Chapter 13: The Dual-Colored Orb and The Duel of Honor
Vicky stood in the treasure chamber, a troubled expression on his face as he stared at a peculiar object in his hand. It was a small, spherical artifact, divided perfectly into two halves—one glowing with a deep crimson red, the other with a vibrant emerald green. "What am I supposed to do with this?" he muttered to himself, turning it over in his palm.
Just then, Reman's voice echoed in his mind, filled with surprise. "By the ancient gods! What is this doing here?"
Vicky's eyes widened. "You know what this is?"
"This is a Soul-Bond Orb," Reman explained, his tone a mix of awe and caution. "An ancient artifact, one of the last of its kind. If a human consumes one half and feeds the other to a monster, a deep bond forms between them. They become partners, able to share and draw upon each other's strength. If the human is weak but bonds with a powerful monster, they can access that power."
Vicky's mind raced with possibilities. "Why have I never heard of such a thing?"
"These artifacts were lost to time, destroyed in the Great Purge centuries ago. That's why even I am surprised to see one. But be warned—this bond is permanent and must be formed with a monster you can truly control. Attempt this with a creature beyond your mastery, and it may consume you instead."
Vicky carefully stored the orb in his dimensional ring, making a mental note to explore its potential later. "Men!" he called out to his knights. "Prepare to move out! Everything of value is now secured."
The knights cheered, their morale high. "We are ready, Young Master!"
As they emerged from the forest, Vicky received an invitation to Count William's grand party. On his way to the city, his group was ambushed by a band of highwaymen. But these were no match for Vicky and his trained knights. In a swift and decisive counterattack, Vicky not only defended his group but also relieved the bandits of their ill-gotten gains, leaving them tied up for the city guards to find.
Upon arriving at Count William's estate, Vicky was immediately confronted by Lin Holland, the arrogant young master of the Lin family.
"Well, well, if it isn't Vicky Arkaan," Holland sneered. "What a coincidence meeting you here. I still remember how you used to tremble before your juniors. Do you really think you can stand against me now?"
Vicky met his gaze calmly. "Know your limits, Holland."
Enraged by Vicky's dismissive attitude, Holland turned to Olivia, who stood nearby. "Why waste time on this loser? Let's go somewhere else."
But Vicky ignored them and made his way to Nisha, who was observing the festivities with a thoughtful expression.
"Why such a grand party?" Vicky asked her.
Nisha smiled. "I'm not entirely sure, but Father has a major announcement to make. Don't mind the others—they underestimate you because they don't know your true strength."
Outside the estate, Vicky's thirty aura knights waited patiently. Among them, Gideon overheard a group of Lin family soldiers—numbering nearly a hundred—mocking Vicky and his men.
"Did you see that fool Vicky?" one of them laughed. "He can't even hold a sword properly! And he brought thirty useless soldiers with him!"
Gideon's temper flared. He marched over to the Lin family soldiers, his eyes blazing. "If any of you dare insult Young Master Vicky again, I will cut your tongues out right here!"
The captain of the Lin soldiers, Morris, a Mid-Level Knight, stepped forward arrogantly. "What can you do, Gideon? You're barely a Low-Level Knight. You couldn't even touch me."
Without hesitation, Gideon challenged him to a duel. "Let's settle this here and now!"
Before entering the dungeon earlier, Vicky had taught Gideon a technique known as the "Iron Soul Amplification Art," which temporarily enhanced the user's strength, agility, and mana control. As the duel began, Gideon activated this technique. His body surged with power, and he moved with incredible speed, easily evading Morris's attacks and countering with precise, powerful strikes. Within minutes, Morris was disarmed and defeated, humiliated in front of everyone.
The party guests, including Holland and Vicky, watched the duel from a distance. Holland was left speechless, his mind reeling at the realization that Vicky's knights were far more powerful than they appeared.