Quinus looked at Rudolf with contempt.

"Rya, may I have the Kings Slayer head please?"Quinus asked as he stretched out his hands.

"Huh? Sure." Rya said and handed thesevered headover to Quinus.

Rudolf eyes went wide in shock seeing his right-hand man's headin the hands of the crown prince.

'Impossible! He was supposed to be a kind-hearted fool! He must have freed that dark elf somehow and had her kill Jeremiah!'Rudolf thought to himself.

Quinus looked at the severed head for a second before he showed it to Rudolf who was about 15 yards away from them.

"It's over, Rudolf! Surrendernow and I willspare yourmen's lives!" Quinus yelled out.

'Hmm. So this kid is still naive to think I would care about my men's lives over my own. I could use this against him!' Rudolfthought to himself.

Rudolf smiled and thenstabbed his sword into the dirt beforehim.

"Iwish to have a trial of the champions, in one on one combat!" Rudolf announced as he turns to face Quinus. "If you win I willmy men will lay down their arms andsurrender. If I winI get the city of Ironside." Rudolf added with a grin.

'Huh? But my other golem is wiping out the rest of his forces? He's trying to play us!' Rya thoughtto herself.

"Likehell! There no way I would let you take my city!" Zellin yelledout as hepointed his hammer atRudolf.

Rudolf raised his blade into the air and pointed it at Zellin.

"Hmph! That's why dwarves are dishonorable!" Rudolf spat out as he turned back to Quinus.

"Your Highness can't be th~"

Quinus motioned for Zellin to calm down.

Rya walked up to Quinus to whisper.

"Quin, he's right. Rudolf is playing us if you do as he says." Ryawhispered in his ear.

Quinuslooked Ryain her beautiful azure eyes and cracked a smile.

"So you do care about me." Quin jokedwith Rya.

"Quin!"Ryayelled out in protest.

"Haha. Sorry... Yeah I know he's trying to play us. So, let's play him." Quin whisperedinto her ears.

Rya noddedand whispered back, "Okay. So, what's the plan?"

Quinus smiled and then answered her, "Well, the only rule to this trial is no one can help me fight him."

Rya frowned at him before saying, " I know that, Quin. How can I help you if~"

Quinus interrupted her, "Rya... You can do anything but fight him."

Rya paused for a second, 'Quin, is saying that I can only heal him? Really?'

After realizing what Quin wanted her to do. Rya's frowntransformed into a smile as she gave him a wink.

"Oye! Are you saying goodbye to your whore? Or are you backingout like the toothless lion that the world knowsyou as!" Rudolf taunted Quin.

'This motherfucker! Oh, I can wait to see the look on his face when Quin kills him!'Rya thought as she started mussingQuin's hair.

"I'm just giving him some luck! You prick!" Rya said with a wink.

Rudolflooked annoyedand crossed his arms over his chest as he glared at Quinus.

"Fucking dark elves are nothing but whores" Rudolf said under his breath but Rya and Nieren heard him.

Quinus smiled, "Thank you Rya. Now, it's time to get serious."

Zellin was pacing around the area worrying about this fight. Laika was able to help Hajdah up after regainingconsciousness.

"So, the Toothless Lion is going to expect my challenge!?Or will you hide behind that long ea-" Rudolf yelled out before Quinus interrupted him.

"Sheath your tongue! I accept, Rudolf! And it will be an honor to put your head on a pike with the Kings Slayer's right next to yours." Quinus said as he heldup Jeremiah's severed head for Rudolf to see.

"Tch! Were you the one to kill him!? I think not!" Rudolf yelled.

'You may have hidden Jeremiah's ability from my father's spies but we know all about you, Rudolf!' Quin thought as he threw the severed head at Rudolf.

"YOU BRAT!" Rudolf yelledas he blocked the head with his shield.

"I've heard worse insults... And I'll say this one if you keep speaking ill of Lady Rya. I'll have to make your death as painful as possible." Quin said with anger as he pointed his sword towards Rudolf.

Rya blushed when she heard Quin defending her and Rudolf was taken abackby his statement, 'Just the words of a worthless royal. Justfocus onkilling him!' Rudolf thought as he took another step forward, readying his sword and shield.

They stood therein positionwaiting forone of them to make the first move.

The wind blows across the battlefieldas the sun shines brightly overhead, illuminating the area for everyone to see.

Quin's golden eyes are glowing from the mana inside his body. His hair is fluttering in the wind as his black armorwith gold trimglistens in the sunlight.

Rudolf's eyes glow bright red as his armor shimmers with light.

'Is this kid going to stare at me all day orwhat?' Rudolf thought as he prepared to strike.

Rudolfstepped in first with his shield raised and swung down with his sword.

*SWING! CLANG! THUMP!*

Quinus blocked the attack using his sword and then kickedRudolf's leg out from under him, sending him flying backwards onto the ground.

"FUCK!"Rudolf yelled as he rolled back to his feet.

Quinus sighed, "What's wrong? You're supposed to be the bestmercenaryin the world but youare having trouble with the toothless lion?"

"Cockylittle shit!" Rudolf growled out as he charged Quinus.

As they both approached each other, Rudolf swung his large sword with all his might.

*CRASH! THUD!CLANG!*

Sparks went flyingas Quin deflected the attack with his blade.He was doing it with grace and skill.

"I'm just getting warmed up!" Rudolf snarled out as he brought his shield around to block Quin's next attack.

"Heh! This ain't nothing!" Rudolf growled out as he brought his shield around again.

Quin blocked the hit and sent a powerful swing towards Rudolf's chest. He was able to parry Quin's attack with his sword bringing them inches away fromeach other's noses.

'Come on Rudolf! You were wise to hide Jeremiah's ability from my father's spies but we know you like to use poison. Or will I break through that barrier with my Razor Ray ability?Quin thought as he had a close-up look at Rudolf's eyes.

"Tch! So, you think you are something special, huh?Well, let meshow you how you're nothing at all!" Rudolf said as he swung his sword into the ground.

Then he stomped on it and a massive spike shot up from the ground.

Quin's channeled his mana through the sword blade causing it to glow whitehot.

*ZZSINGZZ!*The blade became engulfed in flames as it slammed into the flaming spike,slicing it in half.

The heat was intense enough to burn Rudolf's skinif he didn't cast his barrier.

"Damn, you are strong! But you still have another thing coming!" Rudolf growled out as hekept the barrier up.

"Got you!"Quinus yelled as he sliced his mana-infused sword into the barrier.There was a loud *THWACK!* as Quin's blade hit the barrier.

'Gah!He has this amount of mana!?' Rudolf panicked as he saw his barrier failing to hold back Quin's attack. 'The only people that have destroyed my barrier before had a bigger mana vein! Fuck! I shouldn't have believed what that Duke told me about thiskid!'

*Crack! CRACK! CRASH!*

*CLUNG!*

Quin's sword pushed through the barrier and cut deep into Rudolf'sshield stopping five inches away from his arm.

"Fuck!" Rudolf screamed as he saw the sword blade stuck inhis shield.

"Timetoend this," Quinussaid with confidence in his voice.

Rudolf looked over to see Quin holding onto the handle of his sword.

'Shit! He's going to cut my sword in half if I try to take a swing at him!'

"You are a skilled swordsman but not a match for me, Quinus!" Rudolf yelled as he dropped his sword so he could grab a vial of green liquid hidden in his left gauntlet on his shield hand. And once he gets itand breaks it on his shield causing a cloud of green smoke toform aroundthem.

Quin's visionwas blurry as he got hit with the smoke. Then Rudolf tried to charge towards Quin with his sword drawn.

But the smoke cleared as Quin was able to see again. His head snapped around to see Rudolf charging towards him.

But before he could attack Quin moved out of the way just in time to avoid a direct hit from Rudolf's sword.

"Haha! I wonder how long you'll last before the poison getsyou,boy!" Rudolf asked as he spun his shield todeflect a quick strike fromQuin.

"I doubt it will be long," Quin said with confidence in his voice.

Quin moved backwards away from him.His complexion wasn't looking too good as the skinunder his eyeswere turning purple and hisveinswere bulging out of his arms.

"Yeah, I'm immune to that poison kid. So, whydon't we end this now?" Rudolf asked as hereadied his sword.

"No! The prince is poison!" Zellin panicked as he felt that he should do something to save the prince and his city.

"All is lost," Liaka whisperedas she felt the same thing.

Hajdah was speechlessas he heard that no oneknew what poison Rudolf uses.

But Rya knew this was her time to come in and shatter Rudolf'sego and spirit once she heals Quin from thepoison.

Rudolf started swinging his sword wildly towards Quin.

"Come at me if you dare!" Rudolf taunted as he swung his sword again.

Quin then movedcloser to Rya as best as he could.

"Oh? You're going tosay goodbye to your whore? How noble of you," Rudolf mocked as he waited for Quin to get close enough to him.

Rya ran up to Quin's sideand knelt down next to him. "Jeez, Quin... I have no idea what you did before I found you. How will you ever survive?" she said as she put her hands on his forehead.

"Haha... *Cough!* Rya. I can't live without you. I need you in my life. That's all..." Quinsaid with a smirk as Rya's magic started to heal himfrom the poison.

'W-Why is he saying that?'Ryathought asshe couldn't help but feelher heart race when Quin looked at her with those kind golden eyes of his. 'What does he mean by living without me.'

Rudolf on the other hand saw Quin's complexionslowly change back to normal.

It was then that he was struck with the realization that the dark elf was a healer. And the last time anyone saw a healer was over five hundred years ago. When a orc how a beast-kin healer he captured and when on a campaign to take over three continents before someone killed his healer.

'I-I had a healer under my control all this time?' Rudolf thought as his heart sink intodespair.

"I could have taken over Agon. I could have taken over most of the world..." Rudolf muttered to himself as he started to panic.

Zellin, Hajdah, Laika, Hieren, and the soldiers watching the fight couldn't believe their eyes as they saw a healer for the first time in their lives.

Quin was feeling much better as he stood upand stared into Rya's eyes. "Thank you, Rya.I promise I won't take long."

"T-That's not a problem," Rya said as she felt her heart race even faster when Quin looked at her like that.

"Hmm? What's the problem, Rudolf? You look like you've seen a ghost," Quinus says with a sarcastic tone.

'No! I can still kill him! I just need to alter the deal!'

"I wish to alter the deal! Instead of Ironside, I want~" Rudolf couldn't finish his sentence before Quin's golden eyes glowed brightly as it looked like his vanished, but in reality, Quinus was moving so fastthat no one could see him movetowards Rudolf.

*ZZSINGZZSINGZZSINGZZ!*

"GAH!" Rudolf's arms were cleaved offat the wrist and hisstomach had a sword impaledthrough it.

'How did anyone think this kidwasa weakening? DukeAlaric Revelia, you need to pray to the goddessof balance for forgiveness!' Rudolf thought as he looked at Quin's face.

A face that look neutral with a bit of annoyanceas he looked at him. There was no joy in seeing his enemy defeated before him.

*Cough! Cough!*

"Haha-gah! Ohh! Ah! So, this is how my story ends?" Rudolf thought as he realized that he was goingto die.

Quinus frowned athim as hecontinued, "*Cough!* Aahh... Killed by the next emperor of Agon... May yourreignbe longand prosperous."

Quin didn't know what to say to this man who he considered a coward.

*SWING!*

*THUD!*

Quinus pulled his sword out of Rudolf's stomach while making a sweeping motion to beheadhim.

After Rudolf'sheadhit the ground, Quinusquickly channeled his mana through his sword and swung it one last time as he set Rudolf's body ablaze.

Zellin and the other dwarves cheered upon seeing the leader of the Black Rose Mercenary's group was defeated. In the end, around 250 soldiers of the Ironside army were still alive and 12 mercenaries were captured by the dwarves.

Hajdah and Liakawere very happy that they didn't have to fight anymore.

Zellin and the other dwarves bowed their heads to Ryaand Quinusas they thankedthem.

"We'll take care of the rest," Zellin said as he turned to the other dwarves.

As the flames engulfed Rudolf, Quinus took a deep breath and sighed, "Ahh... Why do these assholes think I want to rule the world?"

Quin turned around to find Rya looking at him with blushed cheeks.

"I just want to live a peaceful life with Rya." He whispered to himself as he looked down at the smoldering body on the ground.

'Quin... God, I wish we could have a peaceful life. But I got a feeling that nothing will ever be easy in this world.'

"Heh..." Quin chuckled at himself as he turned around to see Rya looking up at him. She blushed deeper as she looked away from him and gulped. 'Come on! Why am I acting all shy with him? T-This isn't me!'

Rya kept her hands behind her back as she watched him walk up to her, "I'm sorry for everything thing, Quin. I-If I didn't get enslaved none of this would have happened."

Quin looked at her and smiled, "It's alright. We would have needed to deal with them sooner or later, since they were in league with my uncle."

'Hmm? I guess Quin's right. But, I killed some of the Ironsiders. That makes me feelshittyabout myself,' Rya thought as she walked up to Quin.

Quin smiled at her as he placed his hand on her headgently. It sent shivers down her spine as she gasped and grabbed onto his arm.

"Don't worry, Rya.If you like you could probably heal a lot of the wounded." Quin said as he gave her a reassuring smile.

'Huh! Oh course! God, I feel like I'm oblivious when I'm around Quin. Anyway least get to saving some lives!'

Rya nodded and looked at thethree mages that were knocked out by Rudolf.

"Okay, but you watch my back!"Rya smiled and walked up to one of the mages.

Nieren walked up to Quinus, "Prince Quinus, I can watch over her if you like?"

"Hmm? No. Thanks for the offer though."Quin smiled and shook his head.

Nieren nodded, "Are you sure? If I watch her surroundings then you could watch her, watch her. If you catch my drift, Prince Quinus," Nieren said before leaving to go check on the injured.

"On second thought,having two sets of eyes is better than one," Quin smiled as he approached Rya as she healed upAkashia.

"Nah? Huh? HAJDAH! HIS STILL~" Akashia snapped awakewhile Hajdah and Liakacalmed her down.

"It's okay Akashia. The prince finished him. The battle has been won," Hajdahsaid as she rubbed Akashia's back.

Akashia sighed and looked up at Quinus. "Thank goodness... I was worried for a moment there... I almost died becauseof his surprise attack."

"U-Uh, it's okay." Rya giggled nervously as she saw the shocked expression on Akashia's face.

"You're the Dark Elf?!How?!" Akashia gasped as her mouth hung open.

Lilith walked up to Akashia, "She's a healer, Akashia. We'll explain it later.Right now we need to rest and recover."

Laika looked up at Quinus, "Your Highness! I've never seen someone move so fast!"

Quin smiled, "Yeah, that attack takes a lot out of me. It's more of a one-and-done move."

Nieren chimed in, "Wait! You can use your magic this way too?!"

"Oh yeah. That's what I call the 'Lightning BoltStyle'which isa last resort move for me." Quin said as he tapped his head.

"Well someone is gloating?" Rya joked as she moved to the next person to heal.

Nieren chuckled, "I guess not."

"Hey,Rya. Just make sure you don'texhaust yourself doing that," Quin warned her.

"Ahaha, right? Gotta save up my energy for the future! Don't worry about me though. I'm fine," Rya replied with a grinand a wink.

***

This went on for a few hours until Rya healed up toaround 300 men bringing the Ironside army to 550 men.

They were still missing around 150 men that weren't able to be saved due tobeing killed during the battle.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com