The Grand Duelist

"Blame you? Why would I? Just come over here and show me how you used to fight before you acquired the legacy of the Grand Duelist!" Krid confidently declared with laughter.

A bitter smile escaped on Joseph's lips...

As someone who went into the game of Victory for the sake of earning money.

Joseph didn't really care about etiquette or respect when fighting against his NPCs back then.

Result was what he cared for, not the process.

Due to that, Joseph's fighting style could be said as extremely unorthodox and unexpected. Every enemy that Joseph fought was always taken aback by his unique fighting style.

One of those was Abyssal Flame Master. A foe that Joseph could never forget since he was the very last enemy whom Joseph fought with that fighting technique that he sealed...

But right now, Krid was inviting him to release the seal on that fighting style of his? 

It's not like Joseph didn't really want to fight against Krid.

Except for the painful pummeling that he would undoubtedly suffer against him...

Experience fighting against an experienced and strong enemy was something that Joseph always welcomed. But the problem was...

Krid was actually telling him to unseal that fighting style?

A bitter smile emerged on Joseph's lips. He felt that unleashing such crude and primitive method of fighting against a mighty and prestigious Legend was equivalent to sacrilege. If he didn't have to then, why would he do it?

But...

Since Krid said that he wouldn't do anything against him after the battle. Joseph couldn't do anything other than reveal a helpless expression before saying: "Are you sure, Senior? You really won't blame and do anything untoward against me after the fight?"

Such an expression elicited a frown on Krid's face as he said: "Do I look like someone that would bully a junior just because of his fighting style? Just show it to me already! I'm the one that's asking for it so it wouldn't make sense for me to blame you for obeying."

Seeing that Krid insisted, Joseph had no other choice but to agree.

[You are currently in Duel Mode. Death in Duel Mode is impossible for both sides.]

Taking a deep breath, he took the Rapier of Grandeur and Beauty out of his Inventory and took a strange stance.

Strange...

Because for Krid.

His stance right now was currently full of openings.

"What the hell is he doing?"

Joseph placed the incredibly long Rapier of Grandeur and Beauty on his shoulder. 

Amidst Krid's confusion, Joseph rushed at the former with the Rapier of Grandeur and Beauty still on his right shoulder.

"This kid is pretty interesting... So that is the fighting style that he's most familiar with? It's really quite unique..."

"But just because it's unique. Doesn't mean that it's useful!" Krid inwardly cried.

He also rushed at Joseph.

His Rapier held in front of his chest as he sent a thrust at Joseph's wide-open chest.

He intentionally slowed down the arrival of his thrust by half a beat. But contrary to his expectations, instead of directly deflecting or parrying the attack. Joseph opened his mouth and shouted.

"Your mother dropped you on your head when you were still a baby!"

Krid's movements came to a halt after hearing Joseph's sudden insult.

[You are under the effects of Confusion.] 

[This effect lasts for a few seconds and cannot be resisted.]

Someone like Krid who had a lot of experience in battles never expected such a mental attack from this enemy of his.

His body stiffened. But not even half a second later, he recovered from his trance.

But Joseph's attack was already in front of him. 

In a hurry, Krid retracted his Rapier and slammed it from below in an effort to deflect the incoming attack...

But Joseph deliberately slowed his attack by half a second, messing up with Krid's rhythm.

Krid's effort on defending himself through deflecting failed and Joseph's attack landed squarely on his chest.

"Guah!" The attack elicited a painful shout from Krid who hurriedly retreated with eyes gleaming in surprise and excitement.

But how could Joseph not take advantage of this opportunity? He swiftly appeared beside Krid through the use of the Grand Duelist's Dash as he hurled over a [Slash].

Ding!

But Krid managed on accurately deflecting Joseph's attack.

"Tssk." Joseph clicked his tongue, but he didn't retreat.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

He pressured Krid using [Thrust] and [Slice] in succession, but Krid deftly deflected them to the side.

After a [Downwards Slash] for good measure.

Joseph retreated backward in order to widen his distance from his enemy.

It wasn't wise to fight against Krid who was an experienced Swordsman when he didn't have the upper-hand.

Staring at Krid from a distance, Joseph's mind quickly spun. Formulating another plan that he could use to take the higher ground against an enemy like Krid.

"Brat, I admit that your fighting style is really unique and refreshing. But, if you think that something like that is enough to defeat me. Then, you sure are dreaming!" Krid exclaimed and he suddenly vanished from Joseph's vision.

When he reappeared, he was behind Joseph and the latter hurriedly rolled forward in order to escape the incoming attack.

Whing!

A sharp sound similar to air being torn apart rang out behind Joseph as cold sweat filled his back. If he retreated even a step too late. He would've suffered from that terrifying attack.

Holding steadfast on his wits, Joseph rolled even further in an effort to use that momentum so that he could quickly stand his ground. 

But it was evident that Krid saw through his plan...

"Do you think that I'd let you?" Krid rushed at Joseph and proceeded on unleashing consecutive thrusts at the latter.

"This is the end!" After several consecutive thrusts at Joseph who was still rolling on the ground. Krid prepared a fully-charged [Point] and was about to send it to Joseph, when suddenly...

Joseph hurled a handful of dust and soil towards his face.

"AH! THAT FUCKING HURTS!" 

Dust filled his eyes and he had to step backward in order to endure the pain. His eyes squinted, and his vision blackened for he couldn't open his eyes anymore due to the dirt.

"You... How shameless!" Krid exclaimed at Joseph, but the latter clearly didn't listen to him as he leaped towards Krid and started his assault.

[Slash], [Slice], and [Slash]...

Joseph unleashed these skills in quick succession and when Krid's eyesight finally recovered...

Joseph hurriedly retreated.

"Shameless brat, come back here!" Krid screamed in rage, and a fierce kiling intent that momentarily intimidated Joseph exploded from his body.

"Shit... It looks like I really did anger this old man now..." Joseph inwardly cursed as he ran away.

"Overwhelming Presence." He mumbled and a crimson aura surrounded his body. Under the effects of [The Grand Duelist's Overwhelming Presence]. His basic attacks were now ranged attacks that could critically strike for 300% of his Attack Damage.

[You dealt 5792 damage!]

[You dealt 5837 damage!]

[You dealt 5769 damage!]

Several system notifications appeared right in front of Joseph as he swiftly unleashed wave after waves of attack towards the crazed Krid who looked like he wanted nothing but Joseph's death. 

Soon, Joseph was nearing a dead-end since in front of him were only the walls of the sealed room.

Having no other choice, He turned around and greeted the crazed Krid head-on.

"Point!" Joseph exclaimed and hurled a fully-charged [Point] at Krid.

But as the dazzling light of [Point] stung Krid's eyes, he didn't care about anything anymore as he prepared on deflecting the incoming attack.

However... 

As soon as he raised his sword in front of him to defend himself...

He suddenly uttered.

"Parry!"

A formless barrier instantly surrounded his body and protected him from all attacks in any direction.

Peng!

A dull sound rang out behind him and Krid lightly chuckled.

"Kid... Did you really think that you could use such obvious feints in front of me? I know that you have that Dash of the Grand Duelist, so did you really think that I am not prepared for that?"

Krid leaped in the air and swiftly turned around.

In front of him was the astonished Joseph who had his mouth, opened wide and agape.

"You're still preparing the rice, but I am already eating it!" Krid concentrated all the power that he siphoned from Joseph's attack through the use of Parry at the tip of his Rapier.

His [Point] became fully-charged in an instant. 

In the face of such a terrifying fully-charged [Point]. 

Joseph awakened from his trance.

He slammed both of his feet on the ground in an effort to escape faster away from Krid who now had a fully-charged [Point] on his arsenal. But it was already too late.

Krid was faster than him in the first place, and after a few steps.

Krid was already in front of him as Krid sent that fully-charged [Point] right towards his heart.

But then suddenly,

Joseph unleashed...

"Your disciple never really loved you in the first place!"

... an incredibly vicious psychological attack against Krid right at his reverse scale.

His words directly assaulted Krid's heart and soul. Krid's fully-charged attack grind to a halt.

"An opening!"

Joseph's eyes gleamed in excitement and capitalizing on the opening in front of him. He swiftly disposed of Krid's [Point] that hung stationary in the air through the use of deflect. Afterward, he sent his own thrust directly at Krid's chest and when he felt his Rapier penetrating Krid's chest...

[Your attack has critically striked! You dealt 10,506 damage!]

He shouted.

"HARMONY!" His excitement made his shout echo even louder as a burst of concentrated, brilliant energy gathered around his Rapier.

His body then instinctively moved according to what he had seen from Krid's display of [Harmony] yesterday.

Puchi!

The air itself was torn as Joseph's movements became the canvassed that expressed the Harmony of Heaven and Earth. The fountain of blood that spurted out from Krid's body became the ink that drenched the canvas.

[Your attack has critically striked!]

[The Grand Duelist's Graceful Swordsmanship's Additional Effect has been activated!]

[You dealt 46,152 damage!]

Joseph dealt an unbelievable amount of damage in a single attack causing his eyes to widen open in shock.

But it was Krid who felt incomparably bitter...

He fell down with his back first as a bitter smile emerged on his face.

[Your Health has reached the minimum.]

[You have lost the Duel.]

[Cancelling Duel Mode.]

[After Duel Mode, Death is now possible so please be careful!]

Joseph saw Krid's expression and nervousness filled his nerves: 'Holy shit... What have I done... Will I be killed? What if he refuses to make my Primary Weapon? Am I fucked? Goddamned it, please don't renege on our promise just because of this...'

'You told me that you won't blame me about what would happen afterwards!' 

Krid sensed Joseph's apprehension and he stared angrily at the latter.

"You brat... You actually dared on mentioning my disciple while we are in a fight..." He barely squeezed these words out amidst his injuries.

Thankfully, they were on Duel Mode or else Krid would've died from that attack alone.

"S-s-senior... You cannot blame me for that... You're the one that told me..."

Joseph replied in an indignant manner and seeing him acting like he was wronged.

Krid didn't know whether to laugh or to cry...

Although he was really angry at Joseph for unleashing such a vicious mental attack. Since he promised that he wouldn't blame Joseph after the battle.

Krid had no other choice but to forcefully swallow his anger and could only lay there in silence.

Awkward silence reigned over the area. But after a few moments, Krid finally spoke.

"You know what, kid. That shamelessness of yours really reminds me of that bastard." 

"That bastard?" Joseph asked in confusion.

"Yes, that bastard. Or should I call him? His Majesty?" Krid lightly chuckled and Joseph was scared out of his wits when he heard Krid calling the King of the Kingdom of Nether as 'that bastard'. 

"Look at you looking so pale. Don't worry, the King is a sworn brother of mine. He wouldn't really accuse me of treason just because I called him a bastard. After all, that bastard's the most shameless one among the two of us."

Joseph revealed a smile with his lips repeatedly twitching.

He didn't know how to react when he heard what Krid said.

But he asked...

"If the King is really Senior's sworn brother. I don't understand why he would let you be like this, Senior."

Krid stared at Joseph and a melancholic smile appeared on his lips.

"I can't really blame him for not saving me. After all, he's a King. Someone that should prioritize the development and future of his Kingdom other than himself and his friends... In fact, I am even glad that he could be that ruthless to me..."

"If he didn't have that ruthlessness that he has right now. I don't think that I would've helped him become a King in the first place. After all, certain cruelty is necessary so that someone could judge others impartially. Only someone that can do something like that should have the throne of a King."

Joseph was shocked and surprised about what he was hearing right now, but he still managed on asking: "But I don't understand, Senior. If he's someone that you helped on getting the throne..."

"I think that he could still help you through the guise of repaying back that debt of the past that he incurred from you when you helped him get the throne."

Krid lightly chuckled when he heard what Joseph had said. But of course, he still answered honestly: "It's not that simple, kid. Remember that I am a Legendary Blacksmith... The reason why they took my disciple as a hostage and imprisoned me here is due to that fact..."

"The King should prioritize the development and the future of his Kingdom. He, No- That bastard brother of mine decided that I was necessary for the development of his Kingdom so he tried on recruiting me as the Legacy Blacksmith of the Kingdom..."

"In other words, an employee and maybe even a slave!"

"I didn't want my freedom restricted, so I escaped. But that bastard, that bastard brother of mine became blinded by greed! Instead of earnestly asking me for a favor, he decided that it was a much better solution to order the capture of my disciple through the use of Duke Heathrow!"

"Sigh... If only I knew that something like this would happen after my ascension as a Legend. I would've postponed my ascension until times are peaceful." Krid repeatedly shook his head and tears welled up in his eyes. It was clear that he deeply loved that brother of his.

But sadly, their interests conflicted with each other and this tragedy was the result.

Joseph stared in pity at Krid.

But he couldn't help but frown when he remembered what Krid had said.

"S-senior... Pardon me for saying this, but... Are you really sure that he's the one that ordered your disciple's capture?"

"What do you mean?" Krid stared at Joseph was if he was now an annoyance.

"I mean, does Senior really think that Senior's sworn brother could so something so underhanded such as capturing Senior's disciple? On what basis?"

"I don't think that someone as upright and fair like Senior would have such a vicious sworn brother! I just can't believe that Senior doesn't have the capabilities to judge someone's character!"

Joseph replied, his words astonished Krid.

After a short moment of silence.

An incredibly bitter smile appeared on his lips as he said.

"Perhaps I was wrong... Perhaps I was right... But nothing matters anymore... I just want the safety of my disciple."

"After all of these..."

"For the sake of my relationship with his Majesty as sworn brothers..."

"I will leave this Kingdom and never come back."

Krid squeezed these words out of his throat, but through his trembling and stammering voice. One could feel the upheaval in his emotions.

"S-Senior... I j-"

"Get out!"

Joseph wanted to say something, but Krid cut him off with a scream.

Joseph was astonished by Krid's sudden outburst. But before he could ask, Krid continued...

"Just get out... Leave me alone for now."

Joseph didn't say anything anymore...

He retreated.

And Krid's silent sobbing echoed from behind...