Ch. 741: Chapter 741-750
Chapter 741 The Warrior Princess [Part 1]
"Although I am not 100% certain that Twilight Rain will stop targeting you, I have a feeling that they will not do anything overbearing for a month or two," Lux stated. "If I was in their shoes, I would definitely send people to investigate and find the whereabouts of the person that tried to capture one of their Honorary Elders.
"Since some of their Rankers were there to serve as witnesses, the Dark Guild will now understand that there is an organization targeting their members. This will make them keep a low profile, at least for a while."
Aina understood Lux's explanation and thanked the Half-Elf for telling her the truth.
"After this, you are going to the Necromancer's Ancestral Ground in order to become a Ranker, right?" Aina asked.
Lux nodded. "That's indeed the plan. I will be leaving in a few days after I receive the reports from my subordinates as well as from the two Merchants regarding the latest news about Twilight Rain."
Aina closed her eyes for a bit as if she was pondering something. A minute later, the doll-like beauty gazed at the Half-Elf and said something that made Lux wonder if he heard her right the first time.
"Let's fight a one-on-one battle."
That was what Aina told Lux, which caught him by surprise.
"You want to fight me?" Lux asked. "Why?"
"Actually, I'll also be taking the Ranker Trial," Aina replied. "The challenge I chose was to fight someone who I deemed stronger than me. Also, that person should not be older than me. Right now, the only one I can think of that fits these conditions are you."
Lux didn't know if he should feel honored because Aina recognized him to be stronger than her. However, he didn't expect that the doll-like beauty would choose this kind of test in order to become a Ranker.
'I forgot that she is also at the Peak of the Initiate Rank,' Lux thought.
Aina held the title of The Warrior Princess of Eternal.
Although she wasn't really a Princess, she was still the daughter of a High-Ranking Noble in Solais, who was also connected to the Royal Family by blood.
"Are you sure about this?" Lux asked. "Even if I don't summon my subordinates, I'm pretty strong, you know?"
"Both of us are the Peak of the Initiate Rank," Aina countered. "You are a Necromancer, and you rely more on your Summons. However, since I am asking you to fight me one-on-one, you are actually at a handicap. Since that is the case, I will allow you to fight me with one of your Named Creatures fighting alongside you."
Lux frowned because he could tell that Aina was serious about fighting against him. While he wasn't truly a brawler or an expert in armed combat, he was still very strong due to his body constitution, the Immortal Dragon's Conqueror Legacy.
If he activated his abilities, certain parts of his body could be covered in Dragon Scales, making them very tough as if he was wearing some armor.
"Eiko, do you want to fight Aina?" Lux asked the baby slime that was perched on top of his head.
"No!" Eiko replied, which was very unusual coming from her. "Don't want to fight Colette's sister!"
"I see." Lux thought that Eiko fighting against Aina would be an interesting battle to watch. However, since the Slime rejected his proposal, he decided to just accept Aina's challenge to get a better understanding of how strong she really was.
"Let's go fight outside the city," Aina proposed. "I don't want my training hall to be destroyed when we fight."
Lux couldn't help but smile at Aina's proposal. It seemed that the Guildmaster of Eternal had already given a lot of thought to this proposal, so he decided to just go with the flow.
The two then went to look for Colette and Princess Anastasia to inform them that they would be fighting against each other.
When Colette heard about this news, her eyes and mouth opened wide because she didn't expect this sudden turn of events.
"Big Brother, you and my sister aren't married yet and you're already having a fight?" Colette asked in an anxious tone. "Did she say something wrong that offended you? Although my sister doesn't change her expression, she admits that there were times when she cursed people inside her heart. Did she curse you out loud by accident?"
Aina, who just had one of her secrets exposed by Colette, pinched her sister's ears, causing the adorable dwarf to cry out in pain.
"One more word from you and I'll tell Lux about your embarrassing moments. Especially a few days ago when you wet your be—."
Colette immediately used both of her hands to cover her sister's lips, preventing her from finishing her sentence.
This earned her a chuckle from her Big Brother, which made her face turn beet red due to embarrassment.
"A fight huh…," Princess Anastasia muttered as she gazed at the doll-like beauty, whom she had registered as her love rival. 'This is also good. With this, I will be able to see just what kind of tricks she has under her sleeves.'
News of Lux's and Aina's battle was overheard by a passing Guild Member who was about to serve some snacks and tea to Princess Anastasia and her escorts.
Soon, this news spread through the Eternal Guild like wildfire, making everyone want to see how the battle would turn out. Also, they wanted to be there so that they could cheer for their Guildmaster, whom they all loved and respected very much.
Half an hour later, Lux and Aina stood on an open plain, which was located two miles away from Whitebridge City.
Nevreal and Robin, who had been informed by Princess Anastasia about the duel, decided to come and spectate as well.
"Guildmaster, you can do this!"
"Beat him up! Show him the Will of Eternal!"
"Our Warrior Princess will prevail! Viva Eternal!"
"Guildmaster, please bear my child!"
Various shouts spread in the surroundings as Aina's guild members cheered for her.
Lux looked at this rowdy bunch and wondered what their expressions would be after they witnessed his true fighting abilities.
"Don't hold back," Aina stated as she raised her mace and round shield in a fighting stance. "Remember, this is a Ranker Trial. If you don't fight me seriously, the blessings I will receive from the world will also be less. It doesn't matter what the results of this battle will be. As long as both of us fight to the fullest, my Trial will also be completed."
"Very well," Lux replied. "I will fight you seriously."
It had been a very long time since Lux had fought against an opponent who had the same Rank as him.
Most of the time, he was fighting against those who surpassed his rank with his Undead Legion and Covenant aiding him each and every time.
As a Necromancer, he wasn't really required to fight on the front lines, but since he was also itching to fight solo against Aina, he decided to go all out and show everyone that he could fight in close quarters as well.
Both combatants eyed each other for a short while before Lux took the initiative to charge at the doll-like beauty, whose eyes were filled with a burning determination to triumph over the person whom she recognized as someone stronger than her.
Chapter 742 The Warrior Princess [Part 2]
"So, who do you think will win?" Princess Anastasia asked the adorable Dwarf beside her.
"As much as I like Big Brother, my support goes to my sister on this one," Colette replied. "Also, I'm very curious about who will win between the two of them."
"Isn't that already obvious?" Princess Anastasia arched an eyebrow. "Sir Lux had fought against Rankers. How can he possibly lose to a mere Initiate?"
Colette didn't reply and only smiled mischievously.
While it was true that her Big Brother was very strong and could fight many Low-Rankers at once, her sister wasn't a pushover either.
As the Guildmaster of a Gold-Ranked Guild, Aina had to have the strength to be recognized as such by her Guild Members. For a very long time, she hadn't had the chance to fight to the fullest, even though she was always on the frontlines of the battle.
The main reason was due to the fact that she was busy commanding her own troops, instead of focusing on the battle in front of her.
Now that she was fighting a one-on-one battle against someone of the same Rank, the doll-like beauty could unleash the hidden power that had remained dormant on her small body for a very long time.
Lux covered his right arm in dragon scales and used his dragon claws to deliver a strong punch toward Aina.
Aina's Job Class was Paladin, but she wasn't an ordinary Paladin. Her profession was actually a unique subclass that was called Avenging Angel.
People might think that she was someone who specialized in defense, but on the contrary, Aina was an offensive type Paladin.
In one of the Dungeon Raids that was done by multiple guilds, something went terribly wrong. The Boss Monster they were facing suddenly raised its rank to become a Deimos-Ranked World Boss, which caught everyone by surprise.
Seeing that her Guild Members were going to die due to the monster's unexpected Trump Card, Aina unleashed her true power and charged at the Boss Monster, engaging it in close combat. This allowed her Guild Members, as well as the other Guilds, to regroup and support her from behind.
Colette hadn't been there when it happened, but her sister's Guild Members told her the details about how amazing that battle was, making her idolize Aina even more.
When Lux's punch collided with Aina's shield, a powerful shockwave suddenly burst forth from the point of impact, sending the Half-Elf flying backward.
Princess Anastasia's mouth hung wide open when she saw the unexpected outcome of the first exchange between the two fighters.
Aina's guild members, on the other hand, cheered loudly because their Guildmaster had shown what she was capable of, making even Colette clap her hands in admiration.
Lux, who had been sent flying, managed to regain his balance mid-air but still skidded across the ground after his landing.
'My right arm feels numb,' Lux thought as he narrowed his gaze. 'It felt like I punched a wall made of steel.'
Although many thought that Aina simply defended against Lux, the Half-Elf knew that the doll-like beauty actually met his attack with an attack of her own, similar to Pazuzu's Shield Bash.
But, that wasn't what surprised Lux the most. After their initial exchange, he realized that in terms of raw strength, Aina was stronger than him.
"Unbelievable," Lux said as he gave his opponent a smile. "You weren't joking when you said that I can summon one of my subordinates to fight alongside me."
Aina didn't reply and simply remained where she was, her shield and weapon ready to meet whatever Lux would throw at her.
"Pazuzu, come." Lux summoned his Fortress Defender.
Among all of his Summons, Pazuzu was the one that focused more on defense. His offensive attack wasn't that strong, but he could easily take a beating when needed.
Lux didn't initially want to summon any of his subordinates when fighting against Aina, but he wanted to put pressure on her in order to assess her true prowess.
Her strength alone shocked him, and he wanted to know if she had more surprises under her sleeves.
"Let's go, Pazuzu," Lux ordered. "Don't underestimate her. She might be small, but she's the real deal."
Pazuzu nodded and charged toward Aina with his shield raised.
Lux followed behind the Fortress Defender with the intention of using the latter to clash with Aina first, while he delivered the main attack from behind.
Aina remained calm as she gazed at Pazuzu, who was running towards her like a Madlad. The Fortress Defender planned to use his shield bash to contend with Aina in strength, using the bulk of his defenses as his ramming force.
When Pazuzu was only a few meters away from his target, Aina stomped her right foot backward and unleashed a Shield Charge of her own.
When her small round shield clashed with Pazuzu's shield, which was of the Legendary Rank, another powerful shockwave ensued.
Although Pazuzu wasn't sent flying like what happened to his Master, the Fortress Defender still took three steps backward, while Aina only took one.
Lux then leaped behind the Fortress Defender and unleashed a Dragon Breath at point-blank range.
He didn't even hold back his attack because he had a feeling that if he didn't take Aina seriously, the one who would get beaten up would be him.
Lux's fiery breath descended upon the doll-like beauty, who had her mace ready to strike forward.
"Divine Smite!" Aina swung her mace, which blazed with Divine Flames, to meet Lux's Dragon Breath.
When the two attacks collided, it created a blinding flash that made the onlookers briefly cover their eyes.
Aina's Divine Flames dispersed Lux's Dragon Breath, nullifying each other's element.
While everyone was shielding their eyes from the aftermath, Lux and Aina simply closed their eyes and didn't stop exchanging blows with each other.
The Half-Elf once again covered his right arm in Dragon Scales and punched down, aiming to hit Aina's doll-like face.
Aina, on the other hand, swung her mace upwards as a follow-up to her initial strike, meeting Lux's punch head-on.
When everyone regained their vision, they saw Lux flying backward once again.
Although Divine Attacks didn't deal any damage to him, the force of Aina's blow was so strong, he felt like he just punched a ten-wheeler truck that was running at full speed.
But, the battle was far from over, Aina didn't remain still after her counterattack. A pair of fiery angelic wings appeared behind her back, allowing her to fly towards the Half-Elf, who was still flying through the air.
'Sh*t!" Lux immediately equipped his Favonius Legacy and used its flying ability to dodge Aina's follow-up strike in mid-air.
The two then engaged each other and started a dogfight in the sky, causing loud explosions every time their blows met.
Pazuzu, who was on the ground, looked at this unexpected turn of events and scratched his head.
Meanwhile, the Eternal Guild cheered for their Guildmaster, who now looked like an Avenging Angel.
The fiery angelic wings on her back matched her near-perfect beauty.
Although he was in the middle of the fight, Lux wasn't able to stop himself from being charmed by this deadly combination, and his heart even skipped a beat.
What the Half-Elf didn't know was that Aina had two Unique Abilities that were almost a cheat.
Even though she was still an Initiate, she was also someone who could fight up to two Low Rankers at the same time, which was something that very few people could do at the Initiate Rank.
Chapter 743 Are You Ready For Round Two?
With every exchange, the one who was getting pushed back was always Lux, making him wonder just how high Aina's strength stat was.
His Soul Book could only appraise monsters, and on very rare circumstances, Demi-humans as well.
However, he was unable to view the stats of Foreigners just like him.
Aina had two Unique Skills that made her incredibly powerful in one-on-one battles.
The first one was Divine Strength [EX].
This unique ability gave Aina a permanent 300% increase in her strength stat. Also, this ability prevented her strength stat from being lowered by any kind of debuffs, making it completely broken.
To make a comparison, ALL-MITE had the skill, God Strength [EX], which increased his Strength Stat by 500% for one minute. If this skill was used alongside his other skill, Max Ultra [EX], which increased all of ALL-MITE's stats by 500%, the Four-Armed Hero's punch packed a "Smash" that would send anyone of the same rank as him to oblivion.
Unlike these two stat-boosting skills that could only be used for a short period of time, Aina's Divine Strength Skill was permanently active.
Meaning, anyone who tried to fight her one-on-one in close combat would feel a world of pain.
This was why her Ranker Trial was a special one. She could only fight someone of the same age or lower than her age, and that person must be stronger than her.
When it came to the term stronger, it didn't mean that the one she fought against had to be literally stronger in terms of raw strength. Currently, no Initiate in existence had a higher strength stat than Aina in both Solais and Elysium.
Her second skill was just as ridiculous as the first one. The name of this skill was called Angel of Vengeance [EX]. This skill gave Aina the ability to fly and also increase her Agility and Dexterity stat by 300%.
While this might sound broken, it was actually not.
Aina had pooled most of her stat points into her Strength Stat, so the boost in Agility and Dexterity wasn't as disgusting as her Divine Strength [EX] ability.
Even so, her current Agility and Dexterity Stats were similar to Lux's, giving the Half-Elf a great disadvantage when talking about raw stats.
'S-Sir Lux is losing?!' Princess Anastasia couldn't believe what she was seeing as Lux and Aina clashed repeatedly in the air.
Every time they clashed, Lux would be pushed back.
Aina, who was taking the battle seriously, didn't give him an opportunity to recover, engaging him in continuous attacks.
If not for the fact that Lux's body constitution was a special one, several of his bones might have already been broken by now.
After her relentless attacks, an opportunity presented itself, which would allow Aina to smash her mace against Lux's body directly.
Naturally, the doll-like beauty didn't let this chance slip by and went for the finishing blow.
At that exact moment, a Giant Ethereal Skeleton appeared, covering Lux's body. Aina, who had been completely caught off guard, was pushed back by the Shield Bash that the Corpse God had used to block her attack.
Of course, that didn't end there. Since the Corpse God was equipped with several weapons, it took the initiative to attack Aina using its Crossbow, firing Ethereal Bolts in her direction and forcing her to dodge.
Since the beginning of the fight, Lux had turned off his passive skill, Corpse God [EX], because he didn't think that he would need it to fight against Aina.
In short, the Half-Elf had greatly underestimated his opponent.
After fighting large-scale wars and overcoming them, the Half-Elf had developed a mentality that made him think that he could beat anyone as long as he had his Summons with him.
But, in a fight where he couldn't summon them, he found himself lacking in many aspects.
Of course, as a Necromancer, Lux was already doing extremely well in terms of his ability to fight in close quarters. Most Necromancers only stayed at the back of their Undead Army and issued commands from a safe distance.
'Time to fight seriously,' Lux narrowed his eyes as he hovered mid-air, looking at the doll-like Angel, who had been pushed back by the Corpse God, whose main role was to protect Lux against any kind of attack.
"Aina, I apologize for underestimating you," Lux stated. "I shouldn't have done that, so I owe you an apology."
"Apology accepted," Aina replied. "I told you from the very start that you should fight me seriously. Now, you've finally realized your mistake."
"Indeed." Lux nodded. "But my Trump Cards are pretty scary. If I use them, I can't guarantee that I will be able to hold back. Do you have any life-saving artifacts on your body?"
Aina nodded. "I do, so feel free to use your strongest move. How about you? Do you have any life-saving artifacts as well?"
Before Lux could even answer Aina's question, the Dragon Token inside his storage ring glowed brightly.
The two fighters were then engulfed by a flash of light.
When they finally regained their senses, they found themselves in a deserted plain that extended for miles.
"This is my own personal Domain."
A voice filled with confidence reverberated in the surroundings.
"Even if you fight to the death here, you won't really die. The first one to receive a fatal blow will immediately be expelled from the domain, preventing them from dying. So, both of you fight with everything you have without holding anything back."
Although Aina was surprised by the sudden change in environment, the voice's assurance gave her some peace of mind.
Lux also felt relieved because he no longer needed to hold back his Trump Cards, which he was afraid to use against Aina.
"Are you ready for Round Two?" Lux asked with a devilish smile on his face.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Aina replied in that same monotonous voice, devoid of any feelings whatsoever.
After hearing her confirmation, Lux activated his Peerless Dragon Strike [SSR] and the silhouette of a giant Golden Dragon appeared behind him.
After he became a Heaven's Necromancer, his Peerless Dragon Strike received an upgrade, allowing him to use it three times a day.
He had only used Keoza's Crystal Dragon Breath in the past, but now that he could use it more frequently, he was willing to experiment.
The Half-Elf wanted to use the other Signature Abilities of the Dragon Race as comparison.
Aina, who was facing such a threat, only took a fighting stance, setting her mace ablaze with Divine Flames.
Within the depths of her beautiful eyes, a tinge of anticipation started to bloom.
It was not only Lux that had been holding back for fear that she might accidentally kill her opponent.
Now that a perfect environment had presented itself, Aina could fight to her heart's content.
Chapter 744 Falling In Love All Over Again
Peerless Dragon Strike [SSR].
That was one of Lux's Trump Cards, which he could only use three times a day.
Its power varied depending on the type of Dragon he was going to use, and right now, he was using the Golden Dragon.
Aside from its powerful Dragon Breath, which all dragons possessed, the Golden Dragon had a special ability to transform into a Demi-Dragon, similar to what Aur looked like.
However, these dragons possess incredible strength, which they retained even in their Demi-Dragon forms.
If Lux wanted to, he could have briefly transformed into a Demi-Red Dragon.
But, after the power of his Abyss Touch had gone out of control, his Dragon's characteristics had changed to that of a Black Dragon.
The only thing that Lux retained from his Red Dragon Blood was his near-complete immunity to fire.
Special Flames like the Transcendent Flames, or any other kind of Unique Flames would still deal damage to him, but their effect would be decreased by 50%
As a Black Dragon, he had gained immunities against Acid attacks and Poison.
"Golden Demi-Dragon Form!" Lux said.
Immediately, two golden wings sprouted on his back, and a pair of golden dragon horns appeared on his head.
His arms were covered in gold dragon scales, and his green eyes had turned golden as well.
——————
< Golden Demi Dragon Form >
— Gains the power of an Ancient Golden Dragon for a short period of time.
— Duration 30 minutes.
——————
With one flap of his Draconic Wings, Lux flew towards Aina, who didn't hesitate and charged at him as well.
"Dragon War Art," Lux roared. "Dragon Rend!"
Lux's clawed hand glowed brightly as he unleashed a more powerful version of the Dragon's Claw that could cut through steel with ease.
"Divine Smite!" Aina smashed her mace forward, meeting Lux's attack head on.
Her Mace was a Legendary Weapon that had been given to her by her Father, which was one of their family's treasured weapons.
She only used it whenever she intended to fight seriously. Most of the time, she only used a Mythical-Ranked Mace whenever she was fighting alongside her guild members.
When the two attacks collided, both combatants were almost blown away by the sheer impact of their strike.
However, both managed to resist it, and engaged in a flurry of attacks against each other.
Due to the strength of the Ancient Golden Dragon that Lux possessed, his strength stat had increased to match Aina's, surprising the doll-like beauty.
Aina's mace and shield met Lux's Draconic Claws, creating booming sounds every time they clashed against each other.
Neither of them backed down and engaged in close-combat, while trying to find an opportunity to land a devastating blow to get the upper hand.
At the midst of the battle, Lux noticed something that made him react a second slower than he usually did, which he regretted seconds later after Aina's mace smashed on his chest, which sent him flying.
"That hurts," Lux muttered as he righted himself in mid-air.
He then stared back at the angelic beauty in front of him and smiled through the pain.
"Are you enjoying this battle, Aina?" Lux asked.
"Yes," Aina replied in the same monotonous voice as ever.
However, if one was quite familiar with how she talked, they would notice that it was a bit more livelier than usual.
"Good," Lux commented. "Because, I can see it on your face as well. You should always smile like that."
Aina, who didn't expect Lux to say something so out of place, narrowed her gaze.
"If this is your way of distracting me then I'm sorry to tell you that it's not going to work," Aina stated. "Now, let's continue."
Lux smirked before nodding his head.
The main reason why the Half-Elf had lost his composure during their exchange was due to the fact that he saw Aina's fearless smile as the two of them fought tooth and nail against each other.
Even now, the doll-like beauty still didn't know that there was a smile plastered on her face, which made the Half-Elf assume that she was enjoying their battle.
'This is like falling in love all over again,' Lux thought as he remembered his idol, Luna, back on Earth.
It was her smile that made him become an instant fan, and seeing that same smile on someone who looked like a younger version of her, the Half-Elf was unable to stop the feeling of nostalgia.
However, as much as he wanted to appreciate Aina's smile and beauty, they were currently fighting against each other. It would be disrespectful, and dangerous for him to not focus his attention on fighting her seriously.
That last attack that connected with his chest made him feel a stinging pain, and it made him wonder if Aina managed to break a rib or two.
Fortunately, Golden Dragons also had powerful regeneration abilities. Although he still felt a stinging pain on his chest, his internal injuries were healing at a rapid pace.
Without giving any warning, Lux flew upwards and unleashed one of the most deadly Draconic Attacks in his arsenal.
"Draco-Meteor!"
Countless giant fireballs descended from the sky, giving no place for Aina to dodge.
In the end, she resorted to meeting these fireballs head on and smashing them with her mace one by one, dispersing them with each strike.
When Aina had just dispersed the sixth meteor, she found herself face to face with the Half-Elf who had snuck behind his attack in order to catch her by surprise.
A second later, Lux threw a Draconic Punch, aiming at Aina's face.
However, he forcefully changed its trajectory mid-strike, hitting her shoulder instead.
Although he knew that dying inside the Domain wouldn't really kill them for real, he just couldn't hit his idol's face with a killing blow.
Even if his mind could endure it, his heart couldn't.
Also, if by any chance Aina would receive a permanent injury on her face, even if she didn't die inside the Domain, Colette would definitely call for the Blood Gods to avenge her sister.
Despite all this, the blow was still strong enough to send Aina crashing towards the ground like a missile strike.
But, at the very last moment, she managed to regain control and used her wings to change her trajectory.
She flew only half a meter above the ground for nearly half a minute before finally landing and skidding across it, creating a dust cloud.
Lux who saw this immediately dove down from the sky to check her condition.
Due to this, he didn't notice the dark clouds that were covering the sky, and the faint rumble of thunder that was starting to awaken from its slumber.
Chapter 745 Angel Of Vengeance [Part 1]
Aina slowly propped herself on the ground using her right hand.
Pain wracked the left side of her body, especially the part where Lux's attack had connected.
This wasn't the first time she received an injury like this because there had been several instances where she had to face off against Boss Monsters in Dungeons, who far exceeded her Rank, in order to protect her Guild Members.
Each and every time this happened, Aina would take a break from Dungeon Expeditions, and allow herself time to heal.
What many didn't know was that Aina bore many scars on her body.
Only her doll-like beauty had remained untouched by such scars, making people think that the rest of her body was just as beautiful as her face.
Aina didn't really pay any attention to these scars because, for her, they were the marks of all the times that she had cheated death in Elysium.
Naturally, her family tried to use the best potions and healing salves they could to remove these scars from her body. But, for some unknown reason, none of them had any effect on her.
It was as if these scars didn't want to be removed, serving as her medals for surviving the life and death battles she had faced.
"Are you alright?"
Lux's concerned voice reached her ears, making him look up at the Half-Elf who was hovering a few meters above her.
"No," Aina replied. "But, it doesn't matter. The fight isn't over yet."
The Guild Master of Eternal gripped her mace tightly before spreading her fiery angelic wings wide.
"Let's finish this duel," Aina stated. "Or are you saying that you're afraid to hurt me?"
Aina asked with a devilish smile on her face, which made the Half-Elf almost say Yes to her question. However, before he could answer, Aina jumped up and attacked Lux without warning.
The Half-Elf had already expected that something similar to this was going to happen, so he immediately summoned the Corpse God to block Aina's attack.
Even though she was injured, the might of her Divine Smite didn't weaken. In fact, it had become even stronger, which slightly pushed Lux back.
Understanding that she wouldn't surrender, and only her total defeat would end the battle, the Half-Elf no longer hesitated and attacked alongside the Corpse God in order to subdue the Fiery Angel, who was smiling despite the pain she was feeling.
Flashes of lightning streaked across the heavens, and thunder boomed like the roars of lions, as Aina desperately attacked and fended off Lux's blows, using only her right arm.
Just as the Corpse God's Flail was about to hit the Fiery Angel's body, a lightning bolt descended from the heavens and deflected it.
Soon, more lightning bolts rained down from the heavens, attacking the Half-Elf like snakes that wanted to sink their fangs into his body.
'What is happening here, Keoza?!' Lux asked as he evaded one lightning bolt after the other. 'Are you switching sides?'
'No,' Keoza replied. 'The world… is breaking through my domain.'
'Huh?' Lux was about to ask more, but a loud crashing sound, similar to thousand crystal vases breaking at the same time reverberated in the surroundings.
The endless plain where he and Aina were fighting was enshrouded in a thunderstorm that made Lux wonder if Keoza was playing a prank on him.
'Back away now!' Keoza warned. 'Get as far away from Aina as you can!'
Lux didn't even think twice and followed Keoza's order because he, too, felt that something terribly wrong was going to happen next.
Just as the Half-Elf had distanced himself from the doll-like beauty by hundreds of meters, a sight that he never thought possible happened in front of him.
Countless lightning bolts rained down from the heavens, making it look like the end of the world has come.
But, these lightning bolts didn't target Lux.
Instead, all of them locked on Aina, hitting her small body from all sides.
A scream of pain spread in the surroundings as the doll-like beauty was bathed in countless lightning bolts, creating a miniature silver sun amidst the darkness.
Lux wanted to go and help Aina, but Keoza told him to stay where he was, and focus on defending himself.
'Don't do anything Rash!' Keoza stated. 'We can't help her. This is her battle!'
'What do you mean?' Lux asked. 'What battle?'
'The world… she is receiving the blessing of the World to break through and become a Ranker.'
'T-This is the World's Blessing?!'
Lux didn't expect that the so-called Rank Up would be like this. If all Rankers had to face this kind of punishment, wouldn't that mean that some of them died before they could even become a Ranker?
'Not all World Blessings are the same,' Keoza replied. 'Some can become a Ranker without experiencing something like this. There was even a case when an Initiate chose a Ranker Trial that was to just take a nap.
"After that he became a Ranker without too much fuss. The breakthrough that Aina might be facing right now might not be completely related to you. Perhaps, the impetus was for her to feel something when she was fighting against someone who was stronger than her.
"Only then would her true trial emerge, which is this Lightning Storm. Maybe her Profession is so Heaven Defying that it became like this."
Keoza's explanation didn't make Lux feel any better. Aina screamed, and screamed, and screamed some more, making the Half-Elf wish that he could help her.
But, each time he tried to do it, Keoza forced him to stop and stated that interfering with the World's Blessing would bring Aina more harm than good.
Even when Aina stopped screaming, the rain of lightning didn't stop. The silver sun in the distance was still being hit repeatedly by countless lightning bolts.
Finally, after nearly fifteen minutes, the lightning stopped pouring from the sky.
The silver sun then slowly decreased in size until Aina's frame appeared in Lux's vision.
The Guildmaster of Eternal floated in the sky with her eyes closed.
Behind her were wings that moved as if they were tendrils instead of wings that kept her afloat.
The other thing that Lux noticed was that she was no longer wearing her armor.
Her naked body was laid bare for anyone to see, including the scars that only her family members knew about.
Slowly, but surely, Aina opened her eyes.
Lux wasn't able to see her pupils in them because her eye sockets were glowing in a silver light.
"Lux, prepare to fight!" Keoza gave another warning after seeing Aina's current form. "She has successfully broken through, but her mind is unstable right now. You need to buy time until she recovers her senses!
"Because her breakthrough has just ended, the remnant power of the Lightning Storm is still coursing through her body. She's as strong as a High-Ranker, so make sure to stop her at all cost. My Domain has been breached by the Laws of Elysium, and if I don't try to repair it, the Domain will shatter completely."
"If that happens, Aina and you will be transported back to the real world. If that were to become a reality, there is a high chance that she might attack her Guild Members instead of you, and start a one-sided massacre. We mustn't let that happen, or she will feel guilty for life!"
Lux took a deep breath because that was something he didn't want to see as well.
"Everyone, knock her out!" Lux ordered as he summoned all of his Named Creatures, as well as the members of his Covenant.
Now that he was no longer fighting Aina in a duel, he must neutralize her as soon as possible.
Not only for her sake, but for the sake of the people that were waiting for her back in the real world as well.
Chapter 746 Angel Of Vengeance [Part 2]
Aina who had opened her eyes didn't show even the slightest reaction when Lux had summoned his Undead Army.
The scars on her body lit up, one by one, in a silvery light, showing just how much she had suffered in the past.
A moment later, white flames covered her chest, and lower area, hiding the things that mustn't be seen so casually in public.
Aside from those two places, everything was laid bare.
Her beauty that had caught the eyes of many Dwarves, both in Solais and Elysium, had become more exquisite after becoming a Ranker. However, this surreal beauty held a terrifying power behind it, a power that would devastate anything around her.
It was as if she was a newly born divine being, whose main purpose was to destroy those she laid her eyes on.
And right now…
Her eyes were locked on the Half-Elf, who had no intention of letting her break free from Keoza's domain.
Lux knew that if Aina were to return to the real world in her current state, she might crush with her own hands, everything she held sacred.
"Attack!" Lux ordered and his Army moved as one.
The Skeleton Gangbangers and the Steel Golem merged to become two Hecatoncheires.
Although Aina was flying in the sky, and away from their reach, they had allies that were capable of pulling the Angel of Vengeance down from the heavens.
"Duel [EX]!" Orion shouted as he pointed his finger at Aina.
Aina's body stiffened for a brief moment before she gazed down upon the lowly Jade Golem on the ground, who had dared to challenge her might.
Without even blinking, the Angel of Vengeance flapped her tendril-like wings and dove down from the sky.
Upon seeing this, the two Hecatoncheires immediately positioned themselves to intercept her.
Using their hundreds of arms, they tried to restrain the Angelic Beauty, who was still under the effects of her Heavenly Tribulation.
As one of the Hecatoncheires attempted to grab Aina mid-flight, the tendril-like wings behind her back moved like whips that were as sharp as swords.
The hands that had tried to grab her body were all sliced up, making the Hecatoncheires scream in pain.
(A/N: The tendrils of wings are not of the Divine Element but super compressed white flames.)
Orion, who was now about to face Aina head-on, held his ground and pulled back his arm.
Aina, who saw this, spread her arms wide, and summoned two silvery swords that seemed to be made of light.
To Orion's surprise, Aina's speed suddenly increased, making her re-appear only a meter away from him.
It was too late for the Jade Golem to do anything. Aina flew past Orion's body after slashing him in half.
Or at least, that was what should have happened.
Orion was completely unscathed by Aina's attack, which surprised the Jade Golem.
'I see… so that's how it was,' Lux's eyes widened in shock when he finally remembered that his Undead Army was no longer the same.
Yes, they were now immune to Light, Life, and Divine Magic, which was the weakness of Undead Monsters.
'But, her wings are still a problem.' Lux narrowed his gaze at the tendril-like wings that made Aina look so Holy.
The Half-Elf was nearly-immune to all flames, and he wondered if he would be able to survive the deadly tendrils which had cut the arms of his Hecatoncheires with ease.
Aina, who had also noticed that the Jade Golem didn't die after her attack circled back in order to kill it again.
It was as if she couldn't accept the fact that someone had survived her attack. She then made the silvery swords in her hands increase in size and radiance in order to make sure that her target wouldn't live a second time.
Orion, who had learned his lesson immediately unleashed a punch of his own, but Aina deftly evaded his attack and slashed upwards.
As if not satisfied with one strike, she immediately made a follow up attack, forming a cross on Orion's body before flying away.
However, just like her first attempt, the Jade Golem didn't die.
Aina then looked at the two swords in her hands as if wondering what had happened.
But, just as Lux was about to rejoice that she was coming back to herself, the Angel of Vengeance once again descended from the sky, and this time, her tendril-like wings moved to slash at Orion repeatedly.
This time around, she succeeded and the Jade Golem turned into particles of light after Aina changed her tactics.
"Morpheus, Petrification Rays!" Asmodeus commanded.
The Death Tyrant, who was Asmodeus' first Named Subordinate, unleashed a barrage of Petrification Rays in order to target the doll-like beauty, who had finally figured out how to defeat her foes.
After becoming a Ranker, Aina's two Unique Abilities had received an upgrade.
Her Divine Strength [EX], had become Divine Strength [SSR], which increased her Strength by 400%.
Her other skill, Angel of Vengeance [EX], had also been upgraded and was now Angel of Vengeance [SSR], which upgraded the boost in her Dexterity and Agility by 400%.
With these two upgrades, Aina, who currently had the power of a High-Ranker was a very dangerous enemy to fight.
"Archers, Open Fire!" Ishtar commanded and she, along with the Skeleton Arcane Archers, unleashed a volley of arrows towards their target, but Aina was simply too fast for them to hit.
Just as the Angel of Vengeance changed its trajectory to target Lux, King Leoric and his Wraith Knights intercepted her.
Currently, King Leoric was Lux's strongest subordinate.
The Wraith King was a Dreadnaught-Ranked World Boss. An existence that would require a party of High-Rankers to defeat without suffering any casualties.
With his entourage of Wraith Knights, who were all of the Deimos-Rank, they could defeat almost anyone that stood in their way.
Unfortunately, due to Aina's stat boosting skills which increased her Strength, Agility, and Dexterity by 400%, her current power matched that of a peak High-Ranker.
In short, the might she possessed was similar to a party of High-Rankers, who could stand against a Dreadnaught-Ranked World Boss with ease.
Aina summoned two fiery swords in her hands, which had the same element as her wings. Since her Divine Power wasn't working against her opponents, she would just simply cut them up, using the Flames of Vengeance that could cut through anything within her line of sight.
Chapter 747 Angel Of Vengeance [Part 3]
King Leoric traded sword strikes with Aina and gauged her power, speed, and reaction time.
As a former Saint, he had fought many battles, and had a front row seat when the Abyssal Creatures descended upon the world.
In short, he had very rich battle experience, which he still retained even after death.
After exchanging a few blows with Aina, the Wraith King finally understood how to effectively neutralize her without killing her.
According to Keoza, if Aina was killed inside the Domain, she would be expelled from it and returned to the real world.
This was not the scenario that they wanted, and their goal was only to neutralize her. They needed to buy time until Keoza patched up his Domain, preventing Aina from escaping it.
Fortunately, Aina seemed to have no intention of leaving until all of the enemies in front of her were dead.
His Wraith Knights formed a barricade that stood between his battle with Aina, and Lux, preventing the Angel of Vengeance from targeting the Half-Elf.
After nearly five minutes of fighting against Aina, King Leoric shared his thoughts with Lux, who was being protected by his subordinates.
'Lux, I have one good news and one bad news,' King Leoric said through telepathy as he continued to fight against the Angel of Vengeance, whose attacks were becoming more fierce with each passing minute. 'Which one do you want to hear first?'
'The bad news,' Lux replied.
'Well, the bad news is that, currently, I am the only one that can contend with Aina,' King Leoric stated. 'Also, I alone cannot defeat her. At most, I can prevent her from attacking you and the others, but that is the best I can do.'
'And the good news is?'
'The good news is that in a battle of attrition, I am confident that I will win. We can just wait it out until she regains her senses. But, we will not know when that will be, so I have a proposal.'
The Wraith King proposed his plan, which Lux found to be quite risky, but effective.
'Understood, we will do that,' Lux replied before giving his orders to his subordinates through telepathy.
After getting their orders, Lux's army positioned themselves in a V-Formation, with Pazuzu at the very center.
After Orion died, he was the only one that could tank Aina's attack, and Lux planned to use that opportunity to deal the final blow to the doll-like beauty who still hadn't regained her senses.
After everyone moved in position, Lux's plague wing Gargoyles flew towards Aina and unleashed their Poison Smog, covering the skies in a green cloud of poisonous smog.
Lux didn't know if Aina had gained a resistance to poison and diseases that could potentially decrease her fighting ability.
He didn't have any hopes that the first phase of their strategy would work, but since there was no harm in trying, he still ordered his subordinates to follow the plan that the Wraith King had devised.
Aina, who had been covered by the Poisonous Smog didn't show any reaction at first, but the Wraith King, who had been fighting against her, noticed that her movements had become a bit sluggish.
As an Undead, the Wraith King was immune to Poison, as well as diseases that could weaken his ability to fight.
The Plague Wing Gargoyle's Unique Ability, Plague Bearer, increased the chance of inflicting those who had been exposed to their attacks with poison and disease.
Lux had experienced this when he was still in the Beginner's Village, and he understood just how annoying this ability was.
Aina, who probably realized that the Poisonous Smog was making her feel uncomfortable, distanced herself from the Wraith King as she tried to break free from the smog that covered her surroundings.
However, just as she was about to break through it, she felt a strong pull coming from the ground.
Pazuzu had activated his Duel [EX], and forced Aina to exchange blows with him.
"She's coming," ALL-MITE said.
Diablo, Ishtar, Asmodeus, Revon, Zagan, and Lazarus nodded their heads in affirmation.
"Ithaqua, don't die again, okay?" Asmodeus said as he summoned the Creature of the Cold White Silence to his side.
The Giant Wendigo-like creature nodded its head and summoned a raging blizzard that easily turned the visibility to zero.
Aina, who had been affected by the skill, Duel [EX], could not see anything in front of her, but she knew where her target was.
Once the skill, Duel [EX], was activated, a blow must be exchanged no matter what.
Even Lux admitted that the skill was completely broken, but since he and his subordinates were the only ones that could use it, he didn't mind it being broken!
Knowing that he wouldn't survive Aina's tendril-like wings, Pazuzu didn't hesitate and activated his Shield Wall, and braced for the upcoming attack.
Just like he expected, Aina used her wings to slash at the Fortress Defender with a vengeance.
However, the tendrils didn't hit their target because Revon's flying swords, Zagan's black lightning bolts, Diablo's sword slashes, Lazarus' Ice Rays, Ishtar's Power Shot, and ALL-MITE'S smash, repelled them all.
Aina might be a High-Ranker, but her tendril-like wings weren't as strong as her.
If they were targeted individually, they could be repelled according to King Leoric's assumption.
Fortunately, his idea was correct, which created an opportunity for Lux's subordinates to neutralize one of Aina's deadly weapons.
Due to the blizzard, giving zero visibility, Aina didn't see the Giant Crystal Dragon that was hovering high up in the heavens.
Lux had used the Poison Smog of his Plague-Wing Gargoyles to create a smokescreen that allowed him to fly upwards.
Once he was in position, Pazuzu then used his Duel [EX] to make Aina dive towards the ground.
After that, Ithaqua used the Blizzard to reduce the visibility in the surroundings, preventing Aina from seeing Lux's Trump Card in the sky.
'I'm sorry, but you leave me no choice,' Lux thought as he opened his mouth wide to unleash an attack that would neutralize the Angel of Vengeance that they were fighting with everything they had.
"Crystal Dragon's Breath!"
From above the heavens a shimmering Dragon Breath descended in full force. Lux knew that his subordinates would be caught up in the attack, but that was fine.
His subordinates knew that even if they turned into crystal statues, no real harm would be done to them.
Aina, who wasn't aware of the attack that came from above, didn't manage to react in time before the Crystal Dragon Breath bathed her Divine Body with its crystallized might.
She tried to resist it using her fiery flames, and burn the crystals that were slowly encasing her body.
For a brief moment, the White Flames managed to burn away the crystals that were spreading across her body. However, Lux didn't relent in his attack and continued to squeeze out everything he could to make this attack work.
As Lux and Aina fought tooth and nail against each other, Bedivere, who had also been summoned by Lux, pointed his finger towards the Angel of Vengeance, who was resisting his Master's attack.
"Duel [EX]!" Bedivere shouted, making Aina's body shudder.
He was one of Lux's subordinates that had gained this ability after being reborn, but he rarely used it because Orion and Pazuzu were always there to face the brunt of the enemy's attack.
However, at this very critical moment, the Dragon Knight took one for the team and forced Aina to fight against him.
Due to this compelling urge to target the Dragon Knight, who was hovering in the sky, Aina's attempt to use her flames to repel the crystals that were spreading over her body failed completely.
In just a matter of seconds, the doll-like beauty was turned into a crystal statue, making Lux, who had given everything in his last attack, pant for breath.
Now that Aina had finally been encased in crystals, the immediate danger was over.
However, that didn't mean that they could let their guard down.
Even though Aina had turned into a statue, the white flames inside her body remained.
"Although her chances of breaking free are slim, the chance still exists," Keoza's words reached Lux's ears. "Until I say otherwise, do not dispel the crystals that are keeping her in place, do you understand?"
"Yes," Lux replied.
The Half-Elf took a deep breath before descending towards the ground to rest. He never thought that his duel with Aina would trigger the World's Blessing and transform the doll-like beauty into a Ranker.
Lux didn't want to admit it, but he felt a little envious of Aina. He had also wanted to become a Ranker, but the doll-like beauty beat him to becoming one.
But, after witnessing the kind of Tribulation that Aina underwent in order to become a Ranker, the Half-Elf started to feel anxious about his own breakthrough, which would be happening very soon.
—--------------
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Chapter 748 Stop Dilly Dallying And Come Here Already!
Chapter 748 Stop Dilly Dallying And Come Here Already!
"I see. So something like that happened…" Colette muttered after Diablo shared in detail what happened to Aina during her duel with Lux.
"Don't worry. She is fine now," Diablo stated. "But it might take a day or two before she finally regains her senses."
"But are you sure that my sister is really okay?" Colette asked anxiously. "Being turned into a crystal statue sounds scary."
"No lasting harm will be upon her. My Master will not allow such a thing to happen."
"That's good to hear then."
Although she was reluctant, she had no choice but to wait for her sister to return to them after she had regained full control of her body.
Aina's Guild Members were also both happy and worried for their Guildmaster.
Happy because she had now become a Ranker, and worried because of her current state. However, after receiving Diablo's reassurance, they all decided to go back to their Guild Headquarters and wait there for their Leader's return.
"So young, and she's already a Ranker." Nevreal sighed. "These Foreigners sure grow at a very fast rate."
Robin nodded. "If I remember correctly, Aina is only nineteen this year. If the High-Ranking Nobles hear of her breakthrough, I'm pretty sure that those who had tried to ask for her hand in marriage in the past would do more than double their efforts now."
"I can see that happening," Nevreal commented. "But unless her personality changes after becoming a Ranker, I'm certain that her answer would remain the same."
In fact, the King of the Kingdom of Gweliven even asked Aina if she was willing to marry one of his sons and become part of the Royal Family.
Aina's family was a Ducal Family in Solais, which meant that she was of royal descent as well.
Because of this, the King thought that having one of his sons marry her would be the perfect bridge to make the two Royal Bloodlines from both worlds form an alliance.
Unfortunately, Aina rejected this proposal, and since then, the King didn't broach the subject anymore.
Nevreal then gave Robin a sidelong glance before shifting his gaze to Colette, who was still talking to Diablo and asking him a few questions.
He had assumed that Robin was trying to form a connection to Colette so that the latter could serve as his bridge to Aina's heart. However, whether his assumption was true or not, only Robin knew about it.
"Let's go back to the inn," Robin said as he looked at his sister. "Are you coming with us, Anastasia?"
Anastasia frowned, but after pondering for a bit, she nodded her head in agreement.
"Since waiting here will only make my legs hurt, I'll just relax at the inn until Sir Lux returns," Princess Anastasia replied. "I still have many things to ask him."
Robin nodded and led the Royal Entourage back to the city.
The members of the Eternal Guild did the same after Colette finished talking to Diablo.
———————-
Meanwhile, inside Keoza's Domain….
Lux sat cross-legged in a lotus position and meditated.
Inside his mind, he was vividly visualizing his battle with Aina and analyzing the way she fought. Before she had undergone her breakthrough, the doll-like beauty had shown incredible fighting techniques that she had honed through the many life-and-death battles she experienced in Elysium.
When she had transformed into the Angel of Vengeance, she used nothing but brute force to fight. Despite what might seem like a handicap, due to her overwhelming strength, she made it hard for Lux and his Army to subdue her.
Fortunately, King Leoric's vast battle experience allowed him to formulate a plan to neutralize Aina without hurting her too much or accidentally killing her.
'When you think about it, her wings function the same way as my Corpse God,' Lux thought. 'Maybe if I can effectively use it to fight alongside me, my offensive power will drastically increase…'
Lux could summon his Corpse God anytime he wanted, but most of the time, it acted autonomously. He didn't need to command it, and it would attack and defend whenever an opportunity presented itself.
For the Half-Elf, the Corpse God was only one of his Defensive Trump Cards, which would only activate when he was rendered incapable of defending himself.
However, after seeing how Aina used her wings to fight, the red-headed teenager seemed to have realized the potential that his Corpse God could bring to the table.
Two hours later, Lux heard Keoza's exhausted voice which made the Half-Elf sorry for him.
'I have patched the Domain,' Keoza reported. 'There is no longer any danger of being exposed to the outside world. Also, I can feel Aina's Flame of Vengeance slowly losing its strength. If this continues, I believe that she will no longer pose a danger to anyone after four more hours.'
'That's good to hear,' Lux replied. 'Thank you, Keoza.'
'Mmm. I will rest for a bit," the Crystal Dragon's voice sounded very faint. 'If the crystal statue breaks, that means that Aina's strength has returned to normal. However, she might still be unconscious at that time. I'll leave the rest to you. You are free to leave the Domain anytime you wish.'
After saying those words, the Dragon Token lost its luster and returned to Lux's storage ring.
Lux then shifted his attention to the beautiful crystal statue in front of him, which made his heart skip a beat.
For a brief moment, he heard Colette's voice whispering in his ear.
"What do you think, Big Brother? Do you want to marry my sister now?"
Lux shook his head helplessly and muttered, "You little Devil," as he tried to shoo the imaginary Colette, who was giving him a thumbs up in his mind, away.
After everything that had happened, Lux had more or less understood that everyone who became a Ranker would receive the World's Blessings.
The blessing varied from person to person, and according to Keoza, the rarer the Profession was, the greater their blessings would be.
He also wondered if Cai, Keane, Gerhart, Cethus, and the rest of his comrades were busy undergoing their Ranker Trials.
Although he wouldn't be participating in conquering the Last Gate of the Apocalypse, his companions might want to explore it on his behalf.
For him, visiting the Necromancer's Ancestral Grounds was more important than the Sacred Dungeon.
Something in his instinct was telling him that no matter what happened, he must prioritize going there no matter what.
He could even faintly hear a female voice inside his head, calling out to him when he was asleep.
If Lux was being honest, he could even remember the female voice saying.
"Stop dilly-dallying and come here already!"
Of course, whether he had remembered it correctly or not, he really couldn't tell.
After all, he just heard it in a dream.
A dream that would soon become a part of his reality.
Chapter 749 Aina’s Scars
Chapter 749 Aina’s Scars
Several hours later, a faint cracking sound reached Lux's ears.
Aina's crystal statue had thin lines spreading all over it, prompting the Half-Elf to stand up and prepare for any kind of unexpected attack that might happen.
In order to make sure that everything would be under his control, he once again summoned his Named Creatures, as well as the members of his Covenant.
All of them positioned themselves around the Crystal Statue, with Diablo and King Leoric standing on Lux's left and right sides, ready to protect him at a moment's notice.
The Half-Elf was only four meters away from Aina's statue, but he was not afraid. He had been observing Aina for a while now, and just like Keoza had said, her power had been slowly decreasing over time.
After five minutes of the cracks spreading, the crystals covering Aina's body finally shattered, and the doll-like beauty's body swayed before falling face-first to the ground.
Naturally, Lux wouldn't allow that to happen and immediately supported Aina's body before it could get hurt.
After catching her, Lux realized something very important.
Aina was completely naked, and his right hand was cupping one of Aina's breasts, which made the Half-Elf stiffen.
However, there was something else that he noticed after he moved closer to the doll-like beauty who was still unconscious that he momentarily forgot that his hand was still holding onto her chest.
It was her scars.
Aina had many scars on her body. Too many, in fact, that it made Lux frown.
After seeing Iris' and Cai's naked bodies, which were void of almost any imperfections, he felt pity for the young lady in his arms.
The Half-Elf wasn't able to stop himself from subconsciously tracing one of the scars on Aina's back that was as long as an adult's hand.
As his hand slowly slid down her body, something unexpected happened.
The part of the scar that he touched turned into particles of light, revealing flawless skin, which was as white as cream, and radiant with youth.
Lux blinked once and twice before this realization kicked in.
As if wanting to experiment, he started tracing the remainder of the scar.
Just like what happened earlier, the horrid marking disappeared and was replaced by the smooth skin that rightfully belonged to the doll-like beauty in his hands.
'Should I remove the rest?' Lux thought.
For him, doing this was the right thing to do. However, he didn't know if it was appropriate.
Faced with a tough choice, the Half-Elf glanced at his subordinates and asked their opinion.
"Should I continue?" Lux asked.
"As a girl, I would find it very awkward for a guy to touch my body without permission," Ishtar stated. "But if it is Master, I don't see anything wrong with it."
"Aina is still a teenager, and at that age, they are more conscious about themselves," King Leoric commented. "Although I feel like removing her scars is a good thing, it might be best to wait until she wakes up before you continue."
"Master, for some warriors, their scars represent their medals in battle," Bedivere, who was once a Knight of the Realm and also had many scars on his body in the past, voiced his opinion. "Removing them without permission might make her mad at you, instead of being grateful."
"Consent is important, Master," Diablo said. "Also, even though you don't say it out loud, we know that you think of Aina as someone special. Even though this feeling isn't that of a lover, she still holds great significance in your heart."
After hearing everyone's suggestion, Lux nodded his head in understanding.
He then summoned a blanket from his storage ring and used it to wrap the naked beauty, who still hadn't regained his senses… or so he thought.
As soon as he finished covering Aina's body with the blanket, the Dwarf opened her eyes and looked up at the Half-Elf who was carrying her in a princess carry.
Lux was so shocked that he almost dropped the lady in his arms. However, his hands remained steady and held her in place.
The two then stared at each other for half a minute before Aina opened her lips to tell Lux something.
"Is it bad for a lady to have scars?" Aina asked.
"N-Not really," Lux answered. "I think those scars look good on you. It makes you look more…"
"Manly?"
"U-Unique!"
"Is that so?"
Aina still talked with the same monotonous voice as before, but her gaze never left Lux's face, as if looking for traces of lies within his expression.
"My parents have gone to great lengths in order to help me remove these scars on my body," Aina said. "They thought that I wouldn't be able to find a husband if they found out about this flaw in my body."
Aina then closed her eyes as if pondering something important. A moment later, she took her right arm from the blanket and presented it to Lux.
"Can you please remove these two scars on my arm?" Aina asked in a polite manner.
Although her voice still sounded monotonous, the Half-Elf noticed that it is a bit softer than before.
"It will be my honor," Lux replied as he traced his hand over one of the scars on Aina's right arm.
When the scar had been fully healed, Aina looked at it and inspected it from every angle.
A moment later, a faint ripple of power spread in the surroundings as Aina's eyes turned silver.
All the scars on her body, including the ones that were hidden under the blanket, glowed in a silver light.
The part of her arm, where one of her scars was removed, also glowed brightly.
This surprised Lux because he was certain that he had already removed the scar completely.
"I'm glad," Aina said as a faint smile appeared on her face. "Even though the scar was properly healed, its mark still remained and would stay with me for as long as I live."
At that moment, Lux's gaze landed on Aina's doll-like beauty, who became more charming because of her smile.
Once again, their gazes met, and this time, it was Lux who first averted his gaze.
"Can you please heal the rest of the scars on my body?" Aina asked. "I will compensate you properly for it."
"There's no need for you to compensate me," Lux replied in a heartbeat. "I will do it for free."
Aina nodded and asked Lux to let her stand on her own two feet.
She then turned around and lowered the blanket, showing Lux her back which still had many scars left.
Lux didn't hesitate and began erasing the scars that didn't deserve to be on the body of the young lady in front of him.
One by one, Lux erased these marks. There were some scars that were located in sensitive areas. For example, near Aina's thigh and left breast. But, the doll-like beauty didn't seem to mind and asked Lux to continue removing them without batting an eye.
The Half-Elf wondered if Aina had mastered the art of the Poker Face because even when he touched those places, the Dwarf didn't even bat an eye.
When the healing operation was over, Aina once again covered herself with the blanket and faced the Half-Elf, whose face had turned beet red due to the places that he had touched just a few minutes ago.
"I know that you said you don't need any compensation," Aina stated. "But I will feel guilty if I don't give you anything."
Aina then made a gesture for Lux to crouch a bit, so that she could whisper something in his ear.
When the Half-Elf crouched a bit and presented his ear to her, he felt something soft, and warm press over his left cheek.
Due to his surprise, he moved his head to face Aina.
However, what happened next was something he didn't expect.
Her lips and his lips connected.
During that entire time, Aina's eyes were wide open. When the Dwarf finally took a step back in order to end the kiss, a faint flush could be seen creeping from her neck up to her cheeks.
Even so, her expression remained the same, making Lux feel as if he had seen something he shouldn't have.
"Although that compensation is not enough to repay my debt to you, I hope that it will suffice for now," Aina said. "If in the future, you wish to ask something in return, I will do my best to accommodate your request."
Lux was still reeling from what happened earlier, so he wasn't able to say anything in reply.
For a fan, getting kissed by their idol was something that would cause a nationwide commotion if seen by her other fans.
In fact, Lux was certain that he would start receiving death threats and would even be hunted down by Luna's die-hard fans back on Earth if they were to see what happened just now.
Fortunately, they were not on Earth, and they were inside Keoza's domain. Only his subordinates witnessed the scene and his flushed expression after, which made some of them snicker in understanding.
"Can I return to the guild now?" Aina asked after seeing that Lux was still rooted on the spot like a statue. "I'm sure that my sister and everyone are worried about me."
"O-Of course," Lux stuttered. "We can leave the domain now."
Lux then waved his hand and the Domain around the endless plain around them disappeared. They were now back in the real world where they rightfully belonged.
Aina gave Lux a bow of gratitude before covering her entire body with white flames.
A moment later, she flew towards the city where her sister and her guild members were anxiously waiting for her return, leaving the Half-Elf behind, who could still feel her soft lips over his own.
Chapter 750 Tying Up Loose Ends
"Big Brother, make sure to visit us again soon, okay?" Colette hugged Lux's waist, while the latter patted her head.
"Of course," Lux replied. "When I return, I will be a Ranker like your sister."
"Hehehe. My sister is really the best. She beat you in becoming a Ranker. So, how about it, Big Brother? Do you want to marry her now?"
"… I'll think about it."
To his surprise, Colette pulled back and shook her head firmly.
"You must decide now, Big Brother," Colette stated. "Now that my sister is now a Ranker, she will definitely get a lot of suitors. Although you are on the top of my list, I would hate it if I see my sister grow up to be an old lady without getting married because you don't want to give a firm answer!"
Before Lux could even give his reply, a monotonous voice cut him off, and made the adorable Dwarf who was hugging him, stiffen.
"Don't marry me off without asking for my permission."
Aina, who had also come to bid Lux goodbye, spoke in her usual tone.
Upon seeing her again, Lux couldn't help but remember the kiss they shared which made him feel his cheeks burning for some reason.
Seeing his reaction, Colette narrowed her gaze and shifted her attention to her sister before looking back at her Big Brother, whose face had slightly turned red for some unknown reason.
At that moment, something clicked inside Colette's head, which made her smile at the Half-Elf in a mischievous way.
"I see, so that's how it is," Colette said as he patted her Big Brother's waist happily. "Don't worry, Big Brother, you have my vote. Just tell me when you want the marriage to happen and I'll convince my father.
"However, last time I talked to him about you, he said that he would like to invite you on a fishing trip. My father really loves fishing. For him to invite you means that he has a good impression of you!"
Lux scratched his head after hearing Colette's reply.
'It seems that everyone wants to invite me to go fishing nowadays,' Lux thought. 'Well, maybe going with them to relax isn't a bad thing.'
After careful consideration, Lux nodded his head with a smile.
"Tell your father that I would love to go fishing with him after I finish tying up the loose ends on my side," Lux replied.
"Alright!" Colette clapped her hands happily. "I'll tell father about this. I'm sure both of you will have a good time."
Aina glanced at her sister before shifting her gaze to Lux, who seemed to think that going with her father was a good idea.
Even after she had shared a kiss with Lux, the expression of the Guildmaster of Eternal looked the same as always.
But, that was only on the surface.
At the end of the day, no matter how standoffish or how expressionless she was, Aina was still a girl. Although having a lover was the least of her priorities, that didn't mean that she wasn't interested in it.
There had been no other man who had touched and seen her body like Lux did.
The doll-like beauty knew that what happened was not the Half-Elf's fault, and he was simply forced to act due to the circumstances that transpired after she lost control of her senses.
Also, the visible scars that were on her body, that hadn't been cured by the expensive potions, as well as salves that her family had acquired for her, were removed by the Half-Elf through the simple act of him touching her.
Aina didn't know how this happened, but for the first time in her life, she felt something she had never felt before. The touch of a man on her naked skin, which didn't repulse her.
In fact, it even made her feel as if she had been reborn.
"Take care, and make sure to visit me as well when you return here in the Kingdom of Gweliven," Aina stated. "You mentioned an autograph in the past, right? I will prepare one for you. Get it from me personally when you have also stepped into the path of a Ranker."
Lux smiled and nodded his head to acknowledge Aina's words.
He then patted Matty's, Andy's, Axel's, and Helen's heads and encouraged them to do their best to become stronger. He even promised that when he returned, he would accompany them to dive into Dungeons as well.
"Emma, do you wish to return to the Guild or would you like to stay with them?" Lux asked the person whom he had designated to become the Secretary of his Guild.
The pretty Dwarf smiled before giving her reply. "I owe my life to you, Lux. I will go wherever you want me to be."
"Then, please return to the Guild," Lux replied. "There are some matters that I need your help with, especially with the management of the shops that we will be operating soon."
Emma nodded. She then bid her own goodbye to Colette and the others whom she had come to think of as her little brothers and sisters. Parting with them made her sad, but she understood that her place was by Lux's side.
As long as she was able to help him, she would even cross a sea of fire to make it happen.
Just as Lux was about to leave, Princess Anastasia and Robin arrived at the Headquarters of the Eternal Guild.
"I thought you would be staying for a few more days, Sir Lux," Princess Anastasia said in a sad tone.
"Sorry, but I've had a change of heart," Lux replied. "After Aina became a Ranker, I felt that it was time for me to become a Ranker as well. This is something that I can no longer delay. But, if there is an opportunity in the future, I will make sure to visit you in the Capital City."
"Understood, Sir Lux." Princess Anastasia nodded. "Please use the Mithril Bracelet that I gave you in order to contact me at any time. Even if you just want to talk about random things!"
"I will." Lux gave the Princess a brief nod before thanking Robin and Nevreal for their help in minimizing the damage caused by his fight with Lucius and the members of Twilight Rain.
He still hadn't properly thanked them for what they did, so he made sure to tell them how much he appreciated what they had done for him.
"By the way, I've been wondering if you have already used the money I gave you to make your Guild Headquarters," Nevreal stated. "If there is an opportunity, I want to see it. I want to know if you used my hard earned money well."
"Of course," Lux replied in a heartbeat. "Once I become a Ranker, I'll make sure to return and give you a tour, Sir Nevreal."
"You do that." Nevreal smirked. "I've worked all my life for that money. If you didn't put it to good use, I'll clobber you even if you are already a Ranker."
Lux could only smile bitterly after hearing Nevreal's playful threat. He still felt a bit guilty about what he did for the middle-aged Dwarf. However, what was done was already done.
At the very least, he wanted to show the Dwarf that the gold coins he gave him had paved the way to create a Guild Headquarters that he would be proud of.
"I also want to see Big Brother's Guild Headquarters!" Colette raised her hand in order to catch Lux's attention. "You've seen our Guild Headquarters, so it's only fair that you show yours to us as well."
"Okay," Lux replied. "I'll bring you guys as well."
After parting on good terms, Lux finally took Emma with him and headed towards the Teleportation Gate of Whitebridge City.
They would return to Leaf Village for a short time in order to take the slime eggs that still hadn't hatched back to their Guild Headquarters in the Outer Reaches.
The Kobolds there wanted to have Slimes as Beast Companions as well to help them dig underground. Also, Garret's daughters, Emily (Middle), and Alexa (Oldest), were also interested in having Slimes as their own.
Leah, the youngest of the three, already had a baby slime of her own, whom she named Holly.
Emily and Alexa had seen how close Lux and Eiko were, as well as their sister with her own baby slime. Because of this they also wanted to have their own Beast Companions that were as cute as theirs.
Now that he had finished his purpose for visiting the Kingdom of Gweliven, he could go to the Necromancer's Ancestral Grounds, and undertake his own Ranker Trial, that would allow his Guild to become a lot stronger than ever before.