As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

Page 185

With this sword strike, Helen did not use any fancy techniques. Instead, she brought out the full potential of her proud, pure strength and speed. She wanted to use this straightforward and unparalleled frontal pressure to force Leus to retreat and thus control the rhythm of the entire battlefield.

Faced with this attack that came like a landslide and a tsunami, Lius remained standing still, his expression unchanged.

The blond boy only moved when the enormous sword, carrying a terrifying force capable of easily cleaving a city wall, approached to within three feet of his face.

There was no retreat, no parrying.

Lius's figure merely shifted to the side, gently, like a leaf falling in a breeze, taking half a step to the side.

It was this seemingly insignificant half-step that allowed him to narrowly escape the whistling giant sword blade with a hair's breadth of danger.

"boom!"

Helen's powerful sword strike landed heavily on empty air, unleashing terrifying force onto the bluestone ground behind Leus. With a deafening roar, the hard stone slab shattered instantly, sending debris and dust billowing into the sky. "Wow, amazing movement technique!" At the edge of the training ground, Sophia couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with disbelief. She hadn't even seen how Leus moved; she only felt a blur before her eyes, and he had already appeared outside Helen's attack range like a ghost. The whole process was smooth and seamless, without the slightest hesitation, as if he had predicted all of Helen's movements from the very beginning.

The battle on the field did not cease. "Hoo!" Having missed her target, Helen's eyes showed no sign of anger; instead, an even stronger fighting spirit ignited within her. Taking a breath, she let out a delicate shout, her wrist twisting sharply. The heavy greatsword seemed to lose its weight in her hand, and with a nimbleness completely incongruous with the blade, she wielded it, transforming it into a massive, sweeping silver arc that slashed horizontally towards Leus's waist, who had just regained his footing!

This sweeping attack covered almost the entire front, its purpose being to block Leus's elusive movements and force him into a direct confrontation of strength!

However, Lius still did not choose to confront them head-on.

Faced with the sword blade sweeping towards him like a scythe of death, he bent his knees slightly, and his whole body suddenly tumbled upwards like a compressed spring.

In the sky, Lius's figure was so light, as if he had completely broken free from the constraints of gravity. Just as the huge blade was about to touch the hem of his clothes, he had already leaped high into the air.

At that very moment, the incredible, almost unbelievable scene that left Sofia wide-eyed occurred.

At the moment he reached the highest point, Lius did not choose to land. Instead, he lightly touched the ground with his feet, like a legendary immortal walking on the moon, and landed precisely and lightly on the broad blade of the greatsword that was whistling past his feet.

"what?!"

Feeling the slight yet powerful weight emanating from the sword, enough to disrupt her strength, Helen's eyes showed horror for the first time.

She never dreamed that Leus would use such an unbelievable method to break her attack and turn the enemy's weapon into his own foothold. This was completely beyond her understanding of combat.

Lius's feet, planted firmly on the sword, seemed to be rooted to the spot. No matter how Helen tried to swing or shake the greatsword, she couldn't shake him off even a fraction. His presence was like an unshakeable mountain, firmly suppressing Helen's subsequent attacks and inevitably slowing down her sword swings.

This brief, even breathless, pause was enough for Lius. "Bishop Helen, your flaw is too obvious."

A simple sentence, like the whisper of death, rang in Helen's ears.

Lius, who was standing on the sword, suddenly leaned forward. The staff-sword in his hand flashed through the air like a cold and deadly silver lightning bolt, and like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, it thrust towards Helen's chest, which was caught off guard by the swing of the sword.

This sword strike was both incredibly fast and incredibly precise!

A strong sense of crisis, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed Helen. "Ah!"

At the critical moment between life and death, she unleashed all her potential, roared, forcibly interrupted her sword-wielding motion, abandoned the greatsword in her hand, and retreated backward recklessly! "Whoosh—" The tip of Lius's sword only managed to sever a strip of fabric on her chest, leaving a shallow white mark, before stopping less than half an inch from her skin.

After the first round, the two players stood at opposite ends of the training field, facing each other from afar.

Helen's chest heaved violently, a fine layer of cold sweat had seeped from her forehead, her face was filled with lingering fear and relief at surviving a disaster, as well as... a deeper level of awe for Leus's unfathomable strength.

Lius, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, slowly sheathing his staff and sword. He even had the leisure to smile gently at Helen, as if the earth-shattering confrontation just now was nothing more than a casual after-dinner conversation for him.

On the sidelines, Sofia was completely speechless. She clutched her heart tightly with her small hands, feeling the violent pounding of her heart that seemed to leap out of her chest.

Chapter 436: The Three of Us Together (Part 4)

Wow! Sophia stared in astonishment at everything that was happening before her eyes. It was too fast, too powerful. The impact of everything that had happened in those short dozen or so breaths was even more intense than all the experiences she had had in the past ten years of her life combined.

Is this... Prince Leus's true strength? He has already reached such a superb level with just pure swordsmanship and movement. If he were to use magic, how terrifying would he be?

Sofia dared not think any further.

After a brief respite, the battle resumed. "Again!"

Helen let out a defiant shout, gripped the greatsword she had left on the ground again, and charged at Leus once more.

The ensuing battle devolved into a long and arduous tug-of-war. Clang!! Clang clang clang!

The crisp, rapid clanging of metal, like the most intense downpour, echoed incessantly across the training field. With each collision, countless dazzling sparks scattered in the night, illuminating the figures of the two men on the field in shifting light.

Helen fully utilized her strength advantage. The greatsword in her hand sometimes swept across like a whirlwind, sometimes cleaved down like a mountain, and sometimes slashed upwards like a poisonous dragon. Each strike carried a terrifying power that could shake the earth, enveloping the entire training ground in her storm-like attack range.

However, no matter how fierce her attacks were, Lius was like a small boat in a stormy sea. Although he seemed to be in danger of capsizing at any moment, he always managed to neutralize all her attacks at the most critical moment with the most exquisite force-dissipating techniques, the most incredible dodging movements, and the most precise point strikes.

In Sophia's eyes, the staff-sword in his hand seemed to have transformed into a living, incredibly agile silver snake, always appearing at the weakest point in Helen's attack trajectory from the most cunning and unbelievable angles.

Each deft touch and deflection easily redirected Helen's immense strength, enough to split rocks and shatter stone. In this way, dozens of rounds passed in the blink of an eye.

Helen's attacks remained fierce, but it was clear to anyone with eyes that each swing of her sword was slightly slower than the last, and each breath she took was heavier than the last.

Sweat had already soaked through her white undergarment, clinging tightly to her body. Drops of glistening sweat slid down her flushed face, dripping from her resolute chin and leaving dark water stains on the bluestone floor.

Her stamina was being rapidly depleted by Leus's precise, efficient, and flawless fighting style, which resembled that of a finely tuned instrument. Leus, on the other hand, bore no other injuries except for a shallow, almost negligible sword wound on his left shoulder. This wound was one he had deliberately endured during Helen's desperate, risky attack, testing his defensive limits—a wound he had clearly handled with ease.

Therefore, at this moment, his breathing remained steady and long, and not a single drop of sweat dripped from his forehead. The rhythm of the entire battle was firmly in his hands from beginning to end.

In Sophia's eyes, Lius was like a master mentor who, through a seemingly intense battle, calmly and cruelly exposed all of Helen's weaknesses and shortcomings. After another fierce clash, the two separated once again.

Helen, with a greatsword hanging from both hands, knelt on the ground, panting heavily. The two slightly protruding breasts on her chest rose and fell with her heavy breathing, looking extremely alluring.

"Shall we continue, Bishop Helen?" Lius's voice came calmly. "Of course!"

Helen raised her head and wiped the sweat from her face with the back of her hand. Although her azure eyes were filled with exhaustion, her fighting spirit only increased.

She knew that if it were just a contest of pure swordsmanship and physical strength, she had no chance of winning. So… she had no choice but to use her last strength!

“Young Master Leus… I am about to use magic!” she solemnly declared. “Just what I wanted.” Leus smiled and nodded.

In the next instant, two completely different, yet equally powerful, magical fluctuations suddenly erupted from the two people in the arena! Helen was the first to be engulfed by a layer of blood-red light that was visible to the naked eye.

This blazing light, filled with an aura of rage and destruction, enveloped her entirely, making her appear like a war goddess emerging from lava, wielding the power of fire.

The greatsword in her hand was instantly covered by this crimson magic, and raging flames erupted on its broad blade, emitting a terrifying hissing sound that seemed to ignite the air itself. Meanwhile, on Leus's side, a more restrained yet profound pale blue magical radiance, as clear as the night sky, shone from his body. It was filled with the agility of wind and the swiftness of lightning, and countless tiny, silvery arcs of electricity constantly appeared and disappeared around his body, making soft "crackling" sounds. The staff-sword in his hand was also enveloped by a rapidly flowing, pale blue wind element and flashing silver lightning element, forming an elemental blade that seemed to be forged from gales and lightning, full of penetrating power and destructive force!

"Ahhhhhh—" With a delicate shout, Helen, now imbued with the magic of fire, increased her speed and strength several times over. She transformed into a shooting star with a long trail of flames, and once again, she shot towards Leus!

This time, when she swung her greatsword, it was no longer just a simple physical attack. A huge, crescent-shaped wave of fire, several meters long, detached from the sword and swept towards Leus with terrifying heat that could incinerate everything!

Faced with this attack, which had a wider range and greater power, Lius's figure became increasingly elusive. An invisible vortex seemed to form beneath his feet, making him so fast that he almost disappeared into the air, leaving only a series of blurry pale blue afterimages.

"With a whoosh of wind, he easily dodged the wave of fire. The Thunder and Wind Blade in his hand drew mysterious trajectories in the air. With each swing, it would shoot out a series of long-range attacks composed of wind blades and electric arcs, full of cutting power and paralyzing effect, shooting towards Helen from all directions!"

boom! boom! boom!

In an instant, the entire training ground was transformed into a desolate wasteland ravaged by elements. Crimson flames and pale blue wind and thunder collided and annihilated fiercely in the air, erupting into dazzling energy orbs. Deafening roars filled the air, and violent energy shockwaves spread outwards in circles, cutting and scorching the hard bluestone ground, leaving it riddled with holes.

Sofia, standing on the sidelines, was so shocked by the scene before her, which resembled a battle between gods, that she lost all ability to think. She could only subconsciously and continuously retreat to avoid being affected by the aftershocks of the violent battle.

In her eyes, only two figures, moving so fast they were almost invisible to the naked eye, constantly weaving and colliding amidst flames and lightning—was this their true fighting stance?

So this was it—the combination of magic and swordsmanship could unleash such…destructive power…Sophia's heart was filled with an unprecedented, most direct understanding of the word "powerful," and…a deepest longing. And her gaze towards the blond boy dancing effortlessly amidst the lightning and storm, like a god, grew increasingly…burning…

Chapter 437: The Three of Us Together (Part 5)

"Clang—" After a while, accompanied by a final, clear and long metallic clang like a morning bell, the fierce battle that had taken place under the moonlight, a battle that could make any spectator's heart tremble, finally came to a complete end.

After the storm of battle subsided, the remnants left behind by the battle could be seen.

The Thunderwind Blade in Lius's hand had, at some point, lost the shimmering, elemental aura that had been imbued with a destructive aura, and returned to its original, unremarkable form as a staff-sword, thus symbolizing the end of the battle.

The once slender, seemingly fragile sword tip now stopped with unwavering stability and without the slightest tremor, just a finger's width away from Helen's long, white neck, which was flushed with a healthy rosy hue from the intense exercise.

The cold blade didn't even touch the girl's skin, merely hovering above it. But the extremely restrained sharpness emanating from the tip of the sword caused a fine, tiny, transparent layer of sweat to uncontrollably form on Helen's delicate skin.

The outcome was already decided at this moment. "Huff, h ...

Amidst this heavy panting, Helen knelt on one knee, her hands gripping the massive sword that now felt incredibly heavy to her, barely managing to support her swaying body from exhaustion.

Sweat, like pearls from a broken string, gradually gathered from tiny droplets, eventually forming streams that dripped from her fiery red hair, flowing onto the green ground beneath her, soaking a small patch of the smooth stone slab.

Helen lost, just as expected before the battle, a defeat that was neither surprising nor surprising, and one she accepted wholeheartedly.

However, at this moment, there was no trace of frustration or resentment on her pretty face, which was covered with fatigue and sweat. Instead, there was a kind of exhilarating, heartfelt joy and satisfaction, as fiery as a flame.

“Indeed, I still have so much…so much to learn. Thank you so much… for your guidance, Young Master Lius. I have benefited immensely.” With these words, Helen slightly raised her head, her azure eyes, as if washed by rain, gleaming with an unprecedented, star-like brilliance.

Clenching her fist, she gazed at the composed blond boy before her, whose breathing remained perfectly steady. Her respect deepened, and a radiant, genuine smile blossomed on her face.

"I've learned so much this time, it's really great!" "I'm glad you're happy, Helen. How are you now? Do you want to rest?" Leus asked with a smile. "Well... resting is good too. I can continue training hard afterwards, and I also want to continue learning more from you, Young Master Leus." This battle made Helen realize the insurmountable gap between herself and true powerhouses, and it also made her... more deeply understand how exhilarating it is to follow in the footsteps of the man before her!

Helen is now full of confidence and no one can stop her.

At the edge of the training field, only now, after looking back, did Sofia seem to awaken from a dream, slowly recovering from the scene that had just occurred—a battle that resembled a war between gods, a scene that had overturned all her past understanding.

"With deep breaths, her heart was still pounding wildly in her chest. The shock and excitement from the depths of her soul washed over her limbs like the most violent tide, making her feel as if she were bathed in a warm current full of strange sensations."

"Wow, that's amazing!" Her little mouth unconsciously opened slightly, and her beautiful eyes sparkled with an unprecedented, fiery light.

The next instant, the suppressed excitement that had been building up inside him finally erupted completely! "Young Master Leus! Bishop Helen!"

With a clear shout full of excitement and joy, Sophia no longer cared about the composure and demeanor she should have as a young lady of a caravan. Lifting her skirt, she ran quickly to the two people in the field like a butterfly fluttering into a flower bush, leaving a fragrant breeze behind.

"That battle was truly... truly amazing!"

Her cheeks were flushed with a beautiful blush from extreme excitement, and her eyes, which always held a hint of calm and contemplation, now shone like brightly lit stars, giving her an unprecedented and vibrant charm.

“Bishop Helen, your strength and swordsmanship are just like those of a legendary Valkyrie, full of overwhelming power! And as you said this, Prince Lius, she turned her head and cast her bright, adoring, and amazed gaze at Lius, who was smiling as he sheathed his staff and sword.”

“I…I really didn’t expect that you not only have such profound attainments in the field of magic, but also that your combat skills and experience have reached such a superb level. This, this is really…far beyond my expectations…” Sophia’s voice was full of sincere admiration and respect, without a trace of flattery or politeness.

Before the battle, her impression of Leus was that of a gentle, polite, knowledgeable "magician" with a somewhat chaotic private life, but now, that image has been completely and utterly overturned.

It turns out that beneath this magician's gentle and refined appearance lies a breathtakingly powerful aura, much like that of a battle-hardened swordsman—truly a "warrior"!

This stark contrast brought about by their completely different temperaments was undoubtedly fatal to Sophia, a girl who had lived in the caravan order for a long time, and also... filled with an irresistible attraction.

"Ha, Miss Sofia, you flatter me."

Faced with the admiring and appreciative gazes of the two girls, Lius simply smiled gently, without a trace of smugness on his face. He first looked at Sophia in front of him, then glanced at Helen, who was hanging her sword and trying to calm her breathing, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

Besides Helen, he was now also curious about Sophia's feelings.

Chapter 438: The Three of Us Together (Part 6)

After the battle with Helen, Lius began his own commentary.

"Helen, your progress is very rapid. Your application of power is already more refined and concentrated than when we last fought. Given time, your achievements will be limitless."

"Wrong? Really?"

This heartfelt compliment made Helen blush slightly, and she smiled shyly as she turned her head away.

Then, Lius turned his gaze back to Sophia, who was looking excited, and changed the subject, a smile of interest appearing in his eyes.

"However, what truly surprised me was you, Miss Sofia." "?Me?"

Upon hearing this, Sophia pointed to herself, somewhat puzzled, and paused for a moment.

“Yes.” Lius nodded affirmatively. “My battle with Bishop Helen just now was extremely fast, and the collision of elements was extremely chaotic. Ordinary people would not even be able to see our movements clearly. The aftershocks of the battle alone would be enough to terrify them and make them unable to look directly at us. But Miss Sophia, you were able to maintain your focus from beginning to end, and you were even able to clearly distinguish our individual characteristics after the battle ended. This kind of insight and courage is not something that ordinary people can possess.”

"Ah, this sudden and incredibly precise praise from Lius instantly transformed the blush on Sophia's face, which had been flushed with excitement, into a different, even more shy and bashful red."

Her previously high spirits deflated like a punctured balloon, leaving her feeling somewhat helpless.

"No...no, that's not true," she waved her hand hastily, instinctively lowering her head, not daring to look into Lius's all-seeing eyes. "I...I was just looking around. As for fighting and such, I actually...I really don't know anything about it, not even...I've never even wielded a sword once..." Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a whisper, revealing the shyness and humility that belonged to a young girl.

However, her self-deprecating words only intensified the interest on Leus's face. "Oh? Never wielded a sword before?"

He repeated it with great interest, and looking at the cute black-haired girl in front of him who had become flustered because of his words, an interesting thought suddenly popped into his mind.

In the next instant, Lius flipped his wrist and casually took a finely crafted wooden sword, specially designed for basic training, from the weapon rack beside him. Then, to Sophia's somewhat surprised gaze, he gently tossed the wooden sword towards her with an extremely steady motion.

“If you’ve never touched a sword before, then…” Leus’s voice carried a gentle, irresistible smile, “why not… try it out for yourself? Miss Sophia, how about… we have a little duel?”

"Clap."

With a crisp sound, the wooden sword landed steadily on the ground in front of Sophia, making a clear, light sound, as if a pebble had been thrown into the lake of the black-haired girl's heart, stirring up ripples.

"? Misreading?!"

Faced with this invitation, Sophia was completely stunned. She looked at the wooden sword on the ground, then at Lius, who was smiling at her. Her mind went blank, and for a moment she even wondered if she was hallucinating.

A duel with...and Prince Leus? "No, no, no! How can this be!"