Round Three, Begin!

  Since that was the case, Roland no longer tried to dissuade them. In fact, she was eager to witness Kenley's true strength once more.

  Rogue took a deep breath, raised his sword, and glared at Kenley."I have to admit, you do have some talent. But having talent doesn't mean you can look down on everyone else. I, Rogue, will show you what true strength really is today!"

  "Go, Rogue! Take him down!"

  "Yeah, don't be intimidated by his weak tricks! Teach him a lesson!"

  The crowd cheered enthusiastically for Rogue.

  A declaration of war—something most NPCs only did upon entering their final state. Just like Perron, just like Dane. But Kenley had witnessed countless second and third-phase transformations from his enemies. How could he possibly be intimidated by a mere level 15 retainer?

  Kenley straightened his posture, his sword angled downward while his left hand rested behind his back. His gaze remained fixed ahead."Strength is proven through battle, not through words. Rogue, you talk too much."

  Rogue's expression turned cold, but anyone with keen eyes could see the fury burning in his gaze.

  "You call that a sword stance?" Rogue sneered.

  Kenley couldn't be bothered to respond.

  However, off to the side, the Flower Sword Saint, Roland, looked at Kenley's stance in astonishment. Why did it look so similar to her own? That was the opening stance of the Violet Roland Swordsmanship, the very beginning of its first form—Drifting Blossom.

  In Aude Continent, players could wield their swords freely and perform sword techniques. If a player hadn't formally learned a skill from an NPC but managed to replicate a technique purely from memory, something extraordinary would occur.

  Just wait and see...

  Kenley suddenly closed his eyes, silently recalling Roland's Floral Swordsmanship. Swordsmanship was a truly unique existence in the game. It had no ranking system, nor did it require players to reach a certain level before unlocking it.

  As long as you had enough skill points, you could master it whenever you wished. However, swordsmanship grew alongside the player—it became stronger as the player advanced in rank. The higher one's tier, the greater the damage, and the richer the effects of the techniques.

  Kenley had apprenticed under the Flower Sword Saint back when he was level 45, meaning he had been at the Bronze rank at the time. Roland's Floral Swordsmanship had five distinct phases:

  Drifting Blossom– Inflicts imbalanceDancing Petals– Inflicts weaknessSevered Branch– Inflicts crippleFlourishing Bloom– Inflicts stunFull Bloom– Inflicts grievous wounds

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  However, this was merely the first stage—Violet Floral Form. Each sequence came with a built-in effect, ensuring absolute control over opponents. To maintain balance, the developers had adjusted the effects—each one lasted only 0.5 seconds, except for Full Bloom, which inflicted grievous wounds for 3 seconds. After all, too much crowd control would be game-breaking.

  But don't underestimate that mere 0.5 seconds. In the heat of battle, such an opening could be fatal. Not to mention the late-game potential—countless overpowered gems and runes. If paired with a top-tier sword, one embedded with stunning or weakening effects, just imagine how broken it could be.

  Now, the question was—how much power could Kenley unleash in this Era of the Ironborn?

  Seeing Kenley close his eyes, Rogue felt a surge of fury. He was taking this battle seriously, yet this bastard had the audacity to shut his eyes?!

  If a warrior could endure this, what else couldn't they endure?

  "Take this!" Rogue no longer hesitated. His eyes gleamed with determination as he charged forward once more!

  This time, however, he didn't use the same three-strike combo as before. Instead, he planned to execute a newly developed technique—the very reason for his confidence.

  Rogue knew it was a gamble, but he believed it was worth it. He had already lost one round. If he lost again, how could he face anyone in the royal city?

  "Crescent Moon Slash!"

  This was a technique Rogue had devised himself, inspired by Sword Saint Roland's teachings.

  "Rogue is using his secret trump card!"

  "I've sparred with Rogue before—this move is incredibly powerful! There's no way he'll lose this time!"

  The crowd erupted with excitement, eagerly anticipating Rogue's new technique.

  Rogue smirked confidently. Crescent Moon Slash was an expansive, sweeping strike—a curved attack that appeared straightforward but held hidden depths. From the front, it seemed like a single-point assault, yet its trajectory concealed intricate layers.

  However, Kenley raised an eyebrow in slight surprise. Wasn't this the same move Tyson had used—the Battle Anthem? So, this kid had stolen from his old opponent?

  Facing a technique once used by a defeated rival, Kenley was momentarily transported back to the grand stage of the Global Tournament. Blazing spotlights, countless cameras, a worldwide live broadcast—everyone watching that legendary duel.

  "Tyson..." Kenley chuckled. If Rogue could make him recall those memories, then fate was surely playing tricks on him.

  Kenley's gaze sharpened."Drifting Blossom!"

  At that moment, Kenley's figure blurred, as if he had vanished into thin air—completely disappearing from Rogue's sight!

  "Where is he?!" Rogue was stunned. Wasn't he supposed to be an Ironborn? Why did it feel like he was using techniques exclusive to Silver-ranked players? Could it be Wind Magic's Rapid Shift?!

  "Rogue, behind you!" someone shouted.

  Rogue immediately sensed danger and instinctively raised his sword to block!

  "Too late," Kenley stated coldly.

  In an instant, Kenley's blade sliced through the air like a whispering wind—silent, swift, and deadly. His sword light slithered like a serpent, cutting diagonally upward from Rogue's lower left side.

  Kenley moved like a stalking predator, his coiled stance exuding a raw, unrestrained power, ready to explode at any moment.

  An impeccable attack trajectory—!

  It was aimed precisely at Rogue's waist, his weakest point—his fatal flaw!

  "This is impossible!" Rogue's mind screamed in disbelief. He desperately lowered his stance, attempting to shift into a defensive posture. But it was too late.

  Kenley had seized the initiative, and Rogue simply couldn't keep up.

  "There's no time!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

  A sharp, grating sound filled the air—the clash of steel. Sparks erupted violently, the undeniable proof that Rogue had been struck!

  "My body… it won't move—!" Rogue's mind reeled in shock. This was the imbalance status effect—one of a warrior's greatest nightmares.

  But then, something unexpected happened.

  0.2 seconds?

  Rogue's eyes widened in delight. He still had a chance!