Tatehan left the medical room thinking about the pistol he had received from the nurse. It was a lot similar to Riven's rifle, the only difference being that hers was a rifle and his was a pistol.

Normally, he should be out of here by now, back with Riven to explore Waython Hollow City, but he had unfinished business with Mub.

He had to fight Mub.

At first, when he listened to what the guards told him about the man's abilities, he had been afraid and even doubted he'd come out on top.

Mub could literally tear his enemies to shreds with his claws. That alone sounded unbelievable.

When the commander had said someone younger had taken the first-place position from Mub, Tatehan had honestly thought it would be someone around his age or most likely in his early twenties.

'Perhaps Mub is in his early twenties,' Tatehan thought. 'But his appearance makes him look quite old.'

A few steps from the door of the medical room, Tatehan came face to face with a guard.

"Time for your duel, mauler slayer."

Tatehan said no word as he followed the man. He couldn't object, he had agreed to fight Mub back at the commander's office, and it wasn't like he had a choice. It was tradition; he couldn't refuse to fight the beast.

From what he knew, the rules were mandatory, and the only way he could escape from it was if Mub decided to drop it, and that was unlikely. He too wasn't ready to tarnish his reputation.

They passed through the corridor, just Tatehan and the guard. As they approached what led to the compound, Tatehan could see…

'Damn.'

Forming a circle were all the members of the Red Crest clan—male, female, warriors, guards—all were present.

It would have been a perfect circle if not for a small opening, one that Tatehan and Mub were to use to enter the circle.

Tatehan stared at the scene in astonishment.

'So fast?'

He scratched the back of his head. The guard leading him did not see this gesture, though.

"I wish to speak to the commander before I begin the duel."

The guard nodded, not even glancing at him. He led Tatehan to the commander, who was seated on a hovering chair.

The hovering chair fascinated Tatehan a little because back on Earth he hadn't seen flying chairs. The chair floated slightly above the ground, just enough to reach the shoulder height of the tallest Red Crest clan member in the place.

Tatehan realized that this was so the commander would have a better view of the fight and not be cramped between many men and women.

The guard went first and, with a bow, told the commander that Tatehan wanted to speak with her.

She nodded and urged Tatehan to come closer. With a control button, she made the chair land on the ground.

Four guards flanked her on both sides while the other members of the Red Crest clan discussed in chatters and all that—basically chitchatting.

Tatehan noticed that the tale of how he slayed the Mauler and how he saved Kael's reputation was spreading around like wildfire.

He didn't know if he should be pleased or slightly anxious, as now a grand fight would be expected of him.

But then, Tatehan did not exactly fight in a grand manner. All his wins had been luck, ones where he gets beaten (sometimes to the point of death), and with a miracle, he manages to come out on top.

And he didn't exactly slay the Hexapod Mauler. From what he knew, to slay was to aim for the neck with your sword and cut it down, but he did none of that. He only thrust through the brain of the mauler with his sword, and that killed the beast.

Without aiming for the brain, he wouldn't have defeated the monster.

So if they were expecting that he fought with grace, precision, and charisma, then that would be a big problem because he was no Knight Bruteneck.

He was THE KNIGHT!

Tatehan bowed slightly and said to the commander, his gaze not far from her eyes.

"I request to have my friend be allowed to enter and watch me battle Mub. I came with her in the hopes of giving the core to restore the life of Lyra and go my way, but it seems I have done more than that."

He paused and, not allowing anyone to say anything, he continued:

"She's been waiting for me, and it's not respectful to keep a woman waiting for so long," Tatehan said.

He knew his way with women, though this wasn't exactly correct, as women tend to waste men's time. He remembered having to wait for close to an hour for his girlfriend back on Earth to be done with her makeup and dressing.

But his words sounded noble enough, so that should do the trick.

"What a gentleman," the commander said. "Let his female…" she paused, then added, her face still stoic, "or should I say girlfriend, in."

Tatehan grinned, and the commander noticed it. That was technically blushing. If the commander was as normal as a typical human being, she would have smiled since she just made a joke, but she didn't. She still kept the straight face, but then he could see hints of amusement on her lips.

'Great! She has a sense of humor.'

A guard beside her walked to the gate, telling the gatekeepers what the commander had commanded. They went outside and, after a while, came back with Riven behind them, pushing the Dust Rider inside.

Seems her reason for bringing the Dust Rider along was so that it would not be stolen.

The commander looked at her once and shook her head, going completely out of character with a small smile.

Tatehan wasn't sure if he should be surprised or stunned. He genuinely did not expect that this woman would be capable of smiling.

"What do you know, the Mauler Slayer has a great eye for women."

Tatehan looked at Riven again, just noticing once more that she was unnaturally stunning.

'Crazy how the commander is this relaxed with me when I'm about to face her number-one fighter.'

The guard led Riven towards Tatehan. The latter smiled—it was time for his plan, the plan that, if it worked out, was his only real chance at winning.

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