“Miles, don’t worry. You know how strong Crystal is. Handling that little missy should be a piece of cake!” Ruby said.
Seeing the concern on his face, she couldn’t help but offer some reassurance. “Relax, Crystal will definitely win this match. Trust me.”
Crystal wasn’t just naturally talented but also extremely diligent. She has prepared thoroughly for the Combat Tournament.
While winning the championship wasn’t guaranteed, Ruby was confident Crystal would advance to Group A and compete against the top talents.
“I hope so,” he said with a forced smile.
He had full confidence in Crystal’s abilities. He would bet everything on her if she faced a slightly weaker opponent. But her opponent was Aurora -the daughter of Alloy, guildmaster of the Celestial Alliance.
Aurora had been rigorously trained since childhood. So, she matched Crystal in cultivation level, combat skills, and secret techniques.
With these two facing off, it was hard to predict who would win. Miles could only hope Crystal would be the champion.
“Come on, Faith. Let’s place our bets too.” Alicia tugged Grace toward the betting ring. She intended to wager all her celestial stones on Aurora.
For Alicia, winning or losing the celestial stones didn’t matter since she only wanted to support her sister.
Spectators had already taken sides even before Aurora and Crystal’s match began. One group cheered for the fiery Aurora, while the other favored Crystal, the icy maiden.
Cheers erupted from both groups, and the excitement filled the air.
In the battle ring, two women looked at each other from a distance.
“I’m Aurora Marshall of the Celestial Alliance,” Aurora greeted first with a nod.
She wore a red outfit. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail. She looked confident, and her smile captivated many male spectators.
“I’m Crystal Wesley from the Sword Union,” Crystal replied. Her expression was cold as usual.
“Oh? So, you’re a disciple of the Sword Union?” Aurora’s eyes narrowed, and she looked serious.
She added, “I’ve heard that Sword Union disciples are highly skilled and renowned for exceptional swordsmanship. Today, I’d like to see it for myself.”
With that, she slowly unsheathed her dual crescent blades from her waist. They gleamed silver-white, and their curved forms were radiant under the sunlight. It was a truly remarkable weapon.
Crystal didn’t say much. She simply drew her sword and uttered, “Let’s begin.” Her sword, three feet three inches long, gleamed like freshly fallen snow. A chill radiated from its edge.
“Better watch out!” Aurora warned before darting forward like a swallow in flight.
Her movements were swift and unpredictable as she weaved back and forth toward Crystal, her erratic footwork making it hard to anticipate her next move. This was the renowned Celestial Alliance technique, Quickstrike Steps, known for its agility and balanced offense-defense capabilities. Its rapid acceleration in close quarters made it distinctive, as it often caught the opponents off guard with sudden bursts of speed.
“Quickstrike Steps?” Crystal narrowed her eyes as she instantly recognized Aurora’s technique.
She slashed diagonally without hesitation. More than a dozen sword shadows burst out and swept toward Aurora.
Spectators gasped as the shadows sliced through the air with a fierce wind.
As expected from an elite disciple of the Sword Union, Crystal’s swordsmanship was extraordinary. Even a casual strike carried such terrifying power. An ordinary martial artist would likely be defeated with just one of those strikes.
Facing the oncoming sword shadows, Aurora chose not to block them. Instead, she instantly accelerated and created several afterimages. With the agility of Quickstrike Steps, she easily dodged the attack.
Taking advantage of the opening, Aurora closed the distance between them. With a crescent blade in each hand, she made sweeping cuts.
Crystal’s eyes narrowed. She instinctively leaned back to dodge the horizontal strikes, then countered with a vertical sword strike.
The sword and dual blades clashed in midair. Sparks flew, and a shockwave of true energy rippled through the air. Upon impact, they quickly stepped back.
From the brief exchange, both assessed each other’s strengths. They were evenly matched in terms of skill and cultivation, and neither could gain the upper hand in a direct confrontation.
The match would test their experience, techniques, and hidden strategies. Ultimately, the secret moves they had yet to reveal would determine the victor.
“Again!” Fueled by her competitive spirit, Aurora launched another attack after her initial strike missed.
This time, her Quickstrike Steps were lightning-fast. She blurred into motion and charged at Crystal with her crescent blade gleaming ominously.
