"Me... Fighting the Fourth Prince...?"

Eve gaped at Axel, unable to believe what he had just said.

Seeing her confusion, Axel frowned slightly, patting her head as he asked, "What? You don't want to? Then I'll—"

"N-No!"

Before he could retract his words, Eve sprang into action.

She wiped her tears roughly, her expression transforming into one of firm determination as she declared, "I'll do it. I'll fight him!"

It was the look of someone who had made a decision to move forward.

And for that to happen, a single sacrifice would be necessary.

Time passed quickly after that.

Ignoring the knights still writhing in pain from Teruria's curse combo, Axel approached the broken prince. In his hand was a small vial containing a blue liquid.

"Here, drink this."

Axel said, tossing the vial—the potion—toward him.

"This is a potion to heal your injuries and restore your missing hand. I wouldn't want you to claim that Eve only won because of your unfavorable condition."

What he threw was a super diluted Greater Recovery Potion, reduced to level 1 after multiple stages of dismantling. It was essentially no different from a normal potion, except that it was capable of healing any injury and added 1 point to vitality for a duration of 1 hour.

The Fourth Prince, Kyle, quickly grasped the potion and drank its contents.

It seemed he had no doubt about Axel's words.

But no, it wasn't that he trusted Axel. It was because he could actually use a special skill called Appraisal, telling him whatever it is that he touch, which confirmed that the potion was indeed capable of healing his injuries.

After drinking it to the last drop, his body began to heal.

The missing hand reappeared, and the injuries in various parts of his body vanished as if it had never existed. He felt incredible!

"Bastard…!"

Yet, despite Axel's earlier display of power, the prince spat defiantly, as if he were still the superior one. "How dare you look down on me, a prince?! I'll definitely…!"

"Enough talking," Axel sighed. "Or do you want me to cut your tongue off instead?"

The short warning, accompanied by a sharp glare, sent chills down the prince's spine, silencing him completely. Even after being healed, he could still feel the phantom pain in his wrist from where his hand had been lost.

"Anyway, you'll be fighting Eve over here," Axel continued, disregarding the prince's protests. "If you win, we'll return your princess and let you leave here safe and alive. So don't you dare embarrass yourself, Mister Fourth Prince."

"Hah!"

Kyle smiled, projecting confidence.

"What now? Are you making excuses to let us leave, you coward? Making me fight against such a weak little girl...?!" He mocked. "If I win, I'll turn everyone in this rotten place into my slaves!!!"

However, Axel didn't respond.

He simply stared straight into Kyle's eyes with a gaze that didn't waver and accepted no nonsense.

"Alright then. Do that once you win," Axel shrugged.

As he began to walk a short distance away, presumably to stand as the referee for their duel—

"Wait!" Prince Kyle shouted again. "You still haven't said what you'd take if you win. It wouldn't be fair without the stakes being set beforehand!"

Axel paused, turning to glance at the prince over his shoulder, and smiled.

"Ah, you don't need to worry," he said. "If we win, you'll die either way."

"...!"

His words dripped with confidence, as if he were convinced the outcome was already decided regardless of the Prince's actions. This brash bravado made Kyle clench his teeth, feeling humiliated, as if being labeled a weakling—something he refused to accept.

"Fuck...! I'll show you, you miscreant...!"

In an instant, the prince moved to his wyvern and retrieved a weapon from the box strapped to its side. It was a massive single-edged broadsword, roughly 2 meters long, including the handle.

The blade was thick, wider than Eve's waist.

Its shape resembled a butcher's knife, with a spine lined with menacing jagged edges, akin to a saw. Additionally, three large magic stones were embedded in the hilt, crossguard, and blade itself.

It was an impressive weapon, enough to elicit a short whistle from Axel upon seeing it.

Of course, he chose not to comment further.

After all, when this was all over, that weapon would be theirs anyway.

Now, the prince was armed.

He stood about ten paces away from Eve, brandishing his sword threateningly. He held it as if it weighed nothing, despite the substantial mass of the metal blade.

"Body strengthening, huh?" Axel whispered, surprised.

Even though he was taken aback, he remained unconcerned. Even with double the enhancement, the outcome wouldn't change.

"Both sides, are you ready?"

Axel stepped between them, taking small steps backward as he observed the two combatants.

Prince Kyle gritted his teeth, his eyes darting between Eve and Axel, wary that he might be attacked unexpectedly.

Once he was about five meters from the two, he raised his hand, waiting for their attention to shift toward each other—specifically to Kyle, who appeared distracted.

'No matter...' he thought, grasping the large sword—Dark Eater—in his hands. 'Even if that man attacks, I can definitely react in time and counter!' He firmly believed this.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself, his concentration rising.

Slowly, he examined his opponent from head to toe.

Eve wore her usual dress and appeared unarmed. However, Kyle noticed the pouch-like object hanging from her waist. He recognized it as her weapon, still "sheathed."

'Is she giving me a handicap?' Kyle thought. 'Me, a prince, being looked down upon by such a small girl from a fallen country?!'

Anger swirled in his mind as he glared more intensely.

'I'll end this in a flash!' he resolved.

Axel observed that Kyle was finally ready.

He then turned to Eve, who narrowed her eyes while keeping her enemy in sight. She radiated a cold, calm rage, completely unlike her usual demeanor.

"Alright!" Axel shouted, bringing his arm down. "Begin!"

"HAAAA!"

As soon as the signal was given, Kyle moved.

He rushed forward, attempting to close the short gap between them instantly. With his body enhanced by mana techniques and his weapon, he could easily do so in a fraction of a second!

But Eve also moved quickly.

She reached for her waist, pulling out her weapon—a small "wand" she pointed directly at her enemy, held with both hands firmly. Her fingers moved effortlessly, as if she had performed the action hundreds or thousands of times.

Then, with a flash and a loud bang, her "wand" exploded.

BANG!

"AAH... Ah?"

Kyle, taken by surprise, fell to the ground.

A moment later, he felt it.

"M-My... MY LEG!!!"

Pain, once again.

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