Why must the devil be Defeated?
Chapter 430 - 423 ’That’s enough for the warm-up exercise.

Chapter 430: 423 ’That’s enough for the warm-up exercise.

For Shane, Harvis was hardly a formidable opponent.

At least compared to the enemies Shane had faced before, Harvis was definitely not a threat to him.

In Shane’s view, since the empire’s replica of the Holy Sword had been inherited by Cappelen, it proved that this prince must be weaker than Cappelen.

And if even Cappelen was no match for him, unable even to force him to unseal the Holy Sword, then dealing with this prince, even without using magic, should not be too difficult.

However, when Harvis drew that conspicuous wide-blade greatsword, Shane realized he might have assumed too much.

"Apart from Cappelen, I have never drawn this sword against anyone of similar age," Harvis said with a smile, still as gentle as a spring breeze, "I hope Lord Beizut is careful so that I won’t need to hold back."

Harvis’ face was still adorned with a pleasant smile, but his entire demeanor had changed.

He became sharp, filled with a cutting aura.

Only then did Shane understand that Harvis was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

Perhaps his potential was indeed inferior to Cappelen’s, but if one did not consider the unique skills and the replica Holy Sword, this man was definitely not weaker than Cappelen, perhaps even stronger.

Because this prince had already reached Level 80 and possessed a series of high-level skills.

A Level 6 "Magical Sword" skill.

A Level 6 "Body Enhancement" skill.

A Level 7 "Flash Sword" skill.

A Level 7 "Magic·Thunder" skill.

Shane had seen several skills between Level 6 and Level 7, realizing that Harvis’ strength should not be underestimated.

Moreover, the possibility that the opponent had some unknown unique skill was likely, else he would not exude such sharpness, causing Shane’s expression to become more serious.

"A Level 80 Descendant of the Brave?" Shane muttered, "Well, that’s worth my seriousness."

Saying so, Shane raised his Holy Sword, pointing it at Harvis.

Harvis narrowed his eyes immediately and, without further ado, raised his wide-blade greatsword, pointing it at Shane.

"Buzz..."

The air trembled slightly, causing magic power to burn like flames around Shane and Harvis.

The scene caused the surrounding cheers to slowly fade away, turning into profound silence.

Everyone held their breath, watching the two figures facing each other on the stage.

Shane and Harvis stared at each other, one composed and the other smiling, looking not like opponents about to duel but like friends catching up, devoid of any hint of animosity.

On the royal palace’s open balcony, Anxi and others watched the scene in silence.

Luoqi glanced at Harvis, then at Shane, and after biting her lip, suddenly picked up a small stone from the ground and threw it towards the center of the stage.

The stone whizzed through the air.

"Snap!"

With a crisp sound, the stone landed between Shane and Harvis.

At that moment...

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Two heavy footsteps sounded at the same time, as both figures dashed towards each other like gusts of wind.

"Clang—"

The next second, Holy Sword and greatsword clashed heavily above where the stone had fallen, ringing out like a bell.

Shane and Harvis collided with astonishing speed, their weapons fiercely interlocking.

The sudden bell-like sound startled the audience around the stage, eliciting screams and shouts as if in mourning.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..."

At the same time, Shane and Harvis suddenly burst forth, swinging countless slashes at each other, causing the Holy Sword and greatsword to continuously collide, lifting waves of blade lights and shadows, and with numerous clashes, sparking bright sparks.

The two engaged in a fervent exchange of blows at the center of the stage, attacking each other hundreds of times in an instant, disturbing the air around them.

However, this intense exchange did not last long.

"Clang!"

Suddenly, amid the continuous sound of metal clashing, a heavy sound of steel striking steel stood out abruptly.

Instantly, the flurry of blade lights and shadows disappeared.

Instantly, the countless clashes stopped.

The audience around the stage widened their eyes.

They saw, on the stage at that moment, Shane forcefully knocking back Harvis’ greatsword with a large movement, stopping Harvis’ slashing and causing Harvis to stagger backward, exposing a significant opening.

"What!?"

The scene made William exclaim in shock.

"The Prince’s sword was knocked away?"

The scene also surprised Rocque.

The instantaneous exchange, the first round, was won by Shane.

"Regrettably, this isn’t the first time I’ve faced the ’Flash Sword’ technique," Shane said with a smile to Harvis, whose expression had slightly changed, suddenly his Holy Sword thundered down sharply.

The cold hum of the sword echoed above the stage.

Shane’s slashing cut through the air, carrying with it the sound of the sword.

Unfortunately, the sword struck empty air.

At the critical moment, Harvis stomped on the ground, causing his body to rapidly retreat in midair, dodging the icy strike aimed at his chest.

Shane raised an eyebrow and, without any hesitation, advanced upon Harvis, his Holy Sword once again transforming into a flurry of light and shadow, mercilessly slashing towards Harvis.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang...!"

The crisp sound of clashing metal echoed again, vibrating everyone’s eardrums on the scene.

While retreating, Harvis swung his wide-blade greatsword, wielding it as though it was as light as a willow branch instead of the heavy weapon it was. With each move, he deflected the incoming slashes.

However, rather than feeling pleased, this situation only caused Harvis’s expression to change again and again.

Because, as Shane had said, the "Flash Sword" skill was not meant for defense but for rapid, fierce attacks.

Since it was a skill for rapid, fierce attacks, Harvis being on the defensive meant that his guard would likely be broken soon.

And then, he would be in danger.

"Ha!"

In that instant, Harvis no longer held back and immediately used his "Body Enhancement" skill, causing his muscles to bulge as if swelling up in an instant, significantly increasing his physical power.

"Magical Sword!"

At the same time, Harvis didn’t hesitate to use his "Magical Sword" skill, causing deep red Magic Light to shine on his wide-blade greatsword, transforming it into a Magic Blade.

"Clang!"

Harvis’s "Magical Sword" turned into a red flash of lightning, rushing and fleeting in an instant, striking the incoming Holy Sword and once again emitting a bell-like sound.

"Boom!"

In a muffled sound, Shane and Harvis were both sent flying back by the astonishing force, creating distance between them.

"Whew..."

Harvis finally exhaled in relief, yet his eyes were fixed intently on Shane, now showing a serious expression.

"Using ’Magical Sword’ so soon?"

Shane shook the hand that had just made contact with Harvis’s sword, as if rattled by the power of the "Magical Sword," yet his face bore a mocking smile.

The surrounding audience, dumbstruck, watched the two reengage each other at a distance, exchanging glances in amazement.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh——!"

A moment later, cheers finally erupted.

It was spectacular!

"Hey, hey, hey, are you kidding?"

"What... what just happened?"

"Is this their real strength?"

"Is that Shane Beizut really that strong...?"

"Oh my god..."

One by one, the elite spectators watching the duel changed their expressions, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Not just them, even those related to Shane and Harvis were shocked by the quick and fierce battle.

"Wow... so powerful..."

Liya was completely astonished.

"They’ve both got some skills, these young men."

Anxi was somewhat surprised.

Aridia, Rocque, and Shanai, the three knights, showed varied expressions; some were expressionless, some slightly amazed, and like others, surprised with widened eyes.

"No way...?" William murmured, almost in disbelief, "That viscount, he actually blocked the prince’s ’Flash Sword’?"

"Wow... so strong..." Cold sweat streamed down Edel’s forehead.

The intense exchange between Shane and Harvis, lasting less than half a minute, had completely ignited the atmosphere on the scene.

Only the two on the stage remained, one still composed, the other’s expression had grown a bit more serious, a complete contrast from their initial standoff.

"So it is, this is your true strength?" Harvis spoke, "Single-handedly taking on the Slaughterer Faction is not just an unfounded rumor."

Harvis had caught a glimpse of the tip of Shane’s power iceberg.

"Don’t be too surprised, Prince, it’s only because I’ve encountered ’Flash Sword’ before."

Shane seemed unconcerned.

"Then, you must have seen Cappelen, right?" Harvis peered deeply at Shane, as if trying to see through to his secrets, "Moreover, you’ve fought her once, so I am very curious, who won and who lost."

Shane did not answer his question.

"Are you trying to buy time?"

Shane made a taunt.

"Not at all," Harvis shrugged and stood up, saying, "The real battle is just starting now."

"Yes," Shane agreed, amid the stunned expressions of the audience, "This warm-up is enough."

That’s right.

The fierce battle that had just occurred was merely a warm-up.

At least, for Shane, that was certainly the case.