During his stay in the Order last week, Colt had already learned about the dire situation within the Order.
So, even though he hadn't heard his name, Colt understood that Tybalt was definitely one of the reasons behind this corruption.
Colt was never someone who acted first and thought later.
Well, that was until he heard what Tybalt had to say about her.
Colt hadn't been certain before Tybalt and his group returned, but now he was. The elders had gathered for two reasons.
The first one was that the Seer had seen a catastrophe approaching. It wasn't just a prophecy. It was the future.
But there was a second reason.
For the first time in Gaite's history, someone had opened their mana channels by themselves before the age of 20. Two impossibilities had unfolded, shattering everything they had believed.
So, the elders had gathered to confirm this situation. However, not everyone was as happy as they should have been.
"There is no need for you to show your skills. We have already seen one miracle from that wench," Tybalt said.
Two impossibles had happened once. And now, this boy was claiming the same thing had happened to him?
There was no way this was true. He was sure that Colt had used something to deceive the others.
"How dare you call her a wench?"
Colt's expression hollowed out, leaving only a cold glint that made several members recoil.
There had been only one person who had opened their mana channels before the age of 20, and by themselves.
And the timing fit perfectly.
So, Colt was sure now. The "wench" Tybalt mentioned was none other than Elise, Colt's mother.
Colt unsheathed his sword. Words were pointless now.
The other members of the Order hearing Colt's shout also stuck their heads out of the windows, looking at the courtyard, or went directly out to see what was happening.
Tybalt's veins bulged as he tightened his grip on the hilt.
"How dare you come here and take out your sword! Do you even know where you are?"
Colt said nothing. He didn't need to. When he was done with him, the man in front of him wouldn't be able to talk ever again.
No, death would be mercy. Colt wanted him conscious for every second of regret.
He jumped forward, not minding Tybalt's threats, and swung his borrowed sword.
Tybalt was by no means weak. He was a 2nd rank and the assistant to the Holy Priest, making him second in command in Alla's Luminous Order branch.
Yellow runes started circling his right hand as Colt's sword approached, and formed a shield all around Tybalt.
Holy Shield
Colt didn't stop swinging, though. And Tybalt's eyes opened wide as the sword went through the shield, shattering it easily.
Light shards scattered like exploding glass.
But instead of losing his composure, Tybalt moved his mana once more. This time, yellow runes started covering his whole body.
As he did that, he also jumped back to dodge the sword coming.
Body Enhancement
It was a spell that elevated his body's natural limits, and the only thing that saved his shoulder from being cut by Colt's sword.
Am I being pushed back by this little boy? Tybalt thought as Colt's swings came one after another.
Colt relied solely on his body—no Divine Power, no sword energy. But still, Tybalt was being pushed back.
The members of the Luminous Order focused mostly on developing their Divine Power throughout their lives. So, apart from a few exceptions, they didn't master the sword.
But this didn't mean they didn't learn it at all. Since most were taken in as children, they had no way of knowing whether they would ever awaken Divine Power.
So, they all learned swordsmanship. Especially those under the age of 20 and the ones under the 7th rank, because they didn't have Divine Power, had to continuously hone their swordsmanship.
Tybalt took out the sword hanging on his belt for the first time in a very long time. He couldn't show others that a bare sword was stronger than the Divine Power he had been training for the last 23 years, since the age of 20.
His sword was similar to Colt's borrowed training sword, but Colt could see at a glance that it was much sturdier.
If they were to clash their bare swords repeatedly, Colt's sword would undoubtedly break first.
There was no time to think about that now, though. This time, Tybalt started swinging his sword.
Steel collided, sending a sharp clang rippling across the courtyard. The members watching the fight could see that Tybalt, the 42-year-old man with a huge body, was swinging the sword with all his power.
At the same time, the 100 men who had come with Tybalt had dismounted their horses and were watching the fight. They were ready to intervene if something went wrong and Tybalt was defeated.
And the reason was simple. Even with all his power, Tybalt couldn't overpower Colt. He was easily dodging or parrying almost all his attacks.
Tybalt's face turned red since his opponent was a boy.
I need to use it, he thought, and yellow runes slithered down his arm like living threads, coiling around the blade.
It wasn't sword energy, no. Tybalt didn't have a sword energy.
Divine Edge
It was a spell created to fight back against the sword energy. Just like the sword energy, it depended on the user's skill level.
And, even though the Divine Edge was beneath sword energy, when the user's skills were above the swordsman's, they could win against the sword energy.
The other members, though, scoffed. Tybalt was strong beyond doubt. But using Divine Edge against a 15-year-old child with no sword energy or Divine Edge was obviously overdoing it.
Tybalt and Colt were the only ones who didn't mind what others thought in this situation. Tybalt had a reputation to protect, while Colt thought he could easily overpower him with his own sword energy.
I will end this with the next one, Colt thought as he activated his sword energy.
"Huh?"
"W-what? How?"
The members around were shocked to the point of leaving their mouths open. Unlike Tybalt, they believed Colt was a miracle as he had repeatedly shown his Divine Power before Tybalt's arrival.
Everyone watching him could already see the Order's future taking shape. He could even learn how to use a sword and become a Holy Priest.
But the boy's sword was shining with golden energy.
Even Tybalt had to stop for a second. But he pulled himself together before long.
"Hahaha! I see now. This must be how you deceived others."
In his mind, it was certain now. It was already impossible for Colt to have Divine Power, so Tybalt was sure that he was deceiving others with some kind of trick.
And now, he dared to pretend to have both Divine Power and sword energy?
There were possible mistakes in people's beliefs. For example, one person had opened their mana channels by themselves before the age of 20.
But there was a limit to the mistakes. Sword energy wasn't something just anyone could gain. It required one to work oneself almost to the death, honing their body and swordsmanship.
So, having Divine Power before the age of 20, as well as sword energy, was not even impossible. It was an impossible dream.
And his sword energy is yellow! At least learn about sword energy before trying to trick people.
In this era, it was believed that there were specific colors to sword energy, and each color had a predetermined strength.
But yellow wasn't among them. No record ever mentioned it.
Of course, Colt didn't really care about what Tybalt was thinking about. He had only one thing on his mind: making sure Tybalt could never talk like that about his mother.
The air between them tightened, buzzing with killing intent.
Both raised their swords and stepped into their final strike. The next clash would be the end of the fight.
Just when their swords were about to touch, though, a voice interrupted.
"Holy Shield!"