ã€ŠReborn as a Legendary Knight [Isekai] [Progression-Fantasy]ã€‹


 Chapter 1: The Knightéˆ¥æªš Heart

    The room was dim and damp, filled with the smell of mildew and rotting straw.

    Reed lay on the cold pile of firewood, his consciousness gradually clearing.

    He struggled to open his eyes, and what greeted him were dusty wooden beams and cobwebs.

    A dull ache spread throughout his body, as if he had been crushed, especially in his chest, where every breath brought a sharp pain.

    Memories of his past life flooded his mind like a tide: flames soaring into the sky, thick smoke billowing, and the searing heat that still seemed to burn his skin.

    As a firefighter, he had rushed into the burning building to save a trapped child, only to be struck by a collapsing beam...

    In his final moments of consciousness, he was filled with regret and unwillingness.

    When he woke up again, he found himself in a strange world called the Stan Continent, as the namesake heir of a fallen knight family in the Saint Roland Empire.

    The original owner of this body had also met misfortune¡ªhe was severely beaten by his classmate Brown at the Knight Academy while protecting his sister Emily, then judged by the instructor to be a talentless waste and discarded in the woodshed to fend for himself.

    What a pitiful guy

    Reed sighed inwardly, deeply sympathizing with the original owner¡¯s plight.

    We¡¯re both lost souls in this world.

    He could understand the feeling of powerlessness and despair.

    Since fate had allowed him to replace the original owner, he would find a way to live on for him¡ªnot only to seek revenge but also to become a true powerhouse in this new world, to change his destiny and no longer be bullied.

    At that moment, he felt a strange energy emerging within him, warm and gentle, dispelling the cold and pain in his body.

    His heavy, lead-like body became light, and his wounds began to tingle and itch, as if they were healing rapidly.

    Suddenly, a mysterious gray light pierced through the shabby roof of the woodshed, pouring down like moonlight and enveloping him completely.

    The light was not blinding but carried a hint of awe-inspiring majesty.

    Instinctively, Reed felt reverence. He didn¡¯t resist but instead opened his heart and mind to welcome this unknown Holy Light baptism.

    The gray Holy Light gently surrounded him, like a mother¡¯s hand caressing an injured child, soft yet powerful.

    Wherever the light passed, his wounds healed at a visible rate, broken bones reconnected, and blood clots dissolved.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    The Holy Light baptism lasted for a moment before gradually merging into Reed¡¯s body, ultimately gathering in his heart.

    There, a faint gray light slowly took shape.

    The Knight¡¯s Heart!

    Reed¡¯s heart trembled as he instantly understood the nature of this gray light.

    The Knight¡¯s Heart was the symbol of a knight, the source of their power, and something countless people on the Stan Continent dreamed of possessing.

    It was the foundation of becoming a knight, and without it, one could never become a knight.

    However, the academy instructor had once declared him utterly talentless.

    So why did he now have this gray Knight¡¯s Heart?

    He closed his eyes and carefully sensed this unique Knight¡¯s Heart. It wasn¡¯t any of the colors recorded in the academy¡ªnot the red of fire, the blue of the sea, nor the sacred gold.

    Instead, it was a gray as if from the dawn of chaos, mysterious and profound, impossible to fathom.

    What is going on?

    But before Reed could ponder further, the Holy Light Power didn¡¯t disappear but transformed into streams of warmth flowing through his body, nourishing his flesh, strengthening his bones, and healing the last of his injuries.

    He could clearly feel his body undergoing a transformative change, with power gathering like small streams that would eventually become a roaring river.

    Outside the tightly shut woodshed door, a faint sobbing sound reached his ears.

    Reed recognized it¡ªit was his sister Emily, crying.

    She must have thought he was dead.

    Reed struggled to get up and slowly pushed open the woodshed door.

    Outside, a frail figure came into view.

    Emily was dressed in coarse linen, crouched by the door, her face covered in dust.

    Her once clear and bright blue eyes were now bloodshot, swollen from crying.

    When she saw Reed open the door, she froze for a second before lunging forward and tightly hugging his waist, as if clinging to a lifeline in the sea, crying, ¡°Brother! You¡¯re finally awake! You¡¯re finally awake¡­ you scared me to death! Wuwuwu¡­¡±

    Emily¡¯s body trembled slightly, and her tears soaked Reed¡¯s chest.

    In his past life, he had no parents or family, having been adopted by the fire department.

    Seeing his sister so frightened and worried, a strong sense of pity and protectiveness welled up in his heart.

    He gently patted Emily¡¯s back and comforted her softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Emily. Brother is fine now. See, I¡¯m perfectly fine, aren¡¯t I?¡±

    Emily looked up at Reed with tearful eyes, her little face full of disbelief. ¡°Really? But¡­ Brown and the others were so ruthless, and the doctor said¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all in the past,¡± Reed interrupted her. ¡°Brother is fine now, and¡­ I¡¯ve awakened my Knight¡¯s Heart.¡±

    ¡°Knight¡¯s Heart?!¡± Emily froze, her crying abruptly stopping.

    Her blue eyes widened as if she had heard something unbelievable. She stared at Reed in disbelief, as if seeing her brother in a new light.

    Reed smiled slightly and extended his hand.

    A faint gray light danced at his fingertips, flickering like a firefly.

    Emily gasped, covering her mouth with her small hands, her eyes filled with surprise and excitement.

    Her earlier worry and fear vanished in an instant, replaced by genuine joy and admiration.

    ¡°Brother! You really awakened your Knight¡¯s Heart! That¡¯s amazing! That¡¯s truly amazing!¡± Emily jumped up excitedly, throwing her arms around Reed¡¯s neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.

    Her young voice was filled with exuberance. ¡°I knew it! Brother is the best! Those people were blind to call you a waste!¡±

    Reed felt warmth in his heart as he gently ruffled Emily¡¯s hair and said softly, ¡°Emily, thank you for believing in me.¡±

    ¡°Of course I believe in you! You¡¯re my only family, Brother. I¡¯ll always believe in you!¡± Emily declared without hesitation.

    Reed looked at his sister¡¯s innocent face and swore silently in his heart that he would never let anyone bully her again, never let Emily suffer even the slightest harm.

    He took a deep breath, feeling the newly born power within him.

    A strong desire surged in his heart.

    I will become stronger, much stronger. Only with enough power can I protect myself and my sister, survive in this world where the strong prey on the weak.

    Though he had taken over Reed¡¯s body, he would never forget the original owner¡¯s unwillingness and despair in his final moments.

    All of this, he would reclaim!

 Chapter 2: Gray Holy Light

    "Brother, your wound..."

    Emily quickly and carefully supported Reed, afraid of touching his wound.

    Reed smiled slightly, feeling the warmth flowing through his body. The sense of weakness had mostly dissipated.

    He gently patted Emily''s hand. "It''s alright, Emily. I¡¯m feeling much better."

    He could sense that, although his body was still thin, it had become much stronger after being transformed by that gray Holy Light.

    "That¡¯s good. Where are you going now, brother?" Emily looked up, her dusty face bright with sparkling eyes.

    "The Knight Academy," Reed replied in a low voice.

    Emily nodded obediently and followed closely by his side.

    The two walked slowly along the stone path.

    "Brown is from the Aide family. He relies on his family¡¯s influence to act like a bully, always picking on others," Emily said, her voice tinged with disgust as she held Reed¡¯s arm.

    "He¡¯s also awakened a Knight¡¯s Heart, a red one, and boasts everywhere about being a genius at the academy."

    Reed listened silently. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the training ground of Lake Knight Academy.

    Since Emily wasn¡¯t a student, she went home.

    The training ground was vast, enclosed by rough stones forming a massive circular area.

    In the center, a group of young people were training vigorously, their shouts and the clashing of weapons echoing around.

    Reed¡¯s eyes immediately fell on that arrogant figure in the crowd¡ªBrown.

    He wore a finely crafted red leather armor, his tall and muscular frame wielding a heavy iron sword.

    Each swing of his sword carried a whooshing sound. His lackeys cheered him on, showering him with praise.

    "Did you see that? Brown can split a boulder with one strike!"

    "He¡¯s so strong! Those who haven¡¯t even awakened a Knight¡¯s Heart don¡¯t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Brown."

    "Yeah, like that Reed. He couldn¡¯t take a few punches from Brown and was left half-dead. And he still talks about becoming a knight? What a joke!"

    "Hahaha..."

    Listening to the praises, Brown¡¯s face beamed with pride, his nose practically pointing to the sky.

    "Besides bullying the weak, what else can you do?"

    Reed¡¯s cold voice reached Brown¡¯s ears, and the laughter around them abruptly stopped.

    Brown¡¯s smile froze. He slowly turned, his gaze landing on Reed.

    At first, he was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected Reed to stand here so soon after being beaten by his fists.

    Then, a look of disdain spread across Brown¡¯s face, as if he was looking at a fool.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Well, well, if it isn¡¯t the loser Reed! What, healed already? Here for another beating?" Brown¡¯s voice dripped with mockery as he looked Reed up and down, his eyes full of contempt.

    "I heard you want to become a knight, but you haven¡¯t even awakened a Knight¡¯s Heart. How do you expect to become one?" Brown deliberately raised his voice so everyone around the training ground could hear.

    "How dare a loser like you even step into the knight training ground! Hahaha..."

    Brown¡¯s lackeys immediately joined in, their faces full of amusement:

    "Yeah, trash like you should crawl back to the dumpster!"

    "Brown, don¡¯t waste your breath on him. Just kick him out!"

    "That¡¯s right, make him scram!"

    Amid the taunts, Reed¡¯s expression remained unchanged.

    He calmly looked at Brown and slowly said, "Whether I¡¯ve awakened a Knight¡¯s Heart isn¡¯t for you to decide."

    "Oh? Did you awaken it in your dreams or something?" Brown sneered, as if hearing the funniest joke.

    "Do you want to make a bet?" Reed suddenly asked, catching Brown off guard.

    "You? Bet with you?" Brown felt a pang of unease. He didn¡¯t know where Reed¡¯s confidence came from and suspected a trick. But with so many people watching, he couldn¡¯t back down.

    "Are you scared?" Reed¡¯s cold question came as Brown hesitated.

    "Scared? Me? Of you, a loser?" Brown¡¯s face darkened. "Fine, I¡¯ll give you a chance to prove yourself!"

    "Everyone, listen up!" Brown called over the onlookers, then pointed to the square next to the training ground.

    "See that Holy Light Crystal in the center of the square? It¡¯s used to test a Knight¡¯s Heart. If Reed can¡¯t make the crystal glow, he¡¯ll kneel down and call me ¡®Dad,¡¯ then leave the Knight Academy forever and never show his face here again!"

    "And if I can?" Reed countered.

    "You can?" Brown scoffed. "Then I¡¯ll kneel down and call you ¡®Dad,¡¯ and apologize to you!"

    "Deal," Reed agreed without hesitation.

    ...

    Reed stepped forward, slowly walking toward the Holy Light Crystal at the center of the square.

    Behind him, a crowd of onlookers followed, eager to see the outcome.

    The Holy Light Crystal was a massive, transparent, hexagonal prism, quietly standing in the center of the square, emitting a faint glow.

    Reed took a deep breath as he approached the crystal, then gently placed his hand on its cool surface.

    In an instant, his Knight¡¯s Heart began to beat, and gray Holy Light surged from his palm into the crystal.

    The Holy Light Crystal, which had only been emitting a faint glow, suddenly shone with a blinding light!

    Brown¡¯s smile froze completely. He stared in shock at the radiant crystal, his face filled with disbelief.

    His lackeys were equally dumbfounded. The jeers vanished, replaced by an eerie silence.

    The other trainees, drawn by the commotion, looked at the dazzling crystal with awe.

    "Wow, what¡¯s going on? The Holy Light Crystal has never shone this brightly before!"

    "This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a brilliant light!"

    "Isn¡¯t that... Reed? Didn¡¯t the instructor say he had no knight potential?"

    "Don¡¯t take the instructor¡¯s words too seriously. You know how it is..."

    "True."

    Whispers filled the air as all eyes turned to Reed.

    Brown¡¯s face turned pale, then flushed with anger. He glared at Reed, his eyes filled with rage and resentment.

    "This can¡¯t be! You couldn¡¯t have awakened a Knight¡¯s Heart!" Brown¡¯s voice trembled as he refused to accept the truth.

    "The Holy Light Crystal must be broken! Yes, that¡¯s it! This doesn¡¯t count! It¡¯s not valid!" Brown clung to this desperate excuse, shouting loudly.

    "Yeah, the crystal must be faulty!"

    His lackeys immediately chimed in, shouting along with him.

    The crowd murmured among themselves.

    "The Holy Light Crystal can break?"

    "I¡¯ve never heard of that, but I¡¯ve never seen such a bright light before..."

    "Maybe there¡¯s a light bulb inside?"

    "Looks like Brown can¡¯t handle losing."

    "Enough!" Reed coldly cut off Brown¡¯s excuses. "The facts speak for themselves. Whether I¡¯ve awakened a Knight¡¯s Heart is clear for all to see."

    "You..." Brown was shaking with anger.

    He pointed at Reed, gritting his teeth. "So what if you¡¯ve awakened a Knight¡¯s Heart? You think you can take me on? Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re just a rookie who¡¯s barely awakened it!"

    "If you push me too far, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t survive here!"

    Reed sneered. "Whether I can survive here isn¡¯t up to you."

    He looked at Brown and said word by word, "I¡¯ll shut you up with my strength."

    "And remember this: if you ever bully me or my family again, I¡¯ll make you regret being born!"

    Brown was stunned by Reed¡¯s imposing presence. He opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t utter a word.

    "Hmph! We¡¯ll see about that!" Brown glared at Reed, then turned and stormed off.

    His lackeys quickly followed, their earlier arrogance nowhere to be seen.

    Private fights were strictly forbidden in the square, so for now, Brown could do nothing.

    But Reed knew this wasn¡¯t the end. Brown wouldn¡¯t let it go so easily.

 Chapter 3: Acquiring Knight Skills

    Brown, trailed by a few lackeys, fled the square with their tails between their legs, much like a defeated rooster.

    The crowd that had gathered to watch let out a chorus of boos, scoffing at such poor sportsmanship.

    Reed didn¡¯t pay much heed to Brown¡¯s threats. If he wanted to grow stronger, he knew that conflicts and rivalries were inevitable.

    Looking around, Reed sought a place to continue his training and familiarize himself with the newfound strength within his body.

    However, after a quick scan, he realized that apart from the training ground, the academy only had some basic auxiliary facilities, none of which were particularly suited for quickly boosting his power.

    Looks like I¡¯ll have to head home for now.

    Reed thought.

    After all, he had already made quite a splash today; there was no need to linger.

    He strode toward the academy gate.

    Along the way, many students cast curious glances his way. Some even approached him, eager to inquire about the Holy Light Crystal.

    Reed responded politely but didn¡¯t stop for long.

    As he stepped out of the academy, Reed looked up at the sky, where the setting sun had painted half the horizon in hues of red.

    Reed¡¯s home was located in the outskirts of Lion City, a somewhat dilapidated small courtyard.

    Originally, they hadn¡¯t lived here. After his father went missing on the battlefield and the family could no longer afford the land rent due to the lack of a knight, they were forced to relocate.

    Though the family had declined, his father had once been a Silver Knight, and the Archer family had enjoyed its glory days, boasting their own library.

    Pushing open the creaky wooden door, Reed entered the courtyard. The yard was dotted with flowers and plants, some wilted but still showing signs of care.

    ¡°Brother, you¡¯re back!¡± a clear voice rang out.

    His younger sister, Emily, ran out from the house, a sweet smile on her face.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m back,¡± Reed said, patting Emily¡¯s head with a smile.

    ¡°Brother, how was your day at the academy? Did anyone bully you?¡± Emily asked, her big eyes filled with concern.

    ¡°Nope, everything¡¯s fine,¡± Reed replied casually, not wanting to worry her.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Emily sighed in relief.

    After dinner, Reed excused himself, claiming he was tired, and returned to his room.

    Closing the door behind him, he reached under his bed and pulled out a dusty wooden chest carved with intricate patterns, though they had faded with time.

    Opening the chest, Reed found it filled with old clothes and miscellaneous items.

    Carefully removing these, he revealed a hidden compartment at the bottom. Inside was an ornate box¡ªthe key to the family¡¯s library.

    With the key in hand, Reed made his way to a small, inconspicuous hut in the corner of the courtyard.

    The door was tightly locked, covered in dust and spider webs, clearly untouched for a long time.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Unlocking the door, Reed pushed it open and was greeted by a musty, aged scent.

    Closing the door behind him, he lit the oil lamp on the wall. In the dim light, he could see shelves filled with books of all kinds.

    Although they had moved, the books had been brought over intact.

    Reed quickly scanned the room. Most of the books had been collected by his father, covering topics like the history of the Stan Continent, local customs, and basic knowledge of knight training.

    He had a clear goal: to find a suitable Knight Skill book.

    Knight Skills were crucial for enhancing strength and represented the foundation of a knight family.

    Moving along the shelves, Reed carefully flipped through the books. Many were yellowed with age, the pages fragile, some even crumbling at a touch.

    Chronicles of the Continent

    The Rise and Fall of the Karan Empire

    Illustrated Bestiary¡­

    Reed¡¯s brows furrowed as he continued.

    Many of these books, though valuable, were of little help to his immediate needs.

    He needed to boost his strength, not fill his head with knowledge.

    Time passed, and Reed had already searched through most of the library without finding what he wanted.

    He felt a pang of disappointment. Had his father really left no useful Knight Skill books?

    Just as he was about to give up, his eyes caught a glint from the top corner of a bookshelf.

    There, a beautifully crafted box adorned with a gleaming gemstone caught his attention.

    Feeling a spark of hope, Reed fetched a stool and carefully climbed up to retrieve the box. It was heavy, intricately carved, and clearly held something important.

    Taking a deep breath, he opened it.

    Inside was a book wrapped in golden silk, the cover embossed with four characters: ¡°Blazing Slash.¡±

    Reed¡¯s heart raced as he carefully picked up the book and opened it.

    The pages were made of a special material, smooth and firm to the touch. The first page depicted a knight wielding a longsword, slashing out a trail of fire.

    As Reed flipped through the book, he found detailed descriptions of the ¡°Blazing Slash¡± technique, including cultivation methods, precautions, and practical combat tips.

    At the end of the book was a small booklet made of aged parchment, filled with dense, handwritten notes.

    Reed recognized the handwriting¡ªit was his father¡¯s!

    The notes discussed the importance of Knight Skills and shared personal insights on mastering ¡°Blazing Slash.¡±

    The message began: To my dear Reed¡­

    ¡°Knight Skill books are the foundation of a knight family and the source of a knight¡¯s strength. A good Knight Skill book can propel a knight¡¯s abilities to new heights¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­For ordinary people, obtaining a Knight Skill book is as difficult as reaching the heavens. Even the lowest-tier skills are worth a fortune¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡®Blazing Slash,¡¯ though only a white two-star skill, is one of the most treasured heirlooms of the Archer family¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­I hope you will cherish it, train diligently, and not disappoint your father¡¯s expectations¡­¡±

    Reading his father¡¯s words, Reed was overwhelmed with emotion.

    Though he had never met his father, Victor Archer, since arriving in this world, he felt a deep connection, and tears welled in his eyes.

    For Reed, this ¡°Blazing Slash¡± was a godsend.

    Closing the book, Reed held it tightly to his chest.

    He was determined to master this skill, resonate with his Knight¡¯s Heart, and elevate his strength!

    Returning to his room, Reed placed the book on the table.

    Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he began following the instructions, attempting to channel the Holy Light Power within him.

    The gray Holy Light flowed slowly through his body, like a gentle stream, gathering in his hands.

    Reed carefully guided the power, forming his hand into a blade as he slashed forward, aiming to unleash a fiery strike.

    The first attempt failed. The Holy Light Power dissipated halfway, leaving him short of breath and his chest tight.

    Undeterred, Reed tried again.

    Second, third¡­ fifth attempt¡ªall failures.

    As time passed, beads of sweat formed on Reed¡¯s forehead. His body trembled slightly.

    With such intense exertion of the meager Holy Light Power within him¡ªespecially in his recently recovered state¡ªhis body was under immense strain.

    Yet, he gritted his teeth and persevered.

 Chapter 4: The Starfall Sword

    Finally, after who-knows-how-many attempts, Reed felt the holy light power within him find an outlet, surging wildly along a specific path towards his palm.

    <i>Now!</i>

    Reed shouted in his heart, putting all his strength into a forward slash.

    However, the expected flames did not appear.

    Instead, a faint grayish-white light, like a firefly, drew an arc in front of his eyes and vanished instantly.

    "Still not working?" Reed slumped to the ground, panting heavily.

    He felt like a deflated balloon, the holy light power within him nearly depleted, his body sore and weak.

    The difficulty of cultivating the blazing slash far exceeded his expectations.

    He had thought that with the advantage of being a transmigrator and the secret manual left by his father, he would quickly master this skill.

    But reality had slapped him hard.

    "It seems I was too impatient," Reed rubbed his throbbing temples, forcing himself to calm down.

    He realized that although he had the memories of the original owner, his physical foundation was too weak.

    Having suffered severe injuries shortly after transmigrating and now forcing himself to cultivate knight skills, his body simply couldn''t handle it.

    It was like a weak patient forcing himself to engage in intense exercise, only to make things worse.

    "It seems I have to take it one step at a time, slowly," Reed shook his head with a bitter smile.

    He decided to eat something and rest to regain his strength before attempting to cultivate again.

    After all, haste makes waste, and improving one''s strength is not something that can be rushed.

    "By the way, how can I practice without a sword?" Reed suddenly remembered, after eating three black breads in the kitchen, that the blazing slash was a sword technique, and he had been practicing bare-handed.

    He got up, careful not to disturb his sister who was already asleep in the room, and went to the family warehouse to find an iron sword.

    Although the Archer family had fallen from grace, they were still a knight family, and there should be a few weapons left in the house.

    Reed arrived at the warehouse and pushed open the heavy door.

    The warehouse was filled with clutter, covered in dust.

    Reed rummaged through the piles of junk and finally found a dusty wooden chest in a corner.

    He opened the chest, inside were a few rusted iron swords, along with some broken armor and shields.

    Reed picked up one of the iron swords, not too badly rusted, and swung it a few times. It felt quite comfortable in his hand.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    "I''ll use this one," he was about to leave when his gaze accidentally swept over the wall.

    There, hanging on the wall, was a long-sealed knight''s longsword.

    The sword''s hilt was inlaid with a dull blue gem, the blade covered in dust and cobwebs, looking very worn.

    But for some reason, Reed was deeply drawn to this sword.

    At first glance, he thought it was just a decorative piece on the wall, but the next second, he suddenly felt a special connection with the sword.

    He stepped forward, reached out, and gently took the sword off the wall.

    The moment he touched the blade, something extraordinary happened!

    The once dull knight''s sword suddenly emitted a dazzling silver-white light, illuminating the entire warehouse as bright as day.

    Reed felt a powerful force surge from the sword into his body, resonating strongly with his knight''s heart.

    The gray holy light power within him, like a wild horse, uncontrollably surged out from his palm, instantly enveloping the entire blade.

    Then, the sword released a vast cosmic force, erupting from the blade and enveloping Reed.

    Reed stood dumbfounded, holding the knight''s sword.

    Wherever he looked, there was a galaxy, as if he were in the universe, surrounded by countless twinkling stars.

    Then, in the next second, the scene disappeared, and he was back in the dark, damp warehouse.

    "What... what just happened?" Reed muttered to himself.

    He tried to recall the original owner''s memories and finally remembered the information about this sword.

    This sword, named Starfall, was bestowed upon his father, Victor Archer, by Marquis Porter himself after his father had distinguished himself in a war.

    According to his father, the sword''s material came from a meteorite, containing a powerful cosmic force.

    But at the time, it just looked like an ordinary longsword, albeit a beautifully crafted one. His father never displayed any cosmic force with it, and over time, the matter was forgotten.

    After his father Victor disappeared, the sword was sealed in the warehouse, never to be used again.

    Reed never dreamed that this shabby-looking knight''s sword could possess such immense power.

    Moreover, he was surprised to find that when the gray holy light he released enveloped the Starfall sword, the blade became spotlessly clean and razor-sharp, completely different from its dusty appearance on the wall.

    The once dust-and cobweb-covered blade now shone like newly forged steel.

    The blade was incredibly sharp, exuding a chilling aura that sent shivers down the spine.

    It was a transformation as if it had been reborn!

    "Is this... the legendary weapon recognition?" Reed''s heart was in turmoil.

    He had heard that some powerful weapons possessed their own spirit, and only by gaining their recognition could one unleash their true power.

    <i>Could it be that the Starfall sword had recognized him?</i>

    Reed was ecstatic.

    He gripped the Starfall sword tightly and went to the center of the small courtyard to try cultivating the blazing slash again.

    This time, it felt completely different.

    The holy light power within him, guided by the Starfall sword, flowed smoothly, effortlessly circulating along the blazing slash''s energy pathway.

    He swung the Starfall sword, releasing a sword energy forward.

    "Boom!"

    A blazing fire erupted from the blade, drawing a brilliant arc in the air and striking the ground of the courtyard with a fierce impact.

    The flames scorched a deep black mark into the ground.

    If Reed had released the blazing slash forward instead of downward, the flames could have traveled much further.

    Reed was utterly stunned by what he saw.

    He had succeeded!

    He had actually released the blazing slash!

    And the power was at least twice as strong as described in the books!

    It was like the difference between heaven and earth!

    Reed trembled with excitement.

    He knew that all of this was due to the Starfall sword.

    This sword not only helped him successfully release the blazing slash but also replenished the holy light power within him.

    As Reed pondered, a warm current suddenly flowed from the Starfall sword into his body, merging with the gray holy light within him.

    Reed felt his knight''s heart being infused with a powerful energy, becoming more solid and stronger.

    "Crack!"

    A soft sound came from his knight''s heart.

    Reed felt as if a layer of shell on the surface of his knight''s heart had shattered, as if he had broken through some barrier. A continuous surge of strength flowed through his body.

    He had been nearly out of strength, but now his body was filled with power, stronger than ever before. Slashing a giant rock like Brown would be no problem at all.

    "I... I''ve broken through?" Reed could hardly believe the changes within him.

    He had directly advanced to Squire Level 1!

    ...

 Chapter 5: The Thunder Roar

    The next day, Reed was practicing the blazing slash again in the small courtyard.

    Although a light drizzle was falling from the sky, it didn''t affect Reed in the slightest. Flames erupted from his sword, immediately creating a wave of heat in front of him.

    "Indeed, a white two-star skill! The power of the blazing slash is truly impressive!" Reed''s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    Originally, he thought it would take weeks of hard practice to master the skill. Yet, with the help of the starfall sword, he had achieved it in one go yesterday, filling him with confidence for the future.

    "If I can master the blazing slash so quickly, perhaps I can also try the thunder roar, the secret skill of our family!"

    A bold idea surged in Reed''s heart.

    He remembered that when they moved to this dilapidated estate, he had personally hidden several precious family items, including the skill book that recorded the thunder roar.

    <b>The Thunder Roar</b>, the heirloom of the Archer family, was also the famous skill that his father, Victor Archer, used to become a silver knight.

    Unlike the blazing slash, the thunder roar was more domineering and much harder to cultivate.

    Reed remembered that his father had once said there were only two knight skill books in the Archer family. One was the blazing slash he was currently practicing, and the other was the thunder roar.

    In Reed''s memory, his father rarely mentioned the thunder roar, only occasionally lamenting its power and the difficulty of mastering it after a few drinks.

    According to his father''s words, the blazing slash could only attack enemies in front, with Reed estimating that its range covered at most three people. Moreover, it was easy to be ambushed from behind while using it.

    The thunder roar, however, was completely different. It could cover a wide area with its attack or concentrate its energy to strike a single point with tremendous force.

    Thinking of this, Reed immediately made his way to the family library.

    Reed skillfully walked to the corner of the room, where several old blue floor tiles were laid.

    He bent down and gently tapped one of the tiles, the sound slightly hollow. He took a deep breath and forcefully lifted the tile.

    Underneath the tile was a wooden chest wrapped in oilcloth, covered in dust. Reed carefully moved the chest out, gently wiped off the dust, and opened it.

    Inside the chest lay several yellowed books, one of which had the words "Thunder Roar" embossed in gold letters on the cover.

    This was the heirloom of the Archer family, the white nine-star knight skill book: Thunder Roar!

    Reed carefully took out the skill book and gently opened it.

    "Thunder Roar, with the force of thunder, destroys everything in its path..." Reed silently read the opening lines, unable to contain his excitement.

    The book detailed the cultivation methods for the thunder roar and described the power of each level.

    The thunder roar was divided into nine levels, each increasing in power. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    However, the difficulty of cultivation also increased significantly, requiring the practitioner to temper their body with the power of thunder. A slight mistake could lead to injury, or even life-threatening danger.

    "This skill... truly domineering!" Two hours later, Reed closed the book, feeling both excited and anxious.

    He knew the value of this skill book far exceeded that of the blazing slash. If he could master it, his strength would improve by leaps and bounds.

    "Boom..."

    Suddenly, a low rumble of thunder from outside interrupted Reed''s thoughts.

    He looked out the window to see dark clouds covering the sky. The light drizzle had turned into a heavy downpour, signaling an approaching storm.

    "A thunderstorm today? This is a heaven-sent opportunity!" A bold idea surged in Reed''s heart.

    The cultivation of the thunder roar required the power of thunder.

    And this sudden thunderstorm provided the perfect environment for cultivation.

    Reed made a swift decision. He carefully stored the thunder roar skill book, left the library, and headed to the small courtyard.

    "Pitter-patter..."

    Large raindrops poured down, instantly soaking Reed''s clothes.

    The cold rain stimulated his skin, making him shiver involuntarily.

    Reed closed his eyes, recalling the method described in the book, and felt the thunder elements permeating the air. With the help of the gray holy light, his perception of thunder was exceptionally sharp.

    He took a deep breath and, following the method in the thunder roar skill book, tried to guide the thunder elements in the air into his body.

    "Brother, it''s raining! What are you doing outside?"

    At that moment, Emily''s anxious voice came from inside the house. She saw Reed standing in the rain, drenched, and was worried.

    Emily ran out with a raincoat and draped it over Reed: "Brother, you''ll catch a cold like this! Come back inside!"

    Reed opened his eyes and saw the concern in his sister''s eyes, feeling a warm surge in his heart.

    "Emily, I''m fine. I''m practicing a knight skill and need the thunderstorm''s help. I can''t give up halfway. Don''t worry, I''ll be okay."

    "But..." Emily wanted to persuade him further, but seeing Reed''s determined expression, she knew she couldn''t change his mind.

    "Alright, but you must be careful," Emily said softly.

    Reed nodded and closed his eyes again, focusing all his energy on the cultivation.

    Under the guidance of the gray holy light, tiny threads of thunder elements began to slowly enter Reed''s body. These thunder elements, like mischievous sprites, darted through his body, bringing a tingling sensation.

    As time passed, more and more thunder elements poured into Reed''s body.

    When these thunder elements gathered together, they became wild, rampaging through his body, causing sharp pain.

    "Ugh..." Reed couldn''t help but groan, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

    But he endured the pain, continuing to guide the thunder elements through his body according to the skill book''s method.

    This was the critical moment in cultivating the thunder roar. He couldn''t slack off even a little.

    If he gave up now, not only would all his efforts be wasted, but he could also suffer severe physical damage.

    As time ticked by, Reed''s body gradually changed under the tempering of the thunder.

    "Boom!"

    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the night sky, illuminating the entire small courtyard.

    Reed''s body shuddered violently as the abundant thunder elements inside him resonated strongly with the lightning.

    "Crack!"

    A soft sound came from within Reed''s body.

    "It''s done!" Reed''s eyes snapped open. "It''s done already? So quickly?"

    Had he already reached the first level of the thunder roar?

    The speed was so fast that Reed could hardly believe it.

    "Father didn''t achieve it this quickly, did he?"

    Ignoring the rain, Reed hurried back to the library and opened the thunder roar skill book. He didn''t dare open it outside, fearing the rain would damage it.

    According to the skill book''s description, he had indeed reached the first level of the thunder roar.

    Seeing this, Reed let out a long breath, feeling an indescribable sense of relief.

    He knew that it was probably the help of the mysterious gray holy light within him.

    Although he still didn''t know the name of this gray holy light, it had awakened his gray knight''s heart and activated the starfall sword.

    Now, even cultivating knight skills could be significantly shortened in time. It was truly powerful.

    Reed sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and looked inward.

    He found that although he was not a squire level 2, the total amount of gray holy light in his body exceeded the standard recorded in the books for a squire level 2.

    The more holy light power one possesses, the stronger their strength. This is the simplest truth on the Stan Continent.

    "Although I haven''t reached squire level 2, with my current strength, even facing a squire level 2 , I have the power to fight!"

    Opening his eyes, he looked up at the sky. The dark clouds had dispersed, the rain had stopped, and a bright moon hung high in the night sky, emitting a pure and radiant light.

    ...

 Chapter 6: Knight Duel

    Early in the morning, sunlight streamed through the window, waking Reed from his sleep. He stretched, feeling refreshed and full of energy.

    "It''s time to head to the training ground," Reed thought as he got dressed and walked out the door.

    The training ground of Lake Knight Academy was located in the center of the academy and covered a vast area.

    When Reed arrived, many students were already training.

    Some were practicing swordsmanship, others were working on their footwork, and a few were engaging in sparring matches under the guidance of instructors.

    The training ground was lively, filled with shouts and the clashing of weapons.

    Reed found the instructor in charge of basic swordsmanship and respectfully greeted him, "Good morning, Instructor."

    The instructor was a burly middle-aged man with a stern face and sharp eyes.

    He glanced at his roster, then looked Reed up and down and nodded. "Ah, you must be Reed. I heard you¡¯ve just awakened your knight''s heart. Not bad. Starting today, you¡¯ll train with me in basic swordsmanship."

    "Yes, Instructor," Reed replied.

    The instructor picked up a wooden sword from the weapon rack and handed it to Reed.

    "Start with the most basic slash. It¡¯s the foundation of knight swordsmanship and the most important part."

    Reed took the wooden sword and began practicing the slash as instructed.

    Though he had been practicing swordsmanship with his father since childhood and was already more skilled than his peers¡ªeven some adults¡ªhe still focused on every move, striving for perfection.

    "Good," the instructor nodded, trying to find fault but realizing Reed¡¯s movements were textbook-perfect.

    Just as Reed was deep in his practice, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.

    "Well, well, if it isn¡¯t our ''genius knight'' Reed. What, you¡¯ve awakened your knight''s heart and now you¡¯re here to show off?"

    Reed stopped and turned to see Brown swaggering over with a few lackeys in tow.

    Brown¡¯s face was full of mockery, and his tone was dripping with provocation.

    "Brown, what do you want now?" Reed asked, frowning.

    "What do I want? I¡¯m here to ''congratulate'' you, of course!" Brown said with a fake smile.

    "The whole academy¡¯s been buzzing about you awakening your knight''s heart. But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a big deal. You just got lucky, that¡¯s all."

    "That¡¯s right! Brown is a squire level 1. You¡¯re just a nobody who¡¯s just awakened your knight''s heart. How dare you show off in front of Brown?"

    "Brown, teach him a lesson! Show him who¡¯s boss!"

    Brown¡¯s lackeys chimed in, making both Reed and the instructor speechless.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Brown was from the Aide family, and the academy often turned a blind eye to his behavior.

    The instructor decided not to get involved and stepped aside to watch.

    Reed looked coldly at Brown, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Brown, are you just a sore loser? You lost the last bet, and now you¡¯re here picking a fight?"

    "Bull! Who says I¡¯m a sore loser?" Brown shouted, red-faced with anger. "Last time, I just let my guard down, and you got lucky. Today, I¡¯m going to show you the gap between us!"

    "What, you want to fight here?" Reed glanced around, noticing that many students had already gathered to watch.

    "So what if I do? Are you scared?" Brown sneered. "This is the training ground. It¡¯s normal for knights to spar here. As long as no one dies, the academy won¡¯t interfere."

    "What do you want?" Reed asked.

    "Simple. Let¡¯s have a knight duel!" Brown pointed at Reed. "Do you dare?"

    "A knight duel?" Reed was slightly taken aback.

    A knight duel was a way for knights to settle disputes. Both sides could use weapons and skills, but they couldn¡¯t kill each other.

    "What, you¡¯re scared?" Brown became even more smug seeing Reed hesitate.

    "If you¡¯re too scared, just kneel down, kowtow to me three times, and admit you¡¯re a loser. Then I¡¯ll let you go."

    "Brown, don¡¯t push it!" Reed¡¯s eyes flashed with anger.

    "Push it? I¡¯m pushing it. What are you going to do about it?" Brown said arrogantly. "Didn¡¯t you awaken your knight''s heart? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be a ''genius''? What, don¡¯t even have the guts to duel me?"

    The surrounding students murmured, some sympathizing with Reed, others enjoying the drama, and a few thinking Brown had gone too far.

    "Fine, I¡¯ll duel you!" Reed suddenly declared.

    "Reed¡­" the instructor tried to stop him, but Reed had already agreed.

    "Haha, good! You asked for it!" Brown laughed. "I¡¯ll make sure you regret this!"

    The two stood facing each other on the training ground. Brown picked up a fine steel longsword from the weapon rack, its blade glowing with a red holy light, while Reed drew his starfall sword.

    "I¡¯ll show you the power of a squire level 1!" Brown swung his sword and charged at Reed.

    Brown¡¯s sword technique was fierce, the blade whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Reed¡¯s vitals.

    He was going for the kill, not planning to spare Reed¡¯s life. If Reed died in the duel, Brown could just claim it was an accident, and his family elders would handle the fallout.

    After all, Reed was just the only son of the minor Archer family.

    But Brown had miscalculated. Reed easily sidestepped Brown¡¯s slash, noticing that while Brown¡¯s swordplay looked fierce, it was full of openings, and he wasn¡¯t using any skills.

    "Is that all you''ve got?" Reed sneered, gripping his starfall sword tightly and immediately unleashing a blazing slash.

    In an instant, the starfall sword burst into roaring flames, radiating intense heat as it slashed towards Brown.

    "What?!" Brown was utterly shocked; he never expected Reed to use a skill.

    He tried to dodge, but it was already too late.

    "Boom!"

    The starfall sword struck Brown with tremendous force, and the flames engulfed him in an instant.

    "Ah!"

    Brown let out a scream as he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

    The longsword in his hand flew out and landed far away.

    "Cough, cough..." Brown struggled to his feet, but his clothes were burnt to tatters, revealing scorched skin.

    "How...how is this possible?" Brown''s face was filled with shock and disbelief.

    He couldn''t believe that he had been defeated by someone who had just awakened the knight''s heart.

    The surrounding students burst into laughter at Brown''s disheveled state.

    "Wasn''t he always bragging about being a genius? Now he looks like a roasted pig!"

    "Yeah, what an embarrassment!"

    "Ha ha ha..."

    Hearing the mocking laughter, Brown''s face turned pale and then red, wishing he could just disappear into the ground.

    "Brown, you lost," Reed said calmly.

    "I...I didn''t lose!" Brown gritted his teeth. "I still have my ultimate move!"

    "Oh? Really? Then show me," Reed replied with a curious look.

    "You...just wait! I won''t let you off!" Brown shouted, his voice trembling with false bravado. "I''ll get my brother Aaron to deal with you!"

    With that, Brown scrambled away from the training ground, stumbling and crawling in his haste.

    "Tch, what a loser," Reed muttered disdainfully.

    He sheathed his starfall sword, ready to continue practicing his swordsmanship. He needed to improve his strength as quickly as possible.

    "The skill you just used, was it the blazing slash?" the instructor asked as he approached.

    "Yes, Instructor," Reed answered.

    "That''s a fine skill," the instructor nodded in approval. "I''ve seen it on the battlefield, and I can teach you some techniques for releasing the blazing slash more effectively."

    "Thank you, Instructor!" Reed expressed his gratitude sincerely.

    ...

 Chapter 7: Battle with Aaron

    "Oh my God, Brown is such a joke!"

    "Yeah, he was so arrogant just now, but now he looks like a dead dog!"

    "Reed is really something. I didn¡¯t expect the awakening of the knight''s heart to be so powerful. I really underestimated him before."

    As Brown fled in embarrassment, the training ground erupted in chaos.

    The students chattered away, their eyes filled with surprise and admiration as they looked at Reed.

    Just moments ago, they had thought Reed was overestimating himself.

    Now, it was clear that they were the ones who had been proven wrong.

    Reed paid no attention to the surrounding discussions.

    The instructor¡¯s praise had put him in a good mood. As the crowd gradually dispersed, he continued practicing his blazing slash.

    About half an hour later, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by Brown¡¯s shouting: "Brother! Brother! You have to avenge me!"

    Everyone turned to look.

    Brown was scrambling back, followed by a more robust young man.

    The young man¡¯s face was grim, and he was wearing the uniform of Lake Knight Academy.

    It was Brown¡¯s brother, Aaron.

    "Brown, what happened? Who did this to you?" Aaron¡¯s voice was icy as he saw Brown¡¯s miserable state, his anger flaring.

    "Brother! It was him! Reed!" Brown pointed at Reed, screaming hoarsely.

    "He ambushed me! He even used a skill to burn me! Brother, you have to teach him a lesson!"

    Aaron followed Brown¡¯s finger and locked his eyes on Reed, his gaze filled with fury.

    He strode over to Reed, looking down at him with a cold tone: "You¡¯re Reed? You dare to hurt my brother?"

    Reed looked up, meeting Aaron¡¯s gaze without fear, a mocking smile on his lips: "Your brother challenged me to a knight duel. What, can¡¯t handle losing and now you need your big brother to help? How pathetic."

    "A knight duel?" Aaron sneered.

    "You think you¡¯re worthy? My brother is a squire level 1, and you¡¯re just a waste who just awakened the knight¡¯s heart. You¡¯d duel him? I think you just ambushed him!"

    Without giving Reed any chance to explain, Aaron swung his fist directly at Reed¡¯s face, showing no mercy.

    There was no knightly spirit, let alone any respect for duel rules.

    "Despicable!" the instructor shouted, trying to intervene, but it was too late.

    Aaron¡¯s fist glowed with a deep blue light, accompanied by a howling wind, and in the blink of an eye, it was in front of Reed.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    The onlooking students gasped, thinking Reed was done for.

    However, Reed remained calm.

    He had anticipated Aaron¡¯s sudden attack and slightly shifted his body, narrowly dodging the punch.

    At the same time, he quickly drew the starfall sword, the blade vibrating with lightning as he shouted: "Thunder roar!"

    "Zap¡ª"

    The starfall sword was instantly wrapped in dazzling lightning, emitting a heart-stopping sound.

    The powerful electric force seemed to distort the surrounding air.

    Aaron was slightly shocked.

    He hadn¡¯t expected Reed¡¯s reaction to be so quick, nor had he expected Reed to know another skill besides the blazing slash.

    Before Aaron could recover, Reed was already swinging the lightning-wrapped starfall sword, launching a fierce attack.

    "Clang clang clang clang¡ª"

    The sound of metal clashing against metal was deafening, sparks flying everywhere.

    Aaron, a squire level 2, was much stronger than Brown, but against Reed with thunder roar and the starfall sword, he was at a disadvantage, being pushed back by Reed¡¯s sword skills.

    Reed¡¯s swordsmanship was exquisite, his speed incredible.

    Each strike carried the powerful force of lightning, leaving Aaron with no way to defend himself, only able to dodge and block in desperation.

    After a few rounds, Aaron had several charred wounds on his body, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He looked utterly defeated.

    "How is this possible? What level is he at?" Aaron was shocked.

    He couldn¡¯t believe that someone who had just awakened the knight¡¯s heart could overpower him. It was a disgrace!

    "Is this all you¡¯ve got?" Reed sneered, his sword strikes becoming even more ferocious.

    With a single slash, he broke through Aaron¡¯s defense and kicked him hard in the chest.

    "Thud!"

    Aaron let out a scream, his body flying backward like a broken kite, landing heavily on the ground, dust flying everywhere.

    "Pfft¡ª" Aaron spat out another mouthful of blood, struggling to get up but finding his chest in too much pain to muster any strength.

    He could only lie on the ground, looking like a dead dog.

    Reed slowly walked up to Aaron, pointing the sword at his face, his eyes filled with mockery and disdain: "As a brother, you¡¯re so weak and yet you still have the nerve to avenge your brother? You¡¯ve brought shame to your family."

    Aaron trembled with anger, his face turning beet red, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

    The surrounding students couldn¡¯t help but snicker, their gazes filled with ridicule and contempt.

    "Finn, what are you waiting for? Come and help!" Aaron shouted at the crowd.

    From the crowd, a tall and thin young man stepped out.

    It was Finn, who had come with Aaron. He was also a squire level 2. Seeing Aaron so humiliated, Finn¡¯s face also showed embarrassment.

    He frowned at Reed: "Reed, you¡¯re going too far. We¡¯re all students of the same academy. There¡¯s no need to be so ruthless."

    "Ruthless?" Reed laughed as if he¡¯d heard a joke. "When he ambushed me, why didn''t you say he was ruthless? Now that he''s lost, say I''m ruthless? How laughable."

    With that, Reed turned to Finn, challenging him: "If you want to avenge, go ahead. I¡¯m ready."

    Finn felt a pang of guilt under Reed¡¯s gaze. He had just witnessed how Reed had overpowered Aaron and knew he probably wasn¡¯t a match for Reed either.

    The surrounding students began to egg him on: "Finn, go on! Avenge Aaron!"

    "Yeah, Finn, don¡¯t be a coward!"

    "Go on! Show us what you¡¯ve got!"

    Finn was put on the spot, his face alternating between green and white, sweat forming on his forehead.

    He glanced at Aaron, lying in a pitiful state on the ground, then at Reed, who was wielding the lightning sword with a fierce aura.

    After hesitating, he ultimately didn¡¯t dare to step forward.

    "Scared?" Reed spoke again. "Just a moment ago, you were saying I went too far, and now you don¡¯t even have the courage to fight? How pathetic."

    "You¡­" Finn¡¯s face turned red with anger, wanting to retort but finding no reason.

    He could only swallow his pride and say, "I¡­ I just don¡¯t want to stoop to your level!"

    "Whatever, trash will always find excuses," Reed sneered, turning and walking away, ignoring Finn.

    Finn, completely enraged but still not daring to act, could only suppress his anger.

    He walked over to Aaron, helped him up with difficulty, and then slunk away from the training ground.

    "Hahaha¡­" The training ground erupted in laughter once more.

    The students laughed uncontrollably as they watched Finn and Aaron¡¯s backs of fleeing in embarrassment.

    "Reed is amazing! Even a squire level 2 isn¡¯t a match for him!"

    "Yeah, how long has it been since he awakened the knight¡¯s heart?"

    "A genius! I rarely admit someone is a genius!"

    "Bullshit, you just called Brown a genius yesterday."

    "Looks like no one in the academy will dare to mess with Reed anymore."

    After today¡¯s battle, Reed¡¯s name had truly made its mark in Lake Knight Academy.

    ...

 Chapter 8: Breaking Through the Bottleneck

    Reed''s consecutive victories over Brown and Aaron spread through Lake Knight Academy like wildfire.

    His name, once obscure, suddenly became the hottest topic in the academy.

    When these discussions reached Reed''s ears, he merely smiled faintly and didn''t take them to heart.

    He knew very well that this was just a fleeting commotion. Real strength isn''t earned by words but through solid cultivation.

    On the back hill of Lion City, Reed continued practicing thunder roar.

    This was the most powerful attack skill he had mastered so far, but he was well aware that Thunder Roar still had much room for improvement.

    What he had mastered was only the first level, and its power was far from enough.

    He wanted to break through to the second level, or even higher, to make thunder roar his true trump card.

    "Thunder Roar!" Reed shouted softly, swinging the starfall sword in his hand.

    A dazzling lightning bolt instantly burst from the blade, like a roaring thunder dragon, rushing forward with a howl.

    "Boom!" The lightning struck the ground, producing a loud explosion.

    The ground was blasted into a charred pit, with debris flying everywhere.

    The power was indeed impressive, but it wasn''t enough.

    Reed frowned, dissatisfied with the effect of this attack.

    He could feel that the power of the lightning was still too scattered, not concentrated enough.

    To break through to the second level, he needed to make the lightning''s power more concentrated, more ferocious, truly achieving the effect of a "roar."

    "It seems I still need to try by the Bourne River," Reed thought to himself.

    The Bourne River, a turbulent river near Lion City, with its swift currents, might be where he could find the opportunity to break through to the second level of thunder roar.

    With this in mind, Reed didn''t hesitate any longer.

    He picked up the starfall sword and headed towards the Bourne River.

    After walking for about half an hour along a small path on the back hill, Reed finally arrived at the Bourne River.

    The scene before him made his eyes light up.

    A wide river roared and surged, with rapid currents like unbridled wild horses, mighty and powerful.

    On the river''s surface, waves rolled, producing deafening roars.

    On both sides of the riverbank were dense woods, with green trees providing ample shade.

    Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, sparkling on the river''s surface.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "What a great place!" Reed couldn''t help but exclaim.

    The power of nature was indeed formidable, making one feel refreshed and invigorated.

    He walked to the riverside, found a relatively flat rock, and steadied himself.

    Taking a deep breath, he calmed his mind, then slowly drew the starfall sword.

    "Thunder Roar!" Reed shouted again, swinging the sword in his hand.

    Another lightning bolt burst from the blade, slashing towards the turbulent river.

    "Boom!" The lightning struck the river, instantly creating a huge splash, with water droplets scattering everywhere.

    However, the river was only blasted open for a small gap, which was quickly filled by the surging waters, returning to its original state.

    The effect wasn''t ideal. Reed frowned again.

    The river''s impact was stronger than he had imagined, and the lightning power he released was too scattered, making it difficult to concentrate.

    "It seems I need to change my approach," Reed thought.

    He sheathed his sword, walked to the riverside, took off his shirt, and jumped into the water to feel the coldness and impact of the river.

    The water continuously hit his body, making him feel cold and numb. The powerful impact seemed as if it would tear him apart.

    "Such strong force!"

    He closed his eyes and began to imagine. He imagined himself as a bolt of lightning, a streak that could pierce the night sky, full of power and speed.

    He wanted to merge himself into the turbulent river, feel its power, learn its flow, and master its "momentum."

    Suddenly, he felt something click in his mind. He opened his eyes abruptly, a glint of insight flashing in them.

    "Momentum!" he murmured to himself.

    He finally understood that the essence of the second level of thunder roar wasn''t about the power of the lightning itself, but the use of "momentum."

    And the turbulent flow of the Bourne River contained a powerful "momentum"¡ªrushing from high to low, unstoppable.

    If he could combine the power of lightning with this "momentum," he might be able to break through to the second level of thunder roar.

    With this thought, Reed felt a surge of excitement.

    He drew the starfall sword again. This time, he didn''t rush to attack but stood by the river, quietly feeling the flow of the water and its "momentum."

    He pointed the sword tip towards the river and began to swing it slowly, gently, like flowing water, continuous and unbroken.

    "Thunder Roar!" When he swung the sword to a certain extent, he shouted again, and another lightning bolt burst from the blade.

    This time, the form of the lightning seemed to have changed.

    It was no longer the scattered thunder dragon shape but became more concentrated, more focused, like a high-speed rotating lightning drill, with an unstoppable sharpness, drilling fiercely into the river.

    "Sizzle..." The lightning made a piercing sound as it contacted the water, splashing waves and producing white smoke as if scorched by high heat.

    This time, the river was truly torn apart by the lightning''s power, forming a deep trench.

    The water on both sides of the trench was pushed away by the powerful lightning force.

    "It''s working!" Reed felt a surge of joy.

    He could feel that this thunder roar was significantly more powerful than before. The lightning''s power was more concentrated and more penetrating.

    He continued to swing his sword, using the thunder roar skill repeatedly to fight against the turbulent river.

    He kept adjusting the rhythm of his sword, trying to perfectly combine the power of lightning with the "momentum" of the river.

    As time passed, Reed became completely immersed in his cultivation, forgetting the passage of time and everything around him.

    Until a moment when a flash of inspiration struck him.

    "That''s it!" He suddenly stopped his sword, a look of ecstatic joy on his face.

    He had comprehended the essence of the second level of thunder roar! "Let''s try again!"

    Reed took a deep breath and raised the starfall sword once more.

    "Thunder Roar!" He let out a furious roar, swinging the sword with all his might.

    "Boom!" A more dazzling, more ferocious lightning bolt burst from the blade, violently striking the river.

    "Splash..." The river was blasted into a towering column of water, with mist spreading everywhere, as if a small explosion had occurred.

    Success!

    Not only that, but he also felt that he had broken through the bottleneck of squire level 1 during these five hours of arduous training, reaching squire level 2!

    "What a pleasant surprise!" This training session by the Bourne River not only allowed him to master the second level of thunder roar but also elevated his strength to a higher level¡ªkilling two birds with one stone.

    He sheathed his sword and looked up at the sky.

    The sun was already setting, and it was getting late. Reed decided to call it a day, go home to rest, and continue training tomorrow.

    ¡­¡­

 Chapter 9: Assassination

    Reed walked contentedly on the path back to Lake Knight Academy, the afterglow of the setting sun casting a long shadow behind him.

    The sound of the rushing waters of the Bourne River gradually faded, replaced by the chirping of insects and birds in the forest.

    The clamor of the day slowly dissipated, and the forest grew quiet and deep.

    His training by the Bourne River had far exceeded his expectations. Not only had he mastered the second level of Thunder Roar, but he had also advanced in his squire rank.

    The speed of his progress was something no one would believe if he told them.

    Just then, a strange feeling suddenly crept into his heart.

    Reed slowed his pace, his eyes sharpening as he scanned the surrounding trees.

    "Who''s there?" he asked in a low but clear voice, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

    The silence of the forest amplified his words.

    However, the response he received was not a voice but a cold, gleaming light!

    A black figure shot out from the dense bushes beside the path, moving as fast as an arrow. The longsword in the figure''s hand whistled through the air, aimed straight at Reed''s heart!

    The attacker''s movements were crisp and efficient, without any hesitation, clearly the work of an experienced warrior. Every strike was aimed to kill, with no intention of holding back.

    Danger struck in an instant, life and death hanging by a thread!

    Almost instinctively, Reed lunged to the side.

    "Whoosh!"

    The sharp longsword grazed past his body, the cold sword energy causing a stinging sensation on his skin.

    The attacker, undeterred by the miss, flicked their wrist, changing the sword''s trajectory with a viper-like precision, launching another attack at Reed.

    <i>Fast sword!</i>

    Reed thought, his heart tightening.

    The opponent''s strength, speed, and technique were all top-notch, far surpassing anyone he had faced before.

    He didn''t dare hesitate, drawing the starfall sword from his back with a swift motion.

    "Clang!"

    The two swords collided, sparks flying, the metallic clang resonating through the air.

    The force of the impact numbed Reed''s arm slightly, pushing him back a few steps as he tried to dissipate the immense strength transmitted through the swords.

    Using the momentum of his retreat, Reed finally got a clear look at his attacker.

    It was a tall knight clad entirely in black armor, a black mask covering his face, revealing only his eyes. The longsword in his hand was of fine standard issue.

    <i>A masked ambush? This was premeditated</i>

    Reed quickly analyzed.

    <i>The attacker''s attire clearly aimed to conceal his identity, and with such ruthless attacks, this was no ordinary bandit.</i>

    "Who are you? Why are you attacking me?" Reed demanded, trying to extract some information.

    However, the masked knight didn''t respond, only letting out a cold chuckle before launching a flurry of sword strikes, each more ferocious than the last.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "If you won''t talk, then don''t blame me for being unkind!"

    Reed''s eyes turned cold, knowing that the knight wouldn''t back down easily. The only option was to fight!

    He took a deep breath, channeling the holy light within him to its peak, infusing it into the starfall sword.

    Arcs of electricity began to appear on the blade, crackling with power as a formidable thunder force gathered at the tip.

    "Thunder Roar!" Reed shouted, initiating the attack.

    A concentrated bolt of lightning burst from the sword''s tip, striking towards the masked knight.

    The knight, unprepared for such a swift and powerful attack, quickly raised his sword to block.

    "Clang!"

    The lightning clashed with the sword, producing a piercing metallic screech and a blinding flash of light.

    The knight felt a powerful electric current surge through his body, momentarily numbing him and causing his sword to falter.

    "Huh? He blocked my Thunder Roar?" Reed was slightly surprised.

    Although he was only using Thunder Roar at level one, its power was far greater than before. Even a squire level 3 wouldn''t dare to take it head-on.

    Yet, the masked knight only paused for a moment before attacking again, as if the lightning had little effect on him.

    "Who sent you?" Reed pressed again, his sword strikes relentless, sending wave after wave of lightning towards the knight.

    The knight, while deflecting the blows, sneered, "You don''t need to know who sent me. All you need to know is that today is your last day!"

    "My last day?" Reed sneered. "I think you¡¯re mistaken."

    He could tell that the knight''s strength was formidable, likely at the level of a squire level 4.

    However, Reed, now a squire level<i> </i> 2, could still hold his ground with the power of Thunder Roar and the starfall sword.

    "Clang! Clang! Clang!"

    Their swords clashed fiercely, sparks flying everywhere.

    The sword energy was so intense that it cut down several trees and left deep gashes in the ground.

    The masked knight''s swordsmanship was precise and deadly, each strike aimed to kill.

    Reed, relying on his agility and the power of Thunder Roar, managed to keep up.

    The battle intensified, both sides giving it their all.

    "Whoosh!" The knight seized an opportunity, slashing Reed''s shoulder, leaving a deep cut that stained his clothes with blood.

    The pain in his shoulder was intense, but instead of retreating, it only fueled Reed''s ferocity.

    "Thunder Roar!" he roared, unleashing a massive bolt of lightning that struck towards the knight like an angry dragon.

    The knight''s expression changed as he sensed the lethal threat in the attack. He tried to dodge, but it was too late.

    "Boom!" The lightning hit the knight''s sword, causing a violent explosion.

    When the smoke cleared, the knight was thrown to the ground.

    "Was the intel wrong?" the knight cursed inwardly as he got up.

    <i>Damn it, the intel said Reed was just a beginner squire. How could he be this strong? </i>

    <i>This thunder force is beyond what a squire level 1 should have!</i>

    His hands were numb, and his arms felt heavy from blocking Reed''s Thunder Roar. This kid was more troublesome than he thought.

    "You''re not Reed, who the hell are you?" the knight asked, his voice trembling not from fear but from the electric shock.

    He never expected to be bested by a squire level 1.

    Reed smirked slightly, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Who am I? I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to end you!"

    He didn¡¯t plan to give the knight any time to recover. With a swing of the starfall sword, another bolt of lightning shot out.

    The knight blocked again, but this time he clearly struggled.

    The lightning surged through his sword, spreading through his body, the numbness becoming unbearable.

    "Ugh!" The knight spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale.

    He felt as if his internal organs were being burned by the lightning, the pain excruciating.

    "This can¡¯t go on!"

    The knight was desperate. If this continued, he would surely die here.

    What was supposed to be an easy mission had turned into a disaster.

    Escape was his only option.

    The knight feinted a strike, forcing Reed back, then turned and ran, trying to put distance between them.

    "Trying to run? Too late!" Reed had already seen through his plan.

    "Thunder Roar!"

    A sharp bolt of lightning shot towards the knight''s back, cutting off all escape routes.

    The knight looked back and was utterly terrified. There was no way to dodge this!

    "No!" he screamed in despair, trying to block, but his body, weakened by the previous shocks, moved too slowly to form an effective defense.

    "Boom!" The lightning struck the knight''s body.

    "Ah!" A blood-curdling scream echoed as the knight''s body was engulfed in lightning.

    The powerful current ravaged his body, destroying everything in its path. He felt as if he were in a thunderous hell, the pain unbearable.

    His body convulsed, completely paralyzed, collapsing into a heap on the ground.

    Reed walked slowly to the fallen knight, the starfall sword still crackling with electricity.

    He looked down at the knight, his eyes cold, devoid of any pity.

    "Who sent you?" Reed asked once more.

    The knight lay on the ground, blood gurgling from his mouth, his eyes glazed over. He could no longer speak, only making guttural sounds.

    Reed knew he didn¡¯t have much time left.

    "Won¡¯t talk? Then go to hell and repent!" Reed raised the starfall sword, its tip aimed at the knight''s throat.

    The blade crackled with lightning, the aura of death enveloping the knight.

    Finally, fear appeared in the knight''s eyes.

    He didn¡¯t want to die. He still had so much to achieve, so much wealth to enjoy. But now, it was all over.

    "Whoosh!" The starfall sword pierced the knight''s throat.

    The knight''s body convulsed violently a few times before going completely still, his eyes empty and lifeless.

    ¡­

 Chapter 10: Absorbing Others Skill Books

    After killing the masked knight, Reed''s first task was to check if the guy had left any clues on his body.

    After all, being attacked for no reason, he had to figure out who was behind it.

    He used the tip of his sword to poke open the tattered clothes of the masked knight and started carefully feeling around.

    The armor was quite sturdy, but it was scorched black by the thunder, probably beyond repair.

    "Hmm? What''s this?" Reed pulled out a piece of parchment from the inner lining of the masked knight''s clothes. Unfolding it, he saw densely written words and some strange emblems.

    "An employment contract?" Reed glanced at it a few times and immediately understood its nature.

    The party A of the contract was "Aaron Aide," and the party B... The name was smeared with blood, only vaguely making out the word "Morris," the surname was unclear.

    "Aaron Aide? So it''s him!" Reed''s anger intensified.

    He had suspected Aaron was behind it before, and now this employment contract confirmed his guess.

    This guy actually hired someone to assassinate him!

    The content of the contract wasn''t special; it just stated that Aaron hired Morris to assassinate Reed, with a reward of 100 gold coins, and after the deed, Morris could join the guard team of the Aide family.

    "100 gold coins for my life? Quite the compliment," Reed sneered and put the contract away.

    For ordinary people, 100 gold coins might be a huge sum, but to Reed, it was nothing. Moreover, how could his life be measured by money?

    However, the contract revealed an important piece of information¡ªthe masked knight''s name was Morris.

    "Morris... I''ll remember you." Reed glanced at the corpse on the ground with cold eyes. He wasn''t someone who killed indiscriminately, but he wouldn''t be lenient with those who wanted his life.

    Just then, something strange happened.

    Reed was about to deal with Morris''s body when he suddenly felt a strange energy fluctuation.

    He looked down and saw that the hand he had placed on Morris''s body was emitting a faint gray light.

    "What''s going on?" Reed was startled and tried to pull his hand back, but it seemed stuck, unable to move.

    However, the next second, the gray light on his hand suddenly disappeared.

    Everything returned to normal, as if it had all been an illusion.

    Reed shook his head, finding himself unharmed and feeling no discomfort.

    "Was that... an illusion?" He looked at his hand in confusion, then at Morris''s body on the ground.

    The body remained unchanged.

    "Was I seeing things?" Reed began to doubt his own eyes.

    Just then, he suddenly felt some unfamiliar information appear in his mind.

    Reed was stunned and quickly focused to examine the information in his mind.

    "A knight skill book?"

    Sure enough, a phantom book appeared in his mind, with ancient characters on the cover¡ªKnight Skill Book.

    He mentally flipped through the pages, and on the first page was the name of a skill¡ªSwift Wind Step.

    "Swift Wind Step? Was this the skill the masked knight used?" Reed''s eyes widened, filled with shock and confusion.

    He recalled the battle earlier, and indeed, Morris had used a very fast footwork.

    "And... this skill book is a white four-star?"

    "My God, I actually got a knight skill?"

    Reed felt like he was dreaming, finding it hard to believe.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    He looked at Morris''s body again, then at his hand, and a guess started forming in his mind.

    "Could it be... that the gray holy light in my body has a special ability to absorb the skills of knights I kill?"

    As soon as this thought emerged, it grew wildly in Reed''s mind like weeds.

    If this were true, could he gain various knight skills by continuously killing knights?

    "This is too... unbelievable?" Reed muttered, feeling his worldview was being overturned.

    However, upon reflection, the gray light and the sudden appearance of the skill book seemed to confirm his guess.

    "This must be it!" Reed became more and more excited.

    "This secret must not be known by anyone!"

    This ability was too overpowering; if it were leaked, it could cause a huge uproar and even bring him fatal danger.

    "I must keep this secret and never expose it unless absolutely necessary," Reed warned himself.

    With this ability, his strength would improve far faster than others.

    After the excitement, Reed calmed down. It wasn''t time to celebrate; there were more important things to do.

    "Let''s go to the armory first and get a weapon." Reed remembered the academy manual stated that students who reached squire level 2 could go to the academy armory to get a weapon for free.

    With that in mind, Reed didn''t hesitate. He quickly tidied up the battlefield and headed for the armory of Lake Knight Academy.

    ...

    The knight instructor on duty at the armory spotted Reed from afar.

    "Well, isn''t this Reed, who''s been making waves recently?" The instructor''s loud voice carried from a distance, with a hint of teasing and curiosity.

    After all, it was hard not to notice such a figure suddenly appearing in the academy.

    Reed quickened his pace and nodded at the instructor as a greeting.

    He recognized this instructor, who seemed to be named Carl, usually responsible for defense training and also duty at the armory.

    "Instructor Carl," Reed called out, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

    Carl looked Reed up and down, his gaze scrutinizing and somewhat skeptical. "What are you doing at the armory? Don''t tell me you''re here to get a weapon?"

    His tone was clearly doubtful, probably thinking that Reed, being young and newly famous, was getting ahead of himself.

    "Yes, the academy manual says squire level 2 can come to the armory to get a weapon," Reed replied calmly, not angered by the instructor''s tone.

    "Squire level 2?" Carl raised an eyebrow, his skepticism deepening. "You? Squire level 2? Don''t joke around, Reed."

    He clearly didn''t believe Reed could have broken through so quickly, as just over a week ago, the kid had just awakened his knight''s heart.

    Reed thought, indeed, without showing something real, these people wouldn''t easily believe.

    He didn''t want to explain much; actions speak louder than words.

    "If you don''t believe me, you can test it," Reed said, his body slightly trembling as a faint gray holy light instantly surrounded him.

    Carl''s originally teasing expression froze, replaced by surprise, then quickly turned serious.

    As a genuine bronze knight, he was very sensitive to the power fluctuations of knight levels. The energy emanating from Reed, though still immature, was indeed at the level of squire level 2.

    "You... you really reached squire level 2?" Carl''s voice carried a hint of disbelief.

    How did he cultivate so fast?

    Reed didn''t speak, just silently retracted the holy light, letting the facts speak for themselves.

    Carl was silent for a moment, his expression changing several times, finally sighing, his tone softening.

    "Alright, alright, you''re something. Didn''t expect that, truly a rising star. Looks like the academy has another genius."

    Though he said this, he was still muttering in his heart, the speed of this genius''s growth was too fast.

    "Since you''re already squire level 2, you do qualify to get a weapon from the armory."

    "Follow me, there are many things in the armory, take your time to choose, but remember, only one."

    As he spoke, he turned and walked towards the armory door, his attitude much more enthusiastic.

    That''s how the world was; strength was the true currency. When you showed enough strength, others would naturally treat you differently.

    Reed followed Carl, feeling calm.

    He had expected this scene; he was starting to get used to the changes brought by his rising strength.

    The armory door was heavy and ancient, with some exquisite patterns carved on it. Carl stepped forward, took a key from his waist, and unlocked the door.

    "Creek¡ª" The heavy door slowly opened.

    Reed followed Carl inside, his eyes instantly captivated by the scene in the armory.

    The armory was much larger than he had imagined, with various weapons neatly arranged inside¡ªswords, spears, axes... all kinds of weapons were there, truly dazzling.

    On the walls hung bows, shields, armor, and other equipment, reflecting cold metallic luster under the light.

    Reed felt as if he were in an ancient arsenal, the aura of various cold weapons making his blood boil.

    As a knight, who could resist the temptation of weapons?

    "Impressed, huh?" Carl looked at Reed''s slightly surprised expression and smiled proudly.

    "The armory of our Lake Knight Academy is among the best in Lion City, filled with carefully selected weapons. You came to the right place today."

    Reed nodded, indeed, the variety and quality of weapons here exceeded his expectations.

    He had thought the armory would only have some standard weapons, but there were so many good items here.

    "Instructor, can I choose any weapon here?" Reed couldn''t help but ask.

    "Of course not." Carl shook his head. "Squire level 2 can only choose from the first zone, and only one weapon. When you reach the bronze knight, you can go to the second zone, and the silver knight can enter the third zone. The quality of weapons in each zone is different; the higher the level, the better the weapons you can choose."

    He pointed to the area division of the armory, and only then did Reed notice that the armory was divided into three zones, each separated by fences.

    The first zone had the largest number of weapons, and the types were the most varied, but they seemed to be of relatively ordinary quality.

    The second and third zones had noticeably fewer weapons, but they exuded a much stronger aura, making it clear at a glance that they were not ordinary items.

    "The weapons in the first zone, although of average quality, have all been carefully selected and are more than sufficient for your current stage," Carl patted Reed on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Choose a weapon that suits you well. It will be a great help in improving your strength."

 Chapter 11: White Bone Bow

    The light from the lamps on the ceiling of the armory reflected off the blades, almost blinding him.

    There were really a lot of them...

    He glanced around briefly and saw that bladed weapons occupied most of the first section of the armory.

    Standard longswords, two-handed greatswords, scimitars, daggers...

    all kinds of styles, everything you could think of.

    However, no matter how well-crafted these blades were, they didn¡¯t spark much interest in Reed.

    After all, he already had the starfall sword. These standard weapons were unlikely to catch his eye.

    His gaze began to wander around the armory, searching for other types of weapons.

    <i>Spears? Too heavy and not flexible enough. Pass.</i>

    <i>Axes? They looked quite imposing, but they didn¡¯t seem to match his style. Pass.</i>

    <i>Hammers... No, no, those are better left for the naturally strong and burly guys.</i>

    <i>Shields? Good for defense, but not offensive enough. Not what he wanted.</i>

    <i>Bow and arrows?</i>

    <i>Huh? Bow and arrows!</i>

    Reed¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and his gaze fixed on an inconspicuous weapon rack in the corner of the armory.

    There, a few longbows lay quietly.

    The bow and arrow section didn¡¯t have many weapons, making it seem a bit lonely. It was probably rarely visited.

    Indeed, in the armory of the knight academy, blades were the mainstream. Bow and arrows had never been popular among knights. After all, in traditional knight duels, bows weren¡¯t very effective, nowhere near as direct as blades.

    Most knights believed that bows were for rangers or hunters, not fitting for a knight¡¯s identity.

    Reed walked over to the bow and arrow section, his eyes scanning the few longbows.

    The bows here were rather uniform, mostly standard longbows made from ordinary wood and metal.

    The quality, naturally, wasn¡¯t great.

    Most of them were white one-star weapons, the lowest tier in this armory.

    However, when his gaze fell on one particular bow, he paused slightly.

    It was an entirely white longbow, with a slender body, smooth lines, and a simple yet elegant design.

    It lay quietly in the corner, a thin layer of dust covering its surface.

    He stepped forward and picked up the longbow.

    It felt heavy in his hands. The material of the bow was warm and smooth, almost like jade, with an excellent texture. It didn¡¯t feel like ordinary wood; instead, it seemed to be made of some special kind of bone.

    The bowstring was taut, emitting a faint white glow that blended seamlessly with the color of the bow, as if it were naturally one.

    Reed carefully checked the bow¡¯s label.

    White two-star weapon¡ªwhite bone bow.

    White two-star?

    Among this pile of white one-star weapons, this white bone bow was definitely a standout.

    No wonder he had felt that this bow was different.

    ¡°Instructor, I¡¯ll take this bow,¡± Reed said as he walked over to Carl, holding the white bone bow.

    Carl was standing with his arms crossed, watching Reed pick out a weapon with interest.

    Although the armory had many weapons, the truly good ones were in the back sections. The weapons in the first section were, in his opinion, mostly just practice tools for squires.

    He had thought Reed would just pick a random sword from the blade section and be done with it. But to his surprise, Reed had gone over to the bow and arrow section and actually picked out a bow.

    ¡°A bow?¡± Carl raised an eyebrow, looking at the longbow in Reed¡¯s hand with some surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite a unique taste.¡±

    He walked over to Reed, took the white bone bow, and examined it carefully, weighing it in his hand. A look of confusion appeared on his face.

    ¡°A white two-star longbow? Hmm... the material of this bow is quite special. Interesting.¡±

    Carl, after all, was a bronze knight, and his eye for weapons was sharp. He could tell at a glance that this white bone bow was extraordinary.

    However, he still looked at Reed with some confusion and asked, ¡°Reed, are you sure you want to pick a bow? This thing isn¡¯t easy to master. In knight duels, close combat is key. Bows have range and decent power, but they lack flexibility. Once a knight gets close, you¡¯re just a sitting duck.¡±

    He paused, then added sincerely, ¡°And bows are all about talent. Without talent, you could practice for a lifetime and never hit anything. Only those with talent can shoot accurately from a hundred paces. Have you practiced archery before? If not, I¡¯d advise you to pick a sword instead. It¡¯s safer.¡±

    Carl was speaking the truth.

    Bows had always been an unpopular choice in the knight academy.

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    There were knights who chose bows, but they were few and far between.

    And those who did choose bows either came from families with a long tradition of archery or were naturally gifted archers.

    For someone like Reed, who had no prior archery experience and was choosing a bow as his weapon, this was a first for Carl.

    ¡°Thanks for the advice, Instructor,¡± Reed said with a grateful smile, but he didn¡¯t change his mind. His voice was firm as he said, ¡°Instructor, I¡¯ve thought it through. I¡¯ll take this bow.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m quite interested in bows. I want to try something different. Maybe a different weapon will lead to a different fighting style,¡± Reed explained.

    ¡°Alright, alright. If you insist, I won¡¯t say more,¡± Carl said with a resigned shake of his head, handing the white bone bow back to Reed.

    ¡°But I have to warn you, the knight examination is no joke. Bows are at a disadvantage in the exam. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Instructor,¡± Reed said as he took the bow.

    Carl looked at Reed¡¯s determined attitude and sighed, shaking his head inwardly.

    He is really stubborn.

    But then again, it¡¯s good for young people to have some drive and ideas.

    Carl shook his head and didn¡¯t think about it further.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Aaron, upon hearing from his subordinate that Reed wasn¡¯t only still alive but had also gone to the armory to pick up a weapon, felt like he had been doused with a bucket of ice water, chilling him from head to toe.

    ¡°How is this possible? Is Morris just eating for free? He took my money and promised me he¡¯d take care of it, and now this? Now the guy¡¯s just waltzing into the armory to pick up weapons?!¡±

    Aaron was pacing around his room, his voice rising with barely contained panic and anger. He felt like a fool, being played for a sucker.

    That money-grubbing Morris!

    The more Aaron thought about it, the angrier he got. He wished he could storm over right now, grab Morris by the collar, and demand an explanation.

    He felt like he¡¯d been made a fool of, like Morris had played him for a monkey!

    ¡°No, no, I need to calm down, calm down...¡± Aaron forced himself to stop pacing, took a few deep breaths, and tried to get his brain working.

    He knew that losing his temper wasn¡¯t going to help. The priority now was to figure out how to deal with this.

    Reed was still alive, and now he had a weapon. This was not a good sign.

    His strength had been increasing way too fast lately, almost like he was on a rocket.

    If this kept up, would he even be able to keep him in check?

    The more Aaron thought about it, the more uneasy he became. It felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

    Since he was a child, he had always had everything go his way. He had never suffered any real setbacks, never experienced the humiliation of being defeated by Reed like he had last time.

    He began to regret not hiring more assassins to take care of Reed once and for all.

    Now, the assassin had been sent out, but the job wasn¡¯t done. It was just more trouble for himself.

    Just as Aaron was pacing around like an ant on a hot pan, there was a knock on the door.

    ¡°Who is it? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy?¡± Aaron snapped, his mood at rock bottom.

    From outside came Finn¡¯s voice: ¡°Aaron, it¡¯s me, Finn.¡±

    Finn? What¡¯s he doing here?

    Aaron frowned, a hint of suspicion flickering in his mind, but he reluctantly let him in.

    The door opened, and Finn walked in, a sly smile on his face. He was carrying a delicate lunch box, as if it contained something special.

    ¡°Hey, Aaron, you don¡¯t look so good. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Finn¡¯s tone was light.

    Aaron shot Finn a glance, too irritated to play along, and asked directly, ¡°What do you want? I¡¯m busy.¡±

    Finn didn¡¯t seem bothered by Aaron¡¯s coldness.

    He walked over to the table, set the lunch box down, and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty. After all, we¡¯re friends. I know Reed¡¯s still alive, so I came to comfort you. I even brought something good to cheer you up.¡±

    ¡°Comfort me? Ha!¡± Aaron scoffed.

    Finn, as always, never did anything without a reason.

    The other man seemed to ignore the sarcasm and continued with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m here to really help you this time.¡±

    ¡°Help me? With what?¡±

    Finn opened the lunch box, and a faint aroma of meat wafted out.

    He smiled mysteriously, took out a chunk of meat wrapped in oil paper from the box, and handed it to Aaron, saying, "Look, what''s this? This is something good, not everyone gets to eat it."

    Aaron skeptically took the meat, unwrapped the oil paper, and saw a piece of meat with a faint blue glow.

    The texture was delicate, the grain clear, and it emitted a subtle energy fluctuation.

    "What kind of meat is this? It looks quite special," Aaron asked, furrowing his brow.

    "This is a treasure I brought from home, green python meat!" Finn boasted.

    "This isn''t ordinary meat. Eating it can quickly enhance your strength and improve your physique. Pretty generous of me, right?"

    Green python meat?

    Enhance strength?

    Aaron was intrigued by Finn''s words.

    He had been worried that Reed''s strength was increasing too quickly, possibly surpassing his own, while his own progress was too slow.

    If the green python meat was as miraculous as Finn claimed, it might be worth trying.

    But how did Finn know this was exactly what he was worried about?

    "Is it really that effective? Are there any side effects?" Aaron was still a bit uneasy.

    After all, nothing comes for free, and Finn suddenly offering such a valuable item must have a reason.

    "Don''t worry, it''s absolutely safe with no side effects. This is a treasure passed down in my family, and the effects are top-notch," Finn assured, patting his chest with a sincere smile that made it hard to doubt his words.

    Aaron looked at the green python meat in his hand and then at Finn''s earnest face, feeling torn.

    "Alright, what do you want?" Aaron asked directly, knowing Finn wouldn¡¯t give him such a valuable item for nothing.

    Hearing this, Finn''s smile widened.

    He knew Aaron was a smart person who understood things quickly.

    "I like dealing with smart people," Finn said with a smile. "I don¡¯t want much. Just that white five-star knight skill book of yours."

    The white five-star knight skill book?

    Aaron was stunned, his expression turning grim.

    That skill book was something he had spent almost all his savings on at an auction.

    He had always treasured it, and now Finn wanted to exchange it for a piece of meat?

    That was asking for the moon!

    "Finn, are you kidding me? My knight skill book for a piece of meat? Do you think I¡¯d agree to that?" Aaron said angrily. He knew Finn wasn¡¯t that generous!

    "Hey, don¡¯t get worked up, Aaron," Finn said, still smiling.

    "I know that skill book is important to you, but think about it. Compared to enhancing your strength, what¡¯s a skill book? Once your strength improves, you can easily get better skill books. Besides, this green python meat is a rare treasure. You can¡¯t even buy it with money. This is a golden opportunity."

    Finn paused, then continued, "And aren¡¯t you worried that your strength is improving too slowly, and that Reed might catch up? After eating this green python meat, your strength will skyrocket, and then you can crush him however you want. Trading a skill book for the chance to overpower Reed¡ªdoesn¡¯t that sound like a good deal?"

    Finn¡¯s words hit Aaron right where it hurt.

    If the green python meat could really boost his strength quickly, it might be a worthwhile trade.

    Aaron looked down at the green python meat in his hand, his mind in turmoil.

    The knight skill book was indeed precious, but he had already learned half of the skill.

    Compared to his future, a skill book seemed insignificant.

    If he could use the green python meat to enhance his strength quickly, he would gain more recognition in his family, and his future would be brighter.

    Thinking this, Aaron clenched his teeth and finally made up his mind.

    "Alright, I¡¯ll trade with you!" Aaron said with reluctance, as if he was cutting off a piece of his own flesh.

    Hearing this, Finn¡¯s smile grew even wider. He knew Aaron would agree in the end.

    "That¡¯s more like it," Finn said, taking the skill book from Aaron and carefully putting it away.

    Then he handed the green python meat to Aaron. "Take it. Eat it, and I guarantee you¡¯ll be satisfied."

    Aaron took the green python meat, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and swallowed it in one gulp.

    As soon as the meat entered his stomach, Aaron felt a burning sensation spread from his stomach to his entire body.

    It felt like his organs were on fire, his whole body was unbearably hot, his heart was pounding, and his blood vessels felt like they were about to burst.

    "Ah¡ª" Aaron couldn¡¯t help but let out a low groan, feeling like he was being roasted alive, in extreme pain.

    He quickly stood up, enduring the discomfort, grabbed his sword, and went to the courtyard to enter a cultivation state, hoping to guide the energy within his body.

    He couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity!

    ...

 Chapter 12: Training Before the Knight Examination

    The air in the courtyard carried a hint of dryness, as if influenced by the surging power within Aaron.

    He had just finished a day of training, feeling the holy light coursing through his limbs.

    The sense of strength was indeed much stronger than before.

    Squire Level 4, achieved!

    Aaron couldn''t help but smile slightly, but his expression was soon interrupted by a metallic, sweet taste.

    "Pfft!" A mouthful of blood uncontrollably gushed out, blooming like a striking red plum against the snow-white ground.

    Aaron furrowed his brows, not bothering to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.

    Instead, he focused on inspecting his internal condition.

    Damn, it really is the aftermath of forcing a breakthrough.

    The holy light power, like a wild horse, rampaged within his body.

    His internal organs ached faintly, as if countless tiny needles were pricking them. This feeling was truly unpleasant.

    He staggered a few steps, leaning on the stone table in the courtyard to barely steady himself.

    His chest heaved violently like a bellows, each breath tugging at his organs, bringing waves of sharp pain.

    "Cough, cough, cough..."

    Another bout of coughing, but this time, no more blood was coughed up. However, his chest felt extremely tight.

    Aaron sat down cross-legged, trying hard to calm the chaotic energy within him.

    He knew that the most important thing now was to stabilize his current state, not to continue pursuing speed. Haste makes waste¡ªhe understood this principle well.

    "Huuu..." He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, slowly guiding the raging holy light power to subside.

    Although his current strength couldn''t match a normal squire level 4 opponent, he was still a squire level 4. Dealing with Reed should be manageable.

    "Reed, just you wait!" A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Aaron''s eyes.

    ¡­

    On the other side, Reed had rested at home for the entire day.

    He arrived at the open space in the small courtyard. The air still carried a trace of the day''s heat, but compared to the academy, this place was quieter and more suitable for training.

    He stretched his limbs. Since the fight with Morris and choosing the white bone bow from the armory, he hadn''t had a proper chance to practice.

    But now, the most urgent matter was to master the swift wind step.

    A skill "borrowed" from Morris¡ªmight as well make use of it.

    Reed mobilized the gray holy light within him, recalling the sensation when Morris used the swift wind step.

    That guy was indeed fast. If it weren''t for his quick reflexes, he might have been the one lying on the ground.

    This skill was worth studying thoroughly.

    The notebook was placed on the stone table beside him. Reed flipped to a blank page, ready to record his practice as he went.

    The swift wind step had three levels. According to the description in his mind, at full mastery, one''s movements would be as swift as the wind.

    It sounded impressive.

    He took a deep breath and, following the descriptions in the skill book, began to attempt to channel the holy light.

    The gray holy light, guided by him, slowly flowed and gradually gathered in his legs.

    "Whoosh¡ª" Reed exhaled sharply, pushing off with his feet, attempting the first step of the swift wind step.

    Huh?

    There was a slight sensation.

    His body felt lighter, and his speed was a bit faster than usual. Though not by much, there was indeed an improvement.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Over the next few days, Reed dedicated almost all his time to practicing the swift wind step.

    During the day, he practiced in the courtyard; at night, he repeatedly ran through the motions in his mind before sleep.

    Other knights might take a long time to figure out the tricks to cultivating skills.

    But he was different. The gray holy light seemed to have its own "translation" function, quickly understanding the essence of the skill and transforming it into his own power.

    His progress could be described as "leaps and bounds."

    In just a few days, his proficiency in the swift wind step soared.

    Level one, level two, and soon, level three.

    When he used the swift wind step again, the feeling was completely different.

    "Whoosh¡ª"

    Reed''s figure moved, almost turning into a blur as he darted around the courtyard.

    The speed was so fast that it stirred up faint gusts of wind.

    He himself was somewhat surprised. Was this really him?

    This speed was almost unbelievably fast.

    No wonder Morris was so troublesome. The swift wind step was truly a great skill.

    Stopping, Reed panted slightly, feeling the changes in his body.

    When using the swift wind step, the holy light accelerated blood flow, enhancing muscle strength and making the body more agile.

    Moreover, this enhancement was comprehensive¡ªnot just speed, but also reaction time and balance were improved.

    He picked up the notebook, carefully recording his insights from practicing the swift wind step. He noted the pathways of the holy light, techniques for exerting force, and some common mistakes.

    He wrote in great detail, aiming to make it understandable even for beginners.

    His sister, Emily, had always wanted to learn knight skills but lacked suitable ones.

    The swift wind step was light and graceful, fast, and didn''t require much strength. It seemed quite suitable for girls.

    Once he mastered it, he could teach her.

    Thinking of his sister, Reed''s face showed a faint smile.

    Emily would be thrilled if she knew he had learned such a powerful skill.

    She, like him, had always admired knights, dreaming of one day becoming a powerful knight herself.

    After finishing his training in the swift wind step, Reed began practicing thunder roar.

    From his battle with Morris, he had deeply experienced the power of thunder roar.

    Moreover, after that fight, his understanding of thunder roar had deepened.

    It was no longer just about releasing the power of thunder, but also about trying to control it, making the thunder''s power more concentrated and precise.

    He drew the starfall sword, its blade gleaming coldly under the sunlight.

    Infusing it with holy light, tiny arcs of electricity began to dance along the blade.

    "Thunder roar!" Reed shouted, swinging the starfall sword.

    A brilliant bolt of lightning erupted from the blade, like a roaring thunder dragon, instantly striking a large rock in the courtyard.

    "Boom¡ª"

    The rock shattered upon being hit by the lightning.

    The power had increased again!

    Reed nodded in satisfaction. The intense training over the past few days had not been in vain.

    However, this high-intensity training had consumed a large amount of holy light.

    But he also felt that his holy light capacity was slowly increasing.

    Although he hadn''t broken through to Squire Level 3 yet, his capacity was nearing the mid-level of Squire Level 3.

    Once his holy light was fully restored, even a squire level 4 opponent might not want to face him, as the outcome would be uncertain.

    ¡­

    Time flew by, and two days later, the day of the knight examination finally arrived!

    At the training ground of Lake Knight Academy, there was a sea of people. Not only the academy''s students but also many citizens had come.

    The usually spacious area was now packed with a dense crowd, more bustling than a festival.

    Almost all the academy''s instructors, big and small, were present, standing sternly on the high platform, scanning the crowd below with sharp eyes.

    "Look, look, almost all the instructors are here! Today''s setup is really grand."

    The students gathered in small groups, chatting noisily.

    Some were excited, eager to try their hand; others were nervous, their faces pale and palms sweaty.

    After all, this examination was no joke. Those who passed could continue their studies at the knight academy, while those who failed had to leave.

    Reed stood in the crowd, unusually calm.

    His gaze swept across the surroundings, spotting Finn and Aaron.

    "Quiet!" A loud roar, like a sudden thunderclap, instantly drowned out all the noise.

    It was Instructor Carl.

    His mere presence exuded authority, and the previously noisy scene immediately fell silent, even the breathing sounds softened.

    "Today''s examination officially begins!" Carl''s voice was firm and resonant. "The first event¡ªfree sparring! All students, freely choose your opponents and demonstrate your strength!"

    "Free sparring? Interesting." The crowd began to stir.

    Who would go first? Who to challenge?

    This required careful consideration.

    "Reed, where''s Reed?" Suddenly, a slightly sharp voice broke the silence.

    Reed was startled, looking in the direction of the voice.

    Finn was pushing through the crowd, walking towards him with an inscrutable smile on his face.

    "Finn? What does he want?"

    The surrounding people also noticed Finn, turning their attention to him.

    Finn stopped in front of Reed, smiling as he looked at him, "Reed, long time no see. Your strength has improved a lot recently, hasn''t it?"

    Reed frowned slightly, "Not bad. What, you want to spar with me?"

    His tone was flat, neither angry nor pleased.

    Finn laughed, "Yeah, I want to spar with you, to see how strong the academy''s rising star really is."

    He paused, "So, do you dare accept my challenge?"

    Challenge?

    Reed raised an eyebrow, "Why wouldn''t I dare? But you''re not here just for a spar, are you?" he probed.

    Finn''s smile stiffened momentarily, then quickly returned to normal, "Of course not. You''re overthinking it. I just think you''ve been getting too much attention recently and want to bring you down a peg."

    Reed''s lips curled slightly, "I doubt you have the ability to do that."

    "Got what it takes? Let''s find out!" Finn suddenly drew his sword and pointed it at Reed. "After you, Reed!"

    "Wow, Finn is challenging Reed first? This is going to be good!"

    "Didn''t expect Finn to have the guts!"

    "Who do you think will win?"

    "Do you even need to ask? Definitely Reed!"

    The surrounding students started chattering again, all excitedly watching the two in the center, eager to see the spectacle.

    Reed looked at Finn. This guy knew his strength had improved, yet he dared to challenge him directly. He must be up to no good.

    But since he wanted to play, Reed was ready to see it through.

    On the arena, the two stood facing each other, the atmosphere instantly tense, as if the air had frozen.

    All eyes were on them, holding their breath, waiting for the battle to begin.

    ¡­¡­

 Chapter 13: Knight Examination

    Finn was the first to attack, his blade whistling through the air as it aimed straight for Reed''s face.

    "Decent power, but... too slow," Reed silently assessed, yet his body had already reacted.

    "Swift Wind Step!" he whispered in his mind, and a surge of gray holy light instantly enveloped his body.

    In the next second, his figure vanished from its original spot like a ghost.

    Finn''s sword sliced through empty air, hitting nothing.

    Startled, before he could even react, Reed had already appeared at his side.

    "Damn, he''s fast!" Finn muttered under his breath, quickly swinging his sword to block.

    "Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out.

    Finn felt a tremendous force transmitted through the blade, numbing his arm and nearly causing him to drop his sword.

    "How is this possible?!" Finn''s expression changed. He realized that Reed''s strength and speed had improved significantly.

    <i>Is this really a squire level 2? You''ve got to be kidding me!</i>

    Reed, having landed a successful strike, didn''t press the attack but instead stepped back, watching Finn calmly.

    "So, how does it feel?" he asked nonchalantly.

    Finn clenched his teeth, his anger simmering.

    He had thought that he had finally broken through to squire level 3, and even if he couldn''t win, he could at least hold his own and tire Reed out.

    But now, it seemed he had overestimated himself.

    This wasn''t a spar¡ªit was a one-sided beating!

    "Again!" Finn, unwilling to give up, charged forward once more, his sword now glowing with white holy light, clearly using a skill.

    However, in the face of Reed, who had mastered the Swift Wind Step, Finn''s attacks appeared clumsy and slow.

    Reed''s movements were erratic, like a willow leaf in the wind, effortlessly dodging all of Finn''s skill-based attacks. Occasionally, he would counter, each strike landing on Finn''s blade, sending vibrations that numbed Finn''s hands.

    After a few rounds, Finn was already panting heavily, drenched in sweat, his sword hand trembling slightly.

    In contrast, Reed remained calm and composed, his breathing steady, as if he was merely warming up.

    "I can''t do this. I can''t fight him; we''re not on the same level," Finn began to waver.

    If this continued, he might end up injured.

    Was it worth it for Aaron? Probably not.

    Besides, he had achieved his goal today¡ªhe had successfully challenged Reed and, in a way, "tired him out" for Aaron, even though it wasn''t much.

    Now, it was Aaron''s turn to shine.

    With that thought, Finn made up his mind.

    He feigned an attack, forcing Reed back, then suddenly retreated a few steps, shouting, "I surrender! Reed, you''re truly amazing. I admit defeat!"

    After saying this, he even bowed exaggeratedly, pretending to be completely convinced.

    The surrounding students were stunned.

    They had just been watching an intense fight, but now Finn had suddenly surrendered?

    And he gave up so quickly? Only a few rounds had passed!

    "Surrendering already?" Reed raised an eyebrow.

    "Quitting so soon? I thought we were going to battle it out for a hundred more rounds."

    His tone carried a touch of mockery.

    Finn''s face turned red, but he still managed to say, "No, no, you''re on a whole other level. I admit I''m no match for you. Continuing would only humiliate me further, so I might as well concede early to save face."

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    His words sounded sincere, but anyone paying attention could tell he was just making excuses.

    "Alright, if you admit defeat, that''s that," Reed shrugged, sheathing his Starfall Sword.

    He knew Finn''s intentions weren''t pure, but he didn''t care.

    Whatever came his way, he would deal with it. He wanted to see what tricks Aaron and Finn were up to.

    Seeing that Reed didn''t press further, Finn secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    He quickly stepped off the arena, squeezing into the crowd as if afraid Reed might change his mind.

    Reed stood in the arena, his eyes sweeping across the surroundings, taking in the expressions of the students around him.

    Some looked surprised, some admiring, some envious, and some dismissive.

    Various gazes converged on him.

    Reed''s eyes finally landed on Aaron in the crowd.

    Aaron''s face was pale with anger.

    He hadn''t expected Finn to lose so quickly, and so thoroughly¡ªit was downright humiliating!

    "Useless!" he cursed Finn bitterly in his heart.

    But what made him even more uneasy was Reed''s strength¡ªhow had it reached such a level?

    How was this possible? It had only been a few days!

    Reed looked at Aaron, the corner of his mouth curling into a provocative smile.

    "Aaron," he suddenly spoke up, "Finn has already conceded. I wonder if you have the courage to come up here and spar with me?"

    "What? Reed is challenging Aaron?"

    "Oh man, this is going to be good! Finn was just the appetizer; Aaron is the main course!"

    "Will Aaron even accept? He got beaten pretty badly by Reed last time."

    "Hard to say. I heard Aaron has improved a lot recently."

    "But will that be enough to beat Reed? Did you see how Reed just performed? He¡¯s practically inhuman!"

    The surrounding students erupted into chatter once again, their excitement palpable as they stared at Aaron, waiting for his response.

    All eyes were on Aaron, like a spotlight, leaving him no room to escape.

    Aaron¡¯s face darkened further. He hadn¡¯t expected Reed to directly challenge him, and in front of so many people no less.

    This was like being thrown into the fire!

    If he refused, wouldn¡¯t that mean he was scared of Reed? How could he continue to stand tall in the academy after that?

    But if he accepted the challenge¡­ he wasn¡¯t confident.

    He had seen clearly how much Finn had struggled against Reed. Reed¡¯s strength was truly beyond his expectations.

    Even after consuming the green python meat, which had boosted him to squire level 4, could he really defeat Reed?

    He wasn¡¯t sure.

    "Aaron, what¡¯s the matter? Chicken?" Reed, seeing Aaron¡¯s prolonged silence, spoke again. "Or do you only dare to scheme behind people¡¯s backs, too scared to face me head-on?"

    He deliberately used a taunt to provoke Aaron.

    "Who¡¯s chicken?!" Aaron, angered by Reed¡¯s words, shot to his feet and roared, "Reed, don¡¯t look down on me! I, Aaron, will face you properly today!"

    He knew he couldn¡¯t back down, or he¡¯d truly lose face.

    Even if he couldn¡¯t win, he had to grit his teeth and go for it!

    For pride, for dignity, for¡­ defeating Reed!

    Aaron took a deep breath and strode toward the arena.

    ...

    "Gale Slash!" Aaron leaped onto the arena, and almost as soon as his feet touched the ground, his sword was already in motion.

    Whoa, is he that eager?

    Or is he afraid I¡¯ll have time to react?

    Reed muttered to himself, not daring to relax.

    Finn had conceded quickly, but Aaron was coming at him with everything he had.

    A sharp sword aura, accompanied by a howling wind, shot straight toward Reed¡¯s face. The speed was indeed impressive, far surpassing Finn¡¯s flashy moves.

    <i>But did he really think this move would be enough to take me down?</i>

    Reed¡¯s lips curled slightly as he calmly raised his starfall sword.

    The blade was held horizontally in front of him, precisely blocking the path of the "Gale Slash."

    "Clang!" A crisp metallic clash echoed across the arena.

    Sparks flew as Aaron¡¯s skill was firmly blocked by the starfall sword.

    The surrounding students collectively held their breaths.

    Finn¡¯s fight with Reed had been intense, but it had felt like something was missing. Now, with Aaron unleashing a major skill right off the bat, this was truly exciting!

    "He blocked it!" someone exclaimed in a low voice.

    "Reed¡¯s sword doesn¡¯t seem ordinary either," another chimed in, their eyes glued to the arena.

    Unfazed by the failed attack, Aaron wasn¡¯t too surprised.

    After all, he knew that with Reed¡¯s current strength, it wouldn¡¯t be that easy to land a hit.

    "Thunder Roar!" Reed had no intention of giving Aaron a moment to catch his breath.

    The moment he blocked the "Gale Slash," the counterattack was already on its way.

    The starfall sword erupted with a dazzling lightning aura, crackling as if countless tiny lightning snakes were dancing along its length.

    The sword, charged with immense lightning power, sliced through the air, aiming straight for Aaron.

    This skill¡­ its power seems even stronger than before?

    Aaron¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Back at the academy¡¯s training ground, Reed¡¯s "Thunder Roar" had been formidable, but it hadn¡¯t reached this level.

    How had his skill improved so much in just a few days?

    Before he could think further, the lightning-infused sword light was already upon him. Aaron hastily swung his sword to block, trying to fend off the ferocious strike.

    "Boom!" Another loud explosion.

    A powerful shockwave burst forth, spreading in all directions. Aaron felt a tremendous force transmitted through his sword, numbing his hands and making his arms ache.

    "Tsk¡ª" Aaron sucked in a sharp breath, inwardly groaning.

    This power is insane!

    He was a squire level 4, yet it felt like he was completely overpowered by Reed in terms of strength.

    Before he could recover, Reed¡¯s figure suddenly blurred, disappearing from view.

    "Where is he?" Aaron panicked, quickly glancing around.

    "Behind you," a voice, ghost-like, whispered in Aaron¡¯s ear.

    Aaron spun around just in time to see Reed, who had somehow appeared at his side in the blink of an eye.

    The starfall sword swung down once more, accompanied by a howling wind, aiming straight for his back.

    "Swift Wind Step?!" Aaron¡¯s pupils contracted as he recognized the skill. It was Morris¡¯s!

    How could Reed use Morris¡¯s skill? Could it be¡­

    A terrifying thought flashed through Aaron¡¯s mind, but he had no time to dwell on it.

    Reed¡¯s sword was already upon him, the sharp sword aura making the hairs on his back stand on end.

    In a desperate move, Aaron could only twist his body, trying to avoid a fatal blow.

    But Reed was too fast¡ªfar too fast for Aaron to completely evade.

    "Thud!" The sound of a blade cutting through flesh echoed clearly in the ears of everyone present.

    ...

 Chapter 14: Bronze Knight Joseph

    "Ah!" Aaron cried out in pain, staggering and nearly falling to the ground.

    He felt a searing pain in his back, and blood instantly stained his clothes.

    "Aaron''s injured!" the watching students exclaimed in shock once again.

    "My goodness, Reed''s speed is incredible! I couldn''t even see how he moved in that split second."

    "Yeah, it was like a gust of wind!"

    "Aaron''s really in trouble this time. It seems like he''s completely outmatched by Reed."

    On the arena, Aaron tightly gripped his sword, his face pale, and sweat pouring down his forehead.

    He never expected that even after reaching squire level 4, he would still be so easily overwhelmed by Reed.

    <i>Is this the extent of the "green python meat''s" effect?</i>

    Or is Reed already at squire level 4?

    No, that''s impossible!

    "How''s it going, Aaron? How do you feel?" Reed''s taunting voice reached Aaron''s ears.

    Reed didn''t press his advantage but stood still, as if waiting for Aaron''s response.

    "You..." Aaron glared at Reed, gritting his teeth, his chest heaving and his breathing rapid.

    He wanted to say something, but his throat seemed blocked, and no sound came out.

    The wound on his back kept bleeding, the searing pain stimulating his nerves.

    If this continues, I might really lose...

    No, I can''t! I can''t lose!

    I''ve paid such a high price to improve my level; I absolutely can''t lose to Reed!

    A flash of madness appeared in Aaron''s eyes. He bit his tongue hard, forcing himself to stay awake.

    The taste of blood spread in his mouth, making him even more alert.

    "It''s not over yet!" Aaron roared, suddenly unleashing the holy light within him.

    "Gale slash!"

    "Gale slash!"

    This was his white five-star skill, the only one he knew.

    Four or five sword waves whistled out, heading straight for Reed.

    However, this "gale slash" seemed more ferocious than before, the sword waves more focused, and its power noticeably increased.

    Has he been pushed to the brink?

    Facing the incoming "gale slash," Reed still didn''t dodge. He raised his starfall sword and once again blocked the path of the sword waves.

    "Clang!" Another metallic clash echoed.

    As he blocked the "gale slash," Reed launched another counterattack.

    "Thunder roar!"

    Lightning flashed on the sword, carrying a stronger electric force as it slashed toward Aaron.

    This time, Reed didn''t give Aaron any chance.

    Aaron wanted to block again, but he was already feeling weak.

    Taking Reed''s "thunder roar" earlier had numbed his arm, and now facing an even more powerful "thunder roar," he felt like his arm was about to break.

    "Bang!"

    The two swords collided again, and this time, Aaron''s sword couldn''t withstand the immense power of the thunder roar.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    "Crack!" A crisp sound echoed as Aaron''s sword broke into pieces.

    The shattered blade fell helplessly onto the arena.

    "What? The sword broke?" The students watching were utterly shocked.

    "Aaron''s sword was actually broken by Reed with one strike?!"

    "How... how is that possible? Aaron''s sword, while not a fancy weapon, is still a standard academy weapon. Its quality isn''t that bad."

    "Reed''s sword must be extraordinary. It''s definitely not a regular weapon."

    On the arena, Aaron stared at his broken sword, completely dumbfounded.

    He couldn''t believe that his sword had been shattered by Reed''s strike.

    This was from the academy''s armory. While it''s not a top-tier weapon, its quality is definitely reliable. How could it be broken so easily?

    "No, I can''t keep fighting!"

    The voice in Aaron''s mind screamed, deafeningly loud.

    Keep fighting? He''s not stupid!

    That last strike nearly tore his hand off, and now his sword is broken. Without a weapon, what''s the point?

    Humiliating! So humiliating!

    But more importantly, he knew being humiliated was better than being crippled by Reed.

    Aaron, the prodigy, destined to become a golden knight¡ªhow could he fall here, to Reed?

    Run! I must run!

    Aaron''s eyes darted around, his mind racing to plan an escape route.

    The arena is so small; where can I run?

    Got it!

    His eyes suddenly lit up, and a cunning smile appeared on his lips.

    Aaron suddenly shouted, swiping his broken sword in a feint, pretending to counterattack, but it was just a distraction.

    He kicked off the ground with force, leaping backward, and turned to run!

    "Trying to run?" Reed had anticipated this move.

    Reed sneered inwardly, his "swift wind step" instantly activated, and his figure appeared behind Aaron like a ghost.

    Escaping? Not that easy!

    "Thunder roar!" Reed whispered, the thunder on his starfall sword exploding into a dazzling light.

    He swung his arm, and a thick bolt of lightning roared out like a furious thunder dragon, slashing toward Aaron''s escape path.

    "What?!" Aaron felt a chill on his back, his hair standing on end.

    He turned and saw a blinding flash of lightning hurtling toward him at incredible speed, leaving him no chance to dodge.

    This... this power!

    He wanted to dodge, but it was too late. The lightning was right in front of him, sealing all his escape routes.

    It''s over!

    Aaron''s mind went blank.

    "Stop!"

    A sharp shout suddenly rang out, causing everyone''s ears to tingle.

    A figure flashed like lightning and stood in front of Aaron.

    It was Joseph James, an instructor at the Knight Academy.

    Reed''s thunder roar was forcefully blocked by Joseph, the tip of the sword almost touching Joseph''s body.

    "Instructor, what do you mean by this?" Reed suppressed his anger.

    Joseph didn''t even look at Reed, instead turning to Aaron first, his tone both scolding and soothing, "Aaron, step back. The outcome is already decided."

    Aaron, who was looking for a way to gracefully retreat, found the instructor''s words like music to his ears.

    He immediately seized the opportunity, retreating in embarrassment to the side, his head down, his face looking terribly unpleasant.

    Only then did Joseph turn his head, his eyes sharp as he stared at Reed, reprimanding, "Reed, in a sparring match, you should know when to stop! Don''t you think you went too far?"

    "Too far?" Reed was almost laughing in anger, "Instructor, if I hadn''t reacted quickly just now, I would be the one lying on the ground! When he attacked my vitals with gale slash, why didn''t you say he went too far?"

    "It''s true, Aaron went straight for Reed''s head as soon as he got on the arena."

    "Reed has a point."

    "Let''s see how the instructor responds."

    Below the arena, a wave of whispers rose again.

    Joseph, hearing the students'' words from below the arena, his face darkened, and he looked at Reed, his tone carrying a hint of threat, "Aaron is from the Aide family. You better know your place and quit while you''re ahead."

    "The Aide family?"

    Playing the family card again? Reed''s anger flared even more.

    "What about the Aide family? On the arena, does it matter where you come from? Instructor, where is your knight''s spirit? Are you showing favoritism?" Reed didn''t back down, directly questioning.

    Joseph didn''t expect Reed to dare speak to him like this, his face turning even more unpleasant.

    "How dare you! I''m the instructor, who are you to question me?"

    "Question?" Reed sneered, "Did I say something wrong? Or is the Lake Knight Academy a place to open doors for the Aide family?"

    The surrounding students began to whisper, their eyes becoming subtle.

    No one is a fool; the instructor''s favoritism is just too obvious.

    Joseph was left speechless by Reed''s words, and in his humiliation and anger, he decided to lay all the cards on the table, "The Archer family has long fallen. Do you think you''re still that young master? You''re lucky to be alive now, what more do you want? Revenge? Are you even worthy?"

    As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place was in an uproar.

    Reed''s head buzzed, and rage instantly surged to the top.

    He stared hard at Joseph, his voice almost squeezed through his teeth, <i>"What, did you say?"</i>

    He had always wondered why Aaron dared to attack him so recklessly, why Morris dared to accept money to assassinate students of the knight academy, why the academy turned a blind eye to this matter.

    Now he knew the root of it all!

    This instructor, no, this academy knew everything!

    And, they are condoning it, even encouraging it!

    "Did I say anything wrong?" Joseph''s eyes were disdainful, his tone even more arrogant, "The Archer family is finished! Do you think you can make a comeback? Stop dreaming! If you know what''s good for you, you''ll keep your head down, otherwise..."

    "Otherwise what?" Reed, in the height of his anger, laughed, his eyes filled with madness, "Otherwise, you high and mighty people will team up to crush this ''ant'', right?"

    He suddenly activated swift wind step, his figure flashing like a ghost, bypassing Joseph, and charging towards Aaron again.

    "How dare you!"

    Joseph moved, and a powerful aura burst from his body¡ªthe pressure of a bronze knight!

    ¡­¡­

 Chapter 15: The Appearance of the Mysterious Knight

    The imposing aura of the bronze knight pressed down on Reed like an invisible mountain.

    The students watching around, especially those with weaker strength, found it hard to breathe and their faces changed color.

    Indeed, a bronze knight was far beyond what a squire could compare to.

    Joseph had no intention of just scaring Reed.

    Without anyone noticing, the war hammer was already in his hand. The blue holy light began to swirl on the hammer''s surface, growing brighter and brighter, making people''s eyes hurt.

    This instructor was actually going to step into the arena himself!

    Moreover, judging from his demeanor, it wasn''t going to be a "light sparring session"¡ªhe was serious!

    "Stop!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

    Joseph paid no attention to the reactions around him.

    His cold eyes were fixed on Reed, and with a sudden swing, the hammer whistled through the air and smashed down towards Reed with tremendous force.

    If this hammer landed squarely, not only would Reed, who was just a squire, be severely injured, but even a slightly weaker bronze knight might be incapacitated on the spot.

    Reed''s pupils contracted sharply. He could feel the immense power contained in that hammer¡ªit was far beyond what he could currently withstand.

    A head-on clash? Absolutely not!

    But to dodge?

    Where could he dodge?

    Joseph was too fast, and the hammer was coming straight at his face. There was no time to avoid it.

    What to do?

    At this life-and-death moment, Reed took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the churning energy in his chest. The gray holy light in his body began to surge wildly.

    He had to gamble everything!

    "Thunder Roar!" Reed roared.

    Almost simultaneously, dazzling lightning erupted from the Starfall Sword, accompanied by crackling purple arcs.

    He poured all his holy light power into the Starfall Sword without reservation, then, with all his strength, swung the sword to meet Joseph''s descending war hammer.

    Was this like an egg striking a rock, overestimating his abilities?

    Perhaps.

    But Reed had no other choice now.

    To retreat would mean being crippled or killed by Joseph. To fight back might offer a sliver of hope.

    "Clang¡ª!!!"

    An ear-splitting metallic crash resounded like a thunderclap, exploding across the entire training ground.

    Sparks flew from the collision, and a powerful shockwave radiated outward in all directions, centered on the two figures.

    Students standing nearby were thrown off balance, their heads ringing.

    Reed felt a tremendous force surge through the Starfall Sword and into his body. It felt as if his internal organs were being shattered, and intense pain spread throughout his body.

    "Pfft¡ª!"

    He could no longer hold back, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out. His body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily at the edge of the arena.

    Reed struggled to get up, but it felt as if all his bones had been dislocated. He had no strength left.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    With great effort, he raised his head to look at the center of the arena.

    Joseph stood there, completely unmoved, as if the earth-shaking strike he had just delivered was nothing more than a trivial matter.

    In his hand, he still held the war hammer, which shimmered with blue holy light. His eyes were cold and disdainful, as if he were looking at an insignificant insect.

    "Pathetic," Joseph said coldly.

    Aaron, standing at the edge of the arena, looked at Reed, who was lying on the ground in a miserable state, and couldn''t help but smirk with satisfaction.

    He knew that Reed was done for this time.

    The area around the arena fell into complete silence. Everyone was stunned by what had just happened.

    No one had expected things to escalate to this point. Not only had the instructor actually attacked a student, but he had done so with such ferocity.

    Just as Joseph was about to raise his hammer again to finish off Reed, suddenly¡ª

    A figure appeared on the arena like a ghost, standing between Joseph and Reed.

    The figure moved so quickly that almost no one could see how he had appeared. It was as if he had blinked into existence.

    The mysterious knight stood there abruptly, his black cloak shrouding his entire body. Only his tall figure could be seen, with a plain longsword sheathed at his waist.

    Joseph''s hammer, glowing with blue holy light, was already descending with a whistling sound.

    "Watch out!" someone in the crowd shouted again.

    Could anyone withstand a bronze knight''s full-force strike?

    The mysterious knight moved, but his action was surprisingly simple. He didn''t even turn around, but merely extended a hand slowly toward the descending hammer.

    What... what was he doing?

    Trying to catch the hammer barehanded? Was he insane?

    A cruel smile appeared on Joseph''s lips. He could already imagine Reed being smashed into a pulp, and now here was another fool rushing to his death? Fine, he''d take care of both at once!

    However, what happened next made everyone''s eyes widen in shock, including Joseph, whose cruel smile froze.

    The mysterious knight''s hand caught the descending hammer with ease.

    There was no deafening crash, no bloody mess of flesh as expected.

    The hammer, carrying the full force of the bronze knight''s strike, came to a complete stop in the mysterious knight''s hand, unable to advance even an inch.

    Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

    Everyone held their breath, their eyes unblinkingly fixed on the bizarre scene on the arena.

    Joseph''s cruel smile stiffened, replaced by shock and disbelief.

    He could feel an immense force emanating from the other man''s hand, as heavy as a mountain, completely suppressing his hammer. No matter how much strength he exerted, he couldn''t move it even a little.

    How was this possible? Who was this man?

    "Who are you?" Joseph growled through gritted teeth, his voice trembling with effort.

    The mysterious knight didn''t answer. Instead, he gave a slight flick of his wrist.

    "Crack¡ª"

    A crisp snapping sound rang out.

    Joseph''s face turned pale. He looked down and saw a clear crack on the handle of his hammer, which was made of fine steel. The crack was rapidly spreading.

    This... this was a hammer forged from fine steel! How could it be cracked by someone''s bare hand?

    Before Joseph could recover from his shock, the mysterious knight moved again.

    His other hand turned slightly, and then, as if it were the most casual gesture, he gently pressed his palm toward Joseph''s chest.

    The movement was slow, almost gentle, as if he were merely brushing dust off his clothes. There was no fancy technique, no overwhelming force.

    Yet, this seemingly light and effortless palm strike¡ª

    "Thud¡ª"

    A dull impact echoed.

    Joseph felt as if a mountain had crashed into his chest. An indescribable pain spread throughout his body.

    He didn''t even have time to scream before his body was sent flying like a kite with its string cut.

    "Bang¡ª"

    Joseph''s body slammed heavily against a thick tree at the edge of the training ground. The trunk shook violently, and leaves scattered everywhere.

    Then, he slid down like a limp rag, collapsing to the ground, foaming at the mouth and with his eyes rolled back. He was completely knocked out.

    The entire training ground fell into absolute silence.

    Everyone was utterly stunned by this jaw-dropping reversal.

    The mighty and arrogant bronze knight instructor Joseph had just been defeated in one move¡ªand in such a... casual manner?

    Who was this mysterious knight?

    What terrifying level of strength had he reached?

    Aaron''s triumphant smirk froze, replaced by confusion and fear.

    His mouth hung open, but no sound came out. He felt a chill rise from his feet to the top of his head.

    How could this be? How could someone be so strong?

    Instructor Joseph was a bronze knight! How could he not even withstand a single move?

    The students watching around had initially thought they were just witnessing a routine exam, but instead, they had been treated to such a thrilling spectacle.

    First, Reed had unleashed his potential, withstanding a bronze knight''s strike. Though injured, he had displayed remarkable strength.

    Then, the mysterious knight had appeared out of nowhere, defeating the bronze knight instructor with a single move. It was like a dream¡ªit felt too surreal!

    "Joseph... he was sent flying?"

    "Am I... am I seeing this right? That was a bronze knight!" another student rubbed his eyes, still unable to believe what had happened.

    "This... this is going to cause a huge uproar..."

    A knight academy instructor had been publicly defeated on the arena by an unknown figure. This was an unprecedented event!

    All eyes were now fixed on the black-cloaked figure on the arena.

    The mysterious knight remained silent and still, his back to the crowd, as if what had just happened had nothing to do with him.

    He didn''t spare a glance at the unconscious Joseph, nor did he pay any attention to the shocked onlookers.

    Instead, he slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Reed, who was lying at the edge of the arena, covered in blood.

    He looked at Reed for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice,

    "Get up."

    ...