Chapter 33: The Duel of Winds! Ai Si's Unique Thoughts!
Twilight quietly descended.
On the increasingly sparse streets, Arthur stood outside the main gate, his gaze a little puzzled as it fell upon Ais, who was blocking his path.
They had only met once, and had never even spoken. Why was she waiting for him here specifically?
"Hello, is there something I can help you with?"
Ais's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of distress appeared on her largely expressionless face. She seemed to still be deliberating her words.
A nearby window quietly opened, and the executives inside the manor held their breath, observing the interaction between the two below.
"Why did we let Ais meet the silver-haired guy alone?"
"I'm a little worried, how will Ais, with her personality, even start the conversation?"
"Let's just watch for now. Even Bete didn't come out to stop it, so it seems this particular stimulus was indeed significant enough."
"I actually hope Bete can rein in his temper a bit because of this. It's exhausting having to mediate conflicts every time."
The night breeze swept by, bringing a slight chill. The two remained silent, looking at each other.
Arthur was not interested in this kind of time-wasting stalemate and shrugged.
"If there's nothing, I'm going in. It's almost dinner time."
"Wait… please wait!"
Ais suddenly reached out and grabbed the hem of Arthur's magical attire.
Her pure, amber-gold eyes looked directly into Arthur's, her voice soft yet firm.
"What do I have to do to become like you?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow: "Like me?"
The girl in front of him had a placid expression, like a delicate porcelain doll, and her words didn't explicitly state her meaning.
However, Arthur clearly caught a nearly obsessive longing in her pure eyes.
This girl wants to get stronger?
It's probably Loki's doing behind the scenes again.
With intuition far exceeding ordinary people, Arthur had already roughly outlined the situation in his mind and spoke casually.
"Actually, you don't want to become like me. You just purely desire power, right?"
Upon hearing this, Ais's eyes suddenly brightened, and she nodded repeatedly like a startled deer, indicating her agreement.
Seeing her frank admission, Arthur's expression relaxed, and he suggested.
"Then you should come with me first."
As his voice fell, he turned and strode towards Twilight Manor.
Seeing this, Ais followed without the slightest hesitation, immediately stepping forward.
…
Training Ground.
This place was specially designed for Familia members to adapt to their ability values and hone their skills.
In addition to a complete set of basic training facilities, a large open space for practical sparring was also created in the center of the field.
Ais tilted her head, a trace of confusion in her clear eyes, as she looked at Arthur, who was warming up his wrists not far away.
"Why do you want to spar with me?"
"You can see it as a necessary preparation before getting stronger."
Arthur raised his hand, and his platinum longsword appeared. The blade shimmered with a cold luster in the faint light.
He looked at Ais, who still seemed to lack the will to fight, and continued to explain.
"I am filled with curiosity about the depths of the Dungeon and have always yearned to explore more distant places."
"However, the time spent traveling back and forth to the Dungeon each day is limited, and adventuring alone is too boring. So, I need some companions who can fight alongside me."
"Come at me. Let me see your strength."
After hearing Arthur's explanation, Ais immediately displayed her unusual and unique way of thinking.
Wanting to go deeper into the Dungeon means desiring adventure and becoming stronger.
Expeditions require companions, which means needing to fight alongside each other and overcome difficulties together.
Wanting to see her strength means a qualification test.
As long as she passes the test, she can obtain the method to become stronger from him.
Hmm, logical and clear-headed—
What the heck!
After a series of deductions that ordinary people would find hard to understand were completed in her mind, Ais's eyes suddenly changed, and her palm pressed against the Despair Sword at her waist.
"Please be careful."
Before her voice even fell, Ais moved!
Her speed was as swift as a hunting leopard. With a flash of her sword, she was already close to Arthur!
Clang!
The platinum longsword and the silver-white saber clashed violently, the sparks tearing through the night and reflecting the two's vastly different expressions.
Arthur's expression was calm, while Ais's face showed surprise and doubt.
She knew Arthur's strength was considerable from his status board, so although that strike just now didn't use magic, it still poured in seventy percent of her power.
Logically speaking, let alone a Level 3 adventurer, even a Level 4 would find it extremely difficult to block so easily!
Arthur's wrist sank slightly, his sword pressed back, and a relaxed, comfortable smile played on his lips.
"What a headache, you still chose to hold back."
Strength was not Ais's forte, and she didn't linger in the fight, immediately retreating swiftly.
Then she changed the angle of her sword and launched a continuous series of slashes from another direction.
Under the night sky, the clang of metal against metal was incessant, and the sparks that flew were like fireflies dancing in the dark, fantastical and dangerous.
In an instant, the two had already exchanged dozens of blows.
However, Ais was always unable to break through Arthur's seemingly casual but in fact impenetrable sword defense.
"You should let go of your reservations now, shouldn't you? As fellow swordsmen who wield the wind, I have quite high expectations for you."
Invisible Air!
Arthur forced Ais back with a heavy slash. Invisible currents of wind appeared out of thin air, quickly coiling around the platinum longsword, condensing into a thick, visible wind pressure!
Ais recalled the ability value panel she had glimpsed earlier, a flash of light in her eyes, and she chanted softly.
"Awaken (Tempest)!"
The short, powerful incantation echoed through the training ground. The wind elemental particles slumbering in the atmosphere seemed to receive a supreme decree, surging forward in a rush.
The originally formless and invisible gale was now incredibly docile.
Azure currents of air swirled around her, blowing her dazzling golden hair, forming a magnificent picture too beautiful for a battle.
"Oh?"
Arthur stared intently at the wind swirling around Ais. A strange feeling arose within him.
This wind was not being forcibly controlled by her; it was more like—
Actively responding to her call?
"That's certainly interesting. Then it's my turn to attack."
Bang!
Arthur's foot stomped a spiderweb-like crack into the training ground's floor. He was enveloped in a visible gale, charging forward with an almost brutal momentum!
After the brief skirmish just now, Ais already knew that Arthur's strength was definitely not below hers.
She dared not be negligent, gripping her sword hilt tightly, and met his attack with full force!
The furious roar of the wind instantly drowned out the sharp clang of weapons. Streaks of fierce sword qi crisscrossed, leaving deep marks on the surrounding training facilities.
Witnessing this scene, the executives observing in secret all gasped.
"Although we were mentally prepared, how can a Level 3 adventurer fight to this extent against Ais, who is fully unleashing her wind?"
"I say, shouldn't we stop those two first?"
"Captain?"
"Hmm—wait a little longer. Don't worry, we're watching."
…
Center of the Training Ground.
The two, fighting fiercely with the wind, suddenly separated, each steadying their stance, facing each other from a distance.
Arthur showed a satisfied smile and nodded gently.
"As expected of Orario's rumored strongest Level 5. This power is extraordinary."
Ais's breathing was slightly ragged. Hearing this, she looked up in surprise and asked eagerly.
"Then, can you tell me the way to become stronger?"
"Of course! But rather than just telling you, I prefer to let you experience it firsthand. That way, the impression will be even deeper."
As soon as his voice fell, Arthur's posture suddenly lowered a bit.
His originally steady breathing frequency underwent subtle and rapid changes at this moment, and the surrounding wind sounds also became sharper and more piercing!
Wind Breathing: Eighth Form: Primary Violent Wind Slash!
Arthur suddenly twisted his body and lunged forward. The gale enveloping his longsword instantly transformed into a high-speed rotating tornado, tearing through the air!
He surged forward with a destructive wave of air, at a speed far exceeding before!
Wind blades filled the sky, sweeping down like a deluge. Ais's pupils contracted sharply. Without time for much thought, she almost instinctively poured all her strength into the tip of her sword and thrust forward violently!
"Sweep (Tempest)!"
The incantation representing the maximum release of Wind Spirit's Dash escaped her lips.
In an instant, the azure current of air enveloping her suddenly exploded, transforming into a violent hurricane, boldly meeting the deadly tornado rushing towards her!
Two destructive storms were about to collide!
Victory or defeat, in this one strike!