As she fought Rio in the arena, she alone noticed the low-tier beast soul he was using, a detail that escaped the attention of the high-ranking officials and members of the seven Silver Sword families.
The resonating harmony of clashing swords filled the air for several minutes, their fierce battle transforming into an exquisite display of punches and kicks. With each well-executed strike, their movements wove together, creating a mesmerizing dance that seemed to transcend the mortal realm.
Like two ethereal immortals engaged in a celestial duel, their fluid motions were imbued with an innate harmony and elegance that belied the ferocity of their combat.
As their enthralling performance unfolded, the spectators were held captive by the poetic beauty of their struggle. The arena itself seemed to become a grand stage, where the two combatants danced a captivating pas de deux that left the onlookers gasping in awe and admiration.
The power of their unknown connection was undeniable, a display of the depth of their predestined bond that shone brightly even in the midst of their fierce battle.
Meanwhile, Rose looked on with a joyous smile, her eyes sparkling as she watched the mesmerizing dance unfold.
Engrossed in their intense battle, Rio and Lily failed to witness the mesmerizing spectacle that unfolded around them. Their synchronized movements and powerful clashes seemed to have been blessed by the heavens, creating an awe-inspiring display that captivated the audience.
Despite their enthralling performance, Lily and Rio continued to fight relentlessly, leaving no gaps in their exchanges.
*Clank!* *Clank!* *Clank!*
As the battle dragged on, frustration began to simmer within Lily. She possessed other beast souls that her grandfather had gifted her, powerful enough to defeat Rio in a single strike.
However, she was forbidden to use them against him due to her mother Aliyah's deep affection for the boy—an affection that the girl suspected exceeded even that which she held for her own daughters, Rose and Lily.
She couldn't fathom why her mother was so insistent on her marrying Rio, but she remained steadfast in her refusal. She had defiantly declared that she would rather leave the Havenglow family than be forced into marriage with him.
Aliyah, eventually conceding to Lily's stubborn heart, chose to leave the matter to fate instead to force it on her beloved daughter.
Nonetheless, Second mother still informed Rio of the situation caused by his own mother's promise, considering that they were soon to face each other in battle.
The battle raged on for half an hour, the continuous clashing of their swords gradually taking its toll on their bodies.
As their hands grew numb from the non-stop impacts, they noticed bruises forming on their own palms, a bewildering consequence of their aggressive exchanges. It was as if their attempts to harm each other only resulted in their own weapons inflicting damage upon themselves.
With a determined glint in her eyes, Lily murmured to herself, "I can't let this go on any longer... If I can't even defeat him, how am I supposed to achieve my ultimate goal?"
Finally, the girl decided to abandon the raw force that had been used in their duel so far, opting instead to employ her battle art techniques and various spells to bring the fight to a swift conclusion.
She understood that prolonging the battle any further served no purpose and was resolute to end it as efficiently as possible.
Rio noticed that after their latest clash of swords, Lily was reeling back, creating distance between them.
His brows furrowed, and he couldn't help but wonder what tricks this sly vixen had up her sleeve. She had already used some mysterious method to make his heart race, and even his [Heart Sutra] had failed to protect him from her hidden magic.
"Eve, what underhanded method is she using? Is there no way to counter this?" Rio asked in a bitter tone, feeling his racing heartbeat impair his ability to battle and put him at a disadvantage.
"There is... But I won't tell you," came the teasing reply from the elven beauty within his mind. Rio couldn't help but wonder if she was exacting some sort of revenge for a past offense by him.
As Lily created distance between them, she prepared to unleash her first battle art technique, "Whirlpool Tempest."
Water gathered around her, swirling and churning, rapidly growing into a massive vortex. The vortex surged forward, barreling towards Rio, who recognized its destructive potential and the threat it posed.
He didn't waste any time, swiftly changing direction to dodge the incoming vortex. But to his surprise, several more vortexes emerged, one after another. The Whirlpool Tempest had turned into a relentless barrage of water, seemingly intent on overwhelming him.
Despite the odds, Rio managed to evade the vortexes with fine precision. He channeled the power of lightning to enchant himself with thunder, transforming himself into a blue streak that zipped around the battlefield. Using his "Heaven's Eyes," he analyzed the movements of the vortexes and narrowly avoided each one.
However, Lily was not one to be outdone. As Rio focused on dodging the vortexes, she skillfully maneuvered to trap him from the other side.
'Oh... Shit...'
Caught off guard, Rio found himself directly in the path of a vortex. With no time to react, he braced himself as the powerful whirlpool struck him, sending him reeling from the impact.
As the Whirlpool Tempest struck Rio, the sensation of being hit by a colossal boulder overwhelmed him. His armor protected him from any outward physical damage, but the internal impact was undeniable.
His body was launched into the air as the Whirlpool Tempests crashed into him. He felt the impact ripple through his entire body, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.
As he tumbled across the ground, he could feel the cuts and scrapes forming on his skin. The pain was too much, but he refused to let it defeat him.
He forced himself to come to a halt, using the strength he had to steady himself. The bitterness he felt was evident on his face, however, his attention was soon drawn to more Whirlpool Tempests hurtling his way, launched by the sly vixen.
With the looming threat coming in his direction, the question remained: would he be able to dodge them in time, or was this the end for him?
====////====
[SnowNote]
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