《Master of Cards. *Reborn*》Chapter 33.5 : Windgates.
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Windgates was putting on his suit, he was at a party that was being hosted by the Avalon Royal family. Many of the nobles and members of the administration of the Avalon Empire were present. Dukes, Duchesses, Barons and Counts. However, to Windgates he equated them all to one word.
'Vermin' Standing here with a glass of wine in hand. Proud faces and delighted expressions when talking about money. The waiters and waitresses here were treated like shit. The men would grab the waitresses, and the women would harass the men. Talking against them or even retaliation could mean disloyalty to the Royal family, to the government and to the Empire. Yet Windgates is here, downing his entire glass in one go because he did not want to be bothered with thinking any further.
Windgates was thinking about what is going to be said tonight. A broadcast that was being broadcasted to all countries that were within the Avalon Empire. He looked at his father who had a bright smile yet it pissed Windgates to know end. This is what happens when one goes against whatever policies that were available or anything.
"Your Highness. Please head to the stage." Windgates did as he was told by the butler, not before keeping a flask full of the purest spirit in Avalon. The Excalidew. It is said to be a spirit so pure that it can polish swords from their rust.
"People of Avalon. I have just gotten word that the capital of Abazmantisk... Abada was attacked by unknown soldiers. They are warmongers that wish to bring ruin to our great Empire!" Windgates stopped listening as his father and family members began to talk about these people. The unknown soldiers and having their savior complex showing itself far too much.
"The people of Abazmantisk have been ravaged by the Nomads that call themselves heroes but no! We have saved them from the rebels! We are the righteous ones as the Gods will bear witness to our deeds! For the Avalon Empire is righteous!" They continued, this time demonizing the people. Stating that civilain casualties were due to them using civilians as shields. Child soldiers and other matters.
"What about you, Windgates?" The cameras turned to Windgates who took out the flask and drunk it all down in one shot. The taste... Surprisingly for a spirit, he expected it to taste bad but it tasted sweet. A bit of bitterness in the after taste, the cameras and reporters awaited for Windgates's words.
Windgates stepped to the front, walking down the staircase as he put the flaask aside.
"21 412 dead inclusive of women, children and elderly. Shot by our Griphen C9 Multiroles with hellfire rockets. It was stated to be a bomb run on a terrorist compund. That was the mission that was designated to the pilots. However, the pilots when they found out about the devastation they caused killed themselves out of grief. The order was carried out by His Majesty. He knew that it was just civilians there but at the end of the day. You all chose to demonize the people of Abazmantisk. And you claim righteousness? An Avalon soldier shot a family of 5 because they threw a rock that broke his nose." Windgates said it out loud, there was silence.
"You must be drunk, Windgates. Why don't you rest?" One of the guards touched Windgates hand, trying to pull Windgates aside. It was different, the guard could barely keep a grip on Windgates, it was like he was slipping through the hands. Windgates elbowed the guard's face and then pulled out a pen from the guard's chest pocket. The sharpness of the fountain pen's point was a millimeter away from the guard's eye.
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"Call your Avatar of Duels." Windgates said as he helped the guard on their feet, then placing the pen to their chest pocket. There were 5 Avatar of Duels that rushed into the room with their weapons drawn.Windgates took off his coat as he put it aside, unbuttoning his shirt and taking it off. He turned to the 5 Avatar of Duels. Not impressed, not even by a bit. They had the form but it was safe to say they were just people masquerading as the Avatar of Duels. Aevery would be disgusted by their form and even by how they wielded their blades.
"Windgates! What are you doing?!" His Majesty spoke out as they watched Windgates put on a ring. It was unfamiliar to many figures but familiar to Windgates. This particular ring, is special. It housed the blades of all the 52 Lives Windgates had lived as the Head of State.
"Just committing Regicide. Besides, having a live audience is good. Domain of the Monarch." The entire area was covered in metal. Everything changed, the entire ballroom was terraforming into something else. Their minds could not make sense of it but for Windgates. The dueling area was made and there were chairs like a colosseum of sorts. The question to all of them, was who were the spectators?
Various humanoid figures came, they seemed to be human yet, they were Demons and Angels. What was important was Windgates noticing Aevery that was sitting by the VIP viewing section. The world was watching this entire spectalce as they viewed figures seated by the VIP.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Dueling Arena! Today we have a special match up! The 5 Avatar of Duels against Prince Windgates Avalon. This is a battle to the death ladies and gentlemen! And we also have the more interesting guests. The Avalon Royal Family and the wager?! The Wager is that if Prince Windgates Avalon wins the match he will kill the entire Avalon Royal family with their guests! Oh just look at how confused these humans are." The voice spoke openly, of course Windgates could see the smirk on Aevery's face.
Luca was present, joining Aevery as the Guest of Honor with the other Gods of War.
"Thanks brother." Luca mouthed to Windgates, who banged his chest two times to Luca.
"The odds are ?!" They watched the slots shifting repeatedly with the odds being at Windgates favor and none for the Avatars of Duels.
"Oh ho. Looks like our audience does not seem to think that the Avatars of Duels can even win this battle! Now isn't that funny?!" The voice laughed, openly mocking the so called 'Avatars of Duels'
"Now now.. Let's introduce ourselves to the audience! Ladies and gentlemen! I am Hicks!" The voice that introduced everyone to the arena spoke up.
"And I am Ticks!" The other voice who mocked the Avatars spoke up.
"We're both your Dueling Arena Commentators!" the two of them chorused.
This was just how Aevery liked it. The outside world of the Avalon Empire was recording all this. Even the pressence of Aevery was seen. Windgates did not wear a shirt or even any sort of protective garment like the Avatars were wearing. Correction, the fake Avatars. The idea that these fakes were even compared to him was an insult of its own. The first to step forth was a longsword wielder.
Windgates drew his longsword but he bowed to his opponent. It was a common courtesy when facing a fellow swordsman in the Dueling Arena. Of course, the false avatar wielding the long sword did not know it. The First Avatar charged at Windgates. It gave Windgates a chance to analyze things properly.
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Form? Not too bad. Grip style? Northern trying to pretend to be a Westerner. Is the swordsmanship formiddable? Actually, it might be. Windgates's longsword made contact with the First Avatar's, their strength is gone. In the Battle Arena, Aevery did not like it when the difference in strength is leagues away from each other. So he will allow the strength to match up to at least Three Fourths of the stronger one. Speed is also given Three Fourths to the slower one. So in general, the strength and speed is no longer a concern. What was the primary concern were how they fought in a duel?
Windgates pushed the blade back , then kicked the First Avatar in the stomach. It would be seen as crude by many swordsmen because it is said to be underhanded. But in a duel before Aevery, anything goes. Honour goes out the window. All that matters here is skill. The First Avatar swung his blade at Windgates, Windgates responded by parrying the blade away. Changing its course so that it would be diagonal, but the recovery of the sword was fast.
This swordstyle was reminescent of using a zweihander, but its referred as Northern because of the Nords of past. The Avatar dashed to Windgates, a full powered combo of swings which had Windgates taking a few of the blows. The Avatar's confidence was rising as he watched Windgates struggle with the attacks. Yet, to Luca and the others. It was a performance that Windgates was putting up. This whole idea of a performance as a swordsmanship had intrigued Aevery for Windgates to become his Avatar of Duels.
Windgates lost his balance, slipping backwards as the Avatar continuing the swing. Surely believing he would win, only to be struck by the shin by the blade. The armor managed to take the damage but of course it hurt. The earlier swing had tumbled as a result of the shin interruption. Windgates managed to slap the blade away. Freeing him from the danger. The commentators were speaking in the common tongue of the audience. Windgates used his longsword to flip his opponent's weapon back.
The Avatar of Duels was a bit different from the others. In war all things are fine. In a duel however, it is different. Always show respect ot the opponent no matter what you think. Do not provoke or respond to provocation. Draw your blade to fight. The First Avatar picked the blade, this time going for a set of thrusting attacks to Windgates. Aiming for his chest, yet the lack of control over the motion was going to tire the First Avatar out before long. It gave Windgates the change to go in for the kill. A downward swing followed by pulling the blade from the First Avatar then hacking the head off with the hitl.
Windgates then stood to attention wiping the blood off with his blade.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! We Have our first victory! Now Windgates has to fight another four more! Can he pull it off!?" Tick shouted.
"I don't know, Tick! But I know one thing for sure Prince Windgates is not just some royal. He's not just some weakling the humans think he is." Hick added to that shout, then waving at Windgates who waved at them.
The Second Avatar got up on stage, drawing a rapier. Windgates did the same as he bowed to the Second Avatar.
"Oh ho. Fencing? The Second Avatar may not even have a chance. This is Prince Windgates favourite weapon and followed by him inheriting the Avalon swordsmanship style with the many weapons. Thou art blessed!" Hicks shouted as they watched the two fencers took the stage. The Second Avatar went on the full offense, not going to give Windgates even a second to breathe. Faster speed compared to the previous Avatar, but there was more fun to be had here. Windgates broke the momentum by guiding his opponent's rapier upwards. Then unleashing a single swing to the Second Avatar.They watched the armor be peeled off the Second Avatar's skin. The woman turned to see Windgates place the rapier to her throat.
"A pity." Windgates said as he slashed the Avatar's head. Then turning to face the remaining Three Avatars, wiping the blood off his rapier.
"Oh ho! Ladies and gentlemen we've gotten a request! Shall we spice things up for a bit!? Make Windgates face the remaining three Avatars at once?!" Ticks call had brought cheers from the audience.
The three Avatars were called to the Dueling Arena, readying themselves as Windgates put the rapier aside.
"Exdeath." Windgates whispered as they see a pair of Cavalry swords. The handles were pure white but the blade was black.
"Oh ho! Exdeath! That is the blade of Windgates when he began his journey. The blades were originally white but after a total killcount of 7.2 million enemies. The blade seems to have turned black with the blood off his opponents. Not that it can be washed off, considering Windgates did the 15 Deeds that granted him the title 'Sword Master'. His kill count isn't as impressive as the others but it's because Windgates enjoys sword fighting." Hicks was shouting.
"Now... Now, let's begin our commentary. In human language. Since they must be confused. Now with our special guest. Luca." Luca sat in the commentary box with Hicks and Ticks. As the battle began, the three Avatars charged at Windgates first but he focused on dodging.
"So why is Windgates dodging here? I'd like to understand a bit better." Ticks said,as the camera turned to Windgates swirling through their attacks. He was literally just dancing through the swords of the three Avatars.
"You have to understand. Unlike War or Destruction or any of the other Avatars. Windgates is bound to a certain battle doctrine. He must fight gracefully when in a duel. If it was me, I'd just blow them up but if we're in the dueling arena. The battles must always have a grace and finesse to them. Brute force means nothing here." Luca explained as they watched how Windgates stopped three attacks. Two with the blades and one with the scabbard, using his elbow to angle the scabbard to block the blade from behind.
"A three pronged attack would work on anyone but him. He reads them all as a whole. So every motion they make, Windgates can make a guess and prepare for 30 attacks all at once. His mind works 50 times faster than a normal person's mind." Luca added on. The battles shifted tremendously, Windgates was on the offensive on one of the Avatars. The other two tried to attack him from behind but were stopped by Windgates who used the scabbards to strike the chins.
"Oh... Striking the chin usually leaves opponents in shock. Even if they are in heavy armor, those scabbards are painful." Luca commented.
"Why is that?" Ticks asked.
"It's because they were made with Varentite. The blades were made with Alenite. These two ores don't match together well and when they are used as a weapon, it tends to cause disharmony in the weapons. Swords not being to be sheathed properly or te scabbard damaging the blade." They watched how Windgates shattered their blades and slashed them all for the killing blow. They died standing like statues within their armor, blood oozing from below the gaps of it.
"Splendid show." They heard Aevery's voice. Windgates then had his Avatar Robes cover him with Exdeath in his hands, the camera pointed at the Avalon Royal family.
"The Highest honor for me. Is to be the one to right the wrongs done by my family." Windgates spoke as he slashed the limbs off his family members.
"Killing you is far too kind. I've got a better punishment for you. I've taken out 5 of your Avatars without breaking a sweat. I'm sure that you sent the rest of them to face the ones in Abazmantisk but I will say this. That may be your biggest mistake. I am Prince Windgates Avalon of the Avalon Empire. I shall declare war on the Avalon Empire. ." Windgates's declaration was heard by all, the Domain of the Monarch faded away.
Leaving them back to where they were. The other nobles and administrators looked at Windgates with fear.
"I am the Avatar of Duels. I declare today that I will send this country into turmoil. Starting with the people in this room." Windgates drew Exdeath and began to fight.
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