Faced with Arthur's challenge, Tristie had no choice but to accept the fight, but he couldn't personally take on a kid who wasn't even a first-tier warrior.

Tristie turned around and pointed to a baby-faced young mercenary behind him, "Bernie, you go and teach him a lesson, just don't kill him."

The chosen mercenary also grinned, finding no honor in fighting a child, but being the weakest among them all left him little choice.

"Mercenary Bernie just became a first-tier warrior half a year ago. He is the weakest among all of us in Blood Spike. Don't say we're bullying you intentionally!" Tristie explained to Edeline.

Edeline shrugged, indicating she didn't mind.

In fact, Edeline was already delighted inside. She thought Arthur had anticipated facing a first-tier mercenary when he challenged Tristie.

"Hold on, I have something to say."

Tristie looked at Arthur with a sneer, "What's the matter, kid? Scared now? It's too late! I promise Bernie won't kill you."

"I just want to know, what will you do if I win?"

"You winning? That's the funniest joke I've heard today!"

Arthur said seriously, "I mean, if. There are always too many accidents in this world."

"So, what do you want?"

"I want the sword on your waist as the spoils of victory."

"Kid, you have good taste. This sword, even if sold ten times over, wouldn't be enough to get it back. What if you lose?"

"Tony will formally kneel and apologize to you, and wherever Blood Spike mercenaries are, he'll turn around and leave."

Tony almost spat blood, "No, I disagree, this little rascal is deliberately framing me!"

"Ha ha…" Tristie laughed out loud, but his face turned cold immediately, "That's not enough! Tony kneeling is not worth the value of this sword!"

"Tristie, you bastard, I'll duel with you!" Tony was enraged by Tristie's insult once again.

"What about adding this staff?" Edeline held back Tony, pulling out a dark staff about a foot and three inches long.

The material of the staff was unclear, but the large crystal embedded at one end, shimmering with a mysterious glow, indicated its value was even higher than Tristie's sword.

"Don't!" Tony and Angus shouted in unison.

Tristie's eyes sparkled, and he nodded lightly, "Fair enough, I hope you won't regret this."

Edeline smiled lightly, "Then let's begin."

"Go on, Bernie, if you lose this fight, get out of Blood Spike!"

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Arthur's challenge to Tristie had already drawn the attention of all the mercenaries in the tavern. Now, as they prepared to fight, many more gathered around.

Some mercenaries stayed put, finding the fight uninteresting. The strength of a first-tier warrior was at least three times that of a normal person, and the skinny kid, at best around ten years old, could be killed with a single punch.

There was no need for an official arena for this one-on-one duel; moving a few tables aside cleared enough space.

"I don't bully kids, you go first," said Bernie, his face red with embarrassment as many seasoned mercenaries watched him fight a child.

Arthur didn't respond, but bent slightly, staring at Bernie with eyes like a hunting wolf.

Killing intent! The kind that bursts forth in the moment a wild beast hunts!

A slight stir went through the watching mercenaries, surprised by the heavy killing intent emanating from such a small child, a presence many bloodied veterans lacked.

No one knew what Arthur had gone through in the orc camp those two years.

Tristie clenched his fists tightly, suddenly feeling uneasy.

Arthur moved, charging like a young leopard straight at Bernie's belly.

Bernie stepped back slightly, whipping his leg out like a lash aiming for Arthur's body. If this kick landed, it would send Arthur flying.

Arthur's charge halted abruptly, rolling to the side along the direction of Bernie's kick.

Bernie's kick missed, and as he landed on one foot, leaning forward, he swung a punch downward toward Arthur's body. Bernie's fist was enveloped in a faint white glow, making a whistling sound as it moved through the air.

Arthur darted forward, narrowly avoiding Bernie's attack again.

After two unsuccessful attacks, Bernie's face turned even redder. He leaped, performing a move like an eagle hunting a rabbit, aiming to grab Arthur in a position he couldn't dodge.

Arthur, slick as an eel, darted forward, rolling under a table to escape.

Bernie kicked the table, sending splinters flying. Arthur, facing the splintering wood, charged at Bernie's side.

Bernie spun on his left foot, his other leg whipping out in a fast and fierce kick toward Arthur, who was closing in.

"Twenty silver coins," Nightingale suddenly called out.

Bernie's body wobbled, almost falling.

Arthur took advantage of Bernie's unsteady stance, ramming into his side.

Bernie staggered back several steps, launching a series of punches to push back Arthur, who had taken the opportunity to attack.

The watching mercenaries were astounded. Even with Nightingale's sudden outburst distracting Bernie, a child forcing back a first-tier warrior was incredible.

Tristie coldly watched Nightingale, "Don't worry, Nightingale, I'll compensate for everything broken, to the last penny."

Nightingale didn't give Tristie any face, huffing, "Just a reminder, anyone who breaks stuff pays!"

Tony quietly tugged at Edeline's sleeve, whispering, "Did you already know he could win?"

"Have you forgotten his fight with that little lion? He has an extraordinary combat talent, some people are just born warriors. That's the real reason Cairns kept him!"

As they whispered, Bernie and Arthur clashed again.

The discussion among the mercenaries had enraged Bernie, who attacked Arthur furiously.

But anger didn't lead to victory. Arthur continued to slip away like a fish, darting and dodging in the confined space, seemingly in a precarious situation but never getting hit.

Bernie's furious attacks quickly drained his strength and spirit energy, his breathing growing heavier.

Tristie's clenched fists began to sweat.

"Could this kid actually defeat a first-tier warrior? Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Tristie shook his head vehemently.

The tide of the battle turned at that moment.

Facing a frontal kick from Bernie, Arthur agilely leaped onto a table behind him.

Bernie followed, kicking the table apart, not caring about the loss anymore, each attack aimed with all his might, obsessed with killing Arthur in one blow.

As Bernie kicked the table, Arthur used it to jump, attacking Bernie from the air.

Bernie didn't dodge, punching out to meet Arthur, his fist wrapped in white spirit energy aiming for Arthur's chest.

Arthur, unexpectedly, didn't dodge this time but slightly turned his body in mid-air.

Bernie's eyes brightened as he added force to his punch, only to hear a crisp crack as his fist struck Arthur's left shoulder blade.

As Bernie hit Arthur, Arthur's right hand, shaped like a claw, swiftly swung past Bernie's face.

Arthur was sent flying, a shrill scream echoing simultaneously...