The second day had arrived, and the second part of the semi-final round of the Golden Knights Challenge began, where the battle would be between Michael against Wolf and his team.

The audience and spectators gathered in the stands, just like before. On one side of the stands, Knight "V" and his two assistants sat, watching the fight. It wasn't long before Takeshi, Ronan, and Lyra arrived and noticed Knight "V" and his team, so they went over to sit with them.

Takeshi spoke with his usual smile:

"Hello, Knight. May we sit with you?"

Knight "V" responded:

"It’s you. I see you recovered from your injuries quickly."

"Haha, they have amazing magical healing systems for the participants, very advanced. Also, you guys didn’t inflict any fatal injuries on us. Allow me to thank you for that."

" it’s nothing. Please, sit."

Takeshi and his team sat down, waiting for the fight to begin. After a brief silence, Lyra spoke:

"By the way, isn’t today’s fight a three-against-one match? What do you think will happen?"

"It will be difficult for the lone contestant, but no one knows what will happen. After all, he came out of that cave as the only one left from his team," Ronan replied.

Suddenly, Takeshi spoke up:

"Hey, I remembered something when you mentioned the cave. He came out severely injured and covered in blood, and it looks like you, Knight, fought with him inside the cave."

Knight "V" answered shortly:

"Correct."

"That's what I thought. But after fighting you, I’m sure your strength is on another level entirely. I’m convinced you’re already at the level of the Golden Knights. So how did you come out with all those injuries?"

Attention shifted as the fighters had already entered the arena.

Lyra spoke:

"Oh, it looks like they’re starting, but doesn’t it seem a bit strange? I mean, three people on one side, and a single warrior on the other?"

Ronan replied:

"I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling."

Knight "V" said:

"Watch the fight carefully to understand what’s happening."

Takeshi turned towards the knight to ask more, but Iliana's loud voice interrupted, announcing the start of the round.

In the center of the arena, Wolf and his teammates, Jays and Ayami, looked at the buildings and stands, which seemed even more impressive than the arena itself.

Wolf spoke:

"Come on, guys, let’s give it our all. Don’t worry, if I become a Golden Knight, I’ll make sure you get high positions as knights."

Ayami responded:

"Haha, this joke again. I told you, we’ll rise through our own strength, without any help. And also, it’s not necessary for the leader to be a Golden Knight."

Jays laughed and then said:

"But I want a high position either way. Don’t listen to her, Wolf."

Everyone laughed, and then Wolf spoke sarcastically:

"Doesn’t matter, you idiots. In any case, we have to win."

He continued, but now seriously:

"Focus, guys. We’re up against a fighter of the assassin type, so be careful with your moves."

"Alright, let’s begin."

On the other side, Michael only observed for now, then drew his daggers when the battle signal was given.

Wolf and Jays rushed forward, with Jays activating his shield at the same time Wolf attacked with his claws. But Michael avoided the claws.

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"Fire Slash!"

Michael unleashed his cutting fire attacks on Wolf, but Jays blocked them with his shield. He then threw his spear with great force towards Michael, but Michael moved away, and the spear struck the ground, creating an explosion from its power.

"Now, Wolf!"

Wolf charged quickly with a rapid claw attack, but Michael drew his claymore sword and blocked the huge claws. He then dropped the sword and drew a dagger to stab Wolf, but Ayami used a teleportation spell to move Wolf out of the way just before the strike.

Wolf spoke:

"Good job, right at the right moment."

"Haha, of course, you would’ve been done without my help."

Wolf sarcastically responded:

"I would’ve just taken a hit, you idiot. Let’s go now."

Ayami struck her magic staff on the ground, and a vortex appeared in the sky from which magical balls launched, relentlessly attacking Michael. He either dodged or deflected them with his sword, but Wolf kept getting in his way with repeated claw attacks. Every time Michael found an opening to avoid the magical balls and at the same time attack Wolf, Jays would appear through instant teleportation to Ayami and block the strike with his shield. This went on for several moments until Wolf found an opportunity to ambush Michael. In that moment, Ayami cast a spell on Wolf to enhance the power of his claw attacks.

Michael was struck with a powerful blow, his arm severely injured. It was the perfect teamwork from the enemy team.

Michael got up, tore a piece of his cloak to tie around his arm, and then began eyeing his opponents. He picked up his first dagger and then went to grab his other weapons, the second dagger and sword, but a lightning strike from the sorceress struck his weapons, knocking them farther away from the arena.

Michael looked at them and then focused his gaze on the sorceress.

"I made a mistake by prioritizing Wolf. The real danger was that sorceress all along."

Michael tightened the cloth around his injured arm and grabbed his dagger with his other hand before charging.

Wolf spoke:

"Let’s go now. We’ll crush him with the same strategy."

Wolf and Jays rushed forward, with Ayami’s magical reinforcements following.

Wolf’s attack came, but Michael dodged and unleashed a fiery cut towards him, forcing him to evade and create an opening for Michael to escape. Michael then charged directly towards the sorceress, evading her attacks. Just before reaching her, Jays blocked his path with his shield and began attacking with his spear to buy time for Wolf to reach him. But with a fiery cut, Michael struck Jays’ leg because his shield didn’t cover it as well as the upper part. Jays stumbled, and Michael created a fiery circle like a wall to hinder Wolf and buy some extra time. He then disappeared into the flames and suddenly appeared in front of Ayami, who was about to attack with a lightning strike. He dodged it, reaching her and kicking her magic staff out of her hands, rendering her unable to cast any spells.

The sorceress tried to cast an instant teleportation spell to get away, but it took longer to activate without her staff, and it wasn’t enough. Michael attacked her with a dagger stab to her stomach, causing her to bend over and spit out blood. Wolf arrived, but he was too late. Michael pulled the dagger from her and severed her head while she still clutched her wound.

Wolf was shocked by the scene and then became furious, screaming crazily as he charged at Michael. Just before Wolf reached him, Michael was about to unleash a deadly fiery cut, but Jays noticed this in time and reached Wolf, blocking the cuts with his shield and reducing their impact.

They then retreated to the other side of the arena to calm the situation down a bit.

Michael also retreated, carrying his weapons.

Wolf spoke to Jays:

"Damn, this is my fault. I didn’t stop him in time, and we lost Ayami. I almost messed it up again if you hadn’t intervened during that attack."

"No, it’s not just your fault. He exposed our strategy. Don’t worry, let’s move on with a different formation."

"Okay."

Then there was a loud explosion from Jays’ shield, which was torn to burned pieces all over the arena in seconds.

Wolf couldn’t believe his eyes, nor could the spectators.

Takeshi spoke to Knight "V" in the stands:

"What just happened? It exploded out of nowhere."

Knight "V" replied:

"That damn trick, he used it against me in the cave and also at the end of the first challenge."

Takeshi was surprised:

"That’s how you ended up with all those injuries. Someone else would’ve been killed, as we just saw. That’s why you told me my exit from the competition was for the best."

"Hmm."

Michael began walking toward Wolf, who was angrily looking around but had no idea what to do. He only saw one solution: attack directly. But Michael stabbed his jaw, and Wolf managed to pull back, though his cheek was completely cut. He started retreating slowly, without any hope left. He had only one solution left.

"I surrender."

Wolf announced his withdrawal from the match, and at that moment, Iliana spoke in a voice full of surprise:

"It seems that the competitor has surrendered, and thus, the second round is over. Michael wins and will move on to the final against Knight 'V' and his team."

The round ended, but there was no applause from the crowd in the arena, perhaps due to shock or because of what had just happened.

Lyra spoke:

"Would we have fought this madman if we had won?"

Takeshi spoke to Knight "V":

"Will you fight him, and do you have a plan?"

Knight "V" answered as he stood up with his team to leave:

"I came here to fight him."