The beast lord's punch carried a mountain-wiping force, springing at August with the speed of sound.

Yet, the sword empress remained entirely calm. Her eyes remained straight, her posture remained still, and her fighting spirit never wavered.

It was as if she had absolute trust in her ability or, perhaps, in someone else's who would come to her aid.

'''' !!! ''''

Accompanied by a zapping screech, a deep blue ray of plasma, one that was as colossal as a castle, promptly engulfed the beast. By the time the attack had calmed, it was turned into mere ashes and carried away by the wind.

''Why aren't you attacking?!''

Right then, a familiar voice sounded.

A beautiful woman gracefully landed in front of August, grabbing her shoulder and frowning. Her hair was black as ebony, her skin white as snow, and her eyes red as blood. On her head sat a beautiful black witch hat, and with her slightly oversized robe, she seemed like a wizard appearing in children's fairy tales.

''Kierra...?!''

Yu Chen couldn't believe her eyes. Not because she didn't expect Kierra to appear, but instead because she didn't know Kierra was capable of looking like this!

If Kierra right now was similar to an alluring married woman, then this Kierra was as fragrant and charming as a fresh rose!

The light layer of makeup accentuated her initially soft features, and her demeanor was similar to that of a worried, newlywed wife!

If Yu Chen had one thing to complain about, it would be that Kierra was doing this to another woman.

'Damn you, stupid woman!'

While Yu Chen gritted her teeth in jealousy, Kierra was cringing at her old self—as any person would. Right when she was about to turn the flashback off, August opened her mouth.

''Because I knew you would come, my love.''

''You idiot...!''

As Kierra of the past blushed and turned away, present Kierra was stunned. She felt as though a lightning bolt had just struck her.

Thinking about it now, it had been almost a year since she had heard August's voice. Still now, her voice always 'haunted' Kierra every lonely night, her gentle whispers, her reassuring promises, her...

Yet, when hearing it in reality, Kierra was still not used to it. Not used to August's voice. The lack of it, to be exact.

'Hah...'

Kierra quietly sighed, staring at the flirting couple in front of her eyes. These emotions she felt, these regrets that she held, the people that she met. Maybe it was time to resolve this fate once and for all.

''Yu Chen, have you seen enough?'' Kierra asked.

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''A-Ah, I suppose... it's not quite there just yet.'' Yu Chen replied, occasionally glancing toward the couple. ''For a more comprehensive understanding of her sword, I need to observe the way she lives first.''

''...I see.''

As much as Kierra wouldn't want to expose her past more than this, cultivating Yu Chen's talent was necessary. On top of that, Yu Chen confessed to her, so in a sense, didn't she deserve to know more?

Yu Chen was open to sharing her past, so why would Kierra not?

''...Fine.'' The archwizard nodded.

Sensing the atmosphere, the swordsman quickly bid goodbye to give the two some privacy. Afterward, the two women began to follow the duo in their memories.

As this battle was one of the 'desserts' before the 'main course,' there wasn't much to clean up, so the two decided to head to their home. As they sat on the sofa, the atmosphere quickly became intimate.

August confidently wrapped her arm around Kierra's waist and took her shoulder as a pillow, closing the distance between them. This made the archwizard flinch in embarrassment, fidgeting with her hands.

''...What?'' Past Kierra mustered, sensing her lover's intense gaze.

''Nothing. You are just too beautiful.'' August playfully replied.

''Ugh... you idiot...''

Right after, August's golden eyes gleamed with a certain lust, and she firmly pushed Kierra down the sofa. The two's breaths intertwined, their eyes locked, and they got right to the kissing action.

This time, August was on top, dominantly exercising her power over Kierra.

''T-This... what...?!''

As Yu Chen turned to the present Kierra, she was once again shaken. Similar to her, the archwizard also blushed, only, the intensity was much lower. Eventually, Kierra felt the need to defend herself.

''...I was only twenty-seven here.'' She said. ''We were young and naive. Though, it is not as though we did not know where to stop... and...''

Kierra trailed off, mostly because August had already stripped her old self's top and was actively feasting on her fair skin.

''A-Ah, that tickles...!''

''I'll do this until you are used to it.''

''Hyah...!''

Kierra and Yu Chen couldn't face each other for a while.

''...''

''...''

In the end, unable to endure watching it anymore, Kierra turned the time forward by a large chunk, conveniently landing the two into the time when August was training.

On a vast plain, Kierra sat under a tree, quietly observing her lover train.

''This should be better.''

Kierra said, sitting down beside her old self. Yu Chen was a bit dizzy when she saw two Kierras next to each other, but she quickly recovered and sat down as well.

''Hap—!''

SWOOSH—! SWOOSH—! SWOOSH—!

August didn't use mana this time. She only trained her swordplay, and that managed to amaze Yu Chen, who had been wielding a sword for over eight hundred years. She guessed this was a true genius.

The young sword empress's moves were light as feathers, elegant as a swan, yet carried deadly edges to them. In battle, she wouldn't need to use these a lot, but skipping training them was an insult to her very pride, so she kept doing it for years.

''...You know.''

As Yu Chen was immersed in the sword, Kierra suddenly spoke.

''We were called a perfect duo. A perfect couple.''

''...''

''Both she and I were on top of our games, and we happened to love each other ever so dearly.'' Kierra continued. ''...Soon, in the real world, she will definitely find me.''

Yu Chen nearly jumped at this. ''What?!''

''Around this time, she said she would find me no matter where I was. She never broke that promise. Not in five centuries. Even when I was in absolute nowhere, even if I was surrounded by mighty foes, even when...''

''That's...''

Yu Chen bit her lips.

Was the world telling her that the biggest love rival would appear on top of the already existing ones?!

(｢ ⊙Д⊙)｢

Ridiculous!

Fuck you, Heavenly Dao!

Seeing Yu Chen like this, Kierra giggled a bit before coming closer to the martial master's face.

''I believe you can win against her.''

She whispered before giving Yu Chen a peck on the cheek, leaving a vivid lip mark on it. The receiver was immediately charmed by this gesture. Maybe life was not so bad now!

Heavenly Dao, you get to live today!

Feeling a bit bubbly, Yu Chen turned around to watch August train again... only to find out that the young couple had somehow begun to make out again—in the middle of the wilderness, no less!

What was this? A rabbit couple?!

Quickly dispelling the thought of Kierra wearing a bunny outfit, Yu Chen began to curse at life yet again.