“Oh no! Crystal’s in danger!” Miles sprang to his feet. His eyes widened in shock as he watched Aurora’s terrifying attack. Fear etched across his face.
Her power was far greater than he expected. Her strike was on par with a grandmaster.
“Crystal, hang in there!” Ruby urged. She clenched her teeth as she watched intently. Though her expression didn’t show it, she was just as tense as Miles.
The match was no longer just about victory or defeat. It was life or death, and one wrong move could be fatal.
“I didn’t expect Aurora to improve so quickly. She’s about to break through to grandmaster level,” Fenley said, nodding in approval.
Aurora and Alicia were equally talented in martial arts. However, Alicia’s dedication fell short. Despite being two years older, Aurora’s strength had already surpassed hers.
“Yes.” Alicia smiled proudly. “She is now halfway to becoming a grandmaster, and her Phoenix Dance technique is incredibly refined. Few can match her when she’s at her best.”
“I’m not worried about her,” he said, glancing sideways at Alicia. “It’s you I’m concerned about. You need to stop slacking off and train harder. Try to ease some of the burden on the guildmaster.”
“Okay, I get it. I’ll work harder from now on,” she promised coyly.
Fenley shook his head in exasperation but said nothing. Despite her playful nature and occasional laziness, she was the most valued member of the Celestial Alliance.
In the battle ring, Aurora unleashed the Ennea Chorus technique, which enveloped Crystal entirely. With no way to dodge, Crystal focused her true energy on her sword, thrusting it toward the phoenix.
“Conquest Breaker!” she shouted.
Her sword shone brilliantly as her energy transformed into a giant silver blade. It was nearly 33 feet long and 6 feet wide, encasing her. At that moment, the sword and wielder became one.
As the phoenix dove down, the giant sword thrust upward. It was an earth- shattering collision as a loud explosion rocked the area. The fiery red phoenix burst apart, and the silver sword shattered.
In an instant, a wave of energy radiated from the impact and swept outward in all directions. The sky darkened as the energy waves swept through, stirring dust clouds.
The fierce winds whipped through the crowd, causing their hair to stand on end and their robes to flutter wildly. They struggled to keep their eyes open against the relentless gusts.
“What incredible power! This attack is on par with a grandmaster’s duel.”
“I can’t believe two women are fighting with such skill. Truly impressive.”
“This Combat Tournament has gathered the best of the best. It’s been worth every moment.”
With the aftershocks still rippling through the air, the spectators couldn’t help but murmur in awe.
Aurora’s Ennea Chorus technique was indeed formidable. It could match a grandmaster’s skill. However, Crystal’s final move, Conquest Breaker, was equally impressive. It was hard to tell who had the upper hand.
As the dust settled and the winds died down, the figure of the two women on the battle ring came into view. The spectators were momentarily stunned by the scene.
Aurora and Crystal stood just six feet apart as they faced each other. Crystal gripped her sword with one hand. Its tip was pressed against Aurora’s throat. It cut her skin, and blood trickled down her collar.
In contrast, Aurora held her crescent blade in a slashing position. Its edge was just three inches from Crystal’s chest.
Under normal circumstances, a distance of just three inches was nothing more than a quick flick of a wrist. It could take a life in an instant.
Aurora could reach Crystal from that distance with a longer weapon without effort. But now, those mere three inches seemed impossible.
Aurora’s blade would barely graze Crystal’s skin if it moved three inches forward. But if Crystal’s sword advanced the same distance, it would sever Aurora’s head. This stark difference highlighted the thin line between life and death.
At that moment, the outcome was clear.
“You-” Aurora frowned and looked at the sword hovering at her neck. She wanted to say something but sighed instead.
She lowered her crescent blade and said reluctantly, “I surrender.”
Aurora realized that if Crystal hadn’t shown mercy and pulled back her sword in time, her head would already be dead. She knew Crystal would just walk away with just a minor injury.
It dawned on her that she was no match for Crystal.
