After a couple of seconds, I was also taken off the stage and Julian looked at me with icy eyes that seemed to have freeze everything in the room.

"You... you cheated! There's no way you could have ever beaten me in a fight!"

"Hmph, how can I cheat in a fighting match?!" I said with a cold tone. "Furthermore, even if I did, in real battles which I am sure you have fought in before, many people use underhanded methods to kill their enemies and what can the dead person do? Nothing! So even if I did "cheat", it doesn't matter because it was a battle. This wasn't some sort of tournament or game that requires rules. No, this is a battle so that I can either free Lyka or you take her hand in marriage. Don't spout your bullshit to me," I said.

"You... you,''

"You you bullshit, shut the hell up if you have nothing to say. Instead of blaming others for your incompetence, you should try to get stronger and say something like 'I will defeat you next time!' or something like that. Hmph, seeing you like this just comes to show how narrow-minded you are,"

"I'm gonna kill you!" Julian said with extreme anger.

Julian started to chant and in his hand, a spear of light started to appear in his hands.

"I'm going to fucking kill you peasant,"

He threw the spear at me and I felt the immense pressure coming towards me.

"Jeffrey watch out!" Lyka screamed at me from the side.

Before I could even get my sword out, the spear of light disappeared.

"What happened?" Julian asked out loud.

"Hmph, you dare use the Smite of the Holy Gods for the sake of your benefits? Julian, do you want me to take away your holy power?!" From behind us, the Duke showed up.

"Duke Wintercolt, I was only trying to protect your house from suspicious individuals but..."

"Save your excuses! Why are all the men I chose for Lyka complete utter garbage! How dare you shoot out the ultimate skill I created for the sake of protecting the kingdom!"

"I-I"

"No excuses. Julian from here, I, Fabian Wintercolt, shall take away your divine powers that I have granted you!" After the Duke declared this, Julian started to glow and the light bubbles started to be formed. After a couple of seconds, the light bubbles started to disintegrate.

"No, no, no! Duke Wintercolt why have you done this to me?!" Julian screamed crazily.

"Hmph, if you are going to use the divine powers for your sake the the powers I have granted you is meaningless because you have taken 5 oaths from each of the 4 Dukes and the Pope of the Church of Lucifer. You have now broken my oath in an extremely serious fashion and while the regular punishment that is automatically given without my intervention is to remove the divine power for a year, since I am here, I will make sure you will get the full punishment as a year truly isn't enough for your selfish crimes!"

I was extremely confused at what was happening, but when I saw Julian's stats, I have understood what was going on.

Julian Vorghes Age: 28 Gender: Male

Level: 65

Race: Human

Job: Captain of the 1st Corp of the Royal Army

HP: 2500/2500

MP: 1500/1500

Attack: 400

Defense: 580

Magic Attack: 50

Magic Defense: 305

Speed: 245

Luck: 15

Skills: Knockover, Block, Enhanced Armor, Royal Strike, Resilience, Charge, Holy Shield, Taunt, Roar of the Tiger, Berserk, Smite of the Holy Gods (60% power), Weapon Enhance

Achievements: Half-Holy Soldier, Talented Soldier, Captain

An extremely talented soldier that is also from the Vorghes Family, with Earl Nicholas Vorghes as the head. As his father was a noble ex-general of the Royal Army, Nicholas is following his footsteps and he is in his 2nd year of being in the army. He graduated from the Royal Academy, a school for warriors, magicians, and adventurers. He graduated with top grades and is an extremely honest person. However, at times he is extremely calculative and he does not hesitate from sacrificing his fellow soldiers or himself in order to benefit the kingdom. He was Lyka Wintercolt's fiancé, but because of certain reasons, he rejected her and Varin Calleem was lucky enough to be next in line. However, recently, his holy power given by Duke Wintercolt was forcibly removed making his only 80% as powerful and his most ultimate attack Smite of the Holy God's power was reduced to 60%.

'Damn, he dropped 20 levels?' I almost laughed, but in the end, I controlled myself because I knew if I laughed, the Duke would look at me with disapproving eyes and that could mean trouble a bit later. I really wanted to see the Duke's level now, but since I think my level is too low to do so, I did not.

The Duke looked at Julian with disappointment clear in his eyes.

"Julian, I will give you back my portion of the holy powers once you have reflected on your mistakes for a year as the bottom soldier in the royal army. From there, your survival might depend on how you treated your fellow soldiers. If you treated them like pawns rather than brothers and sisters, you will never be able to go back into your position even without my help that I will guarantee you. I hope you learn from your mistake. Get out of my mansion!"

"I will take my leave then," Julian quickly left the room, but before that he looked at me with immense hatred and if looks could kill, I would've already died a thousand times. However, before he could leave on that note, the Duke noticed his look towards me.

"Julian, have you not learned your lesson? Do you want me to completely remove all of your divine powers and strip you of your soldier status. Your father may be an Earl, but he has no control over the army as he cannot grant any divine powers to anyone. The power of the family of Duke will forever stay the same! The people of the direct line of Wintercolt will always remain powerful!"

Julian looked at the Duke with fear and without giving me a look this time, he scurried out of the room like a frightened dog.

The Duke then looked towards me and asked me with a serious voice.

"Are you ok?"

I was silent for a couple of seconds before I finally came back to my senses.

"Yes, Duke, I am fine,"

"That is good. That attack would have at least destroyed an arm or two if it hit or if it was serious, it could have killed you. I'm glad that I came before anything serious happened. Hmph, soldiers these days have no sense of loyalty towards their kingdom and only use their power for their sake. Julian was never like this. Extremely honest man and was an extremely good candidate for Lyka. Maybe love did blind him, but even if it did, that just comes to show that his mental power is somewhat weak. I'm just rambling here. Go out with Lyka and walk around the town. I'm quite satisfied with your current strength and I believe that you will be able to protect her strength and when you can't send you magic to this. It will instantaneously teleport a high level soldier in my command," The Duke said while handing me a red stone with intricate magic on it.

When I looked into the stone, I was utterly flabbergasted.

Stone of Teleportation: 1 time use

When magic is sent to this stone, a person with the same engraving on his person will be teleported to the exact spot that the user wants him to be.

'What a powerful item!' I thought before going to Lyka.

"So ummm, wanna go the guild to get our reward?"

"Yeah!" Lyka said with an excited face.

I started to go with Lyka outside, but when I looked at her, she was looking back and when I subtly looked back as well, I saw the Duke winking at Lyka and I immediately looked forward with chills going down my spine.