Chapter 43: Dragon Versus Lion

“Clang!!!”

This time, Leona didn’t defend.

Instead, she locked onto Chiyang’s attack and swung up fiercely.

Chiyang didn’t expect her strike to be countered by Leona.

She lost her balance and fell to the ground again, and even the Red Dragon greatsword in her hand clattered to the floor.

“How… ugly in every way…”

Leona shook her head in disappointment.

“I thought you’d be strong if you got serious…”

“It’s a disgrace for me to kill a rookie like you…”

With that, Leona tossed the greatsword back into Chiyang’s hand.

“Pick it up.”

“The duel isn’t over yet.”

Leona’s golden eyes gleamed with a savage light as she pointed at Chiyang.

“If I kill you, Joey will be happy…”

“I have to make you admit defeat…”

“Stand up and keep fighting!”

Chiyang panted heavily.

She had never experienced a duel like this before.

She used to be nothing more than a reckless Magic Dragon.

Surviving every day by hunting Lesser Demon Beasts…

All Demon Beasts feared her because of her magic fluctuations…

But Leona before her was different…

Chiyang could see…

Just how vast the gap between them was…

For a moment, she remembered the faces of those Demon Beasts she once hunted.

It wasn’t sadness or anger…

It was the expression of being utterly crushed by a Magic Dragon.

Chiyang realized she felt the same inside.

But she wasn’t a beast waiting to be slaughtered…

She was a Magic Dragon…

“Even if you don’t say it, I’ll stand up…”

Chiyang rose to her feet, gripping the greatsword.

“So what if you have a few moves…”

“I’ve already learned them…”

“Moves?”

Leona’s eyes were cold.

“I respected your perseverance…”

“But do you know… Even these few moves would take someone nameless like you a year to learn!”

Leona swung her greatsword again.

A perfect Triple Strike.

Left… Right… Left…

But this time, Chiyang seized the moment.

She used her own greatsword to block the first two strikes…

Then…

On the third, she imitated Leona—not defending, but unleashing a counterattack.

“Clang!!!!”

The clear sound of the Silver-blue Greatsword reverberated through Leona’s hands, forcing her back two steps before she regained her footing.

“You really are stupid. Does it take a year just to learn these two tricks?”

In the distance, Joey and Aiki watched the duel between Chiyang and Leona.

“Not bad, Chiyang is actually keeping up with Leona’s speed…”

Joey nodded.

“This dumb dragon learns pretty fast…”

Aiki nodded as well.

“I have to admit, Young Master…”

“This Magic Dragon’s learning speed and magic growth are both astonishing…”

“It might also be that we lack information about the Dragonkin…”

Inside the Arena, Leona looked at her slightly numb palm.

She was angered.

Had she really…been countered by a greatsword novice?

Chiyang…

Leona finally unleashed her magic.

“Not bad… nameless one…”

Leona looked coldly at Chiyang.

“From here on, I won’t hold back…”

The golden-haired beauty’s eyes flashed with gold.

And then…

Waves of wind surged toward Leona.

“Whoo…”

Chiyang squinted against the swirling wind.

Then—

“Whoosh!”

Chiyang’s eyes widened.

Leona had vanished from her spot.

“!!!”

Chiyang hurriedly raised her sword behind her.

“Clang!!!”

Leona appeared behind her.

Fortunately, Chiyang’s backhand block stopped the blow.

“Ugh!”

Even blocking it, the sheer force made Chiyang stagger.

And the attack wasn’t over.

Before she could regain her stance—

Leona attacked again.

Chiyang turned quickly to dodge.

“Bang!!!”

Then another strike.

“Bang!”

With each attack, Leona grew faster…

There was no way to keep up at this rate…

Before Chiyang could think further, she felt the ground beneath her feet loosen.

She looked down.

“!!!”

Every one of Leona’s earlier attacks had generated a small tornado at the spot, and the vortexes were getting larger…

“Ugh!!!”

Chiyang rolled away again.

“Haah… haah…”

Why is this so exhausting… I’ve only been dodging…

Chiyang found her breath growing short.

The tornadoes grew larger, and Leona’s attacks more frequent.

The pressure was stifling.

If she tried to block Leona’s onslaught, her stamina drained faster…

But dodging only left tornado traps where Leona struck, restricting her movement…

So annoying, so annoying, so annoying!!

Every single move is infuriatingly troublesome!!!

Chiyang gritted her teeth, glancing at the tornadoes swirling ever closer and her own laboring breath…

It was as if…

She were prey trapped by a Lion…

“Whoo… whoo…”

Chiyang felt herself understanding more…

Leona’s magic was Wind Magic…

That’s why wielding such a massive greatsword looked so effortless—her movements were all carried by the flow of wind…

The more tornadoes around, the slower her own breathing became…

While Leona’s speed only increased amidst the storm…

It was like…

A Lion sinking its fangs into its prey’s throat, waiting for it to suffocate and weaken before devouring it…

“It seems… Chiyang has no way to break through Leona’s Killing Array…”

Veiweiya explained from outside the field.

“Looks like it’s over…”

Seeing Chiyang collapse to one knee, the spectators gave up hope for the red-haired beauty…

A one-sided slaughter…

“Shwua!”

Just then, a pair of golden eyes flashed inside the tornadoes.

The Lion had begun its hunt…

Leona raised her greatsword.

Behind her, a massive green Lion materialized.

“Roar!!!”

The giant Lion let out a mighty roar, enveloping Leona and charging toward Chiyang with the golden-haired beauty.

“Though it won’t kill you… it’ll make you quiet for a while…”

“Sleep… Chiyang…”

Leona lunged at Chiyang like a Lion pouncing on its prey, her longsword thrusting forth.

But—

At that moment, Chiyang raised her head.

In her crimson eyes, a blaze of fire ignited.

“Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!”

Chiyang revealed her Dragon Form—horns and tail bursting into view.

Her blazing red tail swept out, unleashing a dense Fire Wall that slammed toward Leona.

“What!!!”

Leona tried to dodge, but the flames were too strong!

They surged into the tornado, turning it into a fiery whirlwind.

Leona, unable to escape in time, was engulfed by the torrent.

As the tornado dissipated, Leona collapsed to the ground.

“No way…”

Everyone present stared in shock.

A flicker of surprise passed through Veiweiya’s eyes, then she smiled playfully.

“As expected of you… Young Master Joey…”

“You even managed to find the Dragonkin…”

The fury in Chiyang’s eyes didn’t fade as she stood before Leona.

“I held back the flames. It’s not enough to kill you…”

She spoke coldly.

With her clawed, scale-covered hand, she picked up the fallen greatsword and tossed it in front of Leona.

Chiyang’s gaze was proud and defiant.

She glared at the woman on the ground, then lifted the Red Dragon greatsword in her hand.

“Pick it up and keep fighting…”