The Shadow’s Watch and a Queen’s Test

While Jiu Hui and Anya trained diligently on the practice grounds, a lone figure stood shrouded in shadow within a secluded corner, observing the scene unfold before them.

Clad in soft purple armor, with long crimson hair flowing down her back, the figure’s brilliant ruby-red eyes were fixed on Jiu Hui. As Jiu Hui awkwardly wielded a long blade, attacking Anya with clumsy strikes, those luminous eyes filled with a profound complexity.

Although she harbored a reluctance to personally instruct Jiu Hui, she also found herself unable to prevent others from guiding her.

This sentiment was contradictory, deeply tangled, yet undeniably rational.

Acquiring power inevitably brought with it the burden of responsibility, yet to possess no power at all was to face an even greater price!

Power, in essence, was such an inherent contradiction.

Thus, Lisa watched Jiu Hui from a distance, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead as she swung her long blade at Anya. Despite her relentless efforts, Jiu Hui hadn’t even grazed Anya’s soft armor. With a soft sigh, Lisa turned and departed.

Within the training grounds, Anya, who had been deftly evading Jiu Hui’s attacks, cast a quick glance in the direction Lisa had just departed. A faint smile played on her lips.

Observing Anya’s subtle movement, a glint flashed in Jiu Hui’s eyes. Her blade suddenly shifted, cutting out from Anya’s blind spot with surprising speed.

The gleaming edge, reflecting a sliver of silver light, arced directly towards Anya.

In that instant, a searing alarm blared in Anya’s mind. Years of battlefield experience compelled her body to instinctively sway backward, before she launched a powerful punch forward.

“Get out of the way!!!”

“Hmph~!!”

When Jiu Hui’s blade met only air, a jolt of alarm shot through her. Before she could even process it, a wave of intense pain engulfed her entire body, and her vision swam into darkness as she collapsed unconscious.

The moment her fist shot out, Anya realized her mistake, but it was far too late to retract the blow. She exerted every ounce of effort to pull back her strength, shouting a warning, hoping Jiu Hui might still evade.

Yet, even with her efforts, this was a punch Jiu Hui couldn’t escape. Gazing at the unconscious Jiu Hui sprawled on the ground, Anya’s lips twitched in a grimace.

“This is troublesome. Lisa is going to kill me, isn’t she?”

Suddenly, a chilling aura emanated from behind Anya. Her heart gave an abrupt lurch as she slowly turned her head, her gaze meeting the icy, frost-laden expression of Lisa.

“Uh… good afternoon, Lisa…”

Faced with Lisa’s chilling demeanor, Anya’s expression froze. She managed to force a smile that was arguably uglier than a grimace, offering a tentative greeting.

Lisa spared Anya a single glance before striding past her, moving directly to Jiu Hui’s side. She gently lifted Jiu Hui, performing a thorough check, and a small sigh of relief escaped her.

‘Thankfully, there’s nothing serious. It seems Anya did manage to pull back her strength at the last moment.’

Lisa had, in fact, already departed. While she might not have trusted just anyone, she held complete confidence in Anya, who had fought by her side for many years. Moreover, she deeply respected Anya’s strength, and entrusting Jiu Hui to her care had felt entirely secure.

However, to her surprise, it wasn’t long after her departure that she heard Anya’s loud shout. A jolt of alarm sent Lisa rushing back with incredible speed, yet she was still a step too late. By the time she arrived, Jiu Hui was already lying unconscious on the ground.

Standing up, Lisa fixed her gaze upon Anya, offering her a captivating smile. Then, with a swift flash of white light, Lisa’s longsword was already poised before Anya.

A sudden shock coursed through Anya, prompting her to swiftly retreat.

“Hey, hey, calm down, Lisa, calm down.”

Yet, Lisa maintained her smile, her movements utterly unhindered. She closed the distance swiftly, her longsword weaving a myriad of sword shadows that completely enveloped Anya’s form.

“Die once, Anya.”

With a soft smile, Lisa uttered these chilling words.

As Anya witnessed the deluge of sword shadows descending upon her, her expression shifted dramatically.

“You’re actually serious!!!”

With a loud cry, Anya deftly kicked her foot, sending the long blade from the ground soaring into her grasp. She gripped it firmly, then brought it down in a swift slash, precisely deflecting Lisa’s longsword.

“Clang!!”

As the crisp clang of metal echoed, Anya’s gaze fell upon Lisa. Though a smile still graced Lisa’s lips, it sent a shiver of dread down Anya’s spine, and her own expression grew solemn.

“Did you truly believe I was merely playing games with you?”

Lisa tilted her head slightly, a hint of confusion adorning her features, making her appear rather endearing. Yet, a sharp glint flashed in Anya’s eyes.

“Very well. If that’s truly the case, then allow me to witness how much of your strength remains after all this time as Queen!”

As she spoke, Anya’s lips curved into a deep, knowing smile.

“Flowing Song!!”

With a low roar, the long blade in Anya’s hand blurred into a series of swift shadows. Streaks of frigid light, carrying an intense chill, surged towards Lisa.

“Heh.” Lisa chuckled softly, her ruby-red eyes gleaming with a chilling light.

“Did you truly believe I had grown weaker, and that you could now defeat me?”

“First Bloom!”

With a low cry, the longsword in Lisa’s hand erupted into a cascade of sword shadows, instantly engulfing Anya’s blade light. Then, a single, piercing beam of sword light shot directly towards Anya.

“Perhaps I cannot defeat you, but the person I am now is no longer the one who merely gazed at your back from afar!!!”

With a guttural roar, Anya gripped her long blade, her eyes flashing with explosive brilliance.

“Sever!!!!”

With a thunderous shout, the long blade cleaved forward with ferocious power. Anya’s form surged ahead with the blade, then abruptly vanished mid-movement. When she reappeared, her long blade had already bypassed Lisa’s, now poised directly before Lisa, cleaving straight towards her.

Observing the long blade before her, a flicker of surprise crossed Lisa’s eyes, yet her expression remained utterly devoid of panic.

“Not bad at all. You’ve grown stronger as well. However, this alone is still insufficient!!”

As her longsword retracted, Lisa let out a soft chuckle, her lips parting slightly.

“Flash.”

Swish!

Lisa’s figure abruptly vanished from her original position. Witnessing this, Anya’s pupils contracted, and her body froze instantly, her long blade still held in its striking posture.

In that same instant, Lisa’s form materialized behind Anya, the tip of her sword aimed precisely at Anya’s waist.

“Heh, truly befitting Lisa.”

With a light chuckle, Anya shook her head in resignation.

Lisa retracted her longsword, her gaze falling upon Anya. She chuckled softly, “You’ve grown considerably stronger yourself.”

“Of course,” Anya replied, flashing Lisa a brilliant smile. “I am leading the squad on your behalf, after all. It wouldn’t do to not have grown stronger.”

Hearing this, Lisa paused for a moment, then broke into a smile.

“Haha, then you must ensure the squad is led exceptionally well.”

“No problem!!”

****