I told Billy, to replace his war hammer with a kite shield and a short spear while still having his heavy armor. It was the same case with Grayson, replacing his pike with a kite shield and another short spear. While John and Wendy get their short bows and a short swords, but John gets a buckler. Meanwhile I changed to a two handed long sword.

“This feels campy, and a cowardly tactic,”

Commented Grayson as we prepared to leave.

“But we're against adventurers, they already cheat in real life.”

“Yeah, dirty tactics is fair play against any adventurer!”

Replied John.

“Let's just hope this works.”

I hoped and whispered under my nose when we all left our benches.

“Warren~Gaurdsmen!” and the crowd bursts into a chanting of Guardsmen! Guardsmen! Guardsmen! The nobles cheered at us with closed fists, the bulls and other contenders called out our name.

Although the enemy team's name was called out by the announcer it was drowned by the cheers of the crowd at our name. John, Billy, and Grayson smiled, waved and lifted their swords around enjoying what we were getting. Wendy told me to do the same but I kept my helmet down. I don't do well around cheering crowds. So as things were loud and rowdy I focused on the rainbow haired adventurers.

They were pushing two guys in front of them; Green haired guy and Gray haired guy seemingly out of fun.

Then, the announcer gestured his hands that made the while audience sit in silent. Grayson, Billy, John, and Wendy went silent and bowed down, making do it as well. Trumpet then horned off out of nowhere as an announcement came the nobles and the audience to silence and stand up, while we were ordered to remove our helmets.

“Lady Juliana Faustina Claudina Vale!”

And coming in from an entrance I could not see a beautiful girl that wore blue and red dress, crisp auburn hair braided to a crown and the air of magic flowed around her as she walked elegantly. She was tailed by a single maidservant holding a red cushion as princess and maid walked in a private walkway where it led her past through the nobles and to the highest bench where the maidservant placed the cushion for her seat.

Cradled between her hands was an elegant dome of glass container where a white rose was afloat inside. Then, by accident or not, my spying eyes met her blue eyes that I thought she was staring at me. Goosebumps raised my hair and shivered my spine when I recognized that white rose from last night and held by the girl who I know escorted to the tailor shop two day ago. Yet, she looked like she didn't knew me as she looked down at us.

“That's the rose, right?”

“Yep, once we win, we have the final recipe for an invincibility potion.”

“One to defeat the Lyrthntium and get the mermaid's blood.”

“But let's make this a little bit fair to them.”

I could hear them as Lady Juliana gave out a small speech and announced the prize; the white rose and a bag that contained 14 pieces.

Once that was over, we were given a moment to equip our helmets and set formation where I ordered Billy near a corner of the wooden wall.

Ting! Rung the bell did we all run fast as we can to the corner where Billy planted his kite shield. Wendy and John jumped behind Billy; armed with his heavy armour and kite shield and a short spear; and Grayson with his own kite shield now planted and short spear at the ready. I stood near this cornered bunker formation with a two handed sword where I would rely on Wendy's and John's blunted, and wool covered arrow tips.

“What if they don't attack?”

They asked me earlier when making this plan.

“With a group name like that, trust me.”

“But what if they swarm you!”

Wendy was the most cries of protest against this plan.

“Then you hit them! Spears, arrows and everything, we'll win if they focus on me!”

And indeed they took the offensive. What I didn't expect was the group just sent two of them. Still, even if they were faster and stronger than me I am still confident with my swordsmanship.

Our formation was simple, Billy and Grayson protect Wendy and John, while they will pelt any attacker with an arrow and if one got stuck engaging me. If I get overwhelmed John will jump out with his short sword and buckler support me.

And here they come. Only two of them charged. Running to us holding their long sword with one had and great speed.

“Hiya!”

I dodged the Gray hair's charge and followed up a cut but he swung his sword like it had no weight and began slashing me left in right using only one hand. His companion, the green haired guy, zipped through me aiming for the our man made bunker and jumped high. Which I was glad that I planned.

“Ha!!!”

Because if they jump, they need make that your priority, it's easier to hit if they're divebombing your position.

*Fwoop!*

“Miss!”

If they miss, we still have our spears and shield, but I'm still worried. When my gray haired opponent swung his sword too far and with in a second I punched him away and ran to the Green haired adventurer assaulting my team.

They were ducking from Billy's and Grayson's kite shield where sword and shields kept the green haired adventurer who dodged it efforts but cannot attack.

With a downward cut I missed also when Green haired managed jumped backwards and landed on my helmet before vaulting out.

“Agh! Darn it!”

“Fallback!”

As he shouted that to his Gray haired companion. Who, I look around had his sword raised upward. John fired an arrow that stung my opponents hip making him flinch, I thrust my sword on his chest and I kicked the Gray haired to the ground.

Just one adventurer down made the audience cheer out their lungs, and nobles shake their fist in joy and the tent almost fly off.

“Thanks,”

I said to John as I checked on them. They were all alright, after that I told them to reorganized as our opponents then regrouped and huddled up in the middle. Then Wendy shot an arrow to them but the Bright Brown haired one caught it and snapped it like a toothpick.

“Save your ammo!”

I halted her, we only have 10 shots.

“Elfien!”

As I returned my sights all four charged at us. I clashed one but the three assaulted the rest. Billy and Grayson block and counter attacked while Wendy and John supported with their short swords.

“Dragon might!”

Said my red haired opponent and did his hair burn a light like chaotic ember and eyes flared up red and pupils royal ember blue. He then attacked me with several strikes that pushed me to the ground until I was on my knees. He then paused for a bit as he held is sword up looking ready for a hammer blow, that I quickly thrust my sword into his stomach incapacitating him.

Holding his stomach as he crumpled I stood up and kicked him down.

Turning my back, I was lucky that my assailant did a cut attack on my chainmail armor and letting me stagger for a moment.

Giving me time to see his attack, I managed to deflect a thrust and I punished him with my own cut, but he was so fast that using his weapon to block my attack he used his free hand to punch me. This Violet haired opponent -- he could have ended there and there but he was wheezing as I was.

This gave me a second of respite and I only needed a second to see that my tactic failed. Grayson and John groaning, Billy unconscious on the ground on top of the green haired guy while the bright brown hair was huffing as he tried to roll away Billy. Then, Wendy.... holding her shoulder as some blood flowed down her helm...

Looking at my Violet haired opponent he was breathing heavily like me. It was two adventures against one retard. My plan failed and endangered my team.

I was ready to yield to help Wendy and company, but as the crowd cheered on Guardsmen and those annoying moos that my hands suddenly held the grip tighter as the Nobles held to their swords and chanted fight on and then Lady Juliana, looking at me with what I could guess is worry and as if she remembered me...

All of this gave me enough to catch another fighting flame in me. I calmed myself and raised my sword to a mid guard, I planted my right foot and braced. He attacked with a slash towards my sword, as they always did, letting him slide through his momentum I dodged and...

“Haa!”

In the corner of my eye a thrust from the bright brown haired guy. He aimed at my head, turning my wrist in time I deflected the thrust sideward that made him unbalanced I readied for a strike but a sweeping kick on my feet made me bent my knee and I was in an awkward kneeling position that the Violet haired adventurer exploited and slashed me at my head that mighty clang rang inside my helmet. A blunt pain then followed when my whole body hit the earth. Dirt and dust flew over me as the ring grew louder and muffled cry of victory of two teens and a silent crowd... My vision fades and couldn't recall much after that.