"Qiu Nian…"
Skirk softly repeated the name, her tone faintly puzzled, as if searching through memories where it simply did not exist.
"I've never heard it before."
After a brief moment of thought, she shook her head.
"I do not speak with the weak."
"Only those strong enough deserve to stand as my equal."
"If you wish to continue this conversation—prove your strength first."
Her crimson eyes ignited with battle intent.
A strange, otherworldly blade appeared in her hand, and violet-red Abyssal power surged around her.
In a single breath, she could cut down countless Rift Hounds and Abyssal creatures.
Though she vaguely sensed she was not his equal—
She had never feared the strong.
And perhaps, through battle…
She could glimpse his truth.
"Of course."
Qiu Nian simply nodded.
His expression did not change in the slightest.
That alone—
Confirmed her suspicion.
He was no ordinary being.
—
With a light wave of his hand—
The world changed.
The quiet maple-lined street vanished.
In its place—
A mist-covered mountain peak emerged, like a realm of immortals.
Skirk's eyes flickered with surprise—
But only for an instant.
"Shifting Myriad Forms!"
She moved.
In a flash—
She was before him.
Her blade descended.
A violet-red arc of sword light split the heavens, illuminating the entire peak.
—
Silence.
No impact.
Only—
Her stunned expression.
Qiu Nian had caught her strike—
With two fingers.
No power leaked from him.
Nothing to read.
Nothing to grasp.
—
Her shock lasted only a moment.
Then—
Her battle intent surged again.
This time—
She held nothing back.
In an instant—
Thousands of strikes erupted.
Dual blades manifested mid-combat.
A storm of steel.
—
Qiu Nian smiled faintly.
Dodging.
Blocking.
Effortlessly.
He leaned back—
Avoided one strike—
She appeared at his flank—
Another slash—
Stopped by a single finger.
—
They became afterimages.
Appearing.
Disappearing.
Across the mountain.
Each clash—
Shaved pieces from the peak.
—
Time passed.
Unnoticed.
Six hours.
—
Then—
A near miss.
Her blade came within an inch of piercing his abdomen.
Only an inch.
—
Caught.
His hand gripped the blade.
White energy—
Faintly tinged with red—
Flowed around his fingers.
Qiu Nian glanced at the blade.
A hint of appreciation in his eyes.
"In such a short time… she's grown this much."
"A mere lapse on my part… yet still unexpected."
"If my strength hadn't recovered…"
"That strike might have succeeded."
He observed her.
Still burning with battle intent.
Even—
Smiling faintly.
—
Though even if it had struck—
It would not have harmed him.
—
Before he could think further—
Her kick followed.
She had forgotten time.
Forgotten her own words.
Or perhaps—
This still wasn't enough.
She wanted more.
—
Qiu Nian caught her leg—
And flung her into the air.
—
Midair—
She stabilized instantly.
Spun—
And slashed toward his eyes.
—
He tilted his head slightly.
Dodged.
—
"…Am I just a sparring partner now?"
He chuckled softly.
Well—
He had nothing better to do.
—
Meanwhile—
Even as she attacked—
Her thoughts raced.
That energy…
White.
With a trace of red.
Familiar—
Yet alien.
—
It felt the same—
As the aura he had deliberately revealed before.
And yet—
She still couldn't understand it.
—
The thought vanished in an instant.
Her focus sharpened.
Only one goal remained—
To land a hit.
—
By now—
The "mountain peak" no longer resembled one.
Half of it had been erased by her sword.
Yet—
The sun in the sky had not moved.
Time itself seemed frozen.
—
Another hour passed.
—
Suddenly—
Qiu Nian's legs were frozen.
"Ice…?"
He glanced down.
"…No."
"Abyssal power imitating elemental force?"
Understanding dawned—
And he smiled faintly.
It had been a long time since he'd seen something like this.
Almost nostalgic.
—
"He's distracted."
Skirk seized the moment.
Her blade fell.
—
Qiu Nian leapt—
Landing lightly—
On the tip of her sword.
—
"Impressive technique."
"It resembles that of an old acquaintance."
"But…"
"This duel ends here."
"Miss Skirk—have I proven my strength?"
He asked calmly.
Then stepped down—
Standing before her.
—
"…Senior, your strength is undeniable."
She lowered her blade slightly.
A rare trace of embarrassment crossed her face.
"I became… too absorbed."
Even her form of address had changed.
Senior.
Someone of his level—
Deserved that title.
And more importantly—
He could have ended the fight at any time.
Yet he hadn't.
Instead—
He guided her growth.
—
This man—
Was not her enemy.
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