Splash—!
The instant White Blade closed his arms, Hysilens's figure suddenly melted, turning into a stream of clear water that flowed through the gaps of his embrace.
"Tsk, I hate the elemental avatar tricks of you ability users the most!" Finding his arms hugging empty air, White Blade understood instantly and couldn't help but spit. "I should have seen it coming. If even that blue-haired brat knows this move, how could you not?"
But there was no frustration on his face. Stabilizing his stance, he reached back and violently pulled out the two peculiar long swords buried deep in his chest and neck.
"However," he hefted the bow sword and violin rapier flowing with a faint blue light, his mouth curling into a localized, ferocious grin, "you threw away your tools of the trade just to save your life. I'd like to see what you'll use to fight me now!"
Before his voice had even faded, the two through-and-through wounds rapidly closed under the effect of his terrifying self-healing power, leaving only faint red marks.
Then, he looked provocatively at the figure where the water was re-凝结forming not far away.
Faced with his mockery, Hysilens remained silent, simply watching him.
She slightly raised her hand and made a beckoning motion in the air—
Buzz—!
The two swords in White Blade's hands suddenly transformed into two streams of agile water, breaking free from his control and flying back to Hysilens's side like fish returning to a nest, before re-solidifying into cold steel in her hands.
"..."
Seeing this, the smile on White Blade's face completely froze.
He took a deep breath, then abruptly shifted his gaze to Cerydra on the throne.
Boom!
The magnificent floor tiles beneath his feet exploded as White Blade transformed into a human cannonball, lunging straight for the throne wrapped in a violent current of air.
"If I can't beat you, I can still touch your master, can't I?!"
Amidst his roar, his heavy fist, coated in crimson energy, tore through the air and smashed ruthlessly toward Cerydra's exquisite yet indifferent face.
Seated upon the throne, Cerydra's eyes remained calm and without a ripple.
"Harming others is forbidden here..."
A flat voice appeared, and that fist, carrying terrifying power, was frozen mid-air less than half a foot from her cheek.
"Violators shall face the judgment of the Law."
Having spoken, Cerydra ignored White Blade, who had momentarily frozen due to the mental lashing from violating the law, and elegantly stood up.
In the next instant, she had swapped positions with Hysilens, who was several meters away.
Hysilens stood firm without the slightest pause. Her twin swords transformed into two lethal streaks of blue light once more, carrying a bone-chilling cold as they slashed accurately at White Blade's stiff neck.
Clang!
Just as the cold blade was about to kiss his skin, a murderous light exploded in White Blade's eyes, and he instantly reclaimed his ability to move.
He quickly pulled back his arms and then grabbed the two blades cutting toward him with both hands.
The sharp blades sliced open his palms, leaving them bloodied, but because they were being held fast, they could not advance another inch.
Hysilens frowned slightly and decisively abandoned her swords to retreat.
Simultaneously, the air behind White Blade's head distorted, and a sharp blade composed of pure water formed silently, slashing down violently at the vital point of his rear neck.
Swish!
However, it was as if White Blade had eyes in the back of his head; he swung directly toward the back of his neck, casually shattering the water blade that sought to ambush him.
"Tsk," he spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm and spun around, staring fixedly at Cerydra, who had sat back down on the throne. His eyes were filled with uncontrollable rage. "The rule takes effect before you've even finished speaking? Isn't that a bit too much of a disregard for basic logic?!"
"I am the incarnation of the [Law]. The [Law] is established by me and proclaimed by me." Cerydra's voice was so calm it lacked even a single ripple. "Just now was the proclamation of the [Law]'s descent, not the establishment of the [Law]."
"...Fine! You're the boss! You people from another world even skip the basic courses of superpower studies, don't you?" White Blade seemed choked by the other's logic. After exhaling a frustrated breath, a trace of helplessness flashed across his face. "Fine, I admit defeat. I can't beat you guys. Is it okay if I just leave? I'm not playing anymore!"
Having said that, he turned around and began to walk ostentatiously toward the closed doors of the church.
Seeing this, Hysilens gripped her newly reformed twin swords, making a move to pursue.
But Cerydra lightly raised her hand, stopping her.
Hysilens ceased her movement and, along with Cerydra, quietly watched White Blade's "performance."
He walked to the heavy church doors, first reaching out tentatively to touch the invisible barrier, then raising his fists and smashing them several times with concentrated power.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The dull sounds of impact echoed through the hall, but the barrier remained motionless.
"Tsk, really sturdy..." he muttered in a low voice, turning his gaze toward the seemingly solid walls. "What about the walls? Breaking a wall should be fine, right?"
As he spoke, his muscles bulged, and the crimson energy surged again. He twisted his waist to gather strength and threw a punch of terrifying power, slamming it violently into the wall!
Boom—!!!
Amidst the deafening explosion, stone fragments flew from the wall and dust filled the air.
"Damn! What the hell! There's a barrier behind the wall too, and it's way too hard!" White Blade clutched his slightly numbed fist, baring his teeth as he shook it. He finally gave up the idea of "self-reliance" entirely and shouted irritably at Cerydra in the distance:
"Hey! Imperator! I'm backing down, okay? I really won't break anything else! This damn place is your territory, can't you just open a door and let me out?"
By now, Cerydra was already sitting comfortably on the throne, resting her chin on one hand. Her ice-blue eyes watched everything with indifference, like observing a trapped beast in a cage.
"The game has begun." Her voice spread clearly through the hall, carrying an unquestionable majesty. "As a piece on the board, you cannot leave until the winner is decided."
"Is it really necessary for one of us to die?" White Blade spread his hands exaggeratedly with a depressed look. "Look at the situation. Your 'Queen' can't kill me, and I can't break through you two tough nuts either! What's the point of dragging this out? It's a pure waste of time!"
He suddenly seemed to think of something and slapped his forehead as if realizing something:
"Oh—! You guys aren't thinking of waiting for the effects of my injection to wear off before moving, are you? Save your breath!"
As he spoke, he flipped his palm, and eight syringes filled with crimson liquid appeared out of thin air, held between his fingers as if he were showing them off.
"See this? Plenty of medicine! One shot keeps me high for an hour! And with my recovery power, the side effects of the medicine don't work on me anyway." He shook the medicine in his hand and looked up directly at Cerydra, his tone carrying a hint of "sincerity." "How about it? Each of us takes a step back, and we call it a day?"
Cerydra's gaze swept over the eight crimson syringes. Her exquisite face remained like a frozen lake, incapable of producing even the slightest ripple.
"Dux Gladiorum, continue." Her cold voice issued the final command.
"As you command."
After Hysilens bowed slightly, her deep blue pupils locked onto White Blade with a murderous intent.
"Holy shit! You stubborn little midget! Do you not understand human speech?!" Seeing the opponent start moving without warning, White Blade's rage was instantly ignited, and he began to curse loudly.
Facing the sudden attack, he lunged to the side, narrowly dodging the sword tip Hysilens thrust forward, and pulled away from her again.
"Good! Good! Good!" Saying it three times, the rage on White Blade's face rapidly transformed into a nearly insane ferocity. "You want to play? Then let's play fucking big! No one's getting out easy!!!"
Amidst his roar, a reckless ferocity flashed in his eyes. Then, he abruptly raised his hands, and the eight crimson syringes held between his fingers were ruthlessly stabbed into his thick neck and arms without hesitation!
Puchi! Puchi! Puchi! Puchi...!
The eight soft sounds merged into one!
In the next instant—
Boom!!!
It was as if a dormant volcano had erupted within his body! White Blade's body visibly and rapidly expanded and contorted! His skin instantly turned crimson and scalding, the surface covered in dense cracks like a spiderweb.
A terrifying aura of violence, destruction, and primal bestiality swept through the entire church hall like a literal storm, causing the air itself to distort violently.
"Ugh, aaaaaah—!!!"
A roar that surpassed the limits of human sound and neared that of a giant beast tore through the distorted air!
At this moment, White Blade's eyes were as red as blood. He had completely transformed into a mindless weapon of destruction!
"Come on—!!! The third round... starts now!!!"
He stared fixedly at the two people in front of him, shouting those words in a voice that hardly sounded like human speech.