Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Chapter 33: Divine Judgment Battle

"Peter Griffin? I've heard of you. Some say you're a chivalrous knight who helps the common people, some say you're a wrestling master who yearns for freedom, some say you're a wandering mercenary, but I now know you're just a thief who steals in the middle of the night!"

John the Big Mouth angrily accused.

"Are you referring to these things in front of you? This is all God's will."

Peter shrugged, glanced around the empty camp where not a single weapon or armor could be seen, and said indifferently.

"Shit!" John roared, but Charlie and the others held him down by the shoulders. His voice boomed like thunder: "I've robbed lords who levied exorbitant taxes! I've saved peasant women from being violated by their guards! I've robbed merchants for a high profit margin! I'm the true chivalrous thief following God's will! And you're nothing but a stray dog ​​that sneaks up on us!"

Peter had been waiting for these words. He suddenly took off his glove and threw it at John's face, saying, "It seems you don't believe in or want to admit your sins. Then let God decide. Let's have a battle of divine judgment."

Medieval dueling in Europe was an ancient custom that brought judicial decisions to the "will of God." Its core logic was that when right and wrong could not be determined, the two sides would engage in a life-or-death struggle, and the victor would represent the side of justice as recognized by God. For centuries, nobles and the church debated who could preside over these dueling ceremonies.

After the Renaissance, trial by evidence replaced ordination, and dueling was gradually regarded as a barbaric custom. France abolished ordination dueling in 1386, and England abolished it in 1540. However, in practice, obtaining a chain of evidence was too difficult, far less quick and efficient than dueling.

If the problem can't be solved, then the person who raised the problem is dealt with. As long as one of the parties involved dies in a duel, the matter is resolved. Therefore, the European dueling culture persisted until the Industrial Revolution when it gradually disappeared.

"Are you serious?"

John the Big Mouth never expected that Peter would actually give him a chance to duel.

"I am a knight of God, and I always keep my word. Release him."

Peter waved to Charlie and the others to untie John the Big Mouth.

As handsome Charlie untied Big Mouth John, he mocked, "John, you're finished. You have no idea what kind of person you've messed with. Your insults just now have clearly angered Lord Peter."

"Narcissist Charlie, you actually have moments of flattery? You even secretly call Boss Gules an ugly bastard, and you betrayed our Five Fingers Alliance for some guy you barely knew?"

John the Big Mouth didn't give the traitor Charlie a friendly look.

"Screw the Five Fingers Alliance! I, Handsome Charlie, am sworn enemies of this evil gang. God is my witness. I am now cleansing myself of my past sins and becoming a clean, happy, and handsome innocent youth."

Charlie shoved John the Big Mouth hard. John was indeed brave and loyal, but his foul mouth was so unrestrained that he said all sorts of things, making him infuriating.

John the Big Mouth looked at Charlie in astonishment, how could such words come from the mouth of this narcissist who had committed the sin of "pride"?

What kind of equipment do you want?

Peter's words drew John's attention.

He said in a deep, muffled voice, "A broadsword!"

"Can."

Peter took the broadsword out of his storage space and threw it on the ground in front of John the Big Mouth.

Peter also drew a two-handed sword he had obtained from a Moravian heavy armored warrior, and the two walked to the flat ground in the middle of the camp.

John looked at the twelve armored, weapon-wielding men of Peter's, who were arranged in a circle around him. Then he looked at his own men, tightly bound. Dressed only in plain clothes, he knew he couldn't save them, nor could he easily break through the encirclement. The only way out seemed to be a duel to the death.

"Name your bet."

John the Big Mouth, dressed in plain clothes and holding a broadsword upright in front of him, spoke first: "If I win, I want you to return all our weapons and equipment and let us leave. If I lose, we are at your disposal."

"accept."

Peter, also dressed in plain clothes, did not take advantage of his opponent. He stretched out his left hand as far as he could and pulled out the bandit's weapons and armor from the storage space.

With a whoosh, a pile of equipment appeared simultaneously, landing on the left side like a shower of petals. John's gang was stunned into silence.

"Is this magic?"

"Perhaps it's witchcraft?"

"No, this is a blessing from God! Lord Peter is a blessed knight of God."

John's group of seven and carpenter Doug were witnessing Peter's "miracle" of telekinesis for the first time, but they immediately corrected the gang members' guesses and began to praise him.

John the Big Mouth couldn't help but take a step back, his heart filled with unease. Could Peter really be the Knight of God? If so, how could he possibly win?

Unlike John, whose morale plummeted, Peter felt a sense of relief; his load returned to below normal, and he became more agile again.

Holding his two-handed sword upright in front of him, he responded, "If I lose, all the equipment will be returned to me, and you will be freed. I will not bother you again. If I win, you will need to come back to the camp with me for labor reform, each of you chopping down 200 trees to atone for your sins."

"I accept that too."

John the Big Mouth originally thought Peter would propose such harsh conditions as eternal slavery, but unexpectedly, it was only about cutting down 200 trees? It doesn't seem unacceptable.

The bound gang members breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. As long as they weren't dead, it was just work; they could handle it.

The handsome Charlie and his seven companions exchanged knowing glances. They only needed to chop down 100 trees, and by the end of the night, their mission would be half complete. Big Mouth John and his gang, on the other hand, had to chop down 200 trees, their chances of success still a long way off. Thinking this, they secretly rejoiced; tonight's mission had definitely been the right one.

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Peter gave the old monk a wink.

The old hermit Martin immediately understood, pulled a tattered Bible from his robes, and stood at the edge of the dueling arena, proclaiming: "The battlefield is the altar, victory or defeat is divine will. The duel begins!"

Peter and John stood five paces apart, each gripping their weapon tightly. John wielded a broadsword, thick and heavy; Peter, on the other hand, carried a more balanced two-handed longsword, slightly longer. Neither wore heavy armor, only ordinary cloth. In such a sword duel, a slight misstep could result in injury, and a single, precise strike could decide the outcome.

John struck first, adopting the classic "bull stance," sword raised high overhead with the tip slightly down, pointing at Peter, his center of gravity lowered, like a bull poised to pounce. This is a stance favored by power-type warriors, imbued with the power of a thunderous strike.

Peter opted for the more flexible "plow position," with the hilt at his waist, the tip pointing diagonally forward, and the guard close to the center of his body. This stance is both offensive and defensive, facilitating quick parries and thrusts.

A powerful slash aimed straight for Peter's left shoulder. Peter stepped back half a step, deflecting the force with his sword, sparks flying from the metal clashing, eliciting gasps of surprise.

"Drink!"

John delivered another heavy downward slash aimed straight at Peter's head, accompanied by a whistling sound as if tearing through the air! Peter did not take the blow head-on; instead, he quickly slid half a step to the side and simultaneously flipped his wrist, changing the longsword's position from "plow position" to "top position," parrying diagonally upwards.

"clang--!"

Once again, the clang of metal clashed, and sparks flew everywhere.

John, with his big mouth, felt a tremendous force come from the sword, making his hands go numb and his arms slightly sore. John couldn't believe that he, as strong as an ox, hadn't been able to defeat the slender Peter in terms of strength!

"My turn!"

After Peter deflected John's sword to his side, he simultaneously spun around, attempting to counter John's attack with a swift horizontal slash to the ribs.

John, however, was experienced and did not lose his balance after parrying. He lowered his wrist and pressed down on the sword, making a precise "low parry" to block Peter's horizontal slash. However, he was pushed back two steps by the enormous force and lost his balance.

Peter did not seize the opportunity to launch a preemptive attack, but instead gave John the Big Mouth time to adjust his body.

"Such immense power."

John the Big Mouth confirmed that he had indeed lost to his opponent in terms of strength.

"Again!"

John Big Mouth abandoned his brute force style of play and switched to a more skillful style based on his extensive practical experience.

Taking advantage of the moment Peter turned his sword back, he launched a swift thrust straight into Peter's chest!

Peter abruptly stepped back, his sword tip narrowly deflecting the thrust.

John the Big Mouth flicked his wrist, drawing his longsword in a semi-circle. The cold blade grazed Peter's clothes, tearing a gash in the linen garment.

"good!"

The bound bandits couldn't help but growl. John's combo moves were fluid and seamless, clearly showing his superior experience.

Peter is not afraid of injury. As long as his health bar doesn't drop to zero, his combat power will not weaken. He can recover to his peak condition by drinking two bottles of calendula potion after the battle.

Therefore, Peter cherishes the opportunity to spar with masters, because only through real sword fights can he truly master the "artificially high" level of swordsmanship he has built up.

The battle continues.

"Jingle bells!"

"Clang! Clang! Sizzle!"

The sounds of metal clashing and blades slicing through clothing filled the air. Peter's arm and shoulder were grazed by John's sword, but he also managed to leave several shallow cuts on John's outer thigh and left arm.

"This kid... seems to be using me as a sparring partner!"

John was filled with surprise and doubt, and his breathing became heavy. The continuous onslaught had exhausted him, while Peter's steps were steady and his breathing even. Moreover, John had a feeling that Peter's swordsmanship, which had been clumsy at the beginning, was becoming increasingly smooth.

After another dozen or so exchanges, Peter was gaining more and more control. He sensed John's fatigue. After one of John's habitual, slightly wide right sweeps, Peter didn't retreat or block as before, but suddenly lunged forward! He blocked John's blade with the back of his sword.

"Disarm!"

Peter gripped the hilt of the sword with one hand and the bladeless side of the two-handed sword with the other, twisting them forcefully.

"Ugh—!"

John the Big Mouth felt an irresistible spiraling force coming from the sword. The intense pain combined with the crushing force made him loosen his grip!

Clang!

The heavy broadsword flew out of his hand, spinning as it stuck in the mud a few steps away.

The outcome is decided!

Peter pointed his sword diagonally at the ground, breathing slightly heavily, his gaze calm as he looked at John the Big Mouth, who was kneeling on one knee, clutching his wound.

Handsome Charlie and his men cheered. The bound bandits remained silent.

"God... has made his judgment."

The silence was broken by the voice of the old hermit Martin. He put away the Bible and said to John the Big Mouth, "God has seen your sins and has condemned you."

"I...I confess."

John the Big Mouth looked at his empty hands, then at his sword a few steps away, and finally his gaze settled on Peter's calm face. He had lost, and he accepted it wholeheartedly. His opponent was stronger than him, and his initially rusty skills and shallow experience had rapidly improved during the battle, quickly surpassing his own. Was this a blessing from God?

"You…" John the Big Mouth managed to squeeze out, "You really will give us our freedom again?"

Peter sheathed his sword, his voice resounding throughout the hall, "It wasn't me, it was God who gave you a chance to change yourselves."

"I am willing to atone for my sins."

John the Big Mouth lowered his head. At this moment, the guard of these "Robin Hoods" truly began to crumble.