Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Arial looked around and noticed that there were many muscular young men as well as a few older gentlemen.

Most of them seemed to be martial artists.

Why are they here?

Arial pondered and then he saw the girl, standing on the platform.

She was a charismatic and lithe young lady with blue eyes and tanned skin, surely of noble blood from the way she carried herself, dressed in fine blue cloth, holding a sharp white spear inscribed with strange symbols, her blue hair waving in the wind.

There was no doubt that she hailed from Renasia.

Arial believed her to be a member of the royal family, a cousin or distant relative of the House of Renasi whose descendants could be identified by their trademark blue hair.

Why did a Renasian woman travel so far away from home to find herself a husband? Arial asked himself.

She looks beautiful and mysterious and her fierce eyes and olive skin only add to her exotic features.

Arial refused to believe that anyone would reject to marry such a striking young lady.

It was true what they said about Renasian women, that their beauty was unmatched in all of the Human continent.

"Anyone else?" she yelled with a smirk, oozing confidence way beyond her years.

The crowd looked at her with admiration and amazement.

Some people looked fearful while others seemed amused. Suddenly, an overweight man of about thirty held up his hand with a smug smile.

"How about me?" he asked. He smiles a greasy smile. The girl let out an infectious laugh.

"You are so old and yet you desire such a young wife," she replied playfully. "Come then. I always like a good challenge," she added confidently. The fat man jumped on stage.

Arial had heard of marriage battles before, only practiced by people in the martial arts world, but believed that the custom had long ago fallen into disuse.

Maybe she is not royalty? Or maybe she is a member of the royal family who has immersed herself in the martial arts?

That is the only logical explanation, he thought looking at the stage as the fight was about to commence.

The battle began, and the opponents were unrelenting in their attacks on each other.

The man's grappling and holding technique was not bad, but Arial was shocked to see how graceful and fluid the girl was, her movements ever-changing like flowing water.

He had studied every important book during his time in the library, but had never read about the techniques that he was witnessing on stage.

The young woman was fast and unpredictable.

Her movements seemed out of control and were meant to confuse.

Her opponent could not hold a candle to her technique.

The man tried to attack her using his Wolf Chasing His Prey technique by projecting his internal energy to injure her, but she moved quickly, changing direction swiftly and stepping back in order to pivot and strike the back of her opponent.

The fat man flew off the stage and began to cough up blood as the girl laughed uncontrollably along with the crowd.

"Know your place fat man!" she yelled as he got up covering his mouth embarrassingly, his clothes soaked in blood, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

She was not only arrogant she was capable. Arial eyes brightened. This woman is young yet possess such high attainment in martial arts skill.

He could not help but admire such woman

What move did she execute?

Arial wondered as everyone around him cheered and applauded the young woman.

He felt excitement rush through his whole body.

Most martial arts experts usually roamed within the martial arts community and rarely interfered in the daily lives of the common folk.

On the other hand, Arial had only used his martial arts techniques during the war and the battles.

He had grown weary of fighting against incompetent officers.

The enemy's army was always composed of inexperienced peasant soldiers lead by a lord and easily defeated.

Arial had been victorious thanks to his enemies' weaknesses and not his own strength.

He had given his troops a manual of martial arts appropriate for their level and had taught his captains and Knight Lords a few sword techniques, but that was it.

As a selfish form of combat, martial arts were not meant for fighting in groups and were only used in offensive operations.

A martial arts expert could be unleashed on the battlefield and cause great loss to the enemy, but they could never win the battle alone.

An army always got the job done through siege, battle and troop formations.

Martial art is selfish he once mused.

The crowd's cheers brought Arial back to the stage and he looked at the girl more attentively. A handsome man was standing beside her, probably a knight.

The women's of Renasia are like goddesses, their men are like Gods. Arial knew a lot about dirty jokes of Renasian men in bed when he was a soldier in his previous life.

The standard fluttered in the blowing wind and suddenly, the girl planted her spear and challenged the crowd again.

"Is there no one else?"

Arial approached the stage. He wanted to test the young woman as well as his martial arts skills, but also sensed that she was dangerous.

After all, not many girl as young as her could have travelled this far if she is an ordinary girl.

Renasia is far from Acro.

"What is your intention coming here to Acro?" he shouted as the crowd made way for him.

The girl's partner stepped forward and saluted Arial. Then, he addressed the onlookers in a loud voice.

"My name is Arturo. I hail from the distant lands of Renasia. My young mistress has come to this big city seeking neither fame nor fortune, but a husband whose strength will exceed hers. She does not care if he is rich or of noble blood, but his fighting skills must be unrivaled. My mistress herself is a very powerful expert and has defeated many men in Cora and Seren before arriving here in Alan. We have traveled a long distance from the South and have yet to encounter anyone who can defeat my mistress."

"You're bragging," Arial said with a smile.

"Maybe I am," Arturo replied with a smirk. "The Dukedom of Alan…"

"The Kingdom of Alan," Arial corrected.

"The Kingdom of Alan," continued Arturo, "is the land where the Great Hero's companion was born and where Levitia himself was born. There are certainly great men and heroes here who are willing to take us up on our offer. If our actions seem presumptuous, I beg your pardon."

"Enough talking Arturo," the girl said. "Let me fight this man."

"I will fight you, but I do not wish to marry you," Arial replied. "All I wish is for you to return to your homeland if you lose."

The young lady was oblivious to the war happening in Alan and even though Arial did not know who she was, he did not want her to suffer any harm. Men turned into beasts during times of war.

"You have spoken as if you are certain that you will win," she said.

"Of course, I will," Arial smirked.

"What is your name?" she asked.

"What's yours?"

"I will only tell you if you win."

Arial smiled. "Well, then, me too."

The girl frowned, smirked and then laughed.

"Fine, I will take pleasure in beating you into submission," she added.

Arial removed his jacket and then the young woman charged.

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