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She didn't walk fast, each step seeming extremely heavy. Yet, her lips... were smiling! The surprise in her eyes had vanished. When she looked at the white shadow, whom she knew was an unbeatable opponent, her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Tap... tap... tap...

The dust-covered girl slowly stood before the white shadow. Her position now was not the submissive one from before, but directly between the white shadow and the throne!

"Hmm? Sweetheart, have you changed your mind?"

After a moment of contemplation, the white shadow's smile returned. He stood leisurely with his hands behind his back, a slight smile on his lips.

Mengdie returned his smile, raised her hand, wiped the blood from her forehead, then suddenly turned towards the throne!

"King! I have two options for you! First, immediately give me something from your treasury. With that thing, I will completely disregard this threat to your existence, the white shadow. Do you accept?"

Repeating such a statement seemed like a joke to the onlookers. Just now, Mengdie had been flung far away by a single finger of the white shadow, witnessed clearly by hundreds in the hall. Who would believe such a little girl could defeat the white shadow?

But now, the old king seemed to have no other choice. He looked at the white shadow, then at Mengdie, his lips trembling with panic: "You... you really can..."

"Your Majesty."

Suddenly, the real steward standing beside spoke up! He lowered his head, whispered a few words into the old king's ear. The king's frantic expression immediately vanished, replaced with one of extreme anger!

"Impudent girl, you dare to threaten me???!"

"Hmph, is that so?" Unexpectedly, Mengdie's lips did not show disappointment, but her smile returned. She held up a second finger, speaking slowly: "Then, the second option. The only one who can protect you now is me. Let's make a deal. If I win, you will give me something from your treasury, unconditionally, as 'Your Majesty, the King'. If I lose, it's no loss to you. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"

The old king pondered, looking at the girl's slender arms and curvaceous figure, he couldn't believe she would win. But the deal seemed to have no downside for him. Even if, by some fluke, she won, giving her a jewel or two was no big deal. The old king nodded, agreeing to the deal.

Mengdie smiled satisfactorily, turned around, and faced the white shadow again.

"You heard it, the deal is on. White shadow, let us... begin!"

As her words fell, the excitement in Mengdie's eyes immediately retracted, and her smile disappeared too! She rushed towards the white shadow, her footsteps on the floor making a very rhythmic "tap tap" sound! The white shadow was slightly startled, his disdainful smile also fading, and a serious expression appeared on his face for the first time since entering the ballroom!

The distance between them closed, closer and closer! When Mengdie was about three steps from the white shadow, her straight charge suddenly turned into a left and right dodge! Before the white shadow could clearly see her trajectory, she further closed the distance and her bandage-wrapped fist thundered towards his abdomen!

The white shadow was not easy, Mengdie knew this clearly from before. He stepped back slightly, causing her punch to miss. She hummed, withdrawing her fist, and a storm-like assault again descended upon the white shadow!

"Sweetheart, your moves are really fluid."

Even facing such an attack from Mengdie, the white shadow just moved his feet, shifted his body, leisurely dodging left and right amidst the girl's punches and kicks. To him, the girl's movements were probably too slow. So slow that he didn't even need to block to avoid all her punches. Not even the edge of his cloak was touched by her fists.

Mengdie's eyes were incredibly focused. The more she failed to hit her opponent, the more stable her punches and kicks became, not at all rash. But the disparity in strength seemed still apparent. Taking advantage of a gap during Mengdie's roundhouse kick, the white shadow instantly closed in on her and... lightly flicked her abdomen.

"Bang——！！！"

Just like before, Mengdie was once again flung far away, bouncing off the ground. This time, her body crashed directly into a pillar in the ballroom. The pillar cracked, and her body sank into it.

"Mmph——!"

Mengdie spat out a mouthful of blood, the wounds from her previous battle with Sashara evidently aggravated! With such compounded injuries, she might lose her ability to move again!

"That was the fourth hit. Now, it's the fifth!"

Unbeknownst to all, the white shadow had already appeared in front of Mengdie. His left middle finger elegantly flicked Mengdie's forehead, and under the ensuing loud sound, the pillar behind Mengdie couldn't hold, completely bursting open. And Mengdie was once again flung into the wall, blood spurting from her forehead.

"Oh? Tough bones, not yet shattered?"

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"Damn Black Flame Snake! I'll be your opponent!!!"

Seeing Mengdie repeatedly injured, Edward, who had rested for half a day, couldn't hold back any longer. He grabbed a sword from a soldier nearby and charged into battle. Facing his attack, the white shadow was still leisurely dodging, unhurried. Instead, Edward's movements appeared too arrogant, making many mistakes he normally wouldn't. Just as the prince seemed about to be injured again, the royal knights around could only watch in desperation, their hearts burning with urgency!

"Edward! Stop!"

At that moment, Edward, brandishing his sword, lunged at the white shadow's waist. But hearing that extremely pleasant voice, his actions abruptly halted! The white shadow, having anticipated his thrust, was stepping aside. With Edward's sudden pause, his dodge became pointless! Edward, an excellent swordsman, seeing a slight flaw in the white shadow's movement, immediately changed his thrust into a horizontal slash, aiming for the white shadow's chest!

"Hmph!"

Unfortunately, the severely injured Edward no longer had his usual speed. The white shadow stepped back again, fending off the sword. But unexpectedly, a petite figure had already appeared above him, as if anticipating his movement, a thunderous kick accurately aimed at the back of his head.

"Sweetheart, your sensitivity to combat always amazes me!"

Just as Mengdie's kick was about to land, the white shadow impossibly leapt, flipping his body, his right index finger targeting the sole of Mengdie's foot, and flicked, completely nullifying the kick's power.

Perhaps because the white shadow flicked in haste, besides the intense pain in her sole, Mengdie wasn't flung into the ceiling like before. She somersaulted in the air, landing back on the ground cat-like, and immediately pounced towards the white shadow, still battling Edward.

"Stop! Forward! Left step! Jump! Then stop!"

Mengdie kept shouting various commands. Edward initially appeared a bit awkward, but soon adapted to her direction, following her combat style precisely. The two moved back and forth, left and right, fists and sword forming a flawless offense and defense! Although both were flicked away a few times by the white shadow, they always forced him to move when he wasn't fully gathered, so the injuries weren't severe. For a moment, their coordinated attack even managed to completely suppress him!

"Mengdie! Maybe... we really can win!"

"Idiot! Don't get distracted!"

Slightly regaining balance, Edward became a bit excited. His inner fear of the white shadow momentarily dropped to its lowest. But he didn't realize that in any battle, one must always maintain a sense of fear towards the enemy. Because only fear keeps one from relaxing. Only fear prevents overestimating one's strength and underestimating the opponent's power!

The blade turned, sweeping across like a wave towards the white shadow. But Edward's attack was too hasty, even leaving Mengdie's defensive circle! The white shadow saw clearly, immediately stepping forward to grab Edward's sword blade, pulling it backward! Edward lost his balance, falling towards the white shadow! And this time, the white shadow clearly had his power ready, his curled fingers already at the height of Edward's abdomen, waiting for him to charge in.

"Whoa! Aaahhh——!!!"

"You idiot!!!"

Seeing Edward about to be severely injured, Mengdie hurriedly stepped beside, moving to the white shadow's right, swinging her fist with an incorrect posture, aiming at the white shadow's face!

"Sweetheart, this prince's combat experience is far inferior to yours."

Smiling, the white shadow extended his left hand, pressing against Edward's chest. His curled right middle finger aimed at Mengdie's swinging right arm's shoulder, flicking mercilessly!

A loud sound again emanated from Mengdie's shoulder. Her entire right arm was immediately enveloped in numbness and pain! This was a sign of dislocation!

Once again flung aside, Mengdie stretched out her left hand unwillingly, trying to grab the white shadow's arm. Unfortunately, the huge impact force caused her hands to fly aside before grabbing the white shadow, creating another crack on the marble wall.

"Mmph——!!!"

Falling back to the ground, Mengdie couldn't stand up immediately. Edward, who caused this error, watched Mengdie, overwhelmed by guilt, remorse, and sadness. He didn't even notice the white shadow's finger already pressing against his forehead.

"Alright, now it's... the eleventh."

"Bang——！！！"

Edward's head was again heavily struck, flung into the air, his sword slipping from his grasp. Supported by soldiers, he didn't fly as far or as severely injured as Mengdie, but now, he probably couldn't stand up anymore.

The white shadow, having easily dealt with both, elegantly took off his hat, giving a slight bow to the old king. He seemed not like a terrorist, but a loyal subject of the old king!

"Respected Your Majesty, as you see, your son and a girl unrelated to this 'ball' have already endured my 11 attacks. As a sovereign, shouldn't you nobly step forward and block my last finger flick? Rest assured, my last hit will be very light, just a symbolic flick on your forehead. To protect your son, you will surely be willing to accept, right?"

The white shadow's smile was consistent, but to the old king, it was the grim reaper's death knell! Seeing the white shadow's earlier battle, who would believe he'd just flick lightly! The old king was no fool, naturally, he wouldn't accept such a foolish request.

"Go... Go! Kill him for me! Quick! Go and kill him——!!!"

The old king almost hysterically shouted, but which of those soldiers dared to step forward? They looked at each other, then at Edward lying on the ground, bleeding from the mouth, and finally, their gaze returned to the old king.

"Your Majesty, please consider carefully. Although I promised not to kill today, it doesn't mean I won't 'accidentally' do so. You see, the two lying here, one is your son, the other a girl who stood up to protect you. Just step forward and endure my symbolic hit, save them. Rest assured, I will only symbolically attack once."

At this moment, not only the soldiers but also the 30 royal knights and all the guests in the hall looked at the old king, waiting for his decision. But they didn't know that in the next moment... the monarch of the Silver Moon Kingdom would say this—

"Who would believe you??? You terrorist! Quick! All soldiers, attack! Your duty is to protect me! All of you, go! Go! Go——!!!"

Suddenly, everyone's face showed surprise. Seeing their expressions, the white shadow adjusted his hat, a subtle smile on his lips.

"Alright, respected Your Majesty. Since you refuse to endure my hit, I won't insist. Come, we've already wasted enough time, my master must be getting impatient."

The white shadow lightly shook his white cloak, walking elegantly towards the throne. The soldiers who were supposed to protect the old king hesitated, then slowly... stepped aside...

Finally, the white shadow again approached the old king, standing before the highest ruler of the Silver Moon Kingdom. He knelt on one knee again, took off his hat, covering his chest, extending his hand, welcoming the "Your Majesty."

The Sword of the King still stuck in the throne, who now could stop this "tragedy"? Was the old king about to be taken away by the white shadow, leaving the Silver Moon Kingdom leaderless?

The old king tightly grasped the hand of the real steward beside him, sweating profusely...

"Come, Your..."

"Hey, hey, hey... you've forgotten me... hehe... I'd be... very sad, you know..."

The white shadow was slightly startled, the voice in his ear coming from a girl he thought had already fainted! Turning his head, he saw the girl with a completely dislocated right arm, slowly rising from the ground. Under her messy hair, a face brimming with excitement and agitation was visible! She, supporting her right arm, step by step walked away from the wall, standing in the center of the ballroom. Standing in front of the throne!

The white shadow stood up, turning away from the old king without any regard, smiling slightly: "Sweetheart, your arm is dislocated, you should..."

"Crack!"

Before the white shadow could finish, the girl suddenly pulled her right arm with her left hand, forcefully raising it! Following the sound of colliding bones, her drooping slender right arm immediately returned to normal.

"Hehe... I told you... if you forget me, I'd be very sad."

Mengdie spat out a mouthful of blood, rearranged her messy long hair, tossing it behind her. After brushing off the dust on her body, her eyes sparkled, ready to face the enemy, staring intently at the white shadow on the throne!

The white shadow shook his head, thinking he could resolve things but it wasn't so simple. He walked down from the throne, standing in front of Mengdie. Although he didn't want to, he had to truly knock her out to avoid further trouble.

"Alright, sweetheart, next, I will...!!!”

Halfway through his sentence, the white figure suddenly stopped talking! Because he had already felt that the girl in front of him was very different from before!

Her fists... her fists! Perhaps an ordinary person might not feel anything special, but if it's someone well-versed in magic or someone with great strength, they would be able to see something unusual about the air around her fists. That air kept twisting and compressing, forming streams of air that continuously swirled around her fists!

Sisko, Linda, all the mages in the Royal Knights, the dark shadows hidden in the background, including the white figure, they all recognized the nature of these air currents!

"That is... wind!"

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