Chapter 717: Violent Collision
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 717: Violent Collision
"Hmm?"
A muffled sound of slight confusion escaped from behind the heavy visor.
It wasn't because of the insulting "trash" remark, but rather the sudden, jarring change in the atmosphere.
Crimson light flickered in Zagu’s eyes as his gaze finally settled properly on the human girl before him—the one fighting him while sporting two strange masses of material on her chest.
In the span of a single breath, he could clearly feel her strength skyrocketing, pulling itself up by the roots to reach an entirely different level. The dazzling "light pollution" radiating from her even gave him a faint, stinging sensation on his skin.
If her previous level of power had only warranted a casual swat, like one would drive away a fly, then this human girl had finally earned the right to be looked at directly.
No—considering she was only at the peak of the Fourth-Tier, this level of strength could already be described as terrifying.
Is she the one? The genius girl of the Empire rumored to have defeated the Lion King’s son, Muen Campbell?
"I see. No wonder Basaroka fell by your hand. I thought he had simply been careless, but now... it seems you truly possess the strength."
Zagu pulled his spear from the thicket of twisted metal with a casual flick. The shaft vibrated, shattering the iron fragments stuck to it.
Fighting Spirit, condensed almost into a physical substance, clung to the weapon. Crimson, malevolent streaks began to slither across the cold length of the spear.
"But so what? Even if your rank has gone from a D to a C, you still cannot defeat an A. The gap between us remains an insurmountable chasm."
Zagu stepped forward and thrust.
Though he was still dozens of meters away from where Ariel had been blown back, the spear seemed to fold space itself, piercing directly toward the vital point of her chest.
Clang!
Steel met steel, and sparks erupted.
The instantaneous burst of radiance was so intense it made the surrounding world seem to dim in comparison.
Ariel swung her sword upward in an exquisite parry, forcibly breaking Zagu’s momentum. However, the spear still grazed her shoulder, leaving behind a blooming, seductive flower of blood.
"Bullshit!"
Ariel barked a furious curse, the "waves" on her chest surging violently with her aggressive movements.
"Right now, I’m at least an S!"
It didn't matter what aspect was "S."
An S was an S!
Even a bouncy, boing-boing S was still an S!
"Heavenly Fire—Prairie Blaze!"
The flames erupted!
Fire controlled by Divine Blessing burned ferociously, coiling around the greatsword in Ariel’s hands. The bandages wrapped around the Heavenly Fire Greatsword finally disintegrated, revealing a majestic blade engraved with crimson-gold runes.
Fighting Spirit gushed out. The sheer volume of Ariel’s Fighting Spirit was nowhere near that of Zagu, who outranked her by more than an entire major realm. However, thanks to her teacher’s guidance—which transcended her current level—and her own relentless, grueling cultivation, the density of her Fighting Spirit in a localized area was not inferior to Zagu’s at all.
It was only in a small area, not her entire body, but combined with her self-applied buffs, she finally had the qualifications to clash with this so-called First Demon General for a short duration!
Ariel swung her sword again, fearless!
"Oh?"
The voice within the heavy visor shifted from confusion to genuine surprise.
Even Zagu hadn't expected that his evaluation of a person would be forced to rise twice within a single minute.
For the strongest warrior beneath the Eight Great Lords, the dignified First Demon General, this was a shock.
I see. With such obsession and fearlessness, is it any wonder she insists on maintaining those two strange masses on her chest to train herself even in the heat of battle?
To think there are humans who are such battle-crazed fanatics.
However...
Zagu suddenly gripped his spear tight, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
The shock in his crimson pupils transformed into absolute killing intent in an instant.
If a creature like this is given time to grow, she will inevitably become a dire threat to the Demon Race.
Therefore...
This child—must not be allowed to live!
Zagu let out a low growl as a blood-red aura swept out, shaking the entire top of the tower.
Facing the prairie fire and the even more terrifying sword intent hidden within the flames, Zagu felt no fear. He had no need for it. He charged forward, swinging his spear.
Boom!
There were no complex maneuvers, no sophisticated martial techniques.
He simply swung.
But that was enough to make the ferociously burning flames part down the middle and dissipate, like the sea being split by a divine messenger in a myth.
Ariel’s pupils shrank, but she did not retreat. Sword and spear collided once more!
The sound of the impact was like a clap of thunder!
The two combatants fell into a strange, frozen stillness at the moment of impact.
Faint patterns extended up Ariel’s snow-white neck, resembling dragon scales, only to shatter an instant later.
The dazzling "light pollution" flowed continuously, rapidly draining Ariel’s Mana.
Simultaneously, the Beast’s Heart empowerment pumped boiling blood through her limbs and bones; the sound of her own heartbeat drummed in her ears.
Opposite her, Zagu’s crimson gaze lowered. He silently watched a trickle of blood seep from a gap in his arm armor.
This was a direct, head-on collision.
On the surface, they seemed evenly matched.
But in reality... amidst the drum-like thudding of her heart, Ariel could clearly hear the sound of her own flesh tearing and bones snapping.
Her injuries were far more severe than Zagu’s.
This was only natural. Even if Ariel had used various special modifiers to briefly obtain an offensive power comparable to Zagu’s, that was only her offense.
The gap in physical constitution, stamina, and defense brought about by the difference in realms could not be bridged so easily.
It was like a child wielding a blindingly bright, legendary divine blade clashing with a muscular man holding a regular sword... even if the child’s blade could wound the man, would the final outcome change?
No.
The gap was too wide.
Ariel’s talent, hard work, and luck were enough to let her cross a chasm that was unreachable for others, but they couldn't let her cross every chasm.
The distance between her and Zagu was so vast that "chasm" wasn't even the right word for it.
"Ariel, clashing head-on like this is an incredibly foolish move."
The Saintess Teacher’s voice was extremely solemn. "At this rate, you won't last more than a few exchanges."
"I know!"
Ariel swallowed the blood rising in her throat, a flash of madness crossing her eyes.
"The nutrients in my brain haven't been sucked dry by my chest yet!"
The extinguished flames roared back to life. Ariel took only two steps back before suddenly swinging the Heavenly Fire Greatsword to meet that terrifying spear again.
Boom!
Ariel was knocked back again, her feet plowing deep furrows into the ground.
Zagu gave her no room to breathe; the spear followed her like a shadow.
Boom!
Ariel was knocked back once more.
She raised her trembling hands.
Both of her sleeves had been reduced to dust in the previous collisions, revealing her fair arms.
Boom!
Ariel was forced back again.
Her arms were no longer fair; they were covered in a network of bleeding cracks.
"Ariel, use that move..."
"Miss An is still here."
"Then I can use my soul power..."
"No need!"
Ariel spat out a mouthful of pure blood. "Dealing with this thing doesn't require Teacher to step in."
Boom!
Sword and spear struck, erupting with lightning.
Ariel simply stopped using complex techniques altogether, because such things were meaningless against a monster like Zagu, who had integrated every bit of martial skill and technique into his every movement.
No matter how sophisticated a move was, to a true grandmaster, it was nothing more than a flowery display full of openings.
Therefore, she simply poured all of her strength into the Heavenly Fire in her hands.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Collision!
Collision!
And collision again!
The successive impacts began to blur Ariel’s senses.
She could no longer distinguish blood from sweat, or heaven from earth.
Even the entire world began to turn hazy.
But a sudden spike in pain and a cold sensation against her back snapped her consciousness back into focus.
Glancing out of the corner of her eye, Ariel realized she had reached the edge of the tower’s roof. Half of her body was already embedded in the thick stone wall.
The gale howled through a nearby window. If this cracked wall shattered completely, a thousand-meter drop to a precipice awaited her.
There was nowhere left to retreat.
"I must say, you are far more impressive than I imagined."
Zagu stopped and momentarily withdrew his spear.
The surprise in his eyes had turned into genuine admiration.
"To be at your realm, with your strength, and to take so many of my strikes without dying... in two hundred years, you are the first I have encountered."
"Heh... two hundred years?"
Ariel leaned against the shattered rubble, panting painfully for a few moments before struggling to her feet. She sneered, "Two hundred years and this is all you’ve got? You aren't even a Crown Bearer. I haven't even used my ultimate move yet."
"And yet, you look like you’ve broken at least dozens of bones."
"A few broken bones are just minor scratches."
Trembling, Ariel supported one of her arms, quickly casting a healing spell on it so she could continue to grip her greatsword.
If she couldn't even lift her sword, it would be too pathetic.
"Is that so? In that case... I shall grant you the respect due to a warrior. I will send you to your death in the most solemn manner possible."
Zagu slowly raised his spear.
The aura of death began to brew.
After dozens of clashes, Ariel was at the end of her rope, but aside from some insignificant superficial wounds, Zagu’s exertion was only equivalent to having just finished a bout of intense exercise.
"But regardless, to be able to fight me head-on for two full minutes at your level of strength is enough for you to be pro—"
Zagu’s movements suddenly froze.
It was as if he had finally remembered something. His crimson eyes locked onto Ariel, and in that moment, a flash of undeniable humiliation and rage surfaced.
That’s right...
They had been clashing for two full minutes.
But he remembered that this human girl’s original goal was...
"Heh, well said. Two minutes is indeed something to be proud of. Even I can't help but admire myself."
The mockery in Ariel’s eyes intensified.
"But two minutes still isn't quite enough. So, I really have to thank you for all that nonsense you spouted at the beginning. Because no matter what, those words successfully stalled for some time, didn't they?"
Ariel had been counting in her head.
Three minutes. One hundred and eighty seconds. How much longer?
This First Demon General was a despicable fellow with no sense of warrior’s honor. The moment he saw an opening, he would turn around and attack Miss An without hesitation.
So, she couldn't run.
She had to make him believe he could kill her in a short amount of time, while simultaneously holding her ground against his attacks during that "short time."
She even had to subtly lead him as far away from Miss An as possible.
It was hard.
Incredibly hard.
By all logic, it should have been impossible, because the slightest mistake would have resulted in a miserable death under Zagu’s spear.
"But what can I say? I am Ariel Bugard, the Pure Love Battle God who fights for all the beautiful girls in the world. Things that are impossible for others... I can always pull them off."
Ariel looked at Zagu, her lips curling into a smirk.
"Now then, Mr. First Demon General, there are ten seconds left until the three minutes are up... what are you going to do now?"