Chapter 91: Tarasha’s Strange Questions

“No way, he wiped him out in an instant?”

“Looks like it. What just happened? I didn’t get it. Can someone explain?”

“This isn’t scientific! How can he insta-kill him? I don’t believe it!”

“His opponent was an elite cultivated by the Howard family! I heard he was meant to be an enforcer for the lower-ranking Howard heirs. As an enforcer, he’s definitely stronger than Young Master Dylan, who has to consider political maneuvering.”

“And Hall’s weapon is so strange! That special effect just now, is that a Master-grade weapon? To have something like that at his age, Lord Faxtius must have spared no expense.”

The crowd erupted into a frenzy over the turn of events that had taken less than a minute.

The various nobles present who were not yet involved in the covert struggle between the Faxtius and Howard families were also deep in discussion.

“This is terrifying. Hall instantly defeated his opponent.”

They knew Hall was strong, but they never imagined he could be this strong.

This kind of overwhelming power would definitely place him at the very top of the younger generation in the entire Papal State.

Hall Faxtius had been hiding his strength for the past three years.

The conspiracy theory that had recently been circulating in Saint Louis seemed about to be proven true.

“So all this time, you brat were just pretending, waiting for your fiancée to arrive in Saint Louis to create a shocking contrast, weren’t you?”

The more discerning nobles felt they had completely misjudged him.

So this marriage was a nesting doll marriage.

Perhaps the Emperor of Xia initially thought Hall Faxtius would be easy to control, so he married his daughter to him.

The Conclave probably guessed this clear intention long ago, but they likely also knew Hall was no weakling and thus didn’t oppose the marriage.

Now, during the time Ye Wangxue has actually been here, Hall has been shining brightly time and time again.

Coupled with Ye Wangxue and Hall’s previously affectionate appearance, and the fact that there was no news of her wanting to break the engagement even though he didn’t attend the ceremony that day.

This…

Could it be that the Princess of Xia had been captivated by Hall’s charm?

The Emperor of Xia had lost his daughter and gained nothing in return.

“Is that Hall?”

Himan was in disbelief.

Hall’s strength had once again shattered her perception.

When he drew his sword and a rainbow light that seemed to block out her vision and all her other senses appeared, she thought the Atute or Howard family was trying to cheat.

But when the light faded, Hall was still standing there in the same pose, while the Howard family’s elite was down and out.

The victory was clean, decisive, and even carried an air of mystery and elegance.

And this was the very noble swordsmanship Himan had strived to master since childhood.

Yet now, Hall had displayed it.

“It’s him.”

Ye Wangxue was a little shocked, but she knew Hall would win, so she didn’t show it.

Right now, she was just looking at Hall’s right hand.

The longsword, flowing with a seven-colored light, looked incredibly beautiful, and its quality seemed to be no less than her [Moon Chase].

‘That guy wasn’t bluffing.’

‘Where did he get such a good weapon? I have to grab him and ask after this is over.’

‘Could it be from the Salvation Church?’

But the most shocked person of all was Balu Atute.

He knew Hall was going up first, so he had specifically arranged for the Howard family’s elite to be the first opponent.

Even if he couldn’t beat Hall, he could at least wear him down significantly.

Hall was at a level 70 standard.

How did he get insta-killed just like that?

‘It must be that weapon. I’m afraid that thing is the source of Hall’s confidence. Its quality must be Master-grade, like mine. But any special weapon’s effect has a cooldown. To win so spectacularly, he actually used it right at the beginning… In that case, I’m not at a disadvantage.’

Balu analyzed the situation.

When Archbishop Malik called him to the stage, he wasn’t too panicked.

He then drew his own blade, [Roar of the Raging Sands], to face Hall.

It was an ancient yellow blade, and the entire sword seemed to be made of flowing sand.

It looked exceedingly strange.

And indeed it was.

[Roar of the Raging Sands] was a weapon found by an adventurer in a quicksand labyrinth in the ancient Kingdom of Elan.

Later, short on money, it was sold for an extremely high price on the black market and bought by the Atute family.

The Atute family was quite adept at accumulating wealth, and unlike the Howard family which needed liquid capital for business, they collected taxes and bribes without any initial investment.

For them, high-quality weapons were more important than money.

Hall glanced at Balu’s weapon, a little surprised.

He had its entry in his collection.

It was a Master-grade weapon, with stats lower than the Rainbow Sky Sword, but its special effect, [Roar of the Sands], would select an enemy in sight and trap them in quicksand, causing an immobilization effect.

If the immobilization lasted long enough, it would even deal additional damage.

It could be called a master tool for 1v1 combat.

If Balu managed to immobilize him with the weapon’s special effect, the situation would become difficult.

So, before Archbishop Malik gave the signal to start, he stared at the blade in Balu’s hand.

Seeing Hall looking at him, Balu thought Hall was scared.

“How about it, Hall Faxtius? Although your new weapon is indeed powerful, its effect can only be used once. You’re doomed to lose. This weapon of mine was born specifically to hunt someone like you. You can’t escape…”

“Mm, if it can only be used once, it would indeed be a bit dangerous.”

Hall held the Rainbow Sky Sword horizontally in front of him, assuming a ready stance.

Balu had previously observed Hall’s fight with the Howard elite.

The rainbow light appeared as the Rainbow Sky Sword was drawn.

As long as Hall didn’t re-sheathe his sword, he would win.

‘Hmph, I’ll let him attack first. The closer he gets, the higher my chance of trapping him in the quicksand.’

He could even, at the moment Hall thinks he is about to succeed, humiliate him in front of all the powerful nobles and a million citizens of Saint Louis.

Balu plotted his strategy for dealing with Hall in his mind.

At that moment, Archbishop Malik announced, “Begin!”

He didn’t move.

He was waiting for Hall to attack, so he could activate the effect of [Roar of the Raging Sands].

But in that instant, Hall’s figure vanished from his sight.

All he could see was rainbow light, a rainbow light that filled his entire world.

“How is that possible? He can use it twice?”

“I win again.”

Hall’s simple comment came after the rainbow light faded.

The effect of the Rainbow Sky Sword was indeed a bit much.

In the game, against elites or bosses who didn’t have auto-counter skills or [Super Perception], it was very effective.

Balu was only in his early seventies and his talent wasn’t great, so naturally, he couldn’t have learned the level 90 universal skill [Super Perception].

Himan was completely dumbfounded.

When she saw Balu reveal that strange sandy sword, she had been very worried.

She thought that since Hall had already used his weapon’s effect, he would likely lose to Balu.

But if Hall lost, she would definitely teach Balu a good lesson for him.

But then she thought again, she wasn’t too confident about that either.

Balu’s level should be above hers.

So Himan was very anxious.

She felt that both she and Ye Wangxue would have a hard time getting past Balu.

But in less than two minutes, Hall once again replicated his first victory, defeating Balu instantly.

Now, there was only one person left on the opposing team.

“Hall, are you tired? Come down and let me and the Seventh Princess finish the last fight.”

Himan thought that since he had fought two matches, he must be tired.

According to the rules, although a contestant could fight until defeated, they could also take a rest in between.

“No need, I’ll continue.”

Hall didn’t dare let Himan or Ye Wangxue lose, even though the last opponent was probably not that great.

But in a matter of life and death like this, he couldn’t take any risks.

“Hmph, you just love being the hero.”

Himan sharply commented on Hall, “Are all the young girls in Saint Louis staring at you now? Are you excited?”

It was true.

Hall’s performance was just too amazing, defeating his opponents without anyone even seeing how.

Before the rainbow light appeared and after it faded, the young duke remained in the same posture.

The only thing that changed on the magic platform was his opponent.

To many young girls, this was like some kind of magic.

It made them all infatuated.

But Hall really wasn’t excited.

Although he did feel the admiring gazes of many girls, a quick glance showed him Leticia in the VIP seats.

Once again, he saw Leticia in the crowd, looking at him with an unreadable expression.

‘This is dangerous, okay?’

Especially Leticia’s expression; he couldn’t quite understand it, it was very complex.

And there was another gaze, from the third-floor balcony of the Hero’s Cathedral.

From his angle, it wasn’t hard to see up there if he looked up.

And Hall knew the Empress was watching him.

He won.

A three-win streak.

Hall’s last opponent was purely there to make up the numbers, just over level 60.

Even if he simply used the Faxtius family’s swordsmanship, his character’s initial skills were enough to crush him.

And he could tell the opponent had no morale, seemingly resigned to his fate.

After that, he gave a victory speech.

According to the procedure, he should have invited Himan and Ye Wangxue to say a few words as well.

But the two proud ladies, having not fought, had no victory speech to give.

So he alone gave a formulaic speech, thanking his father, his late mother, and some other people.

Although the crowd gave him face and continued to listen, most people were more interested in the blessing ceremony assisted by the three Saintess Candidates, which was starting at eight o’clock.

So Hall, feeling bored himself, stepped down from the stage.

Not long after.

The three Saintess Candidates appeared on the platform, arranged in a triangle at the base of the high stages covered with exotic flowers and herbs.

Supported by their respective maids, they walked up the steps one by one.

During this process, they seemed to be singing an ancient ballad.

With each step they took, the step they had just passed would emit a holy glow.

Especially on the high stage where Christine was, one could faintly see white feathers falling and then disappearing.

When the blessing ceremony began, Hall had a very strange feeling.

An endless stream of power surged from his chest.

The stamina he had consumed in defeating the three opponents was recovering at an exaggerated speed.

He had intended to watch the three Saintess Candidates, but his gaze gradually became flustered.

He found it somewhat difficult to look away from Christine’s back.

In his vision, her back even became illusory, as if it were about to sprout wings.

“Hey, Hall Faxtius.”

Someone tapped him on the shoulder, calling out to him and pulling him out of his trance.

Hall turned his head and saw Tarasha’s face.

“What is it?”

“I’m asking you, do you remember Elizabeth Cateline?”

He froze, thinking, ‘What a strange question.’

‘Elizabeth Cateline… isn’t she dead?’