‘Hmm…’ Yu Shao slowly averted her gaze from the inner pavilion, observing Regina as she shifted her eyes toward the young man standing before her. It was perplexing to realize that he had made a grave mistake, yet she refrained from attacking immediately.
Instead, she took a moment to contemplate the reasons behind his actions—why he seemed intent on sending Regina away from this place.
Yu Shao could see through his deception; he appeared to believe that Regina’s departure would alter the course of this battle.
However, if Regina were present, there might still be a chance of victory. But with her not present, the odds seemed less favorable.
Slowly, Yu Shao took a step forward, her figure blurring in an instant.
Swish
In a heartbeat, Yu Shao Yan’s form flickered out of existence, leaving her previous position vacant.
‘Surround Esme with Conduit!’ Ryuk’s gaze sharpened as he struggled to keep track of her silhouette, which darted around him with a speed that was nearly impossible to follow.
It wasn’t just simple speed; it was the precision behind it that made her movements hard to read.
His attention was divided between Esme and the battle he was about to fight.
[Initiating a 1-meter dome around the target.]
An invisible dome encased Esme, lying dormant until someone breached its boundary.
Swoosh!
A flash of light sliced through the air before Ryuk as Yu Shao Yan’s sword narrowly missed his neck, grazing the space where he had stood just moments before.
Her movements were a captivating blend of grace and precision; the blade flowed through the air like a wraith, executing each strike with flawless efficiency.
Yet, Ryuk was not caught off guard.
Tapping into his raw strength, his body began to glow with an orange hue, hands gripping the sword shrouded in an amethyst aura.
As his grip tightened, he maneuvered and twisted, landing a blow in midair, but Yu Shao created a distance between them by leaping back.
‘System, is it still not complete?’ Ryuk silently inquired, feeling the sharp pressure of air caused by the sword strike made when she was leaping, but his aura withstood the sharp air shot.
[Host, please hold for a little longer.]
‘….’ Ryuk loosened his body, slightly leaning back before launching a forceful shot at her, bringing his sword forward.
clank
Both of their swords collided, sending sharp strikes throughout the place and leaving cut marks on the ground all around.
Although he was channeling energy into his aura, Yu Shao Yan’s speed seemed to be increasing.
It wasn’t just about velocity; the way her sword moved was both precise and rapid.
He had the strength to withstand her strikes, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that each of her attacks was meticulously aimed at a single, vulnerable spot.
Yu Shao Yan’s eyes shone with an intensity that could be felt, her pupils darting rapidly as if tracking his every precise movement.
In an instant, her body lunged back and then forward, maintaining a speed that was nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.
Her sword, a gleaming blade adorned with a phoenix crest etched along its surface, flashed once more—this time targeting his heart.
Ryuk’s muscles coiled in preparation as he raised his forearm, cloaked in an amethyst Ether, to block the incoming strike.
He had just fended off her last attack with his sword, and the angle from which her sword approached forced him to rely on his arm rather than his sword, making his counter much slower.
Crack!
The impact of her strike sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, causing cracks to form beneath them.
The force of her blow seemed to push him downwards, but a second sword strike followed in quick succession, colliding against his firm posture.
Although he managed to repel her attack since his body was shrouded in dense Ether, the residual force was still palpable.
‘He managed to stop it?’ Her eyes flickered with a hint of surprise at the sheer brute strength he displayed.
Given the internal energy she had infused into her sword, enhancing its sharpness, she had anticipated that her strike would have a significant impact.
The fact that he could block it with just his forearm—especially when she had intentionally channeled more power into her attack—was unexpected.
She had assumed that even if he could mitigate the blow, the shockwave would likely inflict damage on his internal organs.
But there he stood, clenched jaws tight, clearly enduring the force that struck him.
“Kughh!?” Ryuk gritted his teeth when he felt the impact sending ripples through his internal muscles.
He could sense that if such attacks continued, it would be increasingly difficult to withstand, especially as she had targeted the most vulnerable point on his wrist—right where his amber and purple auras mingled.
He was boosting his current strength by using both auras to enhance his speed and power to prevail against her.
One thing was unmistakable in this battle: it was not merely a battle of brute strength or sheer energy.
It resembled a clash between a bull and a man; the bull might possess incredible power, but the woman’s technique and the fluidity with which her sword moved were wholly unpredictable.
“Impressive,” she murmured, skillfully retreating, her sword still held with poise and precision. “But strength without skill is no more than a boulder tumbling down a mountain—predictable and easily dodged.”
Ryuk let out a deep, rumbling chuckle that echoed across the battlefield. “And skill without power is like a feather caught in the wind—fragile and easily torn apart.”
He lunged at her, his fists a blur as they targeted her midsection. The sheer force of his attacks caused the air around them to ripple with intensity.
Yu Shao Yan exhibited impeccable footwork, her body shifting gracefully as she dodged with minimal effort, her sword parrying his strikes with barely a touch.
Yet, each time their weapons or bodies met, the impact reverberated through her arms—a stark reminder that despite her precision, his overwhelming strength could shatter her defenses if he landed a hit.
The rush of air and shockwave produced with each movement of his fists made it clear that even if her body were enveloped in internal energy, the crushing force of his blows would still be enough to overwhelm her.
She could also discern that he had transcended into the levels of perfect LEGENDARY strength.
No, his physical strength and energy were far stronger than anyone normal at that level.
The evidence was clear; cracks had already formed in the main palace building due to the shockwaves generated by his strikes.
The mountain peak itself trembled whenever he moved.
Despite this overwhelming power, he seemed to be holding back, as if he were trying to protect someone.
‘It can’t be that girl,’ she thought, her sword danced with agility as she unleashed a series of rapid slashes that left trails of energy in the air, while her eyes glanced towards Esme and Jenny.
Ryuk met her blade with his fists—he had quickly realized that using a sword against her would be a grave mistake.
Each strike he delivered pushed her back, the raw energy radiating from him causing the ground beneath them to tremble violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
If it weren’t for the spiritual vein reinforcing the mountain, it would have surely crumbled by now.
‘Damn it?!’ Ryuk exclaimed, suddenly noticing a flicker in her gaze directed at Esme. It struck him that she had identified his weakness before he could uncover hers.
In a moment of determination, he swung his fist in a wide arc, aiming to crush her with a single blow.
However, Yu Shao Yan’s reflexes were nothing short of lightning-fast.
She spun gracefully on her heel, her sword flashing upward in a brilliant arc that not only deflected his punch but simultaneously delivered a sharp, precise slice across his chest.
drip drip
Blood sprayed from the wound, yet Ryuk didn’t even flinch.
“You’ll need more than that,” he grinned, casually wiping the blood away. ‘Heal it…’
[Initiating Auto-Healing….]
[Purchasing Auto-Regeneration = 120,868 Kill Points]
[For as long as the wound does not deliver a fatal blow to the Host, his body will continue regenerating for 20 hours.]
