Vexion moved with explosive speed.
Her fist shot forward, empowered by a concentrated Pushing Force that game it a double impact. A glass-like crack echoed through the room as Emerald's invisible mana wall shattered apart.
Emerald clicked her tongue.
"Mana... make her punch reach Lexa."
The instant those words left her lips, Vexion's arm betrayed her. Her punch veered several inches off course, narrowly missing Emerald's body as the young princess casually stepped aside.
Instead...
The full force of the strike collided with Lexa's sword.
BOOM!
Lexa's eyes widened in panic before the impact travelled past her sturdy sword into her body and launched her across the training hall. Her blood swords shattered into crimson fragments as she coughed up blood. Her chest nearly caved in beneath the overwhelming force, and agony spread through her body as she desperately struggled to remain conscious.
Vexion didn't even spare her a glance.
She spun around immediately, searching for Emerald.
Nothing.
Only countless footsteps echoed around her from every direction. Whispered voices drifted through the room, each sounding equally real.
Lexa fared no better.
She gritted her teeth in frustration.
The battle unfolding before her made one thing painfully obvious. She was weak.
Her previous self had refused to develop this skill seriously. Seeing Vexion and Emerald wield theirs with such precision only highlighted the gap between them.
Every time she tried to interfere... Mana itself seemed to reject her. Her skills stalled and Her control slipped.
The only reason she hadn't already suffered critical injuries was because Emerald's attention remained focused almost entirely on Vexion. Nearly ninety percent of Emerald's mana manipulation was dedicated to disrupting Vexion's abilities. Only a small portion was left to suppress Lexa. Even that was enough.
Vexion's tyrannical aura continued filling the room, but the hallucinations refused to disappear. Emerald stood somewhere among the countless illusions, quietly recovering her mana. Thanks to her passive abilities, it regenerated nearly three times faster than Vexion's.
She laughed softly. "Vexion... you're honestly troublesome, that punch would've blown my face off." The words didn't simply travel through the air. Mana carried them directly into Vexion's mind. Her expression darkened.
What do I do...? The longer I let her speak... the stronger the hallucinations become. I can't even tell where she is anymore.
Dante, meanwhile, had been watching the entire battle from the spectator lounge. His gaze rested on Vexion. More specifically...
Her butt cheeks.
He blinked.
...How is that even possible?
It moves... yet somehow doesn't move.
He stared for another second before finally sighing. 'Some asses are simply magical; elf ass is fucking pheromonal'. After urging self-control, he thought about the battle before him, particularly his sister.
Stacked Skills really are troublesome.
Emerald possessed overwhelming mobility, continuous self-healing, accelerated mana recovery, illusions, sensory disruption, and battlefield control—all within a single Legendary Skill.
It was absurd. Then again... She still lacked one thing. Dante stood up as he yawned stretching his lazy muscles "I've let her bully my subordinates long enough."
Taking a single step, space folded beneath his feet. He appeared directly beside Emerald. She froze. Turning her head, she forced out an awkward smile.
"My dear older brother..."
Dante smiled back.
"Mind if I join?"
Emerald immediately shook her head.
"Nope."
"Unless you're planning on fighting them and not me."
Dante laughed as he snapped his fingers. An indescribable pressure descended. It wasn't merely aura, it was the presence of a Mythical Being.
The entire training hall froze. Lexa, still clutching her chest, found herself appearing before Dante and Emerald without understanding how.
Vexion's own aura disappeared instantly as space folded around her, depositing her beside them. She blinked in confusion before lowering her head.
"...We lost, didn't we?"
Emerald smiled warmly before walking over and wrapping Vexion in a hug. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You usually win enough against me. Let me enjoy this one."
Vexion hesitated before returning the embrace with a helpless smile. "...I understand, Lady Emerald." Emerald then walked over to Lexa.
Placing a gentle hand on her chest, she silently healed her injuries. "First... Nice to meet you. and second...don't look so depressed, It's only your first day."
She smiled brightly. "I'm technically the weakest among my siblings."
"If I reached this level after being trained by my older brothers and sisters—including your Master—then you can become just as strong." Lexa finally managed to breathe properly again. The pain slowly faded. She returned a weak smile. "...I understand, Princess Emerald."
Emerald nodded happily before immediately throwing herself into Dante's arms.
He simply chuckled, he knew she wanted a compliment and be babied. He shook his head with a soft chuckle as he patted her head. "For someone without a dedicated combat skill...you defeated two opponents stronger than yourself. On a battlefield, the winner is simply the one left alive."
"In that regard..."
"You won."
Emerald's eyes lit up.
His praise meant more to her than the victory itself.Behind them, Vexion lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Master. I didn't know you were watching. I'm sorry to have shown you such a disappointing display." Dante's eyes drifted over her figure. From her face... To her waist... And finally... To her hips.
He nodded thoughtfully. "The view certainly wasn't disappointing. For most of that fight...I was watching your ass."
Silence.
Vexion's face instantly turned crimson. She looked down, covering her lips with one hand as warmth spread through her chest,"...I'm glad Master enjoyed it."
Dante laughed before turning toward Lexa. "You two. Go clean yourselves up. When you come back..."
"I want each of you to tell me what you think your biggest weakness was."
Lexa immediately lowered her head Yes, Master. I'm terribly sor—"
Dante cut her off with a wave of his hand, still absentmindedly patting Emerald's head. "Relax I never expected you to win. I know your weaknesses better than you do. This wasn't a test of victory. It was a lesson. So stop looking like someone kicked your puppy. I'm fair. You were always going to lose against this little monster."
Emerald giggled as she inhaled her brothers gentle calming scent as he "complimented" her strength. "Even Vexion only wins about half the time."
Those words eased the tightness in Lexa's chest. She still hated how powerless she had been... But she understood.
This battle had never been about winning. She had to see how far off she was , but also realise....she could catch up. After all both of these two learned from the same boy who would train her.
After sending the two of them away to recover, Dante and Emerald returned to the spectator lounge. The spacious observation room resembled a miniature house more than a viewing platform.
They settled onto one of the couches. Emerald leaned comfortably against his shoulder while Dante took a sip from a fizzy drink. He glanced sideways at her.
"So...What exactly are you planning?"
Emerald smiled. as she thought of the question cutely turning her head she asked, "What do you think about the Dragonkin?"
Dante's interest immediately surfaced. "Nothing beyond what the books say. They're powerful. Ancient, possess natural abilities that don't rely on mana. Prideful. etc"
Emerald giggled. "You really hate using more words than necessary."
Dante only stared at her taking another delicious gulp smacking his lips he said "Speaking sometimes requires you to think and thinking is effort"
She laughed as she asked her hand over her mouth in amusement "You actually think before you speak? You.... My dear older brother?"
Dante took a sip as he chuckled "I said sometimes". She laughed a bit more holding her stomach while Dante smiled using telekinesis to pull a drink out from the fridge and taking another sip. After some time she collected herself as Emerald continued.
"Do you know where eldest sister is?"
Dante shook his head.
" Salvia? I only know where second brother is."
"If Father was telling the truth..."He's currently on the run."
Emerald laughed. "That honestly sounds like something you'd do."
Dante couldn't argue with that.
He simply chuckled. "Fair enough. But why are you asking about her?"
Emerald's smile became slightly more mischievous.
"Apparently..."
"She's in love with a Dragonkin."
"They're both staying at a sect on the Southern Central Continent."
"It's called... Sovereignty Sect."