Chapter 48

Asulin moved her steps towards where Claudia had forced her to confront Khalid, driven by Andy’s will not her own.

She swung her sword with a fervor that seemed to erase all the humiliation of past days when, no matter how cautious she was, an assassin had managed to strike her down and rob her of consciousness.

Despite Khalid’s imposing physique, he dodged every powerful blow she delivered. Each time he evaded, faint bruises marked his body, though they were barely noticeable, making his evasion feel almost futile.

“What’s the point of dodging if you can’t avoid it?” came a grumble from Khalid as he deliberately widened the distance between them.

“Ugh!”

Unable to dodge in time, a cry more akin to a groan than a scream erupted from him as he barely escaped the edge of her sword’s spirit energy.

Even if he was on the verge of death, it was no different for Asulin, who struggled despite her determination to use her spirit arts.

Though not feeling rushed, Asulin was far from satisfied with the current situation. She had summoned Kaladbolg magnificently and entrusted her back to Andy, but now she faced the one who had incapacitated her with a single blow.

She did not harbor any arrogant thoughts of defeating him in one strike, especially since she had summoned Kaladbolg in an incomplete state due to its non-official activation. Still, she did not deny the possibility of victory.

Her confidence grew as she noticed Khalid’s wounds increasing with each exchange of blows. Furthermore, Asulin’s seemingly inexhaustible stamina promised a solid win as the battle continued.

Yet something felt off.

Despite having been hit multiple times by Kaladbolg’s strikes, which could devour the hostility of even a brush, Khalid appeared surprisingly unscathed. This unexpected resilience planted seeds of doubt and caution in Asulin’s heart.

Normally, at this stage, she would have unleashed her ultimate technique, Tian Bong, to crush her opponent. However, a recent painful failure had instilled prudence in her.

Gathering all her spirit energy into Kaladbolg, Asulin prepared to execute Ge Rang, a technique superior in precision compared to Tian Bong, to gauge Khalid’s true condition.

She charged forward to close the gap between them.

“…C’mon.”

Khalid’s voice, devoid of the vigor and ruthlessness he displayed upon first appearing, murmured as he watched Asulin charge through, visibly wounded.

Though Asulin closed the distance fiercely, there was no trace of triumph in her expression.

Time seemed to flow only for Asulin, aiding her movements while leaving Khalid behind.

Gathering her spirit energy into Kaladbolg, Asulin prepared to unleash Ge Rang, a technique less powerful than Tian Bong but more precise.

As the distance narrowed, Asulin’s body moved along the optimal path for executing her technique.

She raised her sword. It was the blade that had felled a species considered invincible.

She swung it diagonally from top right to bottom left.

Then again, this time from bottom left to top right.

Once more, horizontally from right to left.

Despite the narrowing gap, Khalid never touched the path carved by Asulin’s sword.

With a final downward stroke, the trajectory of her strikes completed, a ferocious resonance burst forth from Kaladbolg.

A sharp spirit energy so intense it could disintegrate anything it grazed was directed at Khalid.

Just like a raging wave couldn’t be contained by a human body, the formidable force condensed into a sharp spirit energy tore through Khalid.

Having successfully executed Ge Rang, Asulin’s victory was nearly assured.

However, her expression remained indifferent, as if she felt nothing despite being so close to winning.

Even as Khalid’s body exploded with raw muscle strain, his roar echoed.

“Crack!”

The sight of Asulin’s spirit energy clashing with Khalid’s light beam sent a shiver through her.

“…Indeed.”

Realizing her distant attack choice was correct, Asulin smiled bitterly.

Every time Kaladbolg brushed against Khalid, his vitality and hostility were drained, but the sheer volume of energy released by his light beam surpassed everything she had sensed before.

“…”

The sound of Asulin’s spirit energy colliding with Khalid’s light beam was like glass breaking, the form gradually disintegrating.

Even though she had used considerable spirit energy, the sight of her failing to even repel the light beam was unsettling.

But Asulin was prepared.

“Huh.”

With a faint smile, she gripped Kaladbolg with both hands, bracing for impact.

“Crack!”

The sharp sound of cracking intensified, reaching its peak just before the explosion.

“Ka-”

A deafening boom accompanied the light beam, as if the palace itself crumbled.

“Huh.”

Asulin’s green eyes remained calm, undisturbed.

The moment the dark light beam approached, Asulin finally moved.

“Hooop-!!”

Gathering her breath, Asulin swung Kaladbolg downward.

The light beam, aimed to pierce her, split into two pieces, dissipating harmlessly.

“Cheh. Getting weak. Even pretending didn’t work.”

After their failed attempt, Asulin and Khalid resumed their standoff.

“…”

Khalid took a step toward Asulin, closing the distance once more.

In that brief moment, Asulin saw Khalid’s wounds vanish, confirming what she had learned about him.

“…”

Asulin’s cold voice, tinged with disdain, challenged Khalid.

“Seems like your act won’t work anymore. Maybe we should do it properly? This wasn’t why I summoned Kaladbolg.”

Asulin prepared to subdue Khalid, knowing her options were limited.

“Scared now? Afraid of me or my sword? Or is it your legs shaking? If so, I’ll come to you.”

Her words, harsher than usual, emerged from her lips.

“…”

Asulin, inwardly disappointed, wondered if her provocations were losing their edge.

“Pathetic.”

She sighed, noticing her sharp tongue had dulled.

“I was hoping to see some reaction.”

Asulin waited tensely for Khalid’s response.

Little did she know, her interactions with others had softened her once-sharp tongue.

“Keh. You call that a provocation? Be glad only I heard it. Anyone else might have laughed.”

Khalid’s response caught her off guard.

“Disappointing.”

Asulin felt her provocation had fallen flat.

“Seems like you’re relying on your lackeys now. Trying to overwhelm me?”

Her voice remained cold.

“You’re a sword-crazed wench.”

Khalid’s tone shifted abruptly.

“Ungrateful.”

His demeanor changed, from ruthless to something enigmatic.

“…”

Asulin felt a chill, but she stood her ground.

“Foolish.”

She mocked him, raising her hand to ready herself for combat.

“Laughing at me?”

She sneered.

“Looks like you’re relying on your lackeys.”

Khalid’s voice dripped with malice.

“Feeling confident?”

A sinister laugh filled the air.

“Getting cocky?”

The assassins moved swiftly, converging on Asulin.

“Ha. Trading Paleoad for a glowing blade. What a deal.”

Khalid’s voice was sinister.

“Surely, you can’t fail with such loyal assassins.”

Asulin’s calm expression betrayed nothing.

“Give up already?”

Khalid sneered.

“League’s information network must be rotten if they don’t know what I’m doing.”

Asulin’s voice cut through the tension.

“Thunderbolt.”

A bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the scene.

“Damn.”

Khalid’s voice returned to its usual harshness.

“Tsk, why did I even…?”

Asulin recalled the outcome of her lightning.

“Stubborn.”

She mocked Khalid, who lay battered yet alive.

“Such a tough one.”

Her voice was a mix of mockery and coldness.

Her attitude revealed her resolve towards the League’s assassins, who sought chaos beyond their continent.