Li Feng was still floating in the warmth of his admirers' cheers, soaking up the praises like a sponge. His mind drifted to grander thoughts of fame and recognition. Perhaps he would one day be known as the greatest swordsman to ever live. "Yes," he thought proudly, "one day, my name will echo across all realms—humans, monsters, even the heavens will bow to my skill!"
But his sweet daydream was cut short when an unexpected movement rippled through the crowd.
All at once, the trainees stopped their chatter, stood straight, and bowed their heads low in unison.
"We greet the Lady Scarlett!" they all chorused, their voices echoing with respect and reverence.
Li Feng's body instinctively jolted, his eyes wide with surprise. He quickly bent his head in a slight bow, even though annoyance flickered in his heart. No matter how frustrated or competitive he felt towards Scarlett, she was the undisputed ruler of Dreadhaven, and respect for her was a rule no one dared break.
Raising his gaze, Li Feng finally looked at Scarlett. She stood there with her usual commanding presence, but what she wore made her appear effortlessly alluring.
An oversized white T-shirt hung loosely on her frame, barely covering her upper body while her long, smooth legs were completely exposed. The mini shorts she wore underneath were almost invisible, as the shirt reached just above mid-thigh. Her long legs, flawless and toned, seemed to shine under the sunlight.
Her ample chest stretched the fabric of the T-shirt to its limit, making it seem like the shirt might rip at any moment. The faint outline of her bra straps peeked through, but Scarlett showed no trace of embarrassment. She walked with the casual confidence of someone completely unbothered by how others viewed her.
Not that anyone dared to ogle her openly—she was Scarlett, after all. Even Li Feng, as used to her presence as he was, had to admit that no matter what she wore, she always carried an air of dominance and sensuality. It was almost unfair.
Everyone was used to it by now.
"Hehehe... What work does the great Scarlett have with me?" Li Feng asked, his voice tinged with sarcasm. His lips curled into a faint smirk as he folded his arms, trying to mask his unease.
Scarlett didn't even flinch at his tone. She casually ran her fingers through her purple hair, her movements slow and deliberate.
"Nothing much," she said, her tone calm but firm. "We're heading to the Kingdom of Gwarga. I just wanted to inform you. Be ready by evening."
Li Feng blinked, momentarily stunned. "Kingdom of Gwarga? Human realm? Again?" he thought, his brows furrowing.
Before he could voice his thoughts, Scarlett turned on her heel, her T-shirt swaying slightly with her movement. Her long hair flowed behind her like a fiery cape. She didn't wait for any response, as if her word was absolute and didn't need further explanation.
Walking beside her was Cryptus, the tiny skeleton who seemed to follow Scarlett like an adorable, eerie shadow. Cryptus turned back to Li Feng and waved his tiny skeletal hands enthusiastically. "Bye-bye, Li Feng!" his sweet, idle-like voice chimed.
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Li Feng could only stand there, frozen in puzzlement, as he watched them leave.
"Human realm? Again?" he muttered to himself, his expression shifting to one of exhaustion.
With a sigh, Li Feng ran a hand through his silver hair, shaking his head as he muttered, "Well, I guess I better get ready. No rest for the great Li Feng, huh?"
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The afternoon quickly passed, and as the evening rolled in, Scarlett finalized her team for the trip to the Kingdom of Gwarga.
The team included Li Feng, Kroenen, also known as Augustus, Cryptus, Baron Nova.
Scarlett had initially hoped to bring Yumi along since, as a human herself, Yumi would have had invaluable insight into all kingdom's culture.
However, Yumi politely declined, explaining she had pressing duties in Dreadhaven and promising to join next time. Scarlett also asked Sierra, but she showed no interest in visiting the human realm.
In the end, Scarlett added two more females to the team. One was Bella Nova, an orc woman and cousin of Reiza, clad in sturdy leather armor that showed her strength and experience. The other was Callista Nova, a female martial demon who had joined Dreadhaven after her village was destroyed by succubi and later saved by Scarlett during her battle with the succubus queen, Lunatic. Callista's shining silver iron armor caught everyone's eye and reflected her warrior spirit.
With four males and three females, the seven-member group was ready for their journey.
At the outskirts of Dreadhaven, a crowd gathered to bid them farewell. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and well-wishes, as people prayed for Scarlett's safe journey.
Bella, with her tall and imposing figure, stood confidently in her leather armor, while Callista gleamed under the setting sun in her silver iron armor. Kroenen remained as reserved as ever, dressed in his usual military-style uniform, his face concealed as always. Li Feng stood with his katana at his side, his samurai-style outfit giving him an air of elegance and pride. Baron's massive frame was covered in tough, practical armor, making him appear like an unshakable fortress.
And then there was Scarlett, standing out in her own way. She wore the same oversized T-shirt and mini shorts she had been wearing earlier in the day, her long legs drawing as much attention as her commanding presence.
Li Feng glanced at her outfit and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to go like that?" he asked.
Scarlett smirked confidently. "Of course!This is outfit is just so fucking comfortable," she replied with a bright, carefree tone.
She turned to the crowd gathered to see them off. "Bye, everyone! We'll be back soon!" she called out, waving her hand with a cheerful smile.
The crowd waved back enthusiastically, shouting words of encouragement and blessings for their safe journey. Li Feng, Cryptus, and Baron also waved, their faces lit with smiles. Only Kroenen remained still, his silence and composed demeanor unbroken.
Scarlett's gaze swept over the crowd, spotting familiar faces. Her eyes landed on Evadne and Doomthunder, the massive hellhound who stood besides evadne like a loyal guardian.
"Doomthunder, huh?" Scarlett thought, a bittersweet smile forming on her lips. "When I brought him in, I thought I was getting a loyal pet. But no, he ended up becoming best friends with Evadne and spends all his time playing with him instead."
She let out a soft sigh. "Well, I promised I wouldn't take away anyone's freedom. It's his choice, and I won't interfere."
With that thought, she turned back to her team. "Alright, let's get going!"
As Scarlett finished her words, a bright, large magic circle appeared beneath her feet, glowing with a radiant blue light. The air shimmered, and with a soft *swoosh*, Scarlett and her team disappeared, leaving nothing behind but silence and faint traces of glowing particles.
The people of Dreadhaven, including Yumi, Xao Feng, Sierra, Semiath, and the others, finally exhaled in relief. Their tense shoulders relaxed as they turned away from the outskirts.
"Alright, everyone, back to work!" Semiath called out loudly, clapping his hands to draw everyone's attention.
The crowd began to disperse, returning to their respective duties. However, before they could fully settle back into their routines, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air.
"Humans! Some humans are approaching Dreadhaven!" a soldier shouted as he ran toward the gathering. His voice was filled with urgency, his expression grim.
The news sent a shockwave through the crowd.
"Humans? Could it be another invasion?" Seirra thought to herself, her brows furrowing in worry.
Anger flared in the hearts of everyone present. In just a fraction of a second, the entire atmosphere changed. The people of Dreadhaven sprang into action, their battle instincts taking over. Soldiers and warriors grabbed their weapons, and magical energy began to radiate from mages as they prepared to defend their home.
"Let them come!" Xao Feng declared coldly, stepping forward with confidence. Her sharp eyes gleamed with determination as she clenched her fists. "This time, I'm here. Let's see how anyone dares to touch our people!"
But before the situation could escalate further, Yumi quickly stepped up, raising her hands to calm everyone.
"Wait! Hold on!" Yumi shouted, her voice firm yet composed. She stepped in front of Xao Feng and faced the restless crowd. "I think I know who's coming. Let me, as a human, see them first before we jump to conclusions. If there's any danger, we'll deal with it together."