Chapter 14 “I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.”

The echoing sound of the colosseum arena continued to deafen the ears. All the spectators shouted with joy as for the first time their two legendary knights were about to openly engage in combat.

Usually, such fights were kept secret by the knight families to maintain the reputation of the losing party. However, for some reason, a sudden fight was arranged that would change everything.

The battle between the leader of the seventh knights of the nation with his legendary blue fire magic and the weakest member of the seventh knights who had no mana whatsoever in his body began.

“So, the Alchemist really has no mana in his body?” the young man asked while still choosing weapons in his preparation room.

“No, he doesn't. That's why many citizens support him. He's the only knight who shows that an ordinary person like him can compete with superhumans like you all,” explained Cecilia, who stood leaning against the doorframe of the room where the young man was selecting his weapon.

“So, if I win or lose this fight, I'll still be hated, huh?” the young man asked.

“I don't know; I'm not a resident of this city. But if what you say is true, that you genuinely want to change this wrong world, many people might understand and sympathize with your intentions,” replied Cecilia.

“Sigh... By the way, isn't it dangerous for us to fight with real weapons like this?” the young man asked, gripping a spear with a very sharp blade.

“Don't worry; for fights like this, Healers from the Cathedral usually prepare everything.” Cecilia answered.

“...Alright, then,” said the young man, who then took a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left.

“BOOM!!!”

An explosion suddenly occurred along with the sound of footsteps running towards the young man's preparation room.

“Big Bro!” called Kalina, who suddenly appeared in front of the door to the young man's preparation room wyth her body covered in wounds and dried blood.

“Kalina!? What happened to you? Why is your body...”

Before the young man could finish his sentence, Kalina pushed aside Cecilia, who had been standing at the door.

“Don't worry about me! The most important thing is for Big Bro to cancel this fight immediately! We don't know what they're planning, but as long as I'm alive, I promise to protect you. Don't mind the foolish words of that Alchemist; I'm sure everything will be fine as long as I'm here! So, before it's too late, please stop this meaningless fight!” Kalina exclaimed to the young man.

“Meaningless? Maybe for someone wealthy and living without any burdens and consequences like you, you wouldn't understand my feelings.”

“I understand that! That's why stop this fight! If Big Bro insists on fighting him, wait until Big Bro's memories and powers return!” Kalina urged.

“Kalina, do you know the sentence I hate the most in my life?” the young man asked.

“... No.”

“It's the phrase 'I understand that.' How can you understand when our lives are so different? It's better if you stay silent and watch. Because I truly will change this world full of mistakes!” said the young man as he walked past Kalina and Cecilia, who were still standing in the room.

After seeing her brother leave, Kalina quickly grabbed Cecilia's collar and scolded her.

“YOU! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BROTHER!? WHY DID HE BECOME SO STUBBORN LIKE THAT!!!”

“That... maybe because you've never tried to understand him,” replied Cecilia.

“Cih! You wretched woman! I don't know what your plans are, but if you make Big Bro suffer, I'll truly rip your heart out!” threatened Kalina, pushing Cecilia out of her way, causing Cecilia to fall and hit the wall.

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Elsewhere, in the middle of the colosseum arena, a host was broadcasting the upcoming battle between their two knights. With his magic device resembling a giant seashell house, his loud and booming voice echoed throughout the stadium.

“Dear viewers! Witness and behold the greatest battle of this century! The fight between our two legendary knights! The battle between the Hero of Prophecy and an ordinary human with no powers! Who will be the winner? Will the prophesied hero defeat his opponent easily as usual, or will the Alchemist use his elixirs and tools to achieve victory? Let's watch!”

“In the west corner stands one of the knights dubbed the greatest Alchemist of this generation! A prodigy who doesn't have a drop of mana in his body and can't control any magic in his life! But with his unmatched intelligence and hard work, he has become a representative for those of us without mana and magic! Here he is, Yzak Taliesin, the Alchemist of this century!”

Instantly, all the spectators cheered with joy as the name of their esteemed knight was announced.

“And in the east corner, we have a knight who has never tasted the bitterness of defeat! The strongest knight ever born in our nation! A knight dubbed as the hero who will save this land! Here is Wallace Blavatsky!”

Not to be outdone by the previous cheers, the audience echoed their voices, resonating in the soul of the young man.

“Darn, I didn't expect the arena and the audience to be this lively.” The young man muttered.

While observing the spectators looking at him, the young man continued to walk into the colosseum arena filled with green grass.

The cheers from the spectators suddenly made his steps feel heavier. As if with each step, he felt like he was walking on mud that would slowly sink him.

“Damn it, it's so heavy! I didn't think I'd feel nervous like this! Damn! I have to quickly finish this fight!”

As the young man walked with seemingly stiff steps, the spectators in the stands started to pay attention and realized that there was something amiss about their strongest knight.

“Hey, look! Wallace is going to fight using a sword and shield!” said one spectator.

“What is that? Isn't he ashamed to fight Mr. Yzak using such complete weapons?” asked another spectator.

“Um... I might be imagining it, but doesn't Tuan Wallace seem like a newcomer who has never fought before just from the way he walks? Look, just from his walking style, he already looks like an amateur, doesn't he?” said another spectator.

“Hmm, you're right about that. Hey, Bookie! What's the betting ratio between Tuan Wallace and Tuan Yzak?” asked a spectator to a bookie who was collecting betting money.

“Hmm, it seems to be seven to three.” he replied.

“Oh, as usual. Maybe it's just me, but there's no way Wallace will lose in this fight, right?” said a spectator who had previously doubted Wallace's abilities.

Seeing that the spectator seemed to misunderstand his statement, the bookie repeated his explanation once again.

“Um... I mean, it's seven for Yzak and three for Wallace.” the bookie clarified.

Immediately, the spectator who heard the explanation stood up and berated the bookie.

“What!? How is that possible!? Are the city residents really insane? There's no way Yzak can defeat Wallace!” snapped the spectator.

Then his friend who sitting next to him tried to contain the anger of the spectator and began to explain why many spectators supported Yzak, the Alchemist.

“Umm, didn't you hear?” his friend asked the spectator, who was still standing.

“Hear what!?” the spectator replied.

“Hear about Wallace now has lost all his memories and powers.”

Immediately, the angered spectator panicked and returned to his seat.

“What!? It can't be! Don't scare me. So you mean now Mr. Wallace is just an ordinary person?”

“Yes. The knight you proudly admire is now just an ordinary person.”

“Fuck! I put too much money to bet that Wallace will win today! Hey bookie! I want to withdraw my money!” said the spectator while quickly chasing the bookie who was collecting money for bets in this fight.

********

As the spectators finished placing their bets, the two fighters stood and prepared to face each other. Yzak, the Alchemist, stood confidently in the middle of the field, believing that he could not possibly lose to the young man standing before him.

Wearing a protective cloak and armed with a staff, elixirs, and runes hanging from his belt, Yzak stood with his chin raised high towards the young man.

On the other side, the young man wore his usual attire, wielding a sword in his right hand and a round shield in his left.

“What's with your appearance? Are you trying to mock me?” asked Yzak.

“No, I'm not trying to mock you. Although I know you don't have mana and can't use magic, I'm in the same situation. That's why I will fight you with this sword and shield,” replied the young man.

“Hah! Good! So you think we're in a balanced position, right? Good, this is excellent! Finally, I can see you, who always boasted about your strength, now in the same position as I was before! Hahaha, let me show you how hard I struggled and worked to be in my current position!” exclaimed Yzak with a face full of joy.

“Whatever, I'm not interested in all that,” replied the young man.

After both fighters exchanged their greetings, the host, who also acted as the referee for this fight, stood between them and began to ensure that both fighters would give their all and respect each other's hard work.

After the fighters swore their oaths containing the contract and agreement, it was now time for both of them to unleash all their abilities against their opponents.

“Dear viewers! This is the fight you've all been waiting for! Look and witness! The birth of a new legend that is about to unfold!”

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