As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s gaze focused on the “Hell Poetry” guild.
Samimi had essentially issued a direct challenge for a decisive battle to the other side. Thankfully, her earlier sinister whisper was drowned out by the discussion in the venue, so she wasn’t mistaken for a weirdo talking to herself.
The happiest one was undoubtedly the White-haired Witch, Bemore.
“Heh, so you haven’t forgotten our duel after all.”
The members of the Second Guild, however, all looked toward their leader—the Hero Sword Saint, Cresia.
She, with her eyes covered by black cloth, said nothing. Yet, Samimi could feel a sharp Sword Intent pointed directly at the center of her forehead, making her heart palpitate.
The real battle was only just beginning at this moment.
Her peers were no longer possible opponents for her. Only these “elder powerhouses” who were once geniuses themselves were worthy of being a challenge.
It was time to have a good, hard fight and see where her limits truly lay.
The Hero Sword Saint’s strength was roughly equivalent to that of the invincible Holy Knight Second Captain. She was at her peak, her edges not yet worn down by reality.
Outwardly cold and aloof, inwardly she remained arrogant, firmly believing that with a single sword, she could sweep across the world.
Her character setting was almost identical to that of the Sword Maiden, Ophika, like a copy-pasted twin.
“As you wish,” Cresia replied with only three words. Her tone was simple, yet overwhelmingly oppressive.
“Then, the day after tomorrow. A 5v5 team battle, how about it?” Samimi asked.
As soon as she said this, the entire hall erupted into an uproar.
“Are you not ashamed to duel a Divine Official one-on-one?” A member of the Second Guild protested first, his voice loud and brimming with confidence.
“Is a team battle against a Divine Official any fairer?” came the immediate retort from the other side.
In an instant, the entire Indoor Duel Arena became as noisy as a marketplace, with adventurers arguing endlessly.
However, this kind of scene was part of the “procedural process”—letting everyone argue a bit increased their sense of participation, and it gave them something to boast about later. The real decision still rested with the parties involved.
Samimi wasn’t in a hurry. Her proposal was a “trap” from the start, just waiting for the Hero Sword Saint’s response.
It was like haggling; quote a high price first, then negotiate down slowly. Only this time, she was the “merchant.”
In a one-on-one fight, she absolutely could not defeat the Sword Saint. The opponent was a monster specialized in single combat.
But if she could turn it into herself and Niubao fighting two against one, then there was a chance of victory.
After all, they weren’t of the same generation—you’re the elder, so me bringing a teammate isn’t too much, right?
“We’ll do as you say,” Cresia said, agreeing directly without any haggling.
At that moment, Samimi’s smile faded slightly.
This wasn’t an act.
The other party’s unwavering confidence instead made her wary—it seemed her previous assessment of her opponent’s strength needed to be revised upward.
The Hero Sword Saint’s overall strength might be on par with the invincible Second Captain, but a warrior’s Battle Aura had an “explosive upper limit,” capable of unleashing power beyond the norm under extreme circumstances.
Just then—
The Blue Ghost walked out from the backstage passage again, her mask back on her face.
The Red Ghost followed closely behind. She had just said “we’ll meet again soon,” but no one expected it to be this soon.
“You want to fight Cresia? Count us in!” the Blue Ghost declared.
Samimi wasn’t surprised. She had felt from the beginning that this pair of sisters would return eventually.
Among Tachi Swordsmen, there was a strange resonance.
Seeing the two powerful forces join together, turning foes into allies, the members of the Third Guild couldn’t help but gasp in shock.
“Whatever,” Cresia had no objections to this. She turned and left, as cold and aloof as ever.
Once she left, the other adventurers also began to disperse.
Today was merely the appetizer. The real grand battle was still two days away.
Soon, only the members of “Sorrow Squad” and the “Radiant Guild” remained on the field. The two groups looked at each other, a momentary awkwardness hanging in the air.
“I’ll leave the negotiation and discussion work to you, Mister Hake,” Samimi said, looking at the situation. She decisively made her escape with Niubao, leaving the aftermath to the Divine Blade, Huck.
Miss Meihua stayed behind to help, while Serina quickly caught up with Samimi, and they returned to the Radiant Guild together.
“That woman Cresia is practically like an enhanced version of the Demon-Hunting Nun,” Samimi muttered as she walked. “This battle the day after tomorrow won’t be easy.”
She even felt a bit of regret about her earlier proposal. Since the other party dared to agree, it meant she definitely had powerful teammates too.
But thinking about it carefully, something felt off—the Sword Saint didn’t seem like someone who had teammates?
As she was pondering this, the Blue Ghost and Red Ghost caught up with them again.
It seemed they weren’t the type in their guild responsible for negotiations either.
“If you’re having a team battle with the Hero Sword Saint, we definitely want in,” the Blue Ghost said. “Your Vice President just said it too—we need to unite, not fight for honor anymore, but for the future of the Human Race.”
“He said that after victory, the Sword of the Hero will be returned to the Adventurers’ Guild, and a decision will be made then.”
“Hake said that?” Samimi asked.
“You don’t even know what your own leader would say?” the Red Ghost asked with a bitter smile.
“He always improvises; how would I know he’d say something like that?” Samimi shrugged with a laugh. “In you adventurers’ eyes, my action of challenging the Sword Saint should be considered suicidal, right?”
“Aside from a few guild leaders, no one can defeat her,” the Blue Ghost said seriously. “But on the path of the sword, she’s the only one I truly admire.”
You use a sword, so technically it should be called the ‘way of the sword,’ right?
Ah, whatever. In that Eastern region, swords and blades aren’t strictly separated. In their eyes, tachi and katana are all swords.
“Alright, alright, just come the day after tomorrow. I’ll save two spots for you,” Samimi waved her hand dismissively. “After all, it’s a civil war among Heroes. How can it happen without you?”
“Heh, I’m starting to like you a bit,” the Blue Ghost said with a cold laugh.
After uttering this subtly meaningful statement, she and the Red Ghost turned and left.
“What does that Red Ghost actually look like?” Samimi suddenly wondered aloud.
But no one could answer.
“The other side will definitely bring The Hero of the Gale and Bemore. With Bemore there, their team composition becomes reasonable,” Samimi began analyzing. “On our side, bringing two Tachi Swordsmen… it’s hard to say how much our combat power will actually improve.”
“What about me?” Serina, who had been waiting for a long time, finally mustered the courage to speak up.