Zongman: Collecting starts with Shiori

"If your belief is so firm as you say, then may I ask, what kind of confidence makes you think you can fight against those elves with unfathomable power? I understand that you have been chasing the existence called 'Nightmare' for a long time, and your footprints have been all over the world in pursuit of her figure. During this period, you even had several opportunities to completely wipe her out, but what was the result? She is still safe and sound, but you, as if being drawn by her light, are endlessly running in the maze of fate, chasing that figure that seems to be forever out of reach."

When Mana heard this, his expression changed slightly, but he had never expected the deep meaning behind these words. He thought that Shiki Morikaze was just simply discussing the matter.

So she answered without hesitation, with a hint of undisguised pride in her voice.

"You do have a lot of information, but it makes no difference to me. Because I will not waver. I have only one goal - as long as I have the ability, whether it is once, ten times, or even hundreds or thousands of times, as long as she is still breathing in this world, I will completely erase her from this dimension at all costs! This is my determination, and the meaning of my existence!"

Sure enough, after hearing what Mana revealed, the answers to all this became clear in Shikimori Feng's mind, illuminating the confusion and doubts in his heart.

Shikimori Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts quickly shuttling back and forth through past fragments. Every scene of his battle with Kurumi played back in his mind like a movie, with the details infinitely magnified.

He suddenly realized that it was not an accidental illusion, nor was it a deviation in his memory - Kuang San was indeed not just a simple existence!

The reason why those Kurumis didn't seem to really "disappear" after being killed several times by Mana.

This is precisely because these are not Kuang San's real body. They are like the stars in the endless universe. If one falls, there are still millions of them shining. To Kuang San herself, they are just insignificant sacrifices in the vast power.

Everything suddenly became clear.

The two times that Shikimori Kaede encountered Kurumi, her manners, conversation, and even the light in her deep eyes were completely different.

Now it seems that this is not a coincidence, but that they are different individuals named "Kyousan", each of them has independent thoughts and souls.

These "Kurosamas" may share the same appearance and similar abilities, but their minds and their choices are completely different, like a kaleidoscope.

This realization made Shi Shoufeng feel both astonished and a little curious.

This is still the most interesting elf he has ever met.

Chapter 144: Defeat You in the Field You Are Best At

After getting the clear answer he had longed for, Shi Shoufeng felt as if a huge stone had been unloaded from his chest. The haze in his heart was swept away, and his whole mental state became refreshed. The corners of his mouth unconsciously rose, and a relieved smile quietly blossomed.

Indeed, every attack of Mana was like a sharp sword, accurately hitting his vital points, and its power was enough to scare any opponent.

Behind that power lies not only the mastery of skills, but also an unwavering belief in victory. To Shiki Morikaze, it undoubtedly poses a real threat.

But this threat is based on a premise - if Shikimori Kaede is really an elf as she guessed.

This assumption is very reliable in the face of the current situation, but it is far from the truth.

Shiki Shoufeng is not one of those mysterious elves who are in harmony with natural elements, but an ordinary person who is down-to-earth and has human blood.

The reason why he was able to wield the extraordinary abilities of the elves was that he had subdued those legendary elves.

Simply relying on Yoshino's abilities, one can only barely achieve an even match when facing a strong enemy like Mana. The battle is like dancing on a knife's edge, and any slight mistake may bring fatal consequences.

However, that's not all Shikimori Kaede has.

Behind him is a team of more than one elves with their own characteristics. Each of them is a leader in their respective fields. Once their powers are gathered, they will unleash such astonishing energy that even Mana and even Kurumi, a four-cost card, may not be able to easily estimate it.

Actually, the reason I said so much is because I’m tired of Shikimori Kaede.

Now that I have the answer, there is no need to continue playing house with Mana, right?

It's actually not bad to defeat her, and we can get one more slave, even if it's only for one day.

But if...

If I defeat her in the area where she is best, will it leave a mark in her heart that can never be covered up?

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Shi Shoufeng's lips.

Without hesitation, he waved his hand, and the air around him seemed to suddenly drop to freezing point. Countless sharp ice cones flew out, interweaving into an icy net in mid-air and shooting towards Mana.

At the moment when Mana dodged swiftly, Shikimori Feng took the opportunity to widen the distance between the two, creating favorable conditions for the subsequent confrontation.

"It seems like you prefer close combat, so I might as well give up the long-distance fight and dance with you."

Shi Shoufeng's mouth corners slightly raised, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and he was secretly pondering in his heart.

He closed his eyes, and the image of the legendary Ao Sha Gong quickly appeared in his mind. Every detail was vivid, as if the heavy sword, the sharp blade tip, and the sword body exuding an ominous aura were lying quietly in the depths of his consciousness, waiting to be awakened.

"I don't know if this power is at my disposal. It shouldn't be a problem. After all, the connection with Tohka gives me the possibility to touch all of this..."

Shikimori Feng's thoughts were still floating, but the air around him suddenly solidified, as if even time had become sticky at this moment.

Next to his palm, a tiny crack quietly appeared in the void, deep and mysterious, like a black hole in the night sky.

Mana's gaze was fixed on this incredible scene, with an expression of great surprise in her eyes. While holding her breath, she saw Shiki Shoufeng reach his hand into the void without hesitation, and his fingers gently clasped a cold sword hilt.

At this moment, time seemed to stand still, everything lost its sound, only heartbeat and breathing echoed in this solemn air.

As Shi Shoufeng pulled his arm suddenly, the crack in the void seemed to respond to his will, and a huge and majestic sword broke through the air. The sword flashed with cold light and fell steadily into his hand with a heart-pounding momentum.

The tip of the sword trembled slightly, releasing a faint fluctuation of spiritual power, like an ancient giant beast that had just awakened, full of desire for the upcoming battle.

"Oh wow, it really works! This feeling is simply indescribable!"

Shiki Shoufeng's face was filled with excitement and surprise. The greatsword that he had obtained without any effort seemed to have a natural tacit understanding with him, as if it was meant to be in his hands.

Shikimori Feng adjusted his breathing slightly, allowing his body to achieve a subtle harmony with the air around him. Then, he seemed to transform into an unstoppable storm and rushed straight towards Mana, who was still immersed in shock and confusion.

"Hey, if you're still in a daze now, you'd better be prepared to lose~"

There was a hint of light-hearted provocation in Shikimori Kaede's words.

"clang----------"

Mana seemed to be suddenly pulled back to reality from a dream. Shiki Morikaze's voice seemed to penetrate layers of fog. Before it could completely settle in her heart, the lightsaber in her hand had already touched Shiki Morikaze's giant blade, causing a deafening metallic symphony. The strange resonance seemed to draw visible ripples in the air, which was chilling.

Hit by the tremendous force, Mana's body involuntarily leaped backwards, leaving a long, dusty trail on the ground.

After stabilizing her body, Mana's eyes were filled with disbelief. She stared at Shiki Morikaze and questioned in a tone that was a mixture of denial and astonishment.

"You... who are you, the elf?"

The hand gripping the hilt of the lightsaber was shaking unconsciously. It was a reverence for the unknown power and a re-examination of the limits of one's own abilities.

Just one strike made her clearly feel the huge gap in strength between the two. This realization was like a heavy stone, weighing heavily on her heart.

The Aosagong in Shiki Shoufeng's hand glowed with a faint cold light under the light, and every inch of it exuded an aura that should not be underestimated, proving that it was far from an ordinary item.

The tiny cracks on the edge of the lightsaber seemed to tell of the fierce and cruel collision of power just now, and also reflected the shock in Mana's heart that was difficult to calm down.

"I don't need to answer you, right? You just need to know that I can beat you in the field you are best at, right?"

"Don't even think about it!!!"

--------

Liaozi's office.

Shiki Shoufeng picked up a grape from the tray beside him and put it into his mouth.

"Lower it."

Shikimori Feng looked at Mana who was holding up the tray reluctantly and laughed.

Although he was indignant, Mana still reluctantly did as he was told.

"Well, that's right? From now on until tomorrow, you are my slave, right?"

Shikimori Kaede said to Mana with a wink, like a smug villain.

"...yes!!"

Chapter 145 How do you have this? You are indeed a pervert!!

Looking at Mana's expression which was a mixture of unwillingness and resentment, Shi Shoufeng's eyes flashed with joy, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, making him look particularly happy.

"Oh, it looks like you're feeling really bad. Why don't you try calling 'Master' softly? Maybe you'll feel better?"

Shiki Shoufeng deliberately dragged out the last syllable of his words, and his words were full of teasing.

"You! You are the typical example of a villain who has succeeded! Don't think that you can do whatever you want and have no restraint just because you win once!"

Mana's cheeks flushed with anger, her fingertips clenched unconsciously due to excitement, and her eyes almost spit fire.

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly threw the fruit plate full of grapes in her hand towards Shi Shoufeng as if releasing all her dissatisfaction. This action was not only a direct response to Shi Shoufeng's provocation, but also a release of her inner emotions.

However, Shi Shoufeng seemed to have anticipated this. He did not move, but only caught a glimpse of the flying fruit plate with the corner of his eye. He grabbed it with ease, and his movements were smooth and graceful.

He still had that lazy yet confident smile on his face, as if everything was under control.

"Haha, this is really interesting... It turns out that even someone like you who possesses outstanding talents would choose to break your promise when faced with failure. It was you who proposed the bet, but you refused to accept the consequences of failure calmly. This is really a headache." Shikishou Feng's tone was brisk, with a hint of sarcasm in every word, as if he was enjoying the fun of this psychological warfare.

"Ahhhhh!!!"

Mana's scream tore through the quiet air, and her anger seemed to become real, stirring in the surroundings. Her hands were clenched into fists, her nails almost piercing her palms, her cheeks flushed red with extreme anger, and her eyes flashed with a mixture of unwillingness and anger.

Her feet stomped heavily and continuously on the spot, and every time they landed, it seemed as if they were going to shatter this unfair reality.

"Mana, calm down."

Sitting on that unusually stable office chair, Liaozi finally couldn't help but speak, his voice mixed with helplessness and a hint of fatigue.

Her eyes revealed the calmness and depth of a captain, and she tried to use words to calm the situation that was about to get out of control.

"team leader!!"

Hearing Ryoko's voice, Mana felt like she had grabbed a life-saving straw, and all her indignation instantly had a clear outlet.

Using almost all her strength, she rushed to Liaozi.

When she arrived at the desk, she slammed it hard, causing the documents on the Ambassador of Power's desk to rustle, as if venting out along with her emotions.

Then she stretched out her finger and pointed tremblingly at Shiki Shoufeng who was not far away.

"He's an elf! He's an elf!!"

Every word was squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying with it uncontrollable anger and disbelief.

"Why don't you get rid of him? He can still enter our base safely!!"

Liaozi gently pinched his brow bones, and fine lines appeared between his brows. Then he sighed helplessly, as if expressing deep helplessness at some unbelievable fact.

"He is an elf. Is this really true? You know, in AST (Anti Spirit Team), we are equipped with the world's most advanced and sophisticated elf detectors. Can you detect even a trace of the elf's unique elemental reaction from his body?"

There was a mixture of confusion and helplessness in Ryoko's tone, and her eyes were fixed on Mana in front of her, as if seeking a definite answer.

"Why not! These are the truths that I have seen with my own eyes and experienced personally!"

Mana's voice was full of determination, and in order to prove her statement, she quickly pulled out a portable testing instrument from the small bag she carried with her.

Compared with AST's large and complex equipment, this compact instrument is slightly less accurate, but its convenience and immediacy are sufficient to meet sudden monitoring needs.

Mana gently swept the probe of the detector over Shikimori's body, and every movement seemed so serious and focused.

As the instrument made a slight ticking sound, data and images began to scroll rapidly on the screen, and Mana's eyes followed the flickering lights, searching for the legendary elf element symbol.

"look!!"

She turned around suddenly and couldn't wait to show the detector screen to Liaozi, her eyes flashing with an eagerness to confirm her judgment.

However, Ryoko's face was unusually calm, showing no trace of surprise or confirmation.

She just sat there quietly, looking directly into Mana's eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

Liaozi asked back calmly, her voice calm and low, as if she had already anticipated the result.

"See...uh...?"

Mana was suddenly speechless. The evidence she wanted to blurt out was stuck in her throat.

She widened her eyes and looked at the detector screen again in disbelief.

Because all that was displayed on the screen was a blank, without any abnormal data or iconic elf elemental reactions.

"This is impossible!!"

Mana's voice trembled slightly due to shock. She found it hard to accept the scene before her, and the faith in her heart was instantly shaken.

How is it possible...!

I have clearly fought against Shiki Morikaze myself.

What he used was definitely the power of elves!

There is no human being in this world who can use such a huge power without relying on a manifestation device, let alone using all the power of elements!!

"Have you completed the verification?"