Tatyana's current secondary body had the rank of a Fourth Level Transcendence Realm cultivator. She was matching Yasenia's cultivation level to keep up with her progress. If she had put her mind into it, the secondary body would've been higher level. However, to experience the world with her Little Treasure, Tatyana always made sure to match cultivation realms.
In the first place, Tatyana's secondary body had, at one point, reached Tatyana's cultivation level in the past. She just voluntarily destroyed and reformed it to protect her Little Treasure in a precarious situation.
Looking at the Golden Guardian with equivalent strength to an average Level Nine Transcendence Realm cultivator, her red eyes were calm.
The Golden Guardian stepped forward, its power crushing as it slashed horizontally with a golden glowing sword. Tatyana perfectly predicted the trajectory, stepping forward and raising her sword. "[Abyssal Strike]."
This attack was very similar to Yasenia's [Celestial Sunder]. Strong, but also able to be spammed rather freely by Tatyana.
Pitch-black death energy coated Tatyana's sword as she swung it precisely at the breaking point of the attack.
Clang~.
A non-violent, almost melodic metallic sound echoed. The Golden Guardian didn't give up after the first attack and followed it with another diagonally descending attack.
Tatyana shifted her body, raising her sword again as the same pitch-black darkness coated her weapon.
Clang~.
This time, the strike was even more accurate, not only preventing damage but causing the Golden Guardian's weapon to rebound. It was not because Tatyana's secondary body was stronger than Yasenia's.
In raw strength, Yasenia's body had already surpassed Tatyana's secondary body in the same realm. Her combination of paths and draconic origin, enhanced by the Dragon Paradise and several other enhancement buffs, was enough to tilt the raw strength advantage in Yasenia's favor.
However, raw strength was not what Tatayna was using. It was sublime control and martial prowess.
As a rain of golden sword lights rushed at Tatyana like a relentless storm, the Death Empress stood in the middle without moving an inch, her black sword tracing a gorgeous pattern of darkness as her sword accurately blocked each strike.
"Strong and quick. You also have a basic essence of swordsmanship."
The Golden Guardian was not weak. Against other Level Nine cultivators, it would be pummeled rather easily. Regardless, it was still a being with the strength of a Level Nine Transcendence Realm cultivator.
Beings in that realm had almost transformed their bodies to the limits from their mortal realms, becoming absolute monsters that could blow up a star with a single punch.
"Still…"
Tatyana's foot moved and, for the first time in front of Yasenia, she used her strongest movement technique. "[Void Shattering Phantom Steps]."
With a faint sidestep in the air, the golden sword whiffed past her, and then Tatyana broke space before her and reappeared on top of it, swinging her sword down.
The Golden Guardian looked up, but it was unable to block the descending sword coated in death energy.
BOOM!
The strike caused the Golden Guardian's sturdy body to kneel, a large, decaying gash almost splitting its helmet in half. But this was only the beginning of Tatyana's assault.
Her body tore through space itself, moving like a phantom, and she appeared below the lowered head of the Golden Guardian, her leg sweeping upward and striking the chin.
BANG!
The Golden Guardian soared to the sky, and Tatyana once more appeared by its side, slashing its side.
BOOM!
With terrifying speed and movements that felt inhuman, Tatyana shifted through space itself and slashed and kicked the Golden Guardian several times. The sound of explosions covered the place, the Golden Guardian bouncing around in the air as its armor crumpled step by step under Tatyana's utterly terrifying barrage.
The Golden Guardian tried, it really tried, to summon defensive skills. But these skills could only last three or four hits before they broke down, and it was once more pummeled.
Looking from the sides, it felt like an adult playing with a child. Tatyana's mesmerizing red eyes left a streak of light wherever she moved, creating a beautiful trajectory of her flickering movements.
Yasenia and everyone else looked with wide eyes, unable to believe the absolute thrashing Tatyana was delivering to the poor Golden Guardian.
"[Abyssal Render]."
With Tatyana's cold and dignified voice, the woman appeared above the Golden Guardian and moved, swinging her sword. The world darkened with her sword's movement, overwhelming Death Energy surging from deep within Tatyana.
As the Golden Guardian soared upward and gathered yet another defensive skill, Tatyana accelerated vertically like a black meteor.
The radiant golden light was swallowed by the voracious darkness, followed by a space-shattering strike that caused the ten-meter-tall being to crash down like a meteor.
Tatyana looked down from mid-air, her eyes cold and indifferent and her breath not even ragged. With an elegant motion, she sheathed the sword and made it dissipate into black mist.
Then, her imperial red eyes shifted toward the eight Guardians. "Have I passed?"
All eight of them flinched. The Guardian in charge of that Golden Guardian swallowed and spoke. "T-That's… Ahem. That's right. Thank you for not destroying the Golden Guardian entirely."
Tatyana spoke with an indifferent tone. "If we are fighting Abyss creatures, every bit of strength is essential. I would naturally not ruin our side's forces just because."
"Then, you will substitute…"
"No." Tatyana cut him off, her red eyes piercing as if she could see through the black cloak's disguise. "We already learned most things, and you eight have much explaining to do. There is no need to continue to play around, is there? Once my girl is done playing with these golden toys, let's move to another place."
Even with her "rude" tone toward the guardians, there were absolutely zero individuals who dared to raise their voices or point it out.
Tatyana descended, and once she did, a tall, voluptuous dragon girl jumped into her arms. "Mommyyy, mommyyyy."
Her coy and absolutely adoring calling melted away Tatyana's indifferent expression, hugging her dear and smiling at her softly. "Yes, love. I am here."
"Ugghh…." Yasenia was in heat. Her golden-slit eyes were flashing between golden and pink, wanting nothing more than to pin down and impregnate the woman before her.
Tatyana created a black dome, and when the privacy was achieved, the pink swallowed the golden color. Clothes were flung, followed by an absolute pounding.
Outside the dome, the girls coughed and looked at the remaining seven Golden Guardians. Yasenia and Tatyana would probably not step out of the dome for a while, so they looked behind them.
"How about giving it a try?"
The maids bowed softly. Eve spoke softly. "There is no need, Madams. Please enjoy the Golden Guardian as fresh as possible. Once the madams have fought to their heart's content, we will step forward and give it a try."
Cecile blinked and nodded. "If that's the case, let's fight."
Kali glanced around and chuckled. "Well, after mother-in-law's demonstration, I believe no one here has the guts to fight."
So, the girls stepped forward. This left one of the Golden Giants free.
Mirrory and Valeria appeared by Angel's and Kali's side.
"Do you want me to fight with you?"
Angel pondered and nodded. "Yes. I want to fight with your support."
Their support and active participation were different. If they actively participated, Valeria and Mirrory would be able to unleash strength comparable to, or even superior to, what Tatyana just showed, depending on the situation.
If they acted as support, they would act as they would if Angel and Kali reached a level of strength to fully utilize their strength. Valeria would act as a proper summon, and Mirrory as a proper treasure.
In Valeria's case, her supporting ability was endless healing and endless summoning, together with many other enhancing skills. She, as the Nature Spirit Queen, could manipulate Life, Nature, and Wood energies beyond perfection.
Kali stepped forward together with Valeria.
The people around couldn't help but look at Valeria blankly. As Kali became stronger, Valeria's body type and face were slightly changing toward her own. Previously, because of Kali's wishes, she was something like a giantified Yasenia. Only her facial features were distinctly different.
Now, while Valeria was still curvy enough to cause vertigo, her curves had become more slender. Even then, with her three-meter height, the woman's looks were absolutely destructive. Moreover, with her emerald-colored, golden-ringed dragon tail swishing behind her, Valeria carried herself like Yasenia, walking with steps that were enough to kill a virgin man from a single look.
Once they approached the Golden Guardian, Kali summoned a staff and looked at it. The Golden Guardian reacted cautiously. The danger sense Valeria was giving off by Kali's side was no joke.
Valeria spoke, a strange force in her voice. "I am acting as support, not a real fighter; focus on Kali."
The Golden Guardian, as if it understood, relaxed its tense grip and looked at Kali. Kali pouted a little. "Hey, even if I am weaker, I don't like that attitude!"
Valeria chuckled, using her dragon tail to pat Kali's head. Her fluffy fox ears moved from side to side as Valeria caressed her head. "Hm… Let's see… Since it is a construct, normal parasites won't work. So, I need to strategize and use more normal tactics."
Valeria spoke softly. "You have parasites that affect constructs, though."
"They are far too destructive. This is a test, not a battle to the death with no strings attached."
Tatyana already said that completely destroying these guardians was not ideal, so Kali didn't use her most insidious means.
"Alright, let's start."
With a wave of her fox tails and staff, roots bloomed around her. The Golden Guardian lunged forward, its speed tremendous.
"Valeria."
With a single call, Valeria struck the ground and created large roots that coiled around the Golden Guardian. The Golden Guardian's body surged with energy, an explosive sound blasting those roots into pieces.
The delay was enough for Kali to summon several hundred strong creatures, though. The creatures rushed forward, attacking cautiously and in an orderly manner.
While controlling the summons, Kali activated her Intent Domains and skills, accelerating the evolution of her summons. Those that didn't die straight away after one clash with the Golden Guardian evolved, gaining insight and resistance toward the creature's antics.
"Good. Keep it up."
With another wave of her energy, Kali summoned several plants behind her with circular mouths. These plants then began spitting solid attacks.
The Golden Guardian used a complex movement technique, leaving the encirclement and accelerating toward Kali. Kali didn't stay still, using her movement skills to move away, harassing the Golden Guardian with her attacks, summons, and other means.
The battle looked like it would take a long while.