A Duel of Wind! Ais's Bizarre Train of Thought!

Dusk quietly descended.

On the increasingly deserted street, Kashu stood outside the main gate, his puzzled gaze falling on Ais, who blocked his path.

They had only met once and had never even spoken. Why had she come here specifically to wait for him?

"Hello, is something the matter?"

Ais's delicate brows furrowed slightly. A hint of distress showed on her otherwise expressionless pretty face, as though she were still choosing her words.

A window nearby quietly opened. The executives inside the manor held their breaths as they watched the interaction between the two below.

"Why let Ais meet the silver-haired guy alone?"

"I'm a little worried. With Ais's personality, how is she going to bring it up?"

"Let's watch first. Even Bete didn't step in to stop her, so it seems this time he was really hit hard."

"I just hope Bete can use this chance to rein in his temper. It's exhausting having to mediate conflicts every time."

The night breeze swept past, carrying a faint chill. The two still stood facing each other in silence.

Kashu had no interest in wasting time like this and shrugged.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going in. It's almost time for dinner."

"Wait... please wait!"

Ais abruptly reached out and grabbed the hem of Kashu's magical attire.

Her pure amber-gold eyes looked straight into Kashu's, and her voice was soft yet resolute.

"What do I need to do to become like you?"

Kashu raised a brow. "Like me?"

The girl before him looked impassive, like an exquisitely crafted porcelain doll, and her words had not made her intentions clear.

Yet from her immaculate eyes, Kashu clearly caught a nearly obsessive longing.

This girl wanted to grow stronger?

It was probably Loki stirring things up behind the scenes again.

Kashu's intuition far surpassed that of ordinary people, and he had already roughly pieced together what had happened. He spoke casually.

"Actually, you don't want to become like me. You simply crave strength, right?"

At his words, Ais's eyes suddenly lit up. She nodded repeatedly like a startled fawn, showing her agreement.

Seeing her admit it so openly, Kashu relaxed and made a suggestion.

"Then come with me first."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and strode into Twilight Manor.

Ais did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately followed.

The training ground.

This place had been specially set up for Familia members to adapt to their abilities and hone their skills.

Besides the complete range of basic training facilities, a large open space had been cleared in the center for actual sparring.

Ais tilted her head, a trace of confusion in her clear eyes as she looked at Kashu, who was rolling his wrists some distance away.

"Why do we have to spar?"

"You can consider it necessary preparation before becoming stronger."

Kashu raised his hand, and a platinum longsword answered his summons. Its blade shimmered with a cold gleam under the dim light.

He looked at Ais, who still seemed unable to muster any fighting spirit, and continued explaining.

"I'm fascinated by the depths of the Dungeon, and I've always wanted to explore places farther away."

"But the time I can spend traveling back and forth through the Dungeon each day is limited, and going on an expedition alone is far too boring. So, I need companions who can fight at my side."

"Come at me. Let me see your strength."

After hearing Kashu's explanation, Ais immediately displayed her unusual and bizarre way of thinking.

Wanting to go deeper into the Dungeon meant craving adventure and strength.

An expedition required companions, which meant fighting side by side and overcoming hardships together.

Wanting to see her strength meant this was a qualification test.

As long as she passed the test, she could obtain his method for becoming stronger.

Mm, airtight logic and crystal-clear reasoning—

My ass!

After completing that string of deductions that no normal person could possibly understand, Ais's gaze abruptly changed. Her hand settled on the Despair Sword at her waist.

"Please be careful."

Before her words had even faded, Ais moved!

She was as swift as a hunting panther. Her sword flashed, and she had already closed in before Kashu!

The platinum longsword and silver saber crashed together. The sparks they sent flying tore through the night, illuminating the utterly different expressions on their faces.

Kashu remained calm, while Ais revealed a look of surprise.

She knew from his status values that Kashu was no weakling, so although she had not used magic in that strike, she had still put seventy percent of her strength into it.

By all rights, not even a Level 4 adventurer should have been able to take it so easily, much less a Level 3!

Kashu lowered his wrist slightly and pressed down with his blade, a relaxed smile curling across his lips.

"What a headache. You really did choose to hold back."

Strength had never been Ais's forte. She did not linger in battle, immediately pulling back in a swift retreat.

Then she turned her blade and launched an unceasing barrage of slashes from another angle.

Under the night sky, the clash of metal rang without end. The flying sparks resembled fireflies dancing in the darkness, fantastical and dangerous.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows.

Yet Ais had never managed to break through Kashu's seemingly casual but actually impenetrable defensive screen of sword light.

"You should let go of your reservations by now, shouldn't you? As a swordswoman who also commands the wind, I have high expectations for you."

Wind King's Barrier (InvisibleAir)!

With a heavy slash, Kashu forced Ais back. Invisible currents of wind sprang into being and swiftly wound around his platinum longsword, condensing into a thick pressure of wind visible to the naked eye!

Recalling the status panel she had glimpsed earlier, a glint flashed through Ais's eyes. She chanted softly.

"Awaken, Tempest!"

The short, forceful incantation echoed through the training ground. The wind elemental particles sleeping in the air seemed to receive a supreme command and surged forth in a rush.

The originally formless gale was now unbelievably docile.

Azure currents swirled around Ais, lifting her dazzling golden hair and creating a gorgeous scene too beautiful to belong in battle.

"Hm?"

Kashu stared intently at the wind surrounding Ais, and an unusual feeling rose within him.

This wind was not being forcibly controlled by her. It was more like—

It was actively answering her call?

"Interesting indeed. Then it's my turn to attack."

Kashu's foot cracked the training ground's floor into a spiderweb pattern. Wrapped in a raging wind visible to the naked eye, he charged forward with almost brutal force!

After their brief exchange just now, Ais had already realized that Kashu was no weaker than she was.

She did not dare let her guard down. Gripping her sword tightly, she met his attack with all her strength!

The violent howl of the wind instantly drowned out the sharp clash of weapons. Blade after blade of fierce sword energy crisscrossed through the air, leaving deep marks on the training equipment around them.

Witnessing this scene, every executive watching in secret sucked in a cold breath.

"Even though we were prepared for it, a Level 3 adventurer can actually trade blows with Ais while she's using the wind at full power to this extent?"

"Say, shouldn't we stop those two first?"

"Captain?"

"Mm—wait a little longer. Don't worry, we're watching them."

At the center of the training ground.

The two combatants riding the wind suddenly separated, each steadying themselves as they faced one another from afar.

A satisfied smile appeared on Kashu's face, and he gave a slight nod.

"As expected of Orario's famed strongest Level 5. That strength is truly extraordinary."

Ais's breathing was slightly ragged. At his words, she lifted her head in delight and asked eagerly.

"Then, can you tell me how to become stronger now?"

"Of course! But rather than explaining it with words, I'd prefer to let you experience it for yourself. That way, the impression will be much deeper."

The instant he finished speaking, Kashu's body abruptly lowered.

His previously steady breathing rhythm underwent subtle yet rapid changes. The sound of the wind around him also grew sharper and more piercing!

Wind Breathing, Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash!

Kashu twisted and surged forward. The gale wrapped around his longsword instantly transformed into a high-speed spinning tornado, ripping apart the air!

Riding a destructive blast of air, he shot toward her at a speed far greater than before!

Wind blades filled the sky as they came crashing down. Ais's pupils contracted sharply. With no time to think, she almost instinctively poured all her strength into the tip of her sword and thrust forward!

"Swirl, Tempest!"

The incantation representing the greatest release of her wind spirit's swift movement left her lips.

In an instant, the azure airflow enveloping her exploded outward, transforming into a violent hurricane that fiercely met the deadly tornado rushing toward her!

The two destructive storms were about to collide!

Victory or defeat would be decided by this one strike!