After the duel between Ma Shulian concluded, the world seemed to hold its breath. Zhao Yunliang walked slowly into the arena. She was tall and slender, her face clean-shaven, adorned in a blue silver outfit layered with dragon fabric. In her left hand, she held a long spear intricately carved with clouds and dragons, its tip glowing with a bluish-green hue. Her gaze was calm—behind those eagle-like eyes lay the resolve of someone who had danced on the battlefield since her youth.

  “For honor, I will fight until the end,” she whispered to herself, her voice firm and full of conviction. “Victory is not just for me, but for all that I fight for.”

  Sir Percival stood in the center of the dusty arena, his shining white armor gleaming, a red cloak billowing behind him, and a round shield in hand. His face was gentle yet resolute, his gaze soothing, almost like that of a young monk, but the magical aura surrounding him was undeniably strong—he was the guardian of hope, the Knight of the Grail.

  “Stay focused, Zhao,” he called out, his deep and captivating voice resonating. “This Grail is precious, and every movement you make must be precise, like the unstoppable flow of a river.” The ends of his cloak floated gently, as if communicating with the wind, adding to the mystical atmosphere around him.

  Yunliang planted her spear into the ground, bowing slightly in respect. “Sir Percival. You’ve come from a faraway land to fight a war that isn’t even yours. What does this all mean to you?”

  Percival smiled sincerely, bowing his head, his hand resting on his chest. “I have always believed that light can be born in any land, Yunliang. Today, I fight not for myself, but for a world that must not surrender to darkness.”

  Yunliang twirled her spear, her demeanor shifting to seriousness. “Then allow me to test you—not just as a knight, but as a human. Prepare your heart, Percival. I won’t hold back.”

  With a light leap, Yunliang spun her spear like a blue serpent, slicing through the air. “Sky Storm Dance!” she shouted, her voice echoing with spirit. The clouds above them swirled rapidly. Blue lightning shot down, and a tempest of wind stirred up sand and leaves. “This will be an unparalleled test!” Her body became a glowing silhouette, soaring and striking from above.

  Percival raised his shield firmly. “Aegis of the Grail! Each patch of light is a symbol of hope.” A golden light expanded from his shield, forming a wall of energy in front of him. Lightning struck the shield, the sound deafening, yet the wall of light held strong. “You will not succeed in toppling hope!” Percival shifted back, his feet sinking into the ground, but he remained steady.

  Yunliang gasped in awe, her eyes shining with challenge. “Your wall is strong, Percival. But can you withstand it all?!”

  With a single rotation of her spear, Yunliang unleashed three shadowy spear strikes in rapid succession, each shadow resembling a small dragon biting at the shield. “So weak, Percival! Is this what you call defense?”

  Percival held firm with slow but steady movements, then smiled slightly. “Your speed is impressive, but strength is not everything. Resilience lies in tranquility.”

  “The fiercest storm will not last forever. But resilience—that is what conquers the storm,” he continued, feeling energy flow within him.

  Yunliang spun, her feet touching the ground. “Judgment of the Rainbringer!” she cried, challenging the sky.

  Suddenly, the sky darkened. Heavy rain poured down, but it wasn’t ordinary water—it was droplets that sparkled like shards of crystal. “Feel this, Percival!” Each drop that hit the ground exploded into ice needles that shot in every direction.

  Percival planted his shield into the ground, kneeling. “Reflection of the Grail!” he shouted with a steady voice, raising an imaginary cup in his left hand.

  Light from the cup reflected into the air, forming a dome of light above his head. “Don’t expect all these attacks to penetrate my shield!” All the ice needles struck the dome, melting into warm water. A gentle aura spread, healing small wounds on Percival’s body.

  Yunliang bowed her head, holding her breath. “Healing technique? Impressive… but this is just the beginning!”

  Yunliang attacked with a series of rapid thrusts—“You can’t keep defending, Percival! One mistake, and I’ll say goodbye!” Each swing carried lightning and wind. But Percival moved agilely, dodging or parrying with his shield.

  Their breaths quickened. “Think for a moment, my opponent! This action is not just for victory, but for sacrifice!” Percival replied, his voice remaining calm. Yunliang opened up in the midst of the duel. “I once lost everything in the storm. My entire family perished due to betrayal. You speak of hope, Percival. But what if the world only repays your faith with loss?”

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  “I too have lost everything in the storm. My entire family was wiped out by betrayal. You speak of hope, Percival. But what if the world only repays your faith with loss?”

  Percival parried the spear, his breath steady, “Yunliang, every loss teaches us the meaning of resilience. Sometimes, hope is the only bridge connecting us to the future.”

  “I have failed too. I have witnessed the world curse me, calling me a coward. But I stand firm, for that is the only thing I can do. Every day is a test to keep believing,” Percival said firmly, raising his sword high, focusing his energy.

  The spear clashed against the shield, blue and gold light flashing. “One step closer to darkness!” Yunliang shouted, pouring all her strength into a fierce attack.

  Yunliang hissed, her eyes glistening with suppressed emotion. “I fight because I have no choice. You choose to endure because you believe in the light. That’s a beautiful thing… but also terrifying.”

  Percival smiled, sweat dripping from his chin. “The light that is terrifying is what wins the hardest battles. Remember, it’s important for us not just to fight, but also to believe in ourselves.”

  “Really? Then what do you believe in when you hold this sword?” Yunliang growled, continuing her assault.

  “Believe in the strength that flows within us. That is the true light that cannot be extinguished!” Percival replied, parrying the attacks steadily while connecting with the energy around him.

  “Light means nothing if it has never been tested in darkness. And you, Yunliang, are stronger than you think.”

  A circle of golden light appeared beneath his feet, forming the emblem of the Round Table. Above it, the shadows of other knights emerged, empowering Percival’s body. “I will not back down!” he shouted, leaping high, slashing at the water dragons one by one. Each slash brought forth sacred light that pierced the water, evaporating the dragons into warm rain. “This rain is not for you, monster!”

  Yunliang leaped, her spear aimed at Percival’s heart. “Fall, Percival! For all the lost souls!” she cried, her eyes sparkling with spirit. She chased with lightning speed, each step weighing down the ground beneath her.

  Percival held the spear with his shield, “Don’t underestimate me!” He parried with his sword, both exchanging blows in the heavy rain of magic. “One more step, and you will regret it!”

  Yunliang stepped back, spreading her arms. “Behold my power, Percival!” she shouted, full of confidence.

  “Lake of Illusions!”

  The ground transformed into a vast lake, mist dancing, thousands of Yunliang’s shadows moving swiftly across the water. “Now you’re trapped in an illusion!” Each shadow attacked from different angles, creating perfect chaos.

  Percival stood still, closing his eyes. “I am not afraid of illusions!” he replied firmly, gathering his concentration.

  “Cleansing of the Grail!”

  A spiritual cup appeared in his left hand, white light exploding, piercing through the mist and the lake of illusions. “Only one is real, Yunliang!” he shouted, as all the shadows melted away, and the lake dried up, leaving only one Yunliang remaining.

  Yunliang gasped, her knees buckling, exhaustion gnawing at her body. “I… cannot lose here,” she whispered, her head shaking against weakness.

  They locked eyes. Heavy breaths, bodies soaked with rain and sweat. “Let’s finish this, Percival,” Yunliang said, trying to gather her courage.

  Yunliang raised her spear, her hands trembling. “You… are the most stubborn knight I’ve ever met,” she added, a slight smile appearing. “But this is the end for both of us!”

  Percival chuckled softly, holding back the pain in his arm. “You… are the most persistent water sorceress I’ve ever faced. Thank you for fighting so honestly.”

  Yunliang gripped her spear with both hands, her eyes blazing. “I will show you true power! This is not the end, just the beginning!” She leaped one last time, the sound of wind rushing as she moved.

  “Azure Thunderfall!” Her voice echoed, and blue lightning spiraled, forming a mesmerizing electric storm.

  Percival shouted, “I will not back down!” He thrust his sword forward, parrying with his shield as the storm struck. “Grail Nova!”

  Golden light flooded the arena, engulfing Yunliang’s storm. “As long as I stand, this light will not extinguish!” The sound of the explosion echoed, the light blinding all who watched.

  As the light faded, Yunliang collapsed, her spear slipping from her hand, breathless. “You… are incredible, Percival. But, I’m not done yet,” she murmured with the courage she had left.

  Percival stood tall, his knees slightly trembling, then approached Yunliang. “You fought with a heart stronger than steel, Yunliang. There is no defeat for you today.”

  Yunliang looked up, a faint smile on her face. “You truly are a knight, Percival. This world… may indeed need light to illuminate the darkness.”

  Percival helped Yunliang to her feet, then bowed respectfully before her. “With every battle, we shape a better future.”

  “Without rain, there will be no rainbow,” Yunliang replied, feeling a new spirit flowing within her.

  The audience sighed in relief. Wu Xianying, watching from a distance, clenched her fists, her face a mix of anger and respect. “You have proven yourself, but this is not over!” Meanwhile, Nobuzan and the people of Oda cried tears of emotion, realizing: Percival’s victory was not just for one nation, but a triumph of courage and hope over wounds.

  The duel was over—Sir Percival had won, but the world felt a little brighter.

  “This victory is not just for us,” Sir Percival declared, raising his sword with a blazing magical strength. “It is for all who struggle in the darkness!”

  As the soft light spread from his sword, Nobuzan stepped forward, tears in her eyes. “Sir Percival, your courage gives us new hope! We will never forget this sacrifice!”

  Wu Xianying, though stunned, whispered with deep respect, “It seems the darkness of the past has been lightened by this dawn of revival. My hero, you have shown the way.” She waved her hand, creating an illusion of twinkling stars in the night sky.

  In the midst of the emotional atmosphere, Percival smiled, feeling the warmth of his people’s support. “Now, let us rise together, as one, for a better future!”