The individuals who were knocked down had all lost their combat capabilities, implying that their equipment could be utilized.

Avi's intelligence attribute upgrade wasn't in vain; he quickly understood what he should do now—survive early on for development, adopt stealthy tactics to secure kills in the middle phase, and engage in direct confrontations with low health in the late game.

A flawless strategy.

Unlike Avi, most of those who opted for shields did so to prove their bravery, hoping to win the affection of their desired maidens.

Many of these individuals lacked practical combat experience, and even with just a shield, Avi could effortlessly incapacitate them.

The audience soon noticed the shield-bearing figure maneuvering around the periphery of the battlefield, yet they dismissed it—firm believers in Yurik, they were convinced that only those who fell or emerged victorious in close combat were genuine warriors.

Similarly, the burly men who had just bested their opponents shared the same sentiment; many witnessed Avi knocking others out with clubs and deemed him incapable of posing a threat to them.

As a result, Avi's list of defeated opponents grew longer, and so did his experience gained from the mounted combat system.

Although those he defeated were primarily of the "farmer," "militia," or "novice swordsman" class, their experience far exceeded that of goblins.

Before long, Avi transformed into a fully equipped warrior—brandishing a sword and shield, with a long stick on his back and a dagger strapped to his waist. Thus far, he had felled eleven foes, leaving only ten remaining on the field.

Despite his immersion in battle, Avi had no opportunity to level up. Yet, based solely on the successive "experience gained" notifications, Avi estimated that he had ascended two levels by now.

Those who survived were seasoned combatants, displaying both bravery and caution. They engaged in one-on-one duels across various corners of the arena, with few succumbing to defeat again.

Avi navigated past each fallen opponent until he reached a blood-soaked, burly man wielding a colossal sword—the sole combatant without an adversary, likely the weakest link.

"Come on, let's have a bout."

Avi raised his weapon, assuming a combat stance, confident in besting the individual before him. Observing the battle calmly from start to finish, Avi noted the exceptional ferocity of his current opponent.

This marked the final phase of his strategy: direct confrontation with weakened adversaries.

However...

"Boss?"

The burly man pushed aside his blood-soaked, disheveled hair, revealing the face of Rafe.

"Rafe?"

Avi was taken aback, yet swiftly resumed his combat stance, pretending to engage Rafe to maintain the facade of unfamiliarity. However, this only led to Rafe's misunderstanding.

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"Wanna spar? Bring it on!"

Rafe charged at Avi, wielding his giant sword.

"Damn it, I should have invested more in this guy's intelligence!"

Avi reluctantly countered with his weapon, but despite his injuries, Rafe's constitution and combat prowess weren't acquired in vain.

Even now, he swung his sword vigorously, dissuading Avi from approaching casually.

"Rafe, listen to me!" Avi attempted to lower his voice while maintaining an audible volume for Rafe. "Let's team up, alright?"

Lost in battle fervor, Rafe remained unresponsive, swinging his sword like a felled tree branch, with gusts of sword wind grazing Avi's face, chest, and legs, causing his hair to stand on end with sweat.

I must find an opportunity to allocate the upgraded attributes and skills.

Observing his surroundings, Avi retreated while engaging in combat.

Capitalizing on his agility advantage over Rafe by 2 points, Avi swiftly distanced himself to safety.

Rafe stumbled over fallen individuals during pursuit, reluctantly abandoning the chase.

"An opportune moment!"

Amidst a pile of fallen foes, Avi proceeded to operate the panel. Skillfully accessing the attribute interface, he discovered that this harvest far exceeded his expectations.

Avi, Level 17 Rafe, Level 19

He had ascended two levels, while Rafe had ascended three.

This time, there was no room for hesitation. Avi swiftly manipulated the panel, allocating the 8 attribute points he gained from leveling up to constitution and agility.

He also upgraded the "Weapon Mastery" skill. As usual, he kept one skill point in reserve for emergencies. As for Rafe, now an adversary, there was no rationale for Avi to boost his level.

Meanwhile, the battle on the field raged on, with only three contenders left: Avi, Rafe, and a perennial participant in real sword matches, the "Champion Swordsman".

At the sight of his opponent's unit name, Avi remained composed. The reason was plain: he was already locked in combat with Rafe.

Under the guise of the "Respect for Duel" title, Avi perched atop a fallen combatant, leisurely savoring the spectacle.

Both sides wielded massive swords, their strength evenly matched. The distinction lay in Rafe's brute force and relentless assaults, contrasting with the Champion Swordsman's finesse and speed.

The clash of swords resembled a battle between raging waves and sudden gusts of wind. Rafe's strikes were savage yet calculated, leaving little room for the Champion Swordsman to exploit.

Outside the arena, the audience's emotions reached a crescendo as they cheered fervently for their favored combatant.

The contest was short-lived. Despite the Champion Swordsman's expertise, he was unaccustomed to such ferocious combat. Rafe's robust constitution allowed him to deliver blows relentlessly, akin to a relentless steam engine.

Ultimately, Rafe seized an opportunity and delivered a decisive blow, sending the Champion Swordsman crashing to the ground, his wooden sword falling heavily on his clavicle.

Using his giant sword as a crutch, the victorious Rafe struggled to support his weary body.

"It's time," Avi retrieved his gear and approached Rafe.

"Boss, I... I feel... incredibly strong?"

"Yeah."

"So..." Rafe discarded his giant sword, "to be the champion, it... it must be the leader. I've lost, and now... I'm too exhausted... I can barely lift my sword."

"That won't do."

Avi accessed the panel and distributed his 12 attribute points to Rafe, focusing on constitution, agility, and charisma. This time, he left the skill points untouched, as there was no immediate necessity.

Rafe, now at Level 19, possessed impressive stats: Constitution 31, Agility 14, Intelligence 5, Charisma 8.

"Boss, I feel... invigorated?"

Rafe gazed at his hands in disbelief. The muscles that had almost cramped moments ago now brimmed with vitality, as robust as ever.

"It appears leveling up truly revitalizes one's state," Avi mused to himself. "In that case, allowing Rafe to claim victory in this championship isn't a loss. He can accumulate experience for pivotal moments and turn the tide."

"Then let's proceed." Avi raised his sword, challenging Rafe to a one-on-one duel.

The outcome was almost predetermined. In less than ten minutes, Avi succumbed to Rafe's onslaught, his leather shield shattered.

As Rafe basked in the adulation of the crowd, Avi's eyes inexplicably welled up.

"Failing to grant such a worthy comrade intelligence... I am truly remiss..."