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Raiden Mei's overly straightforward words made Kalpas even start to doubt whether the other party had mistaken him for someone else.
But obviously, the young lady Raiden Mei, who was determined to die, would of course not let this passionate big guy go.
"No, this is also something I learned from you, Kalpas. All along, haven't you always used this method to bluff?"
Raiden Mei stared straight into the eyes behind the mask. "This isn't some kind of new trick. I've seen many little animals try similar methods to scare away their predators."
"Hahahahahahaha..." Kalpas's laughter gradually turned mad. "You think this is bluffing... fine, fine then."
The next second, his fist had already reached in front of Mei.
In response, Raiden Mei reacted swiftly and launched a counterattack.
The loud clash of the hilt and the fist echoed through the corridor.
The immense force made Raiden Mei involuntarily retreat a distance, leaving two long marks etched into the ground.
Feeling the pressure emanating from Kalpas, Raiden Mei's confidence in her plan only grew stronger.
"Before you provoke me..." Kalpas's voice lowered, "...have you made your peace, Herrscher?"
"There's no need for that." Raiden Mei casually shook her numb arm. "My only preparation... is planning what I'm going to do after you disappoint me."
At this, Raiden Mei deliberately paused for a moment, "Oh... right, you once said that back when you served as the final trial, there was a time when no one who entered the Elysian Realm survived. That wouldn't also be one of your boasts, would it?"
"Hahaha, interesting... so interesting." Kalpas laughed, not in anger but in amusement. "Then as you wish. It's been far too long since I personally slaughtered a Herrscher."
Flames began to swirl around Kalpas, a symbol of his current mood.
But soon, the flames that could burn everything vanished without a trace, as if they had never appeared.
But Raiden Mei knew, all of this was only the buildup before the true eruption.
Kalpas's voice continued, "Come, Herrscher. I'll give you enough time. Think of a hundred ways to keep your life... and then die convinced."
And so, under Raiden Mei's provocation, Kalpas accepted her challenge.
The two agreed to meet in the depths of the Elysian Realm, to determine both victory and life or death.
———
The news of Raiden Mei challenging Kalpas quickly spread throughout the Elysian Realm, and naturally, Elysia also heard it.
She originally thought about stepping in to stop either Raiden Mei or Kalpas, but in the end, she didn't.
Because Elysia knew very well that neither of these people could be easily persuaded by words.
Though she was confident that Kalpas wouldn't truly kill Raiden Mei, more than that, Elysia wanted to know what that one guy who always refused to show himself was thinking.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing what expression Van will have when he hears this news~" Elysia playfully tapped her own cheek with a finger.
When Elysia walked through the gardens of the Elysian Realm and arrived at one of its hidden spaces, Van was standing with his back to her, facing a light screen made of streaming data.
"Van~" she called out cheerfully, "guess what interesting big event has happened in the Realm recently?"
"What is it?"
"Aiya~ Van, don't you know that if you want to get something from a beautiful girl's mouth, you have to give something first~"
As she spoke, Elysia blinked her sparkling eyes and, like a magician, pulled out a few pieces of pink clothing from behind her.
At this, the corner of Van's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Heaven knows where Elysia had pulled those clothes from.
"Today is such a beautiful day, the little birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, so, Van, why don't you consider changing into some new clothes~" Elysia said expectantly, "in return, I'll keep my promise and tell you something interesting~"
"..."
"Alright, alright~ I'll stop teasing you~" Elysia said with a laugh. "I just wanted to tell you, your little Mei is going to challenge Kalpas~ Don't you want to go take a look?"
However, what surprised Elysia was that Van didn't show any sign of surprise at all, as if he had already known.
"So, it's already come to this time, huh..." Van murmured.
As he spoke, Van raised his head and looked toward the pink-haired fairy beside him, his eyes carrying an inexplicable emotion.
"Mm-hm?"
"Van, this time, please don't forget to invite me to your ball, alright?"
Elysia was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered.
"Of course~ our farewell ball must be gorgeous and grand~" Elysia smiled like a blooming flower, "how could such an important moment be without my most important dance partner~"
However, Van only silently looked at Elysia, with a faint light flickering in his eyes.
"Alright~ since I've delivered the news, I have other things I need to take care of~" Elysia waved her hand in farewell, "then I'm off now~ remember to miss me~"
Elysia turned to leave, but was stopped by Van's voice.
"Wait, Elysia..."
"Hmm? What is it~" Elysia smiled playfully. "Don't tell me you've already started missing me before we're even apart?"
"...Elysia, leave those clothes you just pulled out. I'll wear them to the farewell ball that belongs to you... belongs to all of us..."
Elysia, "Mm..."
———
Elsewhere, when Raiden Mei arrived in the depths of the Elysian Realm, the waves of heat that surged toward her instinctively made her stop in her tracks.
She looked around. This area was completely different from the rest of the Realm.
Charred stone pillars stood tall like tombstones, and the ground was covered in fist marks and cracks of varying depths.
Rather than a trial ground, this place was more like a gigantic furnace.
"This must be the battlefield from when Kalpas served as the final trial," Raiden Mei whispered.
"To those who regard 'battle' as everything, one of the strongest warriors among the Flame-Chasers... If there truly is a gap between us, then... this is my chance to see it clearly."
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