Chapter 22 Bad News

  (Today's first update) For nearly half a year, Joanie has been training diligently. Just yesterday, during the last actual combat training session, he successfully parried Odara's fifteen attacks - reportedly "using 70% of his strength". Joanie, who was knocked down by the final blow, lay on the ground, silently calculating in his heart: subtracting those first five levels that were just for show, multiplying by 0.7, and then adding back those last five levels... I can parry a level 10 warrior's fifteen attacks!

  So he felt no pressure at all in facing the seventh-level opponent arranged by the Warrior Guild.

  Until he saw his opponent.

  His opponent was neither tall nor robust, and not even handsome. An extremely ordinary warrior. He had a well-proportioned build, looked agile, but wasn't strong. His appearance was very ordinary, making people forget him after just one glance. The problem lay in his weapon.

  A long sword in his right hand, a large shield in his left.

  Jony felt a bit guilty. Upon careful recollection, he seemed to have only exchanged blows with wooden sticks and large swords. All his defensive counterattacks were meant to restrain dual-wielders. All his defensive moves were used to respond to heavy attacks.

  This is not the way.

  Can I change opponents?

  "Joni Smith? A warrior of the fifth level?" asked a middle-aged man dressed in a snow-white robe. He held a book in his left hand and a staff in his right, with a golden embroidery of a shining sun on his chest, and an open eye in the center of the sun. The man's face was gentle, like sunshine, warming everyone in the scene.

  A person with a very spiritual aura. This is what Johnny has in mind.

  "Yes." Johnny nodded.

  "Please go aside and take a rest, your match is about to start."

  Joni went in the direction of the man's pointing finger, and took a look at the martial arts arena. The rectangular area in the middle was the actual arena, but what were the seats around it for?

  At this time, people came in one after another from the entrance. They handed over the money in their hands to the staff of the Warrior's Guild at the entrance and sat down on their own. From time to time, some people whispered to each other or talked loudly. It seemed that someone was even opening a betting table. The whole arena looked very lively.

  Jony has a head full of vertical lines. I've actually heard that there's a competition in the city before, so it was this one?

  As the crowd thinned out, and no one else entered, the person in charge of the Warrior's Guild gave a nod to the priest. The staff slightly nodded his head and said loudly: "The battle is now officially underway, please enter both sides."

  Joni and the sword shield warrior entered the arena.

  "There is only one rule, the use of hidden weapons is prohibited. The injured will receive free treatment provided by the temple, and the dead will be resurrected after paying five gold coins. Either side can surrender by leaving the arena to end the match. Did you hear that?" a person who seemed to be the referee said loudly.

  "Listen carefully." I rubbed my eyes, this isn't just ordinary darkness.

  "The game is starting."

  Joni drew the great sword from behind his back, dragging it on the ground, and charged towards his opponent. The warrior held a shield in one hand and a sword in the other, and as Joni approached, he raised his shield to protect himself. Joni rushed up to his opponent and swung the great sword down heavily onto the warrior's shield, like a war drum announcing the start of battle.

  The shield wouldn't be easily shattered like that. The warrior retreated slightly in the direction of Johnny's slash, buffering his strength, and when Johnny's sword was about to exhaust its power, he suddenly pushed open the shield and swung his long sword with his right hand, slashing towards Johnny's chest. Johnny was shocked, unable to defend himself as his greatsword was still mid-air, and could only jump back to narrowly avoid it.

  The first round was utterly defeated.

  In fact, in the second round, third round... all the way to the tenth confrontation, Johnny was so miserable. The warrior either stabbed or chopped, with each move being tight and dangerous. Johnny swung his big sword with both hands, defending left and right, but a match where one side only took blows without fighting back was extremely annoying, whether for the person taking the blows or the audience below.

  "Hey! That kid with the big sword! Don't hold back!"

  "Come on! If you can't make it, don't come!"

  "Laozi's ticket money! Type seriously, damn it!"

  "With a large sword on his back and an air of majesty, Laozi said, 'I've given you five silver coins! You scoundrel!'"

  The crowd on the scene was indignant and resentful.

  Jony felt suffocated, but couldn't help speaking out. A powerful attacking weapon like him was actually being controlled like this, it was too stifling, too disgusting, and too infuriating!

  Joni parried the opponent's sword with a frontal slash, then pushed outward with force, sending the longsword flying. He took a step forward, his foot landing squarely on the shield that the man had raised, kicking him back two steps. Immediately, Joni swung his greatsword in a circle and brought it down in a powerful slash. The swordsman was still adjusting his footing when he saw this, and hastily raised his shield just in time to block the blow, but was knocked backward another two steps.

  The audience cheered - this is what it's all about!

  Then came a series of powerful chops, either from top to bottom or from right to left. Relying on the weight of his own weapon, Jony completely used his sword as a large hammer. Although the warrior was skilled in technique, he was still unable to match Jony's strength, who was accustomed to wielding a large sword. Moreover, with continuous attacks, balance could not be adjusted to its best state to defend against such powerful attacks. The situation on the field suddenly reversed.

  At this moment, Joanie suddenly changed the route of attack - he squatted down, a horizontal sweep, cutting off the warrior's calf.

  "With the warrior's mournful cry, the referee declared: 'The match is over, Johnny Smith wins.' His voice was incredibly calm. After finishing speaking, he went down to rescue the poor man with a broken leg."

  On the sidelines was a burst of cheers and curses, after all, there were winners and losers in gambling.

  Joni followed the person in charge of the guild to handle a new level certificate and received a new level badge. Joni left the Warrior Guild happily.

  As he walked out of the Warrior's Guild, under the warm sunlight, Jony's mood suddenly sank.

  "What will Odara do to me if I end up like this?" He himself knew that although he had won just now, it didn't have much to do with the dual-handed greatsword, but rather some similarities with the dual-handed hammer.

  But telling this news to his parents at home, they must be proud of him! Johnny comforted himself.

  Tabriz city seems a bit strange today, wave after wave of soldiers are running quickly on the streets. The crowd watching the excitement on the roadside is also gathering, and everyone is discussing it. Jonyi dodged one small squad after another, and finally couldn't help but intercept one.

  "I am Odala's attendant, what happened?"

  The leader, who was recognized as Odara's newly recruited useless follower, replied slowly: "There were serial murders in the Artisan District. We are ordered to investigate." After finishing speaking, he led his subordinates and ran again.

  "Murder in Artisan's Quarter? Was it the same person who attacked Merchant's Road last time?" Johnny shook his head and continued walking towards the castle.

  Far away, Johnny saw O'Dara waiting at the castle gate. "How did the news spread so fast? I just finished!" Johnny muttered to himself, slowly moving towards O'Dara. O'Dara's expression was solemn, looking at Johnny. At this time, Johnny also noticed that his master's face looked a bit strange, seemingly not disappointed, angry, but... pitiful? No way, was he that bad?

  "Jonnie, I have some bad news to tell you, prepare your mind." Odara said seriously seeing Jonnie's strange expression, knowing he hadn't received the news yet.

  Jony nodded and thought: Can't I be fired? I won anyway!

  "A string of murders has occurred in the Artisan's Quarter." Odara paused. Johnny wasn't stupid, Johnny wasn't slow-witted, Johnny's mind was quick. The playful mood was gone, his face gradually darkened, and he slightly leaned back, as if the words about to come out of Odara's mouth were the most terrifying monster in the world. He started shaking his head slowly, as if trying to deny the news he was about to hear.

  "Your parents have passed away."

  A wild rhythm burst forth in Johnny's chest. The sunshine illuminated the world, but Johnny's world was filled with thunder and dark clouds.

  Her expression didn't change, but tears quietly fell from her eyes.

  Not yet seventeen, already sixteen has passed away. Again at this age, reenacting the same tragedy.

  Joni's parents died, killed by him.