Flame Lance—Charge!

“Battle!”

Manaen shouted loudly; the blazing warhorse reared and neighed! Its four hooves struck fire as it charged Weiluxika with an unstoppable momentum.

Where the warhorse passed, the ground was scorched black and the air was filled with searing heat.

“Flame Lance—Charge!”

When Manaen unleashed her true power, the same charge felt like two entirely different techniques depending on whether she was mounted or not!

If the previous Flame Lance charge was like a sharp spear easily piercing a boulder.

Then this time the Flame Lance charge would smash an entire mountain range, boulders and all, to pieces!

This is the impact force of cavalry.

However, the Dark Knight Weiluxika did not show any weakness.

She plunged her Dark Sky Halberd into the ground, kept one hand on the shaft, and the power of shadow began to gather.

The red crystal at the center of the Dark Sky Halberd began to emit a strange glow, deep crimson flickering within the pitch-black shadow.

A light flashed within Weiluxika’s faceplate!

The Dark Sky Halberd swung violently, pouring out endless shadow power that instantly enveloped the entire battlefield.

The shadow power surged like a black tide, roaring and devouring all flames!

The shadow abyss was struck hard at its center by the Flame Lance charge!

The entire dueling platform shuddered violently, erupting in a deafening roar!

Flame and shadow intertwined into blinding streaks of light, as if the whole world had been split in two.

Half shadow, half flame.

Yet the clash between the two continued.

Manaen rode the blazing warhorse, weaving through the shadows.

Her Flame Lance fearlessly struck into the pitch-black phantoms ahead! Each attack was accompanied by scorching flames.

The warhorse’s flaming hooves left sizzling trails, and the shadow power hissed where they touched.

Weiluxika moved forward easily, deftly manipulating the shadow power to neutralize her attacks.

Her Dark Sky Halberd traced dark arcs through the air; each strike was incomparably precise.

Under her control, the shadow power turned into countless black blades that filled the sky and shot toward Manaen.

Manaen swung her Flame Lance, shattering the incoming shadow blades one by one.

But the shadow power was inexhaustible, slowly wearing down her flames bit by bit.

She gritted her teeth, yanked the reins, and the blazing warhorse leaped high, evading the shadow blades.

“Flame Storm!”

Manaen thrust her Flame Lance into the ground; in an instant the earth split, scalding flames erupted and formed a massive firestorm that swept across the battlefield.

Wherever the firestorm passed, the shadow power hissed as it burned.

However — this time the Dark Knight Weiluxika did not dodge.

A cold light flashed in Weiluxika’s eyes; she saw the consequence that this Flame Lance knight’s attack would bring.

The flames were already beginning to weaken, and Manaen’s incessant attacks, though fierce, were useless if they did not land.

This firestorm seemed furious on the surface and swept the entire platform.

But its surface force was actually very thin………

Weiluxika gripped the Dark Sky Halberd with both hands! She then concentrated her power, and specks of crimson appeared within the pitch-black shadow force!

The Dark Knight Weiluxika finally took a step forward!

A terrifying strike cut the firestorm in half from left to right!

The blazing warhorse gave a shrill neigh and gradually dissipated.

The battle was over.

Thud!

The Flame Lance knight Manaen fell from the air and crashed down onto the dueling platform.

“……………”

Weiluxika took a deep breath, trying to soothe the enormous expenditure she had just made.

The entire arena fell silent.

There were no cheers, no raucous shouts.

All the knights, in tacit understanding, remained quiet, watching the Flame Lance Knight Manaen who had fallen to the ground.

Young Master Naiye did not pop champagne at halftime either; instead he watched her with a grave expression.

“…………..”

The judge of this match, Discipline Committee Chairwoman Ice Tina, calmly closed her eyes at this moment.

Though her head faced Manaen, she did not immediately declare the match over.

Battles on the dueling platform had never been so easy.

Her own sister, Fire Lina, had been drained of consciousness in every duel when challenging President Meiyu.

A few seconds later, as everyone expected.

The Flame Lance knight Manaen slowly stood up.

There was still a flame burning in her eyes.

Her Flame Lance burst into flame again in her hand, and behind her stood Lina, the Fire Element Knight.

Lina’s gaze was burning yet unusually calm as it fixed on her, and that gaze was full of trust.

She was the Flame Lance Knight Manaen, the aide to Fire Lina, the Fire Element Knight.

She would deliver victory to Lady Fire Lina!

The fight entered a white-hot phase; Manaen’s condition was clearly deteriorating.

The Dark Knight Weiluxika tightened her grip on the Dark Sky Halberd and assumed a battle stance, ready to clash again.

Neither knight backed down.

“……….”

“………..”

The two tacitly and silently recovered their states, standing poised and confronting each other.

Or perhaps… They were looking for an opportunity?

Thud!

Manaen struck first; she charged fearlessly once more!

Riding the summoned blazing warhorse, she galloped across the field; the power of flame surged and condensed within her, and the flaming charge aimed at Weiluxika again!

Weiluxika swung the Dark Sky Halberd, unleashing shadow power that became countless black blades; the dark blades filled the sky and blocked Manaen’s attack.

After blocking the attack, Weiluxika did not counterattack.

Instead she steadied her stance, held the Dark Sky Halberd, and awaited Manaen’s next assault.

“Blazing… Warhorse!”

The Flame Lance Knight Manaen summoned her mount again; scorching flames gathered around her once more, but this time the Fire element’s response was slow, and many flames dissipated before reaching her.

To unleash her full power she needed to be mounted on the blazing warhorse.

But this time the summoning of the warhorse was already very strained.

Yet even so, the flame in Manaen’s eyes did not fade; her indomitable will still burned!

She had her beliefs, her conscience; she felt genuinely sorry for accidentally harming Young Master Naiye.

But she was even less willing to see Lady Fire Lina and the Elemental Knight Order stop because of her.

She would fight with everything she had for Fire Lina to become Knight King!

“Flame Lance—Charge!”

The blazing warhorse answered her conviction, leaping into being at her side once more.

With a heroic roar, the Flame Lance Knight Manaen rode the blazing warhorse.

From the front, without reservation, giving her all, irresistibly and with the momentum of a thousand charging horses, she surged toward the Dark Knight Weiluxika.

“…!!”

At this moment! Many knights were astonished and moved by Manaen’s unyielding conviction.

Faced with this scene, any knight would acknowledge the Manaen before them.

A thought that had once been overturned began to surface in everyone’s minds.

Maybe she really could win?