Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 87: The Arena Challenge

Sunlight pierced through the thin mist.

Raylo rose and walked to the window.

Outside the castle, the previous day’s turmoil had subsided, and peace had returned to the Ironthorn Territory.

[Daily Intelligence Refresh]

[1: ’Poison Fang,’ son of the Nine-headed Demon Serpent, has led a Lizardman Battle Group out of the Jade Swamp to invade human territory. An allied army of lords, led by Barton of the Giant Stone Territory, will face this Lizardman Battle Group. After a bitter struggle, the allied army will suffer heavy losses and be forced to retreat.]

[2: A Young Black Dragon residing in the eastern Black Stone Mountain Range has successfully driven out an Ogre Tribe and seized their Sulfur Mine. Consuming large quantities of sulfur can enhance a Giant Dragon’s Dragon Breath.]

[3: Deep within the Jade Swamp, a tide of Magic Power is surging as the Nine-headed Demon Serpent undergoes an unknown transformation. The Demon Serpent has commanded its minions to plunder the flesh and blood of living creatures to fuel its evolution.]

[4: The daughter of the Count of Giant Whale Island in the Eastern Duchy is set to marry the Viscount of Azure Wolf Territory. This alliance between two major powers could completely alter the balance of power in the eastern region.]

[5: Your tamed Storm Griffin has been lingering near the Dragon Thorn Fruit Tree. Consuming Dragon Thorn Fruit will help it break through its bloodline limitations and evolve into a King-level Griffin (Tier Four). This evolution requires a vast amount of energy; in addition to Dragon Thorn Fruit, providing a large number of Energy Potions will aid its successful evolution.]

[6: Bishop Augustus has led the Light Pegasus Knight Order to the Baiyang Viscount’s Domain, where they discovered abundant evidence of Viscount Baiyang’s collusion with the Demon Serpent Church. In the Viscount’s Domain, Augustus carried out a sentence, having all members of Viscount Baiyang’s family burned. Concurrently, in the name of purifying evil, a large number of suspected ’Cultists’ were executed by fire by the Holy See.]

[7: A meeting concerning you is currently being held in Thunder Dragon Castle. Your attack on Ironthorn Territory will be deemed self-defense by the Duke, and you will be granted Ironthorn Territory as compensation.]

[8: The Wandering Swordsman Alex, who frequents the taverns of Black Stone Town, was actually dispatched by the Duke of Thunder Dragon to protect you. He has now received the Duke’s command and will look for an opportunity to pledge his allegiance to you.]

[9: A Young Golden Dragon calling himself "Knight Dragon" is traveling in the southern Duchy. He takes the eight knightly virtues as his life’s motto. During his travels, the Young Golden Dragon has acted with compassion to bring justice to the weak, leading to conflicts with lords in multiple territories. Without a doubt, these lords were all soundly beaten by the valiant Golden Dragon.]

[10: Your sister, Lillian, will have her coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow morning, during which a bonding ceremony with a Thunder Dragon Cub will be performed. Lillian possesses extremely strong magic talent and will awaken the "Heart of the Fire Element" at her coming-of-age ceremony. Because the Heart of the Fire Element talent conflicts with the Thunder Dragon’s attributes, the bonding ceremony will fail.]

After a simple breakfast, just as Raylo was about to deal with a backlog of his territory’s affairs, a faint clamor from the direction of the Knight Plaza shattered the castle’s morning peace.

"Ed, go see what’s happening outside."

Raylo set down his quill and instructed the attendant knight at his side.

"Yes, my lord."

Ed bowed to accept the order and hurried away.

Before long, Ed returned with a strange look on his face.

"My lord, out in the plaza... someone’s set up a challenge."

"Oh?"

Raylo raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

"Tell me more."

"He’s a Wandering Swordsman who calls himself Alex. Early this morning, he drew a circle in the plaza with chalk and declared that no knight in Black Stone Territory could last ten rounds against him. Naturally, our knights wouldn’t stand for that, so several have already challenged him, but... they’ve all been defeated. The quickest one lost in just three moves."

There was a hint of resentment in Ed’s tone.

Hearing this, a smile tugged at the corner of Raylo’s mouth.

’Alex... I’m familiar with that name. It seems he’s chosen to make his entrance this way.’

’An interesting character, indeed.’

’Fine. This is a perfect opportunity to see what he’s made of.’

"Let’s go take a look."

Raylo rose, donned an overcoat, and made his way to the Knight Plaza.

By now, the Knight Plaza was thronged with people, packed three deep. The crowd wasn’t just made up of soldiers and knights on leave, but also many townspeople who had heard the news and come to watch.

In the center of the plaza, inside a large circle drawn with white chalk, an athletic young swordsman stood with his sword at the ready.

He wore plain Leather Armor, his long hair was tied back casually, and he wielded an ordinary Long Sword.

"Is there another warrior who would like to step forward and test their skills?"

Alex called out.

Outside the circle stood three or four dejected Black Stone Knights. Some clutched their wrists, others rubbed their shoulders; they had all clearly gotten the worst of the exchange.

"I’ll go!"

With a furious roar, the crowd parted, and a burly figure strode out. It was Thor.

Upon hearing what was happening, Thor couldn’t hold himself back.

The crowd burst into cheers, rooting for Thor.

Thor had displayed exceptional combat prowess in the territory’s recent battles, earning him quite a name among the Black Stone Knights.

Thor strode into the circle and slammed his Great Sword on the ground, producing a dull thud.

"Big words! Let’s see what you’ve really got!"

Alex regarded the young man before him—nearly two meters tall and radiating a ferocious aura—but his own expression remained calm.

"Please."

Thor wasted no time on pleasantries. With a bellow, he instantly activated the power of his Earth Bear bloodline, a faint, brownish-yellow light glowing beneath his skin.

He lunged, his Great Sword cleaving the air with a whistle as he brought it down on Alex’s head.

This strike was immensely powerful; if it landed true, it could shatter even a boulder.

Faced with this thunderous blow, Alex advanced rather than retreated. With a slight turn of his body, his Long Sword shot out like a striking viper, stabbing toward Thor’s wrist from an awkward angle.

His movements were lightning-fast, the tip of his sword tracing a silvery arc through the sunlight.

Thor felt his wrist go numb, a sharp, piercing pain shot through it, and his grip on his sword loosened involuntarily.

He was aghast. ’How is he so fast!’

He hastily changed his attack, sweeping with the crossguard of his sword in an attempt to force Alex back. However, Alex’s sword was faster.

Having landed a blow, he didn’t press his advantage. His footwork shifted, his body moving like a phantom to circle to Thor’s side. He thrust his Long Sword out again, the tip aimed at the gap beneath Thor’s ribs.

"So fast!"

A gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

Most of them had only seen a silver flash before Alex had already completed two attacks.

Thor, for his part, was also an experienced fighter. Enduring the sharp pain in his wrist, he let out a roar and spun violently, his Great Sword sweeping wide and forcing Alex to retreat to avoid the brunt of the attack.

Catching his breath, Thor raised his Great Sword again. A faint, earthy-yellow light coated the blade—he was clearly using his Fighting Spirit.

"Take this!"

But as fast as he was, Alex was faster.

Just as Thor’s Great Sword was about to descend, Alex’s figure blurred. An instant later, he reappeared at Thor’s left, his Long Sword tapping lightly on Thor’s armguard.

CLANG!

A crisp sound rang out.

Thor felt a deft burst of force travel up his arm, making it go numb and interrupting his Great Sword’s attack once more.

The next few exchanges were practically a one-man show for Alex.

Thor’s attacks were broad and full of Power, but they seemed clumsy before Alex’s incredibly swift Body Technique and his precise, ruthless Sword Techniques.

No matter how Thor roared or channeled his Fighting Spirit, his Great Sword couldn’t even graze Alex. Instead, he was the one who received several shallow cuts.

CLANG!

With another clang of steel on steel, Alex’s sword knocked Thor’s Great Sword aside, the immense force of the parry causing him to stagger.

Alex seized the opening, pressed forward, and gently touched the tip of his sword to the Armor on Thor’s chest.

"You’ve lost."

Alex withdrew his sword and stood tall.

Panting heavily, Thor stared at the clear mark from the sword’s tip on his chest Armor. His face was filled with indignation, but even more than that, shock.

"I... I’ve lost."

Though he had lost, Thor was a man who could accept defeat. He put away his Great Sword and said, his voice dejected,