Arthur was forced into full defense. Lunar Eclipse Tide worked continuously every five attacks he launched triggered a lunar wave, alternately healing him and suppressing Jing Liu. However, the pressure from Jing Liu, who was receiving dual amplification, made it harder and harder for Arthur to find an opening. In one moment, Jing Liu managed to break through Arthur's defense; a freezing slash landed on Arthur's arm, and the ice effect began to spread, freezing his movements.
"Got you!" Jing Liu exclaimed excitedly.
But Arthur had already anticipated it. At the same time, he activated Solaire Blessing on himself for the third time—golden light swept across Arthur's arm, melting the ice in an instant and clearing away all remaining slow effects. With his freedom of movement restored, Arthur seized that tiny opening to turn the tables.
Lunar Eclipse Tide erupted in a different form than the usual spreading wave. Arthur combined it with the rasengan spinning in his palm, forming a dense sphere of energy. Arthur teleported right in front of Jing Liu, but Jing Liu quickly crossed her swords in front of her to block the combined energy attack from Eclipse Tide and the rasengan he had trained so hard to master. Meanwhile, the remaining energy from Celestial Pierce, which had been embedded in Jing Liu's body from their previous exchange, exploded simultaneously. The lunar blast struck Jing Liu with full force, and her swords, which had been blocking Arthur's attack, shattered into pieces.
Jing Liu was sent flying, landing on the green grass, her shattered sword fragments scattering a few meters away. But instead of staying down, Jing Liu pulled the shards back to surround Arthur, then used her ice element to form ice chains and several ice spears, attacking Arthur from all directions.
Overwhelmed by the assault from every side, Arthur didn't stay idle. He teleported again to distance himself from Jing Liu, while Jing Liu shattered the ice chains and spears to obscure visibility.
After that, Jing Liu began relentlessly attacking Arthur using the shards from Arthur's own previous attack. However, Jing Liu realized this battle had to end quickly because her methods consumed too much of her soul energy, which she couldn't sustain in a prolonged fight.
Arthur understood that as well, but his own condition wasn't great either. Amidst the icy mist, unable to tell where the next attack would come from, Arthur started using the gauntlet from his awakening to protect his head and body, occasionally launching condensed energy slashes in return.
With both sides at a stalemate, Arthur made the first move by forming a rasengan. But this time, instead of using it to attack, he used it to clear away the ice mist by tossing it into the air.
Seeing Arthur's move, Jing Liu didn't stand still. She already had her own strategy. She lunged at Arthur from above with her sword, now fully restored, striking directly. Arthur reacted instinctively, blocking with his gauntlet, but was still forced to one knee by the suddenness of Jing Liu's attack.
But Arthur didn't waste the opportunity. He grabbed Jing Liu's sword and punched her in the stomach, which had been covered in ice. The blow sent Jing Liu flying and shattered the thin but extremely hard ice she had prepared. Yet, as Jing Liu was sent flying, she gave a small smile.
Arthur realized why the moment he saw Jing Liu airborne she wasn't wearing her armor, which meant Lumy had separated from her. And just as the rasengan had cleared the ice mist from the area, Lumy was seen forming a rasengan of her own, combining ice, shadow, and crystal elements in her mouth like a Tailed Beast Bomb, and launching it straight at Arthur at high speed.
The impact sent Arthur flying a great distance, even though he had blocked with his gauntlet and his own crystal barrier. The aftermath of the attack also transformed the battlefield: the ice element turned the green meadow white, the shadow element left a massive crater, and the crystal element caused the surrounding area to crystallize.
Both combatants ended up unconscious Arthur drained of soul energy and covered in bruises and cuts, while Jing Liu suffered from oversoul due to overusing her soul power. But overall, the victory went to Jing Liu.
After the battle ended, the space transformed again into a healing lake, and the surrounding energy was gentle enough to heal the wounds from the fight. Five hours passed, and the disguise tool was successfully created at the cost of the spirit tool, the "Spirit Pen."
TO BE CONTINUED...