Noah felt a metallic taste in her mouth. That last hit had definitely caused internal injuries, and this was Maria Nearl's body... She really hadn't taken good care of it.
But there was no time to think about that now. Her lack of conviction prevented the Nearl Family Stone source art from functioning properly. She had actually anticipated this; a Stone source art that relied too heavily on inner conviction simply didn't have a high affinity for her. However, compared to the Nearl Family Family's Stone source art, she was still more skilled with her own set...
Noah took a deep breath, and this time, she once again raised her bow—and on the bowstring, just like the Light Arrow before, a strange arrow appeared—
The Light Arrow glowed faintly, looking very much in line with the style the Nearl Family Family's Stone source art should have. But the arrow Noah used this time was as black as ink, and an unstable aura emanated from it.
The two seemed to realize they couldn't let Noah fully charge her power and immediately lunged at Noah from two directions. The size of the arena didn't allow Noah to evade much; she could only brace herself and charge. Just as she was about to be hit by the two, both were almost simultaneously blinded by a strong light in front of them. It was a warhammer, and it landed in the center of Noah and the two monsters, smashing a large hole.
The radiance accompanying the warhammer momentarily blinded the two charging figures, allowing Noah to dodge their combined attack.
The arrow in Noah's hand suddenly vanished, because she knew there was no longer a need to reveal her trump card.
"Wha-what's going on! The outer wall was suddenly pierced by a warhammer! Someone! Someone is rushing into the arena!" Big Mouth Mobu's mouth hung open as he incoherently described the situation of the match. Not long after the warhammer landed, a figure also landed with a crash like a warhammer. Black and white armor, a golden ponytail blown by the landing storm, the Shining Knight, like a deus ex machina... made a grand entrance just as Noah was on the verge of despair.
"Stand up, Maria Nearl." She turned and extended her hand to Noah, "You've worked hard. I'm late."
"...You really are..." Noah gave a wry smile and shook her head, honestly extending her hand to let Margaret Lin-guang help her up. "This isn't according to the rules..."
"Hm? They haven't really followed the rules either, have they? How is it? Can you still stand up?" In Margaret Lin-guang's eyes at this moment, Noah indeed had Maria Nearl's face, so Noah didn't find it strange, and now was not the time for explanations. She was simply helped up by Margaret Lin-guang. At the same time the arrow in her hand disappeared, she had also collapsed and sat down, so now she genuinely looked like she had collapsed from exhaustion.
But to be honest, suppressing the ultimate move she was about to unleash was what made her feel even more exhausted—
But Margaret Lin-guang had arrived, and she was relieved. This match was over...
"I... I didn't see wrong, did I?!"
"That... that light! That face! Audience members, this might not be according to the rules! But your tickets were worth it! Because you witnessed the youngest Knight competitive champion! Margaret Lin-guang! The return of the Shining Knight!"
After Big Mouth Mobu confirmed the identity of the person in front of him, the entire arena erupted. As for the rules? The audience didn't care about rules; they only cared about what they saw. It was Margaret Lin-guang! It was the youngest champion! It was the young girl who briefly shone in Kazimierz with an invincible stance! She, is the Shining Knight!
"Leave the rest to me." Margaret Lin-guang's light dispelled the gloom created by the Stone source art emanating from the two opponents. Noah clearly felt her body recovering; Margaret Lin-guang's light could also heal others. As long as she was there, no matter the situation, one always seemed to feel safe.
"Margaret Lin-guang... Is it really Margaret Lin-guang?" At this moment, Zofia in the stands even wanted to rush over, but she was stopped by Manner, who was beside her, "Don't disturb them. This is their first time... perhaps... fighting side-by-side after so many years?"
Manner was right. Noah's first reaction after Margaret Lin-guang appeared was relief, and her second reaction was to struggle to get up...
She had originally thought there was no chance, but now... she stood by Margaret Lin-guang's side, and she would absolutely not leave the battlefield just because she was injured.
Because Margaret Lin-guang was by her side, the Knight she had originally thought she would never have the chance to fight alongside in this life. How could she give up this opportunity?
"Don't underestimate me... Margaret Lin-guang." She struggled to stand firm, holding her bow and arrow, "I saved you back then. This time, at most, we're even."
"...Hm?" Margaret Lin-guang was a little confused as to why Maria Nearl would talk to her like this, but the other's appearance reminded her of Noah. Noah had said something similar to her after saving her, saying that she owed her one.
"Did Noah teach you to say that?" Margaret Lin-guang blinked, "You look like..."
"Don't worry about that; the battle isn't over yet." Noah pouted, "I'll explain to you after it's over, for three days and three nights if you want."
"Alright then, please keep up with me."
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
The two of them began to act almost simultaneously. Margaret Lin-guang abandoned her shield and charged forward, while Noah re-drew her bow from her spot, directly shooting down the arrow Withering had just picked up from the ground and fired at Margaret Lin-guang in mid-air. Although Margaret Lin-guang didn't yet know when Maria Nearl had learned such formidable archery, she confidently entrusted her back to Maria Nearl and charged towards the Decay Knight, who was enhanced by drugs.
The Decay Knight's gigantic hammer and Margaret Lin-guang's warhammer seemed completely disproportionate, but at the moment of impact, it was Margaret Lin-guang who gained the upper hand. The Decay Knight was even directly knocked back. After retreating three steps, his rage intensified, but before he could roar, Margaret Lin-guang stepped on his chest and smashed a fist onto his head. This time—the radiant fist directly split his helmet open.
Beneath the shattered helmet, a face, already disfigured by the drugs and rage, was revealed. Margaret Lin-guang didn't stop. She pushed down with her foot, and as the Decay Knight crashed to the ground, her body almost flew across the arena, appearing almost instantly in front of the Withering Knight. The Withering Knight still wanted to counterattack, but her palm was immediately pierced by an arrow from Noah, and she could only watch as Margaret Lin-guang's warhammer descended towards her head—
The fear of death finally broke through the control of the drugs. He closed his eyes, waiting for his head to burst open.
But the scene he imagined didn't happen. Margaret Lin-guang had stopped the moment the opponent lost the will to fight—the warhammer hovered above his head, but did not fall.
"You... why would you..."
"The match is over. You've lost." Margaret Lin-guang didn't say much, just offered a slight smile and extended her hand. "Can you still stand up?"
"...You." The Withering Knight looked at the hand in front of him and said incredulously, "Why would you spare me?"
"Because she's Margaret Lin-guang..." Noah muttered softly. She understood Margaret Lin-guang too well, so she completely knew what the other would do, which is why she only shot an arrow through the opponent's palm. Her arrow indeed couldn't penetrate his armor, but she had been confident she could shoot through the gaps in the armor and directly hit the opponent's eyes. She just hadn't done it.
"Because... she's Margaret Lin-guang."
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