"You..."
Ais had never seen the man before. Why was he here? And did he collapse the passage just to challenge her to a duel?
"Heh heh, don't overthink it. I'm not part of the Evilus, nor do I have any ill will."
Eugene lowered his voice, "Have you heard of 'Fire Breather'?"
"It's you!" Ais's expression froze.
During her two-day rest in Rivira, she had heard that name multiple times: the mysterious powerhouse who defeated the unknown black monster. Everywhere he went, raging fire followed! This was the impression Eugene's battles left on people, and thus, he was given the nickname.
"You can understand the idea of sparring to become stronger, right?"
Eugene pulled out Gran's machete. After his deep Plunder, this weapon had become one of decent quality. Since he felt nostalgic for his days as a Fruit Ninja, he kept it.
He pointed the blade directly at Ais, his eyes hardening, saying no more. The collapsed passage behind him displayed his determination to fight.
"...I understand."
Ais drew the sleek rapier from her waist, a sword named "Desperate Sword," a weapon with the Indestructible attribute! However, Eugene was not intimidated. His clothing was made from the tough hide of the Black Goliath and wouldn't be easily broken.
He claimed it was a duel, but in reality, he was just using it as an excuse to stall for time. As soon as Bull-Bull finished his task, he would find a chance to slip away!
However, leaving a deep impression on Ais right now was also crucial. It was all preparation for the future!
"Please advise."
Eugene bent low, and the two stood in silent opposition, their aura astonishing.
Whoosh!
Taking a step, Eugene sharply inhaled and exhaled. For his first strike, he used the Sun Breathing. With the Demonization enhancement, his physical capabilities were boosted further!
So fast!
Ais's pupils contracted. Eugene's footwork and speed were challenging to deal with!
But challenging didn't mean unbeatable!
Dance of the Fire God: Waltz!
Starting with the first form, Eugene rapidly advanced, the blade sweeping horizontally, leaving a searing, circular fire-trace in the air!
This fierce technique made Ais look sideways. But to suppress her in sword skill? He was a little short. Sword skill, in attributes, translated to Agility and Dexterity, and Ais had both at Rank A. It was her strongest domain!
Clang!
She brought her rapier around in a counter-cut, placing the weapon in the path of Eugene's machete in a way utterly unsuited for a thrusting sword. It's Indestructible, so no problem if it blocks.
But just then, Eugene's form rapidly shifted. A scorching breath circulated in his body, driving his feet in a subtle, skillful spin. He left an afterimage in his place and abruptly pivoted to the side!
Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow!
Like a fleeting mirage, the Sun Breathing was also top-tier in movement skills. And the forms could be freely connected!
Eugene, half-spinning, tightened his arm and launched his next move seamlessly at Ais's flank.
Third Form: Blazing Universe!
A dark-red, heavy slash tore through the air. The range and power of this strike ripped apart a large section of earth and stone in front of her!
Ais narrowly avoided the attack with her keen perception and light footwork. Her long boots were ripped open, exposing her fair skin beneath. Any later, and her leg would have been severed!
Incredible!
In just three moves, Ais fully acknowledged Eugene. His speed, precision, and continuity were flawless.
Ais felt her blood heat up. She tightened her grip on the hilt and flicked her wrist, sending a flash of cold light.
Again with that?
Eugene leaned back to avoid the sweeping attack. Relying on her Indestructible weapon, she was using a rapier to execute greatsword techniques. This was one of Ais's weaknesses. Due to the loss of her parents, she hated all monsters in the dungeon. Because of this, her activated skills were all specifically anti-monster. Long-term killing of monsters much larger than herself led her to develop a habit of large, sweeping motions. This was devastating to clumsy monsters, but against a person of the same size, it was an opening!
Sixth Form: Burning Sun!
Clash!
Using skill to deflect the downward chop, Eugene closed in, his arms spinning to draw a bright fire circle in front of Ais!
Tear, a sound came simultaneously from her light armor and clothes. The battle-girl's already-revealing attire became even more of a Spring Garden spectacle.
Eugene, seeing the good show, almost whistled, but Ais's increasingly rapid counterattack interrupted him. She proved with her skill that large, sweeping movements weren't necessarily a flaw. The speed of the rapier combined with its Indestructible sharpness could be an airtight, world-ending weapon!
Ding, ding, ding, ding!
The sounds of blade and sword clashing merged into a continuous sheet!
Damn, this girl's speed is still higher than mine...
Eugene's strength was his main stat. His current Dexterity and Agility were far behind his Strength, and even with the Ultra Enhancement, he couldn't fully compensate.
In that case, I'll drag you into the realm of Strength!
Sun Breathing, Eleventh Form—Hazy Moon!
Miracles are wrought by indiscriminate strength!
Eugene let the form take over his movements, and with over 2000 Strength, he swung the blade so fast it seemed to disappear, leaving only a large swathe of fire-light forming a roaring dragon in the air!
Roar!
The illusory flame dragon let out a deep growl, lunging forward with bared claws and teeth, forcefully suppressing Ais's storm-like, dangerous sword-net!
!!
Ais's eyes widened. One second she was on the offensive, but her opponent completely shut down her sword-path with just one move! The slashes felt like they were coming from all directions at once. Each strike was incredibly powerful, and the full power behind the chop gave them the highest speed.
Ora, Ora, Ora, Ora, Ora, Ora!!
Eugene poured all his effort into the relentless swinging of his blade, and the sheer pleasure of gaining the upper hand in a fight against the top-tier Level 5 heroine, the Sword Princess, gave him an inexplicable sense of conquest!
The two fought in a continuous motion, their breathtaking exchange unfolding in the narrow passage. Their footwork even brought them onto the walls, where they dueled at vertical and horizontal angles, relying on their body's flexibility.
Each stray wisp of sword ki—some scorching like fire, others sharp like wind—flew off from their clash and easily shattered walls and ripped up the ground! This was the fight between high-level adventurers; they could level a city block with a single move. The weak didn't even have the right to watch!
Crack!
The machete and the longsword locked. Eugene's strength immediately dominated, instantly pushing back Ais, who only had a D in strength.
Sensing danger, she pulled back her strength, sank down, and simultaneously unleashed a sweeping roundhouse kick with her long, beautiful leg. Eugene blocked the kick with his elbow, but before he could raise his hand again, a flash of white sword-light shot straight out, already at his face!
Thrust!
This time, it was Eugene's turn to lean back sharply! His mask was knocked away with a sudden, unexpected hit.
Ais, this girl, actually changed her sword path on her own? That shouldn't be right.
Eugene executed a backward flip, simultaneously using a mid-air horizontal slash, "Setting Sun," to break free from Ais's pursuit. He landed on the ground, feeling a dampness on his forehead.
"Ah..."
With a long sigh, Eugene stood up.
"As expected of the Sword Princess, both your beauty and your strength surprise me."
"Your sword skill is incredibly precise," Ais's expression was a rare mix of emotion. "If I hadn't decided to change my sword path on the fly, I wouldn't have gained any advantage."
She looked at the hand holding the sword, seemingly puzzled herself. Why did I suddenly use a move I barely ever use, and connect it like that?
It's connected, all right, Eugene's lips secretly curved into a smile.
"Strong Luck" replaced "Luck.""Strong" replaced "Weak."
Now, the two sides connected by the threads of destiny were Eugene and Ais. As long as Eugene could control destiny, the direction of this causality could not be changed!
"I have a strange premonition that by fighting you, I can become stronger!"
Ais held her sword forward, her expression sincere and serious, just like her simple nature: "Please, continue to cross blades with me!"
She's using me as an Experience Monster, Eugene grumbled inwardly.
Ais had been stuck at Level 5 for three years, and her attributes had reached a bottleneck.
She was always troubled by this, but little did she know this was her actual limit. Why does upgrading have to rely on great deeds (Welf's "Great Feats").
If the great deeds aren't epic enough, they will limit your future development. Ais, relying on her anti-monster skills, maintained an easy rhythm of crushing weaklings in the dungeon, which naturally affected her growth.
The principle of adventuring is to fight desperately; the harder you fight, the faster and higher you rise.
As the strongest Level 5 in Orario, bar none, how long had it been since Ais had truly fought with all her might?
"..." Eugene looked at the eager girl and inexplicably got a naughty idea.
You want to get stronger? Good! I'll grant your wish!
He took one last look at the ragged machete in his hand and tossed it away. "This kind of close-quarters combat really isn't for me."
The purple light flickered in his eyes, and magic power began to rise from his body.
"You haven't forgotten the nickname everyone gave me, have you?"
Fire Breather.
How can you be called the Fire Breather if you don't breathe fire!?
Inhale—
As he took a breath, an orange glow appeared in Eugene's throat. Ais's breath instantly caught! This was a long, narrow passage with absolutely nowhere to dodge!
Try to give it your all! See if you can break through that limit when you are isolated and surrounded by death!
ROAR!!
Flame Breath LXXX! Eighty-layer enhancement!
------------
🍊 Boost This Fanfic! 🍊
Every 100 Power Stones gets 2 bonus chapters! 🚀
Want faster updates? Show your support by dropping Power Stones, leaving reviews, and sharing your thoughts in the comments! Your engagement keeps the story going strong!