Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

The news that Klaus was, in fact, an archer and not a fencer, soon spread throughout the stadium and broadcasts, surprising not only the North Dakota team members, but also the general public. As the information spread like wildfire, a buzz of murmurs and questions filled the room.

Was it possible for an archer to successfully face four talented fencers in a row, not using a bow, but a sword?

Klaus remained unfazed by the conversations around him, because he could not even distinguish them from mere noises. He knew he had a duty to fulfill, not only for the sake of his team, but also to prove to himself that the last few weeks of so much effort had not been in vain.

Since the rules didn't allow more than one person to fight someone alone, they would all be individual duels, but they would all be in sequence and that would definitely be exhausting for Klaus.

The first fencer from North Dakota, a girl with short hair, advanced decisively towards Klaus.

The spectators held their breath, eager for the battle that was about to take place.

Although he did not possess the same skill and experience in fencing as his opponents, Klaus made up for it with all his hundreds of hours in the past months in Rise Online, giving him a peculiar agility and fearlessness.

With smooth movements, Klaus avoided the first attacks and, with a quick stroke of his sword, surprised his opponent, touching his sword to her trough and ensuring one less opponent.

The stadium erupted in a thunderous ovation, and Klaus' confidence grew by the second.

The other two North Dakota fencers followed, challenging Klaus one at a time.

Each bout was an arduous ordeal, yet the archer showed tenacity and impressive skill. Using his quick eyes and agility to dodge enemy attacks, even with his large body, Klaus stood as a formidable opponent.

The crowd cheered each of Klaus' victories, encouraging him to keep going. The New York team, though defeated, looked with admiration and pride at their colleague, who stood out as he fought for an unlikely victory.

The time had finally come for the final fight, in which Klaus would confront Mikael, the leader of the North Dakota team. All four members of North Dakota somehow ended up defeated by Klaus, only Mikael was different, he was a recognized talent by professionals and was someone of physical talent above Klaus.

Everyone knew that would be the biggest challenge for the archer, because Mikael was a fencer who was not only talented but also very experienced.

However, Klaus was not afraid. His determination was unwavering, and he was willing to give it his all, to fight to the last drop of sweat.

The stadium was plunged into a tense silence, about to witness an epic showdown between two fearless combatants.

Fate awaited to reveal whether the unlikely archer would manage to overcome yet another obstacle, achieving glory and establishing himself as New York's unlikely hero.

The crowd was silent as the swordsmen stared each other down.

"You're good, there's no denying that." Mikael said with a confident tone for someone who had just seen his entire team defeated.

"Thanks, I guess..." Klaus said, looking at the strong blond man before him.

"Are you enjoying the attention you've received? Did you give it a day of fame? I bet you'll be a big hit with the girls tonight, even if you lose."

"Cut it out, I have a girlfriend."

Mikael smiled with arched eyebrows. "Then you're going to have the night of your dreams, my friend."

The stadium was tense with anticipation of the fine confrontation as Klaus and Mikael stared at each other and talked, their swords raised.

"I wonder what they're talking about?" Peter, the narrator, asked the commentator.

"Peter, I'm no expert at lip-reading, but Mikael seems to be letting out a few taunts."

"Erghh... Mikael is known at tournaments for his trashtalk, so he's enjoying doing the same with Klaus."

With a fierce shout, Mikael suddenly lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air with speed.

Klaus dodged deftly, sliding to the side. Their feet scraped across the ground as they spun, their swords meeting in a metallic clash.

The sound echoed through the quiet stadium, heralding the start of the battle.

Klaus countered with a swift side swipe, but Mikael deftly blocked, as if he had expected it, demonstrating his experience as a fencer. Then Klaus took a step back, assessing his opponent. He had to use his agility to his advantage. Therefore, with an agile leap backwards, Klaus moved away from Mikael, who lunged forward with a fierce attack. Klaus spun his sword, avoiding the blow by a split second.

The audience was mesmerized by Klaus' dexterity. He seemed to move with unparalleled beauty, his sword slicing through the air with elegance and producing the characteristic sound of speed.

Mikael, for his part, was no less impressive. His blows were precise and powerful.

These two fencers faced each other with relentless intensity, their swords clashing in a duel of strength and skill. Klaus was determined to win, and adrenaline pulsed through his veins as he launched into a rapid sequence of blows.

Mikael responded masterfully, blocking each attack with precision.

The battle continued for another two minutes, and both were slowly getting tired, but Klaus was obviously more so, as his face was so wet it reflected some of the light.

Klaus used his agility to dodge Mikael's blows, which were sudden and lightning fast. Besides, Klaus was already beginning to feel his muscles tense and stiff. He didn't have much time, he had to finish soon and hide, because there were still several teams on this field.

However, Mikael was not the leader of the North Dakota team for nothing. With Klaus's fatigue becoming more and more evident, it didn't take long for Mikael to find a gap in Klaus's defense, and so he lunged forward with a sharp blow.

Klaus tried to block, but the impact made him take a few steps back and at that moment a muscle in his left leg failed, making his left knee bend unintentionally and that was the cue Mikael needed.