Chapter 121: Azure Vs. Gold (2)

"Well then, all that is left is your weapon... Although I would have rather preferred it in blue"

"Tch"

Azurite tried his best to calmly tighten his helmet. In truth, he was actually sweating. The direct hit from the female Elder just now was enough for him to cough up blood. He wore his helmet calmly so as to not let them know that he swallowed a mouthful of blood.

He must do his best to provoke these people, coerce them in fighting him one by one. He just needed to last until he could find a way to escape. The hole that was made by Princess Sofia and Antoinette was his best bet of leaving, but if he were to jump, he was sure that the other Elders would just follow him.

Right now, this was a battle of endurance. He just hoped that the others were also safe and they have already gotten the bab-

Azurite's thoughts were abruptly stopped as he moved to the side, avoiding the golden sword that wanted to cut his neck in half.

"You really are arrogant, aren't you?", the female Elder spoke coldly, "To have the time to reminisce during a battle, one might say you are looking down on us"

"Attacking an enemy while he is lost in thought", Azurite scoffed, "It seems honor does not exist in the New Golden Pavilion"

"Honor?", the female Elder laughed, "No such thing exists in the East!"

"Only power!", she howled as disappeared from her spot.

"Oh, I agree", Azurite said as he quickly kneeled on the floor to pick up his fallen cloak, he then threw the cloak behind him, completely blocking the view of the female Elder that sneaked behind him.

"What-"

In her confusion, Azurite swiftly twisted her shield, stealing it away from her.

"Give that back!", she said as she wildly swung her sword towards Azurite.

"Hmph", Azurite smiled as he tightened his grip on the shield to fully block the female Elder's attack.

But to his surprise, the shield suddenly vanished, the only thing left in front of him was the sword that was about to cut off his arm. "Wha-"

It was too late to do anything, he just gritted his teeth as he prepared himself for the incoming attack.

His feet caved in the floor as the sword hit his gauntlets, effectively shattering a part of it, with the shards piercing through his arms, if it wasn't for the floor absorbing some of the impact, Azurite's arm would have surely been cut off.

The female Elder was about to attack again, but another Elder suddenly grabbed her hand from behind.

"That is enough", the new Elder said, "It is my turn".

"What!?", the female Elder complained, "But I am already winning!"

"The moment you lost your shield, you have already lost"

"What are you even saying!?"

The female Elder complained, but soon, she garnered the attention of the other Elders mock. The female Elder could only click her tongue.

"It is alright, my lady…", Azurite suddenly intruded on their conversation, "Maybe you will do better in bed".

"You blue eyed shit!"

Okay, maybe he went a little overboard in provoking this time. He should dial it down if he still gets the chance to after this.

The female Elder was about to rush towards Azurite again, but the other Elder stopped her. "Enough. Just give him your weapon"

Azurite could not help but release a sigh of relief.

"What? Why mine!?", the female Elder once again complained.

"Because this gentleman seemed to be trained in the ways of the Sword and Shield"

"I already knew that, but why would I ever let this… this gigolo use my weapons!?"

"Give it up, Xiao Luli!"

"Boo!"

With the jeers of her companions, she forcefully threw her equipment in front of Azurite. But not before rolling her eyes in front of him, of course.

Azurite squinted his eyes, are these really… Elders? Why do they act like children? He then stared at the weapon that was thrown in front of him, not wanting to pick it up.

The Elder in front of him saw Azurite's hesitation, "Do not worry. She will not summon the weapon back to her. Unlike the rest of them, I do believe that honor exists. You have my word"

The Elder saluted towards Azurite.

"Very well, then you won't mind if I heal my hand?", Azurite said.

"Go ahead"

Azurite nodded. He then plucked the blue shards that were sticking in his hand one by one before taking the gauntlet off. He could not help but sigh as he saw his bones sticking out from his arms, it would seem the damage was bigger than he thought. However, it doesn't matter.

"Rejuvenate", Azurite whispered as orbs of light started to appear from his broken arm. And slowly, after a series of worming sounds, his hand was fully back to normal.

"Thank you for waiting", he then said towards the next Elder he will be fighting.

"No problem", the Elder said as a golden staff suddenly appeared in his hand. "My name is Dao Ming Zhu"

"I am called Azurite Paladin", Azurite bowed as he also introduced himself, "Are your people sure you won't help your leader?"

A series of explosions could be heard echoing outside the tower.

"The Matriarch?", the Elder called Dao Ming Zhu shook his head as he stared at the hole outside, "We will only get in the way"

"Are you sure?", Azurite said as he tightened the shield on his hand, "The Crazy Witch is strong. It is sad to say, but she is a lot stronger than me or any other Gold Rank adventurer you can find in the world"

"Thank you for your concern", Dao Ming Zhu chuckled, "But I assure you… the Matriarch will not even sweat as she cuts your princess in half"

"It seems you people like to underestimate the people of this beautiful Kingdom", Azurite slightly bent his head backwards, "I assure you as well, we are stronger than you"

"Well", Dao Ming Zhu readied his stance, "We just have to see how strong you are then!"

As soon as Dao Ming Zhu hollered, Azurite's eyes were blocked by a gold circle, the tip of Dao Ming Zhu's staff. He immediately backed away and raised his shield, blocking the attack that dared hit his head.

He then slightly turned his shield, allowing the staff to slide on it, causing a screeching sound to vibrate in the room. It was then followed by a whistle, like a whisper in his ear as the staff slightly lifted from his shield. Azurite used this chance to thrust his sword towards the Elder's unguarded stomach.

But as if a snake, the Dao Ming Zhu's staff curved, completely parrying the sword.

Azurite could not help but click his tongue, he could only quickly swing his shield, causing a gong to resound in the room as it forcefully pushed the staff away from him.

Unfortunately, Dao Ming Zhu used this as a momentum to also get away from Azurite's attack range. Azurite quickly followed him, but to his dismay, Dao Ming Zhu did not let out his attacks as he continued to step back, not allowing Azurite to even swing his sword.

The barrage continued, with Azurite's arms already getting numb. Anymore of this and his hand will give out and drop the shield. And so, with a shout that almost deafened the entire room, he suddenly slammed the edge of his shield on the ground.

He then kicked the towered shield towards Dao Ming Zhu. The shield flew straight towards the Elder's staff, the sudden change of force quickly numbed the Elder's hand, allowing the staff to slip from his grasp.

"Tch!"

Dao Ming Zhu could not help but scoff as he saw Azurite running towards him, holding his sword with both hands. With only a few feet of distance away from each other, the Elder managed to pick up his staff and thrust it towards the advancing Azurite.

But before the tip of his staff could reach his opponent's neck, he stopped. He stopped because Azurite's sword was also only a few inches away from making him lose an eye.

The two stared at each other, both measuring the distance of their weapons. They knew that if either one of them moves, one will die. It will just be a matter of who is faster. The two of them remained like this for what seemed like hours, but in truth, the sweat on each of their faces have not even fallen to the ground yet.

And finally, as the sound of droplet whispered in their ears, a slight twitch began on their muscles.

But before either of them could move, a clap resounded in the room.

"Very nice performance", a bearded Elder stepped in.

If Emi was here, she would surely recognize this bearded Elder. It was Cao Man, one of the two Elders that ruined Karl's party.

"I believe it is my turn now"