NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Holy Knight’s Judgment
Chapter 16: The Holy Knight's Judgment
The air in the Arena of Kings felt heavier than ever.
Jin stood at the center of the battlefield, his body still buzzing with the power from his victory over Darius Bloodfang. But now, his next opponent had descended.
A man bathed in golden light, his presence radiating an overwhelming aura of divine power.
> [Vincent Albrecht – Rank #3, Holy Knight of Radiant Dawn]
A warrior who wields celestial magic to enforce absolute judgment.
The moment Vincent stepped forward, the entire arena fell silent.
Aerin, watching from the stands, narrowed her eyes. "This guy's on a completely different level."
Jin smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
Vincent's golden eyes locked onto Jin's. His expression was calm, but his presence alone was suffocating.
"Strength without righteousness is meaningless." His voice was steady, but it carried weight. "You fight well, Jin Seol. But raw power will not grant you victory against me."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
Vincent unsheathed his blade. The moment it left its scabbard, a golden shockwave erupted outward.
> [Divine Judgment: Holy Excalibur]
A sword infused with celestial energy, capable of piercing all defenses.
Jin's instincts flared. This guy isn't playing around.
The system's voice echoed.
> [Arena Battle Start!]
And Vincent moved.
---
A Clash of Ideals
Vincent vanished in a flash of golden light, reappearing behind Jin in an instant.
CLANG!
Jin barely managed to block as Excalibur crashed against his defenses, sending sparks flying.
The sheer force of the strike sent him skidding backward, his arms aching from the impact.
Jin gritted his teeth. Fast.
Before he could counter, Vincent raised his free hand.
> [Skill Activated: Divine Chains]
Summons holy chains that bind an opponent, restricting movement.
Golden chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Jin's legs and arms.
His movements slowed instantly.
Vincent raised his sword, his eyes glowing. "Judgment."
And then—he struck.
---
Jin's Counterattack
Jin gritted his teeth as Excalibur came down.
He activated Titan's Might, forcing his muscles to resist the divine chains' grip.
> [Skill Evolution: Titan's Might → Unyielding Force]
Breaks through physical and magical restraints, reducing control effects by 50%.
The chains snapped.
Jin moved instantly, twisting his body to dodge Vincent's attack by mere inches.
Aerin's eyes widened from the stands. "He broke out of Divine Chains?"
Jin countered with Crimson Overdrive, his fist glowing red as he launched a punch toward Vincent's ribs.
BOOM!
But—Vincent blocked it with one hand.
Jin's eyes widened. What?
> [Skill Activated: Celestial Guard]
Divine energy forms an absolute defense against all physical attacks.
Vincent exhaled. "That won't work."
And then, he countered.
---
The True Power of the Holy Knight
Vincent's golden aura exploded outward, forcing Jin back.
> [Skill Activated: Divine Aegis]
A barrier of pure light surrounds the user, reducing all incoming damage by 70%.
Jin's mind raced. His defenses are insane.
Vincent raised his sword once more. "Now, fall."
> [Holy Excalibur: Final Judgment]
A beam of golden energy erupted from his blade, surging toward Jin like a pillar of divine wrath.
The arena shook violently, the stands trembling as the power of the attack threatened to consume everything.
Jin's instincts screamed. I can't block this head-on.
He needed to change the flow of battle.
---
Jin's Ultimate Move
Jin activated Phantom Stride, vanishing just as the attack obliterated the ground where he had been standing.
Reappearing above Vincent, he activated his strongest fusion skill yet.
> [Skill Fusion: Celestial Fang + Unyielding Force]
[New Skill Unlocked: Heaven-Shattering Strike]
Jin's entire body burned with golden-red energy, the power of divine destruction and raw might combining into a single strike.
Vincent's eyes widened. "Impossible—"
BOOOOOOM!
Jin's fist collided with Vincent's celestial barrier—
And shattered it.
For the first time, Vincent staggered.
Jin didn't let up. He pressed forward, delivering a second devastating punch straight to Vincent's chest.
The knight gasped as he was sent flying backward, crashing into the ground.
The system chimed.
> [Victor: Jin Seol!]
[Ranking Updated: Jin Seol – Rank #3]
The arena exploded into cheers.
Aerin exhaled. "He actually did it…"
Vincent, still on the ground, let out a chuckle. "I see now… you are more than just raw strength."
Jin smirked, offering his hand. "Took you long enough."
Vincent grasped it, standing up. "But you're not ready for the top yet."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
And then, a voice rang out from the VIP section.
> "Interesting."
Jin turned—
And for the first time, the Rank #2 fighter stepped forward.
The crowd fell silent.
> [??? – Rank #2, ???]
Jin smirked. "About time."
The real test was about to begin.
> [Phase One Progress: 15% Complete.]
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End of Chapter 16