Chapter 203
The Sword Trial, the arena to determine the continent’s greatest swordsman.
It was not difficult for swordsmen to gauge each other’s skill. They clashed blades, and the stronger one prevailed.
But finding the seven strongest swords among the dozens gathered here and ranking them in order was no simple task.
For instance, if we assume a winner-advances format where the Sword of Life and the Sword of Death face off in the first round, one of the Seven Swords of the Continent would be eliminated right from the start.
But if they were to fight in a so-called round-robin format, it would become a battle of attrition, losing the meaning of determining pure swordsmanship.
Therefore, in the Sword Trial, victory or defeat does not necessarily determine elimination. Among the weak, even the victor may fall, while among the strong, the defeated may still advance.
This is what is known as a culling process.
At this level, avatars are not yet available. However, there were no particular restrictions on other abilities, and swords were no exception.
And as the first target of that culling, Dale repositioned his grip on the sword hilt.
A knight unknown to Dale stood there. Yet, the crest engraved on his armor suggested he was a swordsman from a fairly renowned noble house.
That was all.
Thwack!
Dale thrust his sword forward with a powerful kick, and the aura exploding from within him overwhelmed his opponent’s blade. Clang! The swords clashed, and in the instant they collided, his sword whirled and plunged vertically into the floor.
