Listening to Nanahoshi's complaints, if it were in the past, Luo Ge might have retorted, but now he has figured it out.
The greatest truths are the simplest...
When Nanahoshi saw that Luo Ge remained silent and simply placed his hand on the Phoenix Elegant Dragon Sword, Nanahoshi's expression changed instantly, even though he had originally intended to continue his mockery.
Huh?
Nanahoshi knows this move all too well.
Throughout the past year, every time Luo Ge displayed this excessively calm expression, he would inevitably draw his sword and draw blood.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
"Seriously? What are you trying to do?!"
Before Luo Ge could even draw his sword, Nanahoshi panicked and cowered in a corner, trembling.
Luo Ge deliberately walked up to Nanahoshi, brandishing his sword in front of him, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm... Go on, why don't you continue?"
"... Just now, didn't I think you were quite talkative?"
"I don't mind, I really don't mind, although sometimes my hand might tremble a few times when I'm wielding the sword."
threaten!
This is practically a blatant threat.
When Nanahoshi saw Luo Ge draw his sword without warning, she gritted her teeth and said, "Damn it... damn it! You're so petty... can't you handle this?! You're supposed to be a man, how dare you bully a sixteen-year-old high school student like me? Have you no shame?"
"Excuse me."
Luo Ge slung his sword over his shoulder, puffed out his chest with self-assurance, and declared, "I am a warrior."
Even Nanahoshi was quite annoyed by Luo Ge's matter-of-fact attitude, but she couldn't really say anything.
After all, she really couldn't beat the other side.
Not only could she not beat him, she couldn't even outrun him. Nanahoshi decisively admitted defeat, turning her head away with a pout and humming twice before falling silent.
She, Nanahoshi, has decided to ignore Luo Ge for at least three days, not today.
Just as Nanahoshi tilted his head, sulking to himself...
The hotel room door was pushed open from the inside.
A red-haired girl rushed out of the house, and with a loud bang, the door slammed against the wall as she opened it.
The force was so great that both Luo Ge and Nanahoshi turned their heads to look at it.
The red-haired girl who walked out with a fierce expression was none other than Mad Dog Eris. She walked straight past Nanahoshi, completely ignoring him.
Eris looked like she had just been crying and wasn't in a good mental state, but her eyes were filled with a fierce determination that had been reignited.
When he saw Eris walking towards him, Luo Ge was taken aback.
"How?"
Eris, is there something you need?
Eris didn't rush to answer. Instead, she took a deep breath and ignored Rudeus's desperate attempts to dissuade her.
He walked up to Luo Ge without hesitation, hands on his hips, looking down at everyone with disdain.
It looked like it wanted to devour people alive.
Under Luo Ge's gaze, Eris shouted, "I am Eris Boreas Greyrat, accept my challenge!"
"Oh?"
"Challenge me? Eris... Have you cried yourself to death? You didn't seem to have drunk that much, what's wrong with you?"
"Yes, Eris... maybe we should just forget about it!" Rudeus, who was standing next to her, hurriedly advised.
" Rudeus, humph, just mind your own business... Anyway, this is a feud between me and Luo Ge."
After Eris finished speaking, she continued to stare at Luo Ge.
I want to defeat you!
"Although... I know I'm no match for you, I still want to see clearly the gap between us."
Seeing Eris's insistence, Luo Ge had no choice but to nod and agree, "Okay, a fight? Hmm... when?"
"Now!"
"Okay, you go pick a place, I'll be there to keep you company anytime, anywhere."
"Follow me!"
When Rudius saw Eris lead Luo Ge out of the inn, Rudeus quickly followed and whispered in Luo Ge's ear, "Hey! Eris's acting up is one thing, but Luo Ge... why are you acting up too? Eris's clearly upset, she's not thinking straight..."
"Although she was provoked... I saw the word 'resolve' in her eyes. Eris is right, this is a personal matter between us, so mind your own business."
Soon, the three of them—no, plus Nanahoshi who had secretly followed to see what was going on—along with Rujierd, made a total of five people, all arriving at the beach.
The waves lapped rhythmically against the beach, the setting sun painted the sea a golden-red hue, and seagulls circled in the twilight.
The last rays of the setting sun fell upon the two of them.
Eris and Luo Ge had already taken their stances, but their appearances were completely different from Eris's aggressive and prepared demeanor.
Luo Ge kept his eyes slightly narrowed, looking relaxed and at ease, without even drawing his sword.
" Eris!"
Why challenge me?
"Why so many whys... I just want to defeat you, to surpass you!"
"Hmm? That's a good reason, very straightforward, but unfortunately, with your current strength, you're no match for me."
I know... but how will I know if I don't try?
Eris has a slender figure, but she is not weak; rather, she has a firm, well-developed physique that contains a powerful explosive force.
Her long, fiery red hair, reaching her waist, fluttered backward in the gentle breeze.
She stood on the beach, gripping the large machete tightly in her hand. The blade slowly unsheathed, its sharpness fully revealed, radiating a chilling light.
"..."
Luo Ge was immediately captivated, his eyes glued to the screen.
certainly.
It wasn't Eris's appearance that attracted him, but rather the weapon in her hand that drew his gaze.
"A fine sword! Although it's not as good as my Phoenix Elegant Dragon Sword, it's still a top-quality sword. May I ask... what's its name?"
A glint of light flashed in Luo Ge's eyes; his interest in the knife now clearly surpassed even that of Eris herself.
"I don't know... This knife was a gift from the Migurd Tribe... It has no name."
"Such a fine knife, and it doesn't even have a name? Sigh... that's such a pity."
"Hey, that's enough, you're so long-winded..."
Eris frowned, clearly getting impatient; after all, she was there to fight Luo Ge, not to chat.
"Excuse me... I was simply captivated by the sight of such a fine sword, how could it not have a name?"
"If I win, I won't take your precious sword; just let me name it!"
"..."
Eris frowned, and then remained silent.
"If you're all ready, let's begin now..."
Just as Rudeus stepped forward to act as the referee for the two, before he could even call out "start,"
Eris decided to strike first.
She struck unexpectedly with her sword.
The sword light sliced through the air with a sharp whistling sound, fast and ruthless.
"Hmm? Not bad. Besides the Sword God Style, you also seem to have a talent for learning the North God Style."
" Eris, I have high hopes for you!"
Even after Eris had already made her move, Luo Ge continued to mutter to himself calmly.
Just as Eris's face was about to touch his, Luo Ge finally moved, dodging at an extremely tricky angle.
To others, the sword strike was incredibly fast, but to Luo Ge, it seemed to be slowed down a thousand times, ten thousand times.
When the sword misses...
Eris did not immediately stop swinging her sword; she seized the opportunity and continued her fierce attack.
Swish!
Eris cleaved open again at an even faster speed.
Although it seemed haphazard, Luo Ge could tell that every move she made was aimed at vital points.
Her fighting style bears the shadows of Ghislaine and Rujierd, two completely different fighting styles crudely blended together in her.
Although it's still a bit raw, it's already starting to develop its own unique flavor.
"Not bad, not bad at all, your strength has improved so quickly..."
"I remember the first time we met, you were only seven years old, I think. Back then, you were just a clueless newbie. You couldn't even hold a sword properly, and you didn't know any Touki..."
But now you've even mastered Touki! Your strength is at least at the level of Advanced Swordsman, isn't it?"
"To be honest... he's more powerful than many Sword Saint I've ever seen."
"Shut up!"
"Shut up, you idiot!"
Eris was really at her wit's end; the veins on her forehead throbbed twice, and her voice was almost squeezed out through clenched teeth.
"Damn it! Is all you can do is hide and run? Use your full strength! You coward!"
"Oh?"
"Go all out?"
" Eris, then so be it."
No sooner had Luo Ge finished speaking than he casually unleashed a sweeping strike, and the Phoenix Elegant Dragon Sword clashed with the Nameless Treasure Blade.
Bang!
A visible shockwave exploded from the center of the collision, whipping up sand and gravel that flew in all directions.
Eris was violently thrown back, her feet carving two deep furrows in the sand. Even the nameless sword she had been clutching flew out of her hand and landed on a nearby sand dune.
Eris, lying on the ground, was filled with resentment. Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up from the sand. "Damn it... is this all the power you have?"
"I've tried so hard, all so that one day I could wash away this shame... defeat you, but why did it have to turn out like this, ugh..."
Eris showed no sign of giving up; she continued to get up, her body brimming with tenacity.
She staggered to where the knife was stuck, pulled out the nameless sword, and charged forward again with a loud shout.
"Ah! Again!"
"No wonder she's called the 'Mad Dog,' she fights like a madwoman... Eris, I'm growing to admire you more and more."
"Enough!"
Eris roared and then cleaved in two.
As expected, she was once again sent flying by a casual sword strike from Luo Ge.
With a muffled groan, Eris was sent flying more than ten times, her body gradually becoming covered in wounds.
Her arms were trembling, and her knees were so weak she could barely stand. Each time she stood up, it was slower and more difficult than the last.
She managed to get up every time.
"Oh, oh, oh..."
When she finally collapsed, her whole body began to convulse violently.
Unable to fight any longer.
The convulsions lasted for half a minute... Eris tried repeatedly to stand up again, but without exception, Eris was ultimately powerless... and failed.
"... Did it fail?"
Eris looked up at the sky in despair and covered half of her cheek.
"... Why? Why is there such a huge difference in strength? Damn it! Why...?"
"That's not fair at all..."
"Why?"
"Let me tell you why."
Just then, Luo Ge stepped forward, looking down at Eris.
You're working hard, and so am I.
"You're making progress, but am I not making progress too?"
"In a corner you can't see, I also get up early and work late every day, persisting in training and cultivation... practicing swordsmanship like an ascetic monk."
"If I were easily defeated by you, that would be the greatest injustice in the world."
After a pause, Luo Ge began to speak with the air of someone who had been through it all, "The reason I've gotten to where I am today has never been because of talent, but because of hard work, effort, and sweat."
"Now do you understand, Eris...?"