Seven Stars

In an unknown forest, the two walked side by side.

The blizzard continued to howl, and the forest paths had long been buried. If Chiba hadn't been using Lava Release to melt the snow blocking the way, it would have been almost impossible to move.

"Why was I chosen for this mission?" Chiba asked as they walked.

Beside her, Nuolin maintained her indifferent expression, replying, "I told you, I didn't want you to overthink it."

She paused, then said, "I'll also teach you some swordsmanship techniques; your teacher is unreliable."

"Finally, they said it would be more convenient for them to go on missions with you."

"Convenient? Who said that?" Chiba was a little confused.

"Natsu," Nuolin said.

Chiba thought to herself, "That Natsu kid is really popular with girls. It hasn't been long since he became so familiar with this emotionless girl in front of him?"

That sunny young man always had a heartwarming smile, and that's probably part of the reason.

Of course, it could also be due to the protagonist's halo. After Natsu defeated Laxus during the Fairy Tail civil war, the latter seemed to develop a tendency to only have eyes for Natsu and everyone else.

Shaking his head, Chiba focused his attention on melting the snow, clearing a path along the way. This guy seemed to be even more skilled at life than at fighting.

However, as he pushed along, he felt it was consuming too much Chakra. All he could see ahead was a vast expanse of white light. When did these ten heads appear?

So he stopped and thought.

Without his continued pushing of snow, Nuolin stopped as well, a hint of confusion appearing on her usually expressionless face, as if asking why she had stopped.

Wow! Ma'am, I really can't push this! Do you think I'm a snowplow?

A thought struck him; he remembered something.

"Ninja Technique! That's amazing!"

He bit his finger, and the blood smeared onto his other hand.

Hai-Xu-You-Shen-Wei!

Summoning Technique!

A huge cloud of dust billowed out, and in an instant, a massive indigo python appeared before them.

The enormous python hissed, its tongue flicking out venom, looking terrifying and ferocious.

Chiba was curious about Nuolin's expression when she saw the Water King.

Then, he was disappointed. Nuolin remained cold and expressionless, as if she were not a monstrous python in front of him, but an earthworm.

It's Mira. I'm always a little scared when I see the Water King. It really looks too abstract, and ferocious beasts all have a fierce nature, so very few people are not afraid of it.

But what set Mira apart from the others was that she realized she was afraid, and felt ashamed. Then, her expression towards the Water King changed; it was as if she was about to take its gall bladder.

Nuolin instantly drew her sword from her waist, stepped forward quietly, and said, "Wait behind."

"Wait a minute!"

Before Chiba could finish speaking, the girl's figure shot out instantly.

That's too fast!

The Water King was also completely bewildered. It guessed that Chiba had summoned it most likely for a battle, but it didn't expect the battle target to be so close to it. At this speed, it was almost too fast for it to react.

"Bite!"

A crisp sound rang out, and sparks flew as the Water King's massive body flashed. The sword blade struck its body as if it were cutting steel; its scales were inherently indestructible.

Even so, a long sword wound appeared on its body.

The Water King was furious. Even when Chiba completely overwhelmed him last time, his scales remained undamaged. These were the scales he used to soak the beautiful snake woman, equivalent to a human's face. To have a mark slashed on his face—no wonder he was enraged.

Kill her!

Such a formidable opponent, no wonder the master summoned her. She is a very troublesome enemy, and the master's enemy is naturally also her enemy!

It roared and darted out like lightning, opening its blood-red maw towards Nuolin.

Nuolin remained expressionless, but her actions were anything but hesitant; with a flick of her sword, seven beams of light shot into the sky.

"Ding ding ding..."

A series of crisp sounds rang out, and seven silver magic circles formed beneath the Water King. The magic circles were arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper, gently rotating and flashing with light. Both the Water King and Chiba felt a deep threat emanating from them.

This unfathomable magic, along with the sharp sword intent capable of severing all things, caused the Water King to stop instantly.

It broke out in a cold sweat. It wasn't a mindless monster. Its intuition told it that if the magic circle beneath it was activated, an extremely sharp and terrifying force would severely injure it. Although it might bite the girl's body in half at that time, it wouldn't be worth it.

It's not worth it at all. To die for an owner who beats you Tenten is not worth it!

The girl probably knew that she would also lunge forward in a desperate attempt to kill him, not knowing if she could kill her, but at least she could make him suffer the same fate as her.

Is that why you stopped?

It's good that you've stopped, it's good that you've stopped. We can still negotiate. Ask my owner how they provoked you. Fighting is so unsportsmanlike. Wouldn't it be better to be peaceful? Everyone makes money through harmony. He doesn't mind being a peacemaker.

"Stop! Stop!" Chiba's voice rang out at just the right moment.

He should have shouted it out a few seconds earlier, but the speed at which the seemingly emotionless senior sister drew her sword startled this guy who only knew how to use Kunai and Shuriken. And the way she swung her longsword, her hair flying and her skirt billowing, instantly creating seven magic circles, was so cool that he was stunned for a few seconds, to the point that he and the snake almost perished together.

"Step back, it's too strong."

Nuolin's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She always maintained a very indifferent expression, appearing from a distance as if she were still the same cold and aloof person. Her tone was equally flat and emotionless, which, in Chiba's eyes, seemed to say, "Junior brother, step back. This thing is actually incredibly weak. I was just afraid you'd get caught in the crossfire and didn't finish it off. If you were further away from here, it would have been cut into eight pieces."

But that's not actually the case. When she said the Water King was strong, she meant it was strong. There was no humility in her words; it was all based on her intuition. This emotionless, expressionless girl never beats around the bush.

A strange look appeared on Chiba's face. He was annoyed that he hadn't told his senior sister beforehand that the Water King was actually his summoned beast. Well, well, he was actually just curious whether his senior sister would panic if she suddenly saw a monster appear in front of her.

However, he was also surprised that such a huge monster had suddenly appeared, and his senior sister had simply drawn her sword to cut it down cleanly and decisively, which was completely opposite to what he had expected.

The Water King looked at the girl with an extremely human-like expression, which looked somewhat comical.

"Ahem! My beautiful lady, the fact that you've stopped means we can still communicate. My Carl O'Filth, also known as the Water King. This young man is Chiba Uchiha, my master. I think we don't have any deep-seated hatred, as the great philosopher once said, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. I believe you wouldn't want to have any conflict with a handsome and powerful man like my master, the dream of countless young women. I believe you're also captivated by him..."

"Shut up!" Before the Water King could finish his prepared lines, Chiba angrily shut it up.

The Water King obediently shut his mouth.

Because the feeling of the Cursed Seal was truly unbearable.

Nuolin glanced at the Water King expressionlessly, then slowly sheathed her sword, and the magic circle dissipated.