Falicia and Derio stood not too far apart in a pre-prepared arena for Transcendence Realm powerhouses. In the stands, Yasenia sat with Angel on her lap, hugging her sideways like a baby.
Angel didn’t care much about the battle and focused on burying her nose in Yasenia’s skin, her eyes languid as her muscles softened and relaxed. After a deep breath, she sighed. ’This is heaven...’
Yasenia’s embrace, with her curves, was like being squished into a pleasant mass of alluring softness. Kali and Cecile sat by her side, with Evelyn and Andrea sitting in front and Tatyana behind.
Looking at the two contenders, Yasenia asked. "Who is your money on?"
Evelyn leaned back onto one of Yasenia’s legs and spoke calmly. "Probably Derio. While Falicia has been training for a few years with you, he is, after all, a level higher and a sect master. So, he should not be your average cultivator, plenty able to fight above his weight class."
Andrea made a counterpoint. "While that’s the truth, won’t the refinent baths give Falicia that edge to match up to him?"
Evelyn humd. "If she had more than a few years, probably. However, if I recall, the last refinent bath she took still caused her to expel impurities. Yasenia’s refinent technique is very effective, but it needs ti for it to truly take effect." Evelyn smiled at Andrea. "Rember that we have such good effects due to Yasenia feeding us until our stomachs are plump and bulging~."
Andrea rolled her eyes lightly. "You really dare say anything. Still... you have a point. Yasenia’s Dual Cultivation technique is what helps us absorb and cleanse our bodies to an astounding degree."
Kali comnted. "Yasenia’s Yang energy is as nutritious as taking several high-star Supre Ranked cleansing pills. Her blood is also an incredible booster, not to ntion the Blood Essence she helped us eat the other ti." Looking at Yasenia’s golden slit eyes, Kali sighed. "I am sure that if it weren’t crossing a boundary that we shouldn’t, Yasenia would even feed us her flesh."
Yasenia blinked. "I would. If I use my own flesh for Spiritual Cooking, the results would be incredible."
But she wouldn’t. Even if it was beneficial, there were boundaries that she should not cross. Blood Essence and the occasional bites from pleasure that drew blood from her were acceptable. However, mutilating herself to prepare a dish for them went too far by all asures.
Cecile answered with her usual cold and clear voice. "If you ever do that, I won’t forgive you."
Yasenia smiled and leaned on her side, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I won’t unless absolutely necessary."
Tatyana spoke up. "Oh, they are about to begin."
Focusing on the field, they heard Derio speak up. "Today, I challenge you, Falicia. If I win, I hope you can accept as your one and only Dao Companion. I will also swear to walk the cultivation path with you until the end."
Falicia held her smile and summoned her giant two-handed hamr, grabbing it as if it didn’t weigh anything. "Today, if I am defeated, I will accept your proposal." Then, using the courage she had been gathering, she spoke with a rapidly beating heart. "If you fail to suppress , it will be who... who pursues you!"
Falicia’s face beca reddish, but her montum made the onlookers feel that she was serious. Derio blinked, a bit baffled, but he nodded. ’Defeat ? Is she that confident?’
Complicated feelings appeared in his heart, but he didn’t let them surface and focused.
A second later, when he was about to charge, Derio saw Falicia stomp the ground, creating a massive earthquake with her physical might, and shot forward with terrifying montum and speed.
Derio drew out his spear swiftly and channeled his Sun Energy into it, slamming toward the side of the approaching hamr head.
BANG!
Both sides felt intense recoil, sending their figures sideways as they brushed each other. Derio pivoted and used perfect footwork technique, shifting all his montum to the spear as he flashed back.
Falicia noticed Derio cross the distance, and her muscles tensed up. The physical strength she had gained during the torturous years with Yasenia exploded violently, her figure spinning back fast enough to answer.
Such agility while carrying a hamr that weighed several mountains worth surprised Derio. ’Such agility? How strong has she beco in just a few decades?’
The giant hamr, enveloped in a deep chill of Darkness and Moon energy, tore through the air with terrifying montum. ’I need to dodge.’
Derio stopped his sweeping motion even when he was about to connect first. After all, if Falicia managed to resist and the hamr strike landed on him, it would be him who suffered.
"[Sun Ray Step]."
His body glowed faintly, and appeared several kiloters away. The reason for such a far retreat was...
"[Dark Moon Mountain Crush]."
A massive area in front of Falicia was swallowed into the chilling darkness, followed by a terrifying shockwave that could destroy several worlds.
BOOM!
Space trembled, but Derio was fast enough to dodge the after-effect.
Within an instant after the initial exchange, both sides let their Intent Domains and strength-boosting skills loose.
"[Scorching Corona Intent Domain Level Six]."
"[Dark Moonlight Intent Domain Level Five]."
The world was instantly divided into a scorching and chilling domain. Being a level higher, Derio’s Intent Domain suppressed Falicia’s, but not to the point of crushing it. Falicia could still fight.
Both charged at each other, and they began exchanging attacks incredibly quickly, their bodies moving across the arena as phantoms of moons, suns, giant weapons, and terrifying shockwaves swept the area.
Light and darkness intertwined, both sides quite equally matched, even when Derio had the Intent Domain advantage.
Andrea followed the fight rather easily and comnted. "That Level difference in Intent Domain might be the decisive difference."
Evelyn humd. "It’s truly... overwhelming. When your opponent’s Intent Domain is too strong, it’s like having chains attached to your limbs while fighting."
Kali muttered. "But it’s not impossible to fight. It feels awful, yes, but as long as you are not utterly crushed, you can fight back."
"That’s... true." Evelyn nodded. She had fought people with stronger Intent Domains herself, but that never scared her.
Yasenia spoke while gently scratching Angel’s scalp with her fingers and nail-tips. "Falicia is at a big disadvantage. She is falling into a trap without noticing."
"Trap?"
Andrea and the others focused, and suddenly, they noticed a few hot spots on the ground. Their eyes sharpened.
anwhile, Derio spun his spear and thrust forward several tis in a row. Falicia dodged rapidly, activating [Moon Crushing] and blasting all his attacks back together with Derio. He couldn’t help but feel amazed. ’Strong. She has beco several tis stronger than before.’
It was not as if he had been slacking during their few years of separation, but Falicia had transford on a more fundantal level. It was a change he couldn’t really put his finger on. ’It’s as if she has eaten foundation-strengthening treasures. Did she have a chance encounter?’
Falicia, other than the refinent baths, had eaten so of Yasenia’s foods during her stay with them. Yasenia’s Spiritual Dishes were all Supre Ranked and incredibly nourishing, hence the change.
Even then, he was not nervous. Looking around with his Spiritual Sense, Derio stepped forward, flas bursting around his figure. When Falicia, who was on the offensive, saw that, a small chill surged inside her.
’Sothing’s wrong.’
The bestial instinct she had developed during Yasenia’s beatings activated and told her that there was danger sowhere. So, trusting this judgnt, Falicia struck the ground with her giant hamr.
"[Ultimate Fortress of the Dark Moon]."
Derio spoke an instant later. "[Sun Ray Incarnation Manifestation]."
His spear pointed skyward, and from the several hot spots he had left, a towering humanoid made out of sun flas soared to the sky. This manifestation was larger than an average rocky world.
Yasenia and the other girls looked up with impressed eyes. "What a strong technique."
As the defensive barrier ford around Falicia, Derio brought down the spear, pointing to the sky and directing it toward Falicia. "[Sun Ray Incarnation Collapse]."
The massive humanoid’s fist descended from well beyond the clouds, parting the sky with a fist large enough to cover the skies.
The fist, while large, descended at incredible speed.
BOOM!!!
Falicia’s shield bent downward precariously, her entire body feeling as if she were holding the sky on her two shoulders. Her internal organs were damaged from the recoil, spitting blood.
Derio was not done, though. "[Sun Ray Incarnation Explosion]."
The giant humanod curled downward, and then, the world turned white.
Yasenia and the others raised barriers to shield themselves just in case. Yasenia also made sure to protect Falicia from the blinding light and sound. Then, a second later, a rumbling sound as if a mountain was collapsing from within enveloped the world.
Derio looked down from the sky, a touch worried that he had gone too far. He was a bit tired, as this technique required quite a bit of strength to cast. Still, it was one of his finishing moves, sothing he used to acknowledge Falicia’s improvent.
’If it had been in the past, I would’ve never used this technique from fear of instantly killing her. However, the current Falicia should be able to defend with only heavy wounds, right?’
In his hand, just in case, one of his highest-ranked healing pills was prepared. He didn’t have many of these, and he would even feel heartache using them on himself. However, to save Falicia, he would not mind using them at all.
A few seconds later, the aftermath was cleared, and Derio saw Falicia standing in the middle. Her body was badly scorched, her hands gripping the hamr, trembling as she propped herself up with it. The ground was a molten ss as well.
He quickly descended and spoke. "This is enough, right?"
He was a level above Falicia in both cultivation and Intent Domain. The fact that she could reach this point was incredibly admirable.
anwhile, Falicia raised her eyes, which had sowhat recovered, and spoke with a hoarse voice. "I... lost..."
Derio quickly fed her the pill and carried her away. In his trustworthy arms, Falicia closed her eyes and rested, a faint smile on her lips. She was satisfied. She had given her all, and even then, Derio beat her fair and straight.
This outco was almost ideal for Falicia, so she snuggled a bit closer, despite her harsh burns.
Seeing the two fly away, Yasenia chuckled. "Well, it seems that Derio won."
Evelyn comnted with a sigh. "In the end, it was a difference in technique quality. That Sun Ray Incarnation was powerful and unique. No wonder he can be a Sect Master in this world."
Cecile spoke, her eyes calm. "I can pierce that thing with an arrow."
Evelyn paused and laughed. "Alright, Missy. Don’t direct your competitiveness toward them. They can’t bear the weight!"
Cecile glanced at Evelyn and spoke. "Spar later."
Evelyn rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of battle intent in her eyes. In terms of strength, all of them were sowhat equal. Even Andrea, because of Ebirah and Vairon, could fight with all of them, except Angel and Yasenia.
These two were a level above the rest. Kali as well, but only when she used Valeria as a combat summon.
Yasenia, using her tail to support Angel in a princess carry, stood up slowly with a smile. "Well, things are done here. Ti to leave."
The others nodded and followed.
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