Late summer, new calendar year 368.
The capital of Saer Province, in the southern border of the Xio Kingdom, Morning Star City.
Today, this city is immersed in revelry and celebration.
The streets are submerged in flowers, ribbons, and flags symbolizing the Norlin Family, while the air is filled with the rich aroma of fine wine, roasted meat, and spices.
Ever since the newly appointed Marquis of Stars and Governor of Saer, Reinhardt Norlin, officially took up residence.
This place has become the focal point of the entire Xio Kingdom.
A banquet celebration is currently being held in the courtyard of the Governor's Mansion.
Reinhardt is dressed in a custom-made Marquis formal suit, with silver threads embroidered with star and blade patterns on a deep blue background, and the "Dawn Silver Radiance" medal on his chest shimmering with dazzling brilliance under the moonlight.
This Legendary powerhouse sits at the head of the table, his expression calm.
However, surrounded by countless praises and fervent gazes, there is also a faint radiance on his brow typical of a youth who has achieved success early, full of high spirits.
In the courtyard, there are congratulatory delegations from all over the kingdom, and even envoys from other kingdoms.
Outside the Governor's Mansion, the locals are joining in the celebration, filling almost every corner of the surroundings, cheering and throwing flower petals and confetti into the air, their eyes filled with worship and hope as they look toward the mansion.
That eighteen-year-old Legendary is not just their governor.
He is the symbol of the entire Xio Kingdom's path to revival!
"light of xio"—this title has already spread far and wide.
At this moment, an old nobleman who traveled from the royal capital raises his wine glass.
"Marquis, you are truly a natural-born Genius. I believe that given time, you might even surpass that Holy King of Lothorn."
"Indeed, Governor Reinhardt. You broke through to Legendary before the age of twenty; such talent is unprecedented in history, and there is no precedent among The Nations of Romania."
Another representative of a large merchant guild quickly chimed in, his face full of flattery and admiration.
"With you here, Xio is truly blessed by fate! The revival is in sight, and just around the corner!"
Similar words are heard endlessly.
Like the most mellow wine, they are constantly poured into the young Marquis's heart.
Reinhardt relaxes his brow, raises his wine glass, and responds in a clear voice.
"You all overpraise me. The Holy King had countless great achievements; he swept across the nations during the era of war, established the federation single-handedly, and brought centuries of peace to the Romanian Plain. He is not someone that we juniors can compare to."
"I merely broke through by luck; how could I dare compare myself to the Senior Holy King?"
"Although the Senior Holy King broke through to Legendary slightly later than I did, he practiced both magic and martial arts. Even before he was a Legendary, he could render Legendary powerhouses helpless with his bare hands, and he was proficient in everything from statecraft to strategy."
"I am far from being able to rival him."
His voice pauses, and a brilliant smile appears on the youth's face.
He makes a joke, teasing: "At least wait until I achieve the position of destiny before you praise me again and compare me to our predecessors."
His words are humble and appropriate, with a touch of harmless humor, leaving a very good impression.
However.
In the surging wave of praise, beneath that humility, there is a trace of arrogance and intoxication that even he himself failed to notice, just like an undercurrent beneath the water, quietly growing.
In the crowd, the envoy from the Lothorn kingdom frowns slightly.
Broke through later than you. Although the latter part was praise for the Holy King, the youth subconsciously mentioning this aspect, to a certain extent, means he believes he has areas where he surpasses the Holy King.
And his last sentence.
A joke?
Sometimes, that is just the truth that isn't suitable to say directly.
However, Reinhardt's behavior is actually within reason.
After all, he is only eighteen.
Facing this atmosphere that almost places a pedestal at his feet, even an older person would find it hard to remain calm; for a youth to be completely unperturbed is impossible.
The Lothorn envoy remains calm.
His gaze sweeps over the high-spirited face of the young Legendary and falls on the Dawn Silver Radiance flowing on his chest; the light is too intense, almost scorching the eyes of onlookers.
[The star is born and shines upon the world, the silver sword rings before it is even worn.]
An old proverb quietly surfaces in his mind.
It describes those young people who are pushed to the Peak by fate early on.
"Achieving success at a young age, some arrogance is normal."
"He perhaps does not yet understand the principle that starting early does not mean one can go far."
"Like praise? Then I will give you praise."
The Lothorn envoy thinks to himself, then smiles slightly, raises his wine glass, sends respect to the young Legendary from afar, and says loudly: "Your Excellency Reinhardt, even if our Holy King were still alive, he would praise you endlessly."
"Haha, there is no need to be too humble; the future will ultimately be created by an excellent young generation like you."
The envoys from other nations, without exception, also toast immediately, continuing to offer praise and congratulations.
Reinhardt cannot help but smile, raising his glass to return the toasts one by one.
Time passes in the lively and joyful atmosphere, and the celebration reaches its climax in the afternoon.
Noble young ladies, like fluttering colorful butterflies, surround the young Marquis.
Their eyes sparkle with admiration and curiosity, whispering softly and smiling sweetly, attempting to attract the attention of the kingdom's most dazzling new star.
Reinhardt maintains a polite smile, responding appropriately, but his gaze is gradually drawn to one figure among them.
That is the daughter of a count from the northern border of the kingdom, known for her cold beauty and learning, Lyssia Frost.
She has pale golden hair like moonlight, sapphire blue eyes like gemstones, and a cool, outstanding temperament; among the crowd of rich and charming noble ladies, she is like a snow lotus standing alone in the frost.
She does not crowd around like the others, only nodding slightly and offering a faint smile when her eyes occasionally meet Reinhardt's.
Finally, during a pause in the dance music.
Reinhardt takes the initiative to walk toward Lyssia, who is standing quietly by a pillar.
"Miss Frost, thank you for coming from afar."
Reinhardt raises his glass in greeting.
Lyssia returns an elegant curtsy, her voice clear and pleasant: "It is my honor to witness the glorious moment of the Marquis. Your achievements are admirable."
The two avoid the noisy center and walk to a relatively quiet terrace on the side of the viewing platform.
From here, one can overlook most of the jubilant Morning Star City.
A breeze blows by, bringing the music of the celebration and the faint scent of flowers from afar.
They discuss the situation facing the Xio Kingdom, even touching upon some insights into national policy.
Reinhardt discovers that this count's daughter is not only knowledgeable but also has unique and calm views on the current situation, with no exaggeration or shallowness in her words typical of ordinary noble ladies.
Lyssia is also gradually attracted during the conversation to the calm yet hidden sharp temperament of the young Legendary before her.
A kind of mutual affection between young people quietly breeds in the cautious and polite conversation.
Reinhardt looks at Lyssia's exquisite profile under the moonlight, weighing his words in his heart, wanting to invite her to visit the lakeside together tomorrow.
But just at this moment, his gaze suddenly narrows, as if he senses something.
"Reinhardt, what's wrong?"
The count's daughter asks in a low voice.
The young Legendary's gaze becomes sharp, and he says: "An uninvited guest has arrived."
As if to verify his words.
A few seconds later, a hurried and loud report suddenly breaks the joyful atmosphere of the banquet.
"Report—!"
An officer wearing the Saer Province guard uniform approaches quickly, kneels on one knee before Reinhardt, his voice filled with nervousness and panic.
"Governor! Outside the mansion... outside the mansion, there is an envoy claiming to be from the Aura Kingdom, requesting an audience."
The officer lowers his head and says, "It is a near-prime Blue Dragon, claiming to have come under the orders of the Aura regent to offer congratulations to the Marquis of Stars."
The regent, Sorog Ignas.
When the Red Emperor is suspected to be sleeping, he is the current de facto supreme ruler of Aura, with titles such as Wing of the Emperor, War Prince, and Iron Prince circulating.
The Xio people are very clear about the weight of this regent.
The music and laughter near the terrace disappear, and the color quickly fades from the faces of all the nobles and officials nearby who heard the report, turning pale and fearful.
As if the previous joyful banquet was just a beautiful dream.
And now, the nightmare has arrived.
Reinhardt's heart also skips a beat, but he forces himself to remain calm.
"Everyone, do not panic, remain quiet. A distinguished guest has come from afar, and we should welcome them."
He calms his mood, then says to the officer: "Invite the Aura envoy in, and invite it to join us in our revelry."
A moment later, the Aura envoy arrives.
It is a male Blue Dragon, its breathing like thunder, and its massive physique and sharp claws make all the guests turn pale.
It does not lower its head, only slightly lowers its eyelids, scanning the humans around it.
"Under the orders of the great Iron Prince."
The Blue Dragon speaks, its voice low, like rolling thunder sounding on flat ground, saying: "I have come specifically to offer congratulations to the 'Marquis of Stars' of the Xio Kingdom, Reinhardt Norlin."
"The Prince heard that Xio has a young hero who ascended to the Legendary realm before reaching adulthood, with talent that can be called world-shocking."
"You are worthy of a special... attention and congratulation."
Opposite, Reinhardt stands up straight, looking up at the Blue Dragon, his expression solemn.
As for an Evil Dragon that is not Legendary, he has no fear of it itself, but from the Blue Dragon, he feels a heavy sense of oppression; that does not stem from the Blue Dragon itself, but from the Aura Kingdom behind it.
"Thank you for the Iron Prince's congratulations."
Reinhardt first nods slightly, then changes the subject, saying: "However, with the envoy here in person, besides congratulations, what other instructions are there?"
The Blue Dragon bares its huge mouth, and the electric sparks jumping between its sharp teeth crackle.
"The Marquis is direct, indeed having a bit of the arrogance belonging to a youth."
After a pause, the Blue Dragon's voice suddenly becomes grand and solemn.
"Conveying the decree of the Iron Prince."
"Xio has a son, Reinhardt Norlin, whose talent is outstanding and unparalleled in the current generation."
"Ascending to Legendary in his youth is a grand event unseen in the Romanian Plain for a thousand years. Such a hero should be tempered by battle and proven by blood and fire, so as not to waste his talent and live up to his fame."
The air in the hall almost freezes, and everyone holds their breath, listening to the Iron Prince's decree.
"Therefore, I specially decree, inviting the Marquis of Stars, Reinhardt Norlin, one week from now, on the night of the full moon, to go to Twin Moon Valley and engage in a fair duel with our Ranger General, the blade of aura."
The Blue Dragon's vertical pupils stare tightly at Reinhardt, its voice becoming increasingly deep and resonant.
"If Reinhardt Norlin wins, the Aura Kingdom will return two major provinces to Xio and promise that within the next hundred years, it will not exercise its obligations of armament restrictions on Xio under the Norton Treaty."
"This battle is intended to exchange and temper, to manifest valor, and to enhance the relationship between the two countries."
"If the blade of aura wins, Xio does not need to pay any price."
"I hope Reinhardt Norlin... will live up to his youthful sharpness and the hopes of the entire Xio nation, and gladly accept the appointment to prove his Legendary name."
As the Blue Dragon's voice falls, everyone in the hall, including Reinhardt, falls into a brief silence.
Returning two major provinces, canceling armament restrictions for a hundred years... the richness of this bet is almost equivalent to smashing the heaviest shackles placed on Xio!
And yet, in the event of failure, there is "no need to pay any price"?
This condition is almost too good to be true, almost like a pie falling from the sky.
But precisely because of this, it makes the atmosphere silent.
Everyone knows that the Iron Prince would never give them a truly free gift.
"Their target is me."
Alarm bells ring in Reinhardt's heart.
He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, light flickering in his eyes, and then looks at the Blue Dragon.
"This matter is of great importance, and the challenge involves two nations; I cannot agree to it on my own."
"A week is also too hasty. I must report this to His Majesty the King and listen to the opinions of the Kingdom's Council and the ministers. Could... please ask the special envoy to convey to the regent to grant us some more time, allowing us to discuss this carefully?"
He chose the safest response: stalling for time.
"One week from now, on the night of the full moon, at the Twin Moon Canyon."
"Whether to go or not is Your Excellency the Marquis's own choice; the Prince only provided an opportunity."
The Blue Dragon paused, then continued: "My mission is complete; the congratulations and the decree have both been delivered. Now, farewell. I look forward to witnessing the Marquis's brilliant performance at the Twin Moon Canyon in a week."
Having said this, it did not linger, turned around with heavy steps, and circled up into the night sky.
After this interlude, the joyous atmosphere of the banquet no longer existed.
Silence and oppression became the main theme.
Just then, a commotion erupted from outside the mansion.
"Accept it! Let those monsters see what kind of spirit our young Legendary of Xio has!"
"Lord Marquis! The national destiny of Xio rests on this! You are our hope; you absolutely cannot back down!"
"Victory! light of xio, victory!"
The Blue Dragon's voice was like thunder, and its specific content was heard clearly even by the people outside.
The crowd chanted Reinhardt's name, calling for him to accept the challenge and achieve victory, the waves of sound rising higher and higher, almost breaching the walls of the Governor's Mansion.
Just then, the envoy from the Lothorn Kingdom stepped out from the crowd.
He asked: "Your Excellency Reinhardt, what do you think?"
The youth shook his head slightly and said frankly, "I have not made a decision yet."
Seeing this, the Lothorn envoy chuckled and said, "blade of aura, Ranger General, the Centaur Elvie."
"All this time, this Dragon Dependent's performance has been mediocre."
"She also only recently achieved a Breakthrough into the Legendary Domain and has no truly illustrious battle records. If the other party in the duel were the fang of aura, that Great Gluttony Demon, I would directly advise you to give up. But, blade of aura? You could give it a try."
Reinhardt gazed at the Lothorn envoy.
"Envoy, if I remember correctly, Lothorn and Aura are allies."
He said meaningfully.
"Of course, that is a fact everyone knows."
The Lothorn envoy's expression was serious as he said, "However, we in Lothorn are people-oriented. Although we have an alliance with Aura, it does not mean we fully agree with their way of doing things."
Reinhardt nodded, noncommittally.
After the end of the Second Civil War, the honeymoon period between Lothorn and Aura came to an end.
Although the two countries were still interacting normally, their relationship was indeed not as good as before.
blade of aura, this Legendary is indeed not well-known, and like me, is a newly promoted Legendary, but it seems that all the Legendaries of the Aura Kingdom cannot be underestimated.
Reinhardt hesitated in his heart.
At this moment, the Lothorn envoy said loudly, "Our Lothorn Kingdom is willing to provide testimony for the fairness of this duel and record this grand event."
The envoys from other nations, seeing this, also stepped forward to express their stance.
"Our Rippos Kingdom is also willing to bear witness!"
"The Matna Kingdom seconds this!"
All the kingdom envoys, regardless of their relationship with Xio, were without exception willing to guarantee this duel, and simultaneously praised Reinhardt's strength, believing that with his Genius, he would surely be able to achieve victory.
Outside the Governor's Mansion, the enthusiastic cheers of the people continued.
Listening to those praises, his eardrums being bombarded by cheers and noise, Reinhardt could not help but feel a bit dazed.
He seemed to see the scene of his triumphant return.
Thousands of people lining the streets to welcome him, the King coming out to greet him personally, lost lands returned, shackles broken; he would become the savior hero of Xio, a Legendary in the true sense...
However, Reinhardt still had a shred of sobriety and did not agree directly.
"I will consider this matter seriously."
He said slowly.
Immediately after, the banquet came to an end, and Reinhardt returned to his room.
The clamor outside the window gradually subsided.
Reinhardt shed his magnificent Marquis formal wear and was dressed only in simple, dark casual clothes. He stood with his back to the door, gazing at the city that had fallen silent outside the window.
The moonlight was like water, yet it could not pierce through the gravity between his brows.
Go, or not go?
This question entangled his thoughts.
He felt as if he were surrounded by countless flowers, and in a trance, he seemed to be standing on the edge of a cliff, with a surging crowd behind him pushing him forward, while in front of him lay a bottomless mist.
Just then, the door was gently knocked, with a steady rhythm.
"Come in."
Reinhardt did not turn around.
The door opened, and a figure walked in.
The person who came in was tall and thin, wearing noble formal wear made of exquisite materials but in a slightly outdated style. His hair was combed meticulously, his temples were already graying, his face was serious, even somewhat rigid, and his eyes were sharp like a hawk's.
Reinhardt's father, a baron, Ernest Norlin.
Ernest walked slowly to the center of the room, his gaze first scanning the simple yet expensive furnishings in the room, and finally settling on his son's upright back.
"Still worrying about that matter?"
Ernest asked.
Reinhardt turned around to face his father.
He was not surprised by his father's late-night visit.
"Father."
Reinhardt nodded in greeting, his attitude respectful.
Ernest did not respond to this greeting; he walked straight to the window, stood side-by-side with Reinhardt, and looked out at the night, as if overlooking territory that was about to be his.
"blade of aura, Elvie."
Ernest slowly opened his mouth and said, "The Lothorn people are right; a mediocre Dragon Dependent who only recently achieved a Breakthrough to Legendary, with no battle records worth mentioning."
"How can she compare to my son?"
He turned his head and looked at Reinhardt with burning eyes.
"Reinhardt, my son," the Baron said, "you must understand, you were born different!"
"When your brothers were still jockeying for position to inherit the barren barony, when your mother... that gentle but short-sighted woman, was still worrying about your frail health, I knew that you were different."
Mentioning his late wife, Ernest's tone had no ripples, as if he were mentioning an insignificant servant.
Reinhardt frowned slightly.
Mother... that person in his memories who always wore a gentle and tired smile, before he displayed his own Genius, was the only warm color in his gray childhood.
And his father, during that period, almost turned a blind eye to him.
Until one day, when Reinhardt, only six years old, after touching a sword for the first time, showed a swordsman's talent that he could wield like his own arm, and until he could step onto the transcendent path within a week and continuously level up, his father's gaze upon him changed.
His father hired the most severe mentors for him and formulated the most cruel training plans.
In those years, Reinhardt rarely saw his father's smile; all he heard was "not enough," "again," "you must do your best."
Every bit of progress was not met with praise, but with higher standards and stricter requirements.
His father was just a baron, but like all nobles, he harbored great ambition and regarded him as the only hope for the Family's rise.
Reinhardt longed immensely to hear a simple word of approval from his father, a warm touch, but he never received it.
He buried this longing deep in his heart, transforming it into a more powerful motivation, thinking that as long as he was strong enough, dazzling enough, one day...
"Look at you now!"
His father's words interrupted the youth's memories.
"An eighteen-year-old Legendary! light of xio! Even the regent of Aura has to specially congratulate you! What kind of glory is this? This is a brilliance the Norlin Family has never had!"
He stepped closer, staring intently into his son's eyes.
"My child, you will definitely win, and you will win cleanly and decisively."
"The entire Romanian Plain will know that my, Ernest Norlin's son, is the number one Genius of the current age! What Holy King? He only achieved Legendary when he was nearly thirty."
"And you, my son, you are only eighteen! You have the bearing of an immortal!"
"Your future achievements will surely surpass the Holy King, step onto the Legendary Throne of Destiny, and even achieve immortality!"
Hearing this, Reinhardt's heartbeat quickened slightly.
"But, Father..."
His throat felt a bit dry as he said, "Aura will absolutely not be this simple. This duel is highly likely a trap to deal with me."
"A trap?" Ernest scoffed, interrupting him.
"Which of those Destiny powerhouses in history has not stepped into countless traps?!"
"If you cannot even face the minions of the Aura Kingdom, how will you face that arrogant Red Emperor in the future, and how will you lead Xio toward revival?"
The Baron's own talent was mediocre, and he had been unremarkable in his early years. It was not until Reinhardt displayed super-strong talent that, in the Baron's eyes, his son was the most outstanding, and his excellence would also become his own talking point and glory.
But the Baron was still not satisfied.
He wanted to obtain more glory, wanted to prove through his own son that he was not mediocre.
Thus, he pressed both hands on Reinhardt's shoulders, his gaze burning.
"Reinhardt, my dear son, I believe in you."
"You have never let me down, and this time will be the same. Go to the Twin Moon Canyon, defeat that blade of aura, and win back the glory that belongs to our Norlin Family, win back the future of Xio with your own hands!"
"I will be proud of you."
Hearing this, Reinhardt was slightly stunned.
For the first time ever, he felt the importance and approval from his father.
"I..."
He was still a bit hesitant and did not answer directly.
The Baron interrupted him again, released his hands, and smiled, "I believe in you. You can always make the right choice, and you can always achieve victory."
Not long after, only Reinhardt was left in the room.
But he had not yet fallen asleep, staring blankly at the night outside the window.
Just then, the badge he carried with him lit up with a burst of light.
"Reinhardt."
The King's voice came from inside.
The badge granted by him was not just a symbol of glory, but could also be used to talk directly to the King.
Reinhardt immediately stood straight: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
The King was transmitting a message because of the duel.
He had no nonsense and said directly: "Reinhardt, I know you are being held up very high right now, accustomed to praise, and may feel that backing down will make people look down on you. But I tell you, a true strong person is not a reckless brute who does not know fear, but a wise person who knows how to weigh risks and wait for the future."
"If you refuse now, no one has the qualification to call you cowardly."
"I will announce to the outside world that this is the Kingdom's decision, and you are not allowed to participate in the duel."
"You are still young, the road ahead is very long. Xio has waited for you for twenty-four years; we can wait another ten, twenty, or even a hundred years, until your wings are truly full and your Foundation is unbreakable. Then you can challenge Aura however you want! But now, no."
Reinhardt said in a low voice: "But, the public's voice is very high, many nobles, and ambassadors from other kingdoms also..."
There was a slight silence on the other end.
A few seconds later, the King said somewhat wearily: "You are too young and do not understand that human hearts are unpredictable. Those who smile at you are not your friends, but a pack of jackals and tigers."
Reinhardt was noncommittally.
"Your Majesty, I will consider this matter seriously."
The young Legendary replied: "Please rest assured, although I am young, it does not mean I am easily influenced. I have my own sense of proportion."
Early autumn, the night of the full moon.
Twin Moon Canyon, this place is located in a perilous area between Aura and Xio.
On both sides were steep cliffs as if carved by axes, towering into the clouds, with not a blade of grass growing. The valley floor was wide, the ground covered in coarse sand and jagged, strange rocks.
Tonight, the howling wind seemed much quieter, replaced by a sense of grim slaughter.
A radius of a hundred miles had been cleared.
On the high points on the east and west sides of the canyon, shadowy figures were vaguely visible.
Those were the Legendary figures from various nations who had come to witness the duel.
In the center of the valley floor, a figure stood silently.
It was a Centaur, possessing numerous features of the Dragon.
Her upper body had lines as robust as a cheetah, covered in taut skin. On both sides of her forehead, a pair of steel-gray horns pierced the night sky, their tips gleaming with a cold light. Her shoulders, arms, chest, and key parts of her strong horse body were adorned with hard black dragon scales, like natural battle armor.
Most eye-catching were the pair of huge wings folded behind her.
The feathers were pure white, yet their edges shimmered with the luster of iron; they looked soft, but actually concealed sharpness.
On the ground beside her, a heavy, dark broadsword was stuck at an angle; on the other side, a gracefully curved longbow hung silently.
It was the Ranger General of the Aura Kingdom.
blade of aura, the Centaur with dragon bloodlines who had reached the Legendary Domain, Elvie.
Finally, as the moonlight became clear and full, footsteps came from the east side of the canyon.
Tap, tap, tap...
The sound of boot soles stepping on gravel, unhurried, rang out in the silent valley.
A tall, upright figure arrived here under the gaze of many eyes.
Reinhardt Norlin.
The spirit of youth overcame all doubts.
This youngest Legendary figure in the history of the Romanian Plain, after much struggle and deep thought, ultimately chose to come to the appointment.
Gazing at the elegant, robust, and dangerously powerful Centaur opposite him.
Reinhardt felt a heavy sense of oppression.
Especially those eyes. When meeting her gaze, Reinhardt seemed to see, in a trance, a towering Dragon quietly watching him, sizing him up with an indifferent, ripple-less gaze.
"This is strange."
Reinhardt's heart tightened.
The opponent was definitely not a simple Legendary figure!
However, he did not regret his choice.
"If you cannot even face the Dependents of the Aura Kingdom, how will you face that arrogant Red Emperor in the future, and how will you lead Xio toward revival?"
He inwardly agreed with his father's words.
The blade of aura before him was not even one of the Legendary Dragons of the Aura Kingdom, but merely a Dependent.
If he could not even defeat her, how could he be worthy of the title light of xio, and how could he be worthy of the trust and support of countless citizens?
Moreover, he did not believe he would lose.
Reinhardt was a Sword Saint; although he had just stepped into the Legendary Domain, he had directly shaped five major traits, surpassing even the Legendary Dragons in the number of traits. His talent was unquestionable.
"This silly boy still came."
On a certain high ground, several Legendary figures of Xio exchanged glances, seeing the gravity and helplessness in each other's eyes, then turned their gaze to the center of the duel.
Reinhardt slowly drew the longsword from his back.
The sword blade hummed, his eyes instantly turning sharp, and countless Sword Qi swirled around him, transforming into a Domain.
With a flicker of his figure, the gravel beneath his feet exploded, and Reinhardt turned into a bolt of lightning, closing the distance at extreme speed.
Hyper-sensitive nerves, weakness insight.
Both traits took effect first.
In Reinhardt's perception, time slowed down, and the nodes of magic power flowing through the opponent's body, as well as the subtle signs of muscle exertion, became clearly discernible.
At the same time, he clearly saw the heroic Centaur raise her longbow.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Dense golden lightning erupted from her body, causing her Aura to soar.
At the same time.
The Centaur's left hand, which had been hanging at her side, lifted, making a grasping motion, and the gracefully curved longbow fell into her palm.
Her right fingertips brushed across the bowstring, countless lightning bolts extended along with it, condensing out of thin air into a golden arrow, then nocked, and released.
Reinhardt's pupils shrank violently.
The sense of time slowing down brought by hyper-sensitive nerves remained, but the speed of that arrow seemed to directly ignore this slowing, leaving a straight and blurry golden line in his perception, arriving before him like a teleportation.
What a fast arrow!
It was almost unavoidable.
However, Reinhardt's body reacted before his mind did.
The momentum of his forward charge was forcefully twisted into a side-step block, his longsword coated with a layer of Domain, held across his chest at the critical moment.
Clang!
Powerful force came through the sword body, Reinhardt's arm shook violently, and he was dragged stumbling to the side; before he could get close, his offensive was instantly dismantled.
Without waiting for him to adjust his posture, arrow after arrow came piercing through the air.
Reinhardt was shrouded in a dense rain of arrows, but his speed was extremely fast, the longsword in his hand dancing into phantoms, moving through the arrow rain, blocking or intercepting arrow after arrow.
Suddenly, the moment an arrow struck his longsword, it burst into blinding light.
His perception was affected for an instant, his vision filled with golden light.
Boom!
He heard the sound of the ground exploding, as if trampled by heavy hooves.
And the Centaur's speed surpassed sound; by the time the booming sound rang out, she had already approached the target, her greatsword already horizontally slashing toward the human Sword Saint.
Clang!
Reinhardt instinctively raised his longsword to block this strike.
Intuitive counterattack—the body, upon perceiving a crisis, counterattacks at a speed that bypasses thought.
The two swords clashed.
Time seemed to freeze for an instant.
Immediately after, Reinhardt felt as if he had been hit by a high-speed moving mountain, his entire body thrown backward, and the Domain covering his sword also developed countless terrifying cracks.
Elvie did not pursue, but flapped her wings and flew into mid-air.
Her bow like a full moon, reflecting the full moon hanging in the night sky; immediately after, the bowstring vibrated continuously, and a rain of arrows poured down.
The human Sword Saint had just stood firm when he was once again covered by the arrow rain.
When he paid a considerable price to break through the arrow rain, what awaited him was the heavy slash of the Centaur carrying the force of a charge; with his physique, he was completely unable to resist head-on.
The Centaur was strong and sturdy, her offensive fierce, and she seemed tireless.
High-intensity combat often implies high-intensity consumption.
Under her offensive, Reinhardt gradually became unable to keep up; his Domain began to weaken, and his perception and reaction were also gradually declining.
Just at this moment.
The Centaur leaped into the air again, her body almost overlapping with the full moon, pulling the bowstring to its limit.
Then, the arrow pierced the air, but without making any sound.
They were like countless golden lightning bolts, pouring down silently.
Reinhardt dodged again, but with his movements slowed, he really could not avoid or block them all; in desperation, he could only shrink his Domain entirely in front of him, condensing it into a thin but hard barrier.
Crack, crack, crack!
The instant the light arrows touched the Domain wall, cracks began to emerge.
The arrow rain fell as if without end, the cracks on the Domain becoming more and more numerous and deeper, first as fine as spider webs, then suddenly shattering, turning into sky-filling fireflies.
"It's over."
Reinhardt seemed to hear these three words, not from the air, but from his heart, from his body on the verge of its limit, from those eyes watching him indifferently.
Several golden arrows pierced through the final defense, sinking into Reinhardt's body.
He groaned, his body slamming heavily onto the ground, sand and stones splattering.
Chest, shoulder, flank. Several penetrating wounds gushed with warm liquid, soaking his clothes; even though vital points were avoided, the human body was fragile, and these injuries were already considered serious.
The worst thing was that the energy remaining from those arrows was still wreaking havoc inside his body.
His internal organs were all severely damaged.
In the night sky, the Centaur's white wings lightly flapped, the longbow pulled full, arrows locking onto the Sword Saint's head and heart, preparing to deliver the final blow.
Just at this moment, several figures quickly swooped in.
"The duel is over, we concede!"
The Legendary figures of Xio stood in front of the Centaur.
The Legendary figures of other kingdoms watched coldly, but had no intention of intervening.
In fact, they would rather see Reinhardt die here; an eighteen-year-old Legendary figure, apart from Xio, was regarded as a thorn in the side by all other kingdoms.
And he himself had not realized the cruelty of this world.
Reinhardt lay on the ground, staring blankly at the sky, his consciousness gradually blurring.
So, let alone that arrogant Red Emperor, he was not even a match for the Dependents under his command.
Under the moonlight, he suddenly felt that those flowers and praise, those compliments and support, seemed to be just a fleeting dream, his own fantasy, so unrealistic.
"So it was a dream? Time to wake up."
He murmured softly, and then lost consciousness.
In mid-air, Elvie put away her weapons, not insisting on pursuit.
She looked down at the human lying in a pool of blood, then turned around, her four hooves stepping on the air, wings flapping, and flew toward the high, distant night sky.
With a human body, suffering such heavy injuries, even if he survived, his innate potential would be greatly discounted.
Her goal had been achieved.
This duel was, after all, in the name of a spar; if she insisted on killing him, it might give other kingdoms some excuses or leverage later. The Iron Prince had already considered this and given instructions in advance.
Year 368 of the new calendar.
The young Legendary Reinhardt suffered heavy injuries at the Two Moon Canyon, subsequently disappeared without a trace, news of his death spread, and Xio, which had ignited a light of hope, then fell into deeper despair.
Time continued to pass, neither fast nor slow.
In the blink of an eye, several more years flashed by.
The King of Lossern, OBrien, because he used his Domain at high intensity during the two war eras, had also suffered multiple heavy injuries himself, his life Origin severely damaged, and he grew increasingly weak.
In the year 371 of the new calendar, the authority of the King of Lossern was passed to OBrien's ninth son, Raymond.
In the year 372 of the new calendar, the new King of Lossern achieved a Breakthrough to Legendary.
In the year 374 of the new calendar, in the Aura Kingdom, the Iron Prince began to sleep.
In the year 375 of the new calendar, the old King of Lossern passed away, and the whole nation mourned.
In the year 376 of the new calendar, in the Aura Kingdom, another wing of the Emperor, the Prince of Fire, went into sleep.
Time passed quietly, and The Nations of Romania entered a stage of peaceful development. No major events occurred. The Lothorn Kingdom digested the fruits of victory, growing stronger by the day, gradually recreating its former glory, and faintly regaining the prestige it once had as the head of the federation.
Until.
Year 394 of the new calendar.
On the Orotala Continent where the Elves resided, a magnificent and brilliant meteor shower fell from the sky, subsequently turning into countless meteorites striking the earth; many Legendary figures took action to resist, but still could not intercept them all.
The disaster swept across the Orotala Continent, and the Nauxier Empire called it a natural disaster.
The Atlanta Continent was not affected.
The Holden Human Empire did not kick them while they were down, but remained focused on the Abyss Development Project, seemingly achieving major progress.