Chapter 75: True Knight Duel

Crab took a step closer to Pipikan, who was facing away from him, holding the weapon tightly. He had already remembered who this guy was.

"Stop! I didn't hurt them," Pipikan suddenly said, still facing away. "I just thought it wasn't right for the two girls to sleep on the ground."

Crab did not stop. The magic power in his hand had already extended to his back. "Is that so? I don't think so."

Pipikan raised his hands and slowly turned around. "It seems you already know who I am. It's been ten years, and I long ago decided not to bring up the past."

"Do you think you can just let it go? But the women you've wronged don't think so, Scorpion!" Crab glared at him coldly. "Eijirushi Pipikan, the murderer and rapist wanted by every country ten years ago, are you now thinking of targeting my students?"

"Don't misunderstand, I really didn't want to do anything to them," Pipikan lowered his head. "In the past, I did indeed commit unforgivable sins, so I went into seclusion here, determined to reform and never do those heinous things again. I just want to live out my days in solitude. Really, I'm not lying. Look, I didn't do anything to them, I just... just covered them with blankets."

Crab turned his head and looked behind him. He saw that Shana and Emma were already stripped naked and lying on the bed. As fear gripped his heart, a punch winded him.

Pipikan's originally kind face turned fierce. Looking at the barely breathing Crab on the ground, he smiled evilly and wildly.

Crab lay on the ground, twitching slightly. Blood bubbles occasionally appeared in his throat, and the blood flowed from his chest to the ground. His wrists were brutally broken and torn off, the exposed bone looking like a broken stick. A sharp axe was still stuck in his collarbone.

"You didn't drink, otherwise the wine I brewed would have made you sleep for a few hours," Pipikan chuckled. "But it doesn't matter, because today is a good day. Do you know how uncomfortable I've been hiding here for ten years, afraid of accidentally losing my life? For ten years, I've endured so much. For seven years, I played with one woman every day. Do you know how boring that was? Now, good days have finally come."

"You... you pervert, let... let my students go..." Crab struggled to say, but his throat was torn, making his words unclear.

Pipikan laughed as if he had heard a very funny joke. "Let them go? What a joke! Since the woman three years ago, I haven't touched any other women. Do you know how painful it has been to endure this? I couldn't stay in the city for too long, and I didn't dare to grab some pretty girls to play with. Occasionally, I saw some mercenaries passing by the forest, but there were too many of them, so I didn't dare to act. Now that you've come to me, how can I let you go? These two girls are still young, and I can keep them for a few years before killing them and burying them in the forest behind the stone house. Of course, every year on their death anniversary, I'll visit them. Isn't that great? Hahahaha..."

Pipikan continued, "I also have to kill the two boys outside. This forest is big, but if they reveal my hiding place, I'll be dead. I'll keep you alive for now so you can watch how I play with your students."

"Damn... damn you!" Crab struggled to get up but was stepped on by Pipikan.

Pipikan said coldly, "Don't find death, buddy. This is your last chance to enjoy yourself. Look as much as you can." Pipikan looked at the two naked women on the bed, reached out his large hand to touch their bodies, and his lecherous smile grew even wider.

Crab was angry but powerless to retaliate. His face turned pale from blood loss. Suddenly, a voice came from outside: "Eijirushi Pipikan, I know you're inside, come out."

Pipikan was startled and frowned. "Damn, who is it? Did someone else follow them in?"

The leader of the Blue Cross Mercenary Group stood in front of the stone house, waiting quietly.

A moment later, Pipikan came out with two short axes. Seeing the man's attire, he asked, "Who are you? You don't look like a teacher from Kulantin."

"My name is Melon Banogon, the leader of the Blue Cross Mercenary Group. I'm here to take your head," Banogon said, taking out a trident from his back.

"Take my head? You mean the mission specifies where I'm hiding?"

Banogon said sternly, "I've heard of Eijirushi Pipikan. They say you've raped at least 400 women, if not 500. I didn't expect such a notorious guy to be a coward. Did you think you could hide here forever and no one would find you?"

Pipikan gritted his teeth. "Damn, I can't stay here any longer!"

"Can't stay?" Banogon laughed disdainfully. "Do you think you can leave here alive?" He glanced at the two unconscious boys on the ground. "You even targeted Kulantin students, and you think you can live here peacefully?"

Pipikan snorted. "So what if it's Kulantin? I know they'll come after me once I finish this, but I'll just leave. I'm surprised, though, that someone found out where I was hiding despite my caution. But do you really think you can take my life?"

"A mission rated A by the Mercenary Guild, indeed, should be handled with caution, but how will you know if you don't try? I believe I can definitely kill you."

Pipikan was taken aback. "Mercenary Guild, A-level mission? Not the imperial government's bounty?"

"Right," Banogon said. "I don't know why the mission to kill you is in the Mercenary Guild, nor do I know why your head is worth an A-level mission. But an A-level mission means a significant amount of wealth and points. My Blue Cross Mercenary Group is only C-level, but we can still take on this mission. Completing it will earn us 35,000 points and a substantial income. A C-level mercenary group completing an A-level mission will help my Blue Cross grow rapidly."

Pipikan said angrily, "Kid, do you think I'm just a piece of meat?"

"Well, in a way, yes. I believe taking your head is only a C-level mission," Banogon said. "I know your strength. Ten years ago, you were just a high-level knight, and now you're probably a true knight at most."

Pipikan said, "You know a lot. That's right, I've had the strength of a true knight for five years. Do you think you can beat me?"

"I'm also a knight, and my strength is about the same as yours. But you're old, around fifty or sixty, while I'm only 42."

"Because of that, you think you can kill me?"

"Try and see," Banogon's eyebrows raised, and he thrust his trident forward. At the same time, a loud cry echoed as a powerful griffin swooped down from the sky, and the intense battle began.

Waves of energy surged, and the powerful magical skills shook the earth. The sleeping birds and beasts around were awakened by the shock and fled from the dangerous area.

Banogon was surprised by Pipikan's strength. He didn't expect this white-haired, bearded man to have such formidable power, able to withstand his and the griffin's combined attack without summoning a guardian.

Pipikan chuckled, panting slightly. "What, is that all you've got? I can fight you to a standstill without summoning a guardian. Do you really think you can kill me?"

Banogon's anger flared, and his eyes flashed with white light. "Taste this, Sunlight: Great Light Spear!" He emitted an intense white light, like a dazzling light ball. The light concentrated on his trident, and he leaped to strike Pipikan, the light containing immense power and elemental force.

Pipikan, sensing the power of the attack, dared not block it directly. Just as he was about to retreat, he felt a wind behind him, indicating the griffin's attack. The griffin was enormous, controlling not only behind but also to the sides and above. It seemed that Banogon was forcing him to block the attack. If he retreated, he would be attacked by the griffin, leaving him in a difficult position.

Banogon smiled sinisterly, confident that this move would succeed. Even if Pipikan retreated, he would gain the upper hand and continue his attacks. However, Pipikan chose to block the attack.

A loud explosion echoed as the two powerful forces collided, sending a strong shockwave that shook the surrounding trees. The unconscious Vien and Hessmingfen were blown far away by the wind, and the griffin's attack was also halted by the impact.

Pipikan held his axes above his head, stopping the trident from hitting him, but the force was so strong that he had to kneel on the ground to support himself. The cold white stone tiles were shattered, and long cracks appeared. If he hadn't used earth element magic to instantly strengthen his bones and skin, he would have been seriously injured.

Sunlight: Great Light Spear was Banogon's self-created true knight skill, one of the most powerful in its class, even rivaling the most lethal lightning and fire skills. He was confident that this attack would shatter Pipikan's defenses, leaving him vulnerable. However, Pipikan, though kneeling, still exuded strength, surprising Banogon. Since mastering this skill, he had rarely lost to knights of the same level, and even those slightly stronger would be injured by the magic-enhanced body.

As Banogon was surprised, Pipikan roared like a tiger, pushing his trident away with his axes. Seizing the moment when Banogon's strength was not fully recovered, he used the powerful move, Tyrant Tiger Double Dragon Strike, and slammed into Banogon's chest, sending him flying dozens of meters away, breaking several trees.

Banogon spat out a mouthful of blood. His chest bones were shattered, and if not for the excellent light armor he wore, he would have been killed or knocked unconscious. Seeing Pipikan charging at him, he quickly called his griffin to intercept.

Pipikan also wanted to take the opportunity to kill Banogon but was caught off guard by the griffin's attack. His inner armor was destroyed, and a large piece of his reinforced body was torn off, revealing bone. He had to stop chasing Banogon to deal with the griffin's aerial attack.

The griffin let out a loud cry, blocking Pipikan's attack with a strong wind and flying back to its master.

Banogon, despite his severe injuries, forced himself to grab the griffin's claws and fly into the air. He shouted in pain, "I, Banogon, will never let you leave the Dattam Grand Canyon alive!" Then he disappeared into the distance.