"Although I am not 100% certain that Twilight Rain will stop targeting you, I have a feeling that they will not do anything overbearing for a month or two," Lux stated. "If I was in their shoes, I would definitely send people to investigate and find the whereabouts of the person that tried to capture one of their Honorary Elders.
"Since some of their Rankers were there to serve as witnesses, the Dark Guild will now understand that there is an organization targeting their members. This will make them keep a low profile, at least for a while."
Aina understood Lux's explanation and thanked the Half-Elf for telling her the truth.
"After this, you are going to the Necromancer's Ancestral Ground in order to become a Ranker, right?" Aina asked.
Lux nodded. "That's indeed the plan. I will be leaving in a few days after I receive the reports from my subordinates as well as from the two Merchants regarding the latest news about Twilight Rain."
Aina closed her eyes for a bit as if she was pondering something. A minute later, the doll-like beauty gazed at the Half-Elf and said something that made Lux wonder if he heard her right the first time.
"Let's fight a one-on-one battle."
That was what Aina told Lux, which caught him by surprise.
"You want to fight me?" Lux asked. "Why?"
"Actually, I'll also be taking the Ranker Trial," Aina replied. "The challenge I chose was to fight someone who I deemed stronger than me. Also, that person should not be older than me. Right now, the only one I can think of that fits these conditions are you."
Lux didn't know if he should feel honored because Aina recognized him to be stronger than her. However, he didn't expect that the doll-like beauty would choose this kind of test in order to become a Ranker.
'I forgot that she is also at the Peak of the Initiate Rank,' Lux thought.
Aina held the title of The Warrior Princess of Eternal.
Although she wasn't really a Princess, she was still the daughter of a High-Ranking Noble in Solais, who was also connected to the Royal Family by blood.
"Are you sure about this?" Lux asked. "Even if I don't summon my subordinates, I'm pretty strong, you know?"
"Both of us are the Peak of the Initiate Rank," Aina countered. "You are a Necromancer, and you rely more on your Summons. However, since I am asking you to fight me one-on-one, you are actually at a handicap. Since that is the case, I will allow you to fight me with one of your Named Creatures fighting alongside you."
Lux frowned because he could tell that Aina was serious about fighting against him. While he wasn't truly a brawler or an expert in armed combat, he was still very strong due to his body constitution, the Immortal Dragon's Conqueror Legacy.
If he activated his abilities, certain parts of his body could be covered in Dragon Scales, making them very tough as if he was wearing some armor.
"Eiko, do you want to fight Aina?" Lux asked the baby slime that was perched on top of his head.
"No!" Eiko replied, which was very unusual coming from her. "Don't want to fight Colette's sister!"
"I see." Lux thought that Eiko fighting against Aina would be an interesting battle to watch. However, since the Slime rejected his proposal, he decided to just accept Aina's challenge to get a better understanding of how strong she really was.
"Let's go fight outside the city," Aina proposed. "I don't want my training hall to be destroyed when we fight."
Lux couldn't help but smile at Aina's proposal. It seemed that the Guildmaster of Eternal had already given a lot of thought to this proposal, so he decided to just go with the flow.
The two then went to look for Colette and Princess Anastasia to inform them that they would be fighting against each other.
When Colette heard about this news, her eyes and mouth opened wide because she didn't expect this sudden turn of events.
"Big Brother, you and my sister aren't married yet and you're already having a fight?" Colette asked in an anxious tone. "Did she say something wrong that offended you? Although my sister doesn't change her expression, she admits that there were times when she cursed people inside her heart. Did she curse you out loud by accident?"
Aina, who just had one of her secrets exposed by Colette, pinched her sister's ears, causing the adorable dwarf to cry out in pain.
"One more word from you and I'll tell Lux about your embarrassing moments. Especially a few days ago when you wet your be—."
Colette immediately used both of her hands to cover her sister's lips, preventing her from finishing her sentence.
This earned her a chuckle from her Big Brother, which made her face turn beet red due to embarrassment.
"A fight huh…," Princess Anastasia muttered as she gazed at the doll-like beauty, whom she had registered as her love rival. 'This is also good. With this, I will be able to see just what kind of tricks she has under her sleeves.'
News of Lux's and Aina's battle was overheard by a passing Guild Member who was about to serve some snacks and tea to Princess Anastasia and her escorts.
Soon, this news spread through the Eternal Guild like wildfire, making everyone want to see how the battle would turn out. Also, they wanted to be there so that they could cheer for their Guildmaster, whom they all loved and respected very much.
Half an hour later, Lux and Aina stood on an open plain, which was located two miles away from Whitebridge City.
Nevreal and Robin, who had been informed by Princess Anastasia about the duel, decided to come and spectate as well.
"Guildmaster, you can do this!"
"Beat him up! Show him the Will of Eternal!"
"Our Warrior Princess will prevail! Viva Eternal!"
"Guildmaster, please bear my child!"
Various shouts spread in the surroundings as Aina's guild members cheered for her.
Lux looked at this rowdy bunch and wondered what their expressions would be after they witnessed his true fighting abilities.
"Don't hold back," Aina stated as she raised her mace and round shield in a fighting stance. "Remember, this is a Ranker Trial. If you don't fight me seriously, the blessings I will receive from the world will also be less. It doesn't matter what the results of this battle will be. As long as both of us fight to the fullest, my Trial will also be completed."
"Very well," Lux replied. "I will fight you seriously."
It had been a very long time since Lux had fought against an opponent who had the same Rank as him.
Most of the time, he was fighting against those who surpassed his rank with his Undead Legion and Covenant aiding him each and every time.
As a Necromancer, he wasn't really required to fight on the front lines, but since he was also itching to fight solo against Aina, he decided to go all out and show everyone that he could fight in close quarters as well.
Both combatants eyed each other for a short while before Lux took the initiative to charge at the doll-like beauty, whose eyes were filled with a burning determination to triumph over the person whom she recognized as someone stronger than her.
