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"Whoo——!!!"
Surprise came not only from the giant swordsman but also from the magician behind him! The magician had never expected that the Earth Dragon Teeth, originally intended to trap Mengdie, would now become a springboard for this girl! She rushed towards the swordsman's blind spot at an incredible speed, leaping off the dragon teeth like a feather. Her target was the vulnerable back of the swordsman's head!
"Above! Watch out above!" The magician hastily warned, quickly gathering magic in her palms and stretching towards Mengdie in mid-air, "Great Mother Earth, transform into ropes, bind my enemy!"
Several clay ropes burst from the cracked earth at her feet, shooting towards Mengdie in mid-air like iron chains! But the magician was too slow, and her incantation took too long! Mengdie had already reached the swordsman's head before the clay ropes were even halfway there. With the force of her dive, she raised her elbow and struck hard on the swordsman's skull!
"Bang——! Crack...crackle."
A crisp cracking sound emanated from the impact, but it wasn't the swordsman's skull that shattered, but rather a layer of armor-like glow! As these yellow glimmers fell apart, it meant his body had completely lost its protection. To Mengdie, the swordsman now seemed like a baby without parental protection!
"Damn it!"
The swordsman finally regained his senses, raising his sword to strike at Mengdie above him. But how could he, with his delayed reaction, hit her? His sword swung, missing its target. Meanwhile, the girl who shattered his magic armor had already moved to his feet, gripping her fists and mercilessly striking his wrist, seizing his most powerful weapon.
"You've lost."
As the giant sword clanged to the ground, a pleasant yet utterly calm voice entered the swordsman's ears. He looked down, only to see a pair of eyes enveloped in calm...
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Fear.
This word invaded the swordsman's mind like a nightmare. Driven by this feeling, his legs involuntarily stepped back, then back again! All he wanted now was to distance himself from the girl, to a place he deemed safe. But he didn't realize he was retreating towards the sharp Earth Dragon Teeth!
The female magician panicked, trying to undo her magic. But like before, the speed of her incantation was too slow. As the spike was about to pierce the swordsman's chest, staining the battle with a color nobody wanted to see...
"Be careful!"
At the critical moment, the girl who had just taken his sword quickly stepped forward, grabbing the swordsman's hand. He paused, only then realizing his back was almost against the spike. The sensation of narrowly escaping death turned his face pale, and he collapsed to the ground with weak knees.
"Are you okay?"
Mengdie gently brushed her hair aside, smiling sweetly. The coldness in her eyes had vanished.
The swordsman nodded silently. Seeing he was alright, Mengdie let go of his hand and stood in front of the Earth Dragon Teeth Formation. She calmly looked at the magician and said, "Do you still want to fight?"
The Earth Dragon Teeth Formation was already dissipating, returning to dust. The magician's hands were no longer forming any magic. If she still wanted to fight, Mengdie was confident she could reach her in the shortest time, ending her before she could finish her spell.
"No... no more fighting."
The answer pleased Mengdie. Truth be told, she didn't really want to fight a woman, as it would hurt her pride as a man. Then, she turned her head, staring at the instigator of all this—Duke, curious about his next move.
"Ah, not bad at all. You are truly impressive, young lady! How did you realize that the Earth Spirit Shield thinned with each attack? And why did you hold back at the end?" Duke clapped his hands, expressing genuine admiration.
Mengdie brushed the dust off her body, coldly saying, "It's not surprising. After a few hits, I felt the energy gradually decreasing. Besides, you didn't really want to kill me, right? This man (pointing at the swordsman) almost always swung his sword instead of stabbing. It looked like he was aiming for my life, but he would always raise his sword at the last moment, attacking me with the flat of the blade. And that lady's magic was always more about trapping me. Since you never intended to kill me, why should I kill you?"
Duke's eyes brightened, deeply appreciating the girl. After observing her, he was sure of her talents and skills. She had strong judgment and adaptability, was literate, and had a great deal of charisma among the common people. She was also polite in her interactions. Plus, her beauty was unparalleled. Considering all factors, she was indeed an excellent "candidate."
But... excellent or not, being well-rounded didn't change "that" fact. Duke sighed, letting the female magician carry a gift box and respectfully place it in front of Mengdie.
"Miss Mengdie, please forgive my rudeness earlier. I am deeply sorry for my crude actions."
Duke bowed respectfully to Mengdie, his expression sincere. This gesture not only stunned Mengdie but also Aia, Nia, and the surrounding crowd, ready to rush forward at any moment.
Mengdie, embarrassed by the sudden apology, quickly waved her hands, shaking her head uncomfortably, "Ah... well... don't worry about it. I'm also glad to have this battle. Although practice is important, real combat is equally crucial..."
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