

This was the Flame Lance Knight’s most famed and most special Fire-element ability!

Expectancy shone in their eyes as they intently watched the Flame Lance Knight’s summoning.

As the chant flowed, the air filled with scorching heat; flames danced madly around her, answering her call.

“Flame Lance, gallop! Blazing warhorse!”

Manaen shouted and thrust the flame lance into the ground. In that instant the ground burst with searing flames that began to surround her entire body!

The flames then condensed into a majestic blazing warhorse. The steed was engulfed in roaring flames, its eyes like two burning suns, exuding endless might.

Manaen gripped the burning lance and mounted the warhorse!

The blazing horse’s eyes fixed on Weiluxika,

at this moment, she was no longer alone but one with the blazing warhorse—the Flame Lance Knight!

The power of fire surged within her, as if ready to erupt at any moment.

“Ugh…”

When the true mounted form of the Flame Lance Knight appeared.

Young Master Naiye seemed to wince in pain again; the wound beneath the bandage on his left arm throbbed faintly.

Then, a pair of warm hands began gently massaging Naiye.

The hands’ touch was gentle yet firm; though on his arm, it noticeably eased Naiye’s dull pain…….

“Really impressive… that girl.”

Young Master Naiye couldn’t help but exclaim—after all, this Flame Lance Knight was the Elemental Knight Order’s second-in-command.

He suddenly wanted to witness Fire Lina’s combat.

Unfortunately, after this battle the war would have to come to an end.

Though somewhat arrogant, Young Master Naiye was nonetheless fully confident that his Dark Knight would win!

Naiye gently stroked President Meiyu’s hands, but his gaze remained calm as he watched the duel platform.