by Jason Hale
Of course, she also knew that the real challenge had yet to come.
Wulf who sat by Daphne's side almost spat blood, and seeing the odd gazes of the spectators in the vicinity, he didn't know where to hide his face.
"Unfilial daughter, shut up at once!"
…
"Good. Very good. The stronger, the better!"
Holgren's heart overflowed with joy. No one could imagine that right now, the person who most desired Konnor's victory was him. The more outstanding his performance, the more relief Holgren felt.
As for Nier, her eyes brimmed with fighting intent.
Held by important matters, Elmar wasn't among the spectators. However, he would appear during the next round.
"We will take a one-hour break, then carry on with the semi-finals."
The battle royal had come to an end, with only four contestants remaining. Of the four, only one had shown the full extent of his skills and clearly didn't belong to the party.
As for the rest, they still held immense hidden strength. The spectators were full of excitement, and when the semi-finals' matchup appeared, they almost leaped from their seats.
"Nier von Juras vs. Anselm Kracht!"
Most believed that this would be the last match with suspense, a clash that would leave profound memories within their minds. Some, however, were more skeptical.
"Who do you think will be the victor?"
"Hard to say. My money would be on the ninth prince, but that Kracht boy looks like one hell of a freak."
"Yeah, who knows what else he has up his sleeve?"
The hour passed by in a flash, it was time for the semi-finals' beginning!
"Nier von Juras, Anselm Kracht, on the stage!"
As the bishop's voice echoed, Konnor stood up. This time, he could no longer evade Nier' gaze. There was no point trying to do so. As the two walked toward the stage, their eyes met, and he could see the burning determination shining within hers.
Eyes interlocked, they stopped three paces away from one another. Tension was palpable between them. Tension most attributed to the upcoming clash. The most astute, however, felt something odd. As if there was old enmity among them.
Nier, especially, could hardly constrain her soaring emotions.
"You should concede."
Konnor declared. His tone calm, and indifferent.
His words, however, sparked the outrage within Nier' heart.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because you and I both know that you are not my match."
Although they maintained a level tone, all the spectators were cultivators and thus possessed great hearing. In particular, Transcendent Knights and above could hear everything, and they all felt Konnor was conceited.
Nier' lips curled into a smile. Yet, there was no joy on her face.
In her eyes, Konnor could only see bitterness and resentment.
"I've been thinking about what you said, and it makes a lot of sense. I was most likely being muddled.
However, the more I think of it, the more I want to beat you up. And now, I just want to beat you senseless to vent the frustration within my heart.
That's the only reason why I am here, so why would I concede?"
That straightforward reply took Konnor aback and caused the eyes of those capable of hearing to widen in astonishment. The more they looked at the stage, the more they felt like Nier was adopting the stance of the rejected young lady seeking revenge on a disloyal partner.
Was there a secret relationship between the two?
But weren't they both men? Could this be…one of those instances?
"Nier, remember that under no circumstance, you can use your True Spirit Form."
Holgren reminded in a mental message. He could clearly see that Nier was taking the battle to heart and feared things getting out of hand. In her True Spirit Form, because of the otherworldly charm and dreamlike appeal she would exert on men, Nier' male disguise would collapse.
Therefore, their father, the holy emperor, had forbidden her from using it in public.
"..."
Her lack of words heightened the worry within Holgren's heart.
"The first round of the semi-finals now begins!"
As soon as the bishop's voice echoed, holy quintessence erupted from Nier body alongside vast spiritual energy.
She stretched out her hands, summoning her silver and dark-blue energy swords while maintaining her eyes locked on Konnor.
"Why be so stubborn? It's not like I impregnated you and refused to take responsibility."
Nier replied by swinging her sword at Konnor's neck. He leaned back, letting the sword tip bypass him while throwing a palm strike at Nier' chest.
*Bam*
She met his palm with the pommel of her other sword. A wave of spiritual energy burst from the collision, causing disturbances within the wind.
Nier took several steps backward before stabilizing herself. However, Konnor remained where he initially stood without any damage.
With that single exchange, Konnor's superiority was revealed. In her human form, Nier could easily defeat an ordinary fourth step Arch Knight. However, although Konnor was a level below her, she still wasn't his match.
Was it not for the Saint-Origin Pill and her new physique, she would have suffered internal damage.
Thanks to his Origin Sight, Konnor was well-aware of Nier' new physique. Beneath the Transcendent level, she feared no blow. However, to him, that was inconsequential.
"Learn to quit when you're ahead. My next move might not be this merciful."
Alas, Konnor's words only renewed Nier' smile.
"Careful, one would think that you deeply care about my well-being. I don't think this is how you treat -mere acquaintances.-"
Konnor frowned.
"Aren't you going to summon your energy weapon?"
"That's unnecessary."
"Good. The more you look down on me, the more opportunities I have to take you down a peg. Maybe when I leave a sword mark on your face, you'll start taking me seriously."
Although it seemed like Nier was acting on fury, her heart was devoid of wrath. If Konnor really wanted to have nothing to do with her, she would of course not bother him.
However, she firmly believed that it was out of concern that he tried to push her away. If she were right and could pull out that concern within this fight, then she would never let go of him.
If she was wrong, then as farewell, she at least she wanted a hearty sword dance. And since she couldn't contend with him in her human form, she could only go all out. Consequences be damned!
"True Spirit Form!"
Just like in the forest, vast silver light erupted from her body alongside heavy grey fog. Her long silver hairs sprang free and erratically fluttered at her back while her skin glowed like a full moon within the dark sky, and a formidable force emerged from her body.
Her natural beauty and charm skyrocketed, reaching an otherworldly level that compelled the entranced gaze of both men and women.
Her cultivation rose from the third to the fifth step Arch Knight and Priest Ranks.
Seeing this, Holgren's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"Nier, what is wrong with you? Stop this at once!"
But it was too late, seeing the mesmerizing war goddess hovering on the stage with a pair of swords in hands, no one had any doubt regarding her gender.
In the Saint's booth, Heinrich beamed with joy as if a long-lost gem had finally appeared before him. Meanwhile, Verena deeply frowned.
Nier paid no attention to the commotion she'd triggered and shot toward Konnor.
Chapter 77 - The Great Void Empire’s Tradition
"Well, well. What do we have here? Your majesty, don't you think you have some explanations to give?"
A joyful Heinrich asked Verena.
"I don't understand what you're talking about?"
"Is that so? It appears the ninth prince is actually the first princess. That being
the case, as per the Celestial Church's will, she should now be the crown princess of the Great Void Empire.
However, for eighteen years the imperial family kept her locked within the palace and had her cross-dress as a man to avoid her engagement, and you still say you don't understand what I'm talking about?"
Verena's mood soured. The three great empires of the Holy Continent were all ruled by Paragon Spirits. However, those Paragon Spirits initially all came from the Celestial Church and remained under its control.
The Celestial Church didn't intervene in the governance of the various empires. However, there was one thing it always regulated: Marriage.
Pureblooded True Spirits were the foundation of the Celestial Church. Making sure that the purity of the main lines was preserved, one of its sworn duties. Therefore, the marriage of every single Pureblooded True Spirit on the continent was determined by officials of the church.
Just like how Verena was made the holy emperor's main wife by the church's decree. Or Amalia Kvass, the dowager who also suffered a similar fate.
Because Verena failed to have children, the church selected Anke, Nier' mother as the emperor's noble imperial consort, and she didn't fail them. Once their husbands died or retired, they would then enter the various branches of the Celestial Church while the most outstanding would join the Celestial Church itself.
Therefore, those arranged marriages by themselves weren't that hateful, and no one would attempt to go against them. The only exception was marrying into the Great Void Empire as empress or crown princess.
In the Great Void Empire, the eldest son of the empress always became the crown prince and then the great void emperor. If the empress couldn't have children, she was deposed and replaced by someone who could.
However, their imperial family had one simple rule. When the crown prince came of age, his mother had to be put to death. There had never been one exception. Therefore, becoming the Great Void Empire's crown princess was not a blessing, but a death sentence. If Nier gave birth to a son, then that son would one day be the reason of her death.
Because of its Space Temple which guarded Heaven's Gate, the Great Void Empire's status was unique, and it enjoyed much more freedom than the other two empires. Moreover, the situation over there was much less complicated since the ruling family was also the ruling party of the Space Temple. The two were one entity.
Of the three empires, The Holy Flame Empire was the most powerful, the Great Void Empire the least restrained, and the Prosperous Wind Empire, the most submissive. Still, even the Prosperous Wind Emperors went to great length to prevent their daughters from becoming crown princesses or empresses in the Great Void Empire. To say nothing of the Holy Flame Emperors.
Unfortunately, when Olrich von Juras became emperor, because of how he took the throne, the court, the nobility and the country were all in chaos. At the time, even his mother wasn't willing to support him. Therefore, to stabilize his throne, he had to offer the church many concessions.
One of them included marrying his first daughter to the Great Void Empire's crown prince. Promising was one thing, delivering was another. Although Olrich had been emperors for centuries, it took him countless hardships to have this one daughter. With his throne now secure, and his foes suppressed, how could he bring himself to send her to her doom?
Especially since the current Great Void Crown Prince was well-known for having personally put his mother to death. With such an unfeeling heart and the background of disciple of a Celestial Priest, marrying him, only a tragic future awaited Nier. Therefore, for eighteen years, Olrich raised her as a prince, keeping her locked in the palace.
Besides a select few, everyone aware of her true gender was murdered.
"If your eminence feels any grievance, you are free to report to the high exarchs. However, you are not qualified to impeach the imperial family."
Heinrich smiled and said nothing more. In any case, since this matter was exposed, the imperial family would bleed. Even if they won the quota, they would have to give it up.
He sent a few mental messages, then returned his attention onto the platform.
Since Else's face remained hidden beneath her mask, no one could see her thoughts.
…
Wind and lightning elemental power erupted from Nier' form, coating her swords as she shot toward Konnor. With her current cultivation and battle power, even the ordinary eighth step Arch Knight wouldn't be her match.
In a whirl, she slashed her two swords at Konnor's side.
*Clang*
An invisible wall repelled the swords, sending her flying backward. Landing back on her feet, Nier brought her swords together, transforming them into a blue-silver longbow with the wind and lightning merging to become a storm.
Violent winds rose alongside lightning bolts that caused cracks within the platform while three elemental circles appeared by Nier' side.
"Third Circle Spell: Storm Volley!"
She pulled the bowstring, firing a succession of lightning squalls that flew toward Konnor.
Konnor stood still, the lightning squalls barreled into him, causing an explosion of wind and dust.
"Konnor!"
Daphne and Ilaina yelled from the tribunes, but as the dust dispersed, Konnor's perfect figure reappeared. He didn't even have a scratch.
"If this is all you got, even if I stand here and present my neck, you cannot injure me."
"Fortunately, I got much more."
The bow split back into the two swords, the storm surrounding Nier grew even more violent, while the grey fog at her feet spread across the platform and surrounded Konnor. The grey fog assaulted his senses, attempting to subvert his mind or destabilize him long enough for Nier' incoming blow.
However, mind-altering abilities were the thing he feared the least. With his Origin Sight activated, he observed every single one of Nier' moves, drawing her unique pattern.
Blue-silver wings spread from her back, carrying with them the wild power of storms.
In that form, her blue sword became a long lightning bolt while her silver sword turned into a greyish wind blade.
She aimed the two at Konnor, releasing dozens of lightning bolts and tornados that shot toward him.
He stretched out his hand, then flipped it upward, releasing a terrifying surge of telekinetic power that raised large chunks of the platform as walls to collide with Nier' blows.
*BOOM*
A deafening explosion echoed as the lightning bolts and tornados crashed onto Konnor's makeshift walls.
Nier turned into a lightning bolt, and in a flash, appeared before Konnor. She thrust her two weapons toward his abdomen, skewering him.
However, his body became intangible, leaving only a dissipating afterimage.
Thirty-six Konnor simultaneously surrounded Nier. Although she knew that this was merely the result of extreme speed, she also knew that every single one of those afterimage's represented Konnor at different spots.
Therefore, their moves were real.
The thirty-six Konnor descended onto Nier with flurries of blows. At first, she could block a few of them, but quickly, she was overrun by their sheer quantity and strafed on the ground.
*Bang*
Even her powerful physique couldn't resist the onslaught, and Nier was sent flying backward with blood spurting from her lips.
Chapter 78 - Title at the End
Using her storm wings, Nier stopped mid-air, stabilizing herself before returning onto the ground. The thirty-six Konnor gave her no time to breathe before rushing back toward her.
"Not even one bit of mercy."
Nier bitterly remarked, then joined the two pommels of her swords, turning them into a double bladed sword.
"I've been studying this for a while but didn't have the power to use it beforehand. Today, we might as well inaugurate it."
Four circles of power appeared by her side as she sank her sword into the ground while falling on her right knee.
"Four
th circle spell: Lesser Storm Elemental!"
A horrifying storm burst from the sword, morphing into a large summoning circle from which emerged a flying grey giant surrounded by wind and lightning. The giant slammed his hands together, sending a storm wave to crash against the thirty-six Konnor.
Thirty-five vanished in an instant, leaving only the original who turned into light particles to avoid the blow and rematerialized a few steps back.