Chapter 183 Special State
"What did you say?" Valkor Titanhelm sputtered, momentarily stunned.
"I said, I accept your duel," Eric repeated, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Valkor's initial shock gave way to disbelief.
He’d been sure Eric would back down once he heard who he was up against. Hell, he'd even rehearsed a whole speech to taunt him into it. But no—this guy was walking straight into the fire like it was nothing. A total madman.
"Well, well, well," Valkor drawled, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Looks like we have a brave soul amongst us. Very well, let's take this outside. Don't worry, I'll make it quick. Wouldn't want to embarrass you too much."
With a mocking laugh, Valkor strode out of the restaurant.
"Black Flame, you shouldn't have agreed," Rosewater said, her voice laced with concern. She moved closer to Eric, her expression troubled. "He may be a bully, but his strength is undeniable. He's among the top five Shield Warriors in Echoes of Dusk. And he just acquired the Adamantine Sentinel Outfit, a Dark Iron level set, along with that Mithril Giant Bear Battleaxe. You're a Swordsman, a blacksmith first and foremost. This duel is… unwise."
Rosewater knew Valkor's capabilities all too well. He would relish the opportunity to humiliate Eric, to exact revenge for his perceived slight. If Eric were to suffer a crushing defeat, it would jeopardize any future cooperation between them.
She had invested so much, gathered so many rare materials. A partnership with Eric promised immense profits, but now Valkor threatened to ruin everything. The urge to throttle the arrogant fool was almost overwhelming.
"Thank you, Rosewater, I appreciate the information," Eric said, nodding in acknowledgement.
"Good to hear," Rosewater replied, a hint of relief easing her tension. Now, to get them out of this mess. She was about to step in, to call off the duel, when Eric cut in, "Relax, I'll wrap this up fast."
And with that, he too walked out of the restaurant, leaving a stunned Rosewater in his wake.
Her attempt to dissuade him had clearly backfired. Instead of heeding her warnings, Eric seemed even more eager to proceed with the duel.
In the city, duels usually went down right on the streets, with strict hard rules. Both sides had to hash out the terms first—otherwise, it was just a brawl, and the city guards wouldn't hesitate to throw you in jail or worse, take you out themselves.
As soon as Eric exited the restaurant, Valkor issued a formal duel request, outlining the stakes. All Eric had to do was click "agree," and the duel would be officially sanctioned. The system was absolute; once both parties consented, the agreed-upon terms would be binding. Even if a player later refused to honor the agreement, the system would automatically transfer the wagered items and impose the stipulated penalties.
Valkor's terms were brutal: the loser would have their level reset to zero. All the progress, all the hard work of leveling up, would be wiped away, leaving them lagging far behind the curve.
"Go on, click it," Valkor taunted, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "Unless you're already rethinking your bravado."
Eric glanced over the terms and, finding them acceptable, calmly clicked "agree."
"Let's make this quick," he said, his voice betraying no hint of fear.
The moment he accepted the duel, a large timer materialized in the air, counting down from ten. This provided both players with a brief window to prepare for the upcoming fight.
"At least you know where you stand," Valkor sneered, his voice full of contempt. "This is gonna be quick. But you disrespected me in front of Rosewater, so I'll make sure you feel the pain. I'll show you the difference between us."
Valkor drew his axe and shield, a predatory gleam in his eyes. He licked his lips, his gaze fixed on Eric with an intensity that sent chills down Rosewater's spine.
She emerged from the restaurant just in time to witness Valkor's transformation. Her face drained of all color.
"It's over," she whispered, a sense of dread washing over her.
Eric didn't stand a chance. Valkor was in full beast mode now. He wasn't just going to beat Eric—he was going to destroy him, leave him shattered and broken.
Valkor rarely revealed this side of himself. The last time Rosewater had witnessed this terrifying focus, he had single-handedly slaughtered an entire guild, cutting down hundreds of players without mercy.
She hadn't expected him to unleash such fury today.
Normally, Valkor fought with arrogant swagger, his laughter echoing across the battlefield. But this… this was different. This was the face of a predator enjoying the hunt, a berserker fueled by bloodlust. His combat prowess doubled in this state, making him a truly terrifying opponent.
If Valkor was normally ranked among the top five Shield Warriors in Echoes of Dusk, in this state, even Solitary Leaf Twilight, the undisputed number one, might find himself struggling to keep up.
The countdown timer reached zero.
"I'll cripple you limb by limb," Valkor snarled, his voice barely human. "I'll turn you into a worm, then I'll crush you under my heel."
He charged towards Eric, his axe and shield a blur of motion. He moved with a speed and ferocity that belied his bulky frame.
Eric attempted to intercept him, thrusting his sword forward, but he struck nothing but air. Valkor was too fast, a phantom on the battlefield.
"Let's start with your right arm," Valkor's voice came from Eric's right side, seemingly out of thin air.
The Giant Bear Battleaxe slammed down towards Eric's exposed arm.
Rosewater closed her eyes, unable to watch. Eric's earlier attempt to block had revealed his lack of skill.
It was understandable, she supposed. Becoming a top-tier blacksmith in Eldoria took insane hours and focus. How the hell did he find time to get good at combat too? Sure, he might've been a big deal in other games, but Divine Realms: Legends was a whole different world. The learning curve was brutal, and even seasoned players needed time to get the hang of it. There was no way Eric could've juggled both.
Now, he would pay the price. Valkor would torture him, leaving him mentally scarred. Even if he somehow avoided a complete mental breakdown, the experience would undoubtedly haunt him, making future collaborations impossible.
"So be it," Rosewater muttered, watching as Valkor Titanhelm aimed for Eric's right arm.
But the sound never came.
Instead, there was just silence.
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