<h4>Chapter 148: The Duel</h4>


    Kahn, Szayel and Albestros were out of their wits after this sudden challenge for a duel by the vampire lord.


    "What? Why do you want to fight me?" asked Kahn with a bewildered expression.


    Just now, their perfect business deal that was beneficial to both sides was agreed upon but suddenly the leader of the Vandereich n suddenly wanted to sh swords with him.


    "You didn''t think it''d be that easy, did you?" smirked the vampire.


    "And why do you want to fight with me all of a sudden, if I may ask?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? I want to test your mettle. To see whether you''re truly worthy of partnering up with. Otherwise, what''s the point if you can''t even hold down your fort without our support. I want to see whether you''re truly worthy of our.. Friendship." spoke Ismatrazel.


    "Fine, I agree. What are the rules? You don''t n to kill me, right?" asked Kahn nonchntly.


    To his attitude, even the 4th stage saint rank swordsman felt a surprise. Normally, people would outright refuse him given his strength.


    Little did he know.. That Kahn was an exception to this rule. The more he fought and perfected his skills andbat techniques.. The more proficiency and weapon mastery he''d gain from these encounters thanks to the blessings from the War Deity himself.


    "Good then. Follow me." replied the vampire leader.


    After walking for ten minutes inside the 4 kilometer long mansion, their group reached a circr underground arena that was filled with hundreds of soldiers training inside. The arena itself was 2 kilometers in circumference and had an open battleground in the middle.


    As soon as their group walked inside, all the soldiers that were training with their varying weapons and magic skills stopped their movements and bowed in front of their leader.


    "Clear the grounds. I''m going to fight this young man here."


    Gasp!


    Multiple gasps were heard from the crowd after their leader''s deration. But they quickly abided by his order and left the ground open for these two swordsmen.


    After everything was taken care of, Kahn stood on the opposite side and took Lucifer out of his space ring.


    "What an amazing sword. I presume sir Winston made it?" inquired the vampire swordsman.


    "Yes. He says it''s one of his best works to the date." replied Kahn and took a defensive stance.


    "No need to be afraid. I will only use my strength at the simr level of a semi-saint fighter like you. And all you have to do isnd a decisive attack on me in 10 minutes. You do it and I will give you my full support."


    Although, the words from the mighty swordsman were said casually.. Someone like Kahn knew the battle intent behind those words.


    His opponent wasn''t going to hold back.


    Although Kahn''s weapon mastery for swords was at peak grandmaster rank.. But to break through the saint rank and increase the rank of his skills such as Sword King & Sword Battlemaster.. He had to perfect his swordsmanship skills to the max. Otherwise, he''d have the strength but no form when he broke through the saint rank.


    Because of his Divine Abilities.. It was easier for him to level up but there were no shortcuts when it came to fighting skills. Even with the help of his blessings, he still had to master these skills on his own. Or he will be a turtle without a shell in front of truly seasoned warriors.


    To Kahn, it''s like hitting a jackpot because he would get a grand opportunity to fight and learn from one of the best swordsmen in the empire.


    "Start!" shouted the vampire and Kahn''s figure quickly flickered, the very next second, his sword appeared right next to the n head''s left shoulder.


    Shing!


    Before the tip could even move forward, a sword made of aura appeared out of nowhere and parried against the iing attack. And to Kahn''s surprise, the vampire n leader hadn''t even moved a muscle or felt any impact.


    Kahn was fully aware of his strength in that attack, but felt a sense of suppression on his movements. As if that attack he made was not only seen through but a perfect counter was already prepared by the opponent.


    Stinger! Water aura de! Windcutter!


    Kahn changed his footwork and startedunching his melee and long-range sword attacks on the vampire.


    Flick! Flick! Clink!


    One by one, his attacks were being parried by the aura swords that always seemed to appear at thest second and divert the direction of the attack.


    For the next five minutes, he kept attacking from various angles and even used his Sword King skill to attack the n leader from fifty-one directions, only to get every single one of his aura swords getting sessfully guarded against.


    [What the hell.. Is he cheating? What am I missing?] he thought because no way was he holding back.


    "My turn!" spoke the vampire swordsman and the next moment, over a hundred small des albeit shorter and thinner than Kahn''s aura swords started attacking Kahn and all the swords from his side.


    Kahn sidestepped and used side hopper from time to time and he barely missed getting stabbed.


    From each of these swords.. He felt a suppressive aura that waspletely different from his own aura swords that contained the pure destructive power behind them. Compared to his own.. The aura des from Ismatrazel were far more refined,pact and every single one of them had a suppressive force that was infused within them.


    In just a minute, Kahn waspletely put on a backfoot and was nothing but a coward running away from the onught as all he could do was dodge and parry. All his aura swords were being broken in two by the vampire''s swords.


    The hundreds of soldiers on the other hand were surprised with Kahn''s disy and control over his body and aura swords. Because from their experience.. Other''s couldn''t even hold their sword properly in front of their leader, let alone fight on equal ground with him.


    [What the hell am I missing?] he asked himself and suddenly.. And enlightenment struck Kahn''s mind.


    His countenance turned serious and his Survival Instinct reached its peak the next second. The suppressive force that wasing from the opponent''s swords suddenly started feeling familiar. Something that he had felt before.


    What he did next was something even the fourth stage saint rank swordsman hadn''t expected.


    Rather than trying to counter the aura swords from the enemy.. Kahn stopped fighting, closed his eyes and quickly grabbed an aura sword that was aimed at his chest with his bare hand.


    As if some form of realization had struck him.. Kahn spoke with a smile on his face.


    "I see. So that was the reason behind that suppressive force. It''s not your aura that these swords are made of.." stopped Kahn in his words and opened his eyes again with a newfound excitement as he spoke again..


    "It''s the World Energy!"