The moment Luo Ge stood there.
Even Isolte's heart started racing.
Even though we haven't seen each other for a year.
Luo Ge's features had changed considerably since their first meeting, and even his figure was taller than he remembered.
But Isolte recognized him at a glance.
Even if she were reduced to ashes, she would still recognize this boy.
In an instant, past memories flooded back like a tide.
That year, Isolte her sword with one hand, dominating the Water God Style. Among her peers, no one knew what a worthy opponent was.
Until that day.
She encountered her eternal nightmare; her inner pride was shattered with a single blow in front of this man.
It crushed all of Isolte's pride to dust.
Taking a deep breath, Isolte quickly stepped in front of Luo Ge, forcing a composed and polite smile, "Hi, it's been a long time."
Luo Ge paused, tilted his head to examine her for a moment, his expression shifting from blank to confused.
Finally, the question lingered on with a slightly awkward hesitation, "Excuse me... who are you?"
"Huh?"
Isolte's smile froze slightly; she felt as if she had been punched in the chest, a very uncomfortable sensation.
She covered her mouth, asking incredulously, "You... you don't remember me?"
Luo Ge was even more embarrassed by her reaction.
He frowned, trying to recall for a moment, then his brow furrowed even more. "Um, do we know each other?"
Isolte was silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile, "You really? You really don't remember me?"
Luo Ge nodded firmly. "Yes!"
For a moment, Isolte almost fainted; she never expected that the person she had been chasing for so long would be like this.
He doesn't even remember his own name.
Isolte, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, said, "Actually... we met in the slums of City of Ars a little over a year ago. Why don't you think about it carefully?"
"Ah?"
" City of Ars?"
"I think I remember now!"
Luo Ge suddenly realized something and pointed at Isolte, saying, "You! You! You're the Water Saint I defeated with a single strike... Yes, if I remember correctly, you're the Water Saint, right?"
"Oh, it's you."
"You've grown quite a bit taller, and your figure is developing well. I almost didn't recognize you... I'm so sorry."
"You finally remembered! I thought you'd almost forgotten me. That's great!" Isolte.
"How could I possibly forget you? After all, you're the only Water Saint I've ever defeated. Oh, right, I remember your name is Lute Izo, isn't it?"
"Eh?"
"Wait? What did you call me?"
Isolte dumbfounded.
" Lute? Izo?"
Luo Ge tilted his head, convinced he hadn't misremembered the name.
no?
Isolte's lips twitched, her smile completely froze, and she looked as if she had been struck by an invisible lightning bolt.
Isolte her mouth.
Wait, what the heck is Lute Izo?!
Her name is Isolte! Isolte!! Isolte!!!
Important things should be said three times, okay?
Even though she was on the verge of breaking down, Isolte still maintained a warm and gentle smile on her face.
"I am Lute I, ptooey! I am Isolte."
"I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry!"
Luo Ge scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.
Getting people's names in the wrong order is certainly wrong, but it's not Luo Ge's fault.
After all, he had only met Isolte once, and had just casually eaten her as a roadside dish.
Who would deliberately remember the name of a random passerby?
Listening to the conversation between the two, Nina's lips twitched as well. She felt a deep empathy for Isolte's plight.
There was a sense of kinship, like two people in the same boat... a feeling of mutual understanding and sympathy.
It turns out she wasn't the only one so angry; there was someone even more unlucky than her.
Even their names weren't remembered.
At least he never got her name wrong; he always called her Nina correctly, and for some reason, Nina felt a little proud of it.
Seeing Isolte's expression, which was even more disgusting than eating shit, Nina felt even more secretly delighted.
So it turns out... he wasn't targeting me intentionally, but rather treating everyone in the world equally.
Just as the atmosphere became awkwardly tense, Nina suddenly stepped in to defuse the situation for Isolte, saying, "Alright, let's stop this small talk for now! Don't keep the Sword God and the Water God waiting inside."
So the three of them, with Luo Ge at the head, entered the seating area.
Luo Ge was the first.
Nina went second.
Isolte was the last one.
The three of them took their seats in turn, sitting on the floor.
Although the three of them appeared at roughly the same time, in an instant, the gazes of the Sword God and the Water God both fell on Luo Ge alone.
Especially this old woman.
Ever since Luo Ge stepped through that door, Reida's gaze had been fixed on him, never leaving him.
Those seemingly cloudy yet incredibly sharp eyes scanned up and down, a playful smile playing on their lips, as if they were carefully scrutinizing something.
"Hey, young man... you're Gal's disciple? Hmm... you look quite impressive."
"Who are you?"
Luo Ge looked at the other woman and, for some reason, felt that this old woman with crooked eyes, who seemed to look at people with different eyes than they were, spoke in a tone that seemed to be deliberately provoking and angering him.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Reida Reia."
" Reida... who is that?"
Luo Ge tilted his head.
"..."
Reida's smile froze slightly.
Gal coughed lightly, then added unhurriedly, "Haha, Luo Ge, she's the current Water God, an equal to me."
" Water God?"
Luo Ge's expression turned serious. Although he vaguely knew that this old woman was no ordinary person, he never expected that she would have such an extraordinary background... that she was actually Water God with a God Rank.
Luo Ge suddenly remembered.
He seemed to have heard of this name before; it was some kind of advice the Hitogami had given him last time, though Luo Ge had ultimately ignored it all.
But I still have some recollection of it.
He remembered that the Hitogami had said that the Sword God, the Water God, and the North God were all beings he could recruit to deal with the God of Dragon God.
One of them is this Water God...
Luo Ge suppressed these complex thoughts for the time being, looked back at the Water God Reida, and returned the greeting. "I am Luo Ge Greyrat. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Water God. Please guide me."
"Hey, I wouldn't presume to offer advice."
Reida waved her hand, her admiration undisguised. "After all, you're already Sword King at such a young age. You know, when I was your age, I was only a Water Saint."
" Water Saint? You were pretty weak when you were young, huh?" Luo Ge muttered.
"..."
Water God Reida.
..."
" Isolte."
"..."
Nina.
"..."
Sword God Gal.
In an instant, all four people present fell silent, and a profound stillness filled the air.
Isolte looked at Luo Ge and suddenly it made sense. It turned out that he wasn't targeting her. Even her grandmother, the Water God, was treated the same.
"Mmm..."
"My mood suddenly feels so much better!"
The gloom in Isolte's heart suddenly vanished, and she felt completely refreshed, as if the rain had stopped and the sun had come out.
"Hey, young man, since I became the Water God... it's been a long time since anyone has said anything like this to me," said the Water God Reida.
"Isn't a ten-year-old Water Saint a weakling?" Luo Ge retorted.
Isolte had been watching the drama unfold with a detached, amused expression, but upon hearing this, she felt as if the other person was subtly criticizing her.
The Water Saint who was around ten years old—isn't that her?
She reasonably suspected that the other party was targeting her, and must be jealous of her talent in the Water God Style swordsmanship.
The Water God Reida was not angry, nor was she provoked, because this was a common tactic used by the Water God Style.
The Water God Reida had received professional training in this area, and Water God could tolerate even if someone insulted Water God ancestors to their faces.
Water God Style!
The most important thing is one word: patience!
A moment of patience brings calm, a step back opens up a vast expanse.
The Water God Reida suddenly shifted her gaze from Luo Ge and glanced at Isolte beside her.
" Isolte..."
"Master, your disciple is here."
"This kid's a bit arrogant. Why don't you go and teach him a lesson, let him know how powerful the Water God Style is?"
"Let's see if this Sword King truly lives up to his name."
Upon hearing the words of the Water God Reida, Isolte was completely stunned.
She pointed to herself, her expression blank. "Huh? Me, fighting the Sword King? Can I really do that?"
"Don't worry..."
" The Water God Style counters the Sword God Style. Although you are still Water Saint, your understanding of the Water God Style means your overall strength is not much inferior to that of an average Water King."
"King against king, Water God Style against Sword God Style... Isolte, you must believe in yourself, you can definitely win."
The Water God Reida encouraged Isolte.
Isolte now in a dilemma; she can't refuse, and she can't agree either.
Because of what happened a year ago, Isolte still has some psychological trauma.
She was terrified that she would be beaten up in front of everyone and repeat the same mistake she made years ago.
Fear, terror, helplessness...
But a sliver of hope also filled my heart. What if... what if I won?
Isolte stood up, facing her past fears head-on. Her tone was calm. "Now should I address you as Sword King? Sword King... it's been a long time!"
"Yes, it's been a long time."
Luo Ge also stood up, choosing to respect the other party's decision.
A year has passed.
"I didn't expect you to be Sword King already. That's amazing."
"Hmm... I've been Sword King for a long time, but I didn't expect you to be the same as before, still Water Saint."
"..."
Isolte.
She had originally intended to say a few opening remarks to set the mood and make the battle more meaningful.
Before he could even finish a few sentences, the other person had instantly killed the conversation.
Every time he spoke a few words to the other person, Izo would get furious at their bluntness.
Lies are the only thing that doesn't hurt; the truth is the sharpest weapon.
"Words are useless; let's settle this with our skills." Isolte her sword with both hands, her expression solemn and dignified.
In contrast, Luo Ge simply held his sword with one hand, appearing calm and composed.
The two sides exhibited drastically different mental states, showing a stark polarization.
Anyone could sense Isolte's nervousness.
"Aren't you going to make a move? Looks like you're really planning to be a coward."
Just as Luo Ge was about to make the first move and end the battle.
"Etc!"
Isolte waved to stop.
Luo Ge had just raised his sword when he lowered it again. "What's going on? Are you planning to surrender?"
"Surrender?"
No, no, no!
Isolte shook her head, then continued, "Although I hate to admit it, my swordsmanship is far inferior to yours. Your Sword God Style has reached the level of Sword King, while I am currently only Water Saint... I absolutely cannot withstand your overwhelming attacks."
"Therefore, before we begin... please forgive this humble woman for making a small, capricious request of the Sword King."
"Okay?"
" Sword King!"