Chapter 150 Proud of the Blade of Victory?
The sky was overcast, with thunder rumbling slowly and faintly, hidden deep within the heavy clouds.
A group of noble ladies, accompanied by their maids, walked into the arena. They saw soldiers from the King's Guard already lined up in formation.
Jason, commander of the King's Guard, stood on the combat platform calling roll.
His eyes swept over the sea of soldiers below as his voice boomed like a bell, making the arena's flags tremble.
"Combat tests not only your skills but also your courage. You soldiers are all outstanding from military selection. If blood is drawn in today's sparring, I don't want to see anyone cowering. I can't stand fancy moves with no substance! No matter how you are good friends in private, once you're on this platform, treat it as a battlefield and give it your absolute best!"
Rodolfo, the deputy standing behind him, continued: "The King's Guard holds combat drills once a year. Those who perform well will earn His Majesty's favor. Remember, we are the most elite force in the palace. We don't allow cowardice, and we certainly don't allow surrender without a fight."
Jason said: "I heard the Blade of Victory holds drills once a month. Soldiers who can't last ten moves get sent to the kitchen as cooks, and those who can't last five become stable hands. I don't want to be that strict with you, but if you want to become great generals, first learn to overcome your nature—be brave and fearless!"
"Brave and fearless!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices roaring like lions beneath the thunderclouds.
Someone raised their hand and asked: "If I win the fight, Commander Wright, can you get me into the Blade of Victory?"
Jason glanced at him: "With your skills? Send you to embroider handkerchiefs for the enemy's grandmother?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Among all those who passed military selection, everyone most wanted to join the King's Guard, and within the King's Guard filled with talent, the camp everyone most wanted to join was the Blade of Victory.
Everyone admired the strong, fantasizing about raising the Blade of Victory's banner high, making enemies flee in panic at just a glimpse of the flag or the sound of the Blade of Victory's horn.
Just then, Rodolfo suddenly said: "We have General Hamilton's cousin in our ranks."
After speaking, he looked at Ethan: "Ethan, don't hold back later, fight with everything you've got!"
Cressida saw Ethan step forward in silver light armor, bowing in salute with crisp, decisive movements.
"Yes, sir."
The men from Squad A facing him were all exceptionally sturdy and tall, cracking their knuckles at Ethan.
Elysia was sweating for Cressida, but when she turned to comfort her, she found Cressida's expression completely calm.
Cressida's eyes were fixed on the combat platform in the arena, lost in thought.
Probably worried, she thought.
Jason noticed the noble ladies arriving and immediately said: "Your sisters are here to watch the combat. Show them your real skills so they won't worry about you."
At the sight of women, the King's Guard soldiers became excited, eager to show off.
Before the combat, Jason had everyone get their weapons and warm up. The official start would be in thirty minutes.
Madeline immediately went to find her brother Flynn, and Cressida also walked up to Ethan.
The soldiers around Ethan were his good friends who also knew Cressida, having met her when they visited Mabel last time.
"Ms. Hamilton," they bowed respectfully.
Cressida nodded with a smile: "You all warm up. I'll have a word with Ethan."
They immediately understood and moved aside.
Ethan looked at Cressida, his eyes bright.
"Cressida, I definitely won't embarrass you."
"I believe in you. You got into the King's Guard through your own real abilities. You're much more capable than those boys who got in through connections."
After speaking, Cressida reached up to adjust his armor.
Then she gripped his shoulder: "However, your opponent Flynn is no pushover either. I heard he's strong as an ox."
Ethan nodded: "He can lift an iron cauldron. I've seen it with my own eyes."
Cressida raised an eyebrow: "Scared?"
"No," Ethan's handsome eyes were especially determined. "I've practiced martial arts since childhood. Father said that as long as they're human, they have weaknesses. I know his habits. I'm ninety percent sure I can beat him."
Cressida looked at him approvingly.
She pressed down hard with her fingers, and Ethan winced: "Cressida, that hurts!"
"I'm pressing your pain-relief pressure points to prevent him from hitting vital spots on your body, which could cause your blood flow to reverse. That's very dangerous and could be fatal."
People with great strength all use brute force.
Ethan smiled warmly: "Cressida, you're so good to me. I heard whoever wins the combat gets a set of silver armor from His Majesty. I'll go win it for you!"
Cressida shook her head and corrected him: "You should win it for yourself."
The horn sounded. The competition was about to begin.
Cressida returned to the sidelines. Madeline glanced at her smugly.
"Cressida, what were you just telling Ethan? Were you instructing him to save his life at critical moments and remember to beg for mercy?"
"I was reminding Ethan not to use deadly force, so he wouldn't hurt Flynn."
After Cressida spoke flatly, Madeline glared at her fiercely: "Such big talk!"
Emily reminded them: "Stop it, Prince Marshall and the others are here."
The noble ladies immediately looked up toward the distance.
On the viewing platform built across the arena, several people in gold-threaded brocade robes sat, their distance making it hard to see clearly, but the golden threads on their clothes shimmered faintly, displaying royal authority.
Marshall wore a silver-white robe and sat in the center, with Miguel and Joseph on either side.
There also seemed to be several military generals, who looked like officials from the military department.
Madeline was a bit excited: "The princes are here to watch the combat too? If only Prince Yosef were here..."
By the end, she seemed dejected.
Perhaps she wanted Yosef to see how brave Flynn was.
Cressida glanced at Miguel from afar, then looked away.
On the viewing platform, they were also discussing the ladies.
Marshall suddenly said: "I never noticed before that Ms. Hamilton stands out so much among the noble ladies."
She was the tallest and slimmest, her whole body like jade bones. She stood there with her back straight, never lowering her head, either looking down with calm, emotionless eyes.
No matter how lively things were around her, she remained unmoved, her eyes fixed only on her goal.
Before Miguel could speak, Joseph said somewhat disdainfully: "She's a woman from a military general's family—crude and vulgar, not like noble ladies from prestigious families."
After Joseph spoke, he felt Marshall and Miguel both looking at him coldly.
He paused, then turned to ask them.
"Did I say something wrong? Father asked me what I thought of the Hamilton family. I said I hate military generals who fight with weapons the most. What else could I say?"
Miguel said coldly: "Without General Hamilton leading the Blade of Victory, you'd already be Eldoria's hostage."
Joseph was shocked: "Miguel, are you trying to scare me?"
Miguel glanced at him with cold eyes.
He seemed to be saying, what else?
Marshall was the heir to the throne. He and Miguel were children of Doyle's first queen, while Joseph was a child of Doyle's second queen. Since Joseph wasn't as outstanding as them and his mother's family had no influence, of course Doyle would only send Joseph to Eldoria as a hostage.
Joseph's face immediately darkened.
Marshall's expression was gentle, but his tone was cold: "Talk less and watch the combat."
In the first few rounds, everyone chose their weapons freely, showing various skills, and winners were quickly determined.
Next, it was Flynn and Ethan's turn.
Flynn jumped onto the combat platform holding a meteor hammer, his thick feet landing on the platform with such force that the ground shook.
In comparison, Ethan did look slender.
Ethan chose a long sword and flourished it.
"Flynn, after you."
Flynn laughed heartily, his form like a bear: "I stopped using swords when I was eight years old."
With that, he raised both hammers high and charged at Ethan!